In a few weeks, we will be discussing our First Amendment freedoms, including freedom of religion. For the past six months, the Mormon Church has run an advertising campaign in nine U.S. markets, including Indianapolis. The advertisements, which include television, radio and billboards feature Mormons talking about their lives and faith. The ads are designed to show that Mormons are everyday people leading everyday lives. Although the Mormon Church officially supports no presidential candidate, many feel these ads have come at just the right time as there is a candidate of the Mormon faith running for President, Mitt Romney.
There has been a lot of controversy over a Mormon running for President. Last week, pastor Robert Jefferies called Romney’s faith a “cult”. Romney has also endured repeated questioning in interviews about his faith and his personal beliefs. Shows like Sister Wives, and reports of raids on polygamist compounds leave many Americans buying in to the stereotype and feeling that Mormons are just plain weird. It begs the question, “Is America ready for a Mormon President?”
Now I make no secret of my Christian faith. That being said, I strongly believe in the separation of church and state. I also have Mormon family members. They don’t have multiple wives, live in Utah or wear homemade clothes. My cousins all went to public school, listen to music, watch movies and wear the latest fashions. In fact, if not for the fact they abstain from caffeine, I would forget they were Mormon at all.
So my question to you this week is, “Do you think America is ready for a Mormon President? Do you think a candidate’s religion should be discussed when running for public office?” Answers are due no later than Monday, October 24th, 2011.
I don't believe America is ready for a Mormon president. We are too harsh and judgmental. A candidate's religion should be considered, but never the reason for judging them. It could be a popular interview question, but never should be something that creates their "image."
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tori in that Americans are harsh and generally stay away from things that deviate from the 'norm'. Personally, I don't find a problem with a Mormon being president. I really don't think a candidate's religious beliefs should be brought up at all, though. If it happens to be brought up, it should be noted and not used against them.
ReplyDelete--Rebekah Cage
Since we are all free to worship as we want it should not be an issue, but it is. Americans do not like things that are different or "out of the norm" because they don't really know about them. There are some things in the church's past that I consider a problem, but to be Mormon is an individuals right. I do think our president should have a religious belief, our money even says "In God We Trust" so I think our president should trust in God as well.
ReplyDeleteI am sure the billboards were strategically timed in preparation for Super Tuesday!!
I could care less what religion our President has or if he has one at all. I do care that he is intelligent and makes decisions that benefit America 1st and the world 2nd and not his personal intrest or those of his "donations" contributers. I think America is ready for a Mormon President but like a child standing at the deep end of pool we might not be willing to jump in and prove we can swim.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it matters what faith a president resides within. I only say this because I am a HUGE advocate for separation of church and state. I have had several friends/acquaintances that believe in the mormon faith and it hasn't proposed a problem. Honestly, I wouldn't even know they were mormon until I bring up coffee. I think the only reason America makes this an issue is so we have something to complain about. One, the president is only 1 of 3 powers that make decisions. And two... we just had a black president, a wonderful change for us. Race seems to be made a much bigger ordeal than religion.
ReplyDeleteMy experiences tell me people hate other people/religions from lack of knowledge and assumptions. Many people are so engulfed within their stereotypes, true reality seems to be inexistent most of the time. I believe if we were to step outside the comfort zone and learn about things we don't understand, Earth would be a much more beautiful place.
I don't know if America is ready for a Mormon President. I could see a lot of people not vote for a Mormon president because of his religion. I think it might be a good thing for a president with strong family values to run the country. Maybe it would do some good. I think talking about the president religion should not be talked about while running for president because it could cause a lot of problems and issues not to mention would probably cause a loss on votes.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it, the worst part about religion being stamped on anyone is the very same as race being stamped on them: we can say Mormon just to fill in a box, but that dose very little to define the person any. Just like knowing Obama is 'black' doesn't make him fall into 'black' stereotypes. Obama is half black BTW. So being called Mormon or Christian or any other religion does not lock the persons beliefs in or even really describe them.
ReplyDeleteReligion is a journey and study each person takes up for themselves, with no-one to legally tell them they are tight or wrong. So why use an un-judgable category as a means for judgement? Because it's easier than him listing out his beliefs one line at a time... Either way, he could lie about his religion if he was ashamed of it, but he is not.
Perhaps we should open our eyes a little. And if we're going to disapprove of the man's beliefs at least find out what exactly they are.
I do not think that America is ready for Mormon president, but they also weren't ready for a man of color to ever be President either. I agree with Caleb Fruin 100%. Putting a person in a category because of the religion they choose to practice is just like putting people in a box because of their race, or the music they listen too, or who they choose to be married to. No matter how you put it, its races.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that candidates religion should be discussed when running for public office. Why is it important? What does it do for Americans besides give them one more thing to talk about.
As a whole i think Americans buy into stereotypes very easily and that would make it more difficult for a Mormon to be elected into office and because of that I'm going to say no that America probably isn't ready.
