his religion would have been all over the news, but he is Methodist and we heard nothing. You may respond by asking what religion has to do with it anyway, but it does, because if he were Mormon, again, that would have been all over the news. Thoughts?
http://www.adherents.com/adh_congress.html#109
2007-09-06 19:04:48 · 10 answers · asked by rndyh77 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Being LDS, I agree you're right...but the best way to change peoples minds is to be a good example and live your life the best you can. There's no sense in getting bitter about it, just let it go. Yeah, its a double standard, but at the same time...isn't it kind of cool that people think highly of us to hold us to a greater standard than others?
2007-09-07 15:24:40 · answer #1 · answered by Sherpa 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, as a lifelong LDS, I've noticed this concept myself. I've noticed it in everyday conversations with my friends. I was once having a discussion with some friends about what denominations of Christianity we belonged to. It went something like this:
Person 1: "I'm a Baptist."
Everyone else: "Oh okay, cool."
Person 2: "I'm Methodist."
Everyone else: "Ah, alright."
Me: "I'm a Latter-day Saint, also known as Mormon."
Everyone else: "You're what?!"
It made me laugh how they reacted. The thing is, sometimes people view LDS as a "peculiar people". I guess part of it has to do with our beliefs (which can look "strange" to outsiders) and our high-standards lifestyle (no drinking, smoking, etc). The negative part about this is that because I am LDS, I will not receive the same treatment from some people as they would treat others.
This concept agrees with what you are talking about. Had he been a Mormon, more people would have probably jumped on it. That's the way it seems to be. It's also like Mitt Romney. Because he's a Mormon, there is a lot of criticism and bashing. If he were a "mainstream" Christian, you wouldn't see it.
I just wish everyone could understand that just because I am LDS, that doesn't make me a robot, or an evil creature from outer space. I'm a human being, just like everyone else.
2007-09-07 11:36:39 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You're right, however I don't think it's a matter of being Mormon or not, rather it's a matter of being Protestant or not. It seems that even Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, and Muslims would get just as much grief (Anyone remember the whole hub bub about Kennedy, or Liebermann?)
I'm starting to think that it's that a lot of Americans are weary of large religious groups with some collective agenda or large organized body. It's been a concern: "Will a Jew mold the US to be even more pro-Zionist as it is already? Will a Catholic make us succumb to the Vatican?"
I think the autonomic nature of Protestant congregations make them seem less threatening than massive universal religious hierarchies. The power that the First Presidency of the LDS church and the Papacy of the RCC have makes "freedom loving" Americans fearful.
2007-09-08 17:00:02 · answer #3 · answered by Feelin Randi? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're right. Its because people are not actually as open-minded as they purport and think Methodists are normal and Mormons are a cult. It would have also been funny to see the media reaction if he had been Catholic, Jewish, Unitarian, or atheist.
I think the real problem is that no-one is talking about the fact that the guy is a Republican. Republicans are so keen on not recognizing gay rights and hounding sex offenders (which he is). Time and again we see these Republican politicians failing to practice what they preach, and no-one calls them on it. How can Newt Gingrich talk about family values when he served his cancerous wife divorce papers while she was in the hospital?
2007-09-07 02:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if he were mormon, wouldn't he have been breaking a lot of rules???!?!!! and that would make for a much more interesting news story.
2007-09-07 02:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by arsenic sauce 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to agree with that assessment. Especially with Craig being from Idaho.
Media bias -- what can you do?
D
2007-09-07 14:56:37 · answer #6 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What if he had been a Catholic? People love to hate Catholics anyway.
2007-09-07 02:11:27 · answer #7 · answered by Augustine 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you are probably right. I don't see that what he did was so bad. When he lied nobody died. Can George Bush say that?
2007-09-07 02:11:50 · answer #8 · answered by my brain hurts 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you have a persecution complex.
2007-09-07 02:11:00 · answer #9 · answered by Graeme L 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Methodists can do whatever they d@#% well please!
2007-09-07 11:21:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