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 Mitt Romney spoke to core Mormon beliefs on a Wednesday call with conservatives. On call with conservatives, Romney speaks to Mormon beliefsBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN (CNN) – In a recent conference call with conservatives across the country, Mitt Romney expounded upon subjects he usually doesn’t talk much about: Jesus and eternity. Asked on the call how his faith had shaped his success as a businessman and his political career, the presidential candidate spoke about “a conviction that life is eternal, that your family is your greatest prize, that ultimately what we accomplish in life is of little significance compared to the interests of the savior Jesus Christ and his purposes.” “It puts everything into perspective and the perspective is that there are things more important than the here and now,” Romney continued on the Wednesday call, which was organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition and included thousands of participants. His answer may sound to some like boilerplate Christian thinking, but Romney was expressing core Mormon beliefs in a way he almost never does on the campaign trail. “I had not heard him speak that openly about his faith in a public setting prior to last night,” said Gary Marx, a former Romney aide who is executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, in an interview on Thursday. Romney almost always deflects questions about his Mormon beliefs. He answered a question about how his religion would affect his presidency at Thursday’s CNN debate by talking about the Founding Fathers’ belief that rights came from God, as opposed to talking about his Mormonism. Romney campaign spokeswoman man Andrea Saul said it was not unusual for Romney to talk publicly about his faith in public and in news media interviews. "Last campaign, he gave an entire speech on his faith," she said in an e-mail message. In speaking about his views of eternity on Wednesday, answering a question from a caller based in Atlanta, Romney was echoing Mormon beliefs about the eternal nature of human existence. “Earth life, as Mormons would put it, is just a tiny moment in eternity because Mormons believe that the spirit exists before there is life and that life is just one short episode in the total journey to becoming more like God,” said Richard Bushman, a Mormon scholar at Columbia University. “It’s a Mormon way of coping with suffering in this life,” said Bushman, who is Mormon. “You don’t get upset about failures.” Romney reinforced that sentiment repeatedly in the Wednesday conference call, hosted by conservative activist Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “What we’re experiencing here is just a moment in time which will soon be replaced by an eternity with our father in heaven,” Romney said. “Sometimes in daily activities you think about all the implications of what’s happening, based upon how people think of you or what’s going to happen to your financial success,” he continued. “And you stop and think a second, what is the eternal implication of what’s going on here?” Romney’s remarks about his faith also echoed Mormon teaching on the importance of family, which Mormons believe remains intact after death. “At the end of the day, when Ann and I are getting ready for bed, we’re talking about the day’s events, we remind ourselves about what matters most to us,” Romney said. “Our family and our relationship with each other and our absolute conviction that Jesus Christ is our savior.”
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, with daily contributions from CNN's worldwide newsgathering team and frequent posts from religion scholar and author Stephen Prothero.  |
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"Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations, embellishments, lies, and myths surrounding the founders and foundations of said rules of life."
I live in SF...I think I have seen you wondering about the streets talking to yourself...
Okay, these are all REAL THINGS MORMON'S DO OR BELIEVE: they wear "magic underwear," they believe that Joseph Smith can only read the scriptures with special enchanted goggles, they believe each disciple will have their own PLANET in the afterlife, and... this is the kicker... they believe that Lucifer is Jesus' brother. I kid you not. His brother. Look it up for yourself. We cannot have this person as our President.
Sheila,
First of all, some of your comments are incorrect. It is clear that you are not educated with regard to what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe. Second, many of your comments are inflammatory in the way that they are presented and do a disservice to intelligent, meaningful discussion about tenets of the Mormon religion.
Sheila, please look into your inner motives for being so vitriolic and hateful about a faith you clearly know nothing about. Yes I'm sure you've read things on the Internet and listened to others with an axe to grind against the church, but I sincerely ask that you go to lds.org to learn for real, unless you have no true interest and are only out to sow hatred and contempt.
Sheila = troll
Mormon belief twisted and/or fabricated... . You have no idea what Mormons believe, not the facts, not the nuances.
Anti-Mormons, and Shelia...... I don't know what to say, but you got all wrong except the one that we are all God's children, even Satan, before he fell (Read Job 1 etc or check FAIR lds for any questions). It's sad to see all the bigotry here on CNN. LDS tend to take it well, but I know the anti-Mormons are out in full force right now.....it's a very regrettable thing that people would promote hatred against Christ's Church for political gain. I know many have just been misinformed and can't really be blamed for believing what they keep hearing....but those of you who know you are lying and maligning a religious minority should review history, and the sad consequences of such hatred. As the saying goes, if you want to know what Mormons believe, try LDS org. : )
Here we go, but just wait until he has the Bully Pulpit. You thought Mormon Missionaries were annoying?
