My evolving list of topics/questions on religion.

Hard questions.  Hard answers.  Understanding what one believes is not always as easy as just showing up to church on Sunday.  

1. So, you believe in Christianity.  Why?  Why not Islam?
2. Why is Jesus any better to believe in than Mohammad?
3. Religion has spread throughout history through violence.  The reason the west is Christian and the east is Hindu/Buddhist has to do with Constantine institutionalizing religion and the Catholic church enforcing religion during the middle ages. 
4. The appeal to natural law is an appeal to the baser instinct.  Our feeling toward a perceived evil act is simply a biological response given our instinct to survive.  We want to live, so we create laws to ensure that this 'evil' is controlled.
5. People are good by nature.  People are indoctrinated, like those who believe in the Nazis, and as a result, do bad things.
6. What is truth?
7. How is believing in God any different than believing in pink elephants?
8. The Mayans believed in a number of odd rituals.  Modern society no longer believes in the Mayan gods.  Why?  Because we have new information.  Religion changes as new information is present.  Fast forward 100 years and maybe we'll all believe differently.  Were the Mayans wrong for believing what they believed?  How are you confident that your religion will be any different than the Mayan religion over time?

Wilberforce Award & Reaching the Cultural Elites for Christ

An author I have come to to respect and appreciate, Eric Metaxes, has recently taken over for Chuck Colson at Breakpoint.  His most recent Breakpoint discusses the next unreached people group, the cultural elites.  Culture is largely driven by those who have the money, power, and material gains in this life.  Reaching these individuals with an intellectual articulate defense of the Gospel mixed with the love of Christ is essential to winning back the culture from its bent toward religion-free living.

Metaxes wrote a book on William Wilberforce, a leader in Britain during the early 1800's to abolish the slave trade and reform society from a number of social ills.  Each year, the William Wilberforce Award is presented by Prison Fellowship, the group formally led by Chuck Colson.  Below is what the award represents, an award we should all strive to obtain.

Criteria:

• Making a significant impact on the social ills of the day through personal effort, skill, and influence;
• Showing perseverance and selflessness in combating injustice, even to the point of willingness to sacrifice personal comfort, career, and reputation;
• Making a positive change in the values and character of society--"reforming manners"--through personal witness, example, and education;
• serving as an exemplary witness for Christ

The winner for 2012 was Joni Eareckson Tada.

Breakpoint by Eric Metaxes:

Yesterday I told you that not all New Yorkers sleep in on Sunday mornings. Increasing numbers of them can be found in the churches popping up all over the city.

But Christian outreach to what I call “the next unreached people group” isn't limited to Sunday mornings: Christian ideas and worldview are also getting a hearing here, too.

One example is “Socrates in the City,” which I have the privilege of hosting. Our goal is to provide a setting in which busy and successful professionals can think about life’s most important questions.
About once a month, writers and other thinkers speak about what we jokingly call “life, God, and other small topics.” Speakers have included N.T. Wright, Francis Collins, Os Guinness, and our own Chuck Colson. The topics have included “Making Sense out of Suffering,” “The Concept of Evil after 9-11,” and “Can a Scientist Pray?”

Another great example is the New Canaan Society (NCS) started by my friend Jim Lane, and me sort of. His goal is to help men in the marketplace with the issues he had encountered as a Goldman Sachs executive: “over-achievement stress, relationship failures at home, addictions, personal struggles,” and difficulties in genuinely caring for other people.

NCS has grown from a handful of men meeting in Jim’s home to more than 800 at our most recent retreat. The combination of “trustworthy friendship, allegiance to Jesus, and safety among their peers” has led to transformed lives and transformed workplaces.

Using words like “successful professionals” and “cultural elites” around some Christians can invoke suspicion. While I understand the misgivings, I also understand that the kind of cultural change we aspire to can’t be achieved without reaching out to these elites.

After all, God is no respecter or persons. That works both ways. For good or for ill, it is the cultural elites who determine much of what goes on in the rest of the culture, who can set the tone and content of the cultural conversation. Changing the tone of that conversation requires a concerted outreach to cultural elites.
William Wilberforce understood this: If anything, the situation in late 18^th century England was worse than the situation in our day. Cultural elites, while nominally Christian, were every bit as hostile to Christian ideas as ours are.

Yet Wilberforce knew that without these elites, ending the slave trade was impossible. So, instead of disdaining them or turning up their noses at the debaucheries of figures like Charles Fox, Wilberforce and his friends befriended them. They viewed themselves as God’s ambassadors and missionaries within the elite culture of their day.

This missionary effort was helped by the fact that people like Wilberforce, Edward James Eliot, and Hannah More were themselves elites. They were a veritable pantheon of big shots, and without their societal stature, the causes they championed simply could not have succeeded.

Of course, this pantheon only existed because someone had reached out to them. In Wilberforce’s case it was John Newton, best-known for the hymn “Amazing Grace.” This one conversion set in motion a process that eventually changed the world.

That’s the goal of efforts like “Socrates in the City.” Because who knows? Perhaps the next Wilberforce is a member of the next unreached people group living in places like New York. I, for one, intend to keep looking for him or her.

Mormonism V. Christianity

Worldviews.  The battle of Ideas.  Truth.

