Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are vying to become President.  In conversation with a New York Times reporter, Huckabee made a strange query: “Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?”  It is a jab at the religion of his opponent.  I accept the explanation of Paul Mirengoff of Power Line, who writes, “As I said, there's no reason to believe Huckabee is a bigot. He just let the temptation to take a shot at Romney get the best of him.” 

There is reason to believe that, indeed, such is part of Mormon theology.  It is but one of many strange tenets of a religion that believes all other brands of Christianity are heretical and false, and sees as their purpose to convert all other persons (including Huckabee) to their very different understanding of God before it is too late.  This is why Romney spent 2 ½ years as a door-to-door evangelist in France.  It is why young men, as Mormon missionaries, canvass our neighborhoods and knock upon our doors.  Try having a conversation with one and explaining to him that you are a committed Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic.  Tell him that you are a born again Christian with a personal and ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ, as I have done.  This young man, zealous and trained, will not be dissuaded.  He is convinced that you are wrong, and must be converted to his faith to have any chance in eternity.  And he is particularly trained to pursue the conversions of those actively involved in “false religions”, i.e. Protestants, Catholics, etc.

Mike Huckabee is a bright man.  He graduated from College in 2 ½ years.  He has a Seminary degree and spent 20 years as a highly successful pastor.  He knows how to communicate, and he knows what Mormons believe.  Should he want, he could wax for some time about Joseph Smith and the Hill of Cumorah, holy undergarments, pre-existent spirits, ascendancy to godhood, and the brotherhood of Christ and Satan. 

I believe there is a struggle going on within Huckabee, between the preacher and the politician.  The preacher most likely believes, with reason, that Mormonism is a false brand of Christianity.  He also understands, with the elevation of Romney to the presidency, would come greater legitimacy and promotion of his faith.  To state the matter in stark religious terms, many would be led astray.  Yet, Huckabee the politician knows his opponent could perform the office of the President quite admirably without being confined or even defined by his faith.  Kennedy was not a “Catholic” president, nor Clinton a “Baptist” president, nor Reagan a “whatever” president.  Romney could be a great president.  Could.

The nuances of Romney’s religion areworthy and interesting matters of debate, for a preacher.  Not a politician.  I believe Candidate Huckabee should receive scriptural guidance from Preacher Huckabee.  The Preacher most likely has proclaimed and counseled with the use of the following scripture many times.  It is still highly applicable, although most likely not quotable, in political jousting:

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” - Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Could you imagine that kind of presidential debate?

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posted by: kinghavoc (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (1:15 pm)

Great post, dead on too. Morman belief of Christian events, etc. is seriously twisted.

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posted by: kinghavoc (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (2:18 pm)

Great post, dead on too. Morman belief of Christian events, etc. is seriously twisted.

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posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (3:03 pm)

I enjoyed the post, but as usual, it implies that YOURS is the "right" faith. Therefore I'll say my piece again: just cuz you (or I) believe something doesn't necessarily make it so. There's a book of Mormon here in this hotel room and I've been perusing it a little. I read it through once twenty years ago, but frankly reading it through a second time seems just as pointless as the first go-round was, but then what do I know. No book written and compiled by men, that other men then claim is divinely inspired, is any more or less fictional than any other, at least to my way of thinking. As for obvious absurdities, certainly the Book of Mormon has more than its share. Regardless, you're right, there cannot be any sort of religious litmus test for anyone running for the Presidency. It's unconstitutional, and moreover, it's wrong. I just hope Huckabee - if somehow he wins - doesn't REALLY start promoting universal gun ownership... THAT scares me. He's sure likable though...

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (8:04 pm)

Reply to: kinghavoc
It is certainly, in my opinion, a serious aberration to historical and Biblical Christianity. My point is that Huckabee should not use such as a weapon in his campaign against Romney.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (8:10 pm)

Reply to: surrogate
You are aware, I guess, that I do believe that mine is the "right" faith? I believe in the equal right to faith, whatever one's persuasion. I just do not believe that all faiths are equally correct.

