Having faith in the political system

Re “An ecumenical omelet,” editorial, Dec. 8

The editorial misses the point. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a history lesson to the evangelical right on the meaning of freedom in America. Unlike many commentators, Romney does not believe religion has no bearing on politics. The dream of the total exclusion of religious values from political discourse is unrealistic. The issue is how to deploy one’s religion without excluding the religion of others. Here Romney led by example in expressing his admiration for a variety of religious traditions and assuring people of all faiths that they would find a friend and ally in him.

Richard Bushman

Pasadena

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Re “Evangelicals may never take Romney on faith,” Dec. 7

Having forced Romney to publicly discuss his Mormon faith, evangelicals should now want similar testimonials from the other candidates. Romney says he “will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.” Will Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Fred Thompson make the same pledge? Let’s get a yes or no from each candidate to the following: Will your administration promote the teaching of intelligent design in public schools? Will your administration interfere with legislation and court decisions concerning assisted suicide or euthanasia? Will your administration promote abstinence as the preferred method of birth control rather than provide education about all medically proven methods?

Fritz Mehrtens

Irvine

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I found one statement in the article profoundly disturbing: “Some Christians are appalled at the Mormon conception of God ... they fear that, as president, Romney would not benefit from divine guidance.” I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Exhibit A as far as the dangers of getting messages straight from God is George W. Bush. Many people, me included, think that God “told” him to start the disastrous war in Iraq. We have destroyed that country, killed untold thousands of its citizens, killed or maimed thousands of brave American troops and depleted the U.S. Treasury. My fervent hope is that our next president will use the brain that God gave him to make intelligent decisions.

Steve Asimow

Glendale

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Romney has to make a major speech to assure the American public that he will not take direction from his church. Mike Huckabee already takes direction from his church and implements public policy via his religious convictions, without facing hard questions or having to justify his candidacy. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Michael H. Miller

Los Angeles

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Re “Mormon theology is striking in its differences,” Dec. 7

Could it be that humankind is on the verge of a breakthrough in settling the ongoing conflict between reason and faith? Scott Gordon of the Mormon group FAIR admitted that “the foundational story of Christianity, that [Christ] was raised from the dead, is also not rational.” Gordon’s remark explicitly confirms the irrationality of not only Mormon but also Christian mythology. One hopes there is at least one candidate with the courage to point out that the U.S. Constitution plainly states “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Until then, we can only wonder why a political constituency rooted in irrational faith is still taken seriously three centuries after the Enlightenment.

John Walker

Foothill Ranch