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Running head: COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

Comparative Religions
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COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

Week 10
Part 1
5. Select two groups after 1800 and write an essay similar in intent to # 4, including reasons
for their further separation from mainstream Christianity.
The Mormons and the Millerites or the Adventists are two religious groups formed after
1800 to accommodate different people that shared divergent feelings and beliefs at a time when
the United States was experiencing religious freedom.
Mormons
The Mormon religious group was established in 1830 by Joseph Smith, and unlike the
mainstream Christianity doctrine, the Mormon doctrine is largely derived from the Book of
Mormon that was authored by Smith. As well, the group maintains a strong emphasis on the
understanding and the familiarization of the Godhead, unending revelation, continuous mission
work, a strict emphasis on family life and the desire to respect authority and maintain order
(Eliason, 2001).
Though Mormonism was founded as a Christian group, mainstream Christians believe
that they are not pure Christians because of the presence of significant differences in doctrines
that have contributed to this separation for a long time. Some of the main differences in this
separation are as follows. Firstly, Mormonism is based on four books that include the Bible,
Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine of Covenants while mainstream
Christianity is solely based on the Bible as the source of authority and Christian teaching. As
well, Mormonism does not believe in the Holy Trinity and claims that God, Jesus, and the Holy
Spirit are three beings that have physical bodies unlike in mainstream Christianity where the

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COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

three beings form a trinity and do not have physical bodies. Besides, Mormonism denies original
sin, while mainstream Christianity affirms that there was original sin. Another difference that
sets the Mormons apart from mainstream Christianity is the emphasis on works as opposed to
faith in salvation, and finally, Mormons have no official symbols unlike in mainstream
Christianity (Elaison, 2001).
Adventists/Millerites
The Millerites, also known as the Adventists, comprise of a religious group founded by
William Miller in the 1830s and was based on what he believed as the second coming of Jesus
Christ, which he publicly revealed to happen in 1843 and 1844 respectively. However, the
second coming did not take place leading to disappointment among his followers, some of whom
split to other movements (London, 2009). Despite having originated from Christianity, there are
significant differences that can explain the further separation of Adventism from mainstream
Christianity. For instance, the Adventists’ written word include the Bible, the Adventist
paraphrase and over six hundred published titles while mainstream Christianity uses th...