Reasons to vote against Mitt Romney: He’s a liberal trying to look like a conservative. He has no convictions other than a determination to appear what’s necessary to get elected. He’s willing to employ illegal immigrants as long as no one knows about it. He put his pet dog in a cage on the roof of his car and drove 500 miles.
But some people have another reason: He’s a Mormon! And Mormons aren’t Christians. Not really. Mormonism is a cult!
So said Robert Jeffress, a senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas, explaining why Christians should prefer his candidate, Rick Perry, who he introduced at the Values Voter Summit two weeks ago in Washington.
Jeffress and the people who agree with him are repudiating the Constitution of the United States, which says in Article VI, “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Pretty strong statement, using ‘no,’ ‘ever,’ and ‘any’ in one clause. But Jeffress believes that Christians must prefer a Christian to Romney. That’s a religious test. It’s wrong when practiced by Evangelicals opposing Romney for the Republican nomination, and it’ll be just as wrong when liberals use it if and when Romney gets the nomination.
The theological argument over Mormonism as Christianity is above my pay grade. I learned a lot about Mormonism just today listening to On Being with Krista Tippett. Krista interviewed Joanna Brooks, professor of literature at San Diego State and blogger as “Ask Mormon Girl.” Brooks talked about Mormonism, its differences with other Christians, and the wide range of Mormon thought, running from stern ultraconservative orthodoxy to pro-gay rights pro-feminist liberalism. She’s worth listening to, at the OnBeing.org website.
Tags: Article VI, Ask Mormon Girl, Constitution, cult, dog on the car roof, ethics, First Baptist Church, illegal immigrants, Mormonism, On Being with Krista Tippett. Joanna Brooks, religious bigotry, religious Test, Rick Perry, Robert Jeffress, Romney, San Diego State, Values Voter Summit
Ethics Bob 
October 25, 2011 at 7:35 am |
Great message. The key is whether or not he is qualified. By the way, the book you are using as a picture is strongly agreeing with your point.
October 25, 2011 at 9:41 am |
The Hewitt book is old-fashioned political hagiography. While i’m not a Romney fan (if you can’t tell), the book cover illustrates my point: his religion isn’t the issue.
January 22, 2013 at 4:39 pm |
“Let Romney lose because his opponent is better, not because of ugly religious bigotry Ethics Bob” was indeed quite enjoyable and beneficial!
Within todays society honestly, that is very difficult
to execute. Thanks, Ronny