Good for this woman-and any others involved- for breaking free and testifying against her/their oppressors. I’m sure it will be at great personal cost and risk.

The HBO drama *Big Love* covers Mormonism pretty well. The last episode just had the prophet being arrested on 7 violations of the Mann Act. In the show, the prophet’s son set him up to be arrested in a coup to take over the prophet seat, but maybe that’s how real life went too.

Dave, you know I’m an atheist, but my wife (of nearly three years now) is a Mormon, and is one splendid person. Her religion is the same as Romney’s, so I think I have a fair handle on the Mormon doctrine Romney likely subscribes to. It think it is grossly unfair of you to assert Romney would not be outraged (were he specifically asked about it) over a fourteen-year-old girl being raped (which I fully agree is the case in regards to Warren Jeffs).

Don’t misunderstand me. Mormonism is a wingnut religion, founded by a psychopathic charlatan, Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is delusional blathering. The Doctrines and Covenents contains a lot of repulsive ideas. The only reason the Mormon church renounced polygamy when it did was to gain statehood for Utah, a cynical excuse indeed.

But to imply that Romney would approve of Warren Jeffs and the FLDS, or at the very least be ambivalent about it, is rather boneheaded of you, in my opinion.

Dave, you can go after Mitt if you like, for his delusional faith. Or nail Jeffs for his criminal treatment of all those girls and women and the miserable way boys get excommunicated to make the numbers work.

Just don’t make political hay out of it by claiming a direct connection of responsiblity. It would appear that the political point was the end that justified this attack. Tsk.

Given that all the candidates are religious, at least on the surface, they are all deluded and/or cynical deceivers.

What is their history on this idea that the only way a woman can get to heaven is if her husband decides he wants to have her with him? Does this predate the split with the FLDS?

Your wife would have to be very brave if she were convinced of such dogma.

I agree that there is no reason to put them all in the same boat. The xtians do this to vilify us, they will say that Stalin was an Atheist, therefor we kill people. I will not agree with this tactic or it’s use. I am a skeptic and want an apple to be called an apple, and an orange to be called an orange. I am completely disgusted that Jeffs used religion to commit child molestation, and am very glad that it is illegal to do so. I am also glad that the law is willing to tell him god had no authority to tell him it is ok. It will not matter who you believe told you it is ok, it is illegal to molest children in America. Those who do will be charged. I am thankful that our lawmakers, enforcers, and general public see that these crimes are punished. No god can excuse an American from American law. That is the way it should be. It has not always been that way, and takes constant work to keep it that way.

Many thanks to those responsible for making it so.

I’d have to do some research to answer your questions. I’d be happy to do this, but we’d need to communicate in another forum, perhaps by email.

You can find my e-mail address by going through the Humanist Society list of Humanist Celebrants. Just “google” the Humanist Society for their website. I’m the only “Prince” listed in California. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding me there.

I think the answers to your questions can also be found in the “Doctrines and Covenants” Mormon book, but I’m not sure so I’ll go do some preliminary research.

In the meantime, let me say this: it has presented rather a conundrum to my wife that her doctrine says she will be reunited with her previous (and late) husband after death. Her previous husband was extremely abusive to her. She considered his death a liberation for her, and a merciful act of Heavenly Father in more ways than one. Then I came along more than twenty years later and have been a good husband to her as best I can. Will I also be reunited with her despite my atheism? Does she get two husbands in the afterlife? Or does she have to spend eternity with a man who beat her while alive?

Needless to say, she doesn’t like thinking about this much.

reminds me of otter’s logic in the disciplinary hearing in animal house.

“and i’m not going to sit here while you badmouth the united states of america!”

So too is Jehovah’s Witnesses a Christian religion. Is Mitt therefore responsible because of his religious beliefs, for any JW kids dying for lack of a blood transfusion?

Yes Latter Day Saints appears in their names and they share a common ancestor in their evolutionary history. However, the split occurred over the very subject Dave is tarring Mitt with.

(I just checked to see ej weighing in first. Call me slo’ hands.)

I suspect that Mitt would indeed renounce Jeffs if ever he were asked. I would have a lot more respect for him if he did so without being cornered on the subject. It might be an astute move. Maybe he already has, for all I know. I don’t follow the candidates closely.

It’s not as if I would ever vote for any religious nut Presidential wannabe. My legal status whenever I am on US soil is… Alien.