Words of Wisdom

Scott Hardie | June 7, 2007
Hypothetically assuming you were inclined to vote for him otherwise, would Mitt Romney being Mormon keep you from voting for him? Would you trust a Mormon president?

Me, I'm reminded of a good quote I read recently about John F. Kennedy's broad appeal: If you don't allow my religion to affect the way you vote, I won't allow my religion to affect the way I govern. Not being religious myself, a Mormon president is no worse than an Episcopalian, Baptist, Quaker, or any other Christian president. We could use a leader who believes in loving thy neighbor.

Tony Peters | June 7, 2007
yeah I have issues because all of my dealings with Mormons have convinced me that it's a cult....a cult of some respectability but a cult none the less....Mitt has also flip-flopped enough on his views/values since he was governor that I don't trust him....

Aaron Shurtleff | June 7, 2007
Well, as long as he wasn't one of the radical Mormon sects that allow multiple wives, I'd be fine with it. It makes no difference to me, really, what religion a person follows, as long as it doesn't inherently promote things I don't agree with.

Besides, imagine having a bevy of first ladies! Multiple HIllarys! ARGH!!! ;)

Anna Gregoline | June 7, 2007
He's a frightening man without the Mormonism. If a candidate could convince me that their religion does not influence everything they do, then I'm ok with whatever they are.

He doesn't really have it bad though. Imagine an atheist "candidate." I put that in quotes because he wouldn't even get to the primaries.

Denise Sawicki | June 7, 2007
Mormonism has some pretty strange aspects. Does anyone remember the South Park Mormon episode? Apparently it is fairly closely based upon the reality of the religion. Other odd things I've read about: until 1990, the ceremony of getting your Mormon underwear involved having your naked body parts oiled by a church official and then promising upon threat of death to never reveal the ceremony to another. There is to be no kissing before marriage except the way you would kiss your grandma. You must store a year's worth of food in your home. You must believe that everything in the Book of Mormon is the literal truth... Anyway I tend to feel somewhat negatively towards it I am afraid and it would probably influence my vote. Then again I am an atheist and therefore my opinions on religion are of little validity.

Steve Dunn | June 7, 2007
I think LDS is a strange religion, but they all seem strange to me. LDS seems a bit stranger, I think, because it's newer. I'm troubled by the church's racist history, but virtually every Mormon I've known personally has been a great person.

I wouldn't decline to vote for anyone solely for being Mormon, but it's certainly not a plus factor for me, either.

Scott Hardie | June 10, 2007
I'm with Steve. Every religion has weird, arbitrary rules when you look at them objectively. There are Mormon sects that follow every rule and there are others looser in their interpretation (though LDS tends toward the former). He can adhere to these customs all he wants in his private life, and I won't have a problem unless they begin to affect how he conducts his professional life. I am reminded of Nancy Reagan's astrology, a recent low point for critical thinking in the highest office in the land.

Amy Austin | June 12, 2007
Well, I would tend to agree with most of the above... although, the obvious new gay frontier will probably one day be polygamy, and I just don't know what to say about that. (Not that all Mormons are polygamists, of course...) But it's interesting that I just last night had a conversation about men being allowed four wives in another country, and how can I complain when there are Americans taking 22. I had to keep reiterating the point (aside from my disgust) that still, this is breaking the law in our country... it isn't legally sanctioned, like it is said to be in "Country X" (Y & Z). Of course, in my current mindset, I think I have lost any belief in marriage altogether anyway and think it to be a mostly outmoded form of religion/business contract. But then, I'm not too big on religion, either.

Tony Peters | June 12, 2007
years ago I heard a very cynical definition of religion "organized religion is merely man's way of making money on other mens fear of death" it sounded good as the time. While I'm not as cynical as I once was I still think that for some, especially here in the USA, it.'s true. As far as multiple spouses are concerned Robert Heinlein wrote some interesting things in his book "The moon is a harsh mistress" which is, other than the the short story "Menace from earth", my favorite Heinlein story.

Scott Hardie | June 13, 2007
Amy: It's ok. I'm not too big on business contracts.

Tony: Up there, that's the definition of organized religion. Down here, it's the definition of plywood, bottled-water, and portable-generator sales.

Tony Peters | June 13, 2007
Oh I understand i have lived in the SOUTH...for a Navy Brat I actually spent a great deal of time as one of those "damn yankee's" (though in truth most of my mother's family is from from L.A. and upstate VA)