I have to say it. (title edited for Bill)

[Whovian]

I think that Romney's choice of religion is a crock of shit.

Please, if you have not looked into the realities of where Mormonism began and the fairy tales that make other fairy tales look rational, please do. These people are either bat shit crazy or have decided to get into a long con that they have recognised as an option for stripping others of their monies.

Really? You get to be a god with your own planet and harem of women when you die? Sounds cool as long as you're not a woman. But not to worry, there's always BLOOD ATONEMENT for the women that don't agree.

I'm an atheist so it may be easier for me to say this than it is for believers of other religions but really, if you look at the history of Joseph Smith and don't see the con I have some land to sell you.

[Lisa0825]

1. If you objectively look at Christianity, it's just as wacky.

Virgin birth? Miracles? Zombie Jesus?

[Whovian]

2. Agreed, but it's accepted cannon in today's game.

Most religions in my opinion are bozos but Mormonism even beats Scientology in the we are fucking nuts factor.

[geek tragedy]

7. Eating Jesus and drinking his blood too. nt

[Enrique]

9. transubstantiation

um, ew!

[truebluegreen]

58. Yup.

As an atheist, the only religions I have any tolerance for are those that promote a growth of understanding (maybe "philosophies" would be a better description), not a belief in miracles. To me the latter are all equally wacky.

After all, "faith" is by definition belief in something for which there is no proof. I also don't understand people who need hope for reward or fear of punishment to teach them to behave well towards others.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. You know what is hysterical about what you posted

Followers of many religions call other religions a con or a myth, or heresy. (And at times kill others for it, I know funny, real funny)

It's ok if you do not believe in these things... but where do you want me to start on the other three major religions? I mean God became a Bush and talked to Moses? My all time fave, Jesus was the son of a virgin and the holy spirit, no man involved. Of course the I got spoken to and revealed truth while in a dream is like a constant of many faiths, not just Islam... I know funny shit.

Serious, take a chill pill... something about stones and glass houses comes to mind.

And no, I am not religious at all... but I understand where religions play a critical role in human social evolution.

We may also be at the threshold of the next step, but that is another story.

[Whovian]

15. I really enjoy so many of your posts.

I think I may have not explained myself clearly enough in that this OP was about just one of many religions and only in the way it affects a certain candidate.

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. But you are actually making fun of a certain candidate

and similar things were written and gasp, published by editorial boards when JFK became the candidate of the Democratic party.

[aletier_v]

37. One reason that Christianity is mainstream and non-threatening is

because it's non-threatening.

I've never had to worry if I was in the right religion, that is, until I moved to Idaho, and then it became a SERIOUS issue in my life. This is why I avoid Mormons. Because Mormons choose to make their religion an issue in MY life, my choice of jobs & career, who I date, etc.

That's their own fault. Mainstream Christians have learned to live their faith to a greater degree, and not force others into it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Mormoms have the insecurity of childhoold,

this too shall pass for them, in oh 1000 years or so, assuming they make it that far.

I personally do not think bronze age religions, and their children (this happens to be one), will make it...

We are at a cultural crossing point. "And you shall have dominion over the Earth," has led to a few issues. So yes. I suspect religions, not just Mormonism, or Christianity or Judaism, or for that matter Buddhism (in particular the conservative factions off) are in for a crisis or two.

If we survive as a species, I suspect the transformation will be as dramatic as it was in the Bronze Age when female creation myths were replaced by Male Creation Myths. In historic terms it will be just as sudden. That one took we think, about 500 years. This one I suspect will take two to three generations tops.

[Whovian]

48. Please quit posting intelligent replies to posts.

It makes many feel dum-dum-dum per the earlier Southpark post. Very nicely said though.

[xfundy]

53. "because it's non-threatening"?

The hell it (Xianity) is. Try telling that to the kids who are scared to death that gawd will throw them into a literal "lake of fire" and eternal torment because they're gay, or of a "wrong" religion.

Currently, 'christians' make up the majority of hate groups in the US and around the world. The KKK was founded as a christian organization, and Hitler freely used it to amass citizens of Germany to ignore the basic humanity of others, just as so many christians do today— not just of gay/lesbian taxpayers, but of the old, sick and poor, who could not survive without government help.

Non-threatening? Bullshit.

