Comments about ‘The subtler side of religious bigotry’

The Mormon faith is actually quite different from most traditional Christian faiths, and I don't mean that as a criticism. People are always apprehensive about the unknown and the presence of a Mormon as a front-runner for the presidential nomination brings that out.

I have seen many Mormon doctrines portrayed in the media that I know to be exaggerations or distortions. It might help for the LDS church to put out a document clearly defining their beliefs, as there seems to be a lot of varying opinions even within the church itself.

"the left-of-center media is revealing a deep-seated disdain for the faith. " ~ Editorial

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You realize the radical right considers the Deseret News "Left-of-center".

Juast goes to show, It all depends on where you stand.

Subtler side of bigotry, well hopefully we can notice all of it seeing how often subtle sides of racism come through with regards to thinks like the urge to characterize Obama as foreign. Candidates like Santorum are not correcting birthers or those who say he's Muslim, using racism to their advantage. At least I'm willing to admit that statements like Mahers are bigoted against Mormons.

"But there is a line between asking legitimate questions about Romney's political beliefs and personal life on the one hand, and painting a sinister portrait of Mormonism on the other. Responsible media organizations know the difference."

When the news media has abdicated its "fourth estate" responsibility to report fairly on politics, why would anyone expect it to report fairly about religion?

There is nothing wrong with calling a "bigot" a bigot. That's why we have words. Each word means something. The word "bigot" is defined:

"A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs."

Not a lot has changed in 182 years. People are still anxious to lie about the LDS Church, about members of the LDS Church and about the doctrines of the LDS Church. Their lack of integrity as they "anxiously" report lies as truth and distort doctrines as they mock is simply a fulfilment of Nephi's dream. Should members of the LDS Church be shocked when the things foretold by a prophet actually happen?

Mormons regularly mix their faith's folklore and mythology into their views on modern American politics and cite it as fact--take comments by LDS Tea Party delegates in Nevada who tried to use LDS doctrine/myths to support their stance on supporting the candidate of choice as an example. This invites trouble. Even within the Church, doctrinal fact and fiction is regularly mixed up and misused. Imagine how much harder it is for outsiders to tell the difference.

Also, LDS people have a dialectical approach to being members of their community--they see themselves as a "people apart" from the mainstream and at the same time seek acceptance from the mainstream. If the faithful aspire to be known as a "peculiar people", why view it as prejudice when mainstream Americans see you that way?

As I have posted many times.....fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Rather than reading the newspaper, listening to TV commentators, etc., individuals would do well to "get a life," and quit acting like Obama, Romney, Big brother government, etc. are going to make a difference! Anyone who thinks that big government,political leaders, bureaucrats, socialism, social justice,Laurence McDonald, and even the Deseret News is going change things, is naive or wanting somebody else to do something for them! Americans need to wake up and smell the roses, live life, understand the nature of God, defend and understand the constitution and you and your neighbor's unalienable rights, and perhaps we can make this country into something our children will find appealing. To be sure, the direction this country and its current poltical leader has taken us is Anti-God to say the least. Anyone would be better than our current leader. However, Republicans haven't done much better the last 30 years. Wake up Americans! If you want to get out of the partisanship, choke government, and support God and his individual approach to solving problems. More laws and bigger government are not the answer! Return to living a life that doesn't rely on somebody else doing your job, including being a good neighbor.

Why does the writer arrogantly assume all of us (LDS) are on the Right? Man, talk about perpetuating stereotypes.

Nicely put. Thank you.

Some refuse to vote for someone based on their religious affiliation.

Some refuse to vote for someone based on their lack of religious affiliation.

Is there any difference?

"Fictionalized History"
Interesting phrase. The entire history of all religions is fictional. Spinning Mormonism into the "one true church" is where the problem arises. Turning fiction into fact doesn't sit well with most people.

In my opinion, Roland Kayser makes some valid points. As LDS members, we need to remember that from an outsider's point of view our religion may seem extreme in some of it's tenets and practices.Moreover, many of our writings and beliefs portray other religions distainfully. Even if we believe that our questioning the veracity of other religions has a doctrinal basis, never-the-less, we may come across as being disresectful of the deeply held faith of others. Hense, outside observers may now justify their critisisms of Mormonism as merly competing on a level playing field in a certain sense.

I listened to two programs Saturday, one on NPR, one on PBS--both making multiple mentions that Romney is both unwilling and failing to speak on his religion.

I've heard the same for weeks.

I just am SO curious about WHAT is it that people want to know and want him to say??

It can't just be good enough for him to say his religion influences his beliefs, his morals, his attitudes, his world view, and that it is important to him--that is already incredibly obvious.

Anybody's religion, or lack of religion, would obviously effect those things.

I would love to know if they actually have specific questions they feel need answering, (if so, what are those questions?)

Or, is it (as I'm beginning to suspect) really just another "blunt instrument to cast suspicion" --all this whining and complaining that he won't talk about his religion.

(You KNOW that if Romney ever does speak at length about it he, will be accused of trying to make Mormonism sound normal and likeable. Or that he's pandering. Or that he's trying to deflect attention from weakness in his policy ideas, or his personal fortune, or perceived gaffs in speaking, or...)

Let us not forget that our current president was also attacked for the congregation he attended, and ultimately had to leave the congregation. He has also been call a Muslim (as an insult) although he is not a Muslim.
So that being said religious persecution has NOT singled out Mormonism, it just happens to be one of the weapons in the far right's arsenal.

What is the purpose of this editorial? So the Times leans left and doesn't like Romney or Mormons; that's as obvious as tomorrow's sunrise. If the D News is trying to put a stake in the ground in defense of Romney or the Mormon Church, this editorial is a pretty weak attempt. Rather than regurgitate the obvious, why not call them out or at least urge your readers to do something? This sounds like you're standing outside the playground fence hollering "sticks and stones" rather than trying to join the game.

It doesn't help when many Utah Mormons--especially the state's legislators--act clannish. We do so much in this state that exclude those who are different. Our legislators just tabled a bill that would protect all from discrimination in housing and employment--done most likely to send a moral message to all. When are we going to become a state that is neighborly and kind to all. When that happens, we will appear less like a cult and become more accepted by "outsiders."

I remember when it was cool to be a "peculiar people."

I've said it many times. If you want the 'mormon monent', don't expect it to be all peaches and sunshine. That works in the contrived reality of utah only. In the larger world you're going to take some lumps if you think mormonism has been successfully mainstreamed.

You target the left for religious bigotry, and there is some there, but most of the religious bigotry comes from your own right wing spectrum. The reality is, if Mormons want to reduce religious bigotry across the board, it should not be so closely identified with one political party. But religious bigotry by Mormons is there too. It is part of the fundamental message of the entire faith. The question is how the religion can transcend this built-in religious bigotry to become a true world religion, or will it remain a niche religion for conservatives (even though there are a few non-conservatives in the mix).

Is the Mormon faith off-limits to journalists?

May only church-approved press organs report and comment on the religion?

Why is a spin-free examination of the church's history, beliefs, practices, finances and culture so threatening a phenomenon for you?

What you perceive as "subtle disdain" is to most other people a simple reporting of the unvarnished facts.

If the GOP front-runner was not Mitt Romney, and that person was a Jehovah's Witness, would you decry the "subtle disdain" implicit in news stories that attempted to take an honest look at that religion?

This newspaper's often-repeated claim that religion is somehow being persecuted by the existence of honest public inquiry and a growing public expectation that religions take responsibility for their doctrines, histories and their roles in society is absurd and smacks of more than a little desperation.