Instigator / Con

lawjlw16

1500

rating

debates

75.0%

won

Topic

#5453

Is Mormonism Really Christianity?

Status

Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics

Winner

After 1 vote and with 1 point ahead, the winner is...

lawjlw16

Tags

Christianity

Parameters

Publication date: 05.07.2024 03:59PM
Last updated date: 05.19.2024 07:34PM
Type: Standard
Number of rounds: 5
Time for argument: One day
Max argument characters: 30,000
Voting period: One week
Point system: Winner selection
Voting system: Open

Contender / Pro

ChristianIsEdging

1500

rating

debates

10.0%

won

Description

There are several Christian denominations in this world, but is it really adequate and appropriate to categorize Mormonism as a Christian denomination? There are several tenets and beliefs that Mormons hold to that are completely contrary to many primary tenets and beliefs of the traditional Christian faith. Simply because Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as a savior does not justify the classification of a form of Christianity. I posit that Mormonism more adequately falls under a cultic category rather than a Christian one.

Round 1

lawjlw16

05.07.2024 05:10PM

Con

There is no question that there are several Christian denominations in this world, but when we look at what those traditional Christian denominations base their beliefs on it brings into question how the Church of Latter Day Saints can be deemed a Christian church. I get that they do believe that Jesus is "a Savior", but that is pretty much the only key tenet and belief that they have that aligns with traditional Christian beliefs.

I would like to point out some key beliefs that Mormons hold to that are contrary to that of the traditional Christian faith. (Note: this is not an exhaustive list)

- Mormons recognize the King James Version only as one of their Scriptures, but they also hold that the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrines and Covenants are scriptures that must be followed as well.

- The Book of Mormon was written in the 1800s by Joseph Smith who claimed that God led him to some tablets that provided him with the words to write the Book of Mormon. In which, Smith outright made the claim that "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth."

- Mormons believe that the Bible today is inaccurate and incomplete. (To this I would love to hear any evidence that might able to prove this by my opponent).

- Joseph Smith taught that God is one of many gods who were once men like us. (a blatant contradiction to the traditional Christian tenet of believing that there is only one God.)

- Perhaps the most prominent tenet of the traditional Christian faith is that of Jesus being fully and eternally God, but to the Mormon, Jesus was not fully God and was created in heaven before coming to earth like the rest of all mankind is before entering the earth.

- For Mormons, their belief in the Trinity is not in line with how traditional Christians believe in the Trinity. All because it is too confusing.

- Mormons do not hold to the traditional Christian belief that salvation only comes from one placing their faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that several works must be accomplished prior to receiving salvation as well. (i.e. being baptized; leading chaste, clean, pure lives...)

- Lastly, Mormons believe that their works will determine whether they become gods of their own world. (A belief going against the traditional Christian belief that God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End and that there is not other gods but Him).

With the aforementioned beliefs that Mormons hold, which again is not a complete list, I posit that just based on these doctrines alone, it is not adequate or proper to declare that the Church of Latter-Day Saints is a true Christian denomination and that it should be more appropriate to give Mormonism its own religion in line with Islam or place it under a cultic religion.

On a side note: I do want it to be noted that I believe that those who are a part of the Church of Latter-Day Saints are not bad people. Their beliefs in and of themselves are not bad, they strive to live lives that are morally good just as most other world religions do. I do think that is important, however, to determine whether Mormon's beliefs are more accurate to what the Holy Bible teaches or if they need to reevaluate their core beliefs if they want to call themselves genuine Christians.

ChristianIsEdging

05.07.2024 05:18PM

Pro

Well since they considered Jesus as the savior, it's just adding toward the bible, as I'm not Moro what ever, I already forget, it still follows the same scripture of KJV, but continued, which most religious counterparts follows.

Round 2

lawjlw16

05.07.2024 05:50PM

Con

Not too sure what you mean by "most religious counterparts follows". If you are referring to other Christian denominations, that is simply not the case. I will admit that Catholicism has seven extra books in the Old Testament which is referred to as the Apocrypha that is not the same thing. Also, in most other denominations, believers are not required to only read the KJV. And even if they were, all true Christian denominations, hold to the belief that the Holy Bible is infallible and inerrant, where those within the Church of Latter-Day Saints do not hold to that belief.

With the statement you are making, it would be like saying Islam is another form of Judaism since they hold to much of the Old Testament and believe in the one God, why are they not just considered another denomination of Judaism? Because their core beliefs are not the same as Judaism. Neither are the core beliefs of Mormonism and Christianity.

With the single exception that both sides believe in Jesus Christ being the savior, every other key doctrinal belief is in contrast to the other. And even with believing that Jesus is the Savior, Christians believe that He is the One and only Savior, and that when He was here on earth He was uniquely fully God and fully man. Mormons believe that He was not fully God, they also believe that He is not the One and only Savior, because in other worlds there are other saviors.

Please explain how one belief out of several others, aligns them into the same category as the other.

ChristianIsEdging

05.07.2024 06:57PM

Pro

Hold up. I remembered something. This is a cult, not even a religion, have you ever heard of THE TWO? More so like a sect, it's about a new prophet who came from a random situation/lineage/etc. Here: FBI launches probe into church investigated by BBC

Round 3

lawjlw16

05.07.2024 07:34PM

Con

So you are conceding to the fact that Mormonism is not true Christianity?

ChristianIsEdging

05.08.2024 07:34PM

Pro

Forfeited

Round 4

lawjlw16

05.09.2024 07:34PM

Con

Forfeited

ChristianIsEdging

05.10.2024 07:34PM

Pro

Forfeited

Round 5

lawjlw16

05.11.2024 07:34PM

Con

Forfeited

ChristianIsEdging

05.12.2024 07:34PM

Pro

#10

Forfeited

lawjlw16

05.08.2024 12:20AM

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@Casey_Risk

Sure, I will start a new debate and put you on there. Thanks

Casey_Risk

05.07.2024 09:52PM

-->

@lawjlw16

I think the person you're debating here is pretty clearly a troll. If you'd like to find someone to actually engage with you on this topic, I'd be willing to.

Just a disclaimer, I'm not actually a Mormon personally, but I do find the arguments that they are not actually Christians to be weak and rely too much on special pleading.

ChristianIsEdging

05.07.2024 06:58PM

Your right, it is a cult.

Tickbeat

05.13.2024 03:44AM

Criterion

Con

Tie

Pro

Points

Winner

1 point(s)

Reason:

Con provided a list of differences between Christianity and Mormonism, and Pro ditched that entire list, and focused on the one thing they agree on. That's like radically changing every single element of the recipe for a cake except for one single element, and using that one similarity as a reason to believe that the cake you have baked is the same as the cake you would have baked had you just followed the instructions correctly. Pro provided no actual rebuttal to any of con's arguments, so there wasn't even much to respond to. When confronted with a possible contradiction in their own logic, pro simply avoids the situation, and doesn't say a word for the rest of the debate.

Overall, pro completely failed to show that Christianity can at all be synonymous with Mormonism, meanwhile con provided lots of reasons as to why Christianity is definitely not synonymous with Mormonism.