The battle for the hearts and souls of mankind have been and will continue to be won with words, despite those efforts of the select few who seek to squash free religious expression through intimidation, fear, and violence.  People, individuals, want to discern the facts on their own and decide what view point on reality best fits their observations of the facts that we are presented.  The Big 4 questions surrounding worldviews:

Meaning:  What is the purpose of life?
Origins:    How did we get here?
Morality:  What is Good, What is Evil?
Destiny:   Where do we go when we die?


One belief system has come about out of the roots of Christianity, a product of a series of visions made to its founder Joseph Smith in 1805.  In 200 years they've grown from just 1 to about 10 million.  Below is a good synopsis of what they believe and the major difference between Mormonism and Christianity.

Summary:  They are NOT the same thing. Understand the differences and determine for yourself what represents the TRUTH. 

From Summit.org

WORLDWIDE PRESENCE

Originating in America, and now headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) is one of the fastest growing pseudo-Christian religions in the world, with a presence in 140 nations and 21 territories and possessions.
As of December 31, 1996, the church claimed a worldwide membership of 9,694,549, surely reaching 10 million by the end of 1997. The church also claimed:
52,938 full-time missionaries throughout the world
90 partial or complete translations of the Book of Mormon
49 temples in use, with 15 more planned or under construction around the world
Needless to say, Mormonism has grown from a small aberrant sect into the significance of a world religion.

THE FOUNDING

Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder and first prophet of the Mormon church, was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. The Smith family migrated to western New York, near Palmyra, in 1816. It was there that Joseph spent his teenage years.

As Joseph recounted, when he was fourteen years old (1820), he became concerned as to which church to join. The different churches in his area were at odds with one another, each claiming to be the true church. After reading James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (KJV) — he went into the woods to prayerfully ask God which church he should join.

According to Joseph, while praying in the woods near his home, he received his "first vision" of God. As he was battling the powers of darkness, he was delivered when a pillar of light descended upon him. Two personages appeared in the pillar of light. Although they never explicitly identified themselves, Joseph described the personages as God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. He asked the Son which church he should join. Claimed Joseph, "I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong . . . that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt. . . ." (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith — History 1:19).

In September of 1823 Joseph allegedly received several visitations from the angel Moroni (reportedly, a resurrected prophet/warrior). According to Moroni, God had chosen Joseph to be the prophet of the restoration. He was to restore the power and authority of the priesthood, and translate a book containing an account of the origin and history of the former inhabitants of Central America. This book contained an alleged account of the resurrected Jesus visiting these people. But it was not until 1827 that Joseph was lead by the angel Moroni to unearth the golden plates, upon which was inscribed the text of the Book of Mormon in "Reformed Egyptian."

In May of 1829, while in the process of translating the golden plates, Joseph Smith and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, decided to pray and ask God about baptism and the authority to baptize (they had read of it in the Book of Mormon). As they prayed, a light engulfed them and John the Baptist allegedly appeared. He bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood upon both Joseph and Oliver — authorizing them to preach the gospel and to baptize and administer the sacraments. But this priesthood was only one of two priesthoods reportedly granted to Joseph. Being the lesser, it did not authorize the laying on of hands, nor did it authorize the reestablishment of the true church.

Sometime in 1829 or 1830, Joseph and Oliver prayed and were answered in another vision. This time, the apostles Peter, James and John are said to have appeared to bestow the Melchizedek Priesthood (the more authoritative priesthood) upon both Joseph and Oliver.

On April 6, 1830, the "Church of Christ" was established in Fayette, New York, and the new church quickly grew. (The current name of the church — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — was adopted in 1834.) In 1831, the church began constructing its first temple in Kirkland, Ohio. But after a few years, opposition to the church grew strong, and in 1838 the church migrated to Independence, Missouri.

In 1839 the church established the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, which soon grew to be one of the largest cities in the state, second only to Chicago. It was here that Joseph's practice of polygamy became known to the public. Because of this practice, in addition to several doctrinal changes, opposition to Joseph and his church increased among members and non-members alike.

After being excommunicated from the church for opposing Joseph's polygamy and unbiblical teachings (e.g. a plurality of gods), William Law, a citizen of Nauvoo, along with several associates, founded The Nauvoo Expositor (a newspaper exposing these doctrines and practices of the "fallen prophet"). Upon the newspaper's first issue, Joseph, as mayor of the city, declared the press a public nuisance. The city marshal, along with hundreds of Mormon men, destroyed the press and office of the Expositor. This event eventually led to Joseph's incarceration in Carthage, Illinois.

On June 27, 1844, an armed mob attacked the Carthage jail. Although Joseph shot three of the intruders (killing two) with a handgun that had been smuggled into the jail, both he and his brother, Hiram, were overwhelmed and killed.

