When A Scholar Doesn’t Research –

Absurdity Follows
By Ronnie Bray

David Christie-Murray, author of A History of Heresy [1976, OUP, reprinted

1990], identifies the ‘primal Christian ideas’ that determine whether a
denomination is or is not ‘Christian.’

“What are these "primal Christian ideas?" I, of course, risk venturing into
heresy myself by stating this, but hold the single tenet, ‘we are dependent
upon the redemptive work of Jesus Christ to gain salvation,’ as the defining
idea of Christianity.”1

Despite having written this, Christie-Murray nevertheless manages to shift

Latter-day Saints beyond his own rule and oust them from the midst of those
that "are dependent upon the redemptive work of Jesus Christ to gain
salvation," for he continues to find Mormons among nineteenth century
heretics.

If we take Christie-Murray at his word that the essential doctrine for a

religious movement to be Christian is acknowledgement that we are
dependent on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation,
then, by his own standard, Latter-day Saints are superlatively Christian.

If we take Christie-Murray’s word that Mormons are heretics, we can be

excused if we find ourselves, under his tutelage, wandering along a path that
Mormons do not recognise as the one on which they travel as they follow the
teachings of Jesus Christ towards their eternal goals.

Christie-Murray fails to mention that Jesus Christ is the core of Mormonism,

and that Latter-day Saints know and acknowledge their dependence on Jesus
Christ as the author and means of their salvation. Why did Christie-Murray
omit any reference to what he considers the touchstone of Christianity, the
acknowledgement that we are dependent on the redemptive work of Jesus
Christ for our eternal salvation?

1
Christie-Murray, p. 202
Skipping along at a cracking pace, Christie-Murray gives less than a
thousand words to his intended exposé, of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Signally, he fails to mention the Christian nature that is
the heart of the Church, and fails to mention the fervent faith in Jesus Christ
of millions of Latter-day Saints. The back cover suggests that the book is ‘a
vivid combination of narrative and comment which succeeds in … re-
creating historical events … ’ It does not say that what he writes about
Mormonism is silly, inaccurate, and reveals an abysmal deficiency of
research by a scholar educated at the universities of London and Oxford, and
who was an Anglican priest before resigning holy orders on account of his
having ‘moved theologically, from the Anglican position towards that of the
Society of Friends.’ A religious movement also denominated by the author
as heretical!

Not only is Christie-Murray’s work unreferenced, so that it is impossible to

ascertain where he found his wild notions about Mormonism, although it can
be said with certainty that little if any was from friendly sources, but what he
does say about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is permeated
with risible inaccuracies, a few examples of which will suffice.

• Joseph Smith … was burdened by a pathological constitution.2

• The Book of Mormon revealed that America was originally inhabited by
Jaredites, divided between Lamanites, from which the Red Indians ten
tribes of Israel) are descended, and Nephites to whom Christ revealed
himself after his resurrection; for America had been the scene of Christ’s
past activity on earth as much as Palestine and would be again.3
• Polygamy was introduced in 1843, first as a privilege for the leaders.4
• Polygamy was officially introduced in 1852, three wives being the
necessary qualification for the higher ecclesiastical offices.5
• [Brigham] Young was a despot ruling by ‘blood atonement’ (execution).6
• In 1869 the Pacific Railway opened Utah to non-Mormons.7

2
p. 202 no reference supplied
3
p. 202 no reference supplied
4
p. 202 no reference supplied
5
p. 203 no reference supplied
6
p. 203 no reference supplied
7
p. 203 no reference supplied. Utah had always been open to non-Mormons
• Missionaries were particularly active [in Europe] after the Second World
War], where they tried to fill the void in Germany left by the
disappearance of the Nazi creed.8
• Young, who was almost polytheistic, taught that God the Father had a
body of flesh and bones as tangible as a man’s … 9
• tithes are exacted from all Mormons10
• At the head of the Mormon hierarchy is the First President […] next, a
group of ‘patriarchs’ or ‘evangelists,’11
• Mormons work like Puritans but enjoy all worldly pleasures12

8
p. 203 no reference supplied – unfortunately. I would give my eye teeth to see the source of this piece of
opium induced claptrap.
9
p. 203 no reference supplied. This was not taught by Young but by Smith. “The Father has a body of
flesh and bones as tangible as man’s....” Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22
10
p. 203 no reference supplied. Tithes are voluntary offerings, and not all Mormons pay tithing.
11
p. 203 no reference supplied. There was only ever a single ‘Patriarch to the Church’ at any one time, and
he was not an executive member of the hierarchy. The exponential growth of the Church required each
stake or area to have its own patriarch, and these also are not executive ministers.
12
p. 203 no reference supplied. This is calculated to give an entirely wrong impression of Latter-day Saints
as frequenting fleshpots and all manner of worldly pleasure palaces. At best it is an unfortunate and
unwarranted choice of words, at worst it reflects the author’s unfamiliarity with his subject.