Sooooooo, if nobody else is going to “go there” by all means allow me to be the first. Why is Mitt Romney getting a pass from everyone from the mainstream media to the evangelical right on the matter of his religion? While I certainly don't believe there should be a religious test for public office, religion has always been part of the vetting process for our Presidential candidates.
President Obama's religious affiliation was the topic of much discussion during the 2008 election and remains so to this day. As recently as just a few weeks ago mainstream religious figures like Franklin Graham were questioning our President's professed Christian faith so as Romney himself would say, “what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.”
In the interest of full disclosure, I do have a bit of a personal bone to pick with Mormonism. My ex-wife converted to the Mormon faith during our divorce and was convinced to move our two young children 1,800 miles west to Utah. Now in their 20s, I'm still dealing with the aftermath of my ex's conversion.
The first thing to understand is that Mormonism is not a Christian denomination. Mormons don't believe in the Holy Trinity or salvation through Christ alone as Christians do. Jesus Christ is a part of their beliefs, just as he is part of Islamic beliefs, but he is not the center of their faith. They also have a book, The Book of Mormon, that they believe holds the same authority as The Bible. Mormons believe that their church is the one true restored church which is why they go to such lengths to convert Christians to their religion.
This is where Romney comes in. All Mormon men are required to serve a 2-year religious “mission” once they turn 18. Incredibly, during the war in Vietnam young Mormon men were given a draft deferment to complete these “missions”. So while other young men Mitt's age were dying in the jungles of Southeast Asia on missions of their own, Romney was off bicycling through France battling that nation's Jesuits for the greater glory of the Mormon church.
Romney isn't just your average Mormon either. He was Bishop of his ward in Massachusetts for several years which is the LDS equivalent of pastor or minister. He later served as President of the Boston Stake which is made up of over a dozen wards in eastern Massachusetts.
While he serves in no current capacity with the church it goes without saying that he is one of our country's most prominent Mormons and is well connected to church hierarchy. Last year alone the Romney's gave over $3.5 million to the Mormon Church.
So the question is, and I think this is a pretty profound question, is America ready to elect it's first non-Christian President? Have we “progressed” to the point where religion is no longer an issue for those we choose to guide our nation? Would you feel different if Romney were a Buddhist? How about if he were Muslim? Honestly, I'm still trying to sort out my feelings on this. Help me out here.
I'm glad that this thread ultimately devolved from the guise of a thoughtful discussion on religious prejudices into the open GOP bashing party it was meant to be. I thought the whole thing extremedy transparent, & that ultimately proved true. Discussions are so much better when they're honest. On to other things now...
Either way, I think saying Romney isn't a Christian is 100% Grade A BS and anyone who says so ought to be ashamed of themselves. I think it is more important for our President to be an actual American. At best, Obama is only half American and that just doesn't cut it for me.
Profound question? Um, no. Self-serving question? Yes
Thanks for the correction on David Scott's position on the FairTax. I actually read the bill years ago and thought I had seen him listed among the co-sponsors. I apologize for the mistake. Again, the point is that there are real and important difference between the parties and within the parties. The notion that all politicians are the same and none benefit the country seems to imply that it doesn't matter who we vote for. It does matter, and again, those who feel that way should either get informed or stay home on election day. For the record, I'm not sure how the ability to identify Blue Dog Democrats, who actually exist (http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/), but the inability to identify a moderate Republican in Congress (see article below) makes one extremist, but if you say so. "It is clear that the center of gravity in the Republican Party has shifted sharply to the right. Its once-legendary moderate and center-right legislators in the House and the Senate — think Bob Michel, Mickey Edwards, John Danforth, Chuck Hagel [, Dick Lugar] — are virtually extinct." http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html?tid=pm_opinions_pop
I have no problem with Muslims except for their propensity to kill people of other religions. If we want to protect ourselves, we must withdraw our troops from all of the Middle East and tighten our borders to keep them out, all of them. The more we intrude on them, the more murderous they become. They have been killing each other for thousands of years, are nothing more than animals and need to be left to their own devices. As for Obama, there is no question he plays both sides of that fence. Someone who has Muslim faith cannot be a "brother in Christ". If Obama is re-elected, we can kiss our beloved country good-bye. Is that how we want to reward all of the brave men and women who have fought for and died for our country? Do we just give our country away to outsiders?
