Prediction: Repub Right Wing Fundamentalists Won't Be Swayed By Romney Speech on Religion...

[Blackhatjack]

You have to understand that Mormomism is and has been characterized as a 'cult' by fundamentalists, and the Christian Book Stores are full of reading material by leading Fundamentalists which make that clear distinction.

IF you get down to the differences in theology between the two groups, Christian Fundamentalists hear a Mormom say 'God' and are immediately reminded that Mormom's do not worship the same 'God' that they do, and they are distressed by the the Mormom's use of the Book of Mormom on the same level with the Bible.

So in essence it boils down to a matter of trust. Religion is only one factor to be examined in choosing a candidate, but to them this is a wounding of Romney's credibility that makes him unsuitable as the Republican Candidate for President.

I raise these issues simply to help people understand the great differences between the groups that Romney will try to bridge with his 'Faith in America' Speech this morning.

IMHO Romney's religion will continue to be a defining issue among Republican Right Wing Fundamentalists. I don't see his speech changing that.

[ThomWV]

1. Paint this picture: Jesus walking across Missouri chatting with Indians

If you know any born agains just ask if its true that the Mormons believe that Jesus was reincarnated in the USA and trapsed across the midwest communing with the Indians. See what they have to say about it.

[tekisui]

2. This speech will only open the door Mitt has kept closed.

He's asking for it. He is inviting the RR to challenge his religion. Stupid move, IMO.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Years ago, a fundamentalist friend and I went to Nauvoo IL

for those who don't know, this town was the site of a large Mormon settlement in the 1840s. The LDS and Reorganized LDS hold vast portions of the town and have restored many of the houses, which you can tour for free. Nearby is Carthage, where Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob while incarcerated in the local jail. In order to view these sites, you have to listen to Mormons "witness" to you. Well, my friend and I are both history nuts and thought it would make for a nice tour. We were both college students. Everything was fine until the Mormon man started "witnessing". My friend tore into him, questioning him on the Bible, which, he confessed, he hadn't read and studied completely-he had, he assured her, read and studied the Book of Mormon. The contempt and disgust on my friend's face was obvious, and the fellow was really uncomfortable with her questions.

I can only see distrust of Mormons growing in fundamentalist circles since that time.

[robbedvoter]

4. Here's a smirking chimp essay that shed some light on his task:

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/11401
d Romney's Mormon faith is viewed by many Christians as not under their tent at all. They tend to lump Mormonism in with the likes of Rev. Moon's Unification Church, the Branch Dividians and Scientology. Mormons went off and formed their own gang, they use different gang signs, wear secret colors (under their cloths) and generally roll with their own on on their own turf.
more

[TlalocW]

5. I've been posting on DU

That if Mitt is the candidate, then the GOP really faces an uphill battle to get out the vote. No doubt Pat Robertson will support him (like he does every GOP candidate) and so would Falwell if he hadn't kicked the bucket, but I have a feeling Dobson won't. But if Robertson and other big names do go ahead and support Mittens, they are going to have to overcome years and years of not only their calling Mormonism a cult but years and years of other fundamentalist preachers - from those running mega-churches to those in charge of little churches in the boondocks - doing the same thing. Although some are looking at Huckabee to be the God candidate, I think a lot of the religiously insane in the GOP (i.e. their base) are dispirited with their choices as the top 3 are still: A Mormon (who flip-flops on abortion), a pro-choice, serial adulterer Catholic (there is still anti-Catholic sentiment amongst some of the more religiously insane), and McCain, who they see as coming late to the party and doing anything he can to suck up to them, and without a good candidate, a lot of them might stay home.

TlalocW

[Bake]

9. Al Mohler, pres. of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

said on the radio yesterday that if the race is between Romney the Mormon and a "liberal Democrat," a lot of evangelicals will say "Hmmm ... Romney's not so bad."

But there won't be a lot of enthusiasm, and that tranlates into low Puke turnout.

Bake

[Blackhatjack]

10. Really? Mohler 'knows' that fundamentalists will never vote for a Mormon....

It has been drilled into them as ideology and theology for decades.

The branding of Mormons as members of a 'cult' is an unquestioned fundamentalists' core belief.

[Bake]

11. No question about that

I grew up as a Southern Baptist (of course in those days, they weren't quite as nuts as they are now) and you are exactly right - they think Mormonism is a cult. I think that's a real problem for Mittens.

Bake

[Blackhatjack]

6. I will raise these issues as stumbling blocks for fundamentalists ....

Christian fundamentalists find the following to be irreconcilable differences:

1. Elevation of the Book of Mormon to the same level as the Bible.

2. Concept that Mormons can ascend to the same level of God. ("Joseph Smith's position in the couplet "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become,").

3. Baptism of the dead.

4. Differences in concept of salvation. (Mormonism espouses a doctrine of salvation by works, evident in the emphasis on the Epistle of James. While Protestant and Catholic clergy quote Paul's "by grace are ye saved" and "not of works lest any man should boast," Mormon authorities typically quote James's "faith without works is dead.")

There are many, many others --but these are issues that Christian Fundamentalists have railed against for years and years, and are not reconcilable with their own beliefs.

Will they willingly vote for a Mormon as President who embraces each of these tenets of his religion which they consider to be affronts to their beliefs? I don't think so.

[alfredo]

7. Joel Pett on this very issue

[Blackhatjack]

8. How in the world do you characterize that speech as 'greatness'??? Unless you are pushing an agenda

MSNBC and CNN seemed to have their reactions all ready to go once Mittens uttered the last word.

As far as the content of Mittens' Speech, it was threadbare for Repub right wing fundamentalists.