[Slothrop99]

> although the reason is unclear to me

Not at all complicated, you don't get to add another book to the bible and claim to be the same religion.

I grew up in a very liberal christian church. Their take on mormons was "really nice people .. still heretics". Obviously there are bigger problems out there.

[zzo38computer]

As I understand, LDS did not add another book to the Bible; Book of Mormon is not a part of the Bible, although (as far as I know) still considered a scripture according to LDS.

(Nevertheless it is the reason I had thought of too (many years ago), although other people have cited different reasons.)

[siliconpotato]

Joseph smith claims to have had a new revelation and the book of Mormon is "another gospel". It's fan fiction for Americans and claims that the church became corrupted and are restoring the true church with their non biblical ideas. As such, their ideas are sufficiently divergent from biblical doctrine they are considered not part of the Christian church.

[Slothrop99]

Well, the New Testament (what Christians care about) is entirely set in the historical first century Roman Empire [0], all places are accurate and known to exist.

The Book of Mormon postulates some fantasy world perhaps not unlike Middle Earth? And also weird theological stuff from 19th century science-fiction? Sorry, that is a different religion.

[0] expect for the last book of revelations of the future.

[Daviey]

Why do you feel it is outsiders role to tell them they are not Christians, surely it's their role to self-determine?

[Slothrop99]

Why do you feel that most christian sects cannot decide they are heretics? We're not talking about some Lutheran Synod politics BS, they have this whole fantasy/scifi book and theology.

Obviously it's a free country, so they can say whatever they want.

[kelseyfrog]

Curious if your stance extends to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Founded in 330AD, it predates all other canonization councils:

  The Council of Trent (1545–1563) - explicitly laid out the 73-book canon for the Catholic Church

  Council of Rome (382)

  Synod of Hippo (393)

  The two of the Councils of Carthage (397 and 419 respectively)

  Council of Florence (1431–1449)

Applying your standard literally, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Ethiopian Bible are the only true Christian religion and religious text because others have fewer or greater number of books.

[Slothrop99]

Nah, from a more intellectual protestant tradition -- they were not fighting doctrine and I remember at least a couple of those from Sunday sermons.

None of that remotely resembles the Book of Mormon, so honestly you are just really shitty at whatever you are trying to do.

[kelseyfrog]

It sounds like you're ok with adding books to the bible so long as you're the one doing it. If you're not willing to accept the consequences of your own rules, they aren't rules, they're justifications.

[Slothrop99]

Oh you totally got me, tips fedora.