4 ms·

I, for one, would not put limits on the ability of politicians to pander in ways that I would find implausible. But in the case of religion (even Buddhism), I

by dj-wonk 10y ago

I, for one, would not put limits on the ability of politicians to pander in ways that I would find implausible. But in the case of religion (even Buddhism), I find it plausible. Demographics and expectations about religion are changing. Religious belief and alignment does appear to be softening. See: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/ http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-... More broadly, I think the models of cognitive dissonance and tribal behavior are sometimes more important than arbitrary labels. If enough voters feel comfortable with a candidate (on their own terms) they can dismiss any number of externally-imposed labels about their candidate.

sharkweek 10y ago
Offering an anecdote with as little commentary as possible, but having gone to a small religious high school, I have friends who argue they'd "never vote for anyone who isn't Christian" but managed to do some mental gymnastics in order to vote for Romney, who during the primaries they seemed to oppose for being Mormon.
- rhcom2 10y ago
  Now I feel ignorant, Mormonism doesn't count as a sect of Christianity?
  - frenchy 10y ago
    There was a fair bit of established orthodox doctrine laid down between 100-400 CE. Christian groups that follow this are generally considered Christian by each by each other. Mormonism deviates significantly from orthodox doctrine, so it is considered a heretical sect by Christians. For analogy, comparing Mormonism to Christianity is sort of like comparing Chrome to Konqueror.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    There's a fairly common standard among mainstream Christian groups as to what constitutes the boundary of Christianity formed by adherence to certain understandings of foundational doctrines (basically encapsulated into the common Nicene and Apostle's Creed's.) This is generally held to exclude (as I recall), for different (though overlapping) reasons, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians, among others groups that describe themselves as Christian. (In contexts where the definition in question is being used, these and similarly situated groups may be referred to as "pseudo-Christian cults".) This definition isn't consistently important outside of academic theological contexts within the body of mainstream Christianity, though, as lots of regular believers use either a much broader definition in daily conversation, or a narrower one that amounts to agreement with the particular religious beliefs of the individual in question. Particularly, in US political contexts, political groups organized around politically conservative policies justified by appeals to Christianity have very often sought to appeal across traditional theological boundaries to reach politically-significant populations, and this is absolutely the case with trying to draw in LDS members; so, in terms of conservative political Christianity, Mormons are usually accepted, even if there is an academic theological standard which holds them as distinct from Christianity.
    - rhcom2 10y ago
      Thank you for the detailed response!
    - bogomipz 10y ago
      Politicians in the US are mostly either Catholic and Protestant. Jehovah Witness and Seventh Day Adventists are the same thing. Mormons along with Jehovah Witness are Restorationists so neither Catholic or Protestant. Mitt Romney who ran against Barack Obama in 2008 was Mormon. There have only been 8 Mormons who have run for President in the history of the US. Mitt and his father were 2 of that only 8. Bernie Sanders was the first Jewish candidate to win a Presidential Primary. The US has never had President who wasn't either Catholic or Protestant. This article gives an interesting look: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/12/almost-all-u-s-presidents-have-been-christians/ http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/12/almost-all-u...

by dj-wonk 10y ago

sharkweek 10y ago

Offering an anecdote with as little commentary as possible, but having gone to a small religious high school, I have friends who argue they'd "never vote for anyone who isn't Christian" but managed to do some mental gymnastics in order to vote for Romney, who during the primaries they seemed to oppose for being Mormon.

rhcom2 10y ago
Now I feel ignorant, Mormonism doesn't count as a sect of Christianity?
- frenchy 10y ago
  There was a fair bit of established orthodox doctrine laid down between 100-400 CE. Christian groups that follow this are generally considered Christian by each by each other. Mormonism deviates significantly from orthodox doctrine, so it is considered a heretical sect by Christians. For analogy, comparing Mormonism to Christianity is sort of like comparing Chrome to Konqueror.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  There's a fairly common standard among mainstream Christian groups as to what constitutes the boundary of Christianity formed by adherence to certain understandings of foundational doctrines (basically encapsulated into the common Nicene and Apostle's Creed's.) This is generally held to exclude (as I recall), for different (though overlapping) reasons, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians, among others groups that describe themselves as Christian. (In contexts where the definition in question is being used, these and similarly situated groups may be referred to as "pseudo-Christian cults".) This definition isn't consistently important outside of academic theological contexts within the body of mainstream Christianity, though, as lots of regular believers use either a much broader definition in daily conversation, or a narrower one that amounts to agreement with the particular religious beliefs of the individual in question. Particularly, in US political contexts, political groups organized around politically conservative policies justified by appeals to Christianity have very often sought to appeal across traditional theological boundaries to reach politically-significant populations, and this is absolutely the case with trying to draw in LDS members; so, in terms of conservative political Christianity, Mormons are usually accepted, even if there is an academic theological standard which holds them as distinct from Christianity.
  - rhcom2 10y ago
    Thank you for the detailed response!
  - bogomipz 10y ago
    Politicians in the US are mostly either Catholic and Protestant. Jehovah Witness and Seventh Day Adventists are the same thing. Mormons along with Jehovah Witness are Restorationists so neither Catholic or Protestant. Mitt Romney who ran against Barack Obama in 2008 was Mormon. There have only been 8 Mormons who have run for President in the history of the US. Mitt and his father were 2 of that only 8. Bernie Sanders was the first Jewish candidate to win a Presidential Primary. The US has never had President who wasn't either Catholic or Protestant. This article gives an interesting look: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/12/almost-all-u-s-presidents-have-been-christians/ http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/12/almost-all-u...