Posted on 10/29/2007 8:28:33 AM PDT by Invisigoth
The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons and a few other faiths have three things in common they believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins.
So whats the problem?
The political pundits continue to try and make Mitt Romneys religious beliefs a big issue as he runs for the Republican presidential nomination. Different denominations of Christianity are just that different denominations which means different worship practices of the same fundamental Christian beliefs.
Some people have commented that they cannot support Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. When they are pressed to explain why that is objectionable, they stutter. Still others are skeptical of Mitt Romney based solely on hearsay or lack of knowledge about Mormons.
(Excerpt) Read more at northstarwriters.com ...
Romney is a long shot at this point. He had the most money early, but didn’t break through. I class him in the same tier as Hunter and Huckabee. I’m supporting Hunter because he’s the most conservative candidate and in my opinion the best . . .
This should be fun to watch.
I don’t care that he is a Morman. What are his policies, that’s the question.
But the beliefs of Mormans are NOT those of orthodox Christians of any stripe, Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant.
My problem with Romney (speaking as an Independent, Fundamental, KJV-Only Baptist) is not that he is Mormon, but that he is untrustworthy on the moral and social issues like abortion and guns which are very, very important.
He may well be the best. . .but he is not a ‘long-race’ winner. . .We need a winner for the long haul.
>> Different denominations of Christianity are just that different denominations which means different worship practices of the same fundamental Christian beliefs.
I’m not particularly worried about Romney’s religion (there are other reasons he’s not my choice) ... but Mormonism is not simply “another denomination” of Christianity like Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal or Catholic.
There are deep and fundamental differences between Protestant or Catholic Christianity and Mormonism. It isn’t for me to say whether the differences are “deal breakers” (salvationally speaking) - but simply stating that Mormonism is a denomination of Christianity is a distortion of the facts.
H
forgot to add. ..IMHO...of course!
“I class him in the same tier as Hunter and Huckabee”
Aaaaugh!!! How can you sully the name of Hunter by putting it in the same sentence as Huckabee?
Go Fred!
Perhaps easier to think that Christianity is to Judaism as Mormonism is to Christianity. . .if only ‘perhaps’. It is related.
The problem is that we don’t need god running the country.
That is certainly a more apt comparison.
H
Post Mormon Alert! LOL
I agree with Titus. It is not his religion that precludes him.
BTW, Mormonism is NOT another form of Christianity. Mormons do not believe in the Trinity and salvation by grace alone, the pillars of Christian doctrine like Baptist and Catholics.
Mmmm interesting viewpoint, that is exactly what we have been lacking for several generations.
Beg your pardon, Mr. Cain you pompous theological idiot, but while the Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals all practice Christianity as prescribed by Biblical Scripture in the Old and New Testaments, the Mormons practice heresy as prescribed by Joseph Smith in the BM. (Incidentally, Smith and the Islamic prophet, Mohammad, share much in common as both believed they were visited by an angel who gave them the "true" book, both had multiple wives, both were pedophiles, and both have atrocities committed in their names.)
Much was made of JFK being Catholic and that didn’t turn out to a hill of beans - this will be the same. I say that as someone who has sharp and strong disagreements with Mormon theology (in fact, I don’t consider Mormonism to be Christianity as much as I consider it to be its own distinct religion). Nevertheless, the ethical values his theology gives him are very close to mine, and it’s not as if he can impose some kind of a Mormon theocratic state on us even if he wanted to - which I believe he doesn’t. Congress simply wouldn’t allow it. The Mormon-issue is a Non-issue and has been from the first day. The only reason it ever came up is because the media needed something to fill air time that would generate some ratings.
LOL. Sorry. Huckabee is a good man in my opinion. He’s just liberal on most issues other than social ones like abortion and marriage.
Not so fast.
Mormons believe that Christ is A Son of God...not THE Son of God. They believe that Satan is also a son of God, for example.
Weird stuff.
But Romney also has a terrible stance on health care. A major reason I would never consider him.
Marking the spot.
Better: Christianity is to Judaism as Mormonism is to Islam as Christians more related to Jews than to Mormons (IMHO, of course!)
Well, if some of us "stutter" it's only because we have to keep repeating ourselves as to what is objectionable about Mormonism. Not only that, but this writer himself gives us a nice standard upon which Mormonism is objectionable:
I am a practicing Bible-reading-and-believing Baptist Christian, and I respect any Christian denomination that shares the same basic beliefs. I cannot respect a religion that trashes other Christian denominations, or one that seeks to destroy other faiths.
So, he "cannot respect a religion that trashes other Christian denominations, or one that seeks to destroy other faiths," eh? Well, Mormonism qualifies on the basis of both its rhetorical track record (which I won't go into in this post) + it's "First Vision" Scripture. Note how Joseph Smith tried to trash ALL of Christianity in one fell swoop:
"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt..." (Joseph Smith - History, vv. 18-19, Pearl of Great Price)
Will give that some thought. . .later. . .
Temp File Lutheran Ping!
Thank you for recognizing that this is a two-way street.
You’re not a Christian unless you’re my kind of Christian.
