Islam, Mormonism, and Freemasonry: Their Beliefs and Influence, and A Christian Response

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Islam, Mormonism, and FreemasonryTheir Beliefs
and Influence, andA Christian Response

• Dean Maurice Helland
• Oral Roberts University

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Contents

• 8 Doctrines each of
• Islam
• Freemasonry
• Mormonism
• Their Influence in American Society
• Where they err
• A challenge to consider what Jesus Christ says
  about the Bible and about ones personal life

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Introduction

• These three groups have caused much confusion in
  the Christian community
  
• Each has made excellent contributions to American
  society
  
• Their belief in God in a secular humanistic
  society is commendable
  
• Their attempts to blend into American Society is
  also very positive
  
• All Christians agree with them about doing good
  works
  
• All Christians agree with them to pray for our
  nations leaders so we may live in peace

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8 Doctrines of Islam
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Eight Doctrines of Islam

• There is only one God. He has no wife, therefore
  he cannot have a son.
  
• The unpardonable according to Islam is Shirk.
  This is the belief that beings other than Allah
  have divine attributes and are a source of
  power.
• The Quran is the pure Word of God
• Revealed to Mohammed by Allah
• Mohammed is the last prophet
• All writings of previous prophets are corrupt in
  their present form

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Eight Doctrines of Islam

• Islam will eventually be the only religion on
  Earth.
  
• This will be accomplished through jihad
• Jihad is used to recruit converts
• Higher jihad thespiritual struggle to improve
  oneself spiritually
  
• Lower jihad the literal interpretation of the
  Qurans injunctions
  
• The violent killing of non-Muslims will convert
  others to Islam through fear as a method of
  evangelism

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Eight Doctrines of Islam

• Allah granted Mohammed an unlimited number of
  wives due to his position as a prophet
  
• Moslem men limited to four wives
• May also have sexual privileges with female
  slaves
  
• Allah changes his teachings within the pages of
  Quran
  
• This permits Muslims to quote passages to
  non-Muslims that make Islam seem tolerant, even
  though they know that passages of the Quran
  written later contradict and annul them

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Eight Doctrines of Islam

• The drinking of Alcoholic beverages is forbidden
• Those who abandon Islam should be killed
• -For more authoritative information on Islam in
  English, read books by Mark A. Gabriel, PhD,
  former professor of Islamic history at Al-Azhar
  University in Cairo, Egypt. They are available
  at www.charismahouse.com.

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Influence of Islam on American Society

• There was none in the formative years of the US
  as a nation
  
• Immigration from Islamic countries was highly
  restricted until 1965.
  
• Islams Impact on America
• Afro-Americans (900,000 converts during 20th
  Century)
  
• The Nation of Islam began as a Black racist
  movement, a reaction to the racial turmoil of
  1930s
  
• The majority left it to become a truly orthodox
  Islamic movement in the 1970s
  
• All Americans, after 9/11/2001

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Influence of Islam on American Society

• There has been a significant increase in
  conversion rate of Afro-Americans to Islam since
  9/11/01 (It quadrupled by 2005)
  
• The general reaction of Americans to U.S. Muslims
  after 9/11 Despite some negativity,
  
• They have gone out of their way to comfort and
  care for Muslim friends
  
• Public schools have often provided sympathetic
  teaching on Islam for their students
  
• Communities have started holding forums for
  dialogue between different religions including
  Islam
  
• A Tulsa Presbyterian university even permitted a
  mosque to be built on its campus for Muslim
  students

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8 Doctrines of Mormonism
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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• God the Father (Elohim) is a glorified, exalted,
  resurrected man only one of many gods.
  
• He lives on the planet Kolob
• He has a multitudes of wives, begets children by
  them
  
• His children are born as spirit beings with no
  body
  
• At a certain stage, these spirits enter infants
  bodies on the planet Earth

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• God the Father (Elohim) (continued)
• Christ is a literal son of God the Father, first
  on the planet Kolob and later on planet Earth.
  Therefore, he is our literal brother, along with
  Satan, the demons, and all mankind
• He was promoted to be a god by the council of
  gods he then organized the planet Earth then he
  entered into a body provided to him by Mary and
  Elohim.
• He lived and died on Earth as Savior in order to
  provide resurrection and eternal life for all
  mankind
  

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the
  restoration, there would be no salvation. There
  is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus
  Christ of Latter-day saints (McConkie)
• Replacement Theology
• The Bible is true only when translated
  correctly.
  
