Mormon Candidate Braces for Religion as Issue

[Marnie]

I live in a mormon area. Many politicians are mormon. I would never vote for one after what I have seen of mormon politicians in my area.

We could say that about every politician! One thing about Romney, he is at least faithful to his ONE and ONLY wife. We've had liars, adulterers, cheaters...you name it. I've been watching this guy; he is genuine in his ethics and morality. Like I said, I'd vote for him just because he is honest and intelligent; there is no requirement in the Constitution for the President to be a Christian. He's not head of the Church, and as long as he doesn't inflict his religion on us, who cares? I mean, he hasn't done that in his state, so I don't think there is a secret Mormon agenda going on.

[Gerioke]

Matthew 10

34 Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.

Read the passage in context, it has nothing to do with setting nation against nation.

35

For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36

and one's enemies will be those of his household.'

37

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

38

and whoever does not take up his cross 15 and follow after me is not worthy of me.

When you look at the passage in context, the sword is a figurative reference for personal division, not war and violence.

What I get from this passage, even with the part that you added is that Jesus has set out to divide the believers from the unbelievers and He knows full well that conflict will ensue. I don't believe He brought a sword so we can pick our teeth.

If a man's faith is strong, would he not defend his beliefs and die defending the beliefs of his brethren?

John 15

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[forrestkc]

His father George Romeny was the governor of Michigan for years and it was never a problem. Why should this be?

Because Michigan is not the Bible Belt. There are a lot of issues that would not be a problem for Republican voters in Michigan that would be a huge problem for Republican voters in Alabama or Arkansas.

[Emily~Anne]

Matthew 10

34 Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.

Read the passage in context, it has nothing to do with setting nation against nation.

35

For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36

and one's enemies will be those of his household.'

37

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

38

and whoever does not take up his cross 15 and follow after me is not worthy of me.

When you look at the passage in context, the sword is a figurative reference for personal division, not war and violence.

What I get from this passage, even with the part that you added is that Jesus has set out to divide the believers from the unbelievers and He knows full well that conflict will ensue. I don't believe He brought a sword so we can pick our teeth.

If a man's faith is strong, would he not defend his beliefs and die defending the beliefs of his brethren?

John 15

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[forrestkc]

What I get from this passage, even with the part that you added is that Jesus has set out to divide the believers from the unbelievers and He knows full well that conflict will ensue. I don't believe He brought a sword so we can pick our teeth.

If a man's faith is strong, would he not defend his beliefs and die defending the beliefs of his brethren?

John 15

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

There is a difference between conflict, and violence and war. For example, we have conflicts on here all the time. However we have no violence that springs from it. Secondly, laying down your life for your friends is certainly not a call to war either. The only reason why I am bringing this up, and really it should have a thread of its own, but there is this disturbing trend among some Christians these days to falsely paint Jesus as some God of War which is a total perversion of the Gospels.

[Gerioke]

What I get from this passage, even with the part that you added is that Jesus has set out to divide the believers from the unbelievers and He knows full well that conflict will ensue. I don't believe He brought a sword so we can pick our teeth.

If a man's faith is strong, would he not defend his beliefs and die defending the beliefs of his brethren?

John 15

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

There is a difference between conflict, and violence and war. For example, we have conflicts on here all the time. However we have no violence that springs from it. Secondly, laying down your life for your friends is certainly not a call to war either. The only reason why I am bringing this up, and really it should have a thread of its own, but there is this disturbing trend among some Christians these days to falsely paint Jesus as some God of War which is a total perversion of the Gospels.

Jesus may not be a God of war but He does understand the human condition, and I don't believe He would hold His breath waiting for us to act in harmony with the Holy Spirit. If that were the case we would have Heaven on Earth. Humans have dealt with conflict using violence since the fall. How do you expect us to change after all those eons?

[forrestkc]

Jesus may not be a God of war but He does understand the human condition, and I don't believe He would hold His breath waiting for us to act in harmony with the Holy Spirit. If that were the case we would have Heaven on Earth. Humans have dealt with conflict using violence since the fall. How do you expect us to change after all those eons?

Yes, God knows that we humans are very prideful and selfish, and thus there will always be war. However, that does not mean that Jesus wants us to resolve our conflicts with war. In fact, the consistent message of Jesus in the Gospels was one of non-violence in the face of injustice. From cradle to cross, the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels is the greatest example of nonviolence in the face of injustice and oppression in the history of mankind.