By their fruits ye shall know them. That's what Jesus said. Fruit is born anually. People have an opportunity year after year to show what kind of people they are. Gov. Romney has had a lifetime to demonstrate principles of honesty, loyalty, kindness, charity, ingenuity and faithfulness. Those of you wary of Romney's religion sound just like the folks who were so very worried about Kennedy becoming President because of his Catholic religion. Now look. Two of the four contenders for the Republican nomination are Catholics. By their fruits ye shall know them...not by what they profess, but what their actions yield. Not by what they claim their faith to be, but how faithful they are to those who put their trust in them.
The real story, which CNN hopes to distract us all from is OBAMA IS A FAILED PRESIDENT. His policies have failed, he has no real plan, he needs 4 more years to finish the job and completely destroy this country.
How about some examples of failure, rather than the Faux New summary? The economy was trashed by Bush, but I don't hear you admitting that or calling him a failure. The economy is on the way back up, and joblessness is decreasing, but I don't hear you acknowledging that. GM and Chrysler are back in the game, but you don't say so. Iraq, the war Bush lied us into, is over, but you give no credit. Bin Laden is dead, but where is your praise of that?
We all know that Rom-money is different from Obama. Is he different from Bush? If not, why would anybody vote for him? If he is, why doesn't he decry what Bush did to the country. Bush caused all this mess in the first place. Rom-money should spend some effort to distance himself from Bush, or admit that he is no different.
Hey Romney, you better hold on to you wife 'cause if you go yonder and your wife is not there , then you know you're toast 'cause there will be no woman for you, for EVER.
Unlike Newrt, he can grab one of his many wives.
LOL. You came up with a "many wives" quote as you made fun of Mormons. You are a comic genius. Please post more..."Mormons - Many wives" LOL....I mean where do you come up with this stuff? How did you ever think of it! You must be the funniest guy in the room wherever you go. Do you have any good ones about the Pope and a funny hat? LOL. You are the best!
Definitely good enough reason not to vote for this guy.
"Hi, I believe in imaginary beings. I want to be your leader."
and Obama only says he believes in them and actually doesn't, so better to vote for him?
President Obama professes a belief in God. Bill Clinton professed a belief in God. Why not Romney?
If you read the article he did profess a belief in God. I frankly don't plan to vote for him, but it's not because he's a Mormon..geesh, plenty a reason not to vote for him without looking at his religion.
LOL!!
You must think I actually voted for one of those idiots as well. Humorous.
I meant ...Why can't Romney?
The Fhist....Brilliant Post! So perceptive and original. The Sci-Fi angle is so subtle. You gotta use this against Romney when he runs against Obama. It might really help people change their minds. Thank you for spending time on CNN. You are so wise. I wish my children could be like you (they are Mormon). Keep on Posting...you're the best!
All hail CNN who determines what people think is important in elections. And people say that organized religion uses mind control, HA.
Worthy of repeating... Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and developing faith in him in this life is the key to happiness. Faith in Christ leads to repentance which leads to Baptism (a covenant to follow Him) resulting in the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide and protect those who love Him and serve Him. I can't give you my faith, it's something you've got to desire, seek for, and develop over a life time.
How did you come to believe that? Did you ever see any evidence of a supernatural entity, or did mommy and daddy tell it to you as a kid, again and again, and you finally believed it? Are yoou just repeating what you have heard? Did the lie told 100 times become your truth?
What made you believe what you just said? If you are honest with yourself, you will realize that you never have had any proof, that you simply conformed to that prevailing opinions. You will realize that, had you been born in Afghanistan, you would be every bit as certain that Allah is the true God, and if you were born to an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, you would be just as certain that the tree gods were true.
Keith Moon – You need to humble yourself and say a prayer to God. Billions of people who seek; have found Him.
Billions more have saught Angus, Belenos, Brigid, dana, Lugh, Dagda, Epona, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Atehna, Demeter, Dionysus, Eris, Eos, Gaia, Hades, Hekate, Helios, Hephaestus, Hera, hermes, Hestia, Pan, Poseidon, Selene, Uranus, Zeus, Mathilde, Elves, Eostre, Frigg, Hretha, Saxnot, Shef, Thuno, Tir, Weyland, Woden, Alfar, Balder, Beyla, Bil, Bragi, Byggvir, Dagr, Disir, Eir, Forseti, Freya, Freyr, Frigga, Heimdall, Hel, Hoenir, Idunn, Jord, Lofn, Loki, Mon, Njord, Norns, Nott, Odin, Ran, saga, Sif, Siofn, Skadi, Snotra, Sol, Syn, Ull, Thor, Tyr, Var, Vali, Vidar, Vor, Black Shuck, Herne, Jack in the Green, Holda, Nehalennia, Nerthus, endovelicus, Ataegina, Runesocesius, Apollo, Bacchus, Ceres, Cupid, Diana, Janus, Juno, Jupiter, Maia, Mars, Mercury, Minerva, Neptune, Pluto, Plutus, Proserpina, Venus, Vesta, Vulcan, Attis, Cybele, El-Gabal, Isis, Mithras, Sol Invictus, Endovelicus, Anubis, Aten, Atum, Bast, Bes, Geb, Hapi, Hathor, Heget, Horus, Imhotep, Isis, Khepry, Khnum, Maahes, Ma’at, Menhit, Mont, Naunet, Neith, Nephthys, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, ra, Sekhmnet, Sobek, Set, Tefnut, Thoth, An, Anshar, Anu, Apsu, Ashur, Damkina, Ea, Enki, Enlil, Ereshkigal, Nunurta, Hadad, Inanna, Ishtar, Kingu, Kishar, Marduk, Mummu, Nabu, Nammu, Nanna, Nergal, Ninhursag, Ninlil, Nintu, Shamash, Sin, Tiamat, Utu, Mitra, Amaterasu, Susanoo, Tsukiyomi, Inari, Tengu, Izanami, Izanagi, Daikoku, Ebisu, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Fu.kurokuju, Jurojin, Hotei, Quetzalcoatl, Tlaloc, Inti, Kon, Mama Cocha, Mama Quilla, Manco Capac, Pachacamac, Viracoc.ha, or Zaramama and have found Them as well.