• Mormonism replaces the authority of Bible with
  revelations by Joseph Smith and later
  prophets.
  
• The Mormon Church insists that it is a
  Christian Organization.
  
• The name Jesus Christ is in their Churchs name.

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• The Book of Mormon is the pure word of God
• It was engraved on golden plates by ancient
  prophets of the white-skinned Nephite race which
  then lived in America. The plates were buried,
  then recovered and translated by occult means
  sixteen centuries later by Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Its purpose was to restore the plain and precious
  truths which were supposedly removed from the
  Bible by unscrupulous clergy during the Dark Ages

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• Jesus Christ will return to the earth as
  President of the Mormon Church and faithful
  Mormons will rule over the entire world.
  
• Americas destiny will hang upon a single
  thread. At that critical juncture, this people
  (read the Mormons) will step forth and save it
  from the threatened destruction. (Joseph Smith,
  according to Brigham Young)

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• Jesus Christ will return to the earth (cont.)
• Christs return will be preceded by
• The extermination of non-Mormons in the Americas
  by Mormon Indians (so said Jesus Christ,
  according to the Book of Mormon)
  
• The gathering of Israelites from all nations to
  Zion (read Israel America)

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• Joseph Smith and all men in the Mormon priesthood
  had the right to an unlimited number of wives
  prior to 1890.
  
• Polygamy was ordered to cease in 1890 (under
  pressure of the U.S. government).
  
• Its practice will be renewed at the Second Coming
  of Christ

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• The Book of Mormon contains overt contradictions
• Thousands of unannotated changes have been made
  to it by the Mormon Church itself since the first
  edition
  
• Reasoning Only the opinion of the current
  prophet (president of the Mormon Church) is
  valid at any given moment
  

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Eight Doctrines of Mormonism

• The drinking of alcoholic beverages is forbidden
• According to the original Mormon doctrine of
  Blood Atonement, those who abandoned Mormonism
  were to be killed
  
• This was actually practiced for a time under both
  Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

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The Beginnings of Mormonism in America

• Joseph Smith was born in 1805, and the Mormon
  Church was organized in 1830.
  
• Smith became a Mason in 1842.
• Secrets of Masonic Lodge were incorporated into
  Mormon Temple Ceremonies (including their bloody
  oaths, until they were suddenly removed in
  1990).
• Smith claimed 2 restorations by his revelations
• He restored Christianity.
• He restored Freemasonry.

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Influence of Mormonism on American Society

• Christian Theologians who are not ex-Mormons have
  begun to respond to the scholars being produced
  by the Mormon Church
  
• Former Mormon missionaries are actively recruited
  into the FBI and the CIA
  
• The Mormon Church projects a strong family image
• Their missionaries have been trained by Church in
  over 50 languages
  
• They have spent time in foreign countries on
  missions
  
• With present emphasis on multiculturalism, they
  have much influence in American society

23
Influence of Mormonism on American Society

• The Mormon Church works closely with pro-life and
  anti-homosexual activist groups and
  denominations
  
• The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings a combination
  of Christian hymns and Mormon hymns on worldwide
  radio and TV programs
  
• It broadcasts on satellite 24/7

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Another Branch of Mormonism

• Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
  Saints (Now called Community of Christ)
  
• It is a historic split from the Utah Mormons
  with headquarters in Independence, Missouri.
  
• It claims 112,000 members.
• Historically, it has never accepted polygamy.
• It is now a member of the World Council of
  Churches.
  
• It has adopted the liberal viewpoint.
• It considers both Bible and Book of Mormon to be
  religious experiences, not historic truth.
  

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Influence of Mormonism on American Society

• The growth rate of Utah Mormon Church has been
  phenomenal.
  
