Why Are Catholics So Indifferent toward Latter Day Saints (or Mormons)?

[why_me]

. At the same time, there are areas both Catholics and LDS can agree on, especially when it comes to our families. Isn’t that a place where we can begin to discuss things in a cordial way without constantly knocking each other down? Wouldn’t that be a better way for LDS to come to recognize the truths of the Catholic Church than arguing them into their graves.

BTW, they could say the same thing about us relating to other books that we “almost” hold in equal value to the Bible, if they didn’t know any better. One book in particular I can think of which is a particular favorite of mine is Divine Mercy in My Soul.

You are absolutely right. The family is something that both catholics and mormons can agree on. And they should work together to save the family and they are in many local communities. And yes, christianity should bring politeness, cordiality, and kindness to the table without constantly knocking over the food.

But you see, many posters on this forum because it is a Catholic Answers forum believe that they constantly need to disprove other faiths and defend their own against unseen or even make believe enemies. It is just the nature of the board. And so, we have many novice apologists out there making a hash of everything, thinking that they are actually defending something. And so, we have a problem.

 

[prochrist1]

I find this forum informative as i will be marrying an RC gal… so this is a good place to be
and learn but yeah some members are very defensive but likewise if a catholic were to post on a forum of your faith it will be the same

 

[ThuriferAcolyte]

But you see, many posters on this forum because it is a Catholic Answers forum believe that they constantly need to disprove other faiths and defend their own against unseen or even make believe enemies. It is just the nature of the board. And so, we have many novice apologists out there making a hash of everything, thinking that they are actually defending something. And so, we have a problem.

Fortunately, it is not up to you to decide if someone is actually defending something, especially when you see critical, apologetic discussions between two religions as “pointless” and “leading nowhere”. Your attempt at belittling (“unseen or even make believe enemies”, “novice apologists”) those that desire to defend their faith, and point out what they see as the errors of other faiths (which they/we believe will hopefully save others from entering into those errors), is telling.

 

[swords99]

imkingdad,

You are so correct in all you wrote. I too live not far from Palmyra and have had to deal with mormon missionaries in my neighborhood. I am amazed at how little they know about the doctrines of Mormonism. They are told to only teach milk, not meat to investigators, but they themselves know nothing more than the milk. Whenever I show them how Mormonism and the book of mormon contradict each other, they quickly bear their testimony and leave. How sad. And yes they do pass out booklets on the family as they are very family oriented. That may be the only thing worthwhile they can teach us.

 

[AMDGtoo]

they are very family oriented.

That’s what they would like you to believe, but unless the family is Mormon, well I guess they don’t count as “family”, and all too often Mormons will try to separate the convert from their birth families. (Mormons also make certain that non-Mormon family members cannot see their child marry in their temples.) And if the Mormons would actually delve into it all, they would see that even in the next world, the Mormons are into separating families with their degrees of heaven (and the one about those Mormons who participate in “Celestial Marriage” having their own separate worlds) in which some family members cannot be with others.

 

[twopekinguys]

Fortunately, it is not up to you to decide if someone is actually defending something, especially when you see critical, apologetic discussions between two religions as “pointless” and “leading nowhere”. Your attempt at belittling (“unseen or even make believe enemies”, “novice apologists”) those that desire to defend their faith, and point out what they see as the errors of other faiths (which they/we believe will hopefully save others from entering into those errors), is telling.

 

[John_Larocque]

If I make up my own version of Buddha, call my God Buddha, implement my own ceremonies and practices labeling them Buddhist, but in fact honoring and worshipping a Buddha of my own design which by no means resembles the Authentic Buddha, I can’t expect authentic followers of Buddha to accept or “Respect” me.

Well, some of them might, but that depends on how “Buddhist” your teachings are. Islam would be a better example - they would be far less tolerant of an Islamic New Religion.

Reading these threads, I never had any idea that there were a lot of problems with Catholics and LDS beyond “you go your way, I go my way.” It’s interesting that the LDS, in rejecting Protestantism, also repudiated key doctrines of the Reformation - grace only, no free will/predestnation, “Sole scriptura” (“look, a new bible!”), a whole bunch of things.

