Passing The People's Religious Test

The New Republic: Mitt Romney's Mormonism Is Nothing To Fear

(The New Republic)  This column was written by John B. Judis

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The U.S. Constitution says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." It also says that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." These provisions meant that the new American nation would not sanction a state church and would also not follow England in banning Catholics from public office. But these two provisions had, or have acquired, a broader non-legal meaning: that, because religious matters would not fall under the state's purview, Americans would not make a politician's particular faith a prime consideration in evaluating him or her for public office. Religion was part of the "private" sector or of civil society.

Of course, there have been limits to American tolerance. In the country's first 170 years, this principle of pluralism was applied to different kinds of Protestantism but not to Catholicism or Judaism. These were seen as religious aberrations whose adherents could not be trusted with the public's business. But John F. Kennedy broke the Catholic barrier in 1960, and Joe Lieberman may have chipped away at the barrier against Jews in 2000. Still, some religions remain suspect. Virginia Republican Representative Virgil Goode wants to rule out Muslims who refuse to take an oath on the Bible, and Jacob Weisberg, the editor of Slate, wants to exclude Mormons. Damon Linker, writing in The New Republic, seems to want to exclude Mormons unless they make a public declaration of church-state separation similar to that which Kennedy made in 1960.

Goode (who said, "I'm for restricting immigration so that we don't have a majority of Muslims elected to the United States House of Representatives") has been rightly dismissed as a bigot, but what about Weisberg and Linker? Perhaps it's because I am a nonbeliever who fails to find one theology more compelling than another, but I don't think there is a lot of difference between their opposition to Mitt Romney (because he is a Mormon) and Protestant opposition to Democrat Al Smith in 1928 (because Protestants thought that, as a Catholic, he would take his orders from the Pope).

Romney is descended from generations of Mormons. His father, George Romney, was governor of Michigan, a Republican presidential candidate in 1968, and, later, secretary of the housing and urban development. George Romney was a moderate Republican--a supporter of civil rights and an eventual critic of the Vietnam War. I've seen no evidence that he made any decision as a public official that could attributed to his faith rather than to the usual calculations of interest and conscience that politicians make. His son, Mitt, ran for Senate in 1994 and served as governor of Massachusetts for the last four years. I've also seen no evidence that, as governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney made decisions on the basis of his religion. And, when he was asked about his beliefs, Romney, like many politicians, said that they are "private."

But Weisberg and Linker are not satisfied. They produce two kinds of arguments to show that Romney's Mormonism disqualifies or (in Linker's case) potentially disqualifies him for office. First, Weisberg argues that a Mormon should not be president because what Mormons believe is "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd." Someone who holds Mormon beliefs, Weisberg argues, displays "a basic failure to think for himself or see the world as it is." Weisberg cites the historical claims made by Mormon founder Joseph Smith that he based on tablets he found in upper New York state during the Second Great Awakening. According to The Book of Mormon, descendants of the original tribes of Israel lived in America thousands of years ago. Smith later located the Garden of Eden itself in Missouri.

Absurd and irrational? Certainly. But no more so than the beliefs of many Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Is it more irrational to locate the Garden of Eden in Jackson County than in ancient Palestine or to ascribe magical powers of cognition to Smith or to Jesus himself or to a succession of Popes? I don't mean to blaspheme, but it's not obvious to me that one can draw a sharp distinction between the rationality of religious faiths. Weisberg, however, tries to do so. He disdains Mormonism because it is based on a "transparent and recent fraud." But it's no more recent than the Disciples of Christ, another Second Awakening Christian sect that claimed both Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan as members.

What seems to bother Linker most about Mormons is the church's prophetic tradition, which makes the president of the Mormon Church a prophet and the "mouthpiece of God on earth." Linker worries what would happen if the president of the church issued a declaration that was immoral, and he recounts asking students at Brigham Young whether they would "commit murder in the name of their faith" if the president of the church commanded them to do so. According to Linker, "More than one pious young Mormon invariably responded by declaring that he would execute the prophet's commands, no matter what." But would Mitt Romney? This is exactly the kind of hypothetical situation that was posed by opponents of Smith in 1928 or of Kennedy in 1960.

