Claiming Christ: Evangelical – Mormon Dialogue

Thanks, Clark. I find that the metaphysical views that Mormonism holds changes the discussion in many ways. For example the concept of multiple levels of heaven is often rejected by other Christians, because Enoch and others who speak of multiple heavens are often talking about the cosmos. Well, for Mormons, it is one and the same thing!
Many in the discussion attack Mormonism on many smaller points (perhaps creation ex nihilo is the exceptional big point), particularly on the Book of Mormon, not realizing that we mainly focus on the Book of Mormon’s Christology, and not whether DNA proves American Indians to be descendants of Lehi or not. How many Gospel Doctrine classes focus on Christ, versus those focused on semantics?
While Richard Bushman and some others propose we be considered a fourth Abrahamic religion, I see that as a potential problem, as it doesn’t take into account our focus on Christ. Of the three Abrahamic religions, only one really deals with Christ. So, it does make an issue on whether we should be labeled Christian or something else, as we are very intensely focused on Christ in our discourse, but in a very different way than other Christians do.

Clark, I really appreciate the post. Yes, interreligious dialogue between Evangelicals and Mormons (and others) can be extremely useful and beneficial; not only in coming to mutual understanding about each others faiths, but in better understanding one’s own faith.

As I side note, I echo your sentiment about getting past stereotypes, especially if our goal is better understand one another. To see each other’s doctrines as silly or irrational is perhaps the easiest thing that anyone can do, and there is a long history of doing so. It is unfortunate since these ideas provide such a rich opportunity to contemplate the questions that religious systems raise. The dual nature of Christ for example, it is true, can be offered up as an example of how religious ideas seem strange to outsiders. However, the doctrine has a rationality and like most Christian doctrines needs to be understood in the context of Christian history. I think that even Latter-day Saints can appreciate the struggle of early Christian thinkers as they have reflected upon the deposit of faith.

One of Webb’s observations that I enjoyed was that Mormonism could be understood as “an alternative history of a post-Nicene development of pre-Nicene theology.” This is not only extremely insightful but extremely useful. We often only see the end product of the traditional post-Nicene development without understanding or appreciating that development itself. Understanding that development, and what can account for this outcome of development, cannot but enhance the appreciation by Latter-day Saints as they reflect upon their own doctrine.

Amen to this post! (especially what you say about getting past stereotypes)

Maybe it’s because I have family members who are of another Christian faith, but I feel that it is very good to have dialogue with each other (as mormons and Christians) and learn about the things we have in common. I’ve found that it is very helpful for my faith and walk with God b/c I learn much from my friends of other faiths that I wouldn’t within the Church.

#4 shared one of my posts on this subject, but I have others as well (and more coming)