Category: Contradict Movement

Signifianct Discoveries From Studying Other Religions #1

After studying Hinduism and Buddhism a high school student wrote the following response to a “gimme” essay question: Explain the most significant piece of religious information that you’ve learned so far this semester from this class and how it has impacted you.  Here is one reply I received:

The most significant piece of religious information I’ve learned thus far is Hinduism’s lack of exclusivity.  It is truly a religion based on whatever works for the individual.  This though struck me in particular when we were watching the HowCast on Youtube on how to conduct your own Hindu rituals.  The number of options presented in how to complete even just one ritual were overwhelming.  There are no lines drawn anywhere and really no specific guidelines for worship.  It is their belief that all paths will eventually lead to Brahman that is disconcerting given all the contradictions put forth by nearly every other religion.

Here is the video the student references in his answer:

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There is a plurality of Gods – So says Joseph Smith.

Mormonism differs from Orthodox Christianity on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, but how does it differ?  From the horse’s mouth, I mean the Prophet Joesph Smith’s mouth:

Sermon by the Prophet—The Christian Godhead—Plurality of Gods.

Meeting in the Grove, east of the Temple, June 16, 1844.

“I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit, and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and who can contradict it?”

“Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow—three in one, and one in three! It is a curious organization.”

“John was one of the men, and apostles declare they were made kings and priests unto God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reads just so in the Revelation. Hence, the doctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent in the Bible as any other doctrine. It is all over the face of the Bible. It stands beyond the power of controversy. A wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.”

“In the very beginning the Bible shows there is a plurality of Gods beyond the power of refutation. It is a great subject I am dwelling on. The word Eloheim ought to be in the plural all the way through—Gods. The heads of the Gods appointed one God for us; and when you take [that] view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness and perfection of the Gods. All I want is to get the simple, naked truth, and the whole truth.”

There you have it from Joseph Smith’s own mouth, there is a plurality of Gods.  He denies that Doctrine of the Trinity, that God exists in three persons with one divine substance, or essence. 

Here is the link to the sermon: http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/6/24.html

From Good Ole Brigham Young University.

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Joseph Smith and the Trinity

Do Mormons believe in the same God as Christians?  This is a topic that many Americans are speaking about right now since Romney is a Mormon.  Christianity Today ran an article on the differences between Orthodox Christianity and Mormonism: The Real Differences Between Mormons and Orthodox Christians.  

From this Christianity today article I found a link to one of Joseph Smith’s last sermons:

Sermon by the Prophet—The Christian Godhead—Plurality of Gods.Meeting in the Grove, east of the Temple, June 16, 1844.

Judge for yourself if the Triune God is represented by Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, or not.  How is it different?  How is it the same?  Does Joseph Smith say Orthodox Christianity’s Doctrine of the Trinity is accurate to Scripture?  Or does it say the Trinity’s teaching of three persons with one divine substance is a “curious organization” that is wrong and inaccurate with Scripture?

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Contradict Movement – First Animation!

I saw a Go Animate video put together by a student for a class project.  It got me thinking, maybe I can make a Go Animate video for the Contradict Movement.  I managed to make a Jesus character and a Buddha character.  I wanted to share a lot of verses from Jesus’ own mouth, so this was a great way to do it.  About 95% of everything the Jesus character says in this video is all “words in red!”  That’s what I like so much from this video.

If the verses I have quoted in this video are all true, and I firmly believe they are, they are the best news anyone can hear!  There is life after death, death has been swallowed up in victory.  Jesus is our all sufficient Savior and he loves us all, so much, that he innocently died in our place, like a an exchange on death row!

The downside, the side that brings me tears, is that if the verses quoted in this video are all true, and I firmly believe they are and that there is historical proof that they are, then all must repent and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.  Apart from Christ there is no salvation is what these verses claim, so it’s great that our savior is revealed, but they also reveal the depth of our sinfulness, we must be in Christ to be a new creation, to have eternal life.  Many are not.  Many actually believe that it doesn’t matter what we believe as long as we do good.  But all of us have fallen short of God’s standards and we aren’t good in his sight, no matter how much we serve the poor.  The only way to be seen as good in the eyes of the Lord is to have the righteousness of His Son, which only comes from faith in Christ.  Don’t fool yourself – yoga leads to death, the eight-fold path leads to death, the five pillars lead to death, observing the Laws of Moses leads to death, and so on and so on.  For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, and this not of ourselves, for it is a gift, so that no man may boast.

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The Different and Contradictory Writings of the World’s Religions

There are many religions in the world, more than what I am going to list today in this blog post, but one of the main reasons that they all have different and contradictory teachings is because they have a different source for their doctrine.  In technical terms, the formal principle is the ultimate source and norm of one’s theology.  For Protestants, the formal principle is claimed to be Sola Scriptura, “Scripture Alone,” however, that isn’t always the case, as some Protestant denominations lean upon reason to fill in the gaps or erase paradoxes found within the Bible.

The following is a list of religions and cults with the writings from which their teachings are derived.  If we have a different source of theology, we’ll obviously have different theological conclusions on the nature of the divine, the universe, humanity, ethics, and the afterlife.

Add to this list in the comments section, please (I know I am missing Shinto, Jainism, Yoruba, Voddoo, and Baha’i.

The Different and Contradictory Writings of the World’s Religions:

Christianity – The Bible

Jehovah’s Witnesses – All current Watchtower publications, including the Bible (New World Translation only), Reasoning from the Scriptures, You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watchtower and Awake! Magazines.

Mormonism – The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, plus the Bible (King James Version only or Smith’s “Inspired Version”) which is seen as less reliable.  Authoritative teachings of Mormon prophets and other LDS “general authorities.” Ensign and Liahona magazines.

Unification Church – Divine Principles by Sun Myung Moon, considered the “Completed Testament.”  Outline of the Principle, Level 4, and the Bible.

Christian Science – Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Miscellaneous Writings, Manual of the Mother Church, and other books by Mary Baker Eddy; The Bible, Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel,  and other official periodicals.

Unity School of Christianity – Unity magazine, Lessons in Truth, Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, and the Bible.

Scientology – Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and other writings by Hubbard.  The Way to Happiness.

Wicca – No offical sacred text, however The Book of Shadows, first compiled by Gardner, is largely used by many Wiccans.

New Age – No officical sacred text, however, almost any religious text can be used, as well as texts on astrology, mysticism, and magic.

Islam – The Holy Qur’an and the Haddiths, sayings of the prophet Muhammad.

Nation of Islam – The Qur’an but Message to the Blackman in America, Our Savior Has Arrived, and other books guide the views of the Nation of Islam.

Judaism – The Tanakh and the Talmud.

Hinduism – The Vedas, The Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita.

Hare Krishna – Swami Prahbuhpada’s translations and commentaries on Hindu scriptures, especially the Bhagavad-Gita. 

Buddhism – The Mahavastu, The Jataka Tales, and the Tripitaka.

The Church of Satan – The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey.

Daoism – Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi, and Daozang.

Confucianism – The Analects of Confucius.

Sikhism – The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi Granth).

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