Following Joseph's death, great confusion arose as to who would be his successor. Two factions gained significant control. One group, lead by Joseph's widow, Emma, and her son, Joseph Smith, III, parted and settled in Missouri. They are known today as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The second and larger group was led by Brigham Young to the Utah Territory. It is known today as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

MORMON SCRIPTURES

Four books comprise the scriptures of the Mormon church; these are known as "The Standard Works": the Bible (King James Version), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

The Bible

The eighth Article of Faith of the Mormon church reads, "We believe the Bible to be the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" (emphasis added). Although Mormons believe the Bible is the word of God, they believe that the text has been corrupted by the errors of copyists and translators. They also believe that key doctrines, even entire books, have been omitted over the course of its transmission. As stated in the Book of Mormon, "Wherefore, thou seest that after the book [the Bible] hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God" (1 Nephi 13:28). Thus they deny that the Bible is wholly trustworthy and reliable.

The Book of Mormon

First published in 1830, the Book of Mormon was given a new subtitle in 1972: "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." Supposedly translated from "reformed Egyptian" (an unverified language) inscribed on golden plates, this book alleges that the resurrected Jesus Christ visited the Americas. It also contains selections of the history of the inhabitants of the ancient Americas. Two groups are primary to the narrative: the Nephites, who were mainly faithful to God; and the Lamanites, who were enemies both of God and the Nephites. As these two groups battled, the Lamanites gained victory over the Nephites. One of the last living Nephites, Moroni (the angel who allegedly appeared to Joseph), buried golden plates in the hill Cumorah — located in upstate New York. These plates contained the Book of Mormon.
While Mormons hold strong allegiance to the Book of Mormon, it is interesting to note that it contains very little distinctly Mormon doctrine. It does not teach a plurality of gods, that humans may progress to godhood, temple marriage, or baptism for the dead.

The Doctrine and Covenants

First published in its present form in 1870, the Doctrine and Covenants is a compilation of modern revelations, primarily received by Joseph Smith. It consists of 138 "sections" (individual revelations), and two "Official Declarations" (one delivered in 1890 by the fourth President of the church, Wilford Woodruff, disallowing polygamous marriages, and one delivered in 1978 by the twelfth President, Spencer W. Kimball, allowing black males to hold the priesthoods of the church).
Unlike the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants presents several distinctively Mormon doctrines. For example, it teaches there are three levels of heaven (Section 76); the Word of Wisdom (Section 89); the practice of baptism for the dead (Sections 124, 127, 128); that God the Father has a body of flesh and bone just like humans (Section 130); the necessity of temple marriage (Celestial Marriage) for all eternity (Section 131); polygamy and godhood (Section 132); and missionary work in the spirit world (Section 138).

The Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of Great Price is a compilation of several different writings: selections from the Book of Moses (a reworking of Genesis); the Book of Abraham (allegedly translated by Joseph Smith from ancient papyri; also a reworking of Genesis, teaching a plurality of gods); a brief extract from Joseph Smith's "translation" of the Bible; Joseph Smith — History (which contains accounts of Joseph's alleged visions and early persecutions); and The Articles of Faith (a vague summary of Mormon beliefs).
The beliefs of the Mormon church are based primarily on the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the numerous teachings of church leaders. They are based little on the Book of Mormon, and only verbally on the Bible. Several contemporary leaders of the church speak and write about their doctrines — expounding upon them and developing them.

MORMON BELIEF

The Great Apostasy

The Mormon church teaches that the original apostles were given the charge of teaching the gospel and establishing Christ's church. But they were often opposed and persecuted, and many were killed. Other believers also were persecuted and killed, leaving only the less faithful who were carried away by false teachings and unrighteous-ness. Because of this, God took the priesthood authority from the earth, and neither the fullness of the gospel nor the authority of the true church remained. Since no church was directed by divine revelation, many have mistaken man-made doctrines for divine revelations. Mormons call this sad state of the church the great apostasy, and they believe this apostasy persisted until the time of the restoration.

The Restoration

Mormons believe that through Joseph Smith, the true church has been restored to the earth. The priesthood authority, the fullness of the gospel, and the guidance of continuing revelation are again available in their fullness through the Mormon church.

God

The first Article of Faith of the Mormon church reads: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." While this may sound Christian at first glance, upon further examination it is found to be radically different. The Mormon church explicitly rejects the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Said Joseph Smith, "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370; emphasis added).

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

Mormons believe that our Father in heaven has not always been God, but was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood. Joseph Smith declared: "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man. . . . I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. . . . [H]e was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did. . ." (Ibid., pp. 345, 346; italics in original).
Mormons also believe that God is literally the Father of our spirits, that he is married, and that with his wives he procreates spirit children: "Our Heavenly Father and mother [sic] live in an exalted state because they achieved a celestial marriage. As we achieve a like marriage we shall become as they are and begin the creation of worlds for our own spirit children" (Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 1). They also believe that all faithful members may become gods (or goddesses), just as our heavenly Father and Mother have.

JESUS CHRIST

Mormons believe that Jesus is literally our older brother, the firstborn of our Heavenly Parents, and that he progressed to godhood while in the preexistence — before he came to earth.
The church teaches that while still in the preexistence, both Jesus and Lucifer (the second-born of our heavenly parents) offered plans of salvation. Jesus' plan was accepted and Lucifer's was rejected. Lucifer rebelled, along with one-third of the spirits in heaven (who literally are our spirit-brothers and sisters), thus becoming Satan and the demons.
The Mormon church teaches that our Father in heaven, who has a body of flesh and bone like man (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130), with Mary, procreated the human Jesus in a natural, human way. As Joseph Fielding Smith, a former prophet of the Mormon church, alludes, "Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 18).

HOLY GHOST/SPIRIT

Mormon doctrine distinguishes between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit, even though there is no biblical distinction. (This teaching actually derives from the King James Version of the Bible. The translators translated the same Greek words [hagios pneuma] sometimes "Holy Spirit" and sometimes "Holy Ghost.") The Holy Ghost is a personal being, a god, although without a body of flesh and bone. The Holy Spirit is a force of God, the "power" or "presence" of God.

Mankind

According to Mormon doctrine, all humans preexisted as spirit children of God before coming to earth. Even before we became spirits, we existed eternally as individual intelligences. Now that we have come to earth and have mortal bodies, we have the opportunity to become worthy to return to our Father in heaven and become gods. This is the core teaching of Mormonism and is called "the Law of Eternal Progression." (See, McConkie, pp. 589–590.)

THE FALL OF MANKIND

The fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary and important event. According to Mormon teaching; it allowed for us to enter a mortal state where we can become worthy to return to our Father in heaven.
The Mormon church teaches that Adam and Eve were given two conflicting commands: 1) not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; and 2) to multiply and fill the earth. Allegedly, Adam and Eve could not have children while in a state of innocence — an immortal, un-fallen state. Therefore, they could not procreate bodies for all the spirit children still in heaven. Adam and Eve had to make a choice between mortality and immortality, and Mormons believe the right choice was made when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. M. Russell Ballard, an apostle of the Mormon church, has written, "Indeed, we honor and respect Adam and Eve for their wisdom and foresight. Their lives in the Garden of Eden were blissful and pleasant; choosing to leave that behind so they and the entire human family could experience both the triumphs and travails of mortality must not have been easy. But we believe that they did choose mortality, and in so doing made it possible for all of us to participate in Heavenly Father's great eternal plan" (Ballard, 87).

The Plan of Salvation

The Mormon church's teaching on the plan of salvation is well-developed, and shows that their belief system is very different from biblical Christianity.

THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST

The Mormon church teaches that Jesus Christ made atonement for both Adam's sin and our sins. By actually making atonement for Adam's transgression, Jesus made resurrection sure for all men. By hypothetically making atonement for our sins, Jesus made it possible, if we repent, believe the Mormon gospel, and keep the commandments, to attain exaltation in the life hereafter (see Ballard, 12).
Peculiar to Mormon doctrine is the belief that the atonement of Jesus Christ took place in the Garden of Gethsemane, when "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44). It was here that he achieved spiritual redemption. Physical redemption was accomplished by Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection (see Ballard, 12).

GENERAL (UNCONDITIONAL) SALVATION

Mormons believe in two kinds of salvation: general salvation and individual salvation. General salvation is also called immortality. It is given to all mankind because of the atonement of Jesus Christ for Adam's transgression. This salvation is by grace alone — it is not conditioned upon any individual's faith or works. This salvation allows all mankind to be physically resurrected.

INDIVIDUAL (CONDITIONAL) SALVATION

This salvation is also known as exaltation or eternal life, and can be achieved only by individual faith, repentance, and obedience to God's laws and ordinances. One is exalted based on one's worthiness. These laws include temple marriage, obeying the Word of Wisdom, proper tithing, faithful church attendance, and obeying the Mormon prophets (see Gospel Principles, 289–292; see also Ballard, 88).
If one gains exaltation, then one will attain ultimate salvation according to Mormonism: one will live forever in the presence of our Father in heaven, and one will become a god. Joseph Smith taught, "Here, then, is eternal life — to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves. . . . When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel — you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 346, 348; italics in original).

Life After Death

According to Mormon doctrine, at death people either go to spirit prison or to paradise. Mormon spirits go to paradise where they will continue to progress toward godhood, and they also will have opportunities to present the Mormon gospel to the spirits in spirit prison. If the spirits in prison receive the Mormon gospel, they will also receive the benefit of proxy baptism — living Mormons will be baptized on their behalf (this is known as baptism for the dead).
With few exceptions, everyone will attain to one of three levels of heaven or heavenly kingdoms: the Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Telestial Kingdom.

THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM

Those who are faithful in the things of God — baptism, membership in the Mormon Church, keeping the Word of Wisdom, etc. — will live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost forever in the Celestial Kingdom, and will have their faithful family members with them (hence the Mormon commercials regarding "Families are Forever"). Those who attain the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom — by means of complete faithfulness, which includes temple marriage — will become gods: creators of their own planets, and procreators of their own spirit children. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:51–53, 62; 131:1–4)

THE TERRESTRIAL KINGDOM

This is the lowest of the heavenly kingdoms. The occupants did not receive the Mormon gospel either on earth or in spirit prison, and they suffer for their sins in hell, though only temporarily. They will be forever single, without their family members. Neither the Father nor Jesus Christ will visit them, but they will be visited by the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants 76:81–86, 103–106).

HELL

Mormons believe hell is a place where the future inhabitants of the Telestial Kingdom (the lowest heaven) will suffer for their own sins; though their punishment is not eternal in duration. As Joseph Fielding Smith wrote, "Those who live lives of wickedness may also be heirs of salvation, that is, they too shall be redeemed from death and from hell eventually. These, however, must suffer in hell the torments of the damned until they pay the price of their sinning, for the blood of Christ will not cleanse them" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, 133–134).

