Keystone Ep. 29: LDS Scholar: This is where Christianity went WRONG
May 13, 2025
Terryl Givens, a renowned Latter-day Saint scholar and author, joins David Snell to dive into the provocative differences between Latter-day Saint beliefs and mainstream Christianity, particularly regarding the nature of God. They explore the theological shifts in early Christianity and the implications of concepts like divine love and atonement. Givens discusses the complexities of the Trinity and God's embodiment, encouraging a rethinking of traditional views while emphasizing relationships shaped by love and forgiveness.
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On Premortal Existence
- Latter-day Saints accept premortal existence of spirits, unlike traditional Christians.
- Many Christians resist this concept, despite early Christian acknowledgment of Christ's pre-existence.
God’s Embodiment Differences
- Classical theism embraces an immaterial, impassible God influenced by Platonism.
- Latter-day Saints hold to a corporeal God with flesh and bone, a distinct theological divergence.
Social Trinitarianism Paradoxes
- Social Trinitarianism suggests God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are distinct persons united by love.
- However, this creates theological paradoxes, such as reconciling Jesus’ resurrected body with unity.