Problems with the Mormon Doctrine of God

One of the unique aspects of Mormonism is their approach to the divine nature. The belief of Mormons that God was once a man who achieved exaltation sets up a strong opposition between this religion and classical Christian theology, as well as other traditional monotheistic faiths. In this video, the Mormon doctrine of God is examined in light of the traditional Christian view of God.

[polemeros]

Mormonism is arguable even more different from Christianity than Christianity is from Judaism. And despite all the PR BS about the "Judeo-Christian" thing, no Jew would ever agree that Christianity is just another form of Judaism. Just ask Maimonides. Commonality yes, but the differences are crucial and defining. Mormonism is a post-Christian faith.

[bcreel]

I really appreciate that you have done so much research and reading and present the information in factual form, without antagonizing the followers of the religion itself. You are able to see the clear difference beteen scholarly criticism of a religion (“criticism” has garnered a such a negative connotation for those who have not done any scholarly research, and it’s very important that, if someone chooses to do research of any kind, that they know the difference), and personal criticism, which carries tacit understanding of emotive attack). Refreshing to see information presented in such a clean, easily understood narrative. Bravo, sir. * insert scholar emoji here *

[FKLinguista]

Could you put this essay in written form on your website, Pastor?

[AZVIDEZ]

Mormonism-- as well as JW-- have some of the most inconsistent and muddled beliefs I have ever heard

[zrosix]

I am extremely impressed that you didn’t jump immediately into the infinite regress theory as the definitive Mormon belief but immediately stated it as a “form of Mormon belief” and the continued on fo mention Blake Oslers theory

[princessfartsparkles]

Technically it's henotheism, which means the worship of only one god while acknowledging that other gods exist too. Also as an interesting bit of information, the original version of the Book of Mormon presented a trinitarian view of God. It was then later edited and updated to present the current view, with each member of the Godhead being a separate individual being.

[joetaylor]

The "Mormon" concept of God varies depending on which period you're talking about, which particular theologian or scripture you're referring to, etc. Same with many other denominations in Christianity, actually. Depends on which sect, preacher, pastor, minister, priest, or whatever, you're referring to. It's pretty clear that Smith wrote the Book of Mormon subsequent to his hearing the proclamations of many revivalist ministers of his time, and as times changed, so did the "nature of God, " etc.

[carlostrevino]

They completely changed the true view of God. One God three divine person. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

[fighterofthenightman]

I’m actually fine with calling Mormons “Christian” in the academic sense in the same way that the Arians were called “Arian CHRISTIANS.” After all, if all heretics are no longer Christian, the word “heretic” loses all meaning and purpose. With that said, their views on cosmology are so out tgere so as to be one of the most heretical groups of all time. That’s why I’m also at least sympathetic to those who feel the need to call them their own religion. Funnily enough, their definition of what God is kicks the can down the road to necessitate another (actual) God!

[ilovepopefrancis]

Jesus Christ is Lord who is the Alpha and the Omega, he was not a man, he was God incarnate in man Alleilua, I love you Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

[drspaseebo]

28 bible passages teach there is only ONE GOD
...
1. Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 — Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

2. Deuteronomy 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD thy God is one LORD. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text.]

3. Deuteronomy32:39 — See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

4. 2 Samuel 7:22 — Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

5. 1 Kings 8:60 — That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

6. 2 KINGS 5:15 — And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

7. 2 Kings 19:15 — And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

8. 1 Chronicles 17:20 — O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

9. Nehemiah 9:6 — Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

10. Psalm 18:31 — For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

11. Psalm 86:10 — For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

12. Isaiah 37:16, 20 — O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

13. Isaiah43:10, 11 — Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he:before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

14. Isaiah44:6, 8 — Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

15. Isaiah 45:21 — Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

16. Isaiah 46:9 — For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

17. Hosea 13:4 — Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me.

18. Joel 2:27 — And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

19. Zechariah 14:9 — And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

20. Mark 12:29-34 —And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

21. John 17:3 — And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

22. Romans 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

23. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, andthat there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many, ) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

24. Galatians 3:20 — Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

25. Ephesians 4:6 — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

26. 1 Timothy 1:17 — Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

27. 1 Timothy 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

28. James 2:19 — Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.


Thank you for reading ~ blessings! /

[JamesMC]

So basically:
(1) Matter is prior to God
(2) Some God must (by Mormon Theology) be prior to the very first God who was an “exalted man”. So was that prior God not an “exalted man” ?

[aaroncarlson]

Is Mormonism monistic?

I've been doing research on John Milton, of paradise lost… And I'm noticing a consistent strand between the two on their views of God.

[michelepaige]

"You can become like god" was more persuasive when the serpent made the same argument.

[ewankerr]

I asked a very nice young LDS missionary who was Heavenly Father's God? She didn't know or wouldn't say.

[anyaforger]

I found their God the Father as First who achieve divinization similar to buddhism and jainism.

[evereststevens]

I would consider Mormons to be among the Gnostics

[brannonburton]

I appreciate that you mentioned Blake Ostler and aren’t merely expressing the tired tropes I usually hear. I have a question for you. How do you reconcile God’s foreknowledge of our choices and creation ex nihilo. It seems to me that God created an awful lot of suffering without the consent of the created.

[prayingpatriot]

Flesh & blood (body of man) canot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). God is Spirit (John 4:24). Mormon god is not the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob aka Christian God.

[ChericeGraham]

Technically, God is not of a kind or species at all. The difference between Creator and creatures is more radical than that. And it is an infinite gap.