Mitt Romney and Mormonism
 

I didn't see a thread on this. Mods, please merge if I missed it!

Mitt Romney is a Mormon and a Republican. Depending on the poll, between 15% and 37% say they wouldn't vote for a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints under any circumstances. The problem a lot of people have with Mormonism is that it is secretive. This is why Romney's in the unenviable position of having to explain just what he believes.

Would you vote for a Mormon? Does Romney's religion factor into your opinion of him?

Yes. Yes.

The man was an adult member of a faith that explicitly denied positions of authority to blacks (until 1978 blacks could not be even deacons and could not "secret" parts of temples) and as an adult operating in that mileau I would like to know how he behaved then (did he push for the reforms that changed the churge or fight them or watch passively, for example). The man is an adult member of a faith that has a distressing history of blurring the separation of church and state.

Now, I don't give a flying fig that he believes Jesus visited North America or that the church in the past (and in fringe ways in the present) protects polygamy. The actual LDS is not any stranger, in my view, than that of Catholics, Scientologists, JWs, Hindus, etc.

But what I listed are two very real examples of how the practice of his faith would appear to intersect with the president's position as policy maker and agenda setter. So no, his faith is not completely irrelevant as he'd like us to pretend (and neither is the faith of any of the other candidates just because they are more mainstream).

What I want to know is how many Osmonds will be political appointees if he's elected? ;)

Again, I agree with Alex.

This was brought up in a class discussion this Summer, and the distressing thing for me is that many objected to his religion because they didn't think he (and Mormons) believed in Jesus or God. I am not Mormon, but a good portion of my family is. Heck, I'm Agnostic. But... they do believe in the same God of the Christians, the same God of the Catholics, they believe in the same Jesus. It just goes to show how clueless so many are.

There's a lot (IMO) to disagree with the LDS church over, but what many have voiced their disagreements with Mormonism over is simply stupid.

Disclaimer: I'm a Mormon.

If his/her politics were inline with mine and I thought they'd be a credible leader, yes, I'd vote for them. But not just because they're a Mormon.

Does his religion factor into my opinion of him? Only inasmuch as that's something we have in common.

What I find interesting (and somewhat comical) is how his running is putting so much focus on this (often and very) misunderstood religion. Like it's the first time a Mormon has run for any political office. Or that it's the first time anyone of any faith has run for political office.

Would I vote for Romney? I'm not leaning that way, no.

Interesting question.

I'm a firm believer in the separation of church and state, and on those grounds, a President Huckabee is more worrisome.

I'm not a fan of Romney because I think he's a phony and an opportunist.

I wouldn't vote for anyone named "Mitt"

But I agree with Alex's discussion points above.

If the Mormon Church were a lot more transparent about what the beliefs are ... but that is not the case.

The church provides a website where everyone can go and learn all about the beliefs. All the scriptures are made available free to the public, on the website or in print.

The only thing not made public are the more sacred parts of one of the temple ceremonies. But nothing in that ceremony is new information to those who participate. In other words, all of the doctrines and beliefs taught in the temple are in the scriptures or other public references.

So I really don't know what you're talking about.

Yeah the secretive thing is a bit odd, but every religion has its secrets.

I hear stories about Mormons being excommunicated for not being able to bear children, or it being very repressive to children, stuff like that. And I know that they don't take too kindly to gays, but then again, neither do many orthodox Jews.

My actual friends that are Mormon, however, are some of the kindest, most generous, most fun (and kinkiest *ahem* must be that repression) people that I know. And many of them did that Mormon mission thing to various places too. So really, as my views of Mormons come from them, it is positive.

With respect to Mitt, however, he's a Republican, and I would not vote for him because of that.