Should We Care That Romney Is A Mormon? December 6, 2007
Posted by Greg Jerome in Atheism, Politics, Religion.trackback
Mitt Romney gave a speech today seeking to alleviate fears about his Mormon religion. His faith is seen as a sticking point for many Christians who view Mormonism with skepticism; many believing it is a cult. I am not really interested in the differences between the Mormon church and Evangelical Christians, they are all Christians after all, but in the idea or electing men and women of faith to public office.
I have heard the following attacks on the Mormon Church: They have sacred texts other than the bible, they practice polygamy, they did not allow African-American members until 1978, and their view of the afterlife is perverse. Some of these criticisms are based in fact, others may not be. Let’s look at what Evangelical Christians believe:
God speaks directly to them and informs their decisions, Jesus was dead for three days before he came back to life, the world was created around 6000 years ago in six days, and the world will end as described in Revelation. How can I vote for someone who not only holds these beliefs, which have no founding in science or history, but may actually act based on them?
I find it terrifying that we trust our President with nuclear weapons when be believes God speaks directly to him and tells him what to do. What if he thinks God told him to start a holy war to destroy Islam? What if he thinks we are entering the end times, the world is about to end, and the rightouse are about to be saved? These can not be the things we want on the mind of the leader of the free world. I want my country lead by someone looking at the facts of the world around him, not looking to some mystical book.
Those who enact public policy based on religious beliefs have no place in government.
I guess that eliminates most of our Founding Fathers then.
I’ll take someone enacting government based on rational religious beliefs (which certainly includes most of our presidents) over those that lack them total (like most of the Russian and recent Chinese leadership).
Still, there is no doubt that excessive religious fervor makes for an extremely dangerous combination to govern (Iran, for example).
BTW: Mormons no longer believe in polygomy, except for a tiny extremist group. Smith had a ‘vision from God’ that the polygamy they had been practicing for decades was immoral. Of course, this ‘vision’ conveniently co-incided with the U.S. demand that polygomy be outlawed before Utah could join the Union. My great-grandmother was one of 4 wives in Utah (my family hasn’t been Mormon for 2 generations).
The only reason stopped taking multiple wives is because they ae smart people. They knew it was an obstacle to their larger goal of ONE WORLD RELIGION. They folded (for now).
I don’t believe a word Mitt Romney says. I use to be a Mormon. I know the script.
My God, if he actually wins the nomination, I’m kickin the bucket out.
I don’t believe a word Mitt Romney says. I use to be a Mormon. I know the script. Outsiders are not all that welcome. not good.
My God, if he actually wins the nomination, I’m kickin the bucket out.
But Americans are baiscally asleep and think he looks Presidential. Therefore, he should be President.
I didn’t sign up for this.
Mitt is not winning, so don’t worry about it; several political problems won’t let him get out of the primaries, no matter how much of his money he spends.
The one world religion sure shows a touch of paranoia there; most Mormons I know are pretty straight-forward, decent people. My great-grandmother was a minor figure in their religion and, after I tell them i’m not Mormon nor interested in changing that, they don’t try to convert me.
Their religion does not exactly have members flying planes into building or strapping bombs to their bodies. The are others sects and other religions that present more of an issue at the moment.