Nationally-syndicated, conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager recently said,

“Everyone in America has different beliefs.  That’s what the constitution is all about.  We expect everyone to have different beliefs and to see God in their own way.  When we think about electing a president, what matters is his values.  His principles.  Is Mormonism different?  Yes.  Are there some peculiar things about being Jewish?  Yes.  Is Catholicism unusual in some ways?  Yes.  Do we all share mostly the same values?  YES.  Every religion that is not your own…seems odd.  That’s not a reason NOT to vote for someone for the presidency of the United States.”

Rick Perry was recently introduced at a campaign event by a Pastor who openly disdained Mormonism, bringing Mitt Romney’s faith to the forefront once again.  Today, a respected Evangelical Christian writes in The Washington Post that he believes Evangelicals should stand up against anti-Mormon bigotry.  His thoughts are well-expressed, but will they convince crucial Christian Right voters to get out support Romney if he becomes the GOP nominee?  Only time will tell.  John Mark Reynolds, a distinguished Professor at the evangelical Biola University, responds to the attacks by Perry’s host, who described the Mormon Church as a “cult”:

“To add insult to bigotry, the pastor decided to name call by saying Mormonism is a cult. The use of cult to describe the

Christian Writer and Biola University Professor John Mark Reynolds

Mormon faith is foolish and offensive in a political context.

The word cult has many meanings, including a technical religious one. The Mormon Church is not “standard” historic Christianity as Mormons point out in their witness. They think they have something new and valuable to say religiously.

Most of the public does not think doctrine, but danger when they hear the term cult. He imagines scary folk living in compounds drinking Kool-aid, not Harry Reid or Mitt Romney.

In that popular sense, Mormonism is not a cult and should scare no American. Mormons have been faithful citizens, dying in our wars for republican values. Does Rick Perry’s pastor friend acknowledge this truth? Can a Mormon die for the Republic in battle, but still not serve as commander in the White House?

Mitt and Ann Romney

For mainstream evangelicals such bigoted attacks on Romney are an embarrassment. They often seem to rely on fear of difference, a sense that other groups are “weird.” Everybody seems weird to somebody some time, but loving people get past such feelings. If the Mormon who dies for my freedom doesn’t seem weird, neither should the Mormon politician.

Most evangelicals are horrified by lies told about Mormons in mainstream media, because we love our Mormon neighbor. They are friends, relatives, and allies in many fights. We disagree on vital theological issues, but those are not relevant to our vote for president….

We must do as we have always done and vote the platform and the person and not the pulpit.”

Read the entire Washington Post editorial here.

 

 

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Filed under: Featured, Inside The KC, Politics by Sonja Eddings Brown, Oct 10, 2011