Of course, you can find followers of any American religion who would do crazy things if asked by the president of the church, their minister, their rabbi, or the Pope. And you can find a few crazy ministers and rabbis and a bigoted Pope or two. But that's not the point. The first question is whether the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in America have been inclined to make such immoral pronouncements. They haven't, and there is no evidence they are about to. And the second question is whether Romney has displayed the kind of fanatical commitment that, if they were to do so, would override the moral and political considerations that a politician brings to bear in making decisions. And there is no evidence that Romney--or his father or Harry Reid or Orrin Hatch or Jeff Flake--would. In other words, there is no reason not to give Romney the same pass that voters like Weisberg or Linker gave to Catholic or Jewish candidates.

Linker does make an interesting political point about Romney, which is that, to the extent Romney might like to distance himself from strict adherence to his religion--as he seemed to do during his 1994 senate campaign--he cannot do so now because he is seeking the votes of religious conservatives. That's probably right, but Linker also writes that, in trying to woo religious conservatives, Romney is not longer "soft-pedaling his faith," but that he "embraces it as central to his political strategy." That's not right, at least from the examples Linker gives. By opposing gay marriage and abortion, Romney has not embraced his Mormon faith, but merely the religious conservatism of the Republican Party, which spans Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, as well as Mormons.

There is a deeper point about American religion buried here. Weisberg compares the Mormon faith to Scientology--it's "Scientology plus 125 years." But there's a reason why we think of Scientology as a cult and the Church of Latter-Day Saints as a religion. One joins cults and becomes a follower--that implies a totalizing commitment that colors whatever one does. But one is born into a religious denomination, even one as recent as the Church of Latter-Day Saints. As a member of that community, one is expected to hold certain beliefs and carry out certain rituals, but there is an unspoken distinction between what one does as a member of religion and what one does as a business executive, public school teacher, or politician. Should this distinction apply to an Orthodox Jew and an observant Catholic, but not to a Mormon? Look at the political career of Romney and his father.

Certainly, there is a bridge between religion and politics that politicians cannot safely cross. And that consists in bringing particular, sectarian beliefs openly to bear on major national issues. George W. Bush is often accused of doing so, but he has actually has been fairly careful not to--for instance, in his decision on stem-cell research. It's a presumption of American politics that politicians will not cross this bridge. We've now given this benefit of a doubt to Catholics and Jews. It's time to give it to Mormons like Harry Reid and Mitt Romney.

[roger3815]

All religion is "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd." Anyone with a religious belief should be banned from positions of responsibility and elected office.

[i-tack]

Sounds like your position is a little "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd"

[i-tack]

Insisting that people be "agnostic" or "atheistic" is no more sensible than requiring them to be Jewish, Catholic or Muslim.

[bluestardad]

unless this guy is cutting a goats head off on the white house lawn this religious thing is a mute point.

[billpl-2009]

yeah but, how many first ladies will he have?

[hungry1968]

They should keep their religious beliefs to themselves, and not force those beliefs on anyone else. Just like the big deal made over the Senator swearing in on the koran. They shouldn't be putting a hand on the bible, the koran, or any religious book - they should be swearing in with their hand on a copy of the Constitution.

[random_radar]

Seriously, folks, when has a president ever let his religious beliefs get in the way of raw political ambition? I can count the times with zero fingers.

When I heard this guy was republican governor of rabidly liberal Massachussets, I figured he must know what he is doing at some level. Its not like he showed up out of nowhere. He has a track record to judge by.

I don't agree with some of the stuff he has done in Massachussets, but I can appreciate that he has been a success at leading. Hey, and doesn't he LOOK presidential?

[random_radar]

If I were running for office, this is what I would say about my allegiance to a prophet or pope:

"As a member of my religious faith, I feel that my personal conduct should be bound by the pronouncements of my religious leaders.

As representative of the people, I should do their will in matters of governance."

If this position bothered a candidate, they should not run for office. If it doesn't satisfy a voter, they should carefully reconsider their lack of tolerance.

