Mitt Romney and Mormonism

[3894]

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?

[Alex]

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).

[Snowflake]

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

[blueerica]

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.

[3894]

Originally Posted by blueerica

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.

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

What I find interesting (and somewhat comical) is how his running is putting so much focus on this (often and very) misunderstood religion.

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

[Pirate Bill]

Originally Posted by 3894

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.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

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.

Would that be the part where they get anointed with oil on their privates and baptized in a huge tub on the backs of 12 oxen? Or is there something more secretive than that?

But really, the mormons I know are great people. My only concerns lie in the separation of church and state. As far as which religion... doesn't matter.

[Pirate Bill]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Would that be the part where they get anointed with oil on their privates and baptized in a huge tub on the backs of 12 oxen? Or is there something more secretive than that?

Nobody gets anointed on their privates (not even if you wanted it). Not every temple has a baptismal font on the backs of 12 oxen. But baptism is also done in most of the church buildings and anyone is welcome to watch. Nothing secret about baptism.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by 3894

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

I don't think it's all that difficult to find information on the LDS church in this day and age of teh intrawebs. Perhaps once upon a time the mystery over what they believe could be a credible argument for the people I was referring to, but it simply isn't the case. Anyone, save for those so hopelessly in the boonies they have access to nothing, can go to mormon.org or even Wikipedia to get some reliable information on the Latter-Day Saints. Heck, even in my church-going dying-to-believe in something days at a Baptist church in Michigan, we covered LDS and they said they believed in God and Jesus, but they were wrong about Joseph Smith, or some such thing.

Maybe my earlier post didn't clarify enough what these people were in disagreement over, but the people quoted in the article from over the Summer disagreed with Romney because he "didn't believe in the same God" and some equated Mormonism with "Devil Worship." What distresses me is how many in the general population make assumptions and become vocal without becoming informed, even on the most basic level. The general population's treatment of those whose religious views, lifestyles, and whatever else that is different from themselves is disappointing at best - which is commentary on the public, and not-so-much Romney.

Toward the original post, religion plays a factor in my decision to vote. It clues me into how he may or may not react to things that are important to me. I would vote for a Mormon if his beliefs and how he may vote align with my own preferences, just as I would vote for a "regular" Christian, a Catholic, a Jew, a Hindu, a Muslim. To that end, what has disappointed me about Romney was his pro-choice stance that changed due to Republican/Conservative pressures. As much as LDS has blended church and state (take a trip to SLC and take a look for yourself), for the most part I got a "freedom of religion" and "freedom of lifestyle" vibe from Romney early on, but of course he's flipped on that, too. Or so it seems.

Religion aside, he seems like someone who I wouldn't vote for on account of his flip-floppiness and general phoniness.

[Pirate Bill]

Originally Posted by 3894

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

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.