As Latter-day Saints do you feel closer to Protestants, Catholics, or Orthodox?

[Saint Bonaventure]

Please share a little (or a lot) in your answer.

[Calm]

Catholics….but this is probably as much because I have interacted and learn in deeper and more nuanced context their beliefs, mostly from talking to actual Catholics, but also reading the Catechism (a friend lent it to me).  It is quite possible that if I felt I had a more informed perception of Orthodox beliefs, I would feel a similar connection.  Basic Protestant belief that I think might get in my way even if I was able to see how belief worked in believers’ lives though would be their view of the Bible (sola scriptura).  There are different doctrines among the various Protestant faiths that might prevent connection.  Calvinism I don’t believe I will ever see much of a connection there, though I have had some friends who were Calvinist that I highly respected for their devotion to their faith and how they expressed it in serving others.

[Buckeye]

Catholics, but for reasons of personal exposure. Our family has lived mostly in areas with large catholic populations and my wife’s mother was raised catholic. So we’ve been to mass many times, our kids are friends in parochial schools, and we’ve swapped babysitters with catholic neighbors often. Our kids have also been sprinkled with holy water. Knowing Catholics has been a real advantage for our son serving in Italy. 
One of my fondest memories is of my wife and I standing in line at Costco with our five young children who were struggling to behave. A kind-hearted catholic woman behind us motioned for my wife to chat. I thought she was going to offer advice but instead said (in a whisper) “it’s so nice to see a young couple heed the church’s teaching against contraception.”  My wife took the compliment in stride and didn’t correct her. I don’t know what revelation would have hurt more - that we are Mormon, that we believe contraception is a God-send (literally), or that we support early term abortion rights in large part because our church doctrine that life begins well before conception. 

[bluebell]

I feel closer to Catholicism, probably because I have personally dealt with plenty of persecution from all different protestant denominations, but never from a Catholic.

And also because I feel like our theology, which centers on a line of authority and the necessity of “works” (such as ordinances/sacraments) has more in common than protestant theology.

[filovirus]

Sometimes I see more similarities to the Jewish faith than many of the Christian sects. But honestly, I feel like we are set apart from all others. We have so many commonalities with all the major Christian and Jewish religions, yet at the same time some major differences. It’s funny that with all the commonalities, we are not accepted by any.

But we may have done that to ourselves. We claim to be the only true (prophets and revelation) and living (priesthood as the lifeblood) church, and that is a huge turnoff to other religions. 

[BlueDreams]

Catholics for proximity (my gma’s catholic) as well as certain practices.  

orthodoxy on certain points about theology. 
 

i have a messy relationship with Protestantism. So I can see some of the cultural influences we’ve had from a large portions of converts coming from Protestant backgrounds in the US. But I see more of a difference on theological emphasis among other things. 
 

with luv, 

BD 

[Calm]

Is there something comparable to the RCC Catechism for Eastern Orthodoxy for studying?  I know there are various branches (is synod the correct term? Patriarchate?), are there variations of doctrine among them or just a different line of authority…if that is the wrong term for what divides the synods, please correct me (and please correct me anytime if I have got things wrong as I have found actual members of a faith correcting or confirming my understanding of what I research the best way to pick up on important nuances).

Edited May 9, 2022 by Calm

[Fether]

Catholicism for sure. Protestants seem to have this strange love for attacking other faiths. I have a lot of faith based YouTube channels showing up in my feed. Every other day I see a Protestant “exposing” or showing how another faith based channel is influenced by Satan. I can’t think of a single catholic channel that has attacked another.

I had a similar experience on my mission in the southern states.

Edited May 9, 2022 by Fether

[latterdaytemplar]

It really depends on what aspect we are talking about.

Insofar as authority is concerned, I feel closer to Catholicism/Orthodoxy in that those groups believe and understand (just as we do) that there are certain ordinances that can only be done by priesthood authority, which is passed from person to person (instead of being automatically granted by accepting the Bible and its message). If such authority truly is required, then Catholicism, Orthodoxy, or a sect of the Latter Day Movement is the one true Church.