[hunter]

49. I live in glass houses and I'm always throwing rocks.

I throw rocks at other people's glass house's too.

In my perfect world nobody lives in glass houses, houses are all tough, they don't break, and the doors are always open for people to come and go as they please or need.

I don't despise Romney for his faith. I despise him because he's a shifty liar, a con-man who has made his fortune by destroying jobs, breaking up businesses, and selling the remains to the knackers.

However, Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours,
and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away.
The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a
pig, when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the
direction of the farm buildings, braying at the top of his voice. It was
the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited--indeed, it was
the first time that anyone had ever seen him gallop. "Quick, quick!" he
shouted. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for
orders from the pig, the animals broke off work and raced back to the farm
buildings. Sure enough, there in the yard was a large closed van, drawn by
two horses, with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a
low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. And Boxer's stall was
empty.

The animals crowded round the van. "Good-bye, Boxer!" they chorused,
"good-bye!"

"Fools! Fools!" shouted Benjamin, prancing round them and stamping the
earth with his small hoofs. "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the
side of that van?"

That gave the animals pause, and there was a hush. Muriel began to spell
out the words. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly
silence he read:

"'Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer
in Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied.' Do you not understand what that
means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's!"

--George Orwell, Animal Farm

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Well I know I shan't be voting for Mitt

and the reasons are three chiefly

We do not agree on economic policy. I believe Trickle Down is a disaster and has been proven so several times in US History, Grant, Hoover, Reagan and Bush Junior. He wants to go back to those policies. Two led to great depressions and the third was this close. So to me it is stupid to go back to policies that do that.

We do not agree in national defense. Suffice it to say, if he got elected and enacted his policies, the USSR is the model we should be looking for, and at the strategic level it makes zero sense to get another 600 ship navy. (Yup, two battle groups translate into that), Also trying to look for yet another war is not healthy for the country.

We really do not agree on the safety net... reasons are legion

But sorry, I personally do not know Mitt Willard Romney, or Barack Obama, so I cannot attach to either a despise and love categories. We simply do not move in the same circles. Perhaps you do.

I can say the same thing about my local Mayoral race, the guy I am not voting for, I disagree with his policies, and I think are the wrong path to take this city into. But the guy I will vote for, I do not agree with him 100%.

I personally believe that attaching emotion into this is a sure way to an early grave, but to each it's own.

Now if I personally knew either of the candidates then I could tell you why I like or dislike, even hate them. Alas, again, I do not move in those circles.

[quinnox]

4. don't see why this would get you banned, but

this is probably more appropriate for the religion forum.

By the way, Christianity also has a ton of crazy things in it if you read the bible, but it often gets a pass because it is "mainstream". Also, I doubt Romney had much of a choice, he was born into the religion just like others are born into other religions. Sure, he could have rejected it, but that requires a special independence and level of free thinking that most people aren't capable of, especially conformist republican types.

[malaise]

5. I think all religion is a

crock of shit

[sarcasmo]

51. I 2nd the crock of shit.

[SammyWinstonJack]

57. A crock of shit and a huge CON too.

[obxhead]

6. It's as valid as any other cult you can join.

Doubt this would get you banned, but it's probably the wrong place to post it. This post might have fit better in the religion group.

[Whovian]

11. This is more about Romney and his roots rather than religion.

[obxhead]

32. Well your post is about Mormonism

Sure, you threw Romney in there, but overall your post is about the silliness of the Mormon religion.

I still think it belongs in the religion group, but that's just my opinion. DU can decide where it does or does not belong.

[aletier_v]

8. Don't exclude women, there's something in it for them, too.

There's a lot of penis action and submissive role play

[flamingdem]

10. WHY are the Republicans voting for the Cult Bishop?

Even they should know better

[aletier_v]

16. I agree, they should

but there's a lot of issues with Obama that are banning offenses here, so it's not really my goal to explain the reasoning to you.

but that might be why you don't understand their thinking.

personally I decided the Republicans have gone too far into the WonderZone to support any further.

[flamingdem]

35. Do you disagree with "the reasoning"

All insights appreciated because I think most Republicans are disgusting pigs at this point. I'd like to be able to forgive them but I need a shred of evidence that they are sane.

[begin_within]

12. Might get me banned here but I have to say it.

All religions are cults. Every single one, without exception.

