Which are more similar?

[barking_iguana]

Judging by both ritual and theology, which are more similar, Mormons and Baptists or Orthodox Jews and Moslems?

I think it's the Semites. If you substitute Roman Catholics for Baptists, it's probably a closer call.

Comments

[podling]

Definitely the Semites. Mormon theology is of a different complexity than Baptist.

I don't know about the RC substitution, at best most american RC people believe that their bible is at best figurative, not literal (and this has been a common teaching for a while now), whereas Mormons (or LDS, as they prefer) believe their holy books are factual(including the native americans are a lost tribe of Israel, no matter what anyone, especially scientists, have to say) and I'm pretty sure most Baptists are pretty literal translators as well. This may all be ignoring what you actually asked though, since it goes toward belief rather than the theological framework.

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

(including the native americans are a lost tribe of Israel, no matter what anyone, especially scientists, have to say)

I think the Mormons work even harder to ignore what the Native Americans say than what scientists say...

Of course, what freaks me out about Mormons is something I haven't seen in any other theology: the belief that people can be converted after death.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

I would tend to vote for Orthodox Jews and Moslems as well. I think if you substitute the RCs for the Baptists it goes in the other direction. I definitely perceive the gulf between LDS and Roman Catholics to be wider than the gap between Baptists and Mormons.

podling is spot on that in RC tradition, the Bible one is not required to believe 100% of the Bible, or most of anything else written, literally. For Baptists and LDS, it's a different story.

I'm curious, what sparked this (interesting) question?

(ETA: Then again, I could be biased and not see the similarities)

[barking-iguana.livejournal.com]

I think one thing the Catholics and Mormons (all flavors, I think, not just the Big Church, AKA LDS) have in common as opposed to the Baptists is an emphasis on ritual and a reverence for objects (some would call id idolitry). But I do'nt know that much about Mormonism; that could be only the Catholics.

My interest was sparked by news stories over the past weeks about Mitt Romney's reception in the Republican Party. For instance, see my other post of today.

[barking-iguana.livejournal.com]

And by the ever-present stories of Israelis and Palestinians.