Brad M.

Pretty confident that God is up to something interesting with the LDS story long term but that's a private theological opinion, non-binding on the faithful.

I believe creedal Christians are as wrong about doctrine as they believe I am. I cannot fathom having the kind of venom so many have shown in the past 24 hours. Why? Why is it so important that doctrinal distinctions be made? Why is it so critical that we be excluded from your club of acceptable Christianity? What does our inclusion threaten and why is that threat so dire that it can’t be overlooked with any degree of allowance? I don’t care if you don’t think we’re real Christians. I do care if that distinction is more important to you than mourning this tragedy and calling out evil.

Amid the attack on the Mormon church, here is quick reference for folks wanting to know what Mormons believe. While you read it assk yourself: is this biblical Christianity? From Justin Taylor: Mormons claim that God the Father was once a man and that he then progressed to godhood (that is, he is a now-exalted, immortal man with a flesh-and-bone body). Mormons believe that humans, like God the Father, can go through a process of exaltation to godhood. Mormons believe that the Trinity consists not of three persons in one God but rather of three distinct gods. According to Mormonism, there are potentially many thousands of gods besides these. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was the firstborn spirit-child of the heavenly Father and a heavenly Mother. Jesus then progressed to deity in the spirit world. He was later physically conceived in Mary’s womb, as the literal “only begotten” Son of God the Father in the flesh (though many present-day Mormons remain somewhat vague as to how this occurred). Mormons believe that Adam’s transgression was a noble act that made it possible for humans to become mortal, a necessary step on the path to exaltation to godhood. Mormons believe that Christ’s atonement secures immortality for virtually all people, whether they repent and believe or not. Mormons believe that God gives to (virtually) everyone a general salvation to immortal life in one of the heavenly kingdoms, which is how they understand salvation by grace. Belief in Christ is necessary only to obtain passage to the highest, celestial kingdom—for which not only faith but participation in Mormon temple rituals and obedience to its “laws of the gospel” are also prerequisites. Mormons claim that “total” apostasy overcame the church following apostolic times, and that the Mormon Church (founded in 1830) is the “restored church.” In short, they're our neighbors that we ought to care about and care for, but they are not Christian believers.

Amid the attack on the Mormon church, here is quick reference for folks wanting to know what Mormons believe. While you read it assk yourself: is this biblical Christianity? From Justin Taylor: Mormons claim that God the Father was once a man and that he then progressed to godhood (that is, he is a now-exalted, immortal man with a flesh-and-bone body). Mormons believe that humans, like God the Father, can go through a process of exaltation to godhood. Mormons believe that the Trinity consists not of three persons in one God but rather of three distinct gods. According to Mormonism, there are potentially many thousands of gods besides these. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was the firstborn spirit-child of the heavenly Father and a heavenly Mother. Jesus then progressed to deity in the spirit world. He was later physically conceived in Mary’s womb, as the literal “only begotten” Son of God the Father in the flesh (though many present-day Mormons remain somewhat vague as to how this occurred). Mormons believe that Adam’s transgression was a noble act that made it possible for humans to become mortal, a necessary step on the path to exaltation to godhood. Mormons believe that Christ’s atonement secures immortality for virtually all people, whether they repent and believe or not. Mormons believe that God gives to (virtually) everyone a general salvation to immortal life in one of the heavenly kingdoms, which is how they understand salvation by grace. Belief in Christ is necessary only to obtain passage to the highest, celestial kingdom—for which not only faith but participation in Mormon temple rituals and obedience to its “laws of the gospel” are also prerequisites. Mormons claim that “total” apostasy overcame the church following apostolic times, and that the Mormon Church (founded in 1830) is the “restored church.” In short, they're our neighbors that we ought to care about and care for, but they are not Christian believers.

The issue of who is and who is not a Christian was settled a long time ago as people diverged into heresy and the church came together in 325 AD. If you subscribe to the Nicene Creed, or more specifically the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 AD, you’re a Christian.

Joe Biden becomes the first sitting US President to visit the Amazon Rainforest.

Is this really cool? Because I have a hard time imagining any cool person in American history thinking this is cool.

Schumer to Republicans: "Take care not to misread the will of the American people" "Do not abandon bipartisanship. It's the best and most effective way to get things done"

Going to be very hard for Republican Senators to explain why they voted for Merrick Garland but won’t vote for Matt Gaetz.

If Democrats had 53 Senators, and a Democrat won the Presidential race in a historic landslide - every single cabinet pick would sail through confirmation with 53 votes.