Catholics, Mormons, Evangelicals, Muslims, Atheists, Jews, J. W., etc, would you agree that Romney's speech..

Question

...was one of the best speeches on "American Religious Freedom" given in the last 100 years?

His speech hardly touched on any Mormon Doctrine and I think rightly so because as Mitt pointed out – there should be no religious test for public office. I mean if you what to hear about Mormon beliefs just stop those young men and women on bikes or go to www.mormon.org or www.lds.org


Anyway what did you think about his speech from a religious freedom angle?

Transcript of speech on free republic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935707/posts

D

I'll Grant you the JFK speech might be as good or better -- I'll have to go read it. So I change my question to be.. "the best speech on religious freedom in the last 40 years?" ok -- no worries

D

Transcript of JFK's speech (just because it came up) from beliefnet.com
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/40/story_4080_1.html

Answer 1

Didn't get a chance to watch it- but looking forward to it. Heard it was good, but then he doesn't have anything to prove to me on a religous stand point because i am mormon. Once i watch it i will comment on it- but did want to mention to YOUCANTB... he wasn't being decietful or dishonest in saying or implying that he is christian. We do believe that we are christian- just because we don't fall under whatever you have decided constitutes a christian, doesn't mean that we are not. Mormonism does have some different doctrine than other denominations- but all denominations have differences- that's why there are so many. We all fall under the umbrella of christianity. We believe and follow the bible, we believe that Christ is our savior, and died and atoned for our sins- we believe His teachings, and strive to live by them. Besides- even if other christians don't consider that christian- that doesn't mean he lied. To lie would mean for him to believe that he was not christian and knowingly decieved others in believing that he was. We whole heartdly believe that we are christian. We are not decieving others in saying this- this is what we believe and consider ourselves. Some catholics believe that all but them are not christian because all others are branched off the "original" and what they feel is the only true church. Does that make them right? Does that mean that you aren't christian and are lying when you say you are? Basically what im trying to say is- we are not christian just because someone else decides we are not. It says in the bible that followers of christ will be known by their actions (their fruits). Not whether or not we believe in the trinity. (which by the way is not mentioned in the bible) just a thought.

Answer 2

I can't think of a better political speech in MY lifetime. And no, I'm not 6, I'm 36. And if the only thing critics can say is that it did not address atheists or that it did not speak enough of what makes him different from an evangelical, I can live with that. To do otherwise would go contrary to Mr. Romney's use of a quote from John Adams ("Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.") and it would again be a virtual religious test. It is not his place as presidential candidate to explain doctrine. As he said "to do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution." To those bigoted evangelicals, get that through your head and vote for the best candidate. To those wise and appreciative evangelicals, make your support even stronger for Mitt Romney today.

Answer 3

I liked his speech. It peeked my interest when he said, ""Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone."

He made a glaring remark that is typical of LDS.. ""We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality."

A person doesn't become a child of God until he/she repents of sin and believes that Jesus died, was buried and rose again... repentence for the forgiveness of sin & belief that Jesus is Lord.

I agree with Romney when he said, "The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed."

However...

There are those conservative Republicans from his own state who still think he is deceiving the public...
Despite recent statements across the country by Governor Mitt Romney claiming he's pro-life, pro-family and a committed conservative, a broad investigation of his actual statements, actions, and public positions over the years indicates that he has spent his entire career speaking and governing as a liberal - and that his new found conversion to conservatism very likely coincides with his candidacy for the presidency.

The information in this report is gleaned from public records, press accounts, internet web sites and research (as well as personal observation) by my organization, MassResistance, a grass-roots pro-family group that has observed Governor Romney for over a decade. We have analyzed his legislation, met with his staff, lobbied for and against his agenda (depending what it is) and otherwise compiled considerable research on his administration.

We believe this report is necessary due to a calculated effort by the Romney campaign to revise his history and portray the Governor as far more conservative than the record indicates. Already, the Governor's staff is making appointments with the nation's leading conservative leaders to convince them that he should be the standard bearer for the conservative movement in the upcoming presidential elections.

We have also been alarmed by misleading and glowing accounts about Romney which have appeared in the conservative media over the past year. The fact that these articles were based upon sloppy research and material supplied by the Romney camp gave us great incentive to set the record straight. Few national political writers have bothered to speak with any MassResistance member, or for that matter anyone critical of Romney's record.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1929107/posts

Answer 4

A nice speech . He included just about all of the religions and denominations . By omitting mention of non-believers , was he implying that Atheists are not patriotic ?
If so , I'd like to tell him what I went through for America , then have him tell me what he did .
I like Romney , and wish him well . At least , he looks like someone I'd be proud to say is my president . I could imagine him on stage with Kim or Korea on one side of him and Ahamadinejad on the other. He would stand out like a tall sunflower in a parch of weeds .

Answer 5

I did not read Kennedy's speech, but Romney's is the best I have read in a very long time. He has a great understanding of what our forefathers intended.

Nothing he said was unconstitutional, he did not want to establish any religion as a state religion.

I can see how Atheists may not like it though.

Answer 6

No, I would not agree. Not very well-written and, as you unintentionally point out, far different--and more dangerous--than JFK's speech.

For example, Kennedy:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference

and Romney:

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust."

Answer 7

I just read it. That was a very good speech. I hope it helps begin to settle the issue.

Answer 8

I'm with you. I thought it was excellent. He's right. If someone has to defend or explain their faith, the American public is completely ignoring the constitutional freedoms this country was founded with.

Answer 9

Now I am in school and cannot watch it but I'm eager to get home and watch that, if I could bet, i'd bet it's great.

I posted this about him and didn't post and it is a joke BTW -> http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap.0bgY_AqMx99ZijLAm8Hbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071206111953AAxKw0V

Answer 10

I think it was an excellent speech.

gw