Mormons, Evangelicals and Politics

[LA Ute]

I had a hard time deciding if this belongs in the politics space or the religion space. I finally came down on the side of politics.

I have been writing on a politico-religious blog for a couple of years. My co-blogger there, John Schroeder, is an Evangelical Christian and politically conservative, perhaps a little more conservative than I am. John's also quite well-schooled in theology, having attended grad school in that subject. He's an intellectual and has always been Mormon-friendly. John's also a great guy, and writes most of the stuff on our blog. (I just don't have the time to post daily.)

Anyway . . . I thought many here would be interested in today's blog post. It raises lots of interesting issues about Mormons, Evangelicals,politics (with a nod in Mitt Romney's direction), and I am sure there will be a fascinating array of perspectives here. So I am not promoting our blog (it already has its own little following of religio-political nerds like me), but I am interested in your thoughts.

Happy New Year!

[bluegoose]

Add LAUte to my ever growing list of people who look nothing as I imagined them.

[LA Ute]

Add LAUte to my ever growing list of people who look nothing as I imagined them.

The photo in my avatar here is heavily Photoshopped to improve my appearance.

[TripletDaddy]

We clearly have some hot older dudes on this website.

[Babs]

But then he is a radio host, not a pastor or a politician.

This right here gets to the heart of my foremost concern regarding Dr. Dobson. He is not trained as a minister. He has no political experience. And yet he puts himself forth as an authority on religious and political matters, and especially on the intersection of those matters. And a huge segment of our population unquestioningly accepts him as such an authority. He holds enormous sway over their collective (because it is very much collective) opinion and vote.

[LA Ute]

This right here gets to the heart of my foremost concern regarding Dr. Dobson. He is not trained as a minister. He has no political experience. And yet he puts himself forth as an authority on religious and political matters, and especially on the intersection of those matters. And a huge segment of our population unquestioningly accepts him as such an authority. He holds enormous sway over their collective (because it is very much collective) opinion and vote.

My own very jaded view is that he cares much more about satisfying his "audience" than anything else. He has a large organization to support and thus has to kow-tow to the most fervent of his supporters, who are not necessarily the most rational, thoughtful, or kind-hearted.

[Babs]

My own very jaded view is that he cares much more about satisfying his "audience" than anything else. He has a large organization to support and thus has to kow-tow to the most fervent of his supporters, who are not necessarily the most rational, thoughtful, or kind-hearted.

You really think the tail is wagging the dog? That's not my read on Dobson, but I'd have to think about it a bit.

[LA Ute]

You really think the tail is wagging the dog? That's not my read on Dobson, but I'd have to think about it a bit.

My firm belief (and that's all it is) is that only a very small percentage of Evangelicals are leading Mormon-haters. (Lots of ill-informed rank and file Evangelicals -- not leaders-- believe what that noisy minority says, but would change their view if only someone they respected would educate them.) That's based on a lot of contact over the last three years or so with a wide range of orthodox Christians, primarily those who supported Mitt Romney. I think that noisy minority within the Evangelical movement has disproportionate influence, and only because of tragic cowardice among other Evangelical leaders who know better. So yes, I do think the tail wags the dog, to that extent.

[Babs]

My firm belief (and that's all it is) is that only a very small percentage of Evangelicals are leading Mormon-haters. (Lots of ill-informed rank and file Evangelicals -- not leaders-- believe what that noisy minority says, but would change their view if only someone they respected would educate them.) That's based on a lot of contact over the last three years or so with a wide range of orthodox Christians, primarily those who supported Mitt Romney. I think that noisy minority within the Evangelical movement has disproportionate influence, and only because of tragic cowardice among other Evangelical leaders who know better. So yes, I do think the tail wags the dog, to that extent.

Oh, I agree with this 100%. I tried to argue this point repeatedly on CG during the political cycle.

But I don't think Dobson is conceding to anyone. I think he IS the tail wagging the proverbial dog; not the other way around. He's the one sowing dissent everywhere. He's like poison. And I don't mean in the good, hair-metal kind of way.

[LA Ute]

Oh, I agree with this 100%. I tried to argue this point repeatedly on CG during the political cycle.

But I don't think Dobson is conceding to anyone. I think he IS the tail wagging the proverbial dog; not the other way around. He's the one sowing dissent everywhere. He's like poison. And I don't mean in the good, hair-metal kind of way.

Well . . . several times during the campaign it seemed clear to me that Dobson wanted to be very "Romney-friendly" but didn't think he could get away with it. He lacked the guts to go against his most ardent supporters. That's all I'm saying.

[OrangeUte]

the religious right is the most incredibly homogenous group around. they quash and stifle dissent like no other group, except maybe mormons - maybe.