I thought to thank EVERYBODY for being so good with this sensitive topic. Other times I brought it up people have turned into uncivilized rude monsters. I am eternally grateful that all of you are so great that you can answer the question like mature adults. I appreciate it and I’m sure other’s do as well! Keep up the good work! 
“Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey”-The Beatles
“People try to tell me thoughts they cannot defend…” The Moody Blues
I’ve never been completely clear on the status of this. Is it settled rabbinically, Zev? Can a real-live-Christ-believing Southern Baptist be said to be following the Noahide laws whilst believing and preaching the Trinity (assuming he follows the other laws, of course). Is this also true of Catholics, who pray to Saints (while not worshipping them)? I guess more broadly asked, is there some limit of just how devout a Christian can be without crossing into idolatry and/or blasphemy pretty much automatically?
Just curious, of course. I personally couldn’t even manage to obey the whole “limb of a live animal” thing. Go figure.
Pepperlandgirl…
There is a fundamental difference in what you believe and in what orthodox Christianity believes. Little-o orthodox Christianity believes in the traditional doctrine of the Trinity - one God, three Persons. Very very different than three Gods. Also there is no attaining any sort of “equality” status with Jesus - he is God, we are not.
I’m not saying this to start an argument or debate, I’m simply pointing out the differences between LDS and what are considered the mainline traditions (Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Protestantism). You are free to believe whatever you so desire, and I am free to tell you you are wrong. 
Kidding. It doesn’t matter to me one way or another. So long as you don’t try to shove your belief system down my throat, I’m cool with it. And I think that Christians would go a long way towards adopting the style of a living witness, rather than a verbal witness. Far more effective that way.
Without going into too much detail, yes a “real-live-Christ-believing Southern Baptist” can. According to most authorities, the prohibition of idolatry (did I spell that right?) does not preclude a Gentile from worshipping God in partnership with his/her own deity.
Blasphemy, it should be pointed out, has a different meaning in Judaism than in Christianity. Blasphemy, in Judaism, involves one rather specific statement (which I’d rather not repeat) which most Christians would not say. Anything short of that specific statement is not blasphemy. So, it’s fairly easy for a Gentile to be a Christian and not cross over into blasphemy.
Zev Steinhardt
Darn.
One of these days I’ll get the HTML right.
Zev
Dang it, now I’m curious about what that very specific statement is. I understand your not wishing to post it, though.
Your quoting problem came about because you can’t nest a quote inside another quote, BTW.
like to use this expression a lot, i see.
Thanks, Zev. And don’t worry about that blasphemy. I’ll track it down and send it to my fellow non-believer.
Mircoshroom, yeah I like that phrase. Also I felt comfortable using it because I didn’t think anybody paid attention to what I wrote anyway 
Jezebel, I’m totally cool with you pointing out the differences. I hope everybody is. There’s a difference between, “This is what I believe, and this is what I believe. Obviously they are different, but I’ll respect your opinion if you respect mine” and “This is what I believe, that is what you believe. You are wrong and stupid and damned to hell.”
See?
Thought so.
Thank you everybody for your input!
“Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey”-The Beatles
“People try to tell me thoughts they cannot defend…” The Moody Blues
“To start, press any key. Where’s the any key?” Homer Simpson.
OK, I’m someone who swallowed a lot of Baptist-style anti-Mormon propaganda at a young and impressionable age, and has admittedly ripped into Mormon missionaries.
Sorry.
One thing that helped me: In college, I made one really good friend who is LDS. Of course, by that time I had given up on orthodox Protestantism, so I was filtering everybody’s opinions through the “I don’t share your religion” screen. I wonder how much effect that had. If I had been a practicing “Fundamentalist”, rather than an unbeliever with a lot of Fundamentalist/Baptist prejudices as baggage, I might not have Desiree as a friend today.
The things that bug me about Mormonism:[ul][li]Apparently, it used to be quite racist–but is no longer. Assuming (for the sake of argument) this is true, the racist history offends me, and repackaging an originally racist religion to obliterate racist elements doesn’t inspire my confidence.[/li][li]The ascension to godhood: I just don’t buy it. I’m inclined to think that man is man, and god is god, and that’s pretty much it.[/li] --But don’t feel too bad. I don’t believe in the “orthodox” Christian afterlife either.[/ul]
Yes, I am an egomaniac; why do you ask?
…You didn’t ask?
Ah, but I knew you were dying to!
…You weren’t?
I find myself in an interesting position… I was brought up Mormon but have decided to abandon that faith. I have a general despisal of all organized religions, but that’s mostly just feelings of irrational bitterness (no, I’m not trying to rile people up).
I just want to say that there’s a huge amount about Mormonism that the mainstream doesn’t understand, and there are a lot of myths that are really just anti-Mormon propaganda. To this day, I find myself dispelling rumors about the church (while I don’t support it, I’m sure not going to make up lies about it).
