Top 10 Resources About Catholicism for a Mormon

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Porknpie said:
Better to read the book on line for free. fairlds.org/authors/bickmore-barry/restoring-the-ancient-church-joseph-smith-and-early-christianity

Here’s the author starting to discuss apostasy

What exactly was this “apostasy,” and when was it supposed to happen? According to LDS scholar Kent Jackson, the word apostasy is derived from the Greek word “apostasia,” which means “‘rebellion,’ ‘mutiny,’ ‘revolt,’ or ‘revolution,’ and is used in ancient contexts with reference to uprisings against established authority.”4 Thus, the apostasy was to be a rebellion against God’s established authority on earth.

Latter-day Saints believe that the apostasy was underway even while the Apostles were alive, and that it inevitably completed its course after the last Apostles were gone. While the New Testament does not give many specifics about the timetable of the rebellion in its predictions, it contains a number of clues pointing to the fact that a massive rebellion was taking place in the Church, and that there was not much time left.

Now that’s funnier than “threadjacking ways”

A book reviewer on amazon.com says

Finally, the book’s chapter on the alleged “apostasy” fails to take into account the traditional Catholic teaching on the nature of the Church’s indefectibility and infallibility. The author leaves a footnote to discuss the “gates of hell” passage in Matthew 16:18 but this, if I understand correctly is a reference to the indefectibility of Peter’s faith (an by extension, the Catholic Church’s). . In contrast, the idea of the indefectibility of the Church as a whole is based primarily on the belief that the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, in spiritual union with Him, and that the Holy Spirit is the Soul of the Church. From this leads the notion of ecclesial indefectibility (this is how I understand the Catholic view. It is not simply that Peter was given a promise in Matthew 16:18).** This view of the Catholic Church’s indefectibility, however, is nowhere treated in Bickmore’s discussion of the alleged “apostasy”, a fact which further weakens his already hopelessly unsubstantiated case.**

What’s also telling is the author is a science professor not a theologian. That would at least help explain a lack of Catholic teaching and theology in his book. IMHO he needs to focus on his science teaching as his own students don’t grade him very highly.

ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=173550

All in all, this book appears to be a very good source for Catholic apologetics. 👍
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How can I put this delicately, and politely?

hmmmmmm

Can I get an AMEN up in here!?!?!

😃
 
I would actually love it if we started a thread to discredit Bickmore’s claims.
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However, another movement, known as “monasticism” was born out of the effort to reclaim
the lost gifts. In Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism today, there are thousands of ascetic monks and nuns
who separate themselves from the world to live apart, seeking union with God. This lifestyle is held out as the ideal
of human life, and many devout seekers are attracted to the movement.139
…
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In addition, the author of Barnabas warned the
Church not to go live apart from the world: “Do not, by retiring apart, live a solitary life, as if you were already
[fully] justified; but coming together in one place, make common inquiry concerning what tends to your general
welfare.”149 Indeed, the acceptance of monasticism by the Church in general was a very gradual process, and even
as late as ca. A.D. 360 a converted pagan is reported to have asked: “Explain to me now what is the congregation
or sect of monks, and why it is an object of aversion, even amongst our own people?”150 Robert Markus calls the
ascetic takeover of the Church “the end of ancient Christianity.”151
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#1. Other than the Eucharist, the contemplative lifestyle is the LIFEBLOOD of Catholicism. I have complained about my lifestyle to my priest, and his response is “that is where you belong.” The influence of the world is too much on us. I have become Mertonesque. 👍
 
I posted this on the apostasy thread, but they are busy with Melchizedek. It is a valuable addition for my work related to this topic. Thank you.

I just finished reading
fairlds.org/authors/bickm…y-christianity

The basic methodology of the book is to take the most lasting Mormon doctrines, and prove their validity through the pseudo-Christian Gnostic writings from the time of early Christianity. Thus, what we call the apostasy of the Gnostic cults, is their religion. They call our religion an apostasy from early Christianity, and we call their religion a pseudo-Christian Gnostic cult. It is a basic agree to disagree situation. Probably the best piece of Mormon apologetics I have ever read. There is even a section on Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, Heavenly Mother, who is not to be worshiped.

However, Mormonism as currently lived, is a rule-bound religion of works (but minimizes corporal works of mercy) and is diametrically opposed to Gnosticism. And Gnosticism has very little practical advice for ethical living.

What I find encouraging in the section on Original Sin is that article of faith #2 is extended to mean that we are not responsible for the sins of our ancestors. Which is in contradiction to D&C 121. That section of the D&C I find to be one of the most reprehensible of LDS teachings.

Not bad, and the author put plenty of work into it. Cherry-picking among the Gnostic beliefs that are most similar to LDS beliefs, but not bad, not bad at all. Should encourage all LDS to go Gnostic, and splinter them even more.
 
Jerusha said:
…Not bad, and the author put plenty of work into it. Cherry-picking among the Gnostic beliefs that are most similar to LDS beliefs, but not bad, not bad at all. Should encourage all LDS to go Gnostic, and splinter them even more.
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Jerusha, I am wondering if you would share with me/ us your thoughts on Bickmore’s chapter concerning how Greek philosophy corrupted Christianity’s concept of God.
 
Send me a PM on that later, please.

Right now I am doing a compare/contrast between Mosiah and Alma, and Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Holy War. Gotta wait until I start getting into my revision of the appropriate section of my work. Maybe early next week. :o

What I do know is that the early “Christian” Gnostics were more Greek than the orthodox Christians-- as in the ineffability of God.
 
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