[quinnox]

14. If Mormonism is a cult then so is Christianity

I honestly have never understood the distinction some make between these either.

[begin_within]

22. I don't understand the concept that Mormonism is separate from Christianity

It's the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"... the word Christ is in the name of the church... yet some claim that it's not a Christian religion? But it doesn't matter to me... I believe God hates all religions anyway.

[quinnox]

23. "I believe God hates all religions anyway."

lol, that is a good line. Indeed, who can know for sure.

[begin_within]

34. Well, it's true, if you ask me.

I believe in God but I hate religion and I believe God hates religions.
They just separate people from God, not bring them closer to God.
I'm not too crazy about God either, as a matter of fact. I believe God is cruel.

[formercia]

13. I prefer Noodles

Ramen

Eating our Lord in the here and now.

In the name of Pasta, Sauce and Holy Meatball

Ramen

[Whovian]

18. May his Noodly appendage touch your soul.

[billh58]

17. OPs which begin with

"might get me banned," reek of grandstanding and do nothing to either make, or reinforce, a particluar point. It's almost as if the poster were daring someone to ban them.

[Whovian]

19. Actually, bill, I was worried about offending Mormons on the board.

Give it a break.

[billh58]

38. Having read

some of your other posts, I would say that it is you who need to "give it a break."

[IndyJones]

47. I think you are aware that you will be offending members here

I'm not Mormon, but I'm not going to bash their faith.

[K8-EEE]

20. To those who go to the "no different than any other religion" thing, can I tell you the difference??

Mittens thinks we are in THE LATTER DAYS. To what you may ask? To the LDS Church running the entire planet for 1000 years with Jesus from MISSOURI!

But wait a couple of things have to happen first: THE ENTIRE PLANET MUST EXPLODE IN WAR AND CHAOS. This is what BISHOP WILLARD thinks is JUST AROUND THE CORNER and if he gets in he will make it happen.

Basically he is a bishop in a doomsday cult with USA SPECIFIC ENDTIMES JUJU.

SORRYTHAT IS JUST SCARY!

[aletier_v]

30. Yes. For me there's not much difference between Mormons and Fundamentalists

it's true there are liberal and even good-natured, well-meaning Mormons but I don't see that they're the majority in the religion.

[Edweird]

21. I think that any religion that worships a omnipotent sky daddy is a crock of shit.

I don't see mormonism as any less credible than any other religion.

[SidDithers]

24. South Park got it right...

http://vimeo.com/13150374

Note, typical South Park offensive language in the video.

Sid

[Whovian]

41. Thanks. I had forgotten that episode.

[madrchsod]

25. the only reason the religious right will hold their nose and vote for a Mormon is....

their deep seated hatred of an african american running god`s america. that is the only thing they have in common.neither sect has anything in common with what is contributed to the teachings jesus.

there is very little if anything in the mormon religion that holds any universal truths that have been passed down through the history of mankind.

[Shankapotomus]

26. I sometimes wonder if Mormonisms' introduction

was spurred by a subconscious racism and xenophobia. I get a sense that the people who founded Mormonism couldn't accept a religion whose God picked as his chosen people a group of dark skinned overseas. They weren't happy with God appearing to the people of another ethnicity and nation. So they invented Mormonism to put God's attention on white Americans. it seems to make sense when you consider, until recently, the mormon church had a policy against ordaining black men of African descent to the priesthood.

[ismnotwasm]

27. It shouldn't get you banned

But this is how this agnostic looks at religion--they're all more or less the same. Equal on my eyes. I don't put people's religion down because its a hurtful thing to do.

I will criticize any homo/hatred/phobia, any acts of violence, any misogyny, war in the name of, or blessed by a deity, any shoving of religion into my personal space or political process, or forced on disenfranchised peoples done by ANY religion with no problem whatsoever

Otherwise one mythology is much the same as another. Joseph Smith doesn't have the burden of a thousands of years of history behind his personal myth, so it sounds more suspect.

[brewens]

28. The first people that invented religions actually must have been pretty smart if

if you think about it. Many things that happened to them in their lives were caused by a person or animals. Once they got smart enough to begin really figuring things out, a being in the sky or earth controlling things would seem pretty likely. They were so far away from actually understanding weather and geology and they needed some answers.

