There is a breaking point between Baptists and Mormons
If you were to pick an institution that could be described as the "soul" of Southern conservatism, it would be the Southern Baptist Convention. If you searched the West for a similar religious institution, you would find the Church of Latter Day Saints. Outside of some of the folks here at westerndemocrat.com, many assume that the West and the South share a lot, including deep religious faiths, and that Democrats need to be careful campaigning out here.
I've pointed out several differences between the West and the South, and here is one more: Mormons are not Baptists. Even more, Baptists don't like Mormons all the much. With the pre-campaign of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gaining speed, this issue is coming to light:
But many believe he has virtually no chance of ever capturing the party's nomination.Here's the problem: Romney is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons.
The Southern Baptist Convention website categorizes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a "cult" that is "radically" different from historic, biblical Christianity. A faith guide issued by the influential Christian right group Focus on the Family declares that "God cannot be identified . . . with the Mormon religion's notion of god." The Focus on the Family website features a guide for teaching Christianity to children that lumps Mormons in with pagan worship. And each year, evangelical organizers behind the National Day of Prayer bar Mormons from speaking at their proceedings.
Given that the South has become a GOP stronghold in recent presidential races, many, including Romney himself, believe Romney's religion would emerge as an issue there should he seek to become the 44th president.
Emmett O'Connell | September 16, 2005 | Comment on This Post (10 so far) |
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Do Mormons and the SBC disagree? Yes, I suppose they do. I say, Can't we all just get along. Saint Paul would probably send them a letter or epistle. And, he would tell them all about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ.
Since Mormons and the SBC are both evagelicals in their own way, it seems that they both could reach out to each other and make peace. This is the way I see it. Take care.
Posted by: Mild Mannered Reporter | Sep 16, 2005 5:09:55 PM
Baptists and Mormons have some sharp theological differences but share the same social values. As a Southern Baptist, I have had the pleasure of having Mormon friends and found them to be highly moral as well as spiritual. While I disagree with Mormon theology, I think it should be pointed out that this is more of a dispute about doctrine and denominational rivalries (Southern Baptists pastors are in direct competition with Mormon missionaries for converts) than basic beliefs about moral issues. Lay Southern Baptists and Mormons share a lot in common in terms of family values. Some Baptist preachers might not the idea of a Mormon candidate, but I think that Southern voters would be more likely hold being from Massachusetts far more against Romney than his Mormon religion.
Posted by: Right Democrat | Sep 16, 2005 6:43:14 PM
Right Democrat makes some good points. I have also had Mormon friends and I respect them for their dedication to their beliefs. I also do not agree with their theology, but I think generally they make extremely positive contributions to our society. Take care.
Posted by: Mild Mannered Reporter | Sep 17, 2005 3:11:08 AM
I don't think your religious affiliation makes much difference to the Southern Baptist Republicans, as long as you have one. Clinton was a Southern Baptist, and they hated him. Reagan was a Presbyterian and they loved him. W. himself is not a Baptist, he's a Methodist.
I imagine if Romney were a Muslim, he would have a hard time winning the base. But I don't see his LDS faith as a problem. The political arm of the Christian Right is smart enough to look at issues rather than narrow theological concerns.
But that doesn't mean that we can't use this as a wedge issue. We can say, "why are you listening to the mad ranting of Focus on the Family? They believe that Mormonism is an anti-Christian cult. Clearly you can't trust the judgement of a group that wants to eliminate your faith."
Posted by: Bert Lowry | Sep 17, 2005 8:30:28 AM
I think the divide and conquer stategy shows a lack of understanding of religious voters. There are intense rivalries among evangelical denominations. Many fundamentalist churches view each other as cults. Fundamentalists are often quite bitterly divided over the charismatic movement among other things. Evangelicals and conservative Catholics have long distrusted and even disliked each other, but have managed to work together on social issues and increasingly vote the same. Orthodox Jews and evangelicals have had very tense relations but still share the same social values and increasingly vote the same way. Mormons are strongly socially conservative and very likely to continue to voting a lot like Southern Baptists. A better strategy for Democrats would be to figure out a way to appeal to values voters (you know, the folks who still go to worship services and believe in moral absolutes) regardless of whether they are Mormon, Baptist, some other type of evangelical, Catholic or Orthodox Jewish. We are losing all of these groups now and will continue to do so until Democrats can connect better with people of faith.
Posted by: Right Democrat | Sep 18, 2005 2:36:49 AM
Interesting, long post about this here:
http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2005/09/one-nation-under-gods-and-mitt-romney.php
Posted by: Del | Sep 19, 2005 3:16:32 AM
First of all let me say that we should be careful in this discussion. Not one man in ten can fairly describe his own religion. Not one in a thousand can fairly describe his neighbor’s religion. For what Mormons believe I suggest a visit to http://www.lds.org/ and http://www.mormon.org/.
Governor Romney is a competent administrator, but he is in the wrong party if he wants to be President, because the red meat base of the GOP will turn on him in the primaries to support an Evangelical Protestant if push comes to shove. The highest ranking Latter-day Saint in government is Senator Harry Reid. He is one of the few national Democrats who could carry Utah and Idaho. If the West was a separate country, Harry would be the ideal candidate for the Democrats. He could potentially sweep every Western State.
Right Democrat is right that the Democratic Party needs to pay attention to people of faith and not alienate them. Harry Reid understands that. See http://democrats.senate.gov/faith.html and http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/as00_faleomavaega/mormoncaucus.html
Posted by: Leo Brown | Sep 20, 2005 11:56:12 AM
I appreciate Mr. Brown's comment about taking care before we pretend to understand another's religion. I also agree and strongly beleive that the Democratic party could use a little more religion, at least that would make our candidates seem more real and in touch with Americans. Most of us do have religious beliefs of some sort after all. Also, many of our values as Democrats correspond to common religious values; ie helping the poor and caring for the earch. Tolerance (also a Democratic value)and being religious are not mutually exclusive qualities, they should compliment each other. Republicans who focus on religious differences are missing the point.
Posted by: LDS Democrat | Oct 5, 2005 10:51:26 AM
This site says it all: www.latter-day-saints.org
Posted by: Brian | Mar 10, 2006 10:04:19 AM
I think a discussion such as this, is very heslthy.
I joined the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, in December of 1975. I was raised Free Will Baptist, my parents rarely attended, but knew the power of a God centered life. I have always treasured my friendships in the Baptist faith, and always will these are great and good people.We all should see the good in others and focus on what God may see in us than what the world may see.I have wonderful friends of many faiths, and would fight and die for their rights to believe the way that they do, regardless of there differences in doctrines.
Posted by: Bob Glenn | Jan 20, 2007 6:42:40 PM
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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
