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U.S. Muslims and Mormons share deepening ties

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
How come everybody is ignoring the first sentence of the OP?

The connection is based not on theology but on shared values and a sense of isolation from mainstream America.

Everybody's all up in arms over some kind of imagined ecumenism, when the article in question says nothing about either an agreement or a compromise on any theological issues. And why does there always have to be an ulterior motive or hidden agenda? Jeesh! You guys are all full of it!
 

zeezrom

Member
Everyone thinks that mormons or lds are sheep stealers, Funny part though is that they are lay ministry, no one is paid... That is what has lead to their isolation from mainstream. other than their belief on the Godhead.
 

Ben Dhyan

Veteran Member
Wrong. Perhaps you ought to stick to talking about a religion you're familiar with. We believe in continuing revelation and have had fifteen prophets since Joseph Smith.

My bad,..thank you,..always grateful to be made aware of an errors.

And I agree with your general sentiments expressed in the follow up post,..but realistically, mortals are limited by their design criteria and this sort of stuff happens.
 

Sahar

Well-Known Member
utter nonsense !how would you reconcile yourself in their further revelations after mohamed,or their view of Isa, its not prejudice but a different religion, dont you know that , what do you know about LDS beleif and how do you reconcile your beleifs with theirs, would you go to a LDS church service for example?
I think what you said is the "utter nonsense", kai. My Muslim friend didn't say anything about going to LDS church service or reconciling his beliefs with any another religion. I also think he realizes that we are talking about two different religions but also this doesn't mean we shouldn't find a common ground between them as a ground for "deepening ties". I do think the article made it clear that these ties are not based on theology!!! And I don't find anything surprising in the article. Nor am I surprised with your usual ant-Islamic propaganda. kai. Searching for common grounds with non-Muslims is the Islam itself. Understanding and deepening our relations with people of different beliefs doesn't mean agreeing with or adopting their beliefs.
 

kai

ragamuffin
I am simply questioning this "common " ground. and not4me i am sorry that you feel the need to call my skeptcism "anti Islamic Propaganda" but the truth always hurts. if there was something i said that is wrong please feel free to correct me,and Katspur no one is "up in arms" i am simply discussing the notion of these two diametrically opposed religions cooperating in some way because i find the notion interesting. and there is always an agenda
 

Comprehend

Res Ipsa Loquitur
Yet you're both missing the fact that Smith's "revelation" is not his own but simply translating books that were written before and during Christ's Revelation. Therefore it is not a new revelation at all, and Smith is at most a minor Prophet of Jesus, no more than Timothy, John, Peter, Paul, etc..

The revelation Smith offered is a time capsule from before Muhammed. That makes Joseph Smith one of the people of the Book.

Regards,
Scott

Scott,

I'm afraid it is you who is missing some facts. Are you aware of the Doctrine & Covenants? Joseph Smith did indeed recieve new revelation, feel free to familiarize yourself with it before you continue to (mis)represent our beliefs.

Regards.
 

nawab

Active Member
Since the others gospels John, Luke, Mark, Mathew were not written at the time of Jesus. the ancient scriptures go back to 400-600 years after Christ, now there is The most ancient Scriptures which the RSV revised standard version 1961 of the Bible is based on that dates back 200-300 years after Christ. So what is the big deal about Joseph Smith since all Gospels were written after Christ.

But the main Bible used by The LDS Church is King James Version 5th major revision. so one can still find contradictions, Mistakes and absurdies in them as well but I dont want to go in depth.
 

Popeyesays

Well-Known Member
The Doctrine and Covenants are concerned with administration and interaction of the LDS community and do not constitute original spiritual revelation. Joseph Smith never expressed his own authority as an independent Prophet like Jesus or Moses did. Rather he behaved as Mark, or Micah, or Ali, deriving his authority from Jesus.

I append this from the D&C to illustrate:
" 23 Behold thou art aHyrum, my son; bseek the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added according to that which is just.
24 aBuild upon my brock, which is my cgospel;

25 Deny not the spirit of arevelation, nor the spirit of bprophecy, for wo unto him that cdenieth these things;

26 Therefore, atreasure up in your bheart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth.

27 Behold, I speak unto aall who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.

28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the aSon of God. I am the life and the blight of the world."

AN outsider's point of view is not necessarily "misrepresentation" but rather the observation of a representation of a different point of view.