I think a big part of anti-Mormonism stems from those of other faiths wanting to be true to their faith… that is, the notion of “destroying” Mormonism is seen as encouraging their own little piece of Christianity. Unfortunately, a lot of people with this attitude seem to be trying to be trying to make some sort of compensation for their own lack of religious knowledge… when presented with a valid argument in return, they’ll stutter a bit, deliver a rebuttle dealing with polygamy, then storm off.
Well, okay, that’s not entirely how things work, but back when I was fifteen or sixteen, that’s happened to me several times. But, then again, I got dumped on mostly from people of my own age group.
-SPOOFE
pepperland said"You can’t simply accept Christ and have all your sins washed away."
Please provide a Bible verse that supports this, as I most definitely believe its true!
**
You are aware that many denominations of Protestantism, especially Baptists, actively supported the KKK in the US as late as the '50s? You cannot name a denomination which does not have some skeletons in it’s closets - and not all of them are as obvious as The Crusades.
Yer pal,
Satan
http://www.raleighmusic.com/board/Images/devil.gif
I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
One week, two days, 12 hours, 26 minutes and 29 seconds.
380 cigarettes not smoked, saving $47.59.
Life saved: 1 day, 7 hours, 40 minutes.
I believe the racist ideas come from some passages in the Book of Morman that refers to black people as being the Children of Ham. A tribe that was cast out. Am I wrong about this?
Needs2know
[QUOTE]
o my question is… How can people who preach the love of God and Christ be so hurtful towards people who disagree with them. I’m confident that God loves me whether I’m a Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddist, Wiccan, or Mormon. If you are truly a believer in Christ shouldn’t you follow his example of loving everybody? Doing unto others has you would have done unto you?..
[QUOTE]
Getting back to your original comments…
What makes you think that these people are truly Christians? It’s easy to call yourself anything you want but the proof is in the actions. (You can call yourself a horse but if you behave like a jackass…)
Love is to be a hallmark of believers. If you don’t see love, you’ve got to pause and wonder. It’s not the only sign, mind you, of a believer, and not unique to Christians. But Christians should display it readily.
You are correct in stating that we should do as Jesus would do. You are also correct that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Two more reasons for questioning if they are what they say they are.
By the way, Jesus’s only harsh words were for the sadduces, pharisees and lawyers who were the ‘keepers of the faith’ and were leading believers astray and burdening them with a bunch of legalism that God had not intended.
IF they want to engage you in honest, earnest dialog and are not attacking you, you may want to consider giving them a chance. It may be fruitful for both of you.
In response to peaches8
You can find information regarding faith and works from the Epistle of James, chapter 2, verses 13 - 17. Quoted here from the King James Version of the Bible for convenience:
[quote]
2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[\quote]
Grim Beaker
zev_steinhardt
I don’t see how this makes a difference. Jews don’t believe that Christians are Jews, but most Christians believe that they are part of the Jewish tradition. If you claim to be a follower of a religious tradition, but you profess doctrines contrary to that religion, you’re a heretic.
Monty
You display a delight in arrogance. Simply declaring that you disagree with me in a condescending tone is hardly “fighting ignorance”. If you actually have something more than personal attacks to contribute to this discussion, then do so. I’m not going to believe anything just because you tell me to.
zev_steinhardt
Can you name one such authority? I have been told (by a Rabbi) that Judaism and Christianity are not compatible.
Satan:
But was that official Scriptural doctrine or simply the practice of Baptists?
Ryan,
I can’t speak for what Christians believe. I can only tell you that according to Judaism, Christians are not Jews (regardless of whatever tradition they are following). As such, they cannot be charged with any form of heresy under Jewish law.
Judiasm and Christianity ** are ** incompatible. Being a “righteous gentile” is not the same as being Jewish. A gentile is not bound by most of the laws that Jews are. Therefore, while a Jew cannot worship another diety, a Gentile can (in conjunction with God, as Christians do).
This view is supported by Maimonides. (I can get the source for you, but it will have to wait until I get home).
Zev Steinhardt
So are you saying that according to the Jewish point of view, the Ten Commandments only apply to Jews? Or do the Ten Commandments have a different interpretation when applied to Gentiles?
Yep. However, substantially all of the conduct covered by the Ten Commandments also applies to non-Jews, so don’t think you’re off the hook. 
In the eyes of Judaism, non-Jews (those not of the House of Abraham) must obey instead the laws that G-d gave to Noah when he disembarked from the ark. You can find a link to them here . Broadly speaking, blasphemy, idolatry, murder, improper sexual conduct, theft, and consumption of the flesh of a live animal are all proscribed, and the establishment of courts of justice is commanded.