[random_radar]

"They should keep their religious beliefs to themselves, and not force those beliefs on anyone else. Just like the big deal made over the Senator swearing in on the koran. They shouldn't be putting a hand on the bible, the koran, or any religious book - they should be swearing in with their hand on a copy of the Constitution.
Posted by hungry1968 at 01:34 PM : Jan 09, 2007"

Well spoken!

[random_radar]

"yeah but, how many first ladies will he have?
Posted by billpl at 01:11 PM : Jan 09, 2007"

Only one, the rest will be numbered second lady, third lady, and so on.

[random_radar]

"All religion is "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd." Anyone with a religious belief should be banned from positions of responsibility and elected office.
Posted by roger3815 at 12:02 PM : Jan 09, 2007"

Wouldn't it be easier just to admit that anyone with an opinion different than yours should be banned from public office? Why don't we elect you king to rule over us benighted citizens?

[perception5]

He does look "PRESIDENTIAL" and I hope to learn more about him........... problem is I don't know if he will get a fair "review" by our liberal press.......... maybe because he's pretty looking and was Governor of Massachussets he'd get a fair review.............but I doubt it. In today's media coverage to get a good review you have to have a "D" after your name.

[p-syrus]

As to Romney's Mormonism, any actual attempt to enforce a Mormon prophet's commands on the nation as a whole would be sufficient grounds for impeachment. A candidate's adherence to mormonism is not itself a sufficient grounds to bar his election.

Although, given the history of relations between mormonism and soi dissant mainstream christianity, my bet is Romney's not likely to get a lot of support from non-mormon Republican church-goers.

As to the scientology references, the author Judis confuses the Church of Scientology, which is a cult, with the practice of scientology which is not. An excellent discussion of the subject was presented on British TV channel 4 this last year. It was hosted by the British sikh comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli and is very funny as well as informative. It is available on-line as "the beginners guide to l.ron hubbard" at Google video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3516602771229259099

[tibu987]

Not what we need, more religious whackos in government. The current list of democratic contenders for the Presidency leaves a whole lot to be desired.
Not looking very good thus far.

[tibu987]

Yes, absolutely, politicians being sworn in should hold their hand on the Constitution of the U.S. and not the bible or the koran, or any other book of religion.
Makes perfect sense.

[Jasonian18]

well simple words i am back... 1 i would like to point out that a mormon is no different then any other religious belief evolution is a religous belief as well the belief that there is no God its called atheism so if you don't want our religion to be put on other people don't put your religion on anyone else either like you have been doing for the past few years there is just as much historical proof of evolution as there is that Jesus was God embodied although there is actually historical proof the Jesus existed which is more than what can be said about evolution. and with reference to swearing in on the Bible or the constitution the reason that people were sworn in on the Bible and not the constitution is because there is nothing wrong with the Bible name one thing wrong with the Bible and what it states in fact let me give this quote first "what is more ignorant a person who believes in a God he cannot see or a person who is offended by a God he does not believe in" the Bible shouldn't be offensive to anyone i see nothing wrong with the Bible fir instance what is wrong with the ten commandments? .

[Jasonian18]

all they say are things we already live by thou shalt not kill thou shalt not steal thou shalt not commit adultery whats wrong with that? the constitution is subject to change and when i say it is subje3ct to change im referring to the fact that the judges and people keep misinterpreting the constitution to make things seem more to their liking for example people try to change the constitution to seem like it talks against capital punishment but in those days make crimes lead to hangings that my friend is capital punishment how can it be wrong if they agreed with it and that is just on of many things that has been misinterpreted in the constitution

[Jasonian18]

and how is religion irrational and absurd i have to say disappointedly that i know we are a lil dogmatic but mostly not nearly as dogmatic as people that say God doesn't exist they are so set on their views just like us Christians that they are just as dogmatic don't the grass seem greener on the other side

[Jasonian18]

i agree on the vote democrat thing for one reason when we have another lying pres like clinton we'll just be right back over to a rep pres all over again there needs to be one party to stand up the american party one party that does what is right for the country not what is right for the party because just voting democrat or just voting republican is stupid i vote whichever person backs me on the more serious issues like abortion and gay rights meaning they should both be stopped and never continued

[Jasonian18]

atheists push their view on others more then the reverse evolution is an unproven theory which is strictly atheistic and yet what is being pushed on kids as truth in public school today? atheism is being pushed on kids today atheism is a religion so yes religion is a major issue because everybody goes from their religous standpoint.

