Posted on 01/08/2008 4:09:13 PM PST by tantiboh
Mitt Romney is facing an unexpected challenge in Iowa from rival Mike Huckabee, who has enjoyed a groundswell of support from religious voters, particularly evangelical Christians wary of the clean-cut former Massachusetts governor because of his Mormon religion.
The common worry among evangelicals is that if Romney were to capture the White House, his presidency would give legitimacy to a religion they believe is a cult. Since the LDS church places heavy emphasis on proselytizing -- there are 53,000 LDS missionaries worldwide -- many mainstream Christians are afraid that Mormon recruiting efforts would increase and that LDS membership rolls would swell.
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THE ONLY PROBLEM with those fears is that they don't add up. Evangelicals may be surprised to learn that the growth of church membership in Massachusetts slowed substantially during Romney's tenure as governor. In fact, one could make the absurdly simplistic argument that Romney was bad for Mormonism.
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ONE WAY TO GAUGE what might happen under a President Romney would be to look at what happened during the period of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Held in Salt Lake City, they were dubbed the "Mormon Olympics."
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Despite all the increased attention, worldwide the Church grew only slightly, and in fact in the year leading up to the games the total number of congregations fell. Overall, from 2000 to 2004, there was a 10.9 percent increase in memberships and a 3.6 percent increase in congregations.
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The LDS church is likely to continue its current modest-but-impressive growth whether or not Romney wins the White House. Perhaps the only real worry for evangelicals is that, if elected, the former Massachusetts governor will demonstrate to Americans that Mormons don't have horns.
Carrie Sheffield, a member of the LDS Church, is a writer living in Washington, D.C.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
There are some on Free Republic that oppose Romney specifically because they are afraid his election would legitimize Mormonism and lead to a surge in the growth of the LDS Church. That this is a political consideration for them is something I have condemned in the strongest terms. Nevertheless, I think it's an assumption based on a false premise.
I’m not Mormon...and not planning on becoming Mormon, or making valuations about Mormonism based on Romney. If I vote for Romney, I would be hiring Romney to balance the books, streamline government, reduce taxes, keep our economy healthy, appoint conservative judges, keep us on offense in the war, and above all, beat the DEMS!
Ping
AMPU, you’re the only non-Mormon I’ve pinged. Please ping some (polite) acquaintances who you think might have an interest in the topic.
Let’s be civil, everybody.
There are many, but few who will admit it.
Upon moving to Utah, has any non-Mormon of any denomination or faith felt threatened or forced to adjust their practice of worship?
The whole issue is a straw dog.
Mike
I don’t think that is the problem most people here have with Romney.
I think it is:
1. His support of gun control
2. RomneyCare with its $50 abortions, deputizing insurance companies to collect a de facto tax, and general socialism;
3. Massive increase in taxes in the form of “fees”
4. Being passionately pro-abortion (including story about family friend who died in back-alley abortion) until a few years ago
5. Being for gays in the military -— saying “don’t ask don’t tell” didn’t go far enough
6. Being for gay Boy Scout leaders
Etc. -— huge changes for a 50+ year old man to make in world outlook -— with NO explaintion
And we have a memory -— recalling George Romney (Mitt’s father) who ran as a surrender in Vietnam Republican -— and lost to Nixon (also a liberal) who ran to the right.
Basically, it’s readily apparent that Romney is a liberal who decided not to repeat his father’s mistakes, and so has decided to pretend to be a conservative.
If it weren’t for the many reminders by his opponents, I would find it hard to remember that he is a Mormon. When he was governor of MA, it wasn’t an issue.
I suppose having BJ Clinton as President, with Bible in hand at church before having a rendezvous with Monica, is acceptable? However, a straight-laced man, who also is a Mormon, is unacceptable? Please.
The only people I see pointing out Romney is a Mormon are Mormons.
You're kidding, right? There is plenty on the internet start here.
I didn’t realize that the Spectator is a Mormon publication.
The constant cries of anti-Mormonism is getting tiresome.
There is a joke that in Utah, the separation of church and state is the 2 blocks between temple square and the capitol bldg.
One well known evangelical who supports Romney is Jay Sekelow.
Yeah, kind of like after Obama won Iowa. It wasn't even an issue that Obama was black until Juan Williams brought up what a great day for blacks. Whether Obama or Romney are black, white, green, or Buddhist isn't a major concern of most folks.
One well known evangelical who supports Romney is Jay Sekelow.
One well known evangelical who supports Romney is Jay Sekelow.
~”I don’t think that is the problem most people here have with Romney.”~
I agree with the “most” part. However, I’ve been growing concerned lately that the minority is larger than we might think. IA is one possible piece of evidence; I’ve been seeing that reasoning on FR for months, and it’s picked up lately.
I dunno. Did Adams, Adams, Fillmore and Taft grow Unitarianism (they're 0.02% of the population.)
Did Nixon grow the Quakers?
Did Eisenhower grow the Jehovah's Witnesses?
Sounds more like the folks who vigilently demand that politicians enact their religious faith into law suddenly don't think it's such a hot idea.
You stated “I didn’t realize that the Spectator is a Mormon publication” in response to my comment that the only people I see bringing up that Romney is a Mormon are [defensive] Mormons.
Please note tha the article was written by “Carrie Sheffield, a member of the LDS Church, is a writer living in Washington, D.C” Says so right in the post.
Thank you for proving my point!
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