Ping
Conservatives spent most of the 2008 election calling for an investigation of Barack Obama’s religious beliefs in relationship to his membership in the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s church. Did he embrace the views of his pastor? Again, a fair question because no religion I’m familiar with allows for a separation of faith from behavior. The question is not whether personal spiritual beliefs shape a politician’s values and policies, but what spiritual beliefs mold those values and policies.
Once the real investigation into Mormonism begins Romney won't look like a victim, but will look like a bigoted fool.
I have the right to consider whatever I choose to consider about a candidate...and the FIRST THING I consider is whether or not a candidate is a Bible-believing Christian who lives their faith.
That is why my choice is Herman Cain.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
A candidates character is in issue as to piety but not his religion......touting ones religion always is disasterous with the US electorate, because we have freedom to worship as we wish,and an establishment clause which separates church and state. Thats the moral base.
Benjamin Franklin said it well:
“You desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavour in a few words to gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render Him is doing good to His other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.
“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and better observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in His government of the world with any particular marks of His displeasure.
“I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance in the next, without the smallest conceit of meriting it... I confide that you will not expose me to criticism and censure by publishing any part of this communication to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me unsupportable and even absurd. All sects here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my good will in assisting them with subscriptions for building their new places of worship; and, as I never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the world in peace with them all.”
[Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale, shortly before his death; from “Benjamin Franklin” by Carl Van Doren, the October, 1938 Viking Press edition pages 777-778 Also see Alice J. Hall, “Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin,” National Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94]
Well,I never cared much about any politicians religion... then came Barack Hussein Obama.... and I began to realize that this (religion) was the basis for a man’s decisions, and therefore should be considered.
Of course this is right. I don’t share Mr. Jeffress’ opinion of the Catholic Church, and it is distressing that a supposed Catholic intellectual could be so oblivious to the radical differences between the Church of Latter Day Saints and Catholic doctrine, which are even greater(although Mr.Jeffress would not agree on this). than those between the Mormons and Southern Baptists. The Mormons are not friends to Catholics, athough they are quite peaceable American citizens, and our allies==to a degree—in the cultural wars. But good fences make good neighbors.
As an aside, I've noticed, "Mormon" has become something of a word that doth not be uttered in the debates.
I look at someone like Ted Kennedy and I can tell he didn't pick up the sanctity of human life from his Catholicism but he sure picked up on the "social justice" movement.
In that sense the label taken on isn't as meaningful as the values reflected.
Obama's decade of attending the church of a racist demagogue hollering things like "God Damn America" from his pulpit is gravely disturbing. It sheds considerable light on how he speaks down to the American people and treats his job. It has nothing to do with his proclaimed Christian faith but saying he'd never heard such things all those years as a parishioner tells me, again, what we need to know: he's a belittling, divisive, opportunistic liar who will do anything to save his own skin.
I'm often wary of those who make their faith a central theme of their campaign whether it's Huckabee, W, Perry, Bachmann or the sermonizing Bill Clinton back in 1992. I'm not swayed by the rhetoric.
I oppose Romney for his political ideology not his theology.
Robert Jeffress is apparently as stupid as Jimmy Carter. He doesn't even realize The Washington Post is using him to foment discord within The Republican Party.
Which, to me, isn't necessarily a bad thing except, in this case, it doesn't serve any purpose. Except for The Washington Post, The DemocRAT Party, Liberalism in general, etc.
There are real issues that need to be discussed that will affect the future of America. Romney's religion is not one of them.
Romney would be just as disagreeable if he was, well, the Pastor of Robert Jeffress's church.