Time to talk Mormonism

[cbayer]

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/19/time_to_talk_mormonism/singleton/

Mitt Romney has been pandering to evangelical voters for months. Will he now connect these issues to his own faith?

THURSDAY, APR 19, 2012 10:08 AM PDT
by:Sarah Posner




At first blush, Mitt Romney’s reluctance to talk about his faith might seem like a positive development to any supporter of secularism in presidential politics. But he’s only tight-lipped about his Mormonism, not about religious right causes, which he is more than happy to take up. Even when the teachings of his own faith intersect, quite neatly on matters of sex and gender in particular, with the theo-politics of the Republican Party, he’s more likely to defend the Catholic Church than his own. If the past is any guide, at his upcoming commencement address at Liberty University, he’s more likely to invoke the religious right’s “Christian nation” mythology than to talk about Mormon values.

Channeling the worst of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, Romney has accused President Obama of trying to impose the “religion of secularism.” He has signed the pledge of the anti-gay group the National Organization for Marriage and accepted its endorsement, along with endorsements from antiabortion groups. He has stumped for the position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops framing insurance coverage for contraception as a “war on religion.” At the same NRA convention at which Ted Nugent reveled in violence against Obama and Democrats generally, Romney called contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act a “threat and insult to every religious group.”

This transparent pandering is clearly aimed at the conservative evangelicals and Catholics he needs to energize in November, whose approval — and enthusiasm — is essential for a Republican presidential candidate to win. While Romney obviously doesn’t need to do much pandering to win over conservative Mormons, voters surely wonder: Once he brings up religion, where does his Mormonism fit?

Conservatives are starting to take notice of Romney’s mystifying refusal to highlight how Mormonism dovetails with their own ideology, leading some to suggest he should just “own” his Mormonism. Indeed you’d think that he’d take them up on it, since Mormon doctrine on motherhood, for example, shares some notable similarities with that of, say, the 19 Kids and Counting Duggar family, who stumped for Santorum (whom Ralph Reed says Romney should mimic), and have since thrown their support behind Romney.


more at link

[Angry Dragon]

1. When the candidate interjects religion into the campaign

then all of religion is on the table

[get the red out]

2. Yep

[NeverEnuff]

3. Another reason to vote for Obama

The Duggers just gave me another reason not to vote for Rmoneys dumb ass, their support. They are a freak show.

[TlalocW]

4. How dare he not talk about Mormonism?

After all those Saturdays when I wanted to sleep in and was awakened by Mormons WANTING TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THEIR RELIGION... NOW THEY'RE BEING SECRETIVE?

TlalocW

[DCKit]

5. I, for one, would like to learn a whole lot more about the Mormons and their beliefs.

I think Fox should air a two-hour special, produced and directed by Michael Moore and Bill Maher.

[cbayer]

6. Here is a link to the excellent PBS 4 hour series on LDS. HIghly recommended.

http://www.pbs.org/mormons/view/

[enough]

10. Thanks for this link. (nt)

[HereSince1628]

7. For an intersection of Mormons and their view of a Mormon Presidency google White Horse Prophecy.

and an acknowledgement that there are also democrats who are LDS.

[thelordofhell]

8. South Park did it best

http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s07e12-all-about-mormons

[cbayer]

9. And the Broadway sensation "Book of Mormon" does it even better.

Best play I have ever seen... ever.

[cin63]

11. Watch a movie

I watch a true story called "September Dawn" Check it out.

[Diclotican]

12. cbayer

cbayer

Then why just don't read the book for yourself.. There you wil get the facts, as The book of Mormons lay it out - and deside for yourself what is there or not...

Diclotican

[cbayer]

13. I have read it.

The question here is how Romney's religious beliefs may impact his decision making.

He has avoided dealing with this by hitching his star to the fundamentalists and RW Catholics, but he will not be able to continue doing that, imo.

[HereSince1628]

14. Romney is leaning to groups the early LDS took strong opposition to...

In the collection of LDS Prophecies called the Doctine and Covenants refers to the Catholic Church as 'the great whore of the earth". D&C 29:21.


Orson Pratt, one of the churches original 12 'apostles' expanded that when he wrote in a mormon journal called The Seer that

Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the whore of Babylon. The Seer, Vol.2, No.4, p.255


If anti mormons were going to stop Romney the challenges by Santorum and Gingrich across the Baptist Belt should have.

I don't expect Dems to work the LDS angle at all.

[cbayer]

18. I don't think dems are going to work that angle, either.

But some formerly stalwart republican populations are probably really trying to figure out what they should do about this. The results in the bible belt are indeed interesting.

[Diclotican]

15. cbayer

cbayer

I do not know, if his religious belief might impact his decision making - but I'm pretty sure that I hope he never get into the oval office as a president.. Not because he is member of the LDS, but most because he is a evil person, who would do more harm than good in office....

Diclotican

[cbayer]

19. Agree.

[longship]

16. I don't think Dems can go there

without provoking further claims that they at war with religion. They are already saying it. Let the fundie Christian Republicans eat their own. They own this issue after all.

But maybe Dems could possibly challenge Republican claims head on, possibly claiming that the Reps are using legislative fiat to inflict their beliefs on the country. That might be a very dangerous strategy, however. It would have to be framed very carefully recognizing that it could derail the campaign.

Republicans may be playing rope-a-dope. In that case, ignoring it is the only strategy.

[cbayer]

17. I don't think dems are going to go there.

At least according to Obama and the DNC. And I think that's a very smart move on their part.

BUT, the republicans are going to have to go there. If he is going to adopt extremist positions held by some Catholics and fundamentalists, he is going to have to talk about his own religion. He's in a corner and I don't think he will be able to avoid it.

I will be interested to see what he says. He seems so.... clueless.

[dimbear]

20. On an encouraging note, Mormon astronomical teachings might reinvigorate NASA.

It would certainly be worthwhile to investigate Brigham Young's belief that there are inhabitants of the sun, and also the perhaps now somewhat shaky assertion by Joseph Smith that there are people living on our moon who live 1000 years.