Inside Mormonism [Paperback]

Isaiah Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1999

"Inside Mormonism: What Mormons Really Believe" offers an unprecedented look at the Mormon religion. It is the first book offering an in-depth and objective critique of Mormonism from a Catholic perspective. Isaiah Bennett conducts a thorough, frank, and charitable investigation of Mormonism, its history and the doctrines its leaders don't want told to the public. He highlights the religion's contradictory doctrines and explains how it "packages" itself to appear Christian.

Mormonism wants to be perceived as an open, friendly, and genuinely Christian faith, but "Inside Mormonism" demonstrates Mormonism's erroneous teachings, its attacks on faithful Christians, and the strategies Mormon missionaries use to pull Catholics out of the Church.

After reading "Inside Mormonism," you will be armed with the knowledge needed to defend your faith against Mormon claims and to help family and friends see through the arguments of the missionaries. You'll discover the doctrines that the Mormon hierarchy doesn't want you to know:

- Mormons believe that God the Father once was a mortal man living on another planet and that he now has a wife in heaven.

- Mormons believe that if they are faithful to their religion, they too can become gods equal to God the Father.

- Mormons hold that Jesus and Lucifer are "spirit brothers."

- Mormons believe that dark skin is a curse.

- Mormons portray their religion as pro-family, yet they permit abortion in many circumstances.

- Mormons redefine words to mask non-Christian, polytheistic doctrines as Christian.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Comprehensive, but easily read volume covering the history, beliefs, and practices of Mormons. In many instances this non-fiction account reads like an adventure story, as the colorful history of Joseph Smith and those who followed him is told. An eye-opening journey inside the Mormon Church, filled to the brim with documentation from Scripture, authoritative Mormon attributions, and other historical sources.

About the Author

Isaiah Bennett is a former Catholic priest who converted to Mormonism and then returned to the Catholic faith. He spent two years as an active Mormon, even serving as a teacher in the Mormon Institute of Religion, and knows the religion from the inside. Eventually he discovered the grave errors of Mormonism and returned to the Catholic Church. Since then, he has devoted himself to defending the Catholic faith and explaining the truth about Mormonism so other Catholics won't make the same mistake he made. He is also the author of "When Mormons Call: Answering Mormon Missionaries at Your Door."

Product Details

• Paperback: 548 pages
• Publisher: Catholic Answers (June 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888992069
• ISBN-13: 978-1888992069
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mormonism from a Catholic viewpoint, April 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside Mormonism (Paperback)

This book deals with mormonism from a Catholic perspective. The author, a priest who converted to mormonism and later reverted to the Catholic Church, provides us with a unique perspective on the LDS faith.

It contains an excellent refutation of the mormon doctrine of the total apostacy of the Christian Church, both from scripture and history. When it comes to doctrine the book accurately describes what the LDS Church teaches and quite a few facts that the LDS leaders would like to hide in the closet. The reviewers who have claimed that it does not accurately represent LDS doctrine give no specific examples. One is tempted to think they cannot.

As a fourth generation member of the LDS church who converted to christianity and later to the fullness of the faith in the Catholic Church, I heartily reccomend this work.

PS!

As we have seen examples of in other reviews of this book, members of the LDS Church are unable to believe that someone may have left their religion with honourable intentions, simply being convinced that it is not true while another faith is.

Instead they impute former members of the LDS religion with innumerable sins (most often sins of a sexual nature) which have allegedly weakened their faith in mormonism and made them want to find a set of moral standards that are easier to live with. They love to demonize their opponents. Which (of course) is standard cultic behaviour.

When it comes to the Catholic Church, such critiscism is laughable, given the fact that it for instance does not allow for the use of artificial contraception, divorce and remarriage or abortion under any circumstance, while the LDS faith does.

40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST OF ITS GENRE, June 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside Mormonism (Paperback)

This is a thorough and well written book. Whether you agree with the author (as most Catholics and other Christians will) or disagree with the author (as most Mormons will) this is by far the best Christian apologetics book on the topic of Mormonism. The reviewer who labled this book "pretty ordinary" is absolutely wrong. No other work in this genre is so thoroughly researched and footnoted and no other work I have read covers Mormon beliefs and doctrimes so well. Unlike many books in this genre Mr. Bennet's book is very careful with historical and theological data. Reviewer Janice Parker's charge of "false documentation" is absolutely without merit. The work is meticulously documneted. There is absolutely no false documentation. The author's disbelief in Mormon doctrine and blief in another creed did not prevent him from being 100% correct in factual representations. Granted, some will take issue with the author's beliefs, but this should not be the basis for judging the merits of the work. Reviewer rickm447's comments of "Total Garbage" and that if you want to know what Mormons really believe just ask one of them are not at all sincere. The book is not garbage, the author may state facts which are difficult to repeat in "politically correct" or "polite" company, but this work is a very worthwile read for both Mormons and non-Mormons. What rickm77 seems to forget is that the run of the mill member of any religion is ill prepared to give you a thorough description of their faith's beliefs and practices. Mr. Bennet does not make up doctrines (which some critics of religions other than their own are apt to do), he goes directly to athoritiative Moromons sources and quotes them. Mr. Bennet is, if nothing else, fair. Mr. Bennet is also well educated in both religions, being both a former Catholic priest and a former Mormon. While few of us have had as tumultuous a religious history as Mr. Bennet, his book is very worthwile, in fact the most worthwhile of its genre.
Mormons would actually be well advised to read this book, especially Mormon apologists. This book is the best of the apologetical works opposed to Mormonism and if the Mormon apologist wants to be well prepared to meet the best challenges of his/her adversaries he/she would be well advised to read this book. Other works in this field by non-Mormons just do not measure up to Mr. Bennet's book. He has set a new standard in the field which will be difficult for other authors to match. Mormon apologists will not like the presentation that Mr. Bennet makes (all the more reason for them to read it if they want to be effective apologisits), but it is the best of its genre and a must read for those interested in the Mormon-Christian debate. If the Mormon apologist is well versed with this work then he or she will be well prepared for the best and strongest challenges he or she will face from educated Christians.
As difficult as it may be for Mr. Bennet's critics to swallow, Mr. Bennet shows respect for the truth and facts. That is why this book is of great value to both sides of this particular religous debate. I previously reviewed "A Tale of Two Cities: Mormons and Catholics" by Fr. William Taylor. Fr. Taylor's book is not polemical like Mr. Bennet's current book, but I am equally enthusiastic about both. Reading both books will give you a full idea of the facts and nature of the debate between Catholic Christianity (and pretty much all of Christianity) and Mormonism.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable and thorough work, January 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside Mormonism (Paperback)

What I really like about this book is that it not only demonstrates how and why Mormonism is false, it goes on to give positive alternatives to what Mormonism teaches, rather than leaving the disillusioned Mormon feeling destroyed.

The research and documentation on this book is well done and gives many jumping-off points for further research, even separating the worthwhile references from the rabid. It includes in its appendix the four different accounts of Smith's Vision.

This book is no short read but is fascinating and I would highly recommend it to both those who want to know how to talk intelligently with Mormon missionaries, as well as Mormons who have misgivings about Mormonism's incoherent theology, or its continually self-negating scriptures and elected prophets, or why Mormonism is uniquely apprehensive about sharing all of what it believes to outsiders and lower-ranking insiders.

I find it hard to believe that those who dismiss this book have actually opened it. Even those who are convinced that their branch of Mormonism is right would be ill-advised to ignore such a thorough work.