Romney's "Answer" concerning the Bible...?

Question

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;"

When asked if he believed "every word" of the bible, Romney refused to answer. Anderson Cooper saw this and tried to get an answer, but he continued to dodge it. If Romney subscribes to LDS beliefs, which he does claim to do, then the answer should have been simple. What did you think of his answer? Were you aware of the Mormon belief concerning the bible? Does this affect how you feel about Romney?

The first quote I used comes directly from the LDS website, as part of their articles of faith.

Answer 1

Moonman's answer sums it up best. It doesn't matter in politics.
I'm Mormon, so let me speak on our beliefs, Romney's likely included:

You can pry my King James Bible from my cold, dead hands.
I believe in the word of God and do not question it. In fact, I read from 1 Corinthians this morning. What I do question is:

-Who has had the authority to edit the Bible? The Catholic Church once allowed people to pre-pay for sins, massacre non-believers, and overthrow governments. Is it not possible that someone might've also abused their powers as a scribe?
-Who can prove that the Bible was never edited to fit a particular doctrine? Even Martin Luther removed 3 books from the accepted OT of the time and wanted to remove Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation because they didn't fit his definition of faith.
-The marked-up manuscript facsimiles that I've seen on tours of holy sites... where entire paragraphs are stricken out, rewritten in another handwriting, then the edits are stricken out and rewritten.

The phrase "translated correctly" refers to the process from where the will and word of God are transcribed with His intent. Is it not possible to think that even one politically motivated scribe could have made one unauthorized change, minor or major, in a lineage of over 2600 years? Is it not possible that this happened more than once?

"Chain of custody" is a phrase used with DNA evidence, but it applies here as well. I think a vast majority of God's will still comes through in the Bible, but I've read too much to believe that every Dark Age scribe was infallible.

Answer 2

Strictly speaking, Romney did not misspeak. We do believe in every word of the Bible, as far as it is translated correctly. Assuming you have the hypothetical "perfect" translation, Mormon do believe in every word.

Also note that "believe" does not necessarily mean "believe in a literal sense." Most Mormons (like most Christians in general) think some portions of the Bible are allegorical. That does not mean we should no longer "believe" in them.

Bottom line, it was a stupid question, and Romney gave the best answer he could without launching into some sort of extensive theological commentary.

http://www.allaboutmormons.com

Answer 3

I don't remember which article of faith it was (haven't said them all since I was a kid) but I remember a melody we'd sing the articles of faith to... That really takes me back. =)

Mormons believe in every part of the Bible that doesn't directly contradict the Book of Mormon, and will explain any apparent contradiction in the context of faulty translation. Mormons "believe" the Bible, but feel that it is not sufficient to understand fully God's word. If I remember correctly, the official Mormon belief is that the Bible is not to be taken literally, so Mormons would in general share the same set of (non)scientific beliefs as a fundamental evangelical christian.

I don't like Romney simply stating the "party line" of the Mormon church. I'd like to see him stating his personal opinion. It reinforces my pre-existing bias that any Mormon would make a very bad president.

My justification for that bias is two decades spent active in the Mormon church and seeing what exactly the Mormon spiritual machinery pumps out - young people who are taught to obey, to never question one's faith or authority, and that eventually it is okay to be secretive... there are beliefs that many mormons will not be told they know until they become ordained in the temple. (I picked my language very carefully in that last sentence, and I mean every word)

Politics is already secretive enough, and enough presidents have been bed-fellows with religion as of late. I think we need less secrecy and a lot less religion in the White House.


Saul

Answer 4

He was avoiding the truth, how ever the point of boot legged bibles with religions that make up things as they go a long can be found to be true, Why would a religion need to bibles?

Answer 5

"If Romney subscribes to LDS beliefs, which he does claim to do."

you can subscribe to it with out making it a full part of you.

I subscribe to what the Bible is telling me about how I should live but do not subscribe it's every word coming from god!
It has no effect on my vote!

Answer 6

Doesn't really matter to me. As far as I am concerned he's just another plastic politician. No hair ever out of place, no discernible human characteristic about him.

Answer 7

He probably knows that some people will be offended by his answer, and since it should be irrelevant to politics, he knows that there is not point to answering the question.

Answer 8

Romney is being very careful trying to balance his political ambitions with his fundamental Mormon beliefs. He's is being being called out from both conservatives and church people because it's obvious he's trying to straddle the fence.

Answer 9

They should never mix religion with politics. If you give one answer then you'll have enemies on one side, then if you give another answer you'll have enemies on the other side, and if you dodge you'll probably have less enemies.

Answer 10

abiguous answers caused by political motivations. trying not to alienate any specific group of people.