Scary times.
The newest salvo in the burgeoning religious "war" in our country comes from an AP article about a story that will appear Sunday in The New York Times. In the article, Huckabee apparently asks:
...''Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?'' s The article... says Huckabee asked the question after saying he believes Mormonism is a religion but doesn't know much about it. His rival Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, is a member of the Mormon church, which is known officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The authoritative Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, does not refer to Jesus and Satan as brothers. It speaks of Jesus as the son of God and of Satan as a fallen angel, which is a Biblical account.
A spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Huckabee's question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine.
Scary stuff all around.
First of all, so what? That Gov. Huckabee asks that question is fine. It is reasonable and rational and there isn't a thing wrong with it. It is not intolerance to ask questions about other religions. It isn't intolerance to think or debate or doubt or celebrate or believe. This is actually called religious pluralism.
Second, political reporters better get very serious about learning theology before they report on theological points that candidates are making. If they don't, they will report things as big news that aren't big news. And they may miss big news in the process.
What Huckabee asks is hardly beyond the pale. It is, actually, a logical extension of Mormon theology's belief about man's "pre-mortal" existence.
Third, we ARE edging close to religious bigotry in this presidential race. Except Mitt Romney isn't the victim. Mike Huckabee is. If Mitt Romney isn't required to face a theological grilling about his religious beliefs, why should Mike Huckabee be subjected to that grilling?
The answer isn't that Huckabee was a pastor and Romney wasn't. In the Mormon church, Mitt Romney has been ordained to the office of High Priest and bishop of his local congregation. Why isn't anyone asking Mitt Romney if he believes his chuch is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole world"? [Doctrine and Covenants [1:30]] Or why isn't he being asked if he is in agreement with Mormon teaching that the Christian church was corrupted after the death of the apostles and became the “Church of the Devil.”?
He isn't being asked these things because the answers do not matter in a presidential race. They are positions of theology, not positions of policy. Let's get back to policy.
I have enormous spiritual concerns about Mike Huckabee's presidential run. I fear it will do great harm to the already politically-corrupted name of Jesus.
But I also respect his right to run for office and to be treated as an equal citizen not subject to religious tests. Unless things calm down a good bit and we get back to debates about policy he stands at risk of being a victim of hateful religious intolerance.
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Dan, it is probably located in the other Mormon book, the Doctrine & Covenants, though I'm not 100% sure since it been a while since I last read through. Much of the Book of Mormon is a history, though there is some other stuff in there. The Doctrine & Covenants is where most of the theological differences come up between Christianity and Mormonism. Joseph Smith talks about how it was "revealed" to him that God started out as a man and was able to become a god by living a good life, and that we also can do the same. He also said that the most important step in becoming a god is to marry multiple wives, which is how Mormon theology says spirit babes are created, men become gods and then they resurrect their wives and have spirit babies with them. Many Mormon Churches have abandoned plural marriage, even though Joseph Smith stated it was an everlasting convenant and the most important step to becoming a god, so this has caused a large divison amounst the Mormons.
I agree with Mr Kuo...Real Issues and running the country and fixing its problems are what we should be blogging about. Neither Huckabee or Romney have inferred that their religion was the answer to this countries woes. But we are not blogging about their stance on issues that affect everyone, are we? It would seem that if we all worked together for the common good we would not be bickering over who has a better take on religion.
People do vote for their leaders. How many vote??? I believe less than 30% of them do most of the time. Maybe more but not much more in a presidential election. And why is that? Or better yet, why do so few people vote at all for a certain leader? Is it passion, charisma, or leadership? It certainly isn't because they are well read about the issues.
Come November, I hope that the reason we are electing a president isn't because he has a $500 dollar haircut or is he/she is the favorite of a TV talkshow host. I'd hope for a candidate who will lead this nation to enact changes to make this country greater than it already is - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or whatever.
I thought the thrust of this piece was a discussion of how the abuse of religious ideals is adversely affecting the campaign. If someone wants to plumb the depths of Mormon theology, I am willing to do so. I think, though, David wants comments on HIS topic. But there are enough Mormons here who can do an adequate job of defending the faith if some wants to ask serious questions.
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Neither Huckabee or Romney have inferred that their religion was the answer to this countries woes.
Posted by: Russ Davis | December 12, 2007 3:11 PM
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Incorrect - Google the following:
huckabee + "take this nation back for Christ"
Also, you used inferred when you should have written implied.
David M.:
You are correct, my comments were addressed to David K., our blogmaster.
Carry on.
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