Friday, May 13, 2011

Huntsman's Mormonism - "That's tough to define!"

That is an amazing response to a reporter’s questions about Huntsman's views and commitment to his religious faith. It’s seems so much better than Romney’s uncomfortable defenses of his faith. Romney seems to wear it on his sleeve at the same time he is somehow uncomfortable about it – one minute telling bad jokes about polygamy, and the next saying how he can’ think of  "anything more awful." (Does he think his great-grandparents were more awful than anything?) For the record, it appears that Huntsman has and I know I have polygamous ancestors as well. Sometimes it does seem a little funny, but there were a lot of things more “awful.” Yet, it’s a very good thing it is gone as I just don’t think I would be very good at it. (‘nuf said). Even Romney's speech on faith left me a little uncomfortable. I much preferred candidate Obama's.

But back to Huntsman, what a masterful statement to try to diffuse a difficult issue! No one should have to defend their religion or submit to some kind of “religious test.” It’s not like it’s in the Constitution or anything! Wait. Something’s coming to me:

…no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

U.S. Constitution, Art. VI, clause 3. Whada ya know? So all those Palinistas or other born-againers, or the newtonians afraid of sharia law, and even all those on the left who think any religious belief is proof of the delusions of an insane mind, NO.RELIGIOUS.TEST. How hard is that to understand? No original intent needs to be interpreted. No living Constitution needs to be contorted. It simply should not be an issue.

Now, back to the interesting answer to that question about belief with personal application. Any regular reader here will get a pretty good sense of what my religious beliefs are. But can anybody’s religious beliefs really be explained? Can faith be understood without being experienced? I just hope Huntsman, Romney, Obama, me or anybody else doesn’t get judged on their faith. I hope we can all be judged on what we do, not what we believe. And I hope that judgment is as charitable as I hope to receive from my ultimate Judge. And most importantly, I hope the judgments I make of others are charitable, or better yet, deferred. I’d better work a little more on it.

1 comment:

  1. Lunchtime. I'm on my own time, on my own laptop, on the City Creek free wifi, so, while I may be breaking my OWN self imposed rules, I'm only doing it because stupid Blogger.com was down last night and I couldn't post what I drafted up. And I'm breaking no actual rules or laws (Hatch Act). Oh, and I have to go backpacking with Scouts as soon as I get home.

    ReplyDelete

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