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.
There is no such thing as a Christian Bible it is the Holy Bible which contains the words of Jehovah and Jesus Christ.
- - - - - - -
Are you saying Jehovah and Jesus are SEPARATE BEINGS?!?!
That isn’t what the Temple teaches us.
Hi Honey!
I thought I was put on Virtual Ignore Status?
placemarker
I don't.
Glenn Beck can't tax me or put me in jail.
You are confusing him and Resty...
Oh!
Wait!!
She just TYPES mush!
Placemarker!
Self-proclaimed EX-PRESBYTERIAN failing to do HER work of warning present day PRESBYTERIANs of the UNTRUENESS of what they believe.
SHAME on RESTORNU!!
Eze 3:18
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
You sure are having trouble getting someone riled with your insults.
Time to ratchet it up a bit...
He had more ribs...
Where’s his 9 iron?
The victory of gay marriage would be a boon to the LDS. It would pave the way to the legalization of polygamy so they can return to that “eternal principle”.
I have heard both gays and faithful LDS say that polygamy is the next battle. I also know several LDS men who are hoping polygamy is legalized soon. No Joke.
I was once asked to be a polygamous wife. The guy was mainstream LDS (and a stake president) and was trying to convince his wife to “practice the principle”.
Looks like you were too late!
Mark 1:25
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
So is MULTIPLE marriage, but you MORMONs (for the most part) are AFRAID of GOVERNMENT; so you spit in GOD's face and call HIS Eternal Covenant so much trash!
SOME might say you spelled farce wrong.
Ok...
WHO was bad in #546?
"Let the little children come unto me..."
The BIBLE Jesus
"And I'll fix them up with a covenant or two."
The MORMON jesus.
Looks like it was Resty herself...
to: restornu
Many do not appreciate the divine plan of the Lord there is a place for everyone on this planet.
The Lord Children have a covenants but the world does not want one.
Those who love the Lord learn of his Plan of Salvation and striving to keep His commandments!
Many in the world has no desire to learn nor have a covenant with the Lord.
549 posted on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 11:38:23 AM by restornu (Learn of Him!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 546 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.