The Founding Fathers were Deists, So Is Mitt Romney's Mormonism keeping you from voting for him?

http://members.aol.com/TestOath/deism.htm ^

[klimeckg]

Thomas Paine and the Age of Reason

Thomas Paine is sometimes grouped with the Founding Fathers. Your daily newspaper might reinforce this view with editorials like this:

Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Paine and most of our other patriarchs were at best deists, believing in the unmoved mover of Aristotle, but not the God of the Old and New Testaments.[1]

It would be difficult to name a single one of the Founding Fathers who approved of Paine's Age of Reason, his famous tract attacking religion in general and evangelical Christianity in particular. Even less-than-evangelicals like Benjamin Franklin and the "Unitarians" all denounced Paine's book.

Before Paine published his Age of Reason, he sent a manuscript copy to Benjamin Franklin, seeking his thoughts. Notice Franklin's strong and succinct reply, and keep in mind that those on all sides of the religion question would concede Franklin to be one of the least religious Founders:

I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion that . . . the consequence of printing this piece will be a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits into the wind, spits in his own face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? . . .

[maine-iac7]

The Founding Fathers were Deists, So Is Mitt Romney's Mormonism keeping you from voting for him?

Not sure what the inference is here?

Is it meant to convey that Mormons - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints = are Deists?

If so, it is in error...

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/tuck7er/th_laugh3.gif"> lds.org

First, go to the source -

"We bear testimony, ... that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son. "

Doesn't sound Deist to me...

My apologies to the Mormon Basher Brigade that will soon be swooping in for this inconvenient truth about the beliefs of the Church. (Actually, I lie. I do not apologize)

[kingu]

That Romney’s a liberal is what prevents me from voting for him. Republican debate: I like mandates, mandates work - if my choices are only big government liberals, I’m not going to compound that by choosing to vote for a north-east big government liberal.

[Brilliant]

Is there any politician in this race who has not flip-flopped? As far as I can tell, the only ones who did not were Fred and Giuliani, both of whom are enjoying retirement.

[Blogger]

I am a Baptist and believe Romney is part of a cult. Still, it would not keep me from voting for him.

And, most of the founding fathers were CHRISTIANS not Deists. Some were deists. Not most.

[Andy'smom]

I think that’s true.

[narses]

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[tear gas]

Trust that the Lord will deliver to us the president that we deserve. The last two times He gave us George W. Bush. Just trust.

[wrench]

why is being Mormon worse than being Catholic.......?

Well, for one, Cathilics aren’t baptising every deceased man woman and child into their “religion”, all without consent of family members.

Catholics do not forbid a father or grand father from seeing his child get married if that father or grandfather isn’t a “perfect” Catholic.

Catholicism doesen’t even remotely resemble a cult.

[padre35]

Nope, I would vote for Mitt in .00000001 seconds, but in NC, it won’t be until March that we have the opportunity.

[Just mythoughts]

I supported Duncan Hunter.

I would ask you, is there anything that Romney has done said or hinted that he would in any shape fashion or form require you to become a member of his church. Whatever your answer is to that question it the answer to what to do. And I do not need to know the answer.

[purpleraine]

non-sequitor

[Starwolf]

why is being Mormon worse than being Catholic

Because most Christians consider it disingenuous at best when Mormons claim to be Christian. Our Mormon brethren here will disagree with that position, but it is a widely held one.

IMO Mitt would be better off being Buddhist than Mormon in due to that.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

NE LIBERAL FLIP FLOPPER is reason not to vote for him!

[Captain Rhino]

Here, here!

George Washington’s Prayer for the Nation

Written at Newburg, June 8, 1783, and sent to the governors of all the states.

“Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection: that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.

Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.”

A real Deist, that Washington. Yeah, sure.

[so_real]

They weren’t all deists...the whole discussion starts out with a faulty premise. George Washington most especially was not a “deist.”

Faulty premise ... ditto that ... and Washington is a favorite historical topic of mine :-)

[klimeckg]

No, it’s meant to say who cares what the President believes in.

[maine-iac7]

I am a Baptist and believe Romney is part of a cult.

There's a wide chasm between 'belief' and 'fact. Maybe you should do some research on your own instead of swallowing whole what you are taught?

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"

From the web site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at:

lds.org

"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son. "

[redstateconfidential]

but I think a greater number voted against him because 1) he is rich and 2) he’s a damn fast-talkin’ Yankee. ;-
Populism is alive and well in the South, but the evangelicals would have nothin’ to do with him down here in the south! Magic underwear is somethin’ you save for a date night!

[klimeckg]

This is good, I always thought that the majority of the FF’s were Deists. I think I read it in one of my wonderful 6th grade public segregated controlled middle-school. :-) What do we know about McCain’s faith?

[JoshM99]

You got that right.