Yes indeed. The power of *INSERT DEITY HERE* to change your life for the better is truly inspirational.
All you need to do is open your heart to the Truth of *INSERT DEITY HERE* and you will know the grace and grandeur that only faith in *INSERT DEITY HERE* can bring.
Doc, keith, etc, no matter what names people use, He is still real. Assuming something doesn't exists because you haven't experienced it isn't the best way to live, in my humble opinion.
@Joe
You said, "Doc, keith, etc, no matter what names people use, He is still real. Assuming something doesn't exists because you haven't experienced it isn't the best way to live, in my humble opinion."
So, you pray to Allah 5 times a day? You still expect a quarter in the morning after leaving a tooth under your pillow? You expect Santa to climb down your chimney? You worship Thor, Zeus, Apollo, Ra, Mithra? You pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
You must be a very busy man. How do you have time to even post on CNN?
More worthy of repeating...
Unless one of you believers has some factual, independent and verifiable evidence of any god, given that such evidence does not exist even after 2,000+ years of various cults trying to come up with same, the probability of any god existing is so small that to say "There are no gods!" is hardly an exaggeration.
LinCa, I wouldn't expect you to believe in something you have no reason to believe in. I'm the same way. I haven't had any experience with any of those (unless Allah is really just the Arabic name for God in the Bible (El). I think the Santa myths and others have been proven not to be real (you may have missed this, but your parents probably have receipts from your last Christmas, showing that no large elfish man delivered your presents, and a billion other parents probably could do the same, and people have actually been to the North Pole, and didn't find anything). God on the other hand, is known by billions of people. And there is a lot of evidence that He is real, while there is none that He is not. Have a wonderful day, and may your search for truth go well.
@Joe
You said, "I wouldn't expect you to believe in something you have no reason to believe in. I'm the same way. I haven't had any experience with any of those (unless Allah is really just the Arabic name for God in the Bible (El)."
Let me guess. Your parents follow pretty much the same religion that you do. Your parents took you to the church they attended. The community that you grew up in was almost exclusively christian. You may have even attended schools run by the religious organization that you now are a part of.
My guess is that you were indoctrinated at an early age and haven't been able to shed the nonsense. Whatever your experience was with what you assume was your god, is probably only so because you were predisposed to believe it was him/her/it.
You said, "I think the Santa myths and others have been proven not to be real (you may have missed this, but your parents probably have receipts from your last Christmas, showing that no large elfish man delivered your presents, and a billion other parents probably could do the same, and people have actually been to the North Pole, and didn't find anything)."
You really don't need to convince me that Santa isn't real. While the Santa character is based on an actual person, he is long dead. He never lived at the North Pole, nor in Spain. But the fact that Santa is based on a real person makes belief in him more rational than a belief in gods.
You said, "God on the other hand, is known by billions of people."
Argumentum ad populum. There was a time when virtually everyone "knew" that the Earth was flat. Just because almost everyone believed didn't make it correct. Just because the myth isn't dispelled when people grow up doesn't mean it's true.
You said, "And there is a lot of evidence that He is real, while there is none that He is not."
If there is so much evidence, please present some. All I ask for is one irrefutable piece that shows that your god is real.
I notice he did not speak to the fact, that LDS believe that no one but themselfs are going to heaven, hence the special underwear. You get to wear it after you have been "sealed" in the temple. It's all hush hush to the general public, but that is what mormons think. He will never be the president, thats a sure bet.
Your statements are confused, I suggest you go talk to a mormon neighbor or friend and ask them to explain.
Mormon.org – there are the FACTS. Go to the source, end of conversation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Try Mormon .org or LDS .org or ask a Mormon. God bless ~
Wow! You should not try to explain a religion you know nothing about.
