Romney's religion: Sumerian submarines

[Gord_in_Toronto]

And now for something completely different: Religious people believe crazy things.

Too true. But isn't the real issue that, if they are running for political office, what happens when they are called on it?

Either they say, "Yes, of course pigs can fly," and make themselves look like a loony to all non followers of his/her particular brand of insanity, or they say, "No, I don't really believe in flying pigs," and lose the followers.

Generally, politicians produce a veritable whirlwind of arm waving and truckloads of waffle, to avoid a direct answer.

 

[Ryokan]

Too true. But isn't the real issue that, if they are running for political office, what happens when they are called on it?

Either they say, "Yes, of course pigs can fly," and make themselves look like a loony to all non followers of his/her particular brand of insanity, or they say, "No, I don't really believe in flying pigs," and lose the followers.

Generally, politicians produce a veritable whirlwind of arm waving and truckloads of waffle, to avoid a direct answer.

My main question about a religious politician would be: Is he the right man for the job?

I'm an atheist, but couldn't care less about what religion a politician may follow. Luckily, in my country, it's rarely an issue at all. The prime minister candidate I've most strongly campaigned for, despite not being in the same party, was Kjell Magne Bondevik, a former Lutheran minister and, in my opinion, one of the finest politicians of Norway. He did a fine job, and I couldn't care less what he believes in in the privacy of his home.

It's not like Romney is a newcomer to the political scene. Has his Mormonism
influenced how he worked as Governor of Massachusetts? I can't remember seeing any criticism of it.

 

[Aepervius]

Mormonism is a truly bizarre religion, and people have a right to know what they are getting into with Romney.

*all* religion are truly bizare at some level if you go down to it.

 

[Aepervius]

Why don't you start with knocking the nonsense the Jews gave us in the OT?

That's where it all started.

As far as I can tell, jews see most of the nonsense stuff like genesis of it as allegorical, not as having litterally happenned. I can't speak for the past, but litteralism is more or less only an american phenomenon nowadays (and has been from inception AFAIK).

 

[Ryokan]

I can't speak for the past, but litteralism is more or less only an american phenomenon nowadays (and has been from inception AFAIK).

Only if you stick to Christianity. Islam also has quite a few literalists.

 

[ehcks]

*all* religion are truly bizare at some level if you go down to it.

They're all a sincere belief in magic that stems from the circular reasoning of "My magic is real because it's in my book, and my book is right because it was written by magic."

It's depressing, honestly.

 

[Warrior1461]

Beelzebuddy you make a good point. I suspect we will see a total GOP party Rebranding come 2016.

 

[DC]

Come on. Someone mock Barack Obama's deep Christianity. Do it!

most of the threads and posts in this section are mocking christianity, why do you think the same mockery doesn't apply to obama?

 

[12AX7]

The pubbies aren't even trying this election cycle, in case it wasn't obvious. It was clear that Palin quickly became dead weight after nomination because they didn't spot her crazy in time, and it may well have cost the election. Rather than seriously run against an incumbent, they've used this bid to clean house for a stronger platform in 2016 by giving the loonies chance to identify themselves for deconsideration years ahead of time.

Man I hope you're right.

In fact, I'd love to see politicians of all flavors stop pandering to idiots and extremists.

Hope springs eternal I guess.

 

[AlBell]

Man I hope you're right.

In fact, I'd love to see politicians of all flavors stop pandering to idiots and extremists.

Hope springs eternal I guess.

You've noticed Obama does the bolded part a lot, easy when democrat blocs are all he has to pander to.

"Idiots" seems a bit extreme although "extremists" is perfectly correct.

Hmm. No, a conglomeration of idiots works just fine for too many democrats.

 

[Cainkane1]

Several years ago I was discussing how unbelievable the Mormon religion was with a friend of my fathers a man named Captain Jack Fink. He was a police captain with the Alemeda PD. He was an atheist who had once been jewish. He asked me why I was picking on the Mormons when other religions had equally absurd beliefs. He said he didn't believe Moses watched god carve the ten commandments out of stone and then handed him the tablets.

I personally don't believe some god caused a virgin to give birth to himself so that he could sacrifice himself to himself so that he could monitor his own rules.

All religion and supernatural beliefs are absurd. Why single out the lds?

 

[12AX7]

You've noticed Obama does the bolded part a lot, easy when democrat blocs are all he has to pander to.

"Idiots" seems a bit extreme although "extremists" is perfectly correct.

Hmm. No, a conglomeration of idiots works just fine for too many democrats.

All politicians do it.

And, 'idiots' isn't extreme at all; think 'birthers'.

 

[Meadmaker]

According to Book of Mormon, Mahonri laid out sixteen rocks (2 for each football . . . err, submersible) and prayed to Jesus and asked him to touch the rocks so that they might glow with divine light and thereby provide the necessary illumination for the journey. Because of his faith, Christ appears to him in spiritual form (he won't be born in Bethlehem for 3,000 years) and touches the stones, magically filling them with light. (see Ether Chapter 3 verses 1-6.)

What's so implausible about that? A high level Cleric casts a continual light spell. Even a mid-level Cleric can do that.

You do accept the divinely inspired nature and literal truth of the Player's Handbook don't you?

 

[Roger Ramjets]

All politicians do it.

Of course they do. Doing what the people ask of them is their job. Don't like it? Then move to a non-democratic country whose leaders don't care what the people want.

"Idiots" seems a bit extreme although "extremists" is perfectly correct.

78% of Americans believe in an invisible sky daddy that grants wishes. 46% believe that it created the universe and everything 6000 years ago, so science must be a lie.

Are these beliefs extremist, or just dumb? Which political party are the believers more likely to support? Which party do more extremists support?

Obama does the bolded part a lot, easy when democrat blocs are all he has to pander to.

Many Democrats feel that Obama has 'pandered' too much to Republicans. But that's what you get in democracy.

Religious beliefs should be important to voters, as should any other superstitious or otherwise irrational beliefs.

For sure. But in many ways the US is a Christian nation. Since the vast majority of voters have similar superstitious or otherwise irrational beliefs, why wouldn't they be OK with a president who shares them?

 

[12AX7]

Of course they do. Doing what the people ask of them is their job. Don't like it? Then move to a non-democratic country whose leaders don't care what the people want.

I don't think pandering to idiots and extremists is part of their job.

 

[Mudcat]

I'm an atheist, but couldn't care less about what religion a politician may follow.

This is obstensibly the reason why the USA has a separation of church and state in the first place. Personally the president can be a Satanist for all I care as long as they are doing the job they are elected to do.

For sure. But in many ways the US is a Christian nation.

That comes as a surprise to me.

 

[Marduk]

I don't think pandering to idiots and extremists is part of their job.

were you asleep when Dubya was around ?

 

[12AX7]

were you asleep when Dubya was around ?

Good point.

 

[Marduk]

Good point.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we"

Ayuh

 

[Theofrak]

What's so implausible about that? A high level Cleric casts a continual light spell. Even a mid-level Cleric can do that.

You do accept the divinely inspired nature and literal truth of the Player's Handbook don't you?

Joseph Smith was also skilled with divining rods and carried a "Jupiter Amulet" (you can get one on Amazon) in addition to his "seer" stone.

Maybe Mormons simply prefer fantasy, while Scientologists prefer science fiction.