[i-tack]

Ozilot,you said,

"In some cases the American religious right in its attempt to create an evangelical state are equal to or worst than so called islamofascist."

Do you REALLY believe that? Anyone can get carried away while typing, so I thought it a fair question to ask.

[passerby2]

All religion is "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd." Anyone with a religious belief should be banned from positions of responsibility and elected office.

Posted by roger3815 at 12:02 PM : Jan 09, 2007

Yes!

[passerby2]

i vote whichever person backs me on the more serious issues like abortion and gay rights meaning they should both be stopped and never continued

Posted by Jason_plo at 05:06 PM : Jan 09, 2007

abortion and gay rights are not serious issues, they are made serious by religious nutcases bent on their religious beliefs and trying to press their beliefs on everyone else that makes it serious.

[bildooreilly]

Mormons are a satanic cult... there's a temple in nauvoo IL, has upside down pentagram windows all around it, place gives me the creeps... Joseph Smith stole his rituals off the freemasons who murdered him for it.

[bildooreilly]

What kind of evolution are you talking about? Interspecies evolution? There's no proof it has ever happened... dogs and cats for instance can't breed together... you mean same species evolution.. granted there may be slight differences in the offspring but when two dogs mate they always have a dog, it might be a little bit different but it's still a dog... so exactly what kind of evolution are you speaking of?

Do you believe in the "Big bang" theory too? Where it says "450 million years ago" (Long ago and far away) a speck of dust smaller than a dot on this page superimploded and created our entire universe.... what kind of drugs are these people on...

It's time for science and religious loons to just plain admit it... NOBODY KNOWS HOW WE GOT HERE... stop teaching your *** to kids...

[caldwellptr]

If gay christians are considered 2nd class members in communities of faith, if not considered unwanted outcasts, then by what criteria is Mitt Rommeny being judged?

[random_radar]

Getting back on topic...

Did Massachussetts turn into a Mormon Holy Land under his governorship? Still looks like good ole liberal Massachussets to me.

But did Massachussets improve economically? Last I heard business is booming.

Did *** get run out of the state? Last I checked they are getting married there.

Governor Ahnold is proposing a health care initiative for bell weather state of California that Romney already did in Massachussetts.

If anything, Romney seems clean from corruption. With several hundred million dollars in the bank, I doubt he would stoop to graft and bribery.

Seems to me he ought to appeal to a wide segment of America. People are complaining about what a consummate politician he is. Seems to me he is a people pleaser. Isn't that what gets elected?

[caldwellptr]

random_radar - do you work for the governor?

I don't believe I am off topic. The opinion piece asks that you not judge Governor Romney for being a Mormon. Again, what criteria should we use? (Other that the list you provided.)

[getcentered]

I don't care what religion he is.

My problem with him is that he is REPUBLICAN.

It will be a long time before I trust a REPUBLICAN with my vote.
They have shown me what CURSORY really means.

[jimfinster]

getcentered:

Amen to that Brother!

[jimfinster]

bildooreilly:
"What kind of evolution are you talking about? Interspecies evolution? There's no proof it has ever happened..."


Actually, there is. Ever heard of the fossil record?

[billpl-2009]

"Bible fir instance what is wrong with the ten commandments?"
Posted by Jason_plo

...maybe look up the definition of "man-servant or maid-servant" when you get a chance?

[frankly6]

This guy is pandering to religeous extremists.

[bildooreilly]

Yes Jim, I've seen fossils before, I have a small collection outside in my landscaping of rather large fossils that I found at a local creek... pretty interesting... There's no proof that two animals have ever mated and created a different animal 2 dogs don't have a cat, it just doesn't happen... Also when 2 dogs mate they have another dog, that dog might be a little different but it's still a dog... I can believe that saltwater and freshwater crocodiles are probably related but I don't think I'm related to them, it just doesn't work that way and there's no proof it ever had... You have a belief, I believe nobody knows...

