The Mormon Moment — Postponed

Last updated on: August 9, 2012 at 9:00 am by Andre E. Johnson

The Mormon Moment — Postponed 2012-08-09T09:00:00-05:00 Andre E. Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the last few months, considerable attention has been devoted to Mitt Romney’s tax returns and his former company’s “job-creating performance,” but there has been insufficient discussion about what arguably has had the greatest role in shaping who he is and how he views the world: his Mormon religion.

Despite his reluctance to address the subject directly, public interest in Mormonism remains at historic levels. His “Mormon Moment” is laden with obligation: never in the history of the United States has an ordained minister been a major party’s candidate for the presidency. The Mormon Church has a lay priesthood, and by virtue of his ordination to the offices of Bishop and Stake President, Romney has occupied ecclesiastical positions equivalent to those within the Roman Catholic Church of Priest and Bishop. Were a Catholic Bishop to run for the presidency, there would doubtless be a demand that he address aspects of his religion in far greater detail than would be required of candidates never ordained to the ministry — and thus Gov. Romney’s obligation.

But it is also a moment of opportunity: Ever since Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in 1830, no other American religion has aroused so much fear and hatred; none has been the object of so much misinformation, falsehood — and persecution. The hearings on the seating of Utah Senator and Mormon Apostle Reed Smoot a century ago gained Mormonism the dubious distinction of being the only religion ever to be put on trial by the United States Congress.

In ever-shifting stereotypes, Mormons have been cast as polygamists or pioneer heroes, as subversives or super-patriots; but the images have always been thin, selective and without complexity. Few know what the Mormons really are — or even what they claim to be — and yet Americans have never been more curious, never more open to a deeper understanding of this (in Mormons’ own term) “peculiar” religion. Comprising only 2 percent of the population of the United States, mostly in western states, they are disproportionately represented in the United States Congress (3 percent), and particularly in the Senate (5 percent), where Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, is the highest-ranking Mormon ever to serve in the Federal Government. Well-known, respected Mormons are found throughout the worlds of entertainment, academia, athletics and especially business. Yet other aspects of contemporary Mormonism invite misunderstanding and suspicion, particularly the exclusion of non-Mormons from all operating Mormon temples, and the common misconception that Mormons still practice polygamy.
Read the rest here

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 9, 2012

Becoming Aflame: Beyond LIberal Christianity

Next Post

August 9, 2012 The "War on Religion": Still Placating the Base

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz