"in 5th grade, sex is just a barely recognizable concept to them"
Are you kidding me? I have a hard time believing some of the things my pediatrician associates are encountering on a regular basis relating to increasing sexual activity in young children. Kind of depressing. I doubt it's due to magazines headlines in the supermarket, but I think it's pretty obvious that the world we live in is becoming increasingly sexualized and that it is impacting children and adolescents more than most people in this thread would like to admit. For better or worse only time will tell. Perhaps Irish Samurai is forgetting how smart kids are (or forgets how curious he/she was when younger) and their ability to draw their own conclusions from what we assume they don't understand. Unfortunately, a lot of parents are failing to equip their children with the tools to make sense of the rather explicit messages children encounter on a daily basis and a free pass has been given to the media in the name of free speech. The best thing to do is for parents to teach children age-appropriate principles relating to healthy sexuality and encourage businesses and media to self-censor. True: sex sells. But does being so much more explicit make that much more money? If anything it devalues the excitement they use to attract attention, and the next time around they have to up the ante.
While Mormonism has distinct differences from other Christian groups, I think we fit quite nicely the Wikipedia description of Christianity. Be aware that Christianity is defined much more broadly than the modern ecumenical evangelical movement that seems now to blur what were once fierce differences between Baptist, Lutheran, and other western denominations. Think not only Catholic, but Coptic Christian, Eastern Orthodox, and other non-protestant traditions. Differences have always existed among the denominations (that's why people kept starting new churches!). But there is always the shared commitment to following and studying the life of Christ, who we believe to be the Son of God. Hopefully the following breakdown is instructive (I apologize for the length):
1. Monotheism - CHECK "But Mormons believe in more than one God!" This protest is based on our doctrine of eternal progression whereby those who are faithful disciples of Christ and endure to the end become "joint heirs with Christ" and progress in knowledge, intelligence, and righteousness throughout eternity. And yes, we believe the universe contains other intelligent beings with various degrees of power and authority, but all operate as authorized agents of God, who is our Father, the supreme ruler and governor of the universe and its operations, and the ONLY being we worship (along with the Son [Jehovah], who is our Advocate with the Father [Elohim]). Call these other beings I mentioned angels rather than gods (note: little "g") if that is more comfortable. I'm not sure of the difference myself. Personally, I feel that these doctrines of the ins and outs of celestial organization and divine operation get so much attention from those outside our faith since they are relatively unique to our church but also because they are very easy to caricature in bizarre ways. When I look up at the stars and contemplate galaxies and worlds without end, I think, "Man, it must be busy up there", but as far as my everyday faith goes, it doesn't weigh in very much. As a Church, we also don't claim to know the whole heavenly story either. We believe God has just pulled back the curtain a bit in the last days.
2. Christians identify Jesus as the Messiah - CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK We believe He is the Messiah and the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. I don't believe that there is a need for lengthy explanation here, even though this is the most central aspect to our doctrine.
3. Jesus as God and Man - CHECK
4. Holy Trinity: **Most** Christians believe that God is one single eternal being who exists as three distinct, eternal, and indivisible persons. [emphasis added] - no check. We believe in the Trinity as 3 separate beings: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We do not believe that they exist together as a single entity, although they are one in purpose and action. This has been a debate that has existed for centuries among theologians (good summaries in the Wikipedia articles on Trinity and Nontrinitarianism), so if we're excluded based on this alone while the Catholics pray to saints and Mary while still being called Christians, then oh well. What can you do...
5. Salvation: Most Christians believe that salvation from "sin and death" is available through belief in the person and work of Jesus as savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9) - CHECK. Again, the whole faith and works debate is not a new one within Christianity (Read about religious revival movements in the 1800s. This is what a lot of them were about!) and in my humble opinion frankly based too much on semantics and intellectualizations that ignore the essence of Christ's message: "Come follow me" and "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." We begin by believing in Jesus, trying to follow Him like the apostles of old, and try to live His teachings the best we can. Only as we strive to become his disciples do we become His sheep for whom in His Father's house He has prepared many mansions.
"Your argument makes you sound like a friggin' mormon, arguing that we shouldn't bother with the evils of science."
Hmm. I'm a Mormon who has worked at LLNL with several other Mormons, have friends whose families have a history of working at Los Alamos, and have had the privilege in my life of knowing and working with some incredibly talented scientists in my life (chemists, evolutionary biologists, biochemists, physicists, embryologists)--many of whom have been faithful Mormons. I have a background in plasma physics and medical imaging, am now studying medicine, my great-grandfather was a physicist, and I cherish my faith as embracing all truth. Science becomes the most beautiful thing...
