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Talk:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (view source)
Revision as of 17:53, November 30, 2008
, 17:53, November 30, 2008→The removed link
:::I want the article to compare and contrast LDS theology with traditional Christian theology, particularly on the [[Trinity]]. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 13:51, 29 November 2008 (EST)
:::I want the article to compare and contrast LDS theology with traditional Christian theology, particularly on the [[Trinity]]. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 13:51, 29 November 2008 (EST)
So I originally suggested that the link be removed entirely. I wrote out the explanation above and then explicitly asked that we take down that link. When Ed Poor came along and seemed to approve, I figured he was approving of my suggestion for removal so that's why I took it out. Simply a miscommunication.
Now, I think that there is a bit of a misunderstanding as to what I was saying. There is nothing wrong with the LDS church attempting to defend their beliefs. That's perfectly fine. There are several other links on this page that do just that, and I have no problems with those. What I do have a problem with is the link in question. Not because it is trying to defend Mormonism, but rather because it is misrepresenting Protestantism while doing so. The assertions made about the Trinity are simply misleading and often very basic errors. (I should point out that there are multiple other mistakes as well, such as the views presented on the trustworthiness of Scripture, the historicity of the Reformation, Jesus and Satan being brothers, etc. But the Trinity was the most obvious and therefore the easiest to utilize in discussion.) I was never arguing that we should incorporate a distinction between Trinitarian and LDS theology (although that's a very good idea). I was simply saying that the link should be removed altogether because it is quite honestly a bad link. Anyone who goes there looking for solid information will not benefit in the slightest.
Consider the implications here for both sides on this particular discussion. For the Protestant, he will see the information that is being presented there and be as dumbfounded as I was. All it will do is cause him to question both the knowledge and the integrity of the author, and because she has purported herself as a representative of the LDS faith, the Mormon church will be viewed with the same degree of doubt. For the Mormon, he will see it and gain a flawed understanding of the Trinity as well as many other Protestant doctrines. Now that’s fine if he is merely going to go to church on Sundays and not worrying about his faith anywhere else. But if he chooses to honor his faith as he believe that he is commanded to do by the spreading the message of his church, then he will be forced to at some point engage with Protestants who know what true Trinitarian belief is. This view of the Trinity can’t stand up against even a basic understanding of Protestants views of Scripture, history, and the like. If this is what young LDS missionaries are taking to the mission fields, then there will be very few Protestants who are converted by this level of misunderstanding.
Therefore, I believe that both sides can see the harm in leaving such an article up as if it were a knowledgeable representation of the facts. In the spirit of respect for one another, I would ask that the link be removed altogether. But, because I do not wish to be accused of any impropriety, I will not do it myself and will leave it for another. [[User:Ultimahero|Ultimahero]] 12:53, 30 November 2008 (EST)
==Controversy as Christians?==
==Controversy as Christians?==