I am reading the Book of Mormon. Already in the very first book, the First Book of Nephi, there is white supremacist racism, and justification for Manifest Destiny. This should be interesting.
Study more on LDS beliefs and you'll find your statement is very wrong. You'll find the belief in 3 sections of Heaven (referenced in the Bible, "My Father has many mansions", "glory of the sun, moon, stars") which you'll be placed in 1 based on how you live your life, and the belief that most aren't going to Hell with Satan, but the "Hell referred to is not living worthy enough to live in the highest Kingdom of Heaven, where Heavenly Father lives, and knowing that is a Hell in itself.
I am a Mormon and yeah Mormons wear underwear, now that is a shocker. Our underwear looks like a tshirt and boxer shorts and there is NOTHING magical about it. Get a life! It is symbolic of our beliefs in being chaste (fidelity in marriage) and in true. It may sound a little wierd to some, but it is nothing but underwear. The whole "magic underwear" thing is a fantasy of anti-mormons who just try to spew hate and lies and distortions.
Mormons do not wake up thinking their underwear is going to take them on some magical ride through space or that it gives any advantage in the afterlife.
Once again, you have shown your bigotry and that you make no attempt to understand or tolerant of other people's beliefs
Being a Mormon myself I can tell you with utmost certainty that according to Mormon beliefs NO ONE but Mormons can enter into heaven....that is why the baptisms of the dead occur in their temples and that is what the missionary program is for. We believe that you must be a Mormon to make it into heaven and thusly be saved so we are busy little beavers trying to convert and baptise people who are dead. It's a great idealogy don't you think?
Here is an easy test for Mormons themselves to try. Go to google, and search in the "Images" section of google on the words: "Anubis mummification" ....then search again on The Book of Abraham, which is the Mormon "scripture" written by Joseph Smith which he claimed was written by Abraham himself!
Why are the pictures identical? Note how only the head of Anubis (a jackal) is torn off to make the priest that kills Abraham look human, in this falsely translated book.
This is because Joseph Smith made up this story in order to maintain his position in a little farming community, WHERE HE HAD ALREADY CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE EGYPTIAN, that is, in the Book of Mormon.
Obviously a google search is NOT MORMON bashing, but is only a device to uncover the truth, which is that the uneducated Smith COULD NOT TRANSLATE EGYTIAN AT ALL!
@LaGryphon – It's obvious to tell you are a fake. Don't pretend to be a Mormon. Get a life buddy.
Actually, that is not correct. Mormons believe just about everyone is going to heaven. Because we believe we ALL are literal children of Heavenly Parents, we do not hold that God is looking to damn everyone. We are his kids and he has provided a way for all of us. Thanks to Christ, all mankind is saved from death. We also look at "heaven" as not just a big pool party where your going to be relaxing and singing to God for eternity. Instead we look at it as a continuation of our lives just in an immortal and eternal framework. We will have families, work that we do, lives that we continue to live. We just won't have to suffer with finding shelter, food and the basic stuff we do here. We will continue to improve our mind and lives. BUT, how your eternity is structured, what you can accomplish IS determined by how you act here. We tend to view "glory" as responsibilities that we take on in the here after. How we handle life here, depends on how we handle life there. And frankly, how honest you are in this life will determine most of that not in some words you mouth.
I like to tell my friends that the LDS faith is the only christian faith you can disagree with and still go to heaven. lol.
cali gali. Hahahahahahahaha....etc
Cali and the girl reading the BofM.
Cali, that's not true. Check out the article in Slate: What's Hell Like for Mormons?, they actually quote some LDS scriptures on it. We believe, as the Bible teaches, that we are saved by grace, all will be rewarded for their works, and almost ALL people will eventually go to Heaven. We view the eternal fire as symbolic, and we understand that no one will be in that eternal fire forever. Hell is more of a school, or prison for really bad people to learn how to love.
Also, seems only anti-Mormons believe in magic underwear.
Trigster: the Book of Mormon was written by dark skinned people, who probably knew nothing of the white supremacy you accuse them of....it does use ancient language, but they were not racist in our terms, the Nephites and Lamanites of the Book of Mormon viewed themselves as "brothers," they were all one race.
Other scriptural books, the Rigveda for example, from closer to the same time period, and also written by dark skinned people, also use the language that you are reading on your terms.
In ancient times "Religious conversion was described figuratively as a change in skin color.[8] Similarly, the Rigveda uses krsna tvac "black skin" as a metaphor for irreligiosity.[9] The Book of Mormon is not racist, the Bible may be, but not the Book of Mormon.
