What you are talking about, though, is not a change in theology but a complete paradigm shift, an invalidation of all that went before. Even Christ didn't do that. It would mean that either our fundamental understanding of God was completely flawed or that the teachings of Christ and his apostles were nearly completely erroneous, at which point we are not changing our religion, but switching to a new one.
Of course the change Christ brought to Judaism - for those who chose to follow him, anyway - is very different from the one Joseph Smith came up with, but it certainly was a paradigm shift and a switch of religions. A Messiah had been predicted, not a Son of God, nor God himself made flesh. That's a pretty huge difference, so you can't blame the Jews who weren't persuaded... and then you get all the later prophets - Muhammad, Shabtai Zvi, Joseph Smith, the Bab'ullah and Baha'ullah, and no doubt dozens of lesser-known ones - each of whom claimed to be a new prophet with a new message from God that did indeed contain new information, and created a new religion or denomination in the process as many believers refused to follow suit. I don't know too much of the details, but I remember seeing figures suggesting that Shabtai Zvi was just as successful than Jesus, or more so, in terms of the amount of Jews who were convinced that he was the Messiah - until he publicly converted to Islam, anyway, his group of followers dwindled rather fast at that point, even if the movement survives to this day.
So it's definitely a valid point to make - if you suppose God really did send a new prophet, or Himself again, it does seem highly unlikely that all Christians would believe it and follow him - so it might result in yet another religious split.
Technically, Philo of Alexandria at least approaches (and arguably reaches) the level of saying the Messiah would be God made flesh. Note that, while the linked Wikipedia article focuses on similarities between Philo and Platos use of Logos, but Philo unequivocally identifies the Messiah as a living embodiment of the Torah, a human who perfectly satisfies (and thus demonstrates) obedience to Mosaic law. It is hard to ignore how reminiscent that is of the Gospel portrait of Jesus (particularly since Philo and Jesus were contemporaries) but Philo represented himself as quintessentially Jewish.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Mormons
03/10/2011 05:46:10 AM
- 2363 Views
Questions.
03/10/2011 11:13:25 AM
- 1117 Views
Re: Questions.
03/10/2011 01:28:28 PM
- 1078 Views
I don't understand why they would be called drinks, if they were not meant to be drunk.
03/10/2011 03:28:48 PM
- 1016 Views
Why did I look up what Quorn is? I didn't need to know that. *NM*
03/10/2011 02:04:20 PM
- 628 Views
....did we just get door-to-door'd...ONLINE?!?! *NM*
03/10/2011 11:34:19 AM
- 573 Views
Nope.
04/10/2011 01:32:43 AM
- 959 Views
there's no real point to it
04/10/2011 02:37:24 AM
- 1958 Views
We could use an evil cackling smilie, we do have some other evil ones
04/10/2011 02:49:12 AM
- 924 Views
Do you ever giggle at the name "Moroni?"
03/10/2011 11:39:55 AM
- 1024 Views
There are Mormon literalists? Seriously? *NM*
03/10/2011 03:02:18 PM
- 564 Views
In fairness, I wonder the same about Christian literalists. *NM*
03/10/2011 07:57:19 PM
- 575 Views
Yeah, but if you're gonna believe absurdities...
03/10/2011 09:02:32 PM
- 1008 Views
Are you trying to suggest that "Reformed" or some other brand of scientology is plausible?
04/10/2011 04:28:40 PM
- 967 Views
Actually, no. It'd be like laughing at... Hosea. Or Nemeiah. It's just an old name.
04/10/2011 12:30:57 AM
- 921 Views
I know they don't have multiple wives anymore, so no misconception there
03/10/2011 01:23:50 PM
- 950 Views
Question: Why are you such a faggot? *NM*
03/10/2011 02:23:45 PM
- 467 Views
Answer: because it's the only way he could return your burning love for him.
03/10/2011 03:24:23 PM
- 694 Views
Better a faggot than a fuckwad. Cheers fuckwad! *NM*
04/10/2011 01:27:20 AM
- 588 Views
Re: You embarrass yourself. *NM*
04/10/2011 01:56:02 AM
- 474 Views
I'll tell you whats embarresing...
04/10/2011 02:08:02 AM
- 798 Views
That is hilarious.
04/10/2011 03:10:50 AM
- 689 Views
Goodness..
04/10/2011 03:20:30 AM
- 632 Views
Re:
04/10/2011 03:28:25 AM
- 664 Views
OK, you need to delete the "Re:" You're using it incorrectly
04/10/2011 01:55:53 PM
- 609 Views
Re: Also.
04/10/2011 02:08:15 PM
- 649 Views
you are still using it incorrectly. *NM*
04/10/2011 02:09:48 PM
- 596 Views
He's doing it on purpose though.
04/10/2011 03:31:39 PM
- 707 Views
Considering that "CaptainHammer" is LDS, I'd rather doubt he's gay.
04/10/2011 02:32:56 AM
- 599 Views
Re: Considering that "CaptainHammer" is LDS, I'd rather doubt he's gay.
04/10/2011 02:37:41 AM
- 621 Views
*sigh* to all of you above....
04/10/2011 03:06:21 AM
- 634 Views
Please explain why you think we should consider you Christians.
03/10/2011 04:33:06 PM
- 1105 Views
you know, that does make me wonder though
03/10/2011 04:58:21 PM
- 997 Views
We're not as immovable as we are sometimes portrayed.
03/10/2011 05:27:17 PM
- 975 Views
"Even Christ didn't do that"? I can't agree.
