As much as many Christians would
like the world to believe that Mormonism is not a legitimate sect of Christianity – reality argues otherwise. And right off the bat I want to use proper nomenclature. The legitimate name of their faith is
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
They are most often referred to as “Mormons” because they follow not only the Christian Bible, but the Book of Mormon as well. So I will be using the proper name abbreviated as LDS. One of the reasons this is so important to them is that they intentionally stress the “Church of Jesus Christ” portion of their faith.
I routinely attempt to use the
K.I.S.S. method when beginning these discussions because they can quickly get entirely out of control. So here goes…we are talking about what are considered the
Abrahamic Faiths. Traditionally, there are only three categories – Jewish, Islamic and Christian.
The reason they are referred to in this way is that they all claim to be descendants of Abraham and they all recognize the same God. Their religious views and traditions vary from slight to significant.
Religion Facts.com has several charts that illustrate the origins and comparisons of these three major faith categories. This one shows the origins:
COURTESY OF RELIGIOUSFACTS.COM
All these major religions have their own subcategories and sects. Christianity, it can be argued, is home to the most diverse sects dangling beneath its umbrella, covering a vast territory. Think Protestant, Pentecostalism, Charismatic Evangelicalism, Catholic, Latter Day Saints, and a bunch more.
For me to openly tie LDS to Christianity will surprise a lot of people because the understanding of the LDS faith by the general populace is limited almost entirely to polygamy and
funny underpants.But, hey…what religion doesn’t have its standout traditions? Ash smudge on the forehead; kissing the ring of the Pope; speaking in tongues; fasting for Jesus; grasping a live chicken by the shoulder blades and moving around one’s head three times, symbolically transferring one’s sins to the chicken; or drinking shot glasses of grape juice or wine and eating wafers or crackers and pretending that is the blood and body of Christ; that Mary was a virgin; or believing that hell is a real place full of actual fire and brimstone…Instead of me going on, please add to what I have put here in the comments section if you would about any and all rituals that come to your mind as you think about this.
They all seem a bit eccentric to those who are outside the faiths
Much more....
http://godsownparty.com/blog/2012/04...ergarments-all