• It claims over 12 million members.
• It has doubled in size since 1980.
• Within 70 years, it is projected to be one of the
  main world religions.
  

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Influence of Mormonism on American Society

• The growth rate of Utah Mormon Church
  (continued)
  
• In 1990, its estimated annual income came to over
  five billion dollars.
  
• Missionaries and ministers must raise their own
  support. Church monies are used for building new
  chapels (for public services), temples (for
  secret ceremonies including baptism for the
  dead), and evangelization.

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8 Doctrines of Freemasonry
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Eight Doctrines of Freemasonry

• Freemasonry is a secret society.
• Each level includes oaths never to reveal its
  secrets on pain of death by varied and grotesque
  means
  
• The oaths include swearing to cover up crimes
  committed by fellow Masons, up to and including
  treason
  
• God is defined as the Great Architect of the
  Universe
  
• Belief in God is its only dogma
• It believes that the True God forming the basis
  of all religions may be found in nature
  (including animal nature) and truth
  

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Eight Doctrines of Freemasonry

• The holy book that predominates in any given
  culture is placed open on the Masonic alter
  
• The King James Bible in Christian cultures
• The Quran in Islamic cultures, etc.
• Sacred books are considered symbols, not
  literally true
  
• The Ritual of each lodge is its final authority
• Before becoming a member, all other people are
  represented as living in spiritual darkness
  

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Eight Doctrines of Freemasonry

• Jesus Christ was a religious leader on the same
  level as Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, and Joseph
  Smith
  
• Jesus Christs name has not been permitted to be
  invoked in prayer at Masonic meetings since the
  middle of the nineteenth century
  
• No mason can attempt to change a fellow-masons
  religion
  
• It claims to be a religious institution, but not
  a religion.
  
• It claims to know what is right about other
  religions
  
• It places itself above all other religions
• Some believe it will serve as the basis for the
  coming One-World Religion in a New World Order

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Eight Doctrines of Freemasonry

• A Freemason must not violate the chastity of a
  Master Masons wife, mother, sister or daughter,
  knowing them to be such.
  
• This does not prohibit violating them if they are
  not chaste.
  
• Freemasonry intentionally misleads initiates
  concerning its teachings.
  
• It reveals its true teachings only to those in
  and above the 30th degree
  

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Influence of Freemasonry on American Society

• The topic of Freemasonry is generally ignored by
  other Americans
  
• It is not a subject of public discussion
• They make their public appearances only at
• Funerals for its members
• The visit of the lodge to a church, synagogue, or
  mosque once a year where the minister is a
  member
  
• Circuses and children's hospitals sponsored by
  the Shriners

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Influence of Freemasonry on American Society

• Many assume it to be a Christian organization
• The sacred book on the alter is kissed to seal
  ones solemn vows
  
• Its slogan is The Fatherhood of God and the
  Brotherhood of Man
  
• G Great Architect of the Universe
• Now, however, atheists may be members
• Roman Catholic members have ceased to be
  automatically excommunicated since 1983
  
• Their ardent advocacy of separation of Church and
  State is considered to be quite American
  

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Influence of Freemasonry on American Society

• Sexual license and heavy drinking characterize
  Shriner meetings
  
• Shriners must be 32nd degree masons or Knights
  Templar
  
• In their initiation ceremonies, they must swear
  allegiance to Allah and the Quran
  
• Only a small percentage of their funds actually
  go to their famous childrens hospitals
  

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A Christian Response toIslam, Mormonism, and
Freemasonry
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A Christian Response

• Islam, Mormonism, and Freemasonry all share one
  thing in common
  
• --They hold that the Bible has been corrupted and
  therefore is of limited value today.
  
• Whether they admit it or not, they base their
  beliefs on pagan superstition and practices.
  
• Their low estimation of the Bible is based solely
  on the word of their founders and/or misguided
  Christian theologians

• However, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus
  was
  
• Crucified before the whole Jewish nation by Roman
  authorities.
  
• Rose from the dead on the third day as he himself
  had predicted.
  
• Appeared on numerous occasions to over 500
  eye-witnesses.