OUTER DARKNESS

Those who received the Mormon gospel and the Holy Ghost but reject both will be cast into outer darkness. Like the biblical doctrine of an eternal hell, assignment here is for all eternity (Doctrine and Covenants 76:28–35, 44–48).

Temple Work

The rites and rituals performed in Mormon temples are essential for individual salvation.

ENDOWMENT CERMONY

This is the initial ceremony of the temple. Through this ceremony individuals are believed to be endowed with divine power and special protection. One can participate in this ceremony either when embarking on a Mormon mission, or when seeking to obtain a celestial marriage.

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE

This is marriage for time and all eternity. Mormons believe this practice will allow them to live with their family members in the life hereafter. Celestial marriage is essential to attaining godhood. Worthy Mormons who attain exaltation (godhood) will, in this married state, be able to procreate spirit children to populate their own planetary system, just as their heavenly parents have.

BAPTISM OF THE DEAD

This is a practice whereby living Mormons are baptized proxy for the spirits of the dead, who are in " spirit prison" (see above, under "LIFE AFTER DEATH"). Mormon youth often participate in this ceremony.
The practice of baptism for the dead is the driving force behind Mormon genealogical research, for which they are widely known. The purpose is to gather the names of people who did not have an opportunity to become Mormons in their earthly lives, and to be baptized on their behalf.

The Word of Wisdom

The Word of Wisdom is a set of dietary rules that faithful Mormons are expected to obey. These rules are commonly summarized as abstaining from caffeinated drinks, tobacco products, alcoholic drinks, and illegal drugs. Mormons, in order to achieve the celestial kingdom, are expected to abide by the Word of Wisdom. (The original revelation also allowed the consumption of meat only in the winter, and then only sparingly. Most Mormons take no heed of this and other elements of the Word of Wisdom.) (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89).

COMPARISON CHART

MORMONISM	CHRISTIANITY
Many Gods Joseph Smith taught, "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 370; emphasis added).	One Trinitarian God The Bible teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God (John 1:1; 20:28) and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3–4); and that they are distinct Persons in the Godhead — not to be confused with one another (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4–6). There is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 1 Corinthians 8:4).
God, Once a Man, Progressed to Godhood Joseph Smith taught, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man. . . . I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. . . . [H]e was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did. . ." (Ibid., 345, 346; italics in original).	God Has Always Been God God has always been God (Genesis 21:33; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 40:28). God is spirit, not an exalted man with flesh and bone (John 4:24; Luke 24:39; Hosea 11:9; Numbers 23:19). God does not change (Malachi 3:6), nor does he grow in knowledge (Isaiah 40:13). There is none like him, he is unique, he is the only true God (Exodus 8:10; 2 Samuel 7:22; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6–8; 45:5, 21–22; 46:9; 1 Corinthians 8:5). (Note that though Jesus, being God, did become human in his incarnation [John 1:1, 14], this is quite different from a man progressing to become a god.)
Humans Can Become Gods Joseph Smith taught, "Here, then, is eternal life — to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you" (Ibid., 346).	Humans Cannot Become Gods Men cannot become gods (Isaiah 43:10). Man is a created being, unlike God — who has always been (Genesis 21:33). God will not share his glory with another (Isaiah 42:8).
Humans Were Procreated in the Preexistence M. Russell Ballard wrote, "Before the world was created, we all lived as the spirit children of our Heavenly Father [and Mother]. Through a natural process of inheritance we received in embryo the traits and attributes of our Heavenly Father" (Ballard, Our Search for Happiness, 70). Mormons also infer this from the preexistence of Jesus Christ.	Humans Were Created Humans are created, not procreated, by God (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). Our existence begins in the womb of our mothers (Psalm 139:13). Humans cannot compare themselves to Jesus and his preexistence, for they are not deity by nature, as is Jesus. He preexisted because he is God (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; 17:5; Philippians 2:6–7). Jesus alone is from heaven, we are from the earth (John 3:13, 31; 8:23–24).
A Complete Apostasy of the Church M. Russell Ballard wrote, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God's full authority was lost from the earth for centuries following the mortal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . In short, the church Christ organized gradually disintegrated, and the fullness of the gospel was lost" (Ibid., 26, 31).	The Church Remains Forever In Matthew 16:18 Jesus declared, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Given that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, we can trust that this promise would not fail (Matthew 28:18). While there are several passages that refer to an apostasy, it is never said to be a universal or complete apostasy (e.g., Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). Rather, we know that God will be glorified in the Church throughout all ages (Ephesians 3:21), and that Christians have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28; cf. Daniel 2:44).
The Bible is Corrupted and Incomplete Gordon B. Hinckley wrote, "Latter-day Saints recognize that errors have crept into this sacred work because of the manner in which the book has come to us. Moreover, they regard it as not being complete as a guide" (Hinckley, What of the Mormons?, 26).	The Bible is Reliable and Sufficient God has promised that his word, the Bible, would stand forever (Isaiah 40:3). We know that his word is true (John 17:17), contains wisdom unto salvation, and thoroughly equips God's people for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15–17). God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2).
Works Necessary to Live with God Forever (Salvation) M Russell Ballard wrote, "Jesus Christ accomplished two incomparable feats through His atoning sacrifice. First, He conquered death, and as a result all people will have the privilege of everlasting life with a resurrected body. Second, He suffered the burden and pains of our sins so that we might have the privilege of eternal life in the presence of God if we have faith in Christ as our Savior and choose to repent of our sins and keep His commandments" (Ballard, Our Search for Happiness, 88).	Salvation is Based on the Righteousness of Christ The Bible never interprets mere resurrection as salvation (John 5:29). Those who receive Jesus will have eternal life, but the wrath of God remains on those who reject him (John 3:36). While Christians are called to keep God's commandments (e.g. John 14:15), salvation is in no way based on our own righteous deeds (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5–8). It is through the atonement of Christ that we are made perfect (Hebrews 10:13–18). The atonement took place, not in the Garden of Gethsemane but through his blood shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 2:24).
Heaven(s) There are three heavenly kingdoms: the celestial, terrestrial and telestial. Mormons argue for this belief from 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 and 2 Corinthians 12:2 (where the apostle Paul says he was caught up to the "third heaven"). See "Three Levels of Heaven" under "The Beliefs of Mormonism" above.	Heaven The context of 1 Corinthians 15:40–41 is the contrast between resurrection (celestial or heavenly) and pre-resurrection (terrestrial or earthly) bodies, not heavenly kingdoms. The Bible does speak of three heavens: the atmospheric heaven, where birds fly and from which the rains fall (Genesis 7:23;8:2); the astronomic heaven, where the stars and planets reside (Genesis 1:14, 15; 22:17); and the third heaven, the throne of God (Matthew 6:9; Revelation 4:2).
Hell Joseph Fielding Smith wrote, "Those who live lives of wickedness may also be heirs of salvation, that is, they too shall be redeemed from death and from hell eventually. These, however, must suffer in hell the torments of the damned until they pay the price of their sinning, for the blood of Christ will not cleanse them" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, 133–134).	Hell One's abode in hell is as eternal as one's abode in heaven (Matthew 25:46). There is no second chance after death (Hebrews 9:27). At the final judgment, men either receive the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29) — they are assigned either to heaven or hell.

