Mitt Romney briefly referred to his athiest father-in-law, who was converted to Mormonism after his 1992 death, during last night's GOP presidential debate in a heated exchange with Newt Gingrich over immigration.
This was one of the most bizarre stories that we stumbled upon today:
Mitt Romney's father-in-law, Edward Davies, converted to Mormonism....get this, 14 months AFTER he died!
And that's not all. While he was alive, Mr. Davies was a resolute atheist who regarded all religions as "hogwash."
How did this posthumous conversion to Mormonism happen?
Gawker reports that Davies, Ann Romney's Welsh-born father, was an engineer-type who insisted that his family be raised without participating in an organized religion.
In the wealthy Detroit suburb of Bloomfield, Michigan, back in 1965, Mormon Mitt Romney started dating Ann Davies. By the following year, Ann had converted to Mormonism. Her two brothers, Jim and Roderick, soon followed.
Ann's mother, Lois, converted in the days before her death in July 1993. But Edward never renounced his atheism before he died on Sept. 8, 1992.
Five months after Lois' death, on Nov. 19, 1993, Gawker reports that Edward was baptized as a Mormon at a "special family meeting" in Salt Lake Temple.
Actually, the practice of converting dead people to the Mormon faith is nothing new. Catholic and Jewish organizations have expressed outrage, for example, when the names of dead popes and Holocaust victims (including Anne Frank) have turned up on Mormon lists of the baptized.
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I under stand they do have some strange ideas about all of us who have not committed ourselves to their religion. They have your name as well as mine. I not sure exatly they expect to own us against our will.
Does that mean if our name appears on their list as being Mormon, we get our own planet?
What are you planning?
Religion got to love it only they could come up with a plan to get converts in life or in death. The other sects are upset because they didn't think of converting the dead first. Though the Catholics did come up with the death bed conversion, the Mormons just went to the next step.
Bubble Gum? How can you be converted after death? ? ?
That is just plain creepy.
This is a mischaracterization. In no way is the Mormon practice of posthumous baptisim meant to represent a conversion to the faith. Merely the opportunity for such a conversion. It would be up to the individual to convert; to change their opinion and "join". Any charaterization that this forces an action or belief upon someone, dead or otherwise, would be inaccurate.
My 2¢
Thanks for your comments. I've been a big fan of Ed Schultz and grateful to him for the support he has given the citizens of Wisconsin - but the comments he made here has caused him to lose his credibility with me. And it saddens me to say so.
An "opportunity" to join (after you're dead, which is ridiculous; they knew damn well he wouldn't) or an actual conversion, it's the same thing; it's pushing your viewpoint on someone else when they can't fight back. And considering they knew the man was a life-long atheist, