Posted on 09/13/2023 8:18:32 AM PDT by libh8er
NEVADA, Iowa — Republican voters eager to learn more about Vivek Ramaswamy are especially curious about one thing: his religion.
“What is your opinion of Jesus Christ?” an Iowan asked Ramaswamy at a campaign stop in Nevada on Saturday. When Ramaswamy explained that in his Hindu faith, Jesus is “a” son of God and not “the” son of God, the potential caucusgoer followed up with another question about “the fact that the only way to heaven is Jesus Christ.”
It’s a common occurrence as Ramaswamy hits the trail in Iowa. It was the second time he had been questioned about his faith that day and the sixth time in his last two visits to the state. It’s not just Iowa, either. In New Hampshire over Labor Day weekend, a voter asked about Ramaswamy’s religion, prompting an answer about the importance of religious liberty in the U.S.: “I’m Hindu, and I’m proud of that. I stand for that without apology. I think I’m going to be able to be more ardent as a defender of religious liberty.”
Ramaswamy, a first-time candidate, drew new attention after his debate performance last month — against a demographic backdrop that has been an obstacle for other Republican presidential hopefuls.
About two-thirds of Republicans in the 2016 Iowa caucuses identified as evangelical or born-again Christians, according to NBC News’ exit poll. And the evangelical constituency tends to reward Republican candidates who reflect their religious values, including past caucus winners like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in 2016 and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2008. Sandwiched in between: 2012 winner Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania and practicing Catholic — who won praise from influential Republican evangelicals as “an evangelical at heart” who spoke to their values.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Funny headline.
I’d rather have a Hindu in office than the Catholic that’s in office now.
Ramaswampy is a pagan, so yeah… questions.
I agree with you.
Some people here on Free Republic, have said they don’t want someone not of a Judeo-Christian religion, in public office.
But such a test falls apart, in my opinion, if Freepers are trying to say, they prefer a so called Catholic Biden, who abhors all the values we believe in, or they would prefer a nominal Christian such as Barack Obama, who likewise abhors our values.
Here is the thing about the Bible...its either all true, or it might as well be all false.
I had someone once say to me that they were Christian but that they thought Jesus was just a good man, not THE Son of God. Well, that not really Christian then. But most times you cant tell them that. You have to find ways to lead them to truth.
“I’d rather have a Hindu in office than the Catholic that’s in office now.”
It’s all the same heresy....just by another name. Preferring a pagan over a fake Christian is not a Christian stance. And any Christians that would vote for or support a pagan for president or for any other political office... are not ‘real’ Christians. Which is why Trump will not choose Vivek as VP. It just won’t happen. He would lose too much of the evangelicals’ vote.
Romney Swawmy go away.
“ [Trump] would lose too much of the evangelicals’ vote.”
He lost none of the evangelical vote when everyone thought he would after the Access Hollywood tape (“grab them by the …”) came out.
I just want elected leaders to uphold our constitution and put American’s first.
Seems like a whole lot to ask.
I would strongly disagree. Vivek is about values over religion as are many Americans young and old. The evangelical vote is not monolithic.
https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions52.html
… It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans, pagans, &c., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States.
Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President, or other high office, but in one of two cases.
First, if the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
Another case is, if any persons of such descriptions should, notwithstanding their religion, acquire the confidence and esteem of the people of America by their good conduct and practice of virtue, they may be chosen.
I leave it to gentlemen’s candor to judge what probability there is of the people’s choosing men of different sentiments from themselves...
Evangelicals didn't vote for trump based on his religious values. If he picks Vivek, they'll still vote for them.
Answering a (legitimate) question with another question is a COP-OUT, an EVASION, or worse.
Regards,
It would probably be better if he simply answered “I don’t know.”
He’s correct that most self-proclaiming Christians themselves can’t answer such questions
He’s the WEF’s insurance policy!
If I understand it correctly, Monotheistic Hinduism ( as practiced by Ramaswamy) believes that God ( they call Him Brahma ) manifests Himself to humans in different forms in different ways in different cultures. Krishna is an incarnate manifestation of Brahma at various times and Jesus is but one of those many forms of incarcerations.
We in the west might find it strange but Monotheistic Hindus kinda look at it differently. They can even quote the Bible believing it to be Brahma’s way of communicating to Jews and Christians.
Maybe an Indian-American in this forum can correct my understanding when I’m wrong but I base this post on conversations with various Indian friends and acquaintances.
Now we get into allegations that Vivek is affiliated somehow with WEF and George Soros.
Some Freepers say that Vivek is a tool or stooge of Soros and WEF.
And then other Freepers argue that he is not tied to these guys.
And the Freepers on both sides present their evidence to support their point of view, and argue back and forth .
I don’t know if anyone is ever convinced by these arguments, but they seem to happen quite a bit, here on Free Republic.
We don’t need to have an evangelical Christian as president. God will work through whom He wants to work through. What we need is a president that will fight everyday for our God given right to be an evangelical Christian. Trump did that.
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