No mention of MORMONism...
Posted on 12/02/2009 6:13:27 PM PST by Colofornian
Most Mormons have long suspected what three political science professors have confirmed: Increased knowledge about Mormons and their faith helps remove stigma attached to them. That news comes as the nation's highest-ranking Mormon risks his political future on heath care reform.
Writing in USA Today, Professors David E. Campbell, John C. Green and J. Quin Monson, wrote "Americans still have a bias against Republican Mitt Romney, according to a study conducted during last year's election. Not a political bias, but a religious one. The good news: When people understood his Mormon faith, the bias melted away. The trio teach political science at the University of Notre Dame, University of Akron and Brigham Young University, respectively.
The researchers said this about Romney's possible 2012 campaign:
"(Romney's) candidacy, however, faces a major obstacle that should concern all Americans: religious intolerance. Mitt Romney's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka the Mormon church) clearly hurt him in 2008. Polls showed that anywhere from one-quarter to one-third of Americans openly said they would not vote for a Mormon candidate for president. Mormons are hardly the only religious group to face such overt hostility."
The column notes that as America grows more religiously diverse, candidates from a variety of faiths may do well to help provide more information about their faith during campaigns.
"And as America becomes more religiously diverse, we can expect still more candidates from faiths that might be unfamiliar to many Americans, or those who profess no religion at all. The good news is that accurate information about such unpopular religious groups can help the cause of religious tolerance in America."
In Romney's case "our study suggests that Romney's supporters would do well to encourage those who are troubled by his faith to become better informed about Mormonism. Such a discussion would likely help Romney: Information helps and ignorance hurts his chances. More important, it would help broaden religious tolerance in America."
The Mormon Media Observer believes that Romney tried to appear too generic about his faith during the 2008 race. He often referred questions about doctrine to LDS Church headquarters. A 2012 campaign should be prepared to answer questions straight up.
Other columnists say that the religious problem for Romney may be greater than ever. A variety of Christian leaders and groups announced the "Manhattan Declaration" in late November. In summary the declaration reads:
"We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are: the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and the rights of conscience and religious liberty."
Writing on CNN.com, columnist David Frum said:
"Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical Christian leaders last week issued a bold political statement. They intended to target the Obama administration. Inadvertently, they may have also hit probable Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney ought to rank atop the Republican candidates for president in 2012. He finished second in votes cast in the primaries of 2008. He is a candidate with immense private-sector economic expertise in a time of urgent economic debate. But Romney has a political problem: his Mormon religious faith.
"A Gallup survey in December 2007 found that 18 percent of Republicans would not vote for a Mormon for president. Romney has worked hard to persuade Republicans to think again. In the 2008 cycle, many conservative Christians showed support for his candidacy. But the important new statement by Christian leaders suggests that Romney may face even greater religious resistance in 2012."
At least one Mormon responded by writing, "Romney's religion problem is mine, too."
The Mormon Media Observer would like to think that the Manhattan Declaration strengthens Romney's chances. It spells out common ground where those of common purpose can unite. The fact that LDS leaders are not signatories should not be a concern. As a "restored' church there are irreconcilable doctrinal differences Latter-day Saints will have with the declaration, but that should not preclude unity of purpose in areas of agreement on marriage, sanctity of life and religious liberty.
High-stakes game for Reid
While the Romney debate plays on, it is interesting to note that a Mormon is leading one of the most high-profile political debates in recent memory. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is featured in many high-profile stories in that national media. (The fact he is LDS is mostly absent from reporting.) USA Today reports "Reid faces challenges at Capitol and in Nevada." The New York Times also reports about how the health care fight may define Reid's future. The story reads:
"If the Nevada Democrat gets a health care bill through the Senate by Christmas, his holiday stocking will be full of success and praise. If he fails, there will be nothing but coal and criticism. The stakes are huge for the Obama presidency and the Democratic Party. For Mr. Reid, the difference between winning and losing may be whether he retains his seat next year and his legacy as a legislative leader."
Ever heard of the Mountain Meadows massacre? Until the Oklahoma city bombing it was the worst domestic terror attack on American soil. Sept. 11th, 1857:
http://www.greaterthings.com/Topical/Mountain_Meadows_Massacre/911/index.html
Recently watched the movie September Dawn, very interesting. To this day the LDS will not acknowledge Brigham Young’s responsibility in ordering that attack.
Yes, I’m aware of that.
However, for the present, I still think Mormon’s present less of a danger than muslims.
When I learned about the Planet Kolob, all my bias just melted away, and chocolate rainbows appeared in the sky.
(snicker)
And yet SO many MORMONs on FR go absolutely BALLISTIC when Facts & History about their religious Organization come to light.
I guess that PROFESSORS know more than the mere rank&file types we get here.
(Emma to Joseph:)
"You tell me that you've taken yet another man's wife and I'LL remove the stigma that's attached to you!"
The REAL question is why MORMONs do not try to misdirect the Conservative dislike about Reid as a HATRED of Mormons like they do Mitt.
JS tried to perfect the BED jumping; but it cost him dearly in the end...
No mention of MORMONism...
The ELSIETHON moves on...
Be better informed about traditional Christianity, from former Christians
http://exchristian.net/
And Jim Robinson has stepped it up as well!the important new statement by Christian leaders suggests that Romney may face even greater religious resistance in 2012.
I'm not sure that anything Jim said about Romney was "religious resistance" - except to the extent that his hostility to abortion is religiously motivated. But I don't consider that to be a prejudice but a judgement which has a rational basis.
Pink pony placemark
Where is that statement in the article?
and LDS leader language?
You are intentionally distorting that article because that is your paraphasing.
Acts 3
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Rom. 8:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The words Joint Heir and glorified are in Romans
Do you understand the scripture word glorified?
glorifyDefinition from Wiktionary, a free dictionaryJump to: navigation, search [edit] English[edit] VerbInfinitive to glorify
Third person singular glorifies or (archaic) glorifieth
Simple past glorified
Past participle glorified
Present participle glorifying
to glorify (third-person singular simple present glorifies or (archaic) glorifieth, present participle glorifying, simple past and past participle glorified)
(transitive) to exalt, or give glory or praise to (something or someone)
(transitive) to make (something) appear to be more glorious than it is
(transitive) to worship or extol
The meaning of words in the Bible is derived from the Biblical Hebrew or Greek, and the context in which they are used. Not from “Wikitionary”.
The Bible is composed of the Hebrew and Aramaic Scriptures of the Tanakh, and the Greek Scriptures of the New Covenant[New Testament].
The Greek word from which the english word “glorified” was translated from in Acts 3:13 is “doxazo”. - to render or esteem as glorious, to magnify, to honour.
“...the God of our fathers hath glorified [ honoured, esteemed, magnified] his Son Jesus.”
The Greek word from which the english “glorified” was translated from in Romans 8:17 is “sundoxazo”.
-to exalt to “dignity” in company with.
“...if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified [ honoured, dignified] with Him.”
Back it up a bit to Romans 8:15-18
“For ye have not recieved the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have recieved the Spirit of “adoption”, whereby we cry , Abba Father.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” [children by adoption, not literal]
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory [dignity, honour] we shall recieve.”
Isaiah 43:10
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