Wright’s theology does agree with the average Evangelical on what is generally considered “the essentials” (trinitarian, grace based salvation,…) while Mormons do differ in those “essentials.”

I know this blog is not about religious doctrine, but I feel that the above statement does not correctly describe the faith of Mormons, at least from the perspective of this Mormon. Mormons, in actuality, affirm that humans are saved by the grace of Christ, and that the grace of Christ, in fact, is the only saving power available to mortals. What we differ on is whether “faith alone” enables the grace or whether, indeed, it is even possible for faith to exist alone. Mormons reject the notion that living faith can exist in a vacuum, without being accompanied by works and, therefore, we reject the notion of faith-alone-based-salvation, while affirming reliance on the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

I was glad that John sees common ground between his church and that of Rev. Wright, though I would suggest that there is more common ground between Mormons and Evangelicals than might be inferred from John’s statement. I suspect that John would agree that there are many essentials that Evangelicals and Mormons actually do share in common (the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the sinless life of Christ, salvation coming through Christ alone, the resurrection of Christ, …).

I took the Southern Baptist Convention’s year 2000 statement of faith and broke it into 247 claims. Of those, I tallied up 225 claims that I can agree with. I compared that figure to a recent blog in which John commented that he agrees with 35% of what his own pastor says, noting that I, as a Mormon, agree with 91% of the SBC statement of faith. I’m sure the 35% figure was not intended to be a precise measure, and the divergences may just reflect the extent to which opinions or observations that go beyond the strict confines of doctrine may enter into his pastor’s sermons.

I’m not trying to say that there are not profound differences between Mormons and Batpists — there are — but I am suggesting that there is also a broad and expansive stretch of common ground. I think if we are able to acknowledge the common ground among religions — as John was willing to do with Rev. Wright’s church — we can have more meaningful conversations when we reach those points on which we do disagree and, at the same time, elevate the level of our political discourse when it does touch on religion.

For now, I’ll just wait for Hillary to announce her “Gender in America” speech.