If you are a Christian planning to vote for Romney...?

do any of the Mormon beliefs trouble you? By Smith's own account of Mormonism's First Vision, "a pillar of light" descended on him, containing two "Personages," who turned out to be Almighty God and his son Jesus Christ. "I was answered [evidently by Jesus] that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.'" When former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney faced the cameras yesterday to deliver a major speech "about the role of religion, faith, in America and in a free society," he carries the legacy of Joseph Smith's First Vision with him, whether he likes it or not. Romney is unlikely to tell the Protestants and Catholics in his audience that their creeds are an abomination, or that they are participants in a Great Apostasy that began shortly after Jesus ascended to heaven and continued, in all forms of Christianity, till Smith founded the Mormon church on a new set of scriptures in 1830. But he cannot quite evade those beliefs either, for they are fundamental tenets of his faith. Ahe he cannot avoid the question of the secret underwear all Mormons are required to wear or the fact that Mormons believe Jesus came to Missouri while he was on earth. Smith's pronouncement that God, angels and human beings are all members of the same eternal, coexistent species is entirely incompatible with any normative Christian doctrine. God did not create man, Smith proclaimed, or at least not in the usual biblical meaning of that phrase. In fact, the God of the Abrahamic faiths used to be a man, in the distant past, and far in the future the most diligent and virtuous men may become gods. Either Smith was a prophet of God or he wasn't. If he was, then all other forms of Christianity are corrupt and a tiny handful of us may grow up to be gods in other universes.