Insofar as apostasy is concerned, I feel closer to Protestant sects that believe that Catholicism and Orthodoxy have fallen away from various important aspects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (hence the Reformation that led to Protestantism); however, I don't feel too close to those Protestant sects because I believe that they are also fallen away from various important aspects of the Gospel.

This stated, I do feel that Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism each have various aspects and points of view that are valuable and that could augment a Latter-day Saint's faith within the context of the Gospel as presented by his/her Church.

In my personal interactions, I feel closer with Protestants simply because I have not met as many Catholics throughout my life as I have Protestants.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Oriental Orthodox for me. I have had good friends from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, and we have really enjoyed discovering and discussing our common beliefs -- stemming, in their opinion, from their churches' early rejection of man-made creeds.

Second would be the Catholic Church, again because of commonalities in doctrine and practice. If I attend a Catholic (or High Anglican) mass, I walk away with something at least familiar and at least somewhat substantial. Also, I can easily talk values with my believing Catholic friends.

Last for me would be Protestantism. I have on occasion been to Protestant services that feel like a form of Christian worship, but too often I just feel like I attended a third-rate rock concert. Contemporary Protestantism is vacuous, in my experience, as exemplified by the repetitive, substance-free lyrics in their 'worship' music. I have found that attempts to discuss values with Protestant friends often fail because, much to my surprise, we don't actually have that many values in common.

In my opinion, Protestantism thrives in the very narrow space originally carved out by its debate with Western Christianity based on the false dichotomy between faith and works, and it really has nowhere else to go. One of the men I got very close to as a missionary was raised in Orthodox Judaism and found Christ in Evangelical Protestantism -- something to be celebrated in no uncertain terms. But as he pointed out, he was ready for more substance after a few years, but when he asked his pastor what was next, there was no answer.

And, like many others have already expressed, the vast majority of my personal interactions with Protestants (once they know I'm a Latter-day Saint) have basically consisted of being told that I'm a Satanist ... even if I don't realise it. I would include under this head being told that my belief in 'onlyism' (i.e., authority) likewise makes me an enemy to God.

Edited May 9, 2022 by Hamba Tuhan

[Scott Lloyd]

I feel closer to Catholics largely due to the good example set by Catholic contributors to this board, who have been very civil and pleasant, even in disagreement. 

[MustardSeed]

Of those I’ll say catholic, because I feel like we respect each other.  but I’m truth i feel we are most similar to 7th day.  Or even JW. 

[Rain]

I feel closer to protestants.  I have just seen so many who give so much of themselves for others in a very Christlike way.  

[Orthodox Christian]

4 hours ago, Calm said:

Is there something comparable to the RCC Catechism for Eastern Orthodoxy for studying?  I know there are various branches (is synod the correct term? Patriarchate?), are there variations of doctrine among them or just a different line of authority…if that is the wrong term for what divides the synods, please correct me (and please correct me anytime if I have got things wrong as I have found actual members of a faith correcting or confirming my understanding of what I research the best way to pick up on important nuances).

There are several available through Amazon . However St George's Greek Orthodox Church has a downloadable PDF file which you might find interesting.

Catechism of the Orthodox Faith | Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Catechism of the Orthodox Faith | Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

[Calm]

Thank you

[Orthodox Christian]

12 minutes ago, Orthodox Christian said:

There are several available through Amazon . However St George's Greek Orthodox Church has a downloadable PDF file which you might find interesting

There is also a very informative book by Professor Eugenia Constantiniou : Thinking Orthodox. In this she discusses the Orthodox phronema, or mindset. I believe she has also discussed this on YouTube.

[SkyRock]

I like Orthodoxy.  I regularly read Orthodox writings.  

[Orthodox Christian]

7 hours ago, SkyRock said:

I like Orthodoxy.  I regularly read Orthodox writings.  

That's good to hear

[The Nehor]

Hmmmm…..gonna go with Adamites.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamites

Like me their movement is almost inherently self-destructive, they like to defy norms just to see what will happen, and they are exhibitionists (though my methods are usually not that blatant…..usually).

 

[rodheadlee]

Catholic. They are our sisters. 

