Buies Creek–Approximately 200 students and members of churches in the surrounding area attended a lecture on Mormonism delivered by Dr. George Braswell, Senior Professor of World Religions and founding director of the Campbell Divinity School’s World Religions and Global Cultures Center. The lecture, held Feb. 25, was the first in a series on world religions sponsored by the center.Described as the third-fastest growing religion in the world, nine percent of North Carolina’s Triangle population are Mormons, said Braswell. North Carolina is also home to one of only 124 Mormon temples in the nation. “Never have the Mormons grown so much or become some of the most influential people in our nation,” Braswell said.The term “Mormon” derives from the Book of Mormon, which is believed to be a historical and religious record translated into English by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1827, said Braswell, a former missionary to Iran. Smith claimed he received the book through divine inspiration from golden tablets given him by the Angel Moroni, who visited Smith in a vision. Although Mormons are not Creedal Christians, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament.The Book of Mormon relates the history of three civilizations in the Americas from 2700 B.C. until 420 A.D. According to Mormon belief, it is written by prophets and followers of Jesus Christ and is believed to be another scriptural witness of Jesus comparable to the Bible.The true practices and beliefs of Mormons can be found, not in the Book of Mormon, however, but in “The Book of Doctrines and Covenants,” another Mormon authority, Braswell said. According to it, Mormons believe that God is a God of flesh and bone, therefore men can become gods and women can become goddesses and reproduce spirit children in a “Celestial Heaven.” These children are then incarnated into human flesh.”By living according to Mormon principles, every individual can become spirit gods and goddesses,” Braswell said. “Those who do not obey the teachings are remanded to lesser heavens–Telestial Heaven, for thieves, murderers and adulterers; and Terrestrial Heaven, for those who have lived decent lives, but resisted becoming Mormon. To Mormons, Jesus Christ was born the first spirit son of father God and mother God.”Mormon practices include such rituals as “Baptism of the Dead,” a ceremony performed in the temple in which Mormons can vicariously baptize a dead person to bring them to Celestial Heaven. The practice of polygamy, begun by Smith and practiced by Brigham Young, the second Mormon prophet, was later banned in 1890. In addition, all young Mormons are required to perform two years of missionary service, which not only requires them to proselytize six days a week, but to refrain from dating, listening to the radio and watching television.Mormons and Christians have many beliefs in common, however, such as the belief in a divine God, separation of church and state, the respect and integrity of the individual and freedom of religion for others.Pat Ipock of Kinston, N.C., said she came to the lecture to gain a greater understanding of Mormonism. “We’ve studied it at our church, but I thought that since Mitt Romney is a Mormon, I needed to know more about it,” she said.Other lecturers were Dr. Randy Outland, pastor of Spilman Memorial Baptist Church of Kinston, and Paul Burgess, a scholar at the center and Master of Divinity degree candidate. Upcoming seminars include workshops on Scientology, New Age religion, witchcraft and the occult. The seminars are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Campbell Divinity School at 910.893.1506 or 800.334.4111, ext. 1506.
Mormonism is topic of Campbell center’s first lecture