I don’t think the litmus test is the candidate a Republican. but rather is the candidate smart enough to have a world view. The current crop of REpublicans seems to be outdoing one another with pandering to their base at the expense of seeming like they don’t get how the world operates. Most can’t get basic facts of history straight. Why do we keep defending people who don’t know what they are talking about?
For all too many Democrat catholics, that is indeed the litmus test. I agree with part of your characterization of the GOP candidates. But if you look at history, the out of office party usually has a few less than stellar candidates among the serious ones. Recall that such political heavyweights as Dennis Kucinich, Carol Mosely Braun, and Al Sharpton were Democrat candidates in 2004. That said, I agree that many of the GOP candidates seem to be lightweights. However, I am confident that Santorum, Romney, and especially Gingrich could get their history straight and be successful presidents.
Agnosticism is really about our fallen nature. Faith is a gift that needs to be exercised and if you don’t have it or lose it, it’s easy to fall into agnosticism. It is for me a reasonable position to be in. Mormonism isn’t reasonable. They separate completely faith from reason which is very dangerous.
For one, they believe that the 12 apostles are still around. If one of the apostles decided that abortion is ok, Romeny would likely change is mind like he already did. So I can’t take him for his word.
I don’t see how this is relevant because they don’t have a choice. Every president takes an oath to protect and defend the constitution. Otherwise they can be impeached.
There are those who would say the same thing about Catholicism.
You do realize that the Catholic Church has a similar situation, right? Do you understand apostolic succession? Our bishops and pope have the same authority as the apostles did.
And, if half a dozen or so Catholic bishops decided that abortion is okay, Santorum and Gingrich would likely change their minds about it?
You sound like a big P.C. liberal now. Bigotry… give me a break.
Even more of them support the lies that the Democrats are the party of the working man.
You became a liberal?
Yes, bigotry. You should vote based on a person’s values, not their religious beliefs.
Yours truly,
Big P.C. Liberal
Remind me to take you off my Christmas card list.I would think that one derives his values from his religious beliefs, not the other way around.
Of course, but you vote based on the individual’s values, not their religion.I would think that one derives his values from his religious beliefs, not the other way around.
In terms of pure social values, not religious dogma, where do Catholics and Mormons differ? Unless I am mistaken they are very similar, with Mormons being even more stringent on substance abuse and they run a hell of a food preserving system at most temples. If you are an emergency prepper, you know that the local LDS church is the place to go to learn about canning, dehydrating, and vacuum packing food for long term storage.I would think that one derives his values from his religious beliefs, not the other way around.
Certainly not. I was mocking Pork Roll.You became a liberal?
Which is code for “who is anti-abortion.” And an Islamist who extolled jihadism would be okay, too, as long as he passed this litmus. That would mean his values lined up with yours on the most important points. Right?
So there IS something that trumps the abortion litmus-test. That answers my question. Thank you.
I never said so. But the voting for a Mormon does logically prompt questions about what are the outer limits of litmus-test politics.
If it makes you feel better because I’m not a card carrying republican to call me names than go for it.
On the contrary, I think you are being the unreasonable one. Can you think of a historical precedent in which a Mormon politician changed their position because of what their bishop said? Further, can you think of any reason why a Mormon bishop would suddenly announce that they are for abortion? POrk Roll, I think you’re being unfair here. The Mormon religion is a strange one, I’ll admit, in terms of their theology. But the Mormons I know are good Americans who believe strongly in traditional family values. Can you point to an instance in which Romney or Huntsman did something wrong because of the Mormon religion? I think the burden of proof is on you to make your case. So far, you have failed to do so.
Why? What about the history of Mormon politicians and their actions would justify you making that claim? Examples, please.
You’re back on the list then.