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The Bible is the Infallible Word of God

• Jesus Christ believed in and proclaimed the
  indestructibility of the Old Testament.
  
• He clearly indicated that both the Holy Spirit
  and his disciples would testify to the world of
  the truth about him.
  
• He gave divine sanction for the writing of the
  New Testament.
  
• His disciples understood this and so the Church
  of born-again believers understands it today.
  

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The Bible is the Infallible Word of God

• Old Testament
• While there may be transmission errors in some
  numbers and name spellings, manuscript evidence
  confirms over 99 accuracy in the present text of
  the Bible.
• New Testament
• Early persecution by both Jews and Romans tended
  to guarantee the integrity of the text.
  
• People throughout the centuries have been and
  still are being martyred for their faith in its
  trustworthiness.
  
• Its original message remains intact and
  completely reliable today.
  

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• The Wise and Foolish Builders
•    "Therefore everyone who hears these words of
  mine and puts them into practice is like a wise
  man who built his house on the rock. The rain
  came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
  and beat against that house yet it did not fall,
  because it had its foundation on the rock. But
  everyone who hears these words of mine and does
  not put them into practice is like a foolish man
  who built his house on sand. The rain came down,
  the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
  against that house, and it fell with a great
  crash.
• Matthew 724-27 (NIV)

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• The God of the Bible is omniscient, omnipresent,
  and omnipotent.
  
• He created all things, both visible and
  invisible.
  
• He is eternal, having no beginning or end.
• God is revealed in the New Testament as a
  Trinity.
  
• Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make up ONE GOD.
• He alone is to be worshiped .
• Only through confession of Jesus Christ as Savior
  can one come to God the Father.

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• Jesus Christ is superior to all other religious
  leaders
  
• The Son of God is by nature at the same time both
  God and Man
  
• Christ died on cross to obtain forgiveness of sin
  for all who believe in Him
  
• Christ is the only mediator between God and man
• There is no other name by which man may come to
  the Father and be saved from an eternal hell
  

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• Jesus Christ will return to Earth in glory with
  the resurrected saints.
  
• He will conquer the Anti-Christ and his armies.
• The Church does the work of Christ on earth until
  He returns through living holy lives, doing good
  works, and preaching the Gospel, the Good News
  of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ
  alone.
• His unveiling before mankind will result in every
  tongue confessing that He is Lord, to the glory
  of God.
  

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• Jesus Christ taught that sexual intercourse
  outside of lawful marriage is wrong
  
• Marriage is defined as the union of one man with
  one woman.
  
• This teaching is confirmed throughout the New
  Testament.
  

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• Deception is normally considered to be sinful
• The Bible recognizes the occasional need for
  covert activities when lives are at stake
  
• Mans word is to be his bond, yes or no
• Oaths and vows of secrecy are condemned
• Lying is labeled by Christ as satanically
  inspired
  
• Drunkenness is forbidden

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A Christian Response to these 8 Doctrines

• The Nature of Truth is Precise and therefore
  Exclusive.
  
• All religions other than Christianity are mans
  attempt to reach God
  
• Christianity is about Gods attempt to reach man
• Other religions lead only to eternal
  condemnation.
  
• Those who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ will
  spend eternity in hell
  
• Those who repent of their sins, follow Christ
  through water baptism, and live a holy life are
  accepted by God, forgiven of their sins and
  granted eternal life in heaven.

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Invitation

• Dear friend, the message brought to the world by
  Jesus Christ is true and it is real. It really
  does offer you a new life, peace with God, the
  strength to start over again, and a real home in
  the real heaven where Christ dwells. Please
  meditate a moment on the following words of
  Jesus, then ask Him into your heart and life.

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• "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in
  God trust also in me. In my Father's house are
  many rooms if it were not so, I would have told
  you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
  come back and take you to be with me that you
  also may be where I am.
• John 141-3 (NIV)

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• To all who received him, to those who believed
  in his name, he gave the right to become children
  of God
  
• John 112 (NIV)

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• Come to me, all you who are weary and
  burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
  upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
  humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
  souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
  light.
• Matthew 1128-30 (NIV)