The One With Aldacron

The presidential campaign of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has an interesting side-effect: it is highlighting quite clearly the depths of Christian hypocrisy. Conservative Christian Republicans have done their best to push the influence of their beliefs upon the political process. When atheists cry foul, the response is usually something like the nonsensical phrase, “freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion.” But all of their preaching of values, morals and freedom of religion falls flat when you look at reality — they don’t want anyone running governrment except people of their own faith.

It’s a given that an acknowledged atheist has no chance of getting elected to any public office in the United Christian States of America. Mormons aren’t as bad off as atheists, but when it comes to the presidency their religion has a tremendous impact on how voters will vote:

But if Mr. Romney has made progress with evangelicals, he appears to face a larger challenge in dispelling apprehensions among the public at large. A national poll by The Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg News last June found 37 percent said they would not vote for a Mormon for president.

OK, so a large number of people think Mormons aren’t fit to be president. What does that say about Christianity? Nothing, really. Until you consider this bit:

Gloria A. Haskins, a state representative from South Carolina who is supporting Senator John McCain for the Republican nomination, said discussions with her constituents in Greenville, an evangelical stronghold, convinced her that a Mormon like Mr. Romney could not win a Republican primary in her state. South Carolina has one of the earliest, and most critical, primaries next year.

“From what I hear in my district, it is very doubtful,” Ms. Haskins said. “This is South Carolina. We’re very mainstream, evangelical, Christian, conservative. It will come up. In this of all states, it will come up.”

So now the picture that is painted is that mainstream, evangelical, (that’s mainstream?) Christian conservatives aren’t going to want a Mormon in the White House. But why not? Aren’t these the same people always crying about freedom of religion? Aren’t they the people who tell atheists that we should be tolerant of the religious beliefs of others? Why, oh why, would people of such moral fiber be opposed to supporting a presidential candidate solely because of his religion?

Beyond that, there are perceptions among some people regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the church is formally known, that account for at least some of the public unease: that Mormons still practice polygamy (the church renounced polygamy in 1890), that it is more of a cult than a religion and that its members take political direction from the church’s leaders.

Well, there you go. Mormonism doesn’t qualify as a religion, it’s nothing more than a cult. And they practice that dirty, nasty habit of polygamy. But, oh my goodness, the leaders of the Mormon church actually influence the politics of their Mormon politicians!

It’s going to be interesting to watch this campaign progress. The article points out that some Christians are putting their support behind Romney because they share the same values. They likely understand that the myths about Mormonism are just that. But, let’s face it, the majority of the public believes whatever Fox News feeds them. They lack the will to go out and do the research for themselves. So they are going to continue to believe myths like those above.

I can’t wait to read the drivel Christian Conservatives spout off as the campaign progresses. The very fact that some Christians dismiss Romney solely for his religious beliefs is hypocritical. But when they start complaining that they don’t want a Mormon president making decisions based on his religious beliefs — that’s the pinnacle of hypocrisy. And the really frustrating thing is that no one will call them on it.

I hope Romney makes some progress. While I think Mormonism is just as silly as Christianity and the other fantasy faiths out there, it would be nice to see a Republican candidate who disrupts the party enough to shake things up.

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