Mystic Politics

A Guide to Romney’s Mormonism: The Book of Mitt

‘Despite its transparently ridiculous dogma and sordid history of racism and murder and extremely unorthodox marital practices, Mormonism has come to thrive, thanks primarily to its ability to market and rapidly reinvent itself.’

Mormon Socialists: Communist Founders Would be Disappointed in Mitt Romney

‘In 1848, Young famously declared, “There shall be no private ownership of the streams that come out of the canyons, nor the timber that grows on the hills. These belong to the people: all the people.”’

Religion and Politics Are Inseparable: Get Over It

‘Nevertheless, it should be clear from human history that religion and politics cannot be separated. Both of them arise from the fact that we Homo sapiens are communal beings: we cannot live completely alone. ‘

Santorum Silenced: Will religious conservatives rally to Mitt Romney?

‘Even before Mitt Romney swept the first three primaries in April, effectively ending Rick Santorum’s presidential bid in the eyes of the pundits if not Santorum himself, Mark DeMoss was fielding calls from religious conservatives who sensed the end was nigh and were eager to set up meetings with Romney.’

Mormon Theocracy: The Presidency and the First American Religion

‘In other words, Romney will most likely be the first LDS presidential candidate with the support of a major political party behind him, this coming almost 200 years after the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But for a member of a young, minority religion whose founder was murdered, whose way of life was outlawed, whose members destroyed printing presses and formed their own militias (all within the United States), for Romney to rise to a place where he could reasonably become the leader of the most powerful country in the world is literally unheard of either in recent history or perhaps even in the history of all world religions.’

Pro-Israel Mormonism Makes Romney Sweetheart for American Jews

‘The very fact that his Mormonism makes him less popular among evangelical Christians almost certainly makes him more popular among American Jews. Academic analysis of the intersection of religion and politics suggests that Jews maintain a distinctly—and surprisingly—favorable view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’

Continue Reading: Pro-Israel Mormonism Makes Romney Sweetheart for American Jews

Too Much Religion In Political Talk, Pew Survey Finds

‘Politicians should keep their religion to themselves and quit publicly praying and talking so much about their faith, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.’

God and Caesar in America: Mixing Religion and Politics Is Bad for Both

‘In the wake of the Great Recession it would seem natural that the 2012 election would be fought over economic issues. Yet so far in the Republican primaries, we have seen social issues, and religion especially, move to the forefront. Rick Santorum is only the latest in a series of Republicans who have infused their campaigns with talk about God. Even Mitt Romney, a Mormon who has generally tried to avoid discussing religion, has recently pledged to defend “religious liberty” against the Obama administration.’

White America: Religion plays starring role in GOP race

‘Indeed, as American society becomes less religious, it seems religion is playing a bigger and bigger role in Republican politics.’

In GOP race, voters divided over religion’s place in politics

‘More than half of Santorum’s backers say political leaders should rely on their religious beliefs while making policy decisions, but two out of three Romney supporters feel the opposite — that leaders should steer clear of their faith as they set policies for the country.’