Comparison of Mormonism and Mainstream Christianity
Whether Mormons should be considered "Christians" is a controversial and rather complicated issue. Many Catholics and Protestants do not consider Mormons to be Christians because they believe the differences in doctrines are more dramatic and more fundamental than those between Christian denominations.
On other hand, religious studies books tend to group Mormons in with Christians because Mormons regard themselves as Christians, Mormonism emerged in a Christian context, and Mormonism shares much in common with other forms of Christianity.
Mormons also consider themselves Christians for much the same reasons as listed above. However, they consider themselves to be significantly different from other branches of Christianity. Mormons regard themselves as neither Catholic nor Protestant, viewing both of those faiths as corruptions of true Christianity, which has been restored by Mormonism. 1
The following chart provides a quick-reference guide to the major similarities and differences between the beliefs and practices of Mormonism and mainstream Protestant Christianity. As is always the case with charts, the information is simplified for brevity and should be used alongside more complete explanations. The beliefs listed for both Mormons and Protestant Christians represent those of most, but not all, churches or individuals within each tradition.
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| Religious Authority | All sacred texts equally, continuing revelations | Bible (all), ecumenical councils and creeds (Catholic and Orthodox), official papal pronouncements (Catholic), continuing revelations (Pentecostal) |
| Sacred Texts | Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price | Bible (some include Apocrypha) |
| Trinity | Rejected - Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct beings who are "one in purpose" | Affirmed - Father, Son and Holy Spirit are of the "same substance"; three persons in one being |
| God | Heavenly Father, who has a physical body | Trinitarian God, who does not have a body |
| Jesus Christ | Son of God, Savior, originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be (see Jesus Christ). Has a physical body. | Son of God, Word of God, God, second Person of the Trinity (see Christology) |
| Holy Spirit | A spirit being who is a separate being from God and Jesus. | God, Third Person of the Trinity |
| Original sin | Denied (see Human Nature) | Affirmed (by most denominations) |
| Free will | Free to do good or evil | Free will to do good is seriously impaired |
| Purpose of Christ's Incarnation | Teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin (see Jesus Christ) | Teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin, reveal God directly to humanity |
| Resurrection of Christ? | Yes | Yes |
| Salvation | Both faith and works; works emphasized. | Both faith and works; faith emphasized (in most denominations) |
| Second chance after death? | Yes, during a period of "learning and preparation" after death | No |
| Afterlife | Spirits go to the spirit world, undergo preparation, then rejoined with bodies in the resurrection (see Afterlife) | Souls of wicked sent to Hell, believers go to Heaven for eternity (see Afterlife) |
| Hell | Place (or state of being) of torment and distance from God. It can be temporary if repent, otherwise is eternal. | Place (or state of being) of eternal torment and distance from God. |
| Place of Worship | Chapel or Temple | Church |
| Meaning of Sacraments | Means of grace (see Salvation) | Symbolic acts commanded by Christ (some Protestant); means of grace if received with faith (Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant). |
| Number of Sacraments | Four "principles and ordinances": faith, repentance, baptism, and laying on of hands | Two: Baptism and Lord's Supper (seven in Catholicism) |
| Symbols | Beehive | Cross, fish & others |
| Holidays | Easter, Christmas, national and local holidays, birthdays, celebrations of events in Mormon history | Easter, Christmas, saint's days, several others |
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References
- "Core Beliefs and Doctrines." LDS.org; "Are you Christians?" Mormon.org.
Related Links
- Are Mormons Christians? - BBC Religion (summary of views)
- Are Mormons Christians? - Light Planet (Mormon views)
- Is Mormonism Christian? - Leadership U (a Christian view)