He's special like that .
1. There shall be no religious test for office. (Article VI) 2. (No law shall be made) respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free excecise thereof (Amendment I) I’m just saying.
As a Georgia Mormon whose roots in Georgia go back to the Revolutionary War and my Mormon roots in Georgia go back to 1916, I am sorry that your ex-wife moved herself and your children to Utah which has caused you much resentment and animosity towards my faith. I am quite sure that her move was an individual choice and may have been to get away from such a cynical person. The Church encourages its members and converts to stay in the areas where they live and not to move to Utah, hence mine and my family's long tenure in the state of Georgia. It is evident that the cause of your vindictiveness is linked strongly to this event in your life where your ex got as far from you as possible. That said, for those reading this very biased blog, if you want the straight answers on what we members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe, please go to www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.
I might or might not vote for an atheist. I simply said I'd have to think about it, and be convinced that they were going to represent me (or my town, my region, my country, etc.) in a manner that I found appropriate. There is absolutely nothing "ridiculous" about it. I wouldn't vote for a liberal either, but that doesn't mean I don't respect the approximately half of the country who would.
Grant you are aware that the Bible teaches homosexuality is wrong do you not? Or are you one of those Christians that believes as long as you don't have to face any confrontation? So no Grant I do not believe it is possible to be in favor for gay rights and be a child of God.
I'm aware that there is an Old Testament verse in Leviticus (amongst a great many others that are summarily ignored) that seems to condemn homosexuality . Of course I'm told that the Old Testament laws were "lifted " by JC and do not apply any longer (though I can also find Scripture to dispute that "theory ). So that leaves with the "opinion" of a non divine individual named Paul , who , if he even actually existed was possibly a self loathing homosexual himself and some highly subject nonsense about "sexual immorality" so , even from a Biblical standpoint one could present a valid argument against your religious bigotry. Personally I dont believe a collection of ancient camel herder campfire stories are grounds for hatred, bigotry or judgement of anyone . For the record I'm not "one of those Christians", in fact I'm not a Christian at all . I dont believe in a god that would give us the most awesome "toys" in the world and expect us not to enjoy them and share them
Why is this even a discussion when trying to decide whom should be our POTUS? It has never made any sense to me.
The Christ was Pro Love. And anyone saying anything else, anything less, and I do mean anything other than, is speaking falsely of Christ and not a true follower of his teachings.
I'm so sick of the hate mongers with nothing better to do than rant on and on about Obama's life..as if any one of us out here knows a bloody thing about it! We know about unemployment..let's get to job creation and returning the jobs overseas to American soil. That sounds like energy better spent. I agree that we should be taking care of our own backyard before we look to anyone else's. But if you think that MR is in anyway going to help with making America a better place..one that all Americans can be proud of, you're sadly mistaken. And that mistake could cost the rest of us the very things we hold dearly. I'm not willing to vote in Mr. Magic Underware just because you read on the internet or in the National Enquirer that Obama doesn't love the Baby Jesus. >>>The real Decline of Western Civilization: Politics and Religion! Together Again!
I guess you don't understand me. Sorry if you took offense. It was okay for you to say that 80% of the people belive as you do...maybe that is insulting those that dont. BTW, i really did mean that I wish you well. I don't say one thing and mean another. I wish everyone could just be happy! Unfortunately it seems that too many people are trying to find faults with everyone else. Its a shame!
James 3:17-18 ESV "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." May God empower His followers, by the power of Hs infinite grace, to do these things.