meh

[AquaMan]

Really I think the narrow-mindedness in the country is finally narrowing.  Look at how many more people approve of gay marriage than they did even 10 years ago and it's got nothing to do with the president's recent conversion.  There are even mainstream Christian churches who openly welcome gay people and don't try to fix their ghey.

Again, I'm from the human race first and foremost.  But since everyone else demands some sort of special tribal recognition I think I will too.  From now on I'm a Hetero-Caucasian-Welsh-American.

HOLY PICT! We might be cousins! My tribe hails from Bodorgan, Wales. The castle there has been continously occupied since the fifth century by the descendants of my mother's family.

[Teatownclown]

Please quit referring to Catholicism and Kennedy as being out of the mainstream even in 1959. It's Christian based.

Do you really get bothered by my feeling that the ultimate litmus test in America for Presidential candidates is attending church and a Christian one at that. And the survey merely portrays that many Christians still consider Mormonism odd.

Gaspar, you can have someone go through all my posts and they will never pin the theme of bigotry on me. Unless they pull it out of their a$$ like you do by putting that label on me. I get the impression you aren't very smart. But then again, you've never been put in the position of being discriminated against or hated on (TNF don't count)!

Some of us are experienced.

[Gaspar]

Really I think the narrow-mindedness in the country is finally narrowing.  Look at how many more people approve of gay marriage than they did even 10 years ago and it's got nothing to do with the president's recent conversion.  There are even mainstream Christian churches who openly welcome gay people and don't try to fix their ghey.

Again, I'm from the human race first and foremost.  But since everyone else demands some sort of special tribal recognition I think I will too.  From now on I'm a Hetero-Caucasian-Welsh-American.

I'm fairly offended by any form or application that asks for my race or religion, so I always put African.  The majority of scientific research indicates that the Homo-Sapien began fairly close to Egypt, so for all intensive purposes we are African, but if I had to get granular I suppose I would say Afro-sumari-slovic-anglo-ameri-okie.  Yeah, that's me.

[erfalf]

Please quit referring to Catholicism and Kennedy as being out of the mainstream even in 1959. It's Christian based.

The reason it was such a big deal was because people thought Kennedy was going to be taking orders from the Pope, or as we call it today, he was going to legislate morality. Remember, the U.S. got it's start by fleeing from religious persecution, by Catholics. It may have been a few generations down the road, but they didn't forget, and neither should we.

[Gaspar]

Gaspar, you can have someone go through all my posts and they will never pin the theme of bigotry on me. Unless they pull it out of their a$$ like you do by putting that label on me.

We'll see how that goes.  I think it may be difficult for you to temper your ridicule of the various groups and people you disagree with based on their genitic heritage or beliefs.  

BTW. . .I don't know anyone who hasn't been discriminated against for one reason or another.  It's how you handle it that matters. . .whether you choose to prove the steriotypes wrong or prove them right.  

[Conan71]

Gaspar, you can have someone go through all my posts and they will never pin the theme of bigotry on me. Unless they pull it out of their a$$ like you do by putting that label on me. I get the impression you aren't very smart. But then again, you've never been put in the position of being discriminated against or hated on (TNF don't count)!

For starters, you make fun of the fat and uber-fundamentalist Christians.  You also make disparaging comments toward females on a regular basis. You also frequently portray people as racist even when their actions and words are completely counter to being racist in nature.

Comments like this usually stem from fear or ignorance.  You aren't stupid, so all I can conclude is you are afraid of women, fat people, and God. 

[Teatownclown]

We'll see how that goes.  I think it may be difficult for you to temper your ridicule of the various groups and people you disagree with based on their genitic heritage or beliefs.  

BTW. . .I don't know anyone who hasn't been discriminated against for one reason or another.  It's how you handle it that matters. . .whether you choose to prove the steriotypes wrong or prove them right.  

Ever thought about not saying anything? When you do, it reveals a dark side unaware of what the discussion is really about. All this time I've thought some of your posts were thread busters or just diversions. Lurker.

[Gaspar]

Ever thought about not saying anything? When you do, it reveals a dark side unaware of what the discussion is really about. All this time I've thought some of your posts were thread busters or just diversions. Lurker.

Sorry this is a sensitive subject.  Lets just move forward and I won't call you out unless you make an inappropriate statement.

[Teatownclown]

The reason it was such a big deal was because people thought Kennedy was going to be taking orders from the Pope, or as we call it today, he was going to legislate morality. Remember, the U.S. got it's start by fleeing from religious persecution, by Catholics. It may have been a few generations down the road, but they didn't forget, and neither should we.

I said it before, I'll ask it again: would you vote for a Scientologist?

I'll be glad when it no longer matters what your church is because they've all been indited.

I just worry about the mysterious one's cloaked in rich traditions of making things up, their proselytizing ways, and their power hierarchies.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Really I think the narrow-mindedness in the country is finally narrowing. 

You don't know or talk to anyone from Texas, do you?

[heironymouspasparagus]

The reason it was such a big deal was because people thought Kennedy was going to be taking orders from the Pope, or as we call it today, he was going to legislate morality. Remember, the U.S. got it's start by fleeing from religious persecution, by Catholics. It may have been a few generations down the road, but they didn't forget, and neither should we.

