It seems that an article, due to be published in the New York Times Magazine this Sunday, Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, and ordained Southern Baptist Minister, asks, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"
For years, this question has been raised by people who want to smear the Mormon faith. For Mike Huckabee to be asking it now is a testament to how the prospect of presidential power can corrupt even a good-hearted soul. It also raises another huge question in the minds of the electorate. Is Mike Huckabee another one of the far-right religious wackos. While Huckabee is perhaps cementing his standing with the religious right that makes up about 40% of the conservative base, he is ruining his chances in the general election.
But where does this misconception about Mormonism come from? During 2 hours of intense research along with a couple of games of free cell I have found nothing in the tenets of the LDS doctrine to support this misconception. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no reference to Jesus and Satan being brothers ... It says that Jesus was the son of God and Satan is a fallen angel. This jibes with my Catholic upbringing ... and probably with all Christian faiths. The only place I could find was in the writings of Paul who said, "God is the father of all". This meant that all of God's creation were his spiritual children ... but then again, that was in the New Testament and not the Book of Mormon. No, statements like the one being published on Sunday are for the express purpose of relegating Mormonism to cult status and not a religion.
Have no doubts, the Democrats would love for Huckabee to be the Republican nominee ... they consider him to be the easiest candidate to destroy next November. Personally, I was always uneasy about having a fundamentalist christian as President ... my gut feeling has now been confirmed. I am truly disappointed in Huckabee.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
For Shame Reverend Huckabee
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17 comments:
oh yeah, make no bones about it huckabee is as far right as you can get. he stated, when asked why he shot up thru the polls that it was divine intervention (like the boy and the fish).
i like him, but i am very weary of him.
but as far as republicans go (no offense) i think he is the most honest about things. i get a really bad vibe from the others and i usually listen to it or i regret it later.
sorry my friend it doesnt make much for me to be disallusioned with politicians~!
If I may, here is a link to the LDS response to the question on lds.org. It goes right along with what you found in your two hour research project. Thanks for the fair response to Huckabee's allegations.
Hmm, that didn't work. I guess you can type lds.org and then click on "news and Events" and then "Newsroom." The response is on the upper right hand sidebar.
**religious wackos
I hv very lil respect for such ppl of all faiths!
Keshi.
You beat me to the subject, I had planned to post on it. I don't like Huckabee for several reason. His history (taxes and more).
I don't want a president who is using his religion, holding prayer meetings, convocations, and invitations. A president is not to support any one religion. He is Southern Baptist and so am I, so I can speak to this fairly.
As to Mormonism, I have studied it quite a bit, along with other religions, as part of my training in Religious Education Ministry.
The short version of what I believe about Mormonism is this:
I believe there ARE Christians who are Mormons.
However, I believe the Mormon faith, at it's foundations from the beginning, is NOT based on Christian principles. I would consider it more a cult (not Occult).
I would also wager that most of the average Mormons don't really know what their religion teaches as members move up the ranks.
Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth
I finally got into your blog after some frustrating attempts! Your blog is the only one I'm having trouble with.
I am a Christian who just happens to be affiliated with a Baptist church. I could as easily be affiliated with any Christian denomination and feel comfortable...and, I do not support Huckabee!! (for the same reasons that have already been stated in some of the other comments.)
Who do I support? I only know for sure who I DON'T support!
Thanks for the post.
blanco ... Of the candidates running, only two have been tested under fire and have shone brightly. Rudy on 9/11 and McCain during Viet Nam. Of the two of them, I have eliminated McCain because of his age ... don't mean to be ageist, but I think the pressure of the presidency would kill him. I don't have to agree with all of Rudy's positions to support him as the one that I think can do the best job. The fact that I agree with most of his positions is a plus.
angel ... I have been disallusioned by politicians for ages, I am fighting off the very real disallusionment I am starting to feel about our entire democratic system.
rev ... wellll, two hours is stretching it a bit, I was playing free cell and fielding questions from some of my salesmen at the time ... just glad I got some of it right.
keshi ... I love religious people, they just get on my nerves when they start to pontificate and preach. Religion is a personal thing with me and I don't appreciate it when someone tries to force their religion down my throat.
debbie ... I really haven't studied Mormonism as extensively as you have, but I would agree that it was a cult at first under John Smith, but like most religions (with the exception of Islam), it has evolved and is a real Christian religion now. I may be wrong, but most of the Mormons that I know, I would consider good Christians. On a personal note, my ex-wife converted to Mormonism when she married and my daughter is now a Mormon. I don't consider her a cultist.
inspired ... I too have been having trouble getting into my blog. I think the inteference is being caused by either Red Chinese or Iranian operatives trying to silence the Blogway Boys. You are following the same steps that I did in deciding which candidate to support. After I eliminated all of those that were repugnant ... the last one standing was Rudy. As for democrats, I want Hillary to run, because if the Republican loses, Hillary (as repulsive as she might be) is miles ahead of any of the other candidates.
