This paradox was brought into focus for me some years ago through a conference paper given by the late Ernst Benz, Professor of Church History at the University of Marburg. The paradox, however, is this: Scratch the orthodox surface of Christianity, explore at any depth occidental thought, especially the aesthetic search for ontological meaning in the arts, and you will find this and other related “Mormon” ideas in surprising abundance and unsurpassed persuasive power. The orthodox response to this notion in the form of the Godmakers 2 films and other manifestations of righteous indignation has been extraordinary. One thinks immediately of the idea expounded by Joseph Smith at King Follett’s funeral 1 that humans have the potential to become gods through a process of perfection experienced by the gods themselves. It seems there are certain notions held by Latter-day Saints, deviating almost diametrically from those promulgated by orthodox Christianity, that have the power to evoke from certain conservative Christian quarters the most vituperative fulminations.
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