Mormonism: Man Made Religion

Dale · Apr 17, 2003

I walked into a Mormon church and was put in a class for those preparing for induction into the Mormon church.
The leader posed the question, Who has all the priesthood that there is? This is apparently a standard question that Mormons have to know how to answer. To people raised as Christians an obvious answer suggests itself: Christ. If priesthood means anything, its authority must come from the head of the church, Christ himself.
That is not the Mormon answer. The Mormon answer is that every adult man, a church member, properly ordained, has all priesthood. The leader of the class pointed to the back of the room. Brother Smith here has all the priesthood that there is.
Mormonism is very self-glorifying. It glorifies man rather than God.

SBfaithful · Apr 17, 2003

It also is geared to becoming your own god.
Which is totally wrong in the Bible that I read.

Arikay · Apr 17, 2003

I dont agree with many mormons, however, many people use christianity as self glorifying religion (even though they claim not too, its easy to see).

However, I dont take their views as to mean their religion is bad.

Jedi · Apr 18, 2003

...however, many people use christianity as self glorifying religion (even though they claim not too, its easy to see).

People can use nearly any religion as "self-glorifying," but that doesn't mean their religion is the thing that is promoting such self-glory. In the case of Christianity, humility is greatly valued, and the distance between God's perfection and humanity's imperfection is so vast that no one would ever think of comparing the two in some sort of contest to see where we stand. Mormonism, on the other hand, seems to deify man and humanize God with teachings like "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." In this case, the religion really is promoting self-glorification rather than self-humility.

Blessed-one · Apr 19, 2003

to become god is a rather extreme goal.

Rae · Apr 19, 2003

Based on one incidence, which you admit you don't understand because you don't understand Mormon theology, you say the entire religion is "self-glorifying"? Wow, I'm glad you're taking such an objective view of it...

Jedi · Apr 19, 2003

Based on one incidence, which you admit you don't understand because you don't understand Mormon theology, you say the entire religion is "self-glorifying"? Wow, I'm glad you're taking such an objective view of it...

And having researched into Mormon theology and discussed it countless times with other Mormons, I can't find it in myself to honestly say that Mormonism is not a religion that deifies man and humanizes God (it's self-glorifying). I don't see anything that would lead someone to believe that Dale is making such an assertion based solely on a single instance either. He mentions one, but that does not mean the basis of his conclusions are always going to be based on that one instance alone.

Just · Apr 19, 2003

Aren't there alot of man-made religions?
All of them?

calgal · Apr 20, 2003

Today at 08:38 AM Jedi said this in Post #7

And having researched into Mormon theology and discussed it countless times with other Mormons, I can't find it in myself to honestly say that Mormonism is not a religion that deifies man and humanizes God (it's self-glorifying). I don't see anything that would lead someone to believe that Dale is making such an assertion based solely on a single instance either. He mentions one, but that does not mean the basis of his conclusions are always going to be based on that one instance alone.

Mormonism is unique among religions in that it elevates man and diminishes God.

Arikay · Apr 20, 2003

Not exactly unique. Although it might be partially unique to actually come right out and say it.

Jedi · Apr 20, 2003

Aren't there alot of man-made religions?

Yep.

All of them?

Nope.

Arikay · Apr 20, 2003

So, which religion isnt man made, and why?

Jedi · Apr 20, 2003

So, which religion isnt man made, and why?

Judaism & Christianity, my good man. However, you ask "why" as if I could simply tell you in a sentence or two. Telling you would involve a very lengthy discussion spanning from prophecy as proof of the Bible, to inerrancy, to historicity, to methods of Biblical interpretation, to science, to archaeology, to philosophy, to theology, to logic, to hermeneutics, to refuting the claims of other religions, etc. "Proving" the veracity of Christianity is no simple matter as your simple request implies. For now, I think we should let it rest in that I adamantly disagree with your seemingly blind generalization that all religions are man-made, and I have reason to believe so.

Arikay · Apr 20, 2003

So, christianity is not man made, yet you wont tell me why?

Are you sure those are real evidence, or man made evidence? As I noticed four things you mentioned that lead me to believe its man made evidence. Prophecy proof, Inerrency, historicity, and science.

Prophecy proof, If its what im thinking of, this is no evidence at all. The bible made prophecies and then fullfilled them. First of all, thats not amazing at all, plenty of books do that. Second, thats not something special to christianity as other religions do that as well.

Inerrency, As the bible has plenty of errors (since its easter, have you heard of the Easter Challenge?)

History, There is a lack of complex history in the bible. It also contradicts itself in some cases.