Natural Law: Cicero

Natural Law

The Roman philosopher Cicero, neither a Jew or Christian made many observations on natural law, and was often cited by the founding fathers in their writings.  The fundamental key point he espouses is that reason is unique to human beings and akin to the reasoning power of his Creator.  Animals do not share the same our reasoning capabilities.  Between man and other creatures there is a gigantic gap insofar as mental processes is concerned.


We make laws to inflict punishment and protect the good, but those laws we make are made in order to bring what we see in Nature in harmony with what Nature should be.  If that was not the case, and in fact we make law unto ourselves, why then do we not see laws that ordain what is bad such as rape, murder, stealing, etc?  Yes, we have had periods of time when laws have been passed that made such actions legal (ie Germany in WWII), but when history is taken as a whole, these periods of time are viewed by humans as evil and contrary to 'right reason.'

We constantly appeal to nature's law when we write our own laws, that is what Cicero is getting at.  Cicero further makes the point that Justice can never be achieved through laws that are passed in violation of standards set up under the laws of Nature. 

I would also say in concurrence with Cicero's observations that the conscience bears witness to that truth, that their is a natural law that governs the universe, which is why we feel guilt or shame when we do commit certain acts of violence. 

Cicero Quotes:

• No un-just laws are passed:

“But if the principles of justice were founded on the decrees of peoples, the edicts of princes, or the decisions of judges, then Justice would sanction robbery and adultery and forgery of wills, in case these acts were approved by the votes or decrees of the populace. But if so great a power belongs to the decisions and decrees of fools that the laws of Nature can be changed by their votes, then why do they not ordain that what is bad and baneful shall be considered good and salutary? Or, if a law can make justice out of injustice, can it not also make good out of bad? 

• Natural Law defined by Cicero:

“The animal which we call man, endowed with foresight and quick intelligence, complex, keen, possessing memory, full of reason and prudence, has been given a certain distinguished status by the Supreme God who created him; for he is the only one among so many different kinds and varieties of living beings who has a share in reason and thought while all the rest are deprived of it. But what is more divine, I will not say in man only, but in all heaven and earth, than reason? And reason, when it is full grown and perfected, is rightly called wisdom. Therefore, since there is nothing better than reason, and since it exists both in man and God, the first common possession of man and God is reason. But those who have reason in common must also have right reason in common. And since right reason is Law, we must believe that men have Law also in common with the gods. Further, those who share Law must also share Justice; and those who share these are to be regarded as members of the same commonwealth. If indeed they obey the same authorities and powers, this is true in a far greater degree; but as a matter of fact they do obey this celestial system, the divine mind, and of the God of transcendent power. Hence we must now conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.”

• Cicero: True law=Natural Law

"True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrong-doing by its prohibitions. And it does not lay its commands or prohibitions upon good men in vain, though neither have any effect on the wicked. It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to attempt to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely. We cannot be freed from its obligations by senate or people, and we need not look outside ourselves for an expounder or interpreter of it. And there will not be different laws at Rome and at Athens, or different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is, God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge. Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of this very fact he will suffer the worst penalties, even if he escapes what is commonly considered punishment."

