I have been
studying Catholicism for a number of years now. As many now, I am a former
Roman Catholic and studied theology (including a number of courses in Catholic
systematic theology) for 5 years in a Catholic institution in Ireland. One thing
one will realise is that much of popular-level Catholic apologetics is nothing
more than chest-beating, hearing the constant refrain “we are the two-thousand-year-old Church!” Notwithstanding this bravado, when one examines Catholic theology
in light of Scripture and history, one will realise that Rome has proclaimed,
as dogmas, beliefs that are not
apostolic at all. I have written much on such topics, such as Mariology, the
Mass, and the veneration of images. For articles (and a book) addressing such
topics, see:
Behold the Mother of My Lord: Towards a Mormon Mariology (2017); cf. Answering Tim Staples on Patristic Mariology and the Immaculate Conception
The same applies for Catholic critiques of "Mormonism" including the following from a popular RC blog:
Nick, who, to be fair has produced a lot of great work on justification and baptism, sadly continues the common hack job treatment of the Restored Gospel other Roman Catholic apologists have engaged in, such as Patrick Madrid, Trent Horn, and others.
To briefly
answer some of the questions:
No, LDS
theology does not teach that one must have a body (read: enter into mortality,
die, and be resurrected) to be God/god. Jesus, prior to entering into mortality, was the God of the Old Testament
in our theology. Notwithstanding, Jesus, as a result of his obedience, did not
simply return to his glory he had in pre-existence; instead, he was super-exalted (ὑπερυψόω--used in Phil
2:9). In our theology, there is no “upper limit” to Godhead—Joseph Smith
likened it to climbing the steps on a ladder. In this light, the Holy Spirit is
indeed divine/God, but if/when he were to enter into mortality, he would, like
Christ, be super exalted (for more on this, see Latter-day Saints have Chosen the True, Biblical Jesus)
As for
everyone pre-existing and the problems Nick sees in this, he is being disingenuous.
Firstly, as I have argued in the article The Christological Necessity of Universal Pre-Existence , LDS theology allows one to hold to
both the personal pre-existence of Jesus as well as his complete humanity.
Secondly, what he sees problems in our theology also would be problematic for
his Christology—after all, for him, Jesus was a divine person who took on
humanity (per the Hypostatic Union) and yet, in his humanity, died, and yet,
took up his physical body again 3 days later (and, during the 3 days, his
spirit and divinity were still, in some way, enjoined to his humanity, per
Aquinas et al). Does that mean that Jesus also had multiple incarnations/reincarnations?
If he were consistent, he would argue ‘yes.’ However, his argument is bogus.
On the LDS conception of God, it is biblical. If Nick (or any other Catholic) wishes to know the actual case in favour of LDS theology, here is a listing of articles on the topic and the LDS understanding of creation (which is tied intimately into the LDS vs. Trinity debate):
Blake T. Ostler, Out of Nothing: A History of Creation ex Nihilo in Early Christian Thought
Daniel O. McClellan, James Patrick Holding refuted on Creation Ex Nihilo
D. Charles Pyle on Hosea 11:9 (cf. Numbers 23:19)
Does Jeremiah 23:24 pose problems for LDS theology?
Does Jeremiah 23:24 pose problems for LDS theology?
Psalm 139:7 and Latter-day Saint Theology
Refuting Jeff Durbin on "Mormonism" (exegetes Isa 43:10; 44:6, 8 and other relevant texts; cf. C.J. Labuschagne on the language of "incomparability" in the Old Testament and Literature of Surrounding Cultures)
Refuting Jeff Durbin on "Mormonism" (exegetes Isa 43:10; 44:6, 8 and other relevant texts; cf. C.J. Labuschagne on the language of "incomparability" in the Old Testament and Literature of Surrounding Cultures)
The LDS Doctrine of Pre-existence and Genesis 2:7
Is Latter-day Saint Christology “Arian”?
Kevin L. Barney, On Preexistence in the Bible
Is Latter-day Saint Christology “Arian”?
Kevin L. Barney, On Preexistence in the Bible
Books: Blake T. Ostler, Exploring Mormon Thought, Volume 3: Of God and Gods
D. Charles Pyle, I Have Said Ye are Gods: Concepts Conducive to the Early Christian Doctrine of Deification in Patristic Literature and the Underlying Strata of the Greek New Testament (Revised and Supplemented)