Basilisa Marie Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote][color=#282828][font='Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]As I understand it, in Catholicism we don't recognise people as Christians unless they're able to affirm the Apostles' Creed. That covers the vast majority of Protestant denominations, but not Mormons. I see Mormonism as having Christian influences, but not being Christian.[/font][/color][/quote] Some people do, some people don't. You might be right. Officially the Church doesn't believe any non-Catholic belongs to a church, but an "ecclesial community." Some people call Mormons a "quasi-Christian sect." The Mormons I've come into contact with act more like Christians on a regular basis than most Catholics and mainline protestants I know, so I'm inclined to call them Christian. But I also grew up in an area where most Christians were non-denominational/bible-only people, so that's probably coloring my judgement here as well. But tomato, tomAHto. [quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1346432682' post='2476748'] But it's not that she doesn't like to talk about her faith. She does that a lot. She doesn't like it when I talk about mine. I was just curious why that might be. I wasn't planning on being confrontational about it or anything. I suppose that is her business. I was just hoping to understand why... But I think I'll just leave it a lone because it's no biggy. [/quote] Maybe she's trying to convert you. Well, if it starts really getting to you, I'd ask her about it, and express how it makes you feel. [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1346433144' post='2476749'] My advice is to convert her through acts of charity and devotion than through word of mouth. This is the most effective way of evangelizing in [s]some [/s] [b]ALL[/b] cases. [/quote] fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1346433225' post='2476751'] fixed. [/quote] Well, of course acts of charity and devotion are important to all evangelization! Just sometimes this is the only way you can evangelize, whereas others need the truth to be charitably screamed into their ear during heated debates to finally get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappo Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 There are huge huge differences between Mormon's and Christianity. They may act in a spirit of Christian charity and be pro family, but they are definitely not Christian. The Catholic definition of a Christian is someone baptized with water in the trinitarian formula. That means protestants that have not been validly baptized are not Christians. Even if you went with a very general common understanding of the term Christian, Mormons truly fall far from the tree. Their beliefs on Christ are not that Christ is fully God and fully Man. They do not hold to a trinitarian theology. The Holy Spirit they think of as an actual spirit that travels around the world, not as being part of the trinity and omnipresent. They do not believe in monotheism, but that men, upon dying, can be granted the status of a god over their own planet. They believe Satan and Jesus are brothers. They are great people who give up a lot of time, talent, and treasure to their beliefs, but their theology is so very very far from Christianity. Referring to Mormon's as Christian or not and thinking of it as just terminology or semantics is a poor undrstanding of Catholic theology. I mean this in all charity, but we can't look at what is black and white and call it grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 And before Vatican II, Protestants weren't real Christians either. I'm not denying that Mormons have a very strange theology. These differences are extremely important. But if we don't even call them Christian when they call themselves Christian, how are we supposed to engage in any real, respectful dialogue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 This is seriously what Mormons believe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6brMrFw0E According to Jimmy Akin on Catholic Answers Live there is some theological debate over whether or not they will get a planet to rule over or a universe. Patrick Coffin said something like "I'm a universe person myself." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missionseeker Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1346445912' post='2476879'] And before Vatican II, Protestants weren't real Christians either. I'm not denying that Mormons have a very strange theology. These differences are extremely important. But if we don't even call them Christian when they call themselves Christian, how are we supposed to engage in any real, respectful dialogue? [/quote] Christian scientists consider themselves Christian, too. As do Jehovas witnesses. None of them believe Christ is God. That is the fundamental pillar of Christianity. You cannot reject the Cornerstone of a religion and still claim to be a part of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1346445912' post='2476879'] And before Vatican II, Protestants weren't real Christians either. I'm not denying that Mormons have a very strange theology. These differences are extremely important. But if we don't even call them Christian when they call themselves Christian, how are we supposed to engage in any real, respectful dialogue? [/quote] So if a non-trinitarian group like the Mormons get to be Christian, who next? Unitarians? Baha'i? Muslims (they, after all, believe him to the be Messiah)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I always thought that the creed was the standard that Christian agreed upon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1346446279' post='2476882'] This is seriously what Mormons believe: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6brMrFw0E[/media] According to Jimmy Akin on Catholic Answers Live there is some theological debate over whether or not they will get a planet to rule over or a universe. Patrick Coffin said something like "I'm a universe person myself." [/quote] Interesting video. I knew their beliefs were different from ours but I didn't realize just how different they were!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 [quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1346471406' post='2477028'] Interesting video. I knew their beliefs were different from ours but I didn't realize just how different they were!!! [/quote] It's pretty scary. It clearly shows that they aren't Christian in any way. They deny the trinity and they believe there are other Gods, which is a clearly pagan belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) yeah...but most of all this explains EVERYTHING with my bff!!! If I was her and believed this, I would act the same way! Edited September 1, 2012 by Annie12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Instead of spending a lot of time postulating different theories as to why she might get uncomfortable when you talk about religion, why don't you just ... ask her. I'm sure she would know a lot better than we do, and if you are good friends with her then you should be able to just talk about it with her, and she should be able to be honest with you about it. Just be like, "I've noticed recently that you tend to shut down whenever I begin to talk about religion. Is there any reason why?" Sometimes, the best thing to do is just communicate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 [quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1346432682' post='2476748'] But it's not that she doesn't like to talk about her faith. She does that a lot. She doesn't like it when I talk about mine. I was just curious why that might be. I wasn't planning on being confrontational about it or anything. I suppose that is her business. I was just hoping to understand why... But I think I'll just leave it a lone because it's no biggy. [/quote] Leave it alone or just ask her, like Phatcatholic said? if she were trying to convert you, I wouldn't really blame her, because if I believed I had the truth and a friend didn't, I'd hope I'd act the same way (not saying she is, or that she has the Truth, because she definitely doesn't have that). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dymphnamaria Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 [quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1346422375' post='2476676'] So, One of my friends isn't catholic and every time I talk about religious stuff even if it's not Catholic (even if it's just Christian) she goes from her bubbly talkative self to just becoming completely not interested. She is LDS (Mormon) and claims to be Christian but doesn't like to talk about religion unless it's her's. I'm confused why this is, because [u]She is a supper great friend [/u]and it just seems a bit odd that she is so religious yet doesn't want to even mention God, or Christianity ever. Any insight? I'm just confused. I rarely even mention it because she clearly don't want to talk about it. Do you think it's against her religion to talk about others religions (but at the same time she says she's christian and yet doesn't want to mention Christianity)? [/quote] Pray for her conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 Okay...I see what everyone is saying. I think I'll just leave it alone for now. I don't want to hurt her by mistake or something. (not that I would). I guess I thought there was a black or white answer here, but I suppose there isn't until I talk to her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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