Good night, where did you study history!!???

They SAID they were fleeing religious persecution in England - which was Church of England.  And while it DID start a thousand years earlier as Catholic, in 1534 became one of the Protestant spin-offs.  So it was not Catholicism they were fleeing.

As for fleeing - well, actually what they wanted to do was twofold - escape the persecution they were experiencing and set up their own persecution thing here.  By 1789, that was pretty well institutionalized in the colonies when the Constitution took effect and started the process of working toward the ideal of religious freedom in this country.

[heironymouspasparagus]

.... so all I can conclude is you are afraid of women, fat people, and God. 

I'm afraid of all three!  And I AM at least one of those...

Hint;  not a woman and certainly not God.

[RecycleMichael]

My tribe hails from Bodorgan, Wales.

One of my favorite jokes...if I ever do stand up in England, I am using it...

Who here is from Wales? I come from humans myself.

[Teatownclown]

Two priests decided to go to Hawaii on vacation.

They were determined to make this a real vacation by not wearing
anything that would identify them as clergy. As soon as the plane
landed they headed for a store and bought some really outrageous
shorts, shirts, sandals, sunglasses, etc.

The next morning they went to the beach dressed in their 'tourist'
garb.

They were sitting on beach chairs, enjoying a drink, the sunshine and
the scenery when a 'drop dead gorgeous' blonde in a topless bikini came
walking straight towards them. They couldn't help but stare.

As the blonde passed them she smiled and said 'Good Morning, Father ~
Good Morning, Father,' nodding and addressing each of them
individually, then she passed on by.

They were both stunned. How in the world did she know they were
priests?

So the next day, they went back to the store and bought even more
outrageous outfits.

These were so loud you could hear them before you even saw them! Once
again, in their new attire, they settled down in their chairs to enjoy
the sunshine.

After a little while, the same gorgeous blonde, wearing just a
different colored bikini bottom, taking her sweet time, came walking
toward them.

Again she nodded at each of them, said 'Good morning, Father ~ Good
morning, Father,' and started to walk away.

One of the priests couldn't stand it any longer and said, 'Just a
minute, young lady.'

'Yes, Father?'

'We are priests and proud of it, but I have to know, how in the world
do you know we are priests, dressed as we are?'

She replied, 'Father, it's me, Sister Kathleen.'

[Teatownclown]

Mitt Romney's Mormon faith tangles with a quirk of Arkansas history

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-mormon-faith-tangles-with-a-quirk-of-arkansas-history/2012/05/20/gIQAKHVFeU_story.html

By Sandhya Somashekhar, Published: May 20

CARROLLTON, Ark. — On the wildflower-studded slopes of the Ozarks, where memories run long and family ties run thick, a little-known and long-ago chapter of history still simmers.

On Sept. 11, 1857, a wagon train from this part of Arkansas met with a gruesome fate in Utah, where most of the travelers were slaughtered by a Mormon militia in an episode known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Hundreds of the victims' descendants still populate these hills and commemorate the killings, which they have come to call "the first 9/11."

Many of the locals grew up hearing denunciations of Mormonism from the pulpit on Sundays, and tales of the massacre from older relatives who considered Mormons "evil."

"There have been Fancher family reunions for 150 years, and the massacre comes up at every one of them," said Scott Fancher, 58, who traces his lineage back to 26 members of the wagon train, which was known as the Fancher-Baker party. "The more whiskey we drunk, the more resentful we got."

There aren't many places in America more likely to be suspicious of Mormonism — and potentially more problematic for Mitt Romney, who is seeking to become the country's first Mormon president. Not only do many here retain a personal antipathy toward the religion and its followers, but they also tend to be Christian evangelicals, many of whom view Mormonism as a cult.

And yet, there is scant evidence that Romney's religion is making much difference in how voters here are thinking about the presidential election and whether they are willing to back the former Massachusetts governor.

"I think the situation right now is more anti-Obama than any other situation," said Dave Hoover, chairman of the Carroll County Republicans.

It is impossible to know how Romney's faith will play out in the November election. Polls point to a persistent skepticism about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and not just among evangelical Christians. Thirty-five percent of Americans in a Bloomberg News poll in March said they had an unfavorable view of the church, while 29 percent had a favorable view.

But it may not have a major impact on their vote: Eight out of 10 Republicans and Democrats said Romney's faith was not a major reason to support or oppose him, according to an April Washington Post-ABC News poll. And a recent study by the Brookings Institution found that Romney's religion may actually increase his support from conservative voters, including white evangelicals.

Indeed, many here say their political values will be more important to their vote than religion or history. A rural and deeply religious community, many cite the cultural issues of abortion and gun rights as foremost on their minds. The weak economy has deepened their dislike of President Obama, who received less than 40 percent of the vote in Arkansas in 2008.

Still, Romney's candidacy has prompted some soul-searching in this area, where a historical group estimates that more than half the residents can trace their ancestry back to the wagon train.

Now RM, don't get your panties in a wad over this...just pointing out that if elected, the White House will be run by MORMONS!