Why Romney’s Religion Matters. Hint: Mormonism isn’t the reason…

I am the first to ridicule beliefs in miracles. People don’t rise from the dead, are not born of virgins, do not magically decode golden plates with magic stones nor are taken to the heavens in flaming chariots. Snakes and donkeys don’t talk, and the earth is not 6000 years old.

So, when it comes to specific “that’s crazy” beliefs: I accept none of them.

So the specifics of LDS beliefs are NOT the issue here. What are the issues then? Well, you might watch this video (36 minutes)

But the main points:
1. Mr. Romney brings up his religion.
2. He appears to belong to the “wealth is a sign of virtue” crowd and
3. He appears to belong to the “protect my fellow powerful and wealthy people” crowd.

Note how his theological unorthodox beliefs (as well as Mr. Gingrich’s personal life) are embraced by the big figures of the religious right; for them it is about the gospel of corporate power. THAT is the religion that we need to pay attention to and not the quirks.

I Can See The Face of Jesus in the BP Oil Slick

Ok, not really. But what is true is just as absurd:

One third of the 60 million white Christian evangelicals in America believe the world will end in their lifetime , according to a Pew poll. They subscribe to a theology known as “premillennial dispensationalism”. (h/t Gawker)

Now blogs on the Christian fringe are abuzz with possibility that the oil spill is the realization of Revelation 8:8–11. “The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed … A third of the waters became wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter.” According to Revelation, in other words, something terrible happens to the world’s water, a punishment to those of insufficient faith. The foul water, according to the New Oxford Annotated Bible, mirrors one of the plagues God called upon Egypt on behalf of his people Israel.

Then there are the fringies who believe Obama is the anti-Christ, such as the vile Obambi.com blog.

The anti-christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal….the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

But note: there is an opportunity for a political alliance there, as the Republicans have been more in the pocket of big oil than the Democrats. But frankly, I want nothing to do with those idiots.

Workout notes
Weights in the afternoon:
rotator cuff
pullups (10, 10, regular, 10, 10 chin, 5, 5 wide chin)
rows: 3 sets on the Smith, 10 x 115, 2 x 7 x 135
rows: 2 on the sitting machine
military dumbbell: 10 x 40, 10 x 45 seated, supported, 7 x 50 standing
lat pull downs: 3 x 10 with 145
incline bench: 2 x (10 x 135)
Squats: 10, 15 with 135, with 10 toe raises (Smith machine)
2 circuits of :
10 leg lifts (hanging)
10 leg extensions
10 leg curls
20 toe raises
10 gluteals (150)
20 crunches
10 twists (each side) with 130

Crappy neighbor note well, it has been 72 hours since the moron last cut his grass so he is at it again.