As I noted to Ardis, I didn’t even get into the meat of the article (let’s do a critique of Evangelical theology from, say, a Catholic point of view). It was tempting, but I figured I had already made my point, which wasn’t to attack Evangelical Christianity but to point out how easy it is to paint a negative, slanted picture of any faith. ..bruce..

So it’s not an obscure little place but has a large presence in the DC area.

1. Attend Religious Services weekly
2. Importance of Religious Faith in shaping daily life – extremely important
3. Believes in life after death
4. Does NOT believe in psychics or fortune-tellers
5. Has taught religious education classes
6. Has fasted or denied something as spiritual discipline
7. Sabbath Observance
8. Shared religious faith with someone not of their faith
9. Family talks about God, scriptures, prayer daily
10. Supportiveness of church for parent in trying to raise teen (very supportive)
11. Church congregation has done an excellent job in helping teens better understand their own sexuality and sexual morality

. LDS . Evangelical
1. 71% . . 55%
2. 52 . . . 28
3. 76 . . . 62
4. 100 . . 95
5. 42 . . . 28
6. 68 . . . 22
7. 67 . . . 40
8. 72 . . . 56
9. 50 . . . 19
10 65 . . . 26
11 84 . . . 35

So what do you think the motivation is for the Evangelical preachers to denigrate the Mormon Church by calling it a “cult”? You would think Evangelical preachers would be emulating Mormon practices (a creed to believe, a place to belong, a calling to live out, and a hope to hold onto) which were noted by Methodist Rev. Kenda Creasy Dean of the Princeton Theological Seminary, as causing Mormon teenagers to “top the charts” in Christian characteristics. It seems obvious pastors shouldn’t be denigrating a church based on First Century Christianity, with high efficacy. The only plausible reason to denigrate Mormons by calling the church a “cult” is for Evangelical pastors to protect their flock (and their livelihood).

A Baptist minister says the Book of Mormon is consistent with Jesus Christ’s teachings in the New Testament: http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm

To read more, go to http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com

“Mormonism also denies the deity of Christ and “completely negates the biblical view of salvation through Christ alone,” Phillips said.

I can only interpret such statements as deliberate misrepresentation or profound ignorance of LDS beliefs. ..bruce..

Anybody offended by this but not by the actual news item likely will fail also to see that the real pastor is arguing not against what Mormons *are* but as what we’re *perceived* to be.

This is fun, bruce!