Article VI Blog

Between Hugh Hewitt's program on 11/13 and my series on my personal Godblog, there has been a lot of discussion on the term "cult" as applied, or not, to Mormons. Vocabulary is a huge issue as Evangelicals and creedal Christians in general want to communicate to and with Mormons. We've run into this problem before on this blog, and thanks to Lowell, arrived at a mutally acceptable terminology and "creedal" and "non-creedal" Christians.

"Cult" is indeed a loaded word and, as Hugh Hewitt said, it is designed to squelch discussion, not enhance it. So, how do we talk about the issues relating to the very differing theological perspectives, as much as it needs discussion, between Mormons and creedal Christians? Well, a Lutheran pastor friend of mine has, I think, come to the rescue. He has suggested the term:

HETERODOX or HETERODOXY

Dictionary.com defines "heterodox" as

Contrary to or differing from some acknowledged standard, especially in church doctrine or dogma; unorthodox.

Theopedia, a "wiki" for theology says:

The term heterodox simply means "any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position." [1]. Used in contrast to orthodoxy, it is synonymous with the term "unorthodox" and is even closely tied to the word, "heresy".

This is a wonderful word for the situation we find ourselves confronted with. It has the two characterisitcs that I think make it most useful:

It cuts both ways, creedal Christians can say it about Mormons and the other way around.
It does not make any value judgements, it is purely descriptive.

Thus, the CJCLDS is not "a cult," or "cultic" is is simply a "heterodox" church or a holds a "heterodoxy."

Lowell: It works for me. Theologically, the differences between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Church") and other faiths are stark, and believers on both sides accept that. After all, the belief that one's own faith is correct, and others are not, is fundamental to religious commitment. We Mormons don't claim to be, or aspire to be, creedal or orthodox Christians. We invite examination of our beliefs, but not caricature of them. "Heterodox" is a step in that direction.

But in terms of daily living, as opposed to theology, we do aspire to love and serve our neighbors, to serve our communities, and generally to live lives of Christian discipleship. Our 13th Article of Faith states, "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. . . ." That's why, for example, the Church regularly makes large donations to the Salvation Army or to wordlwide disaster relief. It's also why, when Proposition 22 (defining marriage in California as between one man and one woman) was on the ballot, the Church combined with the Catholic Bishops,the Board of Rabbis, and numerous Evangelical groups to work for 22's passage. We were walking the neighborhoods and passing out lawn signs together.

Theological differences, cultural common ground. That's the reality.

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