Are Mormons Christian? Live Call-in Show | Ep. 2020

Are Mormons Christian? Examining the Definition Debate

The question of whether Mormons are Christian has vexed theologians, journalists, and believers themselves for nearly two centuries. It seems straightforward, yet the answer depends entirely on who is doing the defining. A recent episode of the Mormon Stories Podcast tackled this contentious issue head-on through live caller input, surfacing fundamental questions about authority, judgment, and the very meaning of Christian identity in a pluralistic religious landscape.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the answer is self-evident: they follow Jesus Christ, study his teachings, and organize their faith around him. For many evangelical and mainstream Christian denominations, the answer is equally clear, but in the opposite direction. These divergent conclusions reveal not a simple factual disagreement, but a deeper methodological problem: there is no neutral arbiter to settle the matter.

Who Decides What "Christian" Means?

The fundamental challenge, as explored in the Mormon Stories episode, begins with a deceptively simple question: Who has the authority to define Christianity?

Historically, Christian identity has been claimed by the largest churches, the oldest traditions, or those with formal theological authority. Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestant denominations each emerged believing they represented authentic Christianity. Yet none of these groups granted the emerging Latter-day Saint movement, founded in 1830, a seat at the table.