[missjane00]

Everyone stop I dont care this commeting is for the artical not for your own religeous beliefs and you know what I say Go Mitt Go and as for Kennedy and all them keep to your self His religeous belifes well will not affect his politics He has not used them in the past.

[jimfinster]

bildooreilly:

I don't have a belief, I have a PhD in geology. Sorry my friend, you are simply wrong on this issue.

[billpl-2009]

fowlergirl:

Yeap, that's what the Boy Scouts said too, now look at them

http://www.watchman.org/lds/boyscout.htm

and as far as the Mormons sweeping things under the 'ol rug

http://childbrides.org/

...take a few clicks and call us in the morning

[heewah]

So, Mormons are a satanic cult, huh? Mmmm.... Do you know many Latter Day Saints, bildooreilly? I am an active member of the LDS church, (the Mormons) and I spend most of my free-time doing charity work for people who are greatly in need--and trying to inspire others to do the same. (The only way I feel comfortable mentioning this is because I know none of you will know who I am.) My husband, who is also LDS, is the best neighbor I've ever met--and everyone in the neighborhood comes to him whenever they need help, (which is often) or when they need to borrow something. We have raised our chldren to be of service to others, and to help the downtrodden. Our lives are filled with love and service because of the love we have in our hearts for God and Jesus Christ. (Are we perfect? Absolutely not! In fact, don't get me started.... But we are taught to at least reach for perfection, knowing, in the end, that only God and Christ can save us from our imperfections.)

Our temples are simply sacred places we go to make covenants with God to love and serve him--which we do through loving and serving others. We also marry "for eternity" in our temples--but that only sticks if we choose to follow God's commandments.

And, bildooreilly, if you ever needed anything, we'd be happy to help.

Hope this calms some of your fears.

[jimfinster]

The only difference between a cult and a religion:

A cult is young. A religion is old. Legitimacy comes with time. I suspect 100 years after the death of Jesus, Christianity was considered a cult.

[jimfinster]

heewah:

I don't know about satanic. But the Mormons have some very odd beliefs. For example, the belief that they will be Gods on a distant star. Or do I have that wrong?

[jimfinster]

Gods in the afterlife, that is.

[billpl-2009]

heewah:
considering that Satan and Jesus are bothers, I'd have to say both you and Bildooreily are right
if you are a good person as you describe, I'd have to say, keep it up.
if you are a good Mormon, I'd have to say, move to Colorado City and live Mormon the way it was intended.

[bildooreilly]

Hey Jim, all kinds of people have all kinds of degrees...

Hey Heehaw, look up the mormon temple in Nauvoo IL... it's an occult materpiece.... Motley Crue would have loved the place....

[bildooreilly]

"Every man and woman is a star"

~Aleister Crowley




heewah:

I don't know about satanic. But the Mormons have some very odd beliefs. For example, the belief that they will be Gods on a distant star. Or do I have that wrong?


Posted by jimfinster at 01:27 AM : Jan 10, 2007
+ report this comment

[jimfinster]

bildooreilly:

You got me there. But do you go to your mechanic when you want medical information? Or do you go to your doctor?

I don't claim to have all the answers. But I do got some of them :)

[billpl-2009]

bildooreilly:
"look up the mormon temple in Nauvoo IL..."

Jews reading the BOM gotta be scratching their heads..."***?"

[intj-2009]

I am a "recovering" ex-Mormon, and although I don't live in the States, I can guarantee you that if I did, electing a Mormon president would be the LAST thing I ever did. Mormons are the most judgemental people I've ever come across. He can claim that his religious beliefs will not affect his decisions in office, but trust me, they will. They are so brainwashed, it would be impossible for him to separate the two. What will happen when he starts putting major taxes on things like coffee, tea, cigarettes, alcohol... (the list goes on) because Mormon's don't believe in these things?

[jsilver2th]

Mormonism - our bridge to the 18 century...

Don't look at the salamanders - it's a big business.

[rafterman1]

"I suspect 100 years after the death of Jesus, Christianity was considered a cult."

Actually, Christianity really was considered a cult at first, wasn't it? At least ther Romans thought so - until their empire converted to it.

[grumpas]

I don't know about anyone else! But one religious nut in the White House was enough for me to turn and run when religion becomes an issue with the candidate!