Very interesting, Human. That has been my experience - the more fundamentalist faiths of my acquaintance, almost by default definition, heavily emphasize rules. The less fundy stress light (so to speak).
As for whether Mormons are Protestant, I have experienced that many religious groups believe they are not. It was my impression that Mormon leaders themselves do not claim to be Protestant. Likewise, JWs refuse the label Protestant and, of course, are not Catholic either). Both groups, which are generally considered to be heavier on the fundamentalist scale, believe their church is the only true one. (In fact, JWs refer to their faith as 'The Truth'. By definition, nobody else possesses religious truth).
I found some interesting info on the Religious Tolerance web site:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ldswho1.htmAre Mormons Protestant?
(Excerpts):
“If the LDS Restorationist denominations are Christian, are they also Protestant?
Assuming for the moment that the LDS Restorationist denominations are part of the Christian religion:
Some Christians divide the tens of thousands of denominations which consider themselves to be Christian into three main groups: Roman Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox. within this classification, the Mormon movement would be considered part of Protestantism.
Some make four divisions: Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic. Again, Mormons would be considered Protestant.
Others define Protestantism as consisting of those faith group who trace their history back to the Protestant Reformation and Luther's 95 theses. Some include the Restorationist denominations as a fourth or fifth group. Within this classification, the Mormon churches would be considered part of the Restorationist group and not Protestant.
Some define Protestantism as consisting of those non-Catholic denominations that adhere to certain historical cardinal beliefs. Mormons deviate from these beliefs in a significant way and might not be considered Protestant because of this.
And of course, many people consider the Restorationist movement to be non-Christian. In that case, the question is moot.”
“Court rules that Mormons are not Protestants:
Normally, courts avoid ruling on the status of religious groups. However, a Benton County Circuit Judge in Arkansas and the Arkansas Court of Appeals were forced to do just in 2007 and 2008 during a child custody dispute.
In 2005, Joel Mark Rownak and Lisa Monette Rownak had agreed in their divorce to raise their children "in the Protestant faith," unless both of them agreed to do otherwise. Their decree reads, in part:
"Based on the express agreement of the parties that the minor children be raised in the Protestant faith, the Court orders that each party hereto is enjoined from promoting another religious belief system/faith to the minor children unless both parties should consent."
In 2007, evidence was presented to Benton County Circuit Judge John R. Scott that Joel had changed his church membership from Southern Baptist to the LDS Mormon church. 2 Further, he promoted the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to his sons. He led his sons in the reading of Scripture (presumably including the Book of Mormon), and in daily prayer. He had one son baptized as a Mormon, and one enrolled in Boy Scouts at the local Mormon church. Scott ruled that the father was in contempt of the divorce decree, since the judge determined that the Mormon Church is not part of Protestantism.
On appeal in 2007, the father claimed that the contempt ruling violated the First Amendment's establishment clause that prohibits the state from discriminating against religious groups. Judge Sam Bird wrote the Appeals Court ruling. He noted that the father had originally asked that the Protestant requirement be included in the decree.
The court affirmed the lower court ruling. They based their decision on testimony by the father who stated that the LDS Church was not part of Protestantism, and on information obtained from the LDS Church's official web site. They did not regard the father's claim under the First Amendment to be valid in this case.”
“Which denomination(s) can legitimately be called "Mormon?"
Generally speaking, the LDS and most of the other approximately 100 LDS Restorationist denominations consider their own faith group to be the true successors to Joseph Smith's original founding of the Church of Christ in 1830. Most regards the other Restorationist groups as schismatic denominations.
So, for example, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) considers the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) to be a heretical schismatic group. The feeling is mutual. The LDS objects strenuously to terms commonly used by the media such as "fundamentalist Mormons" or "Mormon sect" or "polygamous Mormons" to refer to other Restorationist groups who trace their history back to Joseph Smith's original church. Many of these groups actively promote polygyny among their members. The LDS at least temporarily suspended the practice of polygyny in the late 19th century. Kim Farah, spokesperson of the LDS church, wrote in a news release:
"There is no such thing as a 'polygamous' Mormon. Mormon is a common name for a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Unfortunately, there is no consensus on this point. Some LDS Restorationist denominations use the terms "Mormon," "Original Mormons" or "Fundamentalist Mormons" to refer to themselves.”
“Which is the "true" Mormon denomination?:
This is an unanswerable question. All of the many dozens of Restorationist denominations consider themselves as having originated in Joseph Smith's original faith group -- The Church of Jesus Christ. Most regard themselves as the only "true" Restorationist denomination and the only "true" Christian church.”
---
As with so many things, it appears that it all depends on your definitions. And not everyone has reached agreement on that. The approach that works best for me is to go with what each group claims for themselves. I find the argument over which group is Christian or not to be futile. I understand that there has to be some kind of consensus over at least the basics. Otherwise chaos ensues. But I have spent an inordinate amount of time while a JW and then a Mormon discussing with others outside of either group whether, and why yes or no, JWs and Mormons are Christian or not. Of course, members of both groups claim Christianity. You are never going to convince them that they are only Christian if they accept this or that doctrine, as set out by the mainstream Christian groups, when the theology of the JWs and Mormons does not, and will never, match up entirely with that of the non-JW/non-Mormon denominations.
After being inculcated with "the truth" meme, it is exceedingly difficult, I have found, to widen one's view and learn that not everything is black and white. But embracing different shades is enlightening and meaningful. That's why I love the 'light' analogy.
It shouldn't be so hard to see with a wide angle lens but for some it definitely is.
The funny thing is, it's essentially unknowable. The picayune details over which we Protestants/Catholics/others argue. I guess we'll find out, or not, depending on what is waiting on the 'other side'.
I don't mind that. Now. But as an earnest teen, when I became a JW, I felt desperate to know the meaning of it all, and felt so happy, for a while, when I thought I'd found it. I'm even happier that I eventually left that faith as it was small and confining to me and by now I surely would have passed away from the boredom of it all. There are only so many times you can read a tiny book of the 88 essential questions that one must know answers to in order to become a JW in good standing. After that, surely one thirsts for more. More information, more variety, more enlightenment.
I laughed at the thought of a human court deciding the question for a Mormon convert as to whether Mormons are Protestant or not (in the divorce case referenced above). Not that it settles the question in the larger picture. Interesting exercise though.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2019 06:09PM by Nightingale.