Edited May 10, 2022 by rodheadlee

[JLHPROF]

Catholic - I take great comfort and feel closer to the divine through sacred rite and ritual.  Protestants often consider them dead works.  They couldn't be more wrong.

And I can have a degree of holy envy for centuries of faithful obedience to these traditions.

 

 

[Pyreaux]

Roman Catholic. I can't pass up a solid priesthood claim. I'd have to try accept their divine authority and ancient traditions they corrupted and/or inspired to change over time. I can still recognize them for what they are. My understanding of Ancient Israel's Royal Cult that aligns me strictly with Mormonism as my primary needs to allow a few secondary candidates. As convoluted as I think Roman Catholic explanations are about why things are this way, there is a point I'd be forced to accept them, barring the better alternative I have. After extolling the virtues of Catholicism, I basically converted a non-believing person to Catholicism. Explaining that I would be Catholic if I weren't Mormon, as much as he considers me a spiritual advisor, he didn't seem interested in Mormonism, he felt studying Catholicism first would be best to start his spiritual journey. The few times I expressed concerns, he was able to dispel. He tells me Catholics don't condemn unbaptized souls like they used to. I was like... after centuries they change for the better, now I can't hold that over their heads any more? That's so unfair.

Also I got to have temples, and if there weren't Mormonism, I just have to tell myself the Cathedrals are neo-Temples. Protestants are far from my mind... Unless I can't take apostate religion anymore. I look down on Non-denominational Christians who think they are practicing the Biblical ideal that there shouldn't be denominations by declaring to be "non-denominational". They use the wrong arguments with me. They should be pitching their church by saying they simply disagree with most all the specific denominations there are or want to unify diverse believers. I may hold most of my Mormon beliefs, even if Mormonism were untrue, I'd probably think The Great Apostasy must still be in play and I may not want to affiliate with any present apostate denomination but still want study and fellowship with like-minded (well, simular-minded) people.

[Navidad]

8 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I look down on Non-denominational Christians who think they are practicing the Biblical ideal that there shouldn't be denominations by declaring to be "non-denominational".

Welcome to the forum from a veteran who is currently a "non-denominational Christian" attending an LDS Ward since 2017. I grew up in a non-denominational Christian church and pastored one for some years. I also taught psychology, theology, and homiletics in a non-denominational Christian college. Perhaps I would offer to you that looking down on someone is rarely a good position from which to have a dialogue.

Should I be "looking down on" my LDS friends because most of them deny being in a denomination? In fact, when I have called the LDS a denomination I am usually met with a flurry of denials. You use the term Mormon or Mormonism six times in your post. Are you LDS or a Fundamentalist Mormon? The Community of Christ? Just asking. I have lots of friends in each of those communities. Welcome to the forum. We might be a more diverse community than your realize!

Edited May 10, 2022 by Navidad

[bluebell]

8 minutes ago, Navidad said:

Welcome to the forum from a veteran who is currently a "non-denominational Christian" attending an LDS Ward since 1917. I grew up in a non-denominational Christian church and pastored one for some years. I also taught psychology, theology, and homiletics in a non-denominational Christian college. Perhaps I would offer to you that looking down on someone is rarely a good position from which to have a dialogue.

Should I be "looking down on" my LDS friends because most of them deny being in a denomination? In fact, when I have called the LDS a denomination I am usually met with a flurry of denials. You use the term Mormon or Mormonism six times in your post. Are you LDS or a Fundamentalist Mormon? The Community of Christ? Just asking. I have lots of friends in each of those communities. Welcome to the forum. We might be a more diverse community than your realize!

I have never met a member of the church that had any opinion either way on calling us a denomination.  I've referred to us as one before many times.  I wonder why the members that you are familiar with get so bent out of shape about it?  It's interesting that they have such a strong reaction.

[Chum]

18 minutes ago, Navidad said:

Welcome to the forum from a veteran who is currently a "non-denominational Christian" attending an LDS Ward since 1917.

Are you ≥105 or have you been hanging out in a chapel since 7:17PM? Either way I may have questions.