Striking Similarities Between Mormonism and Roman Catholicism

The more I learn about LDS teaching, the more I am struck with the similarities between it and Rome.  No, I am not implying that they are linked either sequentially or causally, except possibly at that Ecclesiastes 1:9 juncture.

As I've been reflecting on my déjà vu while probing LDS beliefs, I thought about cataloging what I am seeing and posting it here.

That is, until I was reading through older items in my RSS reader and found someone who had already done exactly that. I wish I had come across it sooner.  Fourpointer at DefCon did an excellent job documenting his evidence, so I am going to just give you the quick bullet-points here and ask you to head over there for more info or to comment.

  • They both teach that after you die, someone else can come along and perform rituals that will help improve the state you are in.

    • Catholicism has indulgences.
    • Mormonism has baptism for the dead.

  • They both have one man whom they claim to be “speaking for God.” Around him is a group of men who claim to hold the “Keys to the Kingdom” and who choose his successor.

    • Catholicism has the Pope and the College of Cardinals.
    • The Mormon church has their prophet/president along with the Quorum of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

  • They both teach that you need other teachings besides the Bible. In fact, they say, you cannot understand the Bible without their own teachings and Traditions.

    • The Catholic church has added the Catechism and Traditions.
    • The Mormon church denies the accuracy of the Bible, and adds their Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price–along with the words of the current prophet/president.
  • They both teach that salvation is a result of the combined effort of God’s grace and our own vile, human works.

    • The Roman Catholic Church teaches “grace plus works/merit”
    • Mormonism teaches the we are saved by grace “after all the we can do”

  • They teach that they are either the continuation (Roman Catholicism) or the restoration (Mormonism) of what the apostles taught.

    • Catholicism teaches they alone possess the “Apostolic Succession”
    • Mormonism teaches that they possess the “restored” gospel that was lost after the age of the apostles.

  • They both have wrong ideas about Mary.

    • Catholicism teaches that our salvation depends on how we think of Mary.
    • Catholicism teaches that Mary was born sinless.
    • Mormonism teaches that Mary was impregnated by God the Father Himself 

  • They both teach that the blood of Christ is not the only way to pay for our sins
    • Catholicism teaches that the person must pay for some sins themselves in Purgatory.
    • Mormonism teaches forgiveness beyond the grave
    • Early Mormon leaders also taught the doctrine of “Blood Atonement”, which means that a person can commit a sin that can only be forgiven by them shedding their own blood.
  • They both teach that one must honor their leader
    • Catholicism teaches that one must honor the Pope.
    • Mormonism teaches that one must honor Joseph Smith in the same way they honor Christ.
  • They both teach that their leader (Pope, Prophet/President) is still giving new, authoritative revelations today.
    • The Catholic Pope speaks ex cathedra
    • Mormonism teaches strict adherence to the word of the Prophet/President

Popular posts from this blog

RE: "Pastor Dayna Muldoon EXPOSED"

Image
It enough to make your heart ache.  "Pastor" Dayna Muldoon  has been pitching her tent in Florida, and like Todd Bentley before , false claims to miracles, healing, and prophecies litter her campsites. This video of a Calvary Chapel pastor exposing her as a false prophet has been appearing in various places, and its been uploaded to YouTube multiple times.  Even Todd Friel got animated about this , and nothing gets him hyper. Here's the deal: Muldoon set up her tent-meetings right down the road from Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg , peeking the interests of many attending the church.  When they listened to the message she presented, however, they found it not to be the Gospel, but instead the typical narcissistic message of health and blessings from God. This is coming from a Calvary Chapel crew, folks that are typically non-cessationists themselves.  Many churches, including this particular Calvary Chapel , host after-glow services where one ex...
Click to read more...

Was Rebekah a child when she married Isaac?

Did Isaac marry a three-year-old?  If you've never pondered this question, it's because nothing in the straightforward reading of the text would suggest that Rebekah was a toddler or that their marriage was arranged. Even so, a couple of verses out of context could be used by skeptics to prove anything.  While perusing the web for a related topic, however, I found a thread stating that the Bible isn't against the raping of children .  The cited evidence was this issue, the claim being that Isaac engaged in pedophilia. The question comes from the fact that Genesis 22:23 announces the birth of Rebekah after the binding of Isaac.  Tradition states that Isaac was then thirty-seven, and Scripture says that the two wed when Isaac was forty (Gn 25:20).  Hence, Isaac robbed the cradle. The whole theory is fraught with assumptions, the primary being that Scripture never records a age marker for Rebekah.  Further complicating the matter, however, is Jewis...
Click to read more...

MacArthur: Calvinism in a Nutshell

Image
From YouTube: Calvinism (Also know by Doctrines of Grace or Reformed theology) John MacArthur use Romans 8:28-30 as main text. The five points of calvinism are Total depravity (total inability), Unconditional election, Limited atonement (Also called particular redemption or definite atonement), Irresistible grace (also called efficacious grace), and Perseverance of the saints. Full sermon http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-427 Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. And these whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified. And these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Click to read more...