Posted on 08/11/2011 4:29:28 AM PDT by Colofornian
...we pretty much know what kind of re-election campaign Barack Obama is going to wage: A relentlessly negative one, which...will focus almost exclusively on making the challenger seem unacceptable rather than defending the sitting president’s accomplishments. Thanks to Ben Smith at Politico, we also know roughly how the White House plans to “destroy Mitt Romney,”...By “attacking him as inauthentic, unprincipled and, in a word used repeatedly by Obama’s advisers in about a dozen interviews, ‘weird.’”
Weird how, you ask? Here’s Smith:
The character attacks on Romney will focus on what critics view as a makeover, both personal (skinny jeans) and political (abortion) … Democrats also plan to amplify what Obama strategists described as the “weirdness” quotient, the sum of awkward public encounters and famous off-kilter anecdotes, first among them the tale of Romney having strapped his dog to the roof of his car.
SNIP
...The crucial thing to understand here is that Romney’s Latter Day Saint affiliation isn’t just a potential liability among evangelical voters in Republican primaries. It’s a potential general election liability as well. In a recent Gallup poll, 18 percent of Republicans described themselves as unwilling to vote for a Mormon candidate — but that number actually climbed to 19 percent among Independents, and 27 percent among Democrats.
Who are these non-conservative Mormon skeptics?... theologically conservative/politically liberal Christians (mainly African American and Hispanic) who regard Mormonism as a dangerous heresy...secular liberals...who dislike L.D.S...positions...people who don’t have a particular theological or political ax to grind, who know Mormonism primarily through pop culture (from “Big Love” and “Sister Wives” to “South Park” and “The Book of Mormon”) and the occasional encounter with bicycling missionaries, and who have a vague sense of the L.D.S. church as little bit cultish, a little bit outside-the-mainstream, and a little bit, well, weird...
(Excerpt) Read more at douthat.blogs.nytimes.com ...
You've expended all of this effort defending someone who said, "I would never sit next to a Muslim or a Mormon. They're evil and bad for the country."
Congratulations. I'm sure your family would be proud.
I do hate it. But notice I didn’t say, “All Scientologists are evil and bad for the country.” Grasp that difference and maybe you’ll get a clue.
You're just saying that because it's true.
You keep saying ‘billions’. Mormons only have about 7 million memebers.
And I have no problem with people criticizing my religious views, and I am prepared to defend them - it’s called Apologetics.
However, you haven’t criticized religious views, in fact you claim you don’t want to talk about it. Instead, you make accusations of derangement without having the foggiest idea of what evil or judgement really is.
If you are well versed in Christian theology, I surely haven’t seen any sign of it. Rather, the opposite. You can’t grasp basic Christian doctrine, such as the nature of evil.
BTW, it isn’t my opinion, it is the longstanding view of Christianity as a whole and the Bible.
Again, you didn’t answer the question. What, if any religion, did you grow up in? RC, maybe?
And yes, I've already been treated to an explanation of your definition of evil. The concept of evil is older than Christianity and is present in all cultures. It DOES NOT mean the equivalent of sin to everybody.
I don't understand why you think I should even bother entertaining the adoption of that definition, since in your eyes I am evil as well.
I was confirmed in the UMC to answer your question, and I occasionally attend a non denom with my wife when she wants to go. What is the relevance?
Would you ever be friends with a Mormon or a Muslim? Do you think that Mormons and Muslims should be citizens of the United States?
We need some prayers in Indianapolis tonight folks.
At 8:50 local time, a storm front moved thru the area and blew over the staging area at the concert going on at the State Fairgrounds.
Four, possibly 12 confirmed dead with many injured.
Also, do you agree with the original statement in question? Would you not ever sit next to a Mormon or a Muslim, and do you believe that every Mormon and every Muslim is bad for the country?
- - - - - -
I answered those questions twice above.
as for your other questions...
Would you ever be friends with a Mormon or a Muslim? Do you think that Mormons and Muslims should be citizens of the United States?
- - - — -
I have several Mormon friends and Muslim friends. No one here has said they shouldn’t be citizens. You are reaching.
Because your definition of evil is not consistent with Christian history or theology. That is the relevance.
The concept of evil is actually Jewish, not Christian and it is equated with sin, bibically.
Just saw that Els, prayers up for them.
The modern sociological and philosophical concept of evil is quite different from what you've described, and all Christians I've known my whole life who I've discussed this with do not use it as you and the others on this thread do.
You're free to believe as you wish, but understand that you do not speak for all Christians even though you say you do.
In "Caww's case" hatred for other 'people' wasn't even remotely stated. But of course hatred toward deceptive and false 'teachings' by those who permote them is a certainty which will be opposed without question... and those who attempt to spread those teachings as well..... Especially if they are running for the highest office in our land...and that with an agenda which is not in our country's best interest. Absolutely I will oppose them.
You call it hatred...I call it love for the unsuspecting who are unaware of the danger. .... Many tried to warn of Obama....but those enamored by his words and slick tongue didn't want to hear the truth about him though it was certainly spread across the airways and made known.....so he now sits in Washington carrying out the very agenda he said that he would.....while distancing himself from those who formulated, fed, and impacted his life..both religiously, politically and physiologically...which plays out now across our country....... The same goes for Romney......most do not want to hear....the difference is Romney "hides" the truth about himself....he is a worse fraud than Obama for that.
(chuckle)
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
There was no reading of minds or attributing motives. I was speaking to the posters exact words in post #56. There was nothing personal about it and nothing violated the rules of the Religion Forum.
For instance, "Islam is evil" is allowed but "You are evil" is not allowed. "Anti-Mormonism mongers hatred" is allowed but "You are hateful" is not allowed.
On "open" Religion Forum threads posters may argue for and against dieties, beliefs, religious authorities, etc. It is a town square format and can become very contentious.
If you are not comfortable with that style of debate then ignore "open" RF threads altogether and instead post to RF threads labeled "prayer" "devotional" "caucus" or "ecumenical."
How about this?
Those who say that all Mormons are evil and bad for the country are fomenting hatred!
I'm done with the group on this thread. I'll leave you to spread your own personal brand of hate among yourselves, and it looks like you've got a supportive group of "moderators" to subsidize your beliefs.
Good evening.
Yes indeed....but he truly cannot see what we see Elsie. He has protested too much and that gives way to why?
Which states then that some are evil, so by what standard do you determine "some" of them are evil....how do you differentiate some from the all?
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