Public Comments

1. Romney is my second choice after Ron Paul
2. Ever watch Southpark? They have a pretty accurate depiction of religion. Religion is stupid.
3. I doubt that they care, frankly. His personal religious beliefs are not going to play a role in how he governs, (assuming he gets elected, which I don't think he will, by the way), just as John F. Kennedy's catholicism didn't lead to the U.S. bowing down to the Pope. Get over it...
4. Yes, Mitt Romney is the best Christian candidate. and you my friend need to get over your bigoted ideas.... Maybe you should worry about the BEAM in your eye before you worry anyone else!
5. orange juice
6. no i dont mind, id vote a person for his abilities and not his/her religion, race or gender
7. Christianity says the same of the Jewish faith, the Jewish faith says the same of the christian faith, the catholic faith says the same of all faiths, the muslim faith says the same of all faiths. What is your point. He's not running around claiming we're all going to hell cause we don't believe in his religion. Stop bashing the man. He is of a different faith than most. But he is a man first, an American 2nd. obviously you missed the whole point of his speach.
8. If you are going to determine who you vote for based on their religion alone, you should not have a right to vote. Doing this is unconstitutional and quite frankly, unamerican; not to mention ignorant, since Romney and every other candidate has explicitely stated that their religion will not have an impact on their Presidency.
9. I live here surrounded by Mormons. Their beliefs don't bother me because I ignore 'em -- so do lots of the Mormons. Besides, I'm really tired of people being all concerned about religion in the White House. I think they should keep religion out of there and in church where it belongs. Then we should lock the doors to the churches so it can't get out and infect everything.
10. right now I have no objection to him and his platform. So yes I would voted for him. but we still have `11 months to go
11. I voted for both Bushes, but that does not mean that I agree with their religion. I try to go with the candidate that most closely agrees with my moral beliefs. I do not agree with Mr. Romney's religious beliefs, but I feel that he may be a good candidate. I have not decided who I will vote for. Since there is no one currently running that shares my religious affiliation, voting for a Mormon, to me, would be no different than voting for a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic or Jew. I can say that I would not look forward to having an Atheist in office.
12. I am a devout Roman Catholic and I fully plan on voting for Mitt Romney for President just as I voted for him as governor of my state (Massachusetts). 1. I fully believe in the seperation of Church and State. 2. I fully believe in Thomas Jefferson's assertion that religion should be a private matter. So leave the Mormon faith alone.
13. I think it will be difficult for Romney to lead a nation primarily made up of people who, according to his own belief system will burn in hell for not being a Mormon. Within the belief system of Mormons is a docrine that states that Mormons can pray into heaven non believes. I cant remember the process but it is the primary reason they are so obsessive about geneology. They have a huge data base in Salt Lake City of Geneology with the purpose of saving family members...So, maybe, once he becomes president we will all be prayed into heaven and made Mormon by proxy.
14. I'm not (voting for Romney that is).
15. Isn't it about time a supposed educated and enlightened country like the USA shed the mantle of the mumbo jumbo that is religion. God wouldn't want us to worship religious mantles like Islam, Christianity, Mormons etc etc..... Do people lack sincerity in their lives to the point they have to cling unto such rubbish?
16. His beliefs are compatible with the Constitution. I cannot say the same for the Democrats' "secular humanist" dogma. I will vote for any Republican (even - ugh! - Ron Paul if I have to) over any Democrat.
17. Romney asserts that there is no way being a mormon will affect his presidency -my question is then why next to wall street investment banks are they by far the biggest contributors to his campaign ? Once again Romney has contradicted himself or has tried to hide behind false words which dont reflect the truth or his record -he again has proven he has no place in the white house addtl details -I could care less about what religion he is -but dont sit there and tell me it has no effect on your candidacy and then when I look at who your money comes from it is from a rich network of mormons!
18. I will probably be voting for Romney. I do not approve of his religion, but I am not voting for his religion. I am voting for the best man for the job, and who shares similar values to my own. I do not approve of Roman Catholicism either but this would not stop me from voting for such should they be the best man (or woman) for the job, and have the positions I want on the issues. (I would assume Roman Catholics that do not approve of Protestants would do the same...as well as Mormons who do not approve of either). I have worked with Mormons for years in the Republican Party. They have come out to support our people with enthusiasm and fight side by side with Christians to make this nation better. To ridicule them, and attack them as enemies, in not a religious setting but a political one (when they are so obviously our friends) is quite obnoxious.
19. Mitt Romney's Mormon affiliation is no more dangerous to America or the world than Marie or Donnie Osmond's.
20. Wow Romare you've done it again sturring up the pot! I"m reading "Under the banner of heaven" by Jon Krakauer. It is a non fiction about a murder case in Utah but it is the definitive book about this religion. It's voilet and wierd beginnings etc. I like him and Huckabee but won't vote for any overtly religious person. Europe laughs at us for having religion in the forefront of government. He actually said that " just as religion needs freedom (which I fully agree) freedom needs religion " that's scary !.freedom needs religion?
21. For the most part, true spiritual guidance is a plus for a candidate. It is the spiritual part of a person that allows empathy. It is possible for something to be legal, and still be immoral. The individual should be tolerant of belief systems other than his own. It should not matter if he is Mormon, Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, or atheist as long as he does not try to force his belief system on everyone else. There are still people that believe the Earth is flat, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West because the Sun is moving and not the rotation of the Earth. If you believe this country was based on religious freedom and democracy, then a person's religion has less to do with your decision than his moral character. We do not live in a theocracy, Thank God. (hypocritical statement? I think not.) The biggest threat is those that believe you can tax the country into prosperity. If you want to use his faith as a point not to vote for him, that is fine. A free country supports your right to be wrong. You will fit in a large group that did not vote for him, but not all will be because of his religion.
22. I think many mainstream Christians will vote for him because even though there are great differences in doctrine, he is more in line with their moral views and values than many of the other candidates. Even though Mormonism is seen as a cult by many mainstream religions, there is also a perception of individual members of the Mormon church that they are good, hardworking and well-intentioned people who happen to ascribe to a few wacky ideas that the devil planted in Joseph Smith's head to lead Christians astray. But they still believe in Jesus, salvation by faith and the end times. And it's not like the presidency gives him the right to declare that Mormonism is the state religion or anything like that, we are not electing the pope! So, better a misled Christian with the same values as me than a non-Christian. As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend...
23. I think that this is a perfect example of people who THINK they know what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe but are totally uninformed. You said that Mormons think that nonLDS will burn in hell. We don't believe that, in fact we only think a few people will go to hell at all, they are those who KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God but then deny him. If you don't want to vote for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of our beliefs, fine, but first find out what our beliefs really are. You won't get accurate info from heads of other religions or anti's. Would you go to Tony Alamo to get accurate information on the Catholic church, or Hezbollah to get information on the Jewish faith? Then why would you think that you were going to get accurate information from nonLDS who have their own anti agenda (and many who push the anti Mormon agenda make a lot of money from their efforts,so their motivation is suspect)? If you are worried about our beliefs contact a local LDS congregation and ask to have someone clarify your questions. Tell them you have no desire to convert but you have some questions. Then after you know what we really believe then you can at least be an educated bigot. If you are unwilling to do that then you are just out to bash and hate. You are no different than the KKK and their bigotry. added...Richard R, you do realize that Romney's quote about freedom needing religion was referring to a quote by John Adams. “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams
24. If I vote for Romney it would be because I feel he is the best person. It would have nothing to do with religion, gender or race! BTW, I'm a Mormon. It is not "secret" underwear. Most Mormons choose to wear SACRED garments. There is a HUGE difference. Please don't be insulting!
25. I'm a Christian and I will not be voting for Romney... no way! He is a liar... look at his past for goodness sakes... he can't be everything to everyone! Either you believe and you practice those beliefs, or you don't really believe - you just let people think what they want. You can't be everything, pick something and do it well... his past just shows how he can't decide and goes back and forth... the WORST characteristic for a leader!
26. Honestly, I just think Mormons are a little strange. But that's just my honest opinion. After all, I feel that the same can be said of most religions. And I also don't think that religion should play any part in politics whatsoever. BUT... I wouldn't vote for the man cause I think it's weird to believe in such bullsh!t, no matter how insensitive or politically incorrect it may sound.
27. yes im planning to vote for Romney. No i have no problem with Mormon beliefs. Nor am I offended when Joseph Smith quotes God quoting Isaiah.