Southern Baptists finally legitimize the Mormon religion.

[kentuck]

A few months back, we had a preacher from Texas - widely broadcast over the TV talk shows - calling Mormonism a "cult". This has been the belief of most Southern Baptists for many decades. Mormons are not true Christians.

However, when it became a contest between Mormonism and Republicanism, Republicanism won. Politics became more important than whether Mormonism is a cult or not?

Just yesterday, Billy Graham, the Godfather of Southern Baptists, announced his support for Mitt Romney. This is a big story. It is historic. The Mormon religion has finally, after all these years, been accepted as a mainstream religion. It has become a perfect storm of politics. The Mormon Church can now use its vast sums of money to buy into the American political system.

[Kookaburra]

1. Truth!

Back in my sad past as a southern baptist youth, we were subjected to a week's "study course" on cults. What was the first one we learned about? Mormonism.

[clydefrand]

2. "It has become a perfect storm of politics."

After Obama wins, they will be saying Mormons are cults again.

[dawg]

3. Imagine what they would be saying if Obama was a Mormon.

IOKIYAR.

[SDjack]

4. Billy misses being invited to the White House to pray

with the President. Now, he's setting up Franklin to do it with Rmoney.

[exboyfil]

5. Cult is a perjorative term

Mormonism is obviously not triune Christianity as understood my mainstream Protestants and Roman Catholics. Even Franklin Graham admitted to this in his endorsement. While Mormonism as a whole has issues (especially when it ventures into the realm of politics), I do not see why Mormons cannot work with others of different religious faiths to strengthen communities. One of the people which I hold in highest regard is a Mormon, and I was very helpful and kind to me in my career (he also sent a missionary team at me but that is ok since he earned the right through his friendship - they were not pushy and I enjoyed my conversation with these sincere young men).

I would frankly prefer living next door to a Mormon than a party hardy drunk. Since I don't drink I also enjoy being with Mormons when I travel for business. It is easier when more than one is refusing to drink.

As far as their theology, it puts considerable trust in a man of questionable character (Joseph Smith), but Christianity also has its issues. My daughter's college English teacher is having them read about the formation of the Bible and another sacred text (she selected the Book of Mormon). I already knew a great deal about the Bible formation (stuff not taught in Sunday School), but it has been fascinating to read about Joseph Smith and how the Book of Mormon was first published.

[kentuck]

6. It is more important than ever....

that we recognize the necessity for separation of church and state. This is the biggest problem I have with the Mormon religion. In fact, almost all religions at this time.

[exboyfil]

8. The Baptist big wheel of cheese

One of the best stories of our founding is the Danbury Baptists sending Thomas Jefferson a big wheel of cheese to the White House in thanks for him standing up for the separation of church and state. I wonder what those Baptists would have thought of the Baptist church today? I wonder if that story is in my daughter's history textbook. I think I will go look.

[Lionessa]

10. Southern Baptists are not the same as Baptists, at least not according to the SBs.

Southern and Missionary Baptists in my experience are considerably more regressive and extreme.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. What a coinkidink!

Just in time for the election.

[Lionessa]

9. Well, they may choose Repub cultist over a black Dem, but the idea that they legitimized any other

religion is just poppy cock.

I attempted in my 20's to see about not being an atheist, which was a difficult position in TX to have. So I went to many churches and visited with many of the pastors, preachers, priests to see if there was any religion I could stomach. There wasn't but the point to my mentioning it is that both the Southern Baptists and the Missionary Baptists were adamant that any religion besides their own was a religion of the devil (ie a cult) who was utilizing the effectiveness of their religion to pull folks into the sin of worshiping the wrong god.

I know it sounds entirely stupid, but that's what they said over and over. So I doubt they have legitimized any other religion, and since they themselves could be considered a cult with their extremist and intolerant attitudes.... well, I guess the idea is who cares, it's Texas and Texas sucks for anyone with any type of forward thinking.