Trigster, I thought about your comment, and at first I assumed you just heard that from someone. It's not so bad to unknowingly pass on a rumor (although if we are too label 14 million people (who are probably mostly dark skinned) as "white supremacists" we should probably investigate first). I thought that once I explained some things to you maybe you would apologize to anyone you might have misled about my wonderful people. However, I realize you said you were reading the Book of Mormon, and there is white supremacist stuff in the very first book. You weren't misled by anyone. I hoped normal people (I know anti-Mormons mislead with malice as a matter of policy), but I thought normal were beyond lying about a religious minority to stir up hatred against them. We should remember what this sort of rumor spreading has done in the past. I do hope you will change your ways, build bridges, show love for your neighbors etc, and let there be peace on earth.... : )
I'm a little surprised at the bigotry here among fellow liberals here, but just want all to know that we Mormons still love you, even Harry Reid probably wants you to understand the truth about his religion.
: )
I hope you will be a little more tolerant when speaking of other points of view. None of the Mormons I know believe in magic underwear. That's an anti-Mormon myth (like the one about "Mormons believe they will rule their own planet"). Many people wear religious articles of clothing, including Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims and so on. Some articles are worn underneath the clothing, some on the outside. Most of these people, in all their diversity, don't believe these articles are "magic." I've never heard anyone saying "Obama's magic cross," "Jews magic yarmulke etc"
I'm not sure why, but normally kind people seem to feel it is ok to mock Mormons on this, but they would be upset if someone poked fun of a Jewish skullcap, a monk's tunic or girding, or a nun's special underclothing.
Trigster, one more for you:
Anti-Mormons have a talent for turning things upside down, and to the opposite of what really is. I hope you know better than to believe the evil spoken of Christ's followers.
Book of Mormon people would not have understood our modern racism issues. If there WERE any racism in the Book it would be a dark skinned superiority over whites. White Europeans are called “gentiles” in the Book of Mormon and dark skinned Book of Mormon scribes imply that these white Europeans would need extra repentance, partially due to their lack of charity, and perhaps because of their mistreatment of Native Americans. The Lehites, writing the Book of Mormon, were all dark skinned, and viewed themselves as one race, and “brethren”. They couldn’t tell the difference between a Lamanite or Nephite except by language and perhaps dress. If anyone is a chosen people in the Book of Mormon it is the dark skinned Native Americans who are descended from Lehi, Joseph, and his Egyptian wife.
Book of Mormon people did use ancient symbolic language when describing religiosity, (one of many mountains of evidences that it is an ancient book.) For example, the dark skinned Indians who wrote the Rig-Veda (about 1100BC) described themselves in terms similar to those used by Book of Mormon people. (See wiki “White Skins:” Anciently…“Religious conversion was described figuratively as a change in skin color. Similarly, the Rigveda uses krsna tvac "black skin" as a metaphor for irreligiosity.” “Assignment of positive and negative connotations of white and black date to the classical period…”
How many wives does Romney have or want to have? I know several christians that have two or three that they have shedded, and might need a good home.
Unlike some people running for the nomination Romney is still married to his first sweetheart. He seems pretty happy with the one. Others need not apply.
Romney will have many wives in the hereafter according to our religion. You cannot enter into the highest degree of heaven without being a polygamist....it's our doctrine.
@LaGryphon – It's obvious to tell you are a fake. Don't pretend to be a Mormon. Get a life buddy.
Brigham Young said only polygamists become gods-"The only men who become gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." Journal of Discourses 11:269. They also believe that you must accept Joseph Smith as a prophet to be saved, so says LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith in his book, Doctrines of Salvation.They also believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers – Milton R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages on page 15. And they also believe that Jesus was a polygamist – Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 2:210. So when Romney talks about Jesus Christ, he is not talking about the same Jesus Christ that is in the Bible.
Rad, while no one will have time to respond to all the misinformation, I'll reply to this oft repeated misinformation. You should actually go and read what the JD really says: Or check this article on FAIR lds: See Quote mining—Journal of Discourses 11:269 to see how this quote was mined. “This quotation is often used in anti-Mormon sources. Unsurprisingly, they do not include the surrounding text which explains what Brigham Young" really said.
Rad, same with the other oft repeated anti-Mormonisms.....check FAIR lds on each one. (We do believe things similar to some of your claims, but all are twisted a little, for example: many Christians believe we will have to pass by Peter at the pearly gates or veil, LDS agree, and believe that each dispensation will ALSO pass by those Christ called for that dispensation.
You should look into it. Read the Book of Mormon, ask God if it is true, check LDS org etc if you want to know what we really believe.
I don't know if you simply trust your sources on everything, but I assume you are a thoughtful enough person to actually read what LDS truly believe. It is never a good thing to spread rumors and we should ask ourselves what spirit motivates people to malign the Church of Jesus Christ.
What Romney doesn't tell is what he doesn't know, namely that eternity doesn't have a place where eternity is not, for eternity is now. Romney hasn't a clue of what Jesus taught and meant by his teaching. What Romney has is a conditioning that his mormon masters dictate, nothing more. The Master acknowledged no ties to the flesh but preached and practiced the spiritual nature and goodness of all things. Romney is just another mormon fashionista. Get a clue Romney and all the rest of churchianity, too.
