Just ignore it?

Something I struggle with, and I posted earlier about this, is what is the role of Religion in politics and how you vote.   I think it has to be involved to a certain degree.   For example voting for an extremist in any religion would be a bad idea as that really would compromise the Constitution and freedoms.

So, why I am I posting about this again now?   Something was said to me this week that made me really think.   As a Christian it is no brainer not to vote for President Obama slightly paraphrasing.   Looking at the issues and making a decision on policy is one thing.   Voting for either candidate because you agree with x, y, z issues and they are important to you is what it should be about.   However, saying I am Christian and therefore......  leaves a lot of questions.   I will be talking about different issues and my opinion over the next few days so not now,  Where am I going with this?

The Religion of Governor Romney.  If you are saying you are voting for, or, against a person because you a Christian, surely this has to come into it.   In recent days there has been a sanitisation of this faith because it is convenient only because Romney is against Obama, or, is a Republican against a Democrat.   Is this a great deception?   The Bible speaks of false prophets who will deceive and move the flock away.   I am no where near a good enough Bible scholar to pretend to know or understand this, but, when organisations such as Billy Grahams start changing their stance because it is convenient then I see red flags.    Here are just some examples of how the Mormon faith is completely away from the Christian Doctrine.

• The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461).
• Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163)
• God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).
• God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, p. 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428).
• After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354.)
• There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163)
• "Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, by Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18).
• "One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation," (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).
• The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35.)
• "...and he that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fullness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is Antichrist," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p. 312).
• "Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 266). Also, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269).

These are just a few of many examples that can by found in the Book of Mormon (which was actually re-written in 1981), Mormon Doctrine and writings of various leaders.   My point here is not to debate or judge anyone's faith, but, that if you are saying you are not voting for the President as "a Christian" be really careful of who you are voting for if this your main criteria.

So, is this not a big deal, just for political expediency or a great Satanic deception?

-Richard

Endorsement.

With short time to the Presidential election and as seems to be the wont at the moment I will join in and give my opinion who should be President.   Just for a reference in the elections I have lived in the States I have gone for Bush, Bush and Obama.   One thing I am very serious about is that I always look at the individual merits of each candidate without worrying about Party.  

This year my vote will go back to The President.   I must be perfectly honest I have been somewhat disappointed in his first term, but, we all have to remember that President is in many ways a figurehead as policy comes from the Congress.   They promise so much, when in reality how much can they really? What I do like from the President is that to he has to the best of his ability kept true to what he believes.   He inherited an awful economic and military situation.   I know we hear a lot from his opponents to stop going on about that and that we haven't seen a full recovery.   However, I do challenge them to see what they would have done.   Some difficult decisions were made and whether you agree with them or not they took guts to make.   I am happy the health care act was implemented, but, very disappointed that it did not go far enough.   This is a fundamental problem the US faces.   It constantly affect the economic welfare of the Country due to productivity drops from folks who are sick working inefficiently and spreading disease to the added burden placed on US companies who have to pay for health care adding to their overhead in comparison to their overseas competition.   What does this lead to?   Yes, outsourcing.   Overall I think he deserves four more years to try and complete his vision.    

This year is a first for me.   In my first paragraph I said I did not vote on party.   Not this time.   The Republican Party lost me during the primaries.   I have never heard such a divisive, hateful rhetoric coming from so many people.   At times it was almost like listening to Neo-Nazis.  It was all about me, me, me and nothing about the people.   Having said that if John Huntsman had stuck in and come out I may have made a different decision, but, alas he didn't fit the Ultra-right mold so had to drop out early.   Another thing I really hated about the GOP's primary is it was all about money.   The last thing I really hate is that so many of these people portray the faith I believe in and live by.   This really makes me sick, where does Jesus teach hate?  I actually believe others would have won, but, they all had one thing in common they did not have enough money to compete with Romney and every time he started losing he spend a ridiculous amount of money on hate ads (which he now complains that the Democrats are doing)   Seeing this campaign moving forward I am even more certain of my decision.   All Romney wants is power.  His message changes to what he perceives the audience want to hear.   He has no convictions accept to get the ultimate prize no matter who or what, including his track record and truth get in the way.  Normally at this point I would go through the issues and decide who has the most things I agree with.   This year I am so sick at Romney and the GOP I do not need to that.   I think I will still do this later.  What I don't understand and no has explained to me is how anyone who calls themselves a Conservative can vote for him at the Presidential election.   He has moved so far left it's not funny.   I also don't understand how a moderate Republican can vote for him after the Primary.   It is apparent that all the Republican's care about is power and how they get there, what ever flipping and lies it takes they will do it.   One of the reasons I could not vote for John Kerry was is lack on consistency.   Mitt Romney makes Kerry look like he never changed at all.  

It actually grieves me that I am making a decision on party, rather than the individuals.   I really hope the American people and the GOP realize how bad this party has become.   Therefore, my vote in the 2012 Presidential Election is going for President Barack Obama..

-Richard