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"in 5th grade, sex is just a barely recognizable concept to them" Are you kidding me? I have a hard time believing some of the things my pediatrician associates are encountering on a regular basis relating to increasing sexual activity in young children. Kind of depressing. I doubt it's due to magazines headlines in the supermarket, but I think it's pretty obvious that the world we live in is becoming increasingly sexualized and that it is impacting children and adolescents more than most people in this thread would like to admit. For better or worse only time will tell. Perhaps Irish Samurai is forgetting how smart kids are (or forgets how curious he/she was when younger) and their ability to draw their own conclusions from what we assume they don't understand. Unfortunately, a lot of parents are failing to equip their children with the tools to make sense of the rather explicit messages children encounter on a daily basis and a free pass has been given to the media in the name of free speech. The best thing to do is for parents to teach children age-appropriate principles relating to healthy sexuality and encourage businesses and media to self-censor. True: sex sells. But does being so much more explicit make that much more money? If anything it devalues the excitement they use to attract attention, and the next time around they have to up the ante.
Just to clarify:
While Mormonism has distinct differences from other Christian groups, I think we fit quite nicely the Wikipedia description of Christianity. Be aware that Christianity is defined much more broadly than the modern ecumenical evangelical movement that seems now to blur what were once fierce differences between Baptist, Lutheran, and other western denominations. Think not only Catholic, but Coptic Christian, Eastern Orthodox, and other non-protestant traditions. Differences have always existed among the denominations (that's why people kept starting new churches!). But there is always the shared commitment to following and studying the life of Christ, who we believe to be the Son of God. Hopefully the following breakdown is instructive (I apologize for the length):
1. Monotheism - CHECK
"But Mormons believe in more than one God!" This protest is based on our doctrine of eternal progression whereby those who are faithful disciples of Christ and endure to the end become "joint heirs with Christ" and progress in knowledge, intelligence, and righteousness throughout eternity. And yes, we believe the universe contains other intelligent beings with various degrees of power and authority, but all operate as authorized agents of God, who is our Father, the supreme ruler and governor of the universe and its operations, and the ONLY being we worship (along with the Son [Jehovah], who is our Advocate with the Father [Elohim]). Call these other beings I mentioned angels rather than gods (note: little "g") if that is more comfortable. I'm not sure of the difference myself. Personally, I feel that these doctrines of the ins and outs of celestial organization and divine operation get so much attention from those outside our faith since they are relatively unique to our church but also because they are very easy to caricature in bizarre ways. When I look up at the stars and contemplate galaxies and worlds without end, I think, "Man, it must be busy up there", but as far as my everyday faith goes, it doesn't weigh in very much. As a Church, we also don't claim to know the whole heavenly story either. We believe God has just pulled back the curtain a bit in the last days.
2. Christians identify Jesus as the Messiah - CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK
We believe He is the Messiah and the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. I don't believe that there is a need for lengthy explanation here, even though this is the most central aspect to our doctrine.
3. Jesus as God and Man - CHECK
4. Holy Trinity: **Most** Christians believe that God is one single eternal being who exists as three distinct, eternal, and indivisible persons. [emphasis added] - no check.
We believe in the Trinity as 3 separate beings: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We do not believe that they exist together as a single entity, although they are one in purpose and action. This has been a debate that has existed for centuries among theologians (good summaries in the Wikipedia articles on Trinity and Nontrinitarianism), so if we're excluded based on this alone while the Catholics pray to saints and Mary while still being called Christians, then oh well. What can you do...
5. Salvation: Most Christians believe that salvation from "sin and death" is available through belief in the person and work of Jesus as savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9) - CHECK.
Again, the whole faith and works debate is not a new one within Christianity (Read about religious revival movements in the 1800s. This is what a lot of them were about!) and in my humble opinion frankly based too much on semantics and intellectualizations that ignore the essence of Christ's message: "Come follow me" and "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." We begin by believing in Jesus, trying to follow Him like the apostles of old, and try to live His teachings the best we can. Only as we strive to become his disciples do we become His sheep for whom in His Father's house He has prepared many mansions.
6. Crucifixion and
"It's a pity that most religious people aren't like you." It's a pity you think most aren't.
No worries whatsoever--I assumed a misunderstanding of some sort. But thanks for taking time to apologize. Seriously don't worry about it.
"Your argument makes you sound like a friggin' mormon, arguing that we shouldn't bother with the evils of science." Hmm. I'm a Mormon who has worked at LLNL with several other Mormons, have friends whose families have a history of working at Los Alamos, and have had the privilege in my life of knowing and working with some incredibly talented scientists in my life (chemists, evolutionary biologists, biochemists, physicists, embryologists)--many of whom have been faithful Mormons. I have a background in plasma physics and medical imaging, am now studying medicine, my great-grandfather was a physicist, and I cherish my faith as embracing all truth. Science becomes the most beautiful thing...