In my house, as in many others, it’s been said that one should not discuss politics or religion at the dinner table. Forgive me for breaking both of those rules in one fell swoop, but I wonder: what role, if any, religion is going to play in this particular presidential election?
In 1959 many national pundits and a great many Americans believed that John F. Kennedy, the junior senator from Massachusetts who was then running for president, could not be elected. He had plenty of charm, political acumen, and oratorical talent, as well as a lot of money.
Kennedy was a Roman Catholic, and in 1959 there had never been a Catholic president. Many thought it would sink his candidacy, from fear that he would be more beholden to the Pope than the U.S. Constitution. Of course, it didn’t. Kennedy won, but by a small margin.
Four years ago, many people said that a black man with the Muslim-sounding middle name of he Hussein would never get into the White House. But he won by significantly larger numbers than Kennedy. And now he wants another term.
This time, however, his opponent is not only an exceedingly wealthy man—what some might call a bona fide member of the One Percent—but he belongs to the Mormon faith. It is the first time a member of that particular religion has been so close to achieving our nation’s top office.
There are some who believe that those who belong to the Church of Latter Day Saints are members of a cult. Though Mormons call themselves Christians, other Christian sects don’t necessarily agree. A large group of Christian evangelicals are reportedly urging their followers to write in Jesus Christ on their ballots this year, rather than vote for Romney.
And many voters still believe that Obama is secretly a Muslim, though he has emphatically denied it many times, claiming a strong Christian faith. Still, the belief persists with many, and those who believe it will likely vote for anyone else because of it.
Neither candidate has brought any of this up. Though it is no longer considered off-limits to openly discuss religious faith (George W. Bush was very candid about his beliefs), the candidates in this election have been far too busy courting voters with promises of economic revival, and a return to prosperity.
So the question becomes, what role do you think religion will play in this election? Assuming that most voters will cast their ballots for the man who best represents their political leanings, most pundits believe this election will won or lost by a razor-thin margin, and every vote will count. Even a small number of religious-driven voters could decide the outcome. Will those who believe Obama is a Muslim, and thus should not hold office, cancel out those who cannot vote for a Mormon?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
In the case of alcohol and its prohibition, the desire to repeal was unanimous as it could be. Even the original proponents of prohibition openly renounced it as a failure, and favored repeal.
Look, here is the fact (sorry to break it to anyone hoping a high court decision will be "corrected" in your lifetime). Even sitting justices who disagree with and dissented their colleagues' decision would never reopen (or even hear) a similar case in hopes of overturning, because to do so would politicize the court to the degree that it would diminish the sanctity and the finality of all Supreme Court decisions for all time. It would essentially be eating the seed corn of their importance and station within the constitutional system. Neither wing of the court would dare do it. So cite those overturned decisions for me. I'll be right here.
"If President Obama is re-elected, his anti-American, socialist policies will continue, as will his attacks on Christianity and Christian churches. He will continue to support abortion, homosexuality, the enemies of Israel. How can a true follower of Christ vote in good conscience for a man who has proven to be a true enemy of God and His Word and will continue to be so in his next term? If Mitt Romney is elected, he will be the fulfillment of his cult's polygamist, pedophile, racist, con artist, murdering founder Joseph Smith's "White Horse" prophecy that Romney and all Mormon's believe. That prophecy says that the United States will facing great economic and social unrest, a Mormon will be elected President, declare a national emergency and set aside the US Constitution and enact a Mormon theocracy. That may sound impossible, but ever since he was at BYU, Romney was called by his inner circle "the chosen one" to fulfill their cult's prophecy." Jesus. Who could take these people seriously? They are a joke.
And, by "these people" I hope you mean the inner-circle zealots, and not "all" these Mormon people (or all those Catholics of the 50's, etc.). The hopes and dreams of the zealot faithful of any group can proclaim the coming fulfillment of this or that prophesy embodied in a political candidate, and as always, they will be disappointed.
I think the right thing to do is to vote for Romney. Therefore, I am religiously compelled to do so.
Roe v. Wade could never be overturned. Ok, how about Roe v. Wade just plain negated. If this can "NEVER" happen why do soooo many politicians use the abortion word as a platform? Someone must think something about the A word can be changed. Perhaps I'll wade in later but for now I'll just continue in life. Almost forgot! This country has been in far dire straights economically ie. The Great Depression and the "savior" (figure of speech) on the white horse was FDR & WWII.
As we by some oddity are "On Religion" I am PROUDLY a CHRISTIAN! However that a person of Good and Solid Morals that I agree with is the Candidate I shall cast my "Popular Vote for"! The Statement that we voted for Obama, as a BLACK MAN... is 1/2 true! Look at his Mother she was from Kansas and was as white as Lincoln! His father was indeed Black from Kenya, and in no place in President Obama's history do we see the pain of "America's Great Sin", Slavery in his family at all. Most Black Americans do in their Family have that sad history! Plus he was raised almost exclusively by white people in his family! I care not to "Get into" His 20 Year History With his "Uncle Like Minister Jeremiah Wright" /Who mad raciest and anti American Remarks From his Pulpit. that the President in 20 years "MISSED"! FOR ME I SHALL CONTINE TO SAY "MAY GOD BLESS" as I Please/no disrepect! but in PRIDE! Donald E. Barkley
Donald E. Barkley
He failed miserably, until he joined the Mormon church. Things got better almost immediately. They soon had purchased a home and were on their way financially. While it was tough going, they were shy about having visitors because they appeared so 'unsuccessful'. They were ashamed of themselves. When things turned, they invited my girlfriend and I to visit. We were living together but not yet married. They asked us to'adjust' the truth about that should we be in a social situation. Mormon's frowned on such behavior (but secretly condoned the practice of multiple wives, a sort of slavery, sexual and otherwise) and they said it would make things 'easier' for them. Word was out that we were in town somehow and one evening the doorbell rang. A young couple came in, introductions were made, and soon a none too subtle interrogation ensued. They also sniffed the air for signs of marijuana, and we all laughed. Soon the natural point arrived (dinner was ready) when they should have left. But they stayed and stayed, waiting I assume for us to confess. It got extremely uncomfortable. When they finally left, my brother-in-law thanked us for being so 'normal'. if we had been perceived as anything but so...
They were warned that Californians, particularly from the SF Bay Area, were highly suspect and that the 'Church" was concerned about the introduction of subversive and immoral influences into their lives. They were informally placed on a sort of 'probation' and advised to visit us if they had to fulfill family obligations. This is not a fabrication. This draconian nonsense was very real for them, their very livelihood depended on their cooperation. They had 'spies' in their home to 'inspect' their visiting family! This "religion" is very akin to the mafia in its demand for absolute loyalty and the penalty for failing to play along is financial death and banishment. These folks lived in fear. Do we want a President with deep roots in such an oppressive, totalitarian regime? That someone would submit to required submissiveness, to an array of unconscionable precepts so contrary to basic American rights and freedoms, horrifies me. The acceptance of a philosophy of amoral control and utter the lack of reason in a framework of subservience does not a President make. Of course he sold American jobs to gain his wealth. It is not only acceptable, it is wrong if he did not. Mitt=Unfit!