Comments on Reichert's Religion

What's a pator? :D

Also, only missouri synod members can take communion. Everything else is heresy.

Yeah, you were right, right off the top. It isn't appropriate to talk about a candidate's religion. But the reason is wrong, since for you to do so would make you a fucking hypocrite for taking other candidates to task for doing the same thing.

The point is, people's religion may in fact matter a hell of a lot. It matters in the policies they may or may not support, it matters in the freedom they may or may not espouse, it matters in the kind of life they may or may not live, it matters in the discrimination they may have suffered, it matters in the money they raise. Romney is raising scads of money from other Mormons. It is news. It does matter. Just dont' be such a hypocrite about it.

When it's Missouri Synod, it matters. Holy cow, that's some fringey-ass stuff. I had no idea.

totally matters, should have been splashed accross front pages long ago.

I don't think there's any question whether a candidate's religion matters. Of course it does, particularly when you know that those religious views will directly influence their votes on legislation. I wouldn't vote for a Christian who would vote for blue laws, nor a Muslim who wanted Sharia law, nor a Jew who would cut off electricity on Shabbat to all but emergency services, and if those are the views a candidate holds, I damn well want to know.

Of course it matters. How many "outed" atheists are in public office? None too many.

Most people want their elected officials to believe in god or at least be "spiritual", whatever that means...

It is always appropriate, and extremely revealing, to talk about a candidate's religion.
Either they believe in doctrines of their church or they don't, and either position is fascinating.

What Darcy's religion?
Rodney's?
Any weird doctrines they subscribe to?
Atheism?
"I believe in the universal spirit but really don't go to church?"

And this:

does their religion believe in a" just war" and if so how to reconcile with the idea that if there is a one percent chance a nation may harm us we can go make war against them and create more terrorists and raise this to a ten percent chance?
Not actually kidding.

Josh-
Take a step back. I can't stand Reichert - and I also grew up in a MO Synod church *gasp*.

Basically it is as close to Catholicism with a few basic differences:

- no pergatory
- no emphasis placed on Mary (can't worship things that aren't God)
- no saints (see above)
- no confession - Lutherans skip the middleman and talk to God directly
- they don't touch little boys

True, MO Synod thinks they are better than the others. So do Catholics, Jews, Islamics and ELCA Lutherans. (fucking ELCA Lutherans).

In the end, it really isn't that big of a deal. There are really conservative churches and in the same town there can be a liberal church of the same denomonation. Like Catholic churches that are conservative and those who focus on their mission of community service.

If you want to demonize a protestant denomination, feel free...but have you ever met a person who attends a church and believes everything? If so, that is a lucky person to have found such a religion.

Same with a political party.

Fremont "Mayor" Suzie Burke has given Reichert $6,100 since late 2004.