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THE QUESTION
Mormonism's moment?
With former Utah governor Jon Huntsman and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney both believed to be gearing up for a run for the presidency, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has again found itself answering questions about what these two prominent members believe.
Post reporter Sandhya Somashekhar wrote in a story published Tuesday that Mormon leaders see the ascendancy of these and other Mormons (such as convert Glenn Beck) as a sign "that the community has finally 'arrived,'" but added "researchers say there remains a deep mistrust of Mormons and that little has changed in public opinion to suggest that voters will be more open this year than they were in 2007."
If conservative Christian and Mormons share a political agenda, why do suspicions still plague Mormon politicians? Do media personalities such as Glenn Beck help or hurt the cause?
Posted by
On Faith on February 8, 2011 9:50 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Long history of hostility between Mormons and evangelicals
Both Mormons and evangelicals have a lot of work to do in developing a theological rationale for life in a pluralistic democratic culture.
Posted by Richard Mouw, on February 11, 2011 6:31 PM
Mormons and evangelicals as blood brothers?
The Evangelical-Mormon question for 2012 will be whether the theological differences and "bloody blows" --or the pragmatism of political "blood brothers" --governs this emerging relationship.
Posted by Robert P. Jones, on February 11, 2011 1:42 PM
Tendency to distrust the unknown
Ignorance usually causes misunderstandings. We have a tendency to distrust and even fear what we feel uncertain of or what seems mysterious to us.
Posted by Rajan Zed, on February 11, 2011 12:15 PM
My prayer for our presidents
It amazes me how Christians are suspicious of every religion that is not their own.
Posted by Susan K. Smith, on February 10, 2011 8:52 PM
Surely a Mormon can be president
If a Mormon can be the governor of Massachusetts - neither a Mormon nor conservative stronghold - and a Mormon can be majority leader of the US Senate, surely a Mormon can be president.
Posted by Jordan Sekulow, on February 10, 2011 2:11 PM
One antidote to mistrust
I was in Utah many months ago to meet and visit with my counterpart in media relations at the Mormon Church. We spent most of an afternoon comparing experiences as spokespersons for religious organizations that are viewed by a few people as...well...unusual. There we were: "the people who don't drink" sitting across the table from "the people who don't go to doctors."
Posted by Russ Gerber, on February 9, 2011 7:53 PM
The Christian case for Mormon values
Born on our frontier and nurtured in our wilderness, American values are Mormon values.
Posted by John Mark Reynolds, on February 9, 2011 7:29 PM
Mormons' "Joe Lieberman" moment
The U.S. Constitution provides that there "shall be no religious test for office." But it is certainly appropriate for voters to be informed of a candidate's faith in order to better understand the candidate and what animates him.
Posted by Nathan Diament, on February 9, 2011 3:52 PM
Mormons speak for the faith
Americans don't look to high-profile politicians, such as Majority Leader Harry Reid, or to former governors Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr., to understand our faith. Neither do they look to personalities like Glenn Beck, who touches on his faith occasionally but who doesn't claim to speak for the Church or other members.
Posted by Michael Otterson, on February 9, 2011 12:54 PM
Keep the focus on candidates' capabilities, not their faith
The question that each and every one of us should ask about faith during an election season is: Does this candidate have a strong commitment to protecting religious freedom in this country? If the answer is yes, the faith or belief system of that candidate is not important.
Posted by Welton Gaddy, on February 9, 2011 11:48 AM
The Mormon branding problem
As Mormon political figures rise in prominence, it is inevitable that Americans will come to know more about the faith than just the Glenn Beck variety or the stereotype of polygamy.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on February 9, 2011 10:09 AM
Americans want their president to be 'one of us'
The real challenge lies is widening our sense of who counts as someone with whom we can identify personally, our sense of who "we" are, our image of who is included in "us."
Posted by Brad Hirschfield, on February 9, 2011 8:59 AM
Answering 'the Mormon question'
There really is only one question that needs to be answered: can you faithfully execute the laws of the United States or is there some religious view you hold that you believe transcends that duty?
Posted by Barry Lynn, on February 8, 2011 5:33 PM
Another JFK moment?
It is sad that the misuse and exploitation of our faiths has made it impossible for good people to aspire to high political offices.
Posted by Arun Gandhi, on February 8, 2011 4:46 PM
We should judge their politics, not their religion
Surveys show the main thing atheists and Mormons have in common is that a significant number of Americans wouldn't vote for either, no matter how qualified the candidate may be.
Posted by Herb Silverman, on February 8, 2011 2:27 PM
Faith in the individual candidates
If a candidate with ties to Salt Lake City emerges with the qualities the electorate sees as needed in a president at this time: an answer to our economic woes; a sensible foreign policy; a viable domestic policy, then s/he may well be the next president.
Posted by Max Carter, on February 8, 2011 11:48 AM