Religions must have evolved and been perfected to be more like a form of government too. It was better than having the next toughest guy take over and starting from scratch every time. No new religion was ever really new. They had it figured out and most of those ideas usually came from other religions.

We're beyond all that now. There are enough nonbelievers that just behave and obey the laws to prove it. If it really took religion to keep people under control we'd be screwed.

[OldDem2012]

29. He didn't chose Mormonism, he was born into it. nt.

[aletier_v]

31. Romney could easily leave the Mormon church if it was antithethical to his beliefs

That's the difference from racism.

[K8-EEE]

43. By his own admission he is a staunch believer in it and not a "cafeteria Mormon" (read: sane Mormon)

I believe his religion is THE REASON he wants to be President - I would not believe the same about others (such as Huntsman for instance.)

[immoderate]

33. Some Hindus worship monkeys. In Deshnok, North Rajastan they worship rats.

Obama's parents were secular, probably atheist, but he latched on to Christianity. It's really all the same shit. There are Mormons that are very decent people, though Romney is a kind of sociopathic narcissist. That's something to worry about.

--imm

[RabidProgressive]

36. I have to concur

I was born in Carthage, Illinois, and baptized in the Catholic Church across the street from the old Carthage Jail, where Joseph Smith was - well, killed by the natives. I even know descendants of the natives who perpetrated the deed. I concur; the Mormons are a strange cult. I have read quite a bit about the Mormons and have a copy of their Book. I did a research paper on them while at college many many years ago. They have some truly wacko ideas and the idea of a Mormon president scares the crap out of me.

All one has to do is google Mitt Romney Mormon beliefs American exceptionalism. And after that, look up Romney royalty.

Happily, I have recovered from Catholicism. I follow no monotheist religion. They always seem to be fighting over whose god is better, don't they?

[billh58]

39. The change in title, my friend

is very close to a call out.

[Whovian]

42. Oh Noooo's!

Cool. You don't like me or the messages I try to spread. Sorry. But I don't include you as a friend.

[Edweird]

56. There's just no pleasing you, is there?

[renate]

40. I think context matters

In the United States of America, Christianity and Judaism are common enough that they're just sort of part of the culture. (Other religions are becoming better known now, but when I was growing up, Christianity and Judaism were the only games in town. We sang "Dreidel, Dreidle" at the Christmas concert and that made it all politically correct.)

Even to those of us who don't like organized religion, believing in a religion that's so widely accepted isn't quite the same thing as believing in a religion where you get your own planet and have to wear magic underwear. In Utah, it wouldn't seem like such an odd belief, because in Utah that's just accepted behavior. In parts of the world where there are, for example, many gods, or where every tree or mountain is commonly believed to have a spirit, sharing those beliefs just sort of reflects the culture in which a person grew up.

I agree with those who say that a belief in God based entirely on a literal interpretation of the Bible is just as weird as a belief in Kolob, but considering the culture of the United States, Mormonism is still kind of an outlier.

[Mr.Bill]

44. And while we're on the topic

Can someone explain to me why it is that if the Jews are God's chosen people, He gave them the land in the middle east that has no oil?

[Nevernose]

52. I think Sam Harris said it best:

Unlike the founders of most religions, about whom very little is known, Mormonism is the product of the plagiarisms and confabulations of an obvious con man, Joseph Smith, whose adventures among the credulous were consummated (in every sense) in the full, unsentimental glare of history. Given how much we know about Smith, it is harder to be a Mormon than it is to be a Christian. A firmer embrace of the preposterous is required—and the fact that Romney can manage it says something about him, just as it would if he were a Scientologist proposing to park his E-meter in the Oval Office. The spectrum between rational belief and self-serving delusion has some obvious increments: It is one thing to believe that Jesus existed and was probably a remarkable human being. It is another to accept, as most Christians do, that he was physically resurrected and will return to earth to judge the living and the dead. It is yet another leap of faith too far to imagine, as all good Mormons must, that he will work his cosmic magic from the hallowed ground of Jackson County, Missouri.

http://m.samharris.org/blog/item/on-the-freedom-to-offend-an-imaginary-god

[Fla_Democrat]

54. http://www.reid.senate.gov/

Drop him a line, maybe he can discuss his religion with you.


http://www.reid.senate.gov/


So, just between us, do you think he is "bat shit crazy", or a con artist trying to strip people of their money?

[IndyJones]

55. Excellent questions.