Monday, April 07, 2008

when is a christian not a christian?

Is it just me or does the media seem reluctant to describe the "polygamist sect" down in Texas as Christians? The group in question, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are a splinter group of the Mormon Church which decided to stay polygamous when the rest of the church decided to ban the practice.

Religious Tolerance: Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Rick Ross' "Cult" Website: Polygamist Groups
Wikipedia: Polygamy
Biblicalpolygamy.com

4 comments:

Mormons Are Christian said...

Mormons (and the FLDS) are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) - and therefore the FLDS are often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) and the FLDS adhere more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”

The Mainstream Mormon Church does not condone polygamy. Anyone found practicing it is excommunicated.

Further reading; http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/

Abdul-Halim V. said...

Since I'm not Christian I don't have a lot invested in the question of what the appropriate boundaries are. But basically I'd be on the liberal side and agree with you. In my opinion, LDS, FLDS, Jehovah's Witnesses, Rastas Swedenborgians, Quakers, Christian Identity people and plenty of others can be called "Christian" if they want to be.

I think that First Century Christianity was alot more diverse than people realize though and there were many radically different groups even during New Testament times.

I'm curious about what you mean by "credal Christians"? Do you mean the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed or something else?

I would also tend to have a different notion about polygamy.

sondjata said...

I have issues with the whole presentation of that mess in Texas being done through a polygamist lens. I see no problem with a man marrying multiple women, provided they all agree.

What this is a case of, as far as the evidence is concerned, is child abuse which has mothing to do with polygamy.

But I think I see and agree with your point in regards to identifying them as Christians since I have no doubt that had this been a Muslim group that would have figured prominently in the reporting.

Abdul-Halim V. said...

Exactly. Polygamous relationships are susceptible to certain kinds of problems, but if everyone goes into it with their eyes open I think it should be allowed. The more salient issue in this Texas case is the child abuse (and rape) involved, which would be wrong even if it were non-polygamous marriage.