Universal gun ownership? I don't own a gun. However, if home invasions continue in my community, then to secure a gun and learn to use it could be a wise choice. These gangs burst into homes to pillage, rape, and murder. It's quite scary to realize there are people in my vicinity who have such disregard for life.

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posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 12.13.07 (10:10 pm)

"I just do not believe that all faiths are equally correct."

And neither do Mormons, or Catholics, or born agains, or Shiites, or Sunis, or.... Need I go on?

Come on Dave. It smacks of being a possible Jeff Foxworthy bit sometime off in the future...

"If you think 'what I believe is the only correct thing to
believe?' Well, you jess might be a religious nutball."

"If you think people who don't believe what you believe are damned for all time? You jess MIGHT be a 100% certified first class religious nutball."

"If you think Jesus and Satan are brothers, or that Satan exists at all, or, for that matter, that if you off a bunch of people by flying a plane into a building that there'll 70 hot young virgins waitin' fer ya in the next world? Well then, good buddy, you are most assuredly a rootin'-tootin' high-fautin' super-sonic religous nutball of the first order.

All just of different sides of the exact same multi-faced and complexly shaped coin.

Can I get an heartfelt Amen from everybody?

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posted by: tarroc (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (1:08 am)

Hey Pastor Dave.It's been a long time, friend.Y

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posted by: tarroc (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (1:08 am)

Hey Pastor Dave.It's been a long time, friend.Y

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posted by: tarroc (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (1:13 am)

Hey Pastor Dave.It's been a long time, friend.You seem to have quite the reportoire of comentators.This "Surrogate" has really brought the fighter in you,huh?Anyway I wanted to offer my opinion but I am kind of diverted by your debate.More so,I just wanted to say hello.Have an energetic day.
This Surrogate is very a interesting individual!Have an opinionated day,won't you?

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posted by: ggirl (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (9:31 am)

I kind of like Huckabee and I really don't like Romney, but I thought Huckabee's comments about Mormon faith were unworthy of him. I thought they were below the belt.

Are we electing a President on the basis of faith? Can anyone become President with espousing *some* kind of Christian belief? I heard those questions being posed on television the other day. Good questions, I thought. My own answer right now is probably not.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (5:59 pm)

Reply to: surrogate
Nah, I don't think Foxworthy would bother. He is actually a nice guy. My daughter worked the register at a local store and checked him out a couple of times, and was highly impressed with how friendly and conscientious he came across. And, he is a Christian, and I am pretty sure a fellow Southern Baptist! So, he would most likely leave us out of his skits.

Surely you would agree that not all beliefs are equal. For instance, some have the crazy idea that Hilliary Clinton would make the next best president. You and I both know any Republican would be better. Semi-seriously, name any theory about life: economic, social, religious, political, etc. In every category, some approaches are better than others. I happen to believe that Christianity provides us with the best understanding of God.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (6:01 pm)

Reply to: tarroc
Good to have you stroll over and visit around here. Please, come along often. Surrogate is o.k. I'm in the process of enlightening him on political and religious issues. Soon he will come to see things my way.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 12.14.07 (6:03 pm)

Reply to: ggirl
I, personally, want a president who proclaims an affinity toward some brand of deism. I think, if the political philosophy of the person was akin to mine, that I could vote for someone who believes in God and yet is not a part of my particular organized religion. An atheist, I think I would have a problem voting for.

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posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 12.16.07 (4:25 pm)

Huckabee doesn't scare me per se. He seems to be likeable and genuine. However, there are a few things we disagree on. Foreign policy being one of the foremost.

Romney on the other hand, seems likeable and has good foreign policy. however, i unabashedly do not like the fact that he is LDS, and no, I am not a bigot. My grandparents were LDS and although I was raised Catholic and remain so to this day, whilst I was living with them, I had to live the Mormon life and attend church with them, as well as learn the dogma.

And I do not want a mormon as president.

I am seriously thinking of anyone else LOL. Maybe I'll go with Fred. at least he has a voting record to peruse, and he is eminently more likeable and believable than John McCain.

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