Posted on 11/30/2009 6:01:03 PM PST by delacoert
I’ll just leave this here…
Before a defense of any kind of religious discrimination, one ought to make all of the necessary disclaimers: of course I oppose government-sponsored discrimination, and I certainly would not support the kind of absurd treatment described by Steven Reinhart in his piece featured below. That being said, there is a legitimate case to be made for judging any candidate for office by his religious convictions.
In late 2007, Mitt Romney made his somewhat-famous speech on religion, where he spoke the following words:
“Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.”
Similarly, Romney has stated: “I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it…my faith is the faith of my fathers. I will be true to them and to my beliefs.”
If freedom requires religion, if his Mormon faith sustains his life and he will be true to those practices, then I’m at an utter loss as to why we should ignore Romney’s religious beliefs when evaluating his fitness for the White House.
We ask plenty of questions of any Evangelical Christian candidate: what do his beliefs about the nature of God, the nature of the cosmos, and the meaning of man’s life mean for his potential tenure in office? But for whatever reason, these questions are looked at as unnecessarily piercing and prejudiced when asked of a member of a minority faith.
When Sarah Palin gave her fumbling answer about Israel’s settlements, several commentators jumped on her faith, wondering whether she subscribed to the bizarre but potent sect of modern Christianity that believes in the imminence of the End Times. Will anyone ask Mitt Romney about the oddities of the dogma of the Mormon Church? There are plenty of Mormon doctrines that may strike people as a bit odd — and rightly so. It is established in the church that the devout can reach the upper echelons of heaven and eventually become gods themselves, able to create their own universes and govern them as they see fit (all while supervised by the One True God). Why is it that when I bring this up to Romney fans, I am dismissed as a bigot?
As an atheist, I both understand and accept that in a predominantly Christian society, my thoughts on religion are necessarily going to open me up to questions. If I were to ever run for office (don’t count on that, by the way), I would not expect my supporters would try to ward off any questions about my atheism with the victim-card of discrimination. One’s philosophy of religion contributes profoundly to his worldview and thus is a completely valid criterion by which to partially evaluate a candidate’s fitness for office.
I view all religions as equally bizarre and irrational. But mainstream Christianity is often adopted as a cultural guise, meant for purposes of assimilation with the majority. Probe most self-described Christians and you’ll find plenty of deviation from standard dogma. Devotion to Mormonism, which is completely outside of the American mainstream, requires a certain level of commitment. To what extent will Romney’s faith influence his decision-making? I ask that question of devoted Evangelicals and judge them accordingly, and I will do the same of a Mormon. And I am not going to apologize for that.
Must be that time of the year...
Apparently not, because despite what Mhgintn said, I didn’t’ spell it like he said I did.
Because you spelled it wrong as I pointed out...
http://www.freerepublic.com/~rameumptom
Now what was that about “invalidation”
LOL
BTW I do not think you are Rameuptom, however I an sure, given your join date and familiar demeanor, that you are a retread, more than likely from the SPAMLDS fiasco you guys tried to pull here.
I do see your point. I guess it comes down to my calling is to the LDS although I do have friends who work in ministry to Muslims.
As I heard Dennis Miller say recently, after the Ft. Hood thing: “If Ft. Hood is an example that Islam is a “religion of peace”, then the Religion of Peace needs to get a lot less peaceful”
You missed the point. Yes, I spelled it wrong, I used the same um as is at the last of my name.
I was accused of spelling it like this “rames”, so I must be he.
There is a big gap of logic in this accusation.
If you don’t like reading the TRUTH about Mormonism, then stay off the Religion Forum. RF exists for a reason.
As far as “Romney bashing”, our “glorious founder”, Jim Rob, has made several statements that FR is NOT a “pro-Romney” site, due to Romney’s RINOhood.
Palin and Romney? I think not.
But if you left, we would miss you Resty. That and you do a lot to help our side.
You read too mush into things and don't read others.
Try reading what is in front of you only and don't add what you “feel” you need to,
No wonder you are such a hook line and sinker LDSer...
Sheesh...
I can’t help but wonder how many of these zealous anti Mormons feel about Glenn Beck’s popularity. It would seem to me that they should be as worried with his following among the social conservatives as being equally destructive to their cause as a LDS POTUS.
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I don’t TRUST Beck either. To be fair, he has not appeared to put the LDS spin on things, but if he comes out for Romney, his conservative base will shrink.
Resty is our best player....
mobocracy doing their work!
You read too mush
______________________________________
Yeppers...
Thats what the book of mormon is...
plus the other mormon literature...
The LDS Church does not support gay marriage.
mobocracy doing their work!
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Gollies Resty...
Thats what MHGinTN said...
a mormon committee...
you are full of it!
Deviant “marriage” in mormonism ???
That would be D&C 132..
Aye.
bi polar did you take your meds!:)
RIPLIANCUM - place of many waters.
Means this guy is all wet, and can't spell either.
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