ReplyDeleteI also believe strongly in the separation of church and state and don't believe that a candidates religion should overly influence whether they are elected or not. But I can also see the flip side of the argument. Religion can be a large part of peoples lives and plays a large part in morals and choices. Which can reflect in how they would run the country if elected.
I personally do not think America is ready for a mormon president it is something that is too alien to Americans to understand. I believe if people actually knew more about the religion there would be room for a mormon president. I do not believe that religion should have anything to do with a presidential campaign your morals should be based off what is the best for the people and not what is best for their god. I personally love (sarcasm) when people call a certain religion a cult. All religions are cults. Just check out the definition of cult.
ReplyDeletedictionary.com
cult: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2.an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3.the object of such devotion.
4.a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5.Sociology . a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
I don't think Americans are ready for a Morman as a president since many American buy into stereotypes. They'll think that since he's a Morman than he must be a polygamist. Mitt Romney's religion should not be a tool to vote against him. There shouldn't be talk about a candidate's religion, as an American he has that right to express it. What does it matter what religion he is, it shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Americans are ready for a Mormon president since many Americans have a lack of knowledge of the Mormon faith. With the Mormon faith being somewhat of a minority religion, it might be hard for some to relate to.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do feel that a candidate's religion should be noted just so people know what views and stance one might have, even though it shouldn't matter what religion they are.
No. I do not believe that the United States of America is ready for a Mormon President.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't believe in the separation of church and state, because my stand in life, my moral beliefs are all based on my personal faith. Therefore, I use my faith in my political evaluations and decisions.
I do care about a candidates religion. Some religions force their beliefs on others and certain candidates may be forceful on certain matters if they are following their religious beliefs and not listening to the people.
That being said, I don't have a problem with voting an atheist into the white house if he lets me be free in my faith. Live and let live, but beware! ;o)
I feel like it does not matter on the religion.. if he had any thing that I agreed with I would vote for him.. I think the only thing that really matters is if he can run America how I would like it to be ran..
ReplyDeleteAs far as throwing religion out into the public, I think its to gain or drop American votes..
I think America could possibly be ready for a Mormon President. I don't see why we couldn't have a Mormon President because we have a biracial President now; which is something America hasn't experienced before. I think a candidate's religion shouldn't be a problem or discussed because we are a country with freedom of religion.
ReplyDeleteI think America is ready for a Mormon because if a Mormon is elected President, America will still continue being America. People will complain about it because he is different but will soon latch on to something new to complain about, and the fact that the President is Mormon will become trivial. As far as a candidate’s religion, I think that it should be public knowledge but it should not be a campaign topic.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that some Americans are ready for a Mormon President...initially some Americans dont even what a Mormon is.I really dont know much of the Mormon faith but I have a Mormonn who has alot of ties with the Mormon church and from what I have seen is that they are a tight knit community and are very welcoming.Im on the fence when it comes to seperation of church and state,I would like to know a candidates religious stand point but thats not going to make a difference on whether I vote for them or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Americans are ready because they don't understand the Mormon religion. If someone doesn't understand something, they fear it or don't care about it most of the time.(sadly) I think it would be nice to know what religion the candidate’s are, but I try not to vote on them just for that reason.
ReplyDeleteReligion plays a major factor in determining the character of a person. The main thing about determining what makes a person a great presidential candidate is how they stand on issues that are important to you; that being said Romney would make a great president and considering the alternatives I think we could use "change".
ReplyDeleteUnless some people can get more acquainted with his beliefs, then I believe that being Mormon would work against Romney's favor. Perhaps once America gets past the stereotype of Mormons we can start to actually consider what Romney is saying. I think it is annoying when enemies of candidates begin to attack minor details such as their religious beliefs, what they did 30 years ago, past love affairs, etc. It is embarrassing to see it on the media and how they are focusing on such petty facts rather than magnifying how they would like to bring resolutions to several more important issues going on in the US.
ReplyDeleteI had gone to A LOT of different churches (religions), because my family has so many religions in it, but for a good 4 years we went to a mormon church. Like you said people there weren't weird or wore weird clothes, or had more than one wife; they were just people speaking and learning about God. It doesnt bother me if Romney is a mormon. What does bother me is the coincidence between this big "i am a mormon" campaign and him running for president. I dont think that the media should ask him about his religion and his faith, for me as long as long as the president can run the country and make good decisions then i dont care what religion he is...to each his own!
ReplyDeleteI hate hate hate stereotypes! I believe in Christ myself and stereotypes make me so angry. I agree church and state should be separate. But having a president of Mormon faith isn't merging the two. Every president in the past had faith in some religion, just because we've never had one of Mormon faith doesn't make it any different. I think the US is ready for a Mormon pres. And religion being discussed during running isn't going to hurt a Mormon anymore than a Christian or an Atheist in my book. I'm more concerned with the issues... but I'm not everyone so I guess we'll see.
ReplyDelete