Please elaborate.
Don't worry, he cannot elaborate, since he said it with no evidence.
hmmm...romney made more sense than you do.
CNN really needs to hold a line, they flip flop more than Romney. Either religion matters or it doesn't. If it matters than report on all of the candidate's religious beliefs, If it doesn't matter why are they even reporting on this?
I don't know why Romney is singled out and required to answer questions about his faith. Any one interested about the religion can view mormon org. Or maybe talk to an neighbor or coworker who is Mormon.
Maybe it's because Romney thinks mormons are special, that they are the chosen and destined to be the masters of us all. Mormons seem to have a special set of secret errors that they want to be imposed on the psyches of us all and that need to be exposed once and for all.
Stubbycat, are you serious? You cannot possibly be as ignorant as your post.
Stubby, meet Cali!–Two peas in a pod!
Dear Mitt,
We know you are busy and apparently cannot find the time to update your religious education so here is a short summary of Religion 101:
• There was no Abraham i.e. the foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are non-existent.
• There was no Moses i.e the pillars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have no strength of purpose.
• There was no Gabriel i.e. Islam fails as a religion. Christianity partially fails.
• There was no Easter i.e. Christianity completely fails as a religion.
• There was no Moroni i.e. Mormonism is nothing more than a business cult.
• Sacred/revered cows, monkey gods, castes, reincarnations and therefore Hinduism fails as a religion.
• Fat Buddhas here, skinny Buddhas there, reincarnated Buddhas everywhere makes for a no on Buddhism.
Added details were previously posted. And even more details are available when you get more time.
Without cutting and pasting, please substantiate even one of your claims.
And there is no Reality, you are just a figment of your overblown ego.
Do you want whiskey with that?
Very weak. Because you don't like something you ignore historical records as well as people's faith. You might be surprised to find that there are actually more records related to this ancient prophets than most of the things you believe as history. You can disagree with them, but you have no proof they never lived.
I on the other hand have proof. Beyond the records they left behind (which is plenty for historians to be convinced that they lived) I have read their words and found their teachings to be true. There is more happiness in following those teachings than in a long life of ease sipping Caronas on some beach.
Saving Christians from the Infamous Resurrection/Easter Con/Disease:
From that famous passage: In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
Even now Catholic/Christian professors of theology are questioning the bodily resurrection of the simple, preacher man aka Jesus.
To wit;
From a major Catholic university's theology professor’s grad school white-board notes:
"Heaven is a Spirit state or spiritual reality of union with God in love, without earthly – earth bound distractions.
Jesus and Mary's bodies are therefore not in Heaven.
Most believe that it to mean that the personal spiritual self that survives death is in continuity with the self we were while living on earth as an embodied person.
Again, the physical Resurrection (meaning a resuscitated corpse returning to life), Ascension (of Jesus' crucified corpse), and Assumption (Mary's corpse) into heaven did not take place.
The Ascension symbolizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church.
Only Luke's Gospel records it. The Assumption ties Jesus' mission to Pentecost and missionary activity of Jesus' followers The Assumption has multiple layers of symbolism, some are related to Mary's special role as "Christ bearer" (theotokos). It does not seem fitting that Mary, the body of Jesus' Virgin-Mother (another biblically based symbol found in Luke 1) would be derived by worms upon her death. Mary's assumption also shows God's positive regard, not only for Christ's male body, but also for female bodies." "
"In three controversial Wednesday Audiences, Pope John Paul II pointed out that the essential characteristic of heaven, hell or purgatory is that they are states of being of a spirit (angel/demon) or human soul, rather than places, as commonly perceived and represented in human language. This language of place is, according to the Pope, inadequate to describe the realities involved, since it is tied to the temporal order in which this world and we exist. In this he is applying the philosophical categories used by the Church in her theology and saying what St. Thomas Aquinas said long before him."
http://eternal-word.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2HEAVN.HTM
The Vatican quickly embellished this story with a lot CYAP.
With respect to rising from the dead, we also have this account:
An added note: As per R.B. Stewart in his introduction to the recent book, The Resurrection of Jesus, Crossan and Wright in Dialogue,
p.4
"Reimarus (1774-1778) posits that Jesus became sidetracked by embracing a political position, sought to force God's hand and that he died alone deserted by his disciples. What began as a call for repentance ended up as a misguided attempt to usher in the earthly political kingdom of God. After Jesus' failure and death, his disciples stole his body and declared his resurrection in order to maintain their financial security and ensure themselves some standing."
p.168. by Ted Peters:
Even so, asking historical questions is our responsibility. Did Jesus really rise from the tomb? Is it necessary to have been raised from the tomb and to appear to his disciples in order to explain the rise of early church and the transcription of the bible? Crossan answers no, Wright answers, yes. "
So where are the bones"? As per Professor Crossan's analyses in his many books, the body of Jesus would have ended up in the mass graves of the crucified, eaten by wild dogs, covered with lime in a shallow grave, or under a pile of stones.