Last night, I made a quick comment (conservative cough, I called it) about this on a social network blog of a very liberal friend of mine.
Thank you for saying it more eloquently than I did. *smile*
~Heidi
I guess I should have read the comments before I commented..
After re-reading the definition of "cult" to make sure I had all my eggs in the right basket, I would have to say that I don't know of any organized religions that do not fit into that definition.
Although I must also agree that I know that not all Mormon's know the history or the full extent of how it all got to where it is, today..
All members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I descend from many generations of LDS Mormon's and I'd have to disagree that the religion is not based on Christian principles. I know there is wide argument in this statement and I do know the history, as well as welcome all civil debate.
From the beginning, Joseph Smith established the name and the first Article of Faith to explicitly describe our beliefs as being Christian.
I was very bummed about Huckabee saying what he said.
Major party foul.
I am realllly liking Mitt.
Paul, It's been a while.....I think this is hitting below the belt. I do not kow that much about the Mormon Religion. I have known may people who are of the Mormon faith however, They were all great people. The religion I can't speak to, but the man...When one starts with the "Best Practice" when describing criteria, I get worried. This is the New politiacally correct language. I hate it...and am wide awake when one starts with this terminology. This isn't the first time my ears have perked up. Also when Romney wants medical for every man woman and child, I also get concerned, who is going to pay for this...another tas..we are being taxed to death....I ramble...stay well...
This whole business about what religious belief the candidates have is really pissing me off. As a small reminder, we have a constitutional seperation of church and state. This is SUPPOSED to mean that no matter what, the candidates' PERSONAL views/religious are secondary to the PEOPLE you are elected to rep...Just my thoughts.
I know~shakes head~
It's not how it IS...just, seriously how it's supposed to be!
There is one thing I constantly wonder about. How could Satan be a 'fallen Angel' Angels have no free will of their own. only Humans have it...
Paul,
AGREED! I am disappointed in Huckabee. Shouldn't we being hearing about where the candidates stand on issues? Its very distracting to be discussing religion this extensively.
Oh, and I can't help myself but say something about these cult accusations. I am a Member of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I like, our doctrine teaches, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour of mankind.
I would suggest that one investigate the Mormon faith by talking to Mormons. Its easy to do, we actually love to talk about our faith, especially to those sincerely interested. You can also learn about our beliefs from lds.org. Remember, if you needed a surgery, you would go to a doctor, not a plumber. If you like to learn about Mormonism, talk to a Mormon.
Furthermore, many of you are familiar with the Bible verse that says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Consider the fruits of the Mormon Church or some of the Members you may know. A bad tree can not give forth good fruit.
dreamz ... one of the definitions of cult is: A system or community of religios worship and ritual. However the main definition is: A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its' followers generally living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian and charismatic leader. It is the latter version that most of us think about when we hear the word "cult".
Cult has come to have negative images of Jim Jones and Charles Manson ... statements like the one that Huckabee made are designed to conjure up these images.
terri ... I would have been a lot more comfortable with Mitt if he had stayed true to his beliefs. Miraculously, all of his moderate social beliefs swung way to the right when he started running for President. I can't see why he didn't just say, "Here is what I believe in ..." and let the voters decide. If he becomes the nominee, the Democrats will have a field day on the flip-flopping issue.
tapline ... We are supposed to be living under a secular government. I really don't see where a person's religion is of any consequence at all.
bambi ... I probably could have used the above comment to you also. Though to tell the truth, I don't think I could vote for a Muslim ... just a character flaw I guess.
mona ... Satan was at one time one of the Arch-Angels. Each of these angels were in charge of one third of the angels. They were named Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer (Satan). From what I gather, the arch-angels were the favorites of God and were given free will. But the "fallen angel" tag was given out because Satan was cast down from heaven ... falling to the earth.
terry ... I concur, you have to judge people by their acts. I have known atheists that were good people and Christians that were vile.
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