The Mormon religion is very different from Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and many more. Although Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy have their differences, they have one very important fact in common; they are part of the Christian faith. Mormons, however, are not, due to some of their beliefs. Although it is not explicitly said, Jon Krakauer's, Under the Banner of Heaven, demonstrates how Mormonism is not a part of the Christian faith by explaining the material and formal principles, what they consist of, and how the religion came to be through the revelations and teaching style of Joseph Smith.
First, the material and formal principles of Mormonism are what really set them apart from the Christian …show more content…
The answer lies within his charismatic personality. He was an outgoing man who welcomed everyone and was nearly always filled with happiness and the Spirit. His emotion made him relatable and he "craved the adoration of his followers," thus building a bond with them (Krakauer 197). His stature and body type made him look like a natural born leader, as "he was big, powerful, and by ordinary standards very handsome... He was no ordinary man" (Krakauer 112-113). Because of his character, Smith was also capable of ridding himself of "unsavory charges" in order to avoid "irreparable damage," thus keeping himself out of trouble.
Overall, Mormonism is not part of the Christian faith due to its use of human reason in both the material and formal principles in addition to the Bible as in The book of Mormon and The D & C. Another reason is the two key beliefs that quite obviously contradict the Bible; blood atonement and polygamy. Despite these obviously flawed beliefs, the Mormons have a large following due to the charismatic Joseph Smith, who has a way with people. Mormonism defiantly is something else, yet it is the fastest growing religion in the
First, the material and formal principles of Mormonism are what really set them apart from the Christian …show more content…
The answer lies within his charismatic personality. He was an outgoing man who welcomed everyone and was nearly always filled with happiness and the Spirit. His emotion made him relatable and he "craved the adoration of his followers," thus building a bond with them (Krakauer 197). His stature and body type made him look like a natural born leader, as "he was big, powerful, and by ordinary standards very handsome... He was no ordinary man" (Krakauer 112-113). Because of his character, Smith was also capable of ridding himself of "unsavory charges" in order to avoid "irreparable damage," thus keeping himself out of trouble.
Overall, Mormonism is not part of the Christian faith due to its use of human reason in both the material and formal principles in addition to the Bible as in The book of Mormon and The D & C. Another reason is the two key beliefs that quite obviously contradict the Bible; blood atonement and polygamy. Despite these obviously flawed beliefs, the Mormons have a large following due to the charismatic Joseph Smith, who has a way with people. Mormonism defiantly is something else, yet it is the fastest growing religion in the