Originally Posted By utahjosh I've been a bit surprised, pleasantly, about how little the major news outlets have talked about Mitt's Mormonism. I think it's great that the particular religious beliefs of a candidate shouldn't aren't a focus. The plans, policies, and character of a candidate is what should be discussed. But if any of you are wondering what Mitt Romney's experience as an LDS member and leader have been like, and how they may have shaped him, I found this article to be pretty darn accurate of what I've seen in the LDS church in my area. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-as-a-leader-in-mormon-church-became-a-master-of-many-keys/2012/08/19/7c8fe1bc-cf89-11e1-8e56-dffbfbe1bd20_story.html" target="_blank">http://www.washingtonpost.com/...ory.html</a>
Originally Posted By utahjosh I think it's great that the particular religious beliefs of a candidate shouldn't aren't a focus. = I think it's great that the religious beliefs of a candidate aren't the focus. (And I love when people are honestly discussing the Gospel of Jesus Christ!)
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>The plans, policies, and character of a candidate is what should be discussed. << Very true. He can go to church wherever he wants as far as I'm concerned. I question his honesty, for starters. Why won't he release more of his tax records, like his father did? I wonder what might be in there that he wants to hide from the American voter.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder It's not being talked about because Romney isn't exactly out there with it. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he considers his religion a liability, because well, it is.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer What is the Morman eschatology? If Romney is a traditional Mormon, what would his expectation about the end times be? We see the effects of evangelical Christianity on politicians when it comes to things like evolution and global warming, but how would Mormon views of the end of the world affect the actions of a traditional Mormon like Romney?
Originally Posted By ecdc >>I think it's great that the particular religious beliefs of a candidate shouldn't aren't a focus.<< It depends, of course. With someone like John F. Kennedy, we could fairly quickly assess that, no, the Pope wasn't going to be giving him orders. Ditto Biden. But the Akin episode highlights precisely why religion and a candidates beliefs should be on the table. You'll be hard-pressed to hear an Atheist say that women's bodies shut down pregnancy after a "legitimate rape." It could happen, sure, but let's not pretend like most of this silliness doesn't come from a politicians religious beliefs.
Originally Posted By ecdc So let's look at Romney and Mormonism, and how it might influence the White House if he were to win. I think people paranoid over weird Mormon beliefs like Kolob, magic underwear, or Jesus returning to the Garden of Eden in Missouri, have little to fear. These are issues you just won't hear in a Mormon worship service, and they aren't what animate Latter-day Saints. What do you have to fear, IMO? Significant privatization of public services. Mormons have a strong community that pushes a strong work ethic and belief in helping others in one's own community. That, overall, is great. But it leads to a lot of ignorance - a failure to understand that many Americans do not have similar communities. It leads to insularity that creates a sheltered mind frame about what it truly is like to be a poor American (and Mitt already has that problem). You'll also have a President who believes making money under just about any circumstances, so long as they aren't illegal, is ok. This is another part of Mitt that he could easily get from Mormonism. Mormons are funny about business and making money - while they are hard-line about so many other things...this is something of a squishy area for them that, IMO, can cross into unethical. Success and making money are highly respected and celebrated. In a lay leadership, those people who are called to serve are usually fairly well off, just because they have the means to provide for themselves while sacrificing time away from work. It can lead to a worship of money and business success. Because public servants will rarely make enough money to be in that position. You'll get a President with questionable views about the role of women, and one who certainly doesn't support gay rights. Does Romney believe in the old Mormon teachings about African Americans? Or is he one of the more progressive ones. We'll never know, I'm sure. Does Romney believe that Native Americans are the descendants of the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon? Would that influence his policies? Does he believe South Americans are? What about his views of Israel vs. Islam? Mormons have strong emotional connections to Israel, while they basically just regard Islam as another religion that's wrong (in that ever-so-nice Mormon way). Finally, the article quotes someone as saying Mitt Romney is an "iron rodder." This is one of those great moments that only an insider could understand. The author of the article gets it wrong, and suggests this is just about sacrifice and clean living. But in Mormonism, "iron rodders" are contrasted against "Liahonas" (don't ask...long story). To be an iron rodder means you are all about the letter of the law, you are hard-lined, and you struggle to see shades of grey in anything. I strongly suspect the woman who called Romney that did not intend it as a compliment, as might be implied by the article.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo As a Latter Day Saint, and a moderate who has experienced more than his fair share of you-did-not-just say-that moments with family and member friends, ecdc hit the nail square. Very well said. I’ll only add that general sentiments about some societal issues are quite regional, as ecdc touched upon. I served a mission in South Carolina, and heard some of the most God-awful archaic notions, even from the pulpit (particularly racial remarks). Growing up an active member in California, I never heard such talk anywhere. And from what I am told, most members in the SoCal were inwardly quite embarrassed about the racial issues, even into 60s. I imagine that New England, Midwestern, and European were somewhat the same as California. Similarly, the sensitive subject of gay marriage, particularly on this forum. In more advanced, cosmopolitan regions, there were strong objections amongst members for the church’s decidedly anti-civil rights stance. Anyhow, so I think everyone needs to look at the region they are front to understand how they think, rather than view the church monolithically, even if they are largely united in faith. <<What do you have to fear, IMO? Significant privatization of public services.>> One amusing irony is that the church also believes in the law of consecration (which is a very different iteration from traditional Catholic consecration). It’s been used in the past within the early church, and members are told that it will be used again. In short, it is a communal society that centralizes talents, property, rations, and time under the direction of a few wise chosen men for the communal welfare. Now, most of us are fairly well read. So, I'm sure you all will find this statement amusingly, considering the two sources. Doctrine & Covenants 51:3 – 4 3: “Wherefore, let my servant Edward Partridge, and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this people their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.” Funny that LDS scripture written in 1831 would essentially be repeated a few decades later by an egalitarian political philosopher, whose namesake and ideology has become the archenemy and pejorative for a majority of these same folks.
Originally Posted By ecdc SPP speaks truth. Apart from being a member, I used to be very involved in the Mormon studies community, writing and editing for the Journal of Mormon History, working for Sunstone, and publishing with Signature Books. I'm getting a bit rusty on the specifics, but hopefully I'm stil informed enough to speak intelligently
Originally Posted By oneyepete Not trying to judge. You are always well spoken about mormon stuff that I was just curious. The only non,ex-mormons that I know, who know so much about the mormons is because they are studying to be one or to find fault with them. Thanks
