Posted on 08/08/2007 8:00:00 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
Mitt Romney's own Republican Party has made religion fair game, and Romney will be asked how his faith would affect his policies.
-SNIP-
But Mitt Romney is a serious contender in 2008, rich and disciplined, and he's running in an era when presidential candidates are virtually expected to parade their religiosity. This is particularly true in the Republican camp, where religion and politics are now routinely intertwined; indeed, candidate George W. Bush upped the ante in 2000, when he said that his favorite philosopher was Jesus, ''because he changed my life.''
So it's no surprise Romney is facing questions about his lifelong devotion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the breakaway theology that considers itself humankind's ''one true church.'' He had hoped to stonewall this issue, insisting in a TV interview 18 months ago that ''I'm never going to get into a discussion about my personal beliefs.''
But today word is circulating that Romney will discuss his faith in an autumn speech - and seek to disarm the skeptics much the way John F. Kennedy in 1960 dampened fears that a Catholic president would take orders from Rome.
Romney is dealing with potential hostility, fair or not, on several fronts. Many Christian fundamentalists, particularly southern Baptists, dismiss Mormonism as a cult (thereby imperiling Romney in the GOP primaries, particularly in pivotal South Carolina). Many secular voters are uncomfortable with the church's passion for proselytizing and its superior attitude, particularly its scriptural insistence that all nonbelievers are worshiping ''the church of the devil.'' Pollsters say that at least 30 percent of voters won't back a Mormon.
Romney's biggest problem is that skeptics are simply weirded out. They cannot quite envision having a president who believes that a man named Joseph Smith dug up a book of golden plates, long buried in a hillside, with the help of an angel named Moroni in 1827; that these plates, written in Egyptian hieroglyphics, spelled out the precepts of the true Christian faith; that Smith translated these hieroglyphics by wearing decoder glasses and burying his head in a hat; that Jesus visited North America after the resurrection; that the Garden of Eden was really in Missouri.
-SNIP-
Some questions do seem appropriate. First, the Mormon faith puts a high premium on ''faith-promoting'' information, sometimes at the expense of unpleasant facts. As a high-ranking Mormon leader said in a famous 1981 speech, ''Some things that are true are not very useful.'' Would Romney be able to assure swing voters that he would not merely perpetuate the faith-based thinking, and the rejection of empirical reality, that has trapped us in a ruinous war?
Second, since the Mormons consider themselves stewards of ''a quintessentially American faith'' (Romney's words), and since Mormons believe Jesus will return and rule the world from U.S. territory, does this suggest that a President Romney might wave the flag a bit too fervently, at a time when we need to repair our relations around the world? The Mormon faith is heavily rooted in what is commonly called ''American exceptionalism,'' the belief that we are special and we know best. Would Romney govern accordingly, and, if so, would that be a help or a hindrance in the war on terror?
-SNIP-
What matters, in other words, is not whether he really thinks Joseph Smith met an angel in 1827. The crucial issue is whether, or how, a devout Mormon would apply his faith on the job in 2009. His supporters have suggested that any such questions are symptoms of religious bigotry, but it is the Republican Party, over the past several decades, that has put religion front and center. They have made Mitt Romney fair game.
If you read my post I have quoted from both most are not familar with the other standare works I like to share them too!
A candidates religion does not matter to me.. He should not answer questions about his religion.
Is there any way to make a place to fight over reglion so we can keep these other postings on subject.
fred
>>Does everyone agree? I would gladly see this enforced.<<
1. That’s not the way it works
2. Just speaking for myself, I hope Jim Robinson never sets rules by votes - that would get so messy and unwieldy so fast..
That said, it would be good if Christians here could go back to basics and not judging each other’s faith. We have a hard enough time judging each other’s actions.
>>[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.<<
Did you read the title of the thread? It’s about his religion.
I agree.
Care to explain that statement?
Yes, Romney needs to answer questions about his religion
It is about Romney and his regiligion, but when we get into bashing each other, we are not talking about Romney and his regiligion.
fred
You tube, the authoritative source /sarc.
I take the label of ex-Mormon as an affront, truly. I’ve always been too logical to join their group. At least her post was pulled.
Oh spare me with your curiosity. You've made it clear via hundreds of anti-Romney postings that you can't stand the guy and he is a member of a cult. There is NOTHING in such a speech the would change your mind so spare us with your supposed inquisitiveness.
Well, I was born into it, so logic didn't enter in.
This is totally and completely outrageous, the gall of some sharpie, that a text inspired by God and written in ancient times is revised and reinterpreted to suit the ends of a blasphemer and heretic.
All Christians need to know that the Mormons have tampered with the Holy Bible and justify that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_Translation_of_the_Bible
When are the bamboozled sheep going to wake up and realize they have been tricked and conned?
He got chased out of Ohio and opposition to him became severe that, on January 12, 1838, Smith left Kirtland for Far West in Caldwell County, Missouri. At the time, there were at least $6,100 in civil suits outstanding against him in Chardon, Ohio courts, and an arrest warrant had been issued for Smith on a charge of bank fraud. A accused criminal leaving Ohio to escape from the law has no business revising the Bible.
I did not say you were an X LDS I said SOME!
I have no clue why my post was pulled I would like to know why so I could adjust!
restornu is including HIS mormonic version of the bible that got worked over by a J. Smith jr. in 1830 thereabouts to include prophesies about his damnable self and his fictional book about the indians.
Our King James is without the 3410 altered verses that supposedly justify Mormonism.
I guess you should pull my post #436. Sorry.
Wikipedia can be good news source if the opposition does not have an ax to grid.
Also “You Tube” is entertaining but not always a reliable news source.
During the reformation the Protestants had ulgy things to say about the Catholics.
Even the Athiest can put to gather things to make religion look ulgy!
In a the old days even a select Jewish group (not all) had wicked things to say about Jesus and His mother Mary.
It is human nature don’t mean it is true.
restornu is a she!
I should have known by the hysteria of her posts.
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