Newsweek letters
There’s a huge response to “The Mormon Odyssey” in this week’s Newsweek. The letters’ editor sums things up pretty well:
Our cover story on the state of the Mormon Church at the 200th anniversary of its founder’s birth drew responses from adherents, former members and the public. One member “anxious about inaccuracies” was “pleasantly surprised at the great job of compactly presenting such a huge topic.” Another insisted that “the Mormon Church has no need to ‘confront’ its past.” Still another wondered how an article by “a current member of the church could offer a ‘fair and balanced’ portrayal.” Many readers took exception to calling Mormonism a Christian denomination, and others criticized the church for its secret ceremonies and exclusivity. “The Mormon Church is a Masonic lodge dressed up for public view as a Christian church,” a former member said. Others questioned Mormonism’s history, pointing to the frequently altered Book of Mormon and founder Joseph Smith’s reported discovery of gold plates. Charged one, “This obviously fairy-tale religion was founded by a boy magician and latter-day con man.”
The letter I most wondered about claimed that the author had lived many years in S. Utah.
“I have heard Mormons tell me on countless occasions that Jesus was not the son of God. Mormons where I grew up said commonly that Jesus was an ordinary man who worked his way to the right hand of God through good works, and praying in the name of Jesus was sacrilegious because he was not the son of God.”
What looney Mormons were these? I presume that instead of repeating what LDS actually told her, she is conflating several different issues and viewing them through her Lutheran background. Mormons certainly believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
Comment by Ben S. — October 25, 2005 @ 3:31 pm
Yeah, that was insane. I thought initially that this letter was just made up to be nasty.
Comment by Ronan — October 25, 2005 @ 3:46 pm
“Anyone interested in the truth about Mormonism should read Martha Beck’s book ‘Leaving the Saints’”
Right. That’s precisely where one should go to learn about Mormonism.
Comment by Kim Siever — October 25, 2005 @ 5:12 pm
I wonder if that letter from So. Utah was a hoax. I live here and I’ve never heard anything like that.
How do you access those letters? I clicked on the link, but it doesn’t take you to individual letters.
Comment by annegb — October 25, 2005 @ 5:55 pm
If Mormonism is a Masonic lodge, then I guess I’m a Master Mormon!
You may all refer to me as Master.
Comment by RoastedTomatoes — October 25, 2005 @ 6:12 pm
Actually, RT, I’m 33 degree. You may call me Jah-bul-on.
Comment by Ronan — October 25, 2005 @ 7:22 pm
Anne, the letters follow the main article.
Comment by Ronan — October 25, 2005 @ 7:24 pm
5
Are we, then, resurrecting the old M-Men and Gleaners program?
Comment by manaen — October 25, 2005 @ 9:19 pm
“Therefore, if Christians are not Jews, then Mormons are not Christians. They are Mormons.”
‘Nuff said. Laminate this quotation and post it on the refrigerator.
Comment by Justin Butterfield — October 26, 2005 @ 5:32 am
Justin, I think that comment does have some sense to it, as well as being quite funny.
Comment by Ronan — October 26, 2005 @ 7:00 am
That comment was funny. The logic leads places he won’t like, though…
1. If the Jews were indeed God’s chosen people as Christianity claims, then Christianity inherited that title when greater light and truth arrived from heaven
2. Since further greater light and truth arrived from have arrived from heaven through Joseph Smith, presumably the Mormons have now inherited the “chosen people” title. That leaves creedal Christianity as passe as post-Jesus Judaism right?
(I somehow doubt that was his point…)
Comment by Geoff J — October 26, 2005 @ 11:00 am