Regards,
Scott
 

kai

ragamuffin
Scott if you beleive that jesus is devine and you are visited by jesus is what he says to you revelation?
 

Comprehend

Res Ipsa Loquitur
The Doctrine and Covenants are concerned with administration and interaction of the LDS community and do not constitute original spiritual revelation.

What do you base your incorrect assertion on?

Revelation is communication from God to man.

Joseph Smith never expressed his own authority as an independent Prophet like Jesus or Moses did. Rather he behaved as Mark, or Micah, or Ali, deriving his authority from Jesus.

I hate to break it to you but ALL prophets derive their authority from Jesus...:p


I append this from the D&C to illustrate:

Regards,
Scott

What was that supposed to illustrate?

You claimed that:
Joseph Smith's revelations were all translations from before the time of Christ.

This is demonstrably false. All of the Doctrine & Covenants was NEW revelation recieved AFTER the time of Christ. See Sections 88 or 89 for some nice examples.


Regards.
 

Popeyesays

Well-Known Member
What do you base your incorrect assertion on?

Revelation is communication from God to man.



I hate to break it to you but ALL prophets derive their authority from Jesus...:p




What was that supposed to illustrate?

You claimed that:
Joseph Smith's revelations were all translations from before the time of Christ.

This is demonstrably false. All of the Doctrine & Covenants was NEW revelation recieved AFTER the time of Christ. See Sections 88 or 89 for some nice examples.


Regards.

Revelation is indeed from God to man.

Moses, Abraham, Krshna, Zoroaster and Buddha do not derive their authority from Jesus. Jesus was not manifest to man when those Blessed Souls gave Their revelations, nor did They call upon the authority of Jesus Christ,. They spoke on Their Own authority.

D&C is indeed related after the time oif Christ but Joseph Smith does not use his own authority, He identifies the prophetioc voice as Jesus. That makes him nabi, not rasul.

Regards,

Scott
 

Comprehend

Res Ipsa Loquitur
Revelation is indeed from God to man.

Moses, Abraham, Krshna, Zoroaster and Buddha do not derive their authority from Jesus. Jesus was not manifest to man when those Blessed Souls gave Their revelations, nor did They call upon the authority of Jesus Christ,. They spoke on Their Own authority.

D&C is indeed related after the time oif Christ but Joseph Smith does not use his own authority, He identifies the prophetioc voice as Jesus. That makes him nabi, not rasul.

Regards,

Scott

Interesting ideas. Obviously I disagree. :cover:
 

Popeyesays

Well-Known Member
Interesting ideas. Obviously I disagree. :cover:
Okay, let's try to add flavor to the soup by tossing this in.

To call Moses, Jesus, or Jesus, Moses is not incorrect. They are the same Divine Messenger, each is the Alpha and the Omega-the first and the last. This reflects Their divine unity.

To call Them all by Their individual names is not incorrect, because the reflects the fact that These divine souls came at different times and in different places to to renew the covenant with man.

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha`u'llah, pp 59-60:
"Beware, O believers in the Unity of God, lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the Manifestations of His Cause, or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their Revelation. This indeed is the true meaning of Divine Unity, if ye be of them that apprehend and believe this truth. Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest in the future, are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Whoso maketh the slightest possible difference between their persons, their words, their messages, their acts and manners, hath indeed disbelieved in God, hath repudiated His signs, and betrayed the Cause of His Messengers. "

Regards,
Scott
 

kai

ragamuffin
that all depends on your religion now doesnt it,christians beleive jesus is the son of god,not the same devine spirit ,as Moses and could you answer my question scott if jesus came to Joseph Smith and spoke to him directly than is that devine revelation?, your answer must be no because you are not a christian , he was and so he and his followers say it was ,this makes it a heresy in Islam just as your religion is a heresy in Islam ,
 

Popeyesays

Well-Known Member
that all depends on your religion now doesnt it,christians beleive jesus is the son of god,not the same devine spirit ,as Moses and could you answer my question scott if jesus came to Joseph Smith and spoke to him directly than is that devine revelation?, your answer must be no because you are not a christian , he was and so he and his followers say it was ,this makes it a heresy in Islam just as your religion is a heresy in Islam ,

I believe Joseph Smith saw something. I believe he was a seer, but a seer's vision is not perfect.

