Yesterday I wrote about Mormonism and provided links for readers to do more research. Now that Mitt Romney made his speech about his religious beliefs, I want to follow-up with a look at some of the specifics, or non-specifics actually, from Romney’s speech.
In his speech, Romney said of Christ, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.” That may sound like he is a Christian, but one must look at how Mormons view Jesus Christ.
Slate.com posted an interesting article which discussed this issue, entitled, “This I Believe: Romney's incomplete speech on religion in America,” by John Dickerson. Dickerson writes, "Romney mounted a defense of religion in the public square—on his terms, which became clear when he started talking about Jesus. 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind,'he said, but then he quickly closed the door to further questioning about any of his specific beliefs. He argued that Mormonism was merely a different brand of Christianity and that to pick at the differences between Mormons and other faiths was incompatible with America's history of religious tolerance.
Some evangelicals won't like this. Why does Romney get to show them some of his doctrinal beliefs while shutting off discussion of the others?
He wants credit for saying Jesus was the Son of God but doesn't want to answer for the other ways many Mormons see Jesus. This is not just a quibble, as Romney seemed to suggest. This is evangelicals' fundamental question about Mormonism. Christians see Jesus as the literal incarnation of God. (The doctrine of the Trinity states that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all God.) Mormons see Jesus as literally the son of a God, but also as a separate God, just as the Holy Spirit is separate. For those who focus on these differences, Romney's argument that Mormonism belongs within the Christian fold is a shocking theological claim that can't go unanswered."
The Slate.com article also features a link to a comparison chart of Mormonism to Christianity.
I view Romney’s commitment to remain a Mormon, and his attempts to equate the Mormon view of God and Jesus with Christianity as clear signs of poor decision making and I will not vote for him as a result.
Please have a blessed weekend and tell somebody about Jesus Christ.
Your Brother in Christ,
Steven Kendall
Check out what I wrote about the new movie, Golden Compass, based on
a series of books by an atheist author, on my
other blog: http://helmetofsalvation.blogspot.com/2007/12/golden-compass-ill-stear-clear.html
