'Merkin 'lections

[Oscar]

Ha - yes, indeed, nearly all religions could be depending on where you sit.

In this case I'm more meaning that fundamentalism is the demand for a strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. (see link below) The Anglicans etc are all considering things like gay marriage and making accommodations and the Mormons are a wee way behind the current thinking on this stuff... Also many of the established churches are loosing ground in the white middle classes while the Mormons are still actively recruiting.

In the religious context 'fundamentalism' is a funny term. Originally it applied to Protestant Communities in the USA

see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalism

Mormons have their own book and believe its for real. Its interesting to note that there has been a fair bit of revision of their systems though. Usually resulting in financial / membership gains and there are sects withing the Mormon world that reject this and are really quite stroppy about the whole deal.

The really right wing christian types in the USA kind regard the Mormons as a sect. Albeit a hard working, thrifty family values type sect that fits very well with the American ideal. Hence they can tolerate Mitt.

Had he been elected I think there would have been some really big social issues crop up that would distract the govt from solving the real issues of unemployment and a spluttering economy. Nothing like dragging up the abortion issue to scupper that for a few months.

I did find the Mormon scaremongering quite ironic considering what the Christian Right Wing has been up to in US over the last few decades. I haven’t seen any specific evidence of Romney’s religion being a problem (say like the footage of Palin having the demons cast out).

[Paul in NZ]

I did find the Mormon scaremongering quite ironic considering what the Christian Right Wing has been up to in US over the last few decades. I haven’t seen any specific evidence of Romney’s religion being a problem (say like the footage of Palin having the demons cast out).

Mormons by nature tend to be fairly right of center but not quite over the horizon and beyond the dungeons of the inquisition right.. But from where they stand you can get a good view of them... I have some considerable personal experience of Mormonism and to be fair they are adaptable (slightly) and reasonably good natured at the civilian level. The command level ones tend to be a bit 'sticky'...

The religion issue always haunts American Politics from the Catholic Kennedy's to who ever. Funnily enough the extreme right evangelical merkins didn't seem to have much of an issue with him as they respect people with a strong 'faith'. (as long as its a big brand christian one) I suspect he lost a lot of the middle ground moderates though and in that election it could be the difference between winning and loosing.

One of the things that would have changed once he was in power would be abortion reform. Its a very emotive issue and there would have been blood spilled (well - ok - MORE blood) over it. Then gay rights etc and there was a lot of potential for un needed distractions. But the real issue that I think killed the Republicans was immigration/race.

Romney won the votes of 59 percent of whites, 52 percent of men and 78 percent of white evangelicals.

Obama claimed 55 percent of women, 60 percent of voters under 30, 93 percent of African-Americans and more than 70 percent of Latinos and Asians.

Republicans won the white vote by 20 points and still lost!!!!

American has always been a land of immigrants but now the older waves are established and the newer ones are a different shade of pink so having a candidate that can span the changing demographic is essential. A rich Mormon is REALLY going to struggle to do that. Its only recently (1978) that in a letter, the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaimed that “all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.”

Men of African descent could now hold the priesthood, the power and authority exercised by all male members of the church in good standing. Such a statement was necessary, because until then, blacks were relegated to a very second-class status within the church.

Why was that important? Because in the great membership race in the Pacific the Mormons were getting their arses kicked by the competition. ie Black people in the USA didn't believe a word of it and still regard the church as essentially racist. Its still sexist (all MEN) and effectively its still racist so yes - he had a religion problem....

[oldrider]

Pray tell how one would run a bank without a building and all the facililities?
From a tent, with an abacus??

My point is that they end up with a paid up "asset" where any one else ends up with a debt loaded "liability"!

I.E. You only want one town hall but you borrow from the bank and end up paying for about three or four!

The banks float the loan, build, cancel the debt and are home free on only one transaction and only by book entry they end up with an asset.

[Oscar]

My point is that they end up with a paid up "asset" where any one else ends up with a debt loaded "liability"!

I.E. You only want one town hall but you borrow from the bank and end up paying for about three or four!

The banks float the loan, build, cancel the debt and are home free on only one transaction and only by book entry they end up with an asset.

I'm sorry to disabuse you of your hard earned prejudices’, but banks don't actually own that many buildings. You'll find they usually are only tenants and own the naming rights.

[Oscar]

Mormons by nature tend to be fairly right of center but not quite over the horizon and beyond the dungeons of the inquisition right.. But from where they stand you can get a good view of them... I have some considerable personal experience of Mormonism and to be fair they are adaptable (slightly) and reasonably good natured at the civilian level. The command level ones tend to be a bit 'sticky'...

