How and Why Romney Bombed

TCS ^ | 12/7/6/7 | Lee Harris

[rhombus]

but in reality this is the official position of all Christian leadership.

If true, I now have even less respect for "all Christian leadership".

[Soul Seeker]

Too bad for you that those religious “kooks” vote, then, isn’t it?

Romney can win as many kudoes in the press that look down on Christians anyway as he likes, but basically coming out with the implication that Christians are intolerant and that’s the reason he isn’t running away with the nomination? yeah, we’ll see if that helps him where it really matters. On the ground in the polling booths.

That attitude along with his liberal record isn’t going to do him favors.

[olivia3boys]

Yes, Christianity does have some strange beliefs—like virgin birth and resurrection—but the point is that the Mormons hold unorthodox, heretical beliefs that are not shared by Christians—and yet Mormons claim to be Christian.

Belief in the Trinity, for example, is an example of an orthodox Christian belief—and Mormons don’t share that.

It’s understandable that you, as an agnostic, find no difference between competing strange beliefs, but for many Christians out there deciding who to vote for, these are important matters.

Some voters may simply choose to vote for orthodox Christians only, because that is an important qualification for them. And that is their right.

[donna]

instead, Kennedy said in effect, "I won't let the Vatican interfere." And many Protestants believed him—in large part, because no one really thought Kennedy took his religion seriously enough to affect his behavior one way or the other.

Excellent column.

[olivia3boys]

I don’t know if Mormons believe in the virgin birth, but all Christians do—which is to say, all Protestants and Catholics.

[rface]

I don’t worry about the Catholic Church or any other “Churches”....it’s there job to convince me...and they have failed.

[sanjacjake]

I am not a big booster of negatism..but every time
somebody does anything to appease the naysayers, it
is denigrated by the “experts”...this is BS....I
was so impressed by the speech, I have vowed to- vote
for the guy...he is: best out there, and possibly a
diamond in the rough...his wife and family are all
first class...the hell with the others that use the
old..BS...and think you and I are nitwits..Go Mitt!! JK

[MrEdd]

Ah you worship the god of touchy feelyness. This conversation has been primarily among followers of the God who is the same today, yesterday, and forever, and who instructs us through his word. I guess Mormons could worship the same god you do, even though their scripture describes a different god than the God Catholics and Protestants follow in their scriptures. Enjoy your experiential god.

[Gurn]

To be blunt, Romney is saying: It is legitimate to ask a candidate, "Is Jesus the son of God?" But it is illegitimate to ask a candidate, "Is Jesus the brother of Lucifer?"

Exactly.

I'm a Baptist. I'd have no problem voting for an observant Jew for President, so long as he is a conservative.

But I can't vote for a guy who thinks men can become gods; that Christ is Satan's brother; and that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri.

I just can't. And it's no wonder Romney doesn't want to get into the theological aspects of LDS. If he did, every rational American would recognize that it's a made-up cult based on the word of one lunatic.

[Salvation]

Thanks for that link. I do find them relevant.

[Colofornian]

it's just there are a bunch of "Pharasee types" that like to tout how great they are in God's eyes.

I guess you didn't listen to or read very carefully Mitt's speech then.

He twice referred to everyone being a "child of God."

Now the person who made the most of the "Pharisee types" was Jesus. He carefully pointed out to the Pharisees in John, chapter 8, that, no, they weren't children of God & no, they weren't children (spiritual descendents) of Abraham. Their father was the devil.

So for you to accuse others of being "Pharisee types" you better beware what you're saying...you're calling them, in the tradition of Jesus, children of the devil.

Now I know Mormon leaders have consistently done that...Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, & others. I know that the Book of Mormon does that (1 Nephi 14:9-10). But are you really wanting to do that? (especially in light of Mitt's appeal that all are "children of God?")

[Palladin]

Why do your links take us to “tinypic.com”. Are you some sort of joker?

[humblegunner]

just maybe I spelt speach the way I wanted to.

I was unaware spelling was subject to whim; I thought it was either right or wrong.

I don’t know what’s magic about the underpants?

Mormons are required to wear magical protective underpants.

Romney refuses to admit it.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Very interesting Point 3. I had never thought about it that way.

Your tag line is hilarious, too. Is that true? Is it a precept of the Mormon faith that everyone becomes a god?

[Hoodlum91]

“No it isn’t”

I disagree. Most regular folks don’t care about his religion. It’s not foremost in their mind. Evangelicals who continue to bring it up just look bigoted and small minded.

Now his liberal record is something else entirely. If evangelicals really were only focusing on that, he wouldn’t have needed the speech. I think evangelicals like to they are above the fray in this, but they are right in the middle.

[Burkean]

Actually what is exclusive about the Catholic doctrine of virgin birth is that Mary is a perpetual virgin. In other words she did not consummate her marriage with Joseph and never had any other children. In centuries past great pains were taken to create scenarios where Mary’s physical virginity was not marred. Even the act of giving birth to Jesus was given further clarification by saying Jesus did not actually exit the womb via the birth canal (which would have marred Mary’s hymen) but that he was miraculously removed by heavenly angels without the usual mundane birthing process.

I don’t believe Protestants have gone to such lengths to maintain the perpetual virginity of Mary in their lore.

[ansel12]

“If true, I now have even less respect for “all Christian leadership”.

---

To me that is a fine answer, it states your opinion and is accurate, it does not pretend to be something else.

There has been a very successful effort on all these threads to make the Mormon issue appear to be simply a piece of bigotry from a small number of supposed wackos that identify themselves as evangelicals.

The real conversation should be about why “Christianity” identifies Mormonism as non Christian.

Once we accurately label this as the unified Christian position on the Mormon religion, then it brings the discussion to it’s proper level.

[olivia3boys]

I wouldn’t say that evangelicals view “any faith but their own” as a cult.

There are world religions, and then there are cults. I recently read something that argued the main difference between a religion and a cult, besides time and acceptance, is the ability to leave the group without repercussions.

I don’t think many evangelicals view world religions other than Christianity as cults. But the Church of Latter-Day Saints, yes, many of them would label that a cult.

[rface]

Since there is only one God...the Father Almighty, then, yes, it would be accurate to say that Romney and I worship the same God....

....and I am assuming that you also worship our Father in Heaven......the same Father who created the Heavens and Earth and who's only begotten son, Jesus Christ, was sent to rescue humanity from their sinful nature.....if only we repent our sins to seek God's forgiveness

[Gurn]

Rush would have spelled "speech" correctly, as he keeps notes in his magical Mormon underpants.

Uh, Rush isn't Mormon....is he?