Science, Shows we shouldnt take the bible literally.

sanjito · Apr 20, 2003

Hello all,

Just a quick post from a devout "mormon" to give you all the heebie jeebies ;-).
I would just like to know what makes you think that the LDS church is "self-glorifying". I worship God just as much as any of you and even more than some. I pray to Him and try to bend my will to His. I firmly believe that He is omnipotent. I know that there is no other way to Heaven except through His son, Jesus Christ.

The only difference between what I (for the sake of nomenclature) will call "standard Christianity" and "Mormonism" (a false name, I might add) that I see mentioned here is my belief that we are literally the spiritual offspring of God (hence the name Heavenly Father) and as such have the ability to become like our Father. I don't see how that's "humanizing God" as was said. It is uplifting man. That's true. But only if we follow the path set forth by Christ when He was on the earth.

As for the mentioning that Brother so n' so has all Preisthood power; that's fallacy. I'm sorry that they taught that in the class that was attended. True, I believe that Brother so n' so has the Priesthood, but only Jesus Christ has ALL Priesthood power. Only He can bring salvation unto mankind, individually and collectively.

Any thoughts?

all the best,

Sanjito

Jedi · Apr 21, 2003

So, christianity is not man made, yet you wont tell me why?

It would appear your pride has blinded you. If you were seeing clearly, you would have read my entire post and it would have sunk in. Look around you and tell me what you see. These forums are full of specific topics dealing with specific aspects of the veracity of Christianity. You are asking me to write out just as much material and convey just as much thought as everyone here combined is already doing. Your request is nonsensical. It is like asking someone to write out the human genetic code by hand, and then mock him for not doing so.

Prophecy proof, If its what im[sic] thinking of, this is no evidence at all.

So you mean to say that if I could tell you things about people yet to be born (what theyll go through, what names theyll be called, what will happen to them, etc), you wouldnt give it a second thought? There really is no pleasing people these days...

The bible made prophecies and then fullfilled[sic] them.

Haha, what a joke. Youve resorted to an argument of ignorance? Surely you're better than that.

First of all, thats[sic] not amazing at all, plenty of books do that. Second, thats[sic] not something special to christianity[sic] as other religions do that as well.

This is why there are complete studies devoted to this one aspect of Christianity. Do you not see how detailed we would need to get?

Inerrency, As the bible has plenty of errors (since its easter, have you heard of the Easter Challenge?)

Ive read over hundreds of kilobytes dealing with alleged errors in the Bible, and so again, that is why there are entire studies dealing with these alone.

History, There is a lack of complex history in the bible. It also contradicts itself in some cases.

Similar statement as above, and the fact that youve made the statement against historicity of the Bible comes to show you haven't done much extensive, objective research into this. What about the Siloam Inscription (The Oldest Hebrew script in existence)? The prism of Sennacherib? The assault on the towns of Bethel/AI? The Bible might not be wholly devoted to archaeology, but it does have archaeological support. There have been times when archaeological discoveries turned Biblical doubt into Biblical credability, just like when archaeologists believed that the Bible was in error when it spoke about Hittites (Genesis 23:10), but since the discovery of the Hittite library in Turkey (1906) this is no longer the case.

Science, Shows we shouldnt[sic] take the bible literally.

Only in cases where its fairly obvious you wouldnt take it literally anyway. Not all of the Bible is literal. When Jesus says I am the vine, Hes not literally a vine. When David is writing poetry is Psalms, we have to remember that its just that: Poetry, and surely you dont take all poetry to be true literally. This is where the study of hermeneutics and Biblical interpretation come into play.

Job_38 · Apr 21, 2003

Mormonism is a rather interesting religion, however it is completely and utterly wrong. The problems come when they claim that the Bible is true yet they deny the most important parts of it.

Now, who has the "you can't call other religion false" speach. I"ll wait.

Arikay · Apr 21, 2003

Jedi,

So, have you read the Easter Challenge?

If you were to tell me about people yet to be born, you may end up being condemned by your own religion as practicing a form of witchcraft (divination).

Do you believe in creationism, or Geocentricism?

Gideon4God · Apr 21, 2003

Yesterday at 06:17 AM Arikay said this in Post #14

Science, Shows we shouldnt take the bible literally.

Science shows we shouldn't take science literally.  Are you a Christian Arikay?

Arikay · Apr 21, 2003

Are you sure? I mean, if we didnt take science literally, im not sure we would be typing on computers.

nope.

Today at 07:22 PM Gideon4God said this in Post #19

Science shows we shouldn't take science literally.  Are you a Christian Arikay?

Mormonism: Man Made Religion

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