In a recent column, I addressed the origin and importance of the American concept of religious freedom. Our American concept of religious freedom is different, in part, because our concept of government is different. We believe in a limited government — i.e., one that is not able to govern every aspect of our lives. The […]
Romney’s Mormonism or Romney’s Religiousness?
April 4, 2012 by
If you’ve been paying attention even the slightest, you probably know that Mitt Romney is Mormon. On the other hand, you’d be hard pressed to remember if you had heard him talk about it much, if at all, even if you were a close watcher of the GOP race for the nomination.
Why is that?
In 1960, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon competed for the White House. In something of a “flash of lightning which illuminated, but only momentarily, a darkened landscape,” as Robert Putnam says his book “American Grace,” we caught a look at how Americans view religion, especially as it relates to who we select for for our President. [cont…]
Nationwide Poll: Most know that Mormons are Christians, but especially Republicans.
December 22, 2011 by
Most people consider Mormons–members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–to be Christians, says a new nationwide poll by the Salt Lake Tribune. That’s interesting, and it’s also probably good news to Mitt Romney, whose biggest liability is not the health care reforms he signed as Governor of Massachusetts but his religion.
What’s more interesting, at least to me, is who questions Mormons’ Christianity. It’s not those “crazy” conservatives; rather, it’s the Democrats and Independents.
Utah Democrats raffling off LDS Conference tickets.
September 30, 2011 by
Utah Democratic Chair Jim Dabakis is raffling off the chance to sit with him at the LDS Church’s biannual General Conference. Does that amount to selling political favors or missionary work? And who is getting worked? Last I heard, Dabakis was not a Mormon–so is this some strange way of getting him to listen to […]
“One of these two Mormons could be our next president…the other is Jon Huntsman.”
August 16, 2011 by
In the arena of both “funny” and “perhaps too true,” The Colbert Report had a segment on Mormons. Click on the picture below to watch it. A few highlights to watch for: Mormon = weird…as defined by a guy who looks great, has great hair, and was the weird guy in high school with all […]
Mitt Romney and “the Mormon Question.”
June 13, 2011 by
The “Mormon” question. [sigh] Who hasn’t heard it yet? Can a Mormon be elected president? I can’t get into a conversation about politics and the 2012 campaign for the White House without Mitt Romney coming up. This includes conversations with your average voters and political insiders, family and friends, Democrats and Republicans alike. (Why, yes, […]
Polygamists in the news; Kingstons running for office
October 8, 2010 by
Polygamy is a unique aspect of Utah’s history, a piece the past that many wish they could just run away from, especially the Mormons, if just because of the mockery that it seems to draw from those only loosely familiar with how it fits into their history and doctrine. These days, in contrast to what […]
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