Nice to see all the dimwitted bigots out and about.
It's just such a testament to the "tolerance" that the left preaches.
Fascist oinkers.
Please pay attention to your history. Fascists are right wing.
“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
Sinclair Lewis
nairb247 is a religious nut.
And you are a fascist bigot.
What a Crock!!
Thank you for article Dan, very well summary! Would be good to include the LDS Church webpage for those who want to know more about Romney's beliefs: http://www.lds.org
I believe that my magic undies will help keep me safe from all the Republicans who hate me.
I believe that giving the Mormon church $1.5 million will buy me a MUCH better place in Mormon happy-happy-joy-joy heaven than the other Mormons get.
I believe that you non-Mormon losers ware doomed to burn anyway, so all I care about is your vote.
I believe that I am going to fumble this election, because I need the Republican lunatic fringe – the religious right – to get the nomination, but they just won't trust someone who believes in a slightly different version of Jesus than the one they believe in. And my magic undies just are not protecting me from that. Damn! Oh no! I swore! I will roast like, well, a roast, in hell for that!
I believe you are an anti-religious hateful bigot.
what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
When did liberals become such hateful intolerant bigots?
Mormons don't believe that their underwear is magic. You likely know a Mormon, ask them.
Magic underwear is just part of it, ask them about the interplanetary travel.
@Adam – you sound like an authority. Please enlighten us with your, undoubtedly substantiated, vitriol against Mormons.
@Nairb247. Mitt was a little harsh, but what he said was neither rambling nor incoherent. It was quite rational, and far from insane. All are free to believe what they will, but the idea of an all powerful perfect being creating a terribly flawed race and then threatening them with torture if they fail to follow his instructions is just plain silly. It can be quite challenging to decide whether one religion is sillier than another, but Mormonism certainly seems to have an edge, if only because they made up such amazing stuff in relatively modern times.
Oh my gosh that's awesome.
What the religious never understand is that it makes as much sense to believe in the giant elephant in the sky as it does that some mystical all-knowing creature is actually paying attention to all of this.
All hail Zeus!
separation of church and state. Your beliefs are insignificant.....
I agree..and yet CNN made a decision to write this article. Romney answers questions about what he believes, he didn't send it out as a press packet. If you are tired of hearing about his and other politician's religious beliefs send CNN a message.
well said but you need to be telling the idiot reporters that keep asking the questions.
I hate to tell you this, but it is not meant to keep the church out of government. It is meant to keep government out of the church.
@ u is ignorant: It is meant to do both, since they are the same thing. If religion gets into government, government will get into religion. Other religions, or non-religious, will be repressed.
When the right wing GOP claims the moral religious high ground, it makes it an issue.
OK, then lets see articles about the rest of the GOP's candidate's beliefs...and the DEMs certainly play the moral high ground as well. It's what politicians do.
Dear Mitt for your eyes only,
Time for you to enter the 21st century with a religious update:
1. origin: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1EFE35540C7A8CDDAA0894DA404482
“New Torah For Modern Minds
Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.
Such startling propositions – the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years – have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity – until now.
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called "Etz Hayim" ("Tree of Life" in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine docu-ment. “
2. Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations (or “mythicizing” from P, M, M, L and J) and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a ma-mzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). An-alyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Ludemann, Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, ) via the NT and related doc-uments have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.
The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hitt-ites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics.
earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html
For added "pizzazz", Catholic theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider".
Current RCC problems:
Pedophiliac priests, an all-male, mostly white hierarchy, atonement theology and original sin!!!!
2 b., Luther, Calvin, Joe Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley, Roger Williams, the Great “Babs” et al, founders of Christian-based religions or combination religions also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immacu-late co-nceptions).
Current problems:
Adulterous preachers, pedophiliac clerics, "propheteering/ profiteering" evangelicals and atonement theology,
3. Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.
This agenda continues as shown by the ma-ssacre in Mumbai, the as-sas-sinations of Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, the Ft. Hood follower of the koran, and the Filipino “koranics”.
And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.
Current crises:
The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.
4. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) – "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’."
The caste/laborer system, reincarnation and cow worship/reverence are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."
Current problems:
The caste system, reincarnation and cow worship/reverence.
5. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."
"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"
Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circu-mstances of his life. e.g. Buddha by one legend was supposedly talking when he came out of his mother's womb.
Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations, embellishments, lies, and myths surrounding the founders and foundations of said rules of life.
Then, apply the Five F rule: "First Find the Flaws, then Fix the Foundations". And finally there will be religious peace and religious awareness in the world!!!!!
Wow, you spent a lot of time on that. Maybe you should get a hobby or something.
For those who need a shorter summary:
• There was no Abraham i.e. the foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are non-existent.
• There was no Moses i.e the pillars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have no strength of purpose.
