Item Detail
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11972
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0
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0
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English
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An Assessment and Critique of the Distinctive Christology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
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Wake Forest, NC
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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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293
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Ph.D. diss.
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'There is a debate about the Christian identity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in view of their Christology. The LDS Church claims that it is a Christian Church because its members are committed to Jesus Christ. Evangelicals, however, are concerned that the Mormon concept of the Son of God, among other things, may exclude the LDS Church from identification with Christianity. This dissertation will demonstrate that the LDS Church and evangelical theologians embrace a number of mutually excluding christological doctrines on the person and work of the Son of God in order to advance the debate about the Christian identity of the LDS Church. The LDS Church and evangelical theologians embrace mutually excluding doctrines on the sufficiency of the Bible, the essential nature of deity, the origin of man and the nature of creation. These differences lay a foundation for several important christological variations. These two religious traditions also exclude each other on the nature, deity and absolute eternality of the Son of God. They rule out each other's doctrines on the conception and date of birth of the Son of God. They contradict each other on the nature of the Son's relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead. They also exclude each other on the use of Jehovah as the exclusive name of the Son. They contradict each other on the figurative fatherhood of the Son. And, they rule out each other's doctrines on the marital status, parental status, and the salvation of the Son of God as well. The LDS Church and evangelical theologians exclude each other's positions on the Son's role in creation, on the application and manner of the atonement, and on the post-ascension bodily appearances of the Son. They also contradict each other on the Son's secret appearances in the eschaton. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms vastly different doctrines in at least sixteen christological categories. These sixteen categories of distinct LDS christological doctrines will be explored and critiqued from an evangelical perspective on the pages of this dissertation. The introduction surveys Mormonism in general and sets forth the methodology of this study. Chapters one and two describe LDS christological doctrines on the person of the Son of God. Chapter three describes LDS christological doctrines on the work of the Son. The fourth chapter critiques the LDS doctrines set forth in the first three chapters. And, the conclusion summarizes the arguments for the thesis.' (Author's abstract, shortened by UMI.)