religious authority
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Bible (all), ecumenical councils and creeds (Catholic and Orthodox), papal decrees and canon law (Catholic), continuing revelations (Pentecostal)
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Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price (all equally); continuing revelations
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texts
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Bible (Hebrew Bible + New Testament)
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Christian Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price
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God
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One God, who is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; angels; demons; saints
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God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate individual beings
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Trinity
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affirmed by most denominations
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rejected (Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct beings who are "one in purpose")
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Jesus
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Son of God, God incarnate, Word of God, Messiah, savior of the world
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Son of God. Savior. Originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be. Has a physical body.
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Holy Spirit
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God; Third Person of the Trinity
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A spirit being who is a separate being from God and Jesus.
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original sin
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affirmed by most denominations
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denied
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free will
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free will to do good is seriously impaired or non-existent (without grace)
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Free to do good or evil.
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purpose of Jesus' life
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teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin, reveal God directly to humanity
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teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin
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resurrection of Jesus
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affirmed
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affirmed
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salvation
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correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (Protestants emphasize faith alone)
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faith in Christ, good works, baptism, and temple ordinances (for entrance to the celestial kingdom; all are saved from hell)
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second chance after death
|
no
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Yes, during a period of "learning and preparation" after death.
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afterlife
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Resurrection of body and soul; eternal heaven or hell (most denominations); temporary purgatory (Catholicism)
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All return to spirit world instruction before resurrection. Then Mormons to heaven with God and families; others rewarded apart from God; hell for those who still reject God.
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hell
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affirmed by most denominations as a place (or state of being) of eternal torment and distance from God
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The wicked enter an unpleasant "spirit prison" prior to judgment; after that, only the most obstinately wicked (like Satan) will be consigned to "Outer Darkness" for eternity.
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house of worship
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church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, meeting hall
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chapel (for weekly worship); temple (for ceremonies)
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doctrine of sacraments/ordinances
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symbolic acts commanded by Christ (some Protestants); means of grace if received with faith (Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestants)
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ordinances are covenants between man and God and a means of grace; some are necessary for salvation
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symbols
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Cross, dove, anchor, fish, alpha/omega, chi rho
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No official symbol; cross is not used; the angel Moroni raising a trumpet is seen atop Mormon temples.
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holidays
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Easter, Christmas, saints' days (some denominations)
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Easter, Christmas, celebrations of events in Mormon history.
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blood transfusions
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accepted
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accepted
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