Is Mormonism a branch of Christianity or is it a distinct religion?

[RINO Tom]

The best definition I have ever seen for a "Christian" is one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I believe that definition to be purposely and appropriately vague, and I believe it to be one that includes Mormons.

However, Mormons certainly should never be considered to be Protestants, and they deserve their own category ala Jehovah's Witness.

[RINO Tom]

The best definition I have ever seen for a "Christian" is one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I believe that definition to be purposely and appropriately vague, and I believe it to be one that includes Mormons.

However, Mormons certainly should never be considered to be Protestants, and they deserve their own category ala Jehovah's Witness.

I have heard this argument before, and I can understand why many people find it persuasive. However, for what it is worth, Moslems also claim to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Koran refers to the "gospel of Jesus," it just never makes it unambiguous what that "gospel" actually is.

Okay, if we want to get more specific, Mormons profess to believe in the Resurrection.  I cannot see how that is not good enough to meet this broad tent threshold.

[RINO Tom]

Islam has more in common with Christianity than Mormonism does, in my opinion. I'd say Mormonism is a distinct religion.

I would love to hear how.  Mormons believe in the Resurrection and Muslims don't, so that right there seems like probably the most defining difference, no??

[RINO Tom]

Islam has more in common with Christianity than Mormonism does, in my opinion. I'd say Mormonism is a distinct religion.

I would love to hear how.  Mormons believe in the Resurrection and Muslims don't, so that right there seems like probably the most defining difference, no??

Muslims deny the crucifixion happened.

This is OC-level as far as following the conversation and responding appropriately, haha.

[RINO Tom]

If Mormons aren't Protestants, then how are other Restorationist traditions Protestant?  or even Methodists?  The history of Methodism is distinct from attempts to "reform" Catholicism, after all

My not-so-intellectual understanding of the distinction (as has been addressed already) is that it is more about from which denominations you descend rather than your particular beliefs.  All Protestant denominations descend from Luther "protesting" the Catholic Church without any inherent desire to leave and/or deny the institution as at least legitimate in theory.  Each new Protestant faith is building upon further critiques of the Catholic Church, and while they are all now separate denominations (obviously), I think they can all clearly trace their lineages up the family tree.  That is why even some of the drastically different Pentecostal churches (i.e., handling snakes and stuff) are considered Protestant without any arguments by most people.  I might be ignorant, but from what tradition does Mormonism claim to descend?  To add an entirely new prophet is hardly a small critique of an existing faith.

[RINO Tom]

If Mormons aren't Protestants, then how are other Restorationist traditions Protestant?  or even Methodists?  The history of Methodism is distinct from attempts to "reform" Catholicism, after all

My not-so-intellectual understanding of the distinction (as has been addressed already) is that it is more about from which denominations you descend rather than your particular beliefs.  All Protestant denominations descend from Luther "protesting" the Catholic Church without any inherent desire to leave and/or deny the institution as at least legitimate in theory.  Each new Protestant faith is building upon further critiques of the Catholic Church, and while they are all now separate denominations (obviously), I think they can all clearly trace their lineages up the family tree.  That is why even some of the drastically different Pentecostal churches (i.e., handling snakes and stuff) are considered Protestant without any arguments by most people.  I might be ignorant, but from what tradition does Mormonism claim to descend?  To add an entirely new prophet is hardly a small critique of an existing faith.

So are Mormons unique among Restorationists only in that what they believe about continuous revelation is just a *bit* too far gone?  That seems a very tenuous place to try to erect some kind of litmus test

Restorationism does not consider itself a "descendent" of any type of doctrinal Protestantism - the Churches of Christ, Disciples, Adventists, Christadelphians, Pentecostals and Mormons are alike in seeing themselves as a restored apostolic church, not some incremental reform of Catholicism.  There is not a clear denominational lineage from which you can trace the Restoration movement back to Luther or the other  Protestant reformers:  this is the pioneer religion of the American frontier.

I am not familiar with each branch, but don't Adventists trace their lineage to Baptists?  Also, in most "family trees" I have seen Pentecostals descend from Methodists, a clearly Protestant branch.  You don't think Mormons having an entirely different holy book based on a prophet that no other branch recognizes sets them apart somewhat?  I mean, (a minority of, from what I understand) Pentecostal services might seem strange to a Lutheran or Episcopalian, but their beliefs on Scripture are surely MUCH closer to those branches than Mormons.