The religion issue always haunts American Politics from the Catholic Kennedy's to who ever. Funnily enough the extreme right evangelical merkins didn't seem to have much of an issue with him as they respect people with a strong 'faith'. (as long as its a big brand christian one) I suspect he lost a lot of the middle ground moderates though and in that election it could be the difference between winning and loosing.

One of the things that would have changed once he was in power would be abortion reform. Its a very emotive issue and there would have been blood spilled (well - ok - MORE blood) over it. Then gay rights etc and there was a lot of potential for un needed distractions. But the real issue that I think killed the Republicans was immigration/race.

Romney won the votes of 59 percent of whites, 52 percent of men and 78 percent of white evangelicals.

Obama claimed 55 percent of women, 60 percent of voters under 30, 93 percent of African-Americans and more than 70 percent of Latinos and Asians.

Republicans won the white vote by 20 points and still lost!!!!

American has always been a land of immigrants but now the older waves are established and the newer ones are a different shade of pink so having a candidate that can span the changing demographic is essential. A rich Mormon is REALLY going to struggle to do that. Its only recently (1978) that in a letter, the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaimed that “all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.”

Men of African descent could now hold the priesthood, the power and authority exercised by all male members of the church in good standing. Such a statement was necessary, because until then, blacks were relegated to a very second-class status within the church.

Why was that important? Because in the great membership race in the Pacific the Mormons were getting their arses kicked by the competition. ie Black people in the USA didn't believe a word of it and still regard the church as essentially racist. Its still sexist (all MEN) and effectively its still racist so yes - he had a religion problem....

Interestly, some of the biggest critics of the Mormon Church decided that they had to vote for the white devil, as opposed to the black one...

Concerns that Mitt Romney's Mormonism would put off white evangelical voters did not bear out at the polls Tuesday.

Seventy-eight percent of white evangelical Christians went for Romney, according to exit poll results, up from 74 percent for the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, John McCain. White evangelical Christians made up 26 percent of the electorate this year, as they did in 2008.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/...ported-romney/

http://www.christianpost.com/news/po...-romney-74727/

These people still voted Republican, even though their Churches do not allow that Mormonism is Christianity.

[MisterD]

These people still voted Republican, even though their Churches do not allow that Mormonism is Christianity.

Yeah, but it sort of looks a bit like Christianity and most of those voters will be utterly convinced that Obama is either not America, or a Muslim, or both.

[oldrider]

I'm sorry to disabuse you of your hard earned prejudices’, but banks don't actually own that many buildings. You'll find they usually are only tenants and own the naming rights.

Probably true but it's just mind over matter to me .... I don't mind because it really doesn't matter! you missed the point by miles!

[mashman]

Too many big words for you?

baaaaaaaaa

[Oscar]

Probably true but it's just mind over matter to me .... I don't mind because it really doesn't matter! you missed the point by miles!

No I didn't, you were have a shot at the Banks owning lots o' property (and missed by miles).

[Oscar]

baaaaaaaaa

I see your vocabulary hasn't improved.
This is KiwiBiker you know, not www.conspiracywankers.com - you'll have to up yer game...

[Ocean1]

This is KiwiBiker you know, not www.conspiracywankers.com

I can see where he gets confused with that.

[mashman]

I see your vocabulary hasn't improved.
This is KiwiBiker you know, not www.conspiracywankers.com - you'll have to up yer game...

Another baaaaaa for you as you seem to have shot your bolt back in the 80's when you were a radical . Ooooo look, the price of bacon is going up I see.

[scumdog]

Another baaaaaa for you as you seem to have shot your bolt back in the 80's when you were a radical . Ooooo look, the price of bacon is going up I see.

Oh I hope not - I'm just about to tuck into a bacon-buttie!

[Oscar]

Another baaaaaa for you as you seem to have shot your bolt back in the 80's when you were a radical . Ooooo look, the price of bacon is going up I see.

I must say, you never let looking like a complete fuckwit get in the way of a lame catch phrase.
The whole sheeple thing was funny the first time.
























































Nah, actually it was always pretty lame.
Feel free to continue using it, though - it never hurts to remind us what a doofus you really are.

[mashman]

Oh I hope not - I'm just about to tuck into a bacon-buttie!

The alternative was you taking to the skies... and whilst I thought it amusing, I thought I'd go for shock an awe.

I must say, you never let looking like a complete idjut get in the way of a lame catch phrase.
The whole sheeple thing was funny the first time.

baaaaaaaaa