Is Mormonism Christianity?

[Associate Justice PiT]

Is there any historical evidence that is present to defend that any early church leader espoused such a view as described by Dr. RI—either accepted by mainstream leaders or by heresies in its early history. If not, and thus being a modern invention, then I concede that Mormonism exceeds what would be considered my personal limit on what is to be considered Christianity based on the following points; the concept of Exaltation, premortal existence, and on a lesser point the supplementary material synchronizing with the previous points.

     The pre-existence of souls was actually a doctrine of Origen, though one that ended up being deemed heretical. It dovetails with a neo-Platonist metaphysics and a whole host of unusual doctrines that found greater emphasis with his later followers. Perhaps the most curious Origenist doctrine is the belief that we will be resurrected into spherical bodies.

[PSOL]

Is there any historical evidence that is present to defend that any early church leader espoused such a view as described by Dr. RI—either accepted by mainstream leaders or by heresies in its early history. If not, and thus being a modern invention, then I concede that Mormonism exceeds what would be considered my personal limit on what is to be considered Christianity based on the following points; the concept of Exaltation, premortal existence, and on a lesser point the supplementary material synchronizing with the previous points.

     The pre-existence of souls was actually a doctrine of Origen, though one that ended up being deemed heretical. It dovetails with a neo-Platonist metaphysics and a whole host of unusual doctrines that found greater emphasis with his later followers. Perhaps the most curious Origenist doctrine is the belief that we will be resurrected into spherical bodies.

How much influence from those “neo-Platonist metaphysics” and Origen are in the scripture and apologia of Mormonism? Does the premortal soul, among other theological points of note, in Mormonism “match” that of the aforementioned doctrines?

[Associate Justice PiT]

Is there any historical evidence that is present to defend that any early church leader espoused such a view as described by Dr. RI—either accepted by mainstream leaders or by heresies in its early history. If not, and thus being a modern invention, then I concede that Mormonism exceeds what would be considered my personal limit on what is to be considered Christianity based on the following points; the concept of Exaltation, premortal existence, and on a lesser point the supplementary material synchronizing with the previous points.

     The pre-existence of souls was actually a doctrine of Origen, though one that ended up being deemed heretical. It dovetails with a neo-Platonist metaphysics and a whole host of unusual doctrines that found greater emphasis with his later followers. Perhaps the most curious Origenist doctrine is the belief that we will be resurrected into spherical bodies.

How much influence from those “neo-Platonist metaphysics” and Origen are in the scripture and apologia of Mormonism? Does the premortal soul, among other theological points of note, in Mormonism “match” that of the aforementioned doctrines?

     I honestly don't know enough about Origenist or Mormon cosmology to accurately compare them. A quick Google search showed me that someone at UC Santa Barbara wrote a 500-page doctoral dissertation entitled "The Fulness of the Gospel: Christian Platonism and the Origins of Mormonism", which sounds like it could answer your question. I have a long enough reading list already, but if you are curious enough to commit the time it can be found here.

[Lincoln Republican]

Yes, obviously.

[The Puppeteer]

They are just as much a Christian as all the other faiths that believe they are followers of Christ's teachings. Now whether the religion is true or not is a different story entirely. The point is if you believe you are truly following the teachings of Jesus then you are a Christian in my book.