Quote Originally Posted by Stuart View Post
Mormons are just Christians who have more modern books. Joseph Smith was just a more recent profit. I always cringe when people bash the story of Joseph Smith reading testament off of plates, yet know that the same person has no problem believing in What's His Name interpreting specific things from a dewy piece of fleece. What's the deal with that? The Mormon's effort to bring Christianity out of an ancient grave by the addition of more recent stories and profits seems like a great idea and the most logical progression of any religion. I'd think it would be much more popular than people make it out to be.
Not exactly. They have changed some basic tenets of Christian beliefs to make their version their own. It isn't basic Christianity with a couple updates, there are some significant differences. I'm not saying this to bash them, and I'm not saying they're not good folks. I know a few myself.

I will say this: if you start looking into some of their history, there are some areas they really don't like outsiders to get into, like Brother Brigham's avenging angels for example. And their dispensing with the polygamy thing had more to do with better fitting into society than deciding that there was something wrong with it.

I will assume that you don't have a large amount of knowledge about Christianity from what you've said. I'm not judging, I'm just saying. The Mormon folks are certainly welcome to believe as they choose. But I'm here to tell you that Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, and company are NOT "just more recent prophets" to me. That'd be like saying that Obama is just a more recent conservative. Those may be their prophets, but they aren't mine.

You're making a good argument to be a religious "progressive". That's fine. But I'm one of those who doesn't believe that "progressive" politicians are trying to help us by re-interpreting the Second Amendment and the rest of the Constitution, and I don't believe that everyone should be constantly re-interpreting the Bible, and adding or changing whatever makes them feel good.

Lots of folks seem to think that it's OK to change things to be what they want them to be, or redefine things to be more convenient, or whatever, as long as it makes them what they want them to be or doesn't affect them. I tend to think that the Constitution means what it says, and doesn't need to be constantly re-interpreted. Same with the Bible. I think it's ironic that Federal Laws are called the "U.S. Code", because it's written in such a way that you're forced to hire interpreters (lawyers) in an effort to try to make sense of it, and what you get is, once again, someone's interpretation.

There are plenty of people who call themselves "Christians" out there who give everyone else who calls themself a Christian a bad name. Those whackjobs out in Kansas who protest at the funerals of Servicemembers who've given the ultimate sacrifice come to mind. Everyone sees what they do and immediately associates ALL people who call themselves Christian with them. But I will observe that calling yourself something does not automatically make you that thing. And I seriously doubt that Christ would condone what those folks in Kansas do.

Just my opinion.