03/10/2011 09:00:34 PM
- 943 Views
Point of Anal Retentive Dissent:
04/10/2011 03:54:00 PM
- 882 Views
That concept is alien to the Christian theological understanding, however.
03/10/2011 10:18:55 PM
- 962 Views
I understand what both you and Danny are saying
04/10/2011 12:19:57 AM
- 918 Views
The absolute best part about your post (plus the best thing about Mo's/LDS's)
03/10/2011 09:02:17 PM
- 939 Views
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind, and the only way back to God.
04/10/2011 01:29:30 AM
- 1030 Views
If you think the Book of Mormon was well-written, there is really little left to discuss.
04/10/2011 03:57:08 AM
- 1189 Views
Re: If you think the Book of Mormon was well-written, there is really little left to discuss.
04/10/2011 07:24:27 AM
- 1169 Views
Woah nelly.
04/10/2011 10:04:33 AM
- 983 Views
I have to "Wow" as well... racist much?
04/10/2011 01:52:48 PM
- 899 Views
Re: I have to "Wow" as well... racist much?
04/10/2011 04:42:47 PM
- 991 Views
oh well that makes it all better...
04/10/2011 04:54:14 PM
- 1014 Views
Yikes. Even for religion, that's more than a little crazy.
04/10/2011 03:47:56 PM
- 986 Views
I don't think there's much of a difference in crazy as opposed to other more mainstream religions.
04/10/2011 07:08:06 PM
- 963 Views
A difference exists if only in continued unabashed affirmation of a rather distasteful doctrine.
04/10/2011 11:06:51 PM
- 957 Views
Then why can't women be priests? Or enter the altar? The curse on Eve is very much in place. *NM*
05/10/2011 12:27:04 AM
- 524 Views
Right now I am not making an absolute statement but a relative one.
05/10/2011 08:37:50 PM
- 765 Views
Oh, you didn't know? Joe Smith said black people are cursed for following Satan.
05/10/2011 01:10:35 AM
- 933 Views
I guess this is a variation on Hams punishment; Ghav, at least should know better than to be shocked
04/10/2011 04:13:59 PM
- 881 Views
it's not that we're surprised because it's "novel"
04/10/2011 04:19:16 PM
- 927 Views
It is not NECESSARILY racist.
04/10/2011 04:39:33 PM
- 941 Views
Sure, except ...
04/10/2011 04:50:53 PM
- 967 Views
Well, the funny thing is Christian doctrine presupposes everyone, along with their ancestors...
04/10/2011 06:31:13 PM
- 831 Views
It it is nigh impossible to be a "non-Nicene Christian."
04/10/2011 03:12:06 PM
- 974 Views
I think we've had this discussion before.
06/10/2011 05:54:39 PM
- 959 Views
Arianism is a bad comparison for arguing LDS=Christian.
06/10/2011 11:45:36 PM
- 847 Views
Wikipedia confirms what I already thought: you're off base with the monophysitism.
07/10/2011 12:06:40 AM
- 1212 Views
I had not realized it was that late, but used it only as an example of multitudinous controversies.
07/10/2011 01:03:56 AM
- 1322 Views
Monophysites, miaphysites, monothelites, etc. certainly accept the consubstantiality of God/Christ
07/10/2011 11:58:05 AM
- 898 Views
Virtually everyone has a more sound Christology than Mormons.
07/10/2011 06:45:45 PM
- 959 Views
Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
08/10/2011 05:30:38 PM
- 974 Views
I can see that with the Monothelites (can see their appeal, in fact,) but not Monophysites.
07/10/2011 09:43:27 PM
- 871 Views
Tempting as it is to prove Joel wrong (since he so frequently is), I need to take issue with this.
07/10/2011 06:59:13 PM
- 954 Views
I was just saying there were competing views.
07/10/2011 07:49:26 PM
- 1330 Views
Oh, there were definitely competing views, just not competing Christian views.
07/10/2011 09:26:22 PM
- 854 Views
That sounds really nice.
04/10/2011 06:38:29 PM
- 918 Views
Why wait though?
05/10/2011 12:12:21 AM
- 1101 Views
So that Vivien can avoid reading and thinking about the stuff that you just wrote. *NM*
05/10/2011 12:28:23 AM
- 510 Views
I really want an answer from a mormon.
05/10/2011 08:48:49 PM
- 948 Views
Good luck with that; just because I can see no explanation save that I offered does not preclude one
06/10/2011 07:03:50 AM
- 892 Views
Yeah, that's what I thought.
06/10/2011 05:43:57 PM
- 843 Views
Oh no you idn't... *waves finger and weaves head*
04/10/2011 03:53:07 AM
- 768 Views
....i don't know what you look like
04/10/2011 03:54:56 AM
- 906 Views
Shoot, my Mick Jagger strut is way better than my angry hispanic girl head/finger bob and weave. *NM*
05/10/2011 04:58:53 AM
- 642 Views
Off-Topic
05/10/2011 01:14:16 AM
- 894 Views
Hmm
05/10/2011 02:03:13 AM
- 1052 Views
True
05/10/2011 02:13:00 AM
- 854 Views
I think of Protestantism in terms similar to a Xerox copy.
05/10/2011 04:57:42 AM
- 957 Views
Re: Off-Topic
05/10/2011 02:56:50 AM
- 1080 Views
Uhh...
05/10/2011 03:08:49 AM
- 899 Views
The people at the Nicene Council and the other councils were not prophets.
05/10/2011 04:59:50 AM
- 1007 Views
Danny is right, it is a pretty tough crowd, but better tough than weak and whitewashed.
04/10/2011 04:02:16 AM
- 918 Views