Can A Right Winger Vote For A Mormon And Not Go To Hell?

[DonRedwood]

I have been incredibly fascinated watching the Republican primaries. All this talk and questioning of why Romney just can't make the sale. But nobody wants to discuss the real reason of why the Christian Right just isn't swallowing Romney's message.

I want to share a story to start a discussion.

In high school I was in two choirs. This was a very religious community and the HS choir director was very religious (Mennonite, I believe) and directed his church choir. I don't know about the big city, but in small religious communities with LOTS of churches everywhere, Choir is sort of a contact sport. These high school singers competed for every solo like it was a state championship football game. On Sundays the best singers stood in front of their congregations and sang the Lord's praises. They had lots of practices at church. They were usually the most popular kids in their churches and very often the most religious.

I was the tallest in choir and stood in the back row, dead center. On my left were most of the choir members who were Christian and on my right most of the singers were Mormon. They grouped together most of the day and the Choir Director was OK with that. Right next to and in front of me was where the two religions met. And for two periods a day (two choirs), and all those concert and programs and bus rides we did, there was, pretty much, one main debate going on ALL of the time. Religion.

The Really religious Christians thought the Mormons were members of a cult. And worse than that it, it was a cult that was constantly converting good Christians into its membership (and most likely, to hell). These two groups would bring in their Bibles and argue during breaks and before class and during musical rehearsals and on the bus they would debate and debate and condemn and condemn each other over and over.

It never stopped. They never tired of the argument. They never saw eye-to-eye. Both groups believed whole-heartedly that the other group was wrong and on a pathway to hell. And they weren't shy to say so. But there was a difference. The Mormons saw themselves as part of the conservative right of the Christian Church. They argued their message was almost the same. They were probably OK to vote for a conservative Christian. But the far right Christians saw the Mormons as a threat to their religion and saw the Mormon religion as an abomination against God. They were not very nice about it either. I can't tell you how many times I heard the words, "you are going to hell".

When I see these current polling numbers and the see-saw of Republican politics I am pretty danged sure I know what group is not jumping on the Romney band-wagon. So the question really comes down to the thing that nobody is talking about but I find incredibly interesting.

If Romney wins and goes up against Obama, what happens to those Far right people who have to choose between a candidate who is a leader (or was) of the Mormon Church and an African American man whose father was Muslim.

I know it is a small percentage but there will be some people who have a very hard time voting for either of these candidates. And I'm kind of fascinated watching it all play out.

But, the good thing, of course, is it will help to break down a little more prejudice by forcing people to really evaluate their motives and their feelings. Some will vote for their first African American. Some will vote for their first Mormon. Some may choose to sit out a round and not vote. But it is always good to see another barrier broken down.

We live in interesting days.

Peace.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. For me it's about Romney's utter lack of any moral center.

Basically, anything that's good for him is morally good.

And that's what being raised a mormon will tend to do to a person.

[FreeState]

9. I was raised Mormon

Your last line is nothing short of bigotry at its finest.

[arbusto_baboso]

10. And I was a mormon convert and completely stand by my statement.

Mormonism is ALL about moral relativism. Look thorugh the church history. Then look at the mos in Utah.

[onenote]

12. Some questions for you

Do you think all Jews are the same? Do you think all Christians are the same? All muslims? All atheists? Probably not. Yet you don't hesitate to state that being raised a Mormon will tend to make one have no moral center.

Did Mo Udall lack a moral center? Other members of the Udall family? Harry Reid? Is it fair to equate Harry Reid, Mo Udall and Mitt Romney?

My guess is that there are more than just a couple of Mormons out there who aren't fans of Mitt Romney.

[arbusto_baboso]

14. Of course, there are ALWAYS exceptions.

What's your point?

Btw, Harry Reid isn't the most honest of men, either.

[onenote]

15. My point is that the broadbrush condemnation of Mormons by some on this board

is nothing short of bigotry. Folks thinks its perfectly fine to make jokes about "magic underwear" but I'm guessing that many of those same people would be appalled (as they should be) if someone here referred to a Muslim as a "raghead"

[white_wolf]

3. Let me share a similar story.

I went to a Baptist school and every Friday in Bible class we would have a discussion day where we discussed various issues and debated Bible topics. Eventually, the topic of voting from Romney came up and my teacher asked if the students would be okay voting for a Mormon. One of the students, the most arrogant self-righteous person I've ever met, was strongly against it said he would never vote for a Mormon. He said his family were strict Calvinists and even said stuff like "I"m right, you're wrong. Deal with it."

I think the biggest problem for some Christians will be Mormonisms polytheism. It isn't widely well known, since the LDS church doesn't go into too much detail about their views on the Trinity, but if word gets out that they believe in multiple separate Gods, it will hurt Romney.

[dawg]

4. Or they could just vote for the Protestant Christian.

[white_wolf]

5. Wow. There really isn't a protestant Christan in the race is there?

I just realized that. Romeny's Mormon, Gingrich is catholic, Santorum is Catholic. Damn it, I forget about Ron Paul. Now, I know how the media feels.

[dawg]

7. Oh, there's one.

Nice man, only been married once, two beautiful daughters.

[white_wolf]

8. I meant the Republican race.

I guess I didn't think of Obama when you mentioned protestant, simply because unlike the Republicans he doesn't rub his religion in your face, so it doesn't come to mind as easily. With the Republicans, you know their beliefs because they damn well expect you to agree with them or else.

[dawg]

11. It's funny, because I was raised Southern Baptist ...

and the President acts just like I was taught to act. I was always taught that it was vulgar and insincere to attempt to use your religion for political or monetary gain.

[DonRedwood]

13. The Southern Baptists I know

have been very kind good people.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. If I know my scripture. A true evangelical beliver will spontaneously combust upon pulling the

lever or pushing the button, etc. for a Mormon candidate.