/S
Mitt Romney has been endorsed by some of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the nation. James Bopp Jr. is National Right to Life Committee's chief lawyer and he has actually joined the Romney campaign. Dr. Jack Willke is, basically, the father of the pro-life movement - he helped found the National Right to Life Committee (America's premiere pro-life organization) and was its founding president. He just recently endorsed Mitt Romney and said, now this is very important to consider, "Unlike other candidates who only speak to the importance of confronting the major social issues of the day, Governor Romney has a record of action in defending life. Every decision he made as Governor was on the side of life. I know he will be the strong pro-life President we need in the White House. Governor Romney is the only candidate who can lead our pro-life and pro-family conservative movement to victory in 2008."
Romney is FAR from being "untrustworthy" on issues such as abortion - and especially on the abortion issue, he can be trusted to uphold and protect life and good moral values.
Ah, nice & succinct.
(And for those of who keep saying, "I don't have a problem with his Mormonism," may I remind you that a number of LDS leaders have gone on record to say they consider themselves "gods-in-embryo"...So the pro-Romneyites are not only "pro-life" but "pro-divinelife"--and I'm not talking about the God of the Bible).
Which shows you exactly that if his level of discernment is off in this area, what does that say about the rest of advice he gives in this article?
Go look outside, it doesn’t appear that he is. So how is that a problem? Perhaps the problem is that he isn’t?
ISN’T HARRY REID A MORMON??????????
(why doesn’t anyone in the media ask THESE fun ‘gotcha’ questions to liberals?????)
(Breaking out the popcorn)
Basically:
You must believe that Christ is the Only son of God who came to earth in the flesh and died on the cross for all our sins and was resurrected after 3 days to sit at the right hand of God.
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit exist independently and as one in the Trinity.
The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
One can only be saved though grace alone and not works.
And of course, no minister or catholic priest was ever accused of pedophilia? Of course, just eh accusation makes them a false religion?
Bless you comedian and have a wonderful day.
That’s actually a very good comparison.
...that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins.
******************
I respectfully disagree with my fellow Georgian:
TRUE ENOUGH...
The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals....[snip]
And a few other faiths have three things in common they believe in Jesus Christ,
Herman,
While the Mormons are a tight-knit and charitable community of their own faith. Admirable in many ways for their care system and enthusiasm for conveying their message.
And I sincerely admire them as a group unto themselves.
THAT SAID....
**************
The essential tenets of LDS commonly-held doctrine; and especially their theology regarding Jesus of Nazareth, as the only begotten Son of God, are quite out of tune with Biblical interpretation.
For all of their respectable expressions of their faith, community building, and proselytizing, they are -- in essence-- preaching "another gospel"
*******
The apostle Paul is writing a "corrective directive" to the Body of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:
(vv4)For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
*******
The origins of the "Mormon Gospel" -- including the angelic visitation leading to the publication of the Book of Mormon --
And...
ETERNAL STATES: The outcome of eternity for the subscribers to their faith and doctrine are at extraordinary differential odds with Biblical application of faith in Christ.
So Herman....
While your man might be a viable candidate, and successful charismatic guy and political legacy of Romney's gone before...
AND...
While we are electing a President, not examining an elder candidate, deacon or pastor....
AFTER ALL..
Bill Clinton was an extraordinarily charismatic guy...
LIKEWISE:
FDR...
Teddy Kennedy
Evan Bayh...
AND...
Even Dubya... Are the products of political legacies!
(A low batting average for successful succession!)
The matters of faith are central to the lives of many Americans -- and they pay attention to more than "the image of a man".
For many Americans -- The beleifs and worldview that a candidate holds nearest and dearest to their own heart -- is quite telling of their character and stability.
What they believe and how they live out their doctrines of life will affect us all should they achieve an high office.
SO Herman...
It DOES matter to many of us...
Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Contemporary (Biblical) church movements,...
Your sir, should read the Scriptures more carefully and do your homework!
I have a lot of respect for Mr. Cain.
You missed this one!
Means little. A man's record, not his endorsements, is what counts. And Mitt's record, despite what the shills may say, is not so good on abortion. Certainly not as good as FDT's or DH's. Neither is Willard's record on guns.
>> Are Unitarians Christian? Are the fundamentalist snake handlers from Tennessee Christian? Are the Adventists Christian?
I would say all of those are denominations of Christianity, with the possible exception of Unitarians. As I understand it, Unitarians do not believe that Christ is the only path to Salvation (thus they accept that Buddhists, Muslims, etc. may have found another path) ... thus that would be a major doctrinal distinction which separates them from Christianity.
My understanding is, the distinctions between Christian denominations are generally distinctions in the method of worship or minor doctrine, but not distinctions in fundamental doctrine. Thus Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are all denominations of Christianity with differences in worship and minor doctrinal differences (my wife is Methodist, I am Baptist ... and, other than sprinkling or dunking during Baptism, I couldn’t tell you the difference). Mormonism, Unitarianism, Judaism, and Mormonism have differences in fundamental doctrine which separate them from traditional Christianity (for instance, Christ was not the Son of God (Judaism) or Christ is not the only path to Salvation (Unitarianism).
H
Why not? It worked pretty well when this country was founded and it seems like we've been letting the Devil have his way long enough. .
Theological liberalism is destroying some of the mainstream protestant denominations. Southern Baptist churches can vary quite a bit in what they think you have to do to be a Christian.
Watch the South Park episode at ComedyCentral
But I still like Romney. Might very well end up voting for him.
Are you here on FR specifically to flack your commercial site?
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Do you provide "opinion by request" to select clients?
Honesty would require you to disclose your affiliation with the site.
Does that mean that Hillary is destiny?
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