• There was no Gabriel i.e. Islam fails as a religion. Christianity partially fails.
• There was no Easter i.e. Christianity completely fails as a religion.
• There was no Moroni i.e. Mormonism is nothing more than a business cult.
• Sacred/revered cows, monkey gods, castes, reincarnations and therefore Hinduism fails as a religion.
• Fat Buddhas here, skinny Buddhas there, reincarnated Buddhas everywhere makes for a no on Buddhism.
I don't understand why people can't just let other people believe what they want. who cares about what Romney is saying and who cares what you are saying? Be tolerant of others.
mk2: We confront them because the faithful have been known to crash airplanes into buildings, among a long list of other faith based initiatives.
Care to try and prove ant of that?
why would you post this on a public site if it's for Mitt's eyes only?
Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and developing faith in him in this life is the key to happiness. Faith in Christ leads to repentance which leads to Baptism (a covenant to follow Him) resulting in the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide and protect those who love Him and serve Him. I can't give you my faith, it's something you've got to desire, seek for, and develop over a life time.
Thanks, I think you exceeded narib's attention span with the first one.
If it was on the internet, it has to be true. Thank you for enlightening us!
Saving Christians from the Infamous Resurrection/Easter Con/Disease:
From that famous passage: In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
Even now Catholic/Christian professors of theology are questioning the bodily resurrection of the simple, preacher man aka Jesus.
To wit;
From a major Catholic university's theology professor’s grad school white-board notes:
"Heaven is a Spirit state or spiritual reality of union with God in love, without earthly – earth bound distractions.
Jesus and Mary's bodies are therefore not in Heaven.
Most believe that it to mean that the personal spiritual self that survives death is in continuity with the self we were while living on earth as an embodied person.
Again, the physical Resurrection (meaning a resuscitated corpse returning to life), Ascension (of Jesus' crucified corpse), and Assumption (Mary's corpse) into heaven did not take place.
The Ascension symbolizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church.
Only Luke's Gospel records it. The Assumption ties Jesus' mission to Pentecost and missionary activity of Jesus' followers The Assumption has multiple layers of symbolism, some are related to Mary's special role as "Christ bearer" (theotokos). It does not seem fitting that Mary, the body of Jesus' Virgin-Mother (another biblically based symbol found in Luke 1) would be derived by worms upon her death. Mary's assumption also shows God's positive regard, not only for Christ's male body, but also for female bodies." "
"In three controversial Wednesday Audiences, Pope John Paul II pointed out that the essential characteristic of heaven, hell or purgatory is that they are states of being of a spirit (angel/demon) or human soul, rather than places, as commonly perceived and represented in human language. This language of place is, according to the Pope, inadequate to describe the realities involved, since it is tied to the temporal order in which this world and we exist. In this he is applying the philosophical categories used by the Church in her theology and saying what St. Thomas Aquinas said long before him."
http://eternal-word.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2HEAVN.HTM
The Vatican quickly embellished this story with a lot CYAP.
Of course, we all know that angels are really mythical "pretty wingie talking thingies".
With respect to rising from the dead, we also have this account:
An added note: As per R.B. Stewart in his introduction to the recent book, The Resurrection of Jesus, Crossan and Wright in Dialogue,
p.4
"Reimarus (1774-1778) posits that Jesus became sidetracked by embracing a political position, sought to force God's hand and that he died alone deserted by his disciples. What began as a call for repentance ended up as a misguided attempt to usher in the earthly political kingdom of God. After Jesus' failure and death, his disciples stole his body and declared his resurrection in order to maintain their financial security and ensure themselves some standing."
p.168. by Ted Peters:
Even so, asking historical questions is our responsibility. Did Jesus really rise from the tomb? Is it necessary to have been raised from the tomb and to appear to his disciples in order to explain the rise of early church and the transcription of the bible? Crossan answers no, Wright answers, yes. "
So where are the bones"? As per Professor Crossan's analyses in his many books, the body of Jesus would have ended up in the mass graves of the crucified, eaten by wild dogs, covered with lime in a shallow grave, or under a pile of stones.
I enjoy the thinking, I hope all will look a little further, rather than passing surface judgement. Reality has spent a lot of time trying to support his views, maybe that is a good thing, but I hope all will look at other points of view. (yes, i have read the Koran, the anti-Mormon propaganda etc : )
The most powerful historical/scholarly evidences that the Bible is true come from the Book of Mormon. Of course, we know all important truth by the Spirit, and that is clearly how God wants it (if there were to be no seeking, no climbing the sacred mountain, no effort, I think God would simply put a big sign in the sky saying "join the Mormons." He doesn't do that, but He does provide evidences, but we must seek if we are to find truth)
Anyway, what I was saying before the digression was, it can easily be argued that the Bible was simply a book set in a real place like the Ilead, but Joseph Smith could not have traveled back in time and given the Maya knowledge of Jesus.