I think at one time Brigham Young was called the “Mormon Pope.” They were a new religion that was a threat to the Protestant American norm. LeGrand Richards authored an LDS apologetic book wihch said that LDS and Catholics have competing claims to be the “one true church” (citing testimony of a Catholic priest). The Catholic apologetics on LDS is IMHO mild by comparison to much of the Reform critiques.

Although I don’t think some of the LDS arguments really argue in favour of their church, they’re interesting. They have a heretical form of theosis called Eternal Progression and misread the Eastern Fathers to buttress their argument, and I won’t even get into the Trinity. The first time I even heard of theosis was a citation from St. Athanasius on an LDS forum, and when I saw that the last pope cited it, it made me want to know more, albeit in a context not alien to the Christian tradition. Also, when the LDS talk about “Greek philosophy” corrupting Christianity, this is actually a very old argument, but some it rang true for me, and St. Augustine (patron saint of the Calvinists) seems to be a favourite target of theirs for this, and they also reject Augustinian notions of Original Sin. Needless to say, the Calvinists don’t give the Mormons much love. (I did laugh when I saw an Orthodox essay arguing that Augustine is the font of all the Catholic and Protestant heresies…, Augustine bashing is universal)

 

[Kdesiel]

Well, some of them might, but that depends on how “Buddhist” your teachings are. Islam would be a better example - they would be far less tolerant of an Islamic New Religion.

Reading these threads, I never had any idea that there were a lot of problems with Catholics and LDS beyond “you go your way, I go my way.” It’s interesting that the LDS, in rejecting Protestantism, also repudiated key doctrines of the Reformation - grace only, no free will/predestnation, “Sole scriptura” (“look, a new bible!”), a whole bunch of things.

I think at one time Brigham Young was called the “Mormon Pope.” They were a new religion that was a threat to the Protestant American norm. LeGrand Richards authored an LDS apologetic book wihch said that LDS and Catholics have competing claims to be the “one true church” (citing testimony of a Catholic priest). The Catholic apologetics on LDS is IMHO mild by comparison to much of the Reform critiques.

Although I don’t think some of the LDS arguments really argue in favour of their church, they’re interesting. They have a heretical form of theosis called Eternal Progression and misread the Eastern Fathers to buttress their argument, and I won’t even get into the Trinity. The first time I even heard of theosis was a citation from St. Athanasius on an LDS forum, and when I saw that the last pope cited it, it made me want to know more, albeit in a context not alien to the Christian tradition. Also, when the LDS talk about “Greek philosophy” corrupting Christianity, this is actually a very old argument, but some it rang true for me, and St. Augustine (patron saint of the Calvinists) seems to be a favourite target of theirs for this, and they also reject Augustinian notions of Original Sin. Needless to say, the Calvinists don’t give the Mormons much love. (I did laugh when I saw an Orthodox essay arguing that Augustine is the font of all the Catholic and Protestant heresies…, Augustine bashing is universal)

Good point, I should amend that post and use a new form of “islam” …you’re right would’ve been a much better example. Brigham Young…the Mormon Pope…ha ha that’s pretty good, I don’t think I had ever heard that. Pretty funny.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[John_Larocque]

Here is that (old Calendarist) Orthodox critique of Augustine:

geocities.com/trvalentine/orthodox/augustine8.html

There ain’t a lot of love for him from authors such as Michael Azkoul and John Romanides. Azkoul is actually at the extreme end of that sort of criticism, but this should give you a strong flavour of it.

 

[Jerusha]

All of this contributes to the activation of definition number one. Many Catholics believe that Mormonism is so insignificant that it does not need to be opposed. They do not realize that the media are hamstrung by “political correctness” and the Mormon bloc. Political correctness, and respecting religious differences, ends up empowering a system of belief that encourages the far right. In fact, many Americans today are adversely affected by Mormonism and Mormon culture. Catholics, attacked by our critics because of negative aspects of our own history thus fear criticizing Mormon culture and beliefs.

Additionally, Mormons have alienated both Catholics and Masons. Masonry is not all bad, and Masons and Catholics need to reconcile some of their differences in order to cooperate to defeat Mormonism, the worse threat. May be quite painful, but the differences are not as severe as, say, 500 years ago. IMHO