I believe Smith actually said he was visited by a pillar of light, and it is his followers who assigned identities to those pillars of light. One 'Personage' said 'This is my Son, hear what He says'.

From the Pearl of Great Price, his autobiography section (as the Pearl of Great Price is several documents, not just one.)

"
But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction--not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being--just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join.
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."
He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, "Never mind, all is well--I am well enough off." I then said to my mother, "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true." It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?
Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them.
I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects--all united to persecute me.
It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.
However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.
So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

Regards,

Scott
 

kai

ragamuffin
I believe Joseph Smith saw something. I believe he was a seer, but a seer's vision is not perfect.

I believe Smith actually said he was visited by a pillar of light, and it is his followers who assigned identities to those pillars of light. One 'Personage' said 'This is my Son, hear what He says'.

From the Pearl of Great Price, his autobiography section (as the Pearl of Great Price is several documents, not just one.)

"
But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction--not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being--just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join.
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."
He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, "Never mind, all is well--I am well enough off." I then said to my mother, "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true." It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?
Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them.
I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects--all united to persecute me.
It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.
However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.
So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

Regards,

Scott


so what are you saying ? it sounds like a revelation to me!
 

Comprehend

Res Ipsa Loquitur
Okay, let's try to add flavor to the soup by tossing this in.

Your first argument must have been hard to make with a straight face. How about we finish that one?

You claimed Joseph Smith recieved no new revelation.

I have demonstrated your assertion to be false.

Would you like to concede that you are wrong or should I continue to list revelations recieved by Joseph Smith and you can explain why you think they are not revelation?

To call Moses, Jesus, or Jesus, Moses is not incorrect. They are the same Divine Messenger, each is the Alpha and the Omega-the first and the last. This reflects Their divine unity.

I have to disagree with you. In what way do you think it is not incorrect to call people by the wrong name? They are two completely different individuals.... with different names.... :slap:

To call Them all by Their individual names is not incorrect, because the reflects the fact that These divine souls came at different times and in different places to to renew the covenant with man.

ok...

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha`u'llah, pp 59-60:
"Beware, O believers in the Unity of God, lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the Manifestations of His Cause, or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their Revelation. This indeed is the true meaning of Divine Unity, if ye be of them that apprehend and believe this truth. Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest in the future, are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Whoso maketh the slightest possible difference between their persons, their words, their messages, their acts and manners, hath indeed disbelieved in God, hath repudiated His signs, and betrayed the Cause of His Messengers. "

Regards,
Scott

No offense but it is retarded to use text that I do not accept as scripture in order to convice me. Obviously the writings of Baha`u'llah hold no position of authority for me.
 

Comprehend

Res Ipsa Loquitur
I believe Joseph Smith saw something. I believe he was a seer, but a seer's vision is not perfect.

I believe Smith actually said he was visited by a pillar of light, and it is his followers who assigned identities to those pillars of light. One 'Personage' said 'This is my Son, hear what He says'.

No. He was not visited by "pillars of light", two personages visited him IN a pillar of light... :cover:

No, it was not the followers of Joseph Smith who assigned identities to the personages:

Joseph Smith, Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith's Teachings, edited by Larry E. Dahl and Donald Q.Cannon
... while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the Sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filld with the Spirit of God and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I Saw the Lord and he Spake unto me...(see Joseph Smith, The Papers of Joseph Smith, 2 vols. 1:7)

Anything else you would like help with?
 

kai

ragamuffin
and here we have it the basic dissagreement of faith , bahai is born from Islam so Christ is a prophet no more no less, and was not crucified, why would an Islamic organisation align themseves with heretics thats my question in all this , it smacks of an Agenda, there is very little common ground if any.
 

Popeyesays

Well-Known Member
and here we have it the basic dissagreement of faith , bahai is born from Islam so Christ is a prophet no more no less, and was not crucified, why would an Islamic organisation align themseves with heretics thats my question in all this , it smacks of an Agenda, there is very little common ground if any.
.

Bahai's do not deny the crucifixion, Kai. Neither do we believe that the Qur'an denies that Christ died on the cross, we say that the Qur'an says that Jesus gave up the spirit on the cross, and the flesh is immaterial. The Gospels also confirm that Christ gave up the spirit on the cross.

Neither are Christians heretics in Islam.

You're carrying your argument to an unsubstantiated extreme.

Regards,
Scott
 
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