Because every election needs a bobo doll.  And people think Mormons are irrational….

Full text Romney's Log Cabin letter - finally.  Seems pretty in-line with Evangelicals to me.  It's not like we think homosexuals are sub-human or something.  No promises about marriage, which to my thinking is not some sort of civil right.  Issue done.

Things are getting very testy in re: Romney's conservatism.  This was foreseeable to anybody that looked into it, and from the standpoint of this blog, I am happy to see it because it is NOT about religion.  Now, if Matt Lewis is right and there is a conservative blogosphere backlash isn't this early, and won't that be inoculating for Romney this early?

Lowell:  A slightly partisan note:  The writer is upset that Romney said he was a Independent during the Reagan-Bush era, which ended almost 20 years ago. As my teenage son might say, big whoop.  Reagan himself was a Democrat until a couple of decades before he was elected president as the epitome of conservative Republicanism.

A couple of secular universities are opening "Mormon Studies" departments and one of the leading Godblogs is wondering if "this more of the main-streaming of Mormonism?"  I find that question fascinating - I would think increasing numbers of Mormons is what is "main-streaming" them and anything else is a response to that fact.  Creedal Christianity has, for several decades, been losing its hold on societal mores, and all sorts of other things have risen in the void, including witchcraft. (OK, Wiccan, but I have a hard time telling the difference.)

While this remains a predominantly religious nation, and primarily creedal Christian, I am not sure it is even possible to talk about a "mainstream" anymore.  Or perhaps if there is a mainstream, it is no longer defined theologically, but ethically.  Wouldn't that make modern Mormonism very mainstream?

Lowell  From a purely Mormon perspective, I also find the question fascinating.  If a Constitutionally protected idea or movement is succeeding, what is to be done to stop its progress?  Anything?  Or do the words of Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) have any application here:

Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought . . . . But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

In other words, debate, exhort, preach, teach, testify; but in the end, let people choose.  Don't try to use the political system to suppress or discourage lawful ideas or movements. 

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