Posted by Sir Four at 9:12pm Oct 25 '12With the first Mormon running for highest office, I'm a bit surprised the religion has barely been given attention. Why do you suppose that is? Consider that it was a big deal when Kennedy ran to become the first Catholic President.
I guess one explanation is that those likely to criticize Mormonism as being insufficiently true to Christianity simply see Obama as the greater evil in the race. And maybe the Mormon Church has inoculated itself somewhat from right-wing Christian attacks by aligning with them in causes such as being anti-gay, anti-liberal? Mormons have made themselves useful allies despite the theological differences, in other words.
Apart from criticism, though, I haven't even seen any news stories/specials to the effect of: this is who Mormon Americans are, this is what they believe, etc. In some regions of the country--mine, for instance--there are very few Mormons, and the religion is mostly a mystery to many people.
I guess one explanation is that those likely to criticize Mormonism as being insufficiently true to Christianity simply see Obama as the greater evil in the race. And maybe the Mormon Church has inoculated itself somewhat from right-wing Christian attacks by aligning with them in causes such as being anti-gay, anti-liberal? Mormons have made themselves useful allies despite the theological differences, in other words.
Apart from criticism, though, I haven't even seen any news stories/specials to the effect of: this is who Mormon Americans are, this is what they believe, etc. In some regions of the country--mine, for instance--there are very few Mormons, and the religion is mostly a mystery to many people.
added on 9:14pm Oct 25 '12:
I just looked it up and according to one site, the percentage of New Jerseyans who are Mormon is 0.2%.