More Cicero quotes can be found at OurRepublic.

Other Notions of Natural Law:

Secular Humanistic Law
Two significant assumptions undergird Humanistic legal theory. First, God does not exist therefore there is no transcendent, fixed moral standard or absolute source of rights. The basis of traditional theistic morality is an illusion and therefore harmful. Some humanists argue theistic based law is immoral because traditionally it represses man’s need to freely express himself.

The second humanistic assumption is man is a perfectible, evolving, self-transforming animal. Because man is good, evil is the result of bad social constructs. Law is a tool whereby man can shape society and further man’s evolutionary progress. Man is perfectly capable of making up laws to regulate his civil relationships without reference to God.

This legal philosophy was most clearly articulated by view jurist Oliver Wendell Holms, (March 8, 1841 – March 6, 1935) who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He writes, “I see no reason for attributing to man a significance different from that which belongs to a baboon or a grain of sand.”

So, if we are merely evolved animals from whence do we get our rights? Humanists appeal to an evolutionary version of natural law theory. They assert there is one true morality that binds all mankind. Societal evolution can account for natural law, but it is an ever-evolving law. So, “common sense” must determine what constitutes natural law based on their results. This is called pragmatism.
If men aren’t endowed with unalienable rights by the Creator whose “common sense” get’s to determine what are man’s rights and duties? Who gets to decide what works and doesn’t? Answer: The man/men with the power to back up their opinions with the barrel of a gun.

Humanists argue legal theory is based entirely on human reason. This is called legal positivism. The authority for law and rights resides in the state. Thus the state becomes de facto God. Legal reality and truth are what the state decrees. Combine legal positivism with evolution and you get capricious, arbitrary laws. There is no authority above the state to which citizens can appeal when the state becomes tyrannical.

New Age Humanism
While New Age mystical humanists are more focused on inner subjective enlightenment, it has legal implications. Because all of reality is divine, man becomes the epicenter of all authority. There can be no outside imposition of law or restraint as that might inhibit man’s self-actualization as god. Each man is in effect his own god and source of his own self-law.

As your inner awareness and enlightenment grows, any rules that you may have previously agreed to abide by may not be agreeable to you any more. To obey rules you disagree with is to deny your godhood. Man must do what feels right to him at the moment. Eventually, a sufficiently enlightened society will no longer need law. Reliance on God’s law is considered unenlightened. Because man is essentially good, outside laws restrict the full expression of man’s goodness and godhood.

Islam
Islam has a very comprehensive, complex and detailed legal tradition that covers all of a Muslim’s life. Their system of law is called Sharia. Of forty-eight nations considered not free, twenty-five of them are Muslim. The world’s freest nations with the highest regard for human rights are those that have been impacted by Christianity. Islam denies non-Muslims equality and freedom. Muslim men enjoy special status over non-Muslim men and all women. Religious minorities are subjected to a special tax, if they are even allowed to exist. They deny original sin, so all men are capable of saving themselves by complying with Allah’s law.

For more please see these summaries on law.

Buddhism vs. Christianity

Picture from Wikipedia


The pursuit of truth is often a winding road, unpaved, and marked with signs of discovery along the way.  The most priceless commodity in the world? The Truth.  Therefore, we should, above all else pursue it, should we not?

Given the fact that all of us will face death, some sooner rather than later, we should be inclined to study not just what the culture nearest us believes, but what others around the world near and far profess to be the Truth.  While each belief system can enlighten us to the true nature of Truth, not all religions can provide us with the Truth.  The fundamentals are entirely different, as the poet Steve Turner once said, "We believe that all religions are basically the same, at least the one we read was. They all believe in love and goodness, they only differ on matters of creation, sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation."

Reading into the comparison of Buddhism and Christianity is a hypothetical conversation between Buddha and Jesus in relation to the topic of sin and pain in the book, The Lotus and the Cross by Ravi Zacharias.  A good summary can be found at facetofacecultural.  

The key difference, perhaps the fundamental difference is the response to sin. 

Buddhism in large has a response that looks within while the Christian looks to Christ.  Both belief systems recognize this need for reforming the inner heart, take a read of the following quote from one the leading Buddist scholars in the world:

Ikeda's Buddhist-inspired believes that a profound inner reformation not only enables a person to successfully form creative and constructive responses to the harsh realities of everyday life, but also enables him or her to lead contributive lives in the service of other people, is a theme that is central to all his writings.


-Daisaku Ikeda, writer of over 100 books and a scholar on the topic of Buddhism.  

The need to reform is evident, our sin nature compels us to find the answer.  In Buddhism, the answer must come from within.  We must look within and eventually become one with our self, like the picture at the top of the page.  We find reformation through right living and the elimination of our  desires--ie 'sin' or 'wrong' that conflicts our minds. 

Christianity on the other hand presents Christ and the conquering of sin and death at the cross.  It is only through the cross that we find victory over sin and death.  Can we erase our sin? Can time forgive our past transgressions?  Christianity states that even our 'good deeds are like filthy rags' and that we can never repay our sins as we are measured against a perfect and holy law.  Thus, the reformation must come from without, from a perfect sacrifice that can only pay the debt of a perfect law.

