Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate - Softcover

Millet, Robert L.; McDermott, Gerald R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1587432099 ISBN 13: 9781587432095

Publisher: Brazos Press, 2007

Synopsis

Ask an evangelical and a Mormon what the other believes, and you may get many opinions, not all of them accurate. Ask professors Gerald McDermott and Robert Millet to discuss their beliefs, and you get a frank, informative comparison of both. Though sometimes on opposite poles, these scholars and close friends are determined to model love and respect despite serious theological differences. In a debate format, the authors focus on the person and role of Jesus while exploring such issues as authority for faith and practice, whether Mormons are Christians, the elements of salvation, and the church and its sacraments. Used for a class series, small group resource, or devotional reflection, this volume will give thoughtful readers of all persuasions a greater understanding of two significant outlooks on faith.

About this title

About the Author

Robert L. Millet (PhD, Florida State University) is professor of religious education, outreach, and interfaith relations at Brigham Young University. He has written numerous articles and books, including A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Gerald R. McDermott (PhD, University of Iowa) is professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and teaching pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles.

From the Back Cover

"Theological dialogue between some Mormons and some evangelicals has reached a high and serious point. This frank, informative, and charitable volume enhances that dialogue significantly. It is not the last word on this vitally important subject, but for both Mormons and evangelicals, it is a most helpful (and hopeful) word." --Mark Noll, author of A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada

"The challenge of interdenominational dialogue--like any genuine dialogue--is not to resolve disagreement, but to capture it and represent it accurately and in good faith. McDermott and Millet do just that in a conversation that models for all of us how to move beyond the chimeras and to value the truth more than our cherished--and often faulty--perceptions. An illuminating work in the best sense." --Teryl Givens, professor of English, University of Richmond

"Even the most well-intentioned, knowledgeable, and careful writers can find it difficult to represent in detail perspectives with which they significantly disagree. When the two spokespersons are friends and write courteously, highlighting agreements as well as disagreements, but without pulling any punches, readers are immeasurably blessed. Millet and McDermott undertake this discussion admirably as mainstream, articulate, compassionate, and informed advocates of twenty-first century Mormonism and evangelicalism, respectively. A must read for anyone interested in the topic!" --Craig Blomberg, coauthor of How Wide the Divide? A Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation

"It is difficult to imagine two scholars from the mainstream of Mormonism and the mainstream of orthodox Christianity better suited to engage in such a frank and fair debate over the person of Jesus, the heart of each faith. This book is deeply valuable for the ways in which it will advance the emerging dialogue--rather than the traditional mutual recrimination--between members of these two groups. It is also significant as a model of constructive and critical dialogue among members of different faiths at a time in our society when such dialogue can be drowned out by simplistic screamers on all sides." --John G. Stackhouse Jr., author of No Other Gods before Me? Evangelicals and the Challenge of World Religions

Reviews

Ten years ago, professors Stephen Robinson and Craig Blomberg pioneered the Mormon-evangelical dialogue book with How Wide the Divide?, in which they addressed the differences between Mormonism and evangelicalism on issues of Scripture, salvation, the nature of God and the role of Christ. Now, Millet (a professor of religious education at BYU, the flagship Mormon university) and McDermott (a Lutheran pastor and college professor) take up that gauntlet, calling upon years of friendship and conversation to present a more focused, specialized exchange between an evangelical and a Mormon. By concentrating solely on how both faiths address the identity and meaning of Jesus Christ (a topic Millet has previously discussed in A Different Jesus?), this dialogue delves deeply into issues Robinson and Blomberg could only skim. It also means that this more scholarly and heavily footnoted book will be a challenging read for the average evangelical or Mormon who simply wants an overview of both religions' theology. The authors assume a familiarity with theological terms, Christian history and soteriological debates, and some of their explanations are highly technical. For the serious student, however, this in-depth doctrinal comparison of Mormonism and evangelical Christianity, written in a spirit of mutual respect, will be a treasure trove of information. (Nov.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Brazos Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1587432099
• ISBN 13: 9781587432095
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240