Mormons & Christians

This weekend, Baptist pastors insisted Mormons are not Christians at the Values Voter Summit, a high profile, right-wing political conference in Washington, D.C.

This rhetoric, however, is nothing more than a spurious onslaught stemming from years of contempt and discrimination.

Mormons are Christian, and I think it's about time other Christian denominations accept it. The official title of the Mormon church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I mean the name of Jesus appears in the name for god's sake (no pun intended).

The preachers argue that because Mormons don't believe in the traditional conception of the trinity they aren't Christian. The traditional conception of the trinity is that god, Jesus, and the spirit are three pieces of one unit. In other words god is god, Jesus, and the spirit all in one. Mormons, on the other hand, believe that God, Jesus, and the spirit are three separate entities working as one team.

So, it's not like Mormons don't believe in God, Jesus, or the spirit. They do, but they have a different perspective regarding the composition. Is that difference in belief sufficient to say they aren't Christian? Not at all. Jesus is still the cornerstone.

Preachers also argue that because Mormons have a supplemental book of scripture -- The Book of Mormon -- they aren't christian. What's ultimately ridiculous about that argument is that the Book of Mormon is just some more teachings of Jesus. The bible constitutes two books: the old testament and the new testament. Mormons believe the BOM is just another addition pushing the same ideas.

The entire idea of Mormonism is founded on the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of god, and that he suffered on the cross so that every one can be saved. Doesn't that sound like prima facie christian to you?

People are just scared of Mormons because they are different. People fear what they don't understand.

And don't get me wrong, the Mormon religion is strange to a fault. But that shouldn't discredit the fact that they're still a Christian religion.