Romney silent on his faith

Professor J. Spencer Fluhman, a Mormon scholar, recently published an article in the New York Times suggesting that Americans fear Mormons. His reason for such fear was based on the Broadway musical, “The Book of Mormon,” which lampooned Mormon missionaries and Mormon teachings about Jesus appearing in North America, the claims of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founding prophet, and amusing comments about Africans and African Americans. The title of Professor Fluhman’s article made me wonder if Americans really fear Mormons. If they did, why would such fear not have prevented Mitt Romney’s election as governor of Massachusetts? Could the fear of Mormons be a carefully concoted lie by Mormons in desperate need to elicit sympathy from Americans who, for lack of knowledge about Mormons, might believe the spoof of the “Book of Mormon?”

If you cannot fear what you don’t know, what exactly is it that Americans know about Mormons? Little, if anything, because neither the Broadway musical nor the New York Times article conveyed factual information that would scare the hell out of non-Mormons. On further thought, there might be reason for people to fear Mormons, although I strongly feel that the reaction of fear was very likely exaggerated and highly misplaced for an expert in the religion.

Mormons’ claims

There might be justifiable reasons for persons who are Christians to doubt the claims of Mormons to be a Christian sect for a variety of reasons, like the Mormon teaching about God, the Trinity, evil, baptism of the dead, the exclusion of Africans and African Americans from the Mormon priesthood because they are people with a divine curse, up until 1978 when the policy was reversed. Does this reversal also mean the divine removal of the curse? What about Endowment rituals in the temple where initiates vow never to reveal the secrets lest they suffer dire consequences? Is there truth to the characterization by the Rev. Robert Jeffries when, in his introduction of Rick Perry in October 2011, called Mormonism a cult? If there is any truth to that observation, then Americans might have reason to fear Mormons, because cult-like religious institutions have a scary track record that should scare us all.

Since in another New York Times article of May 19 by Jodi Kantor, about “Romney’s Faith, Silent and Deep,” we have to reorient our thinking about Mitt Romney in such a way that he is a creature of his faith, does it, therefore, mean that we should associate him with the reigning stereotypes of his religion? Not necessarily, but since he does prefer not to talk about his faith, we the people, beginning with Republicans and journalists, deserve to know where he stands on certain issues where his religion might influence his thinking in matters of controversy. At least among other expectations, he cannot afford to be secretive about his financial records and faith.

Fears, suspicions

If Mitt Romney wins the November election, it would prove that America has outgrown its fear of the unknown in Mormons. But it is much better for Mormons and educated leaders for that matter, like Romney, the Mormon bishop, to clear our fears and suspicions. Whatever happens this year, we will vote for two major candidates coming from the ranks of two peculiar peoples representing two very different visions of America, shaped by contrasting religious worldviews: For Mormons, it is a kind of coming of age in Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate, and a vindication for the Mormon brand of conservatism on display in the American Public Square.

Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah is a professor of philosophy and religious studies and the director of the Africana Studies Program at Youngstown State University.