Both moral living and good conduct are important, but in Christianity it is the outworking of our salvation, while in Buddhism it is central to it.  Essentially in Buddhism, we must earn our own salvation through the practice of the four noble truths in order to become one with our self and enter into Nirvana (the ultimate state of being released from desire).  Christ turns that on its head, shines the light on our dark soul, and our conscience bears truth to the fact that salvation cannot come by works and can only come from outside of ourselves. 

A summary here on comparison between the two faiths.


From Equip.org

The year was 1893. The place was Chicago. Buddhists had arrived from the East to attend the inaugural World’s Parliament of Religions. While their contingent was sizable, they were vastly outnumbered by Bible believers from the West. One hundred years later, at the centennial celebration of the original Parliament, Buddhists outnumbered Baptists and saffron robes were more common than Christian clerical clothing. Given its growing impact, it is important to grasp basic Buddhist beliefs and use them as springboards for sharing the liberating truth of the gospel.

First, Buddhism, a historical offshoot of Hinduism, teaches adherents to seek refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Embracing the triple gem is to find refuge in Buddha who became the “enlightened one” for this age during a deep state of meditation under a bodhi tree; to find refuge in the Buddha’s teaching—dharma; and to find refuge in the community of Buddhist priests—sangha—who guide devotees along the path to enlightenment.

Furthermore, the essence of Buddhism is summed up in the Four Noble Truths: 1) all life is suffering (dukkha); 2) the source of suffering is desire and attachment because all is impermanent; 3) liberation from suffering is found in the elimination of desire; 4) desire is eliminated by following the eightfold path.

In sharp contrast to the Buddhist teaching that we must eliminate desire, the Bible teaches that we must exercise disciplines in order to transform our desires.
Finally, the eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness, and right meditation. By following this path through many reincarnations, Buddhists hope to erase karmic debt and achieve the nirvanic realization of “no self,” thus attaining liberation from suffering and escaping the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth (samsara).

In sharp contrast to the Buddhist teaching that we must eliminate desire, the Bible teaches that we must exercise disciplines in order to transform our desires (Romans 6:17–19). Ultimately, suffering is not overcome through stamping out the self, but through the selfless sacrifice of a sinless Savior.

 Check out the following as well on the parallels between Buddhism and Christianity.

Buddhist-Christian Parallels

Parallel Beginnings
God	the Unconditioned
Heaven	Nirvana
Jesus (Yeshua of Nazareth)	Gautama (Siddartha Gautama)
Jewish founder of Christianity	Hindu founder of Buddhism
virgin birth account	virgin birth account
tempted by Satan	tempted by Mara
Good News of the Kingdom of God	the Dharma (law) of Liberation
Sermon on the Mount	Sermon of "Turning the Wheel of Dharma"
taught in parables	taught in parables
Feet kissed by Mary Magdalene	Feet kissed by Pasanedi
Betrayed by Judas	Betrayed by Devadatta
Crucified	possibly poisoned
Ascension	Parinirvana
the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ)	the Awakened One (Buddha, Enlightened)
Savior	Bodhisattva
Parallel developments
the Church	the Sangha
Gospels	Sutras
Bible	Tripitaka, Prajna Paramita, and many other writings
Apostolic succession	Lineage of dharma transmission
Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Constantine	Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Ashoka
Church councils	Buddhist councils
missionaries	missionaries
monasteries	monasteries
After flourishing in the Middle East, now a minority religion in area of its birth	After flourishing in India, now a minority religion in area of its birth
Parallel Paths
agape (spiritual love)	maitri (lovingkindness)
the world	samsara
Purification (Purgatory)	Rebirth (Reincarnation)
hell	hell realms
imago Dei (image of God)	Buddha-nature
Christ within you	Realizing your Buddha-nature
Theosis/Deification	Awakening, Enlightenment
the Way	the Dharma
chant	chant
prayer candles	prayer flags
saints	buddhas, bodhisattvas
angels	devas
demons	demons
relics	relics
Shroud of Turin	Buddha's Tooth
Four Spiritual Laws	Four Noble Truths
10 Commandments	Eightfold Path
rosaries	rosaries (malas)
icons	icons (thangkas)
statues	statues
the "Jesus Prayer"	nembutsu
Sign of the Cross	Taking Refuge
contemplation	meditation
New Jerusalem	Western Paradise
sin	dukkha (unsatisfactoriness)
Parallel Schools???
Eastern Orthodoxy (teachings of the Church Fathers)	Theravada (teachings of the Elders)
devotional Catholicism (saints, Heaven)	Kwan Yin, Amitabha, Pure Land (enlightened beings, Paradise)
Mysticism (direct experience of God)	Zen (direct experience of the Ultimate)
Protestantism (Scripture and salvation)	Nichiren, Pure Land (Scripture and salvation)
Charismatic / Pentecostal (enthusiasm)	Vajrayana (enthusiasm)

Another link, the Buddhist association for peace, culture, and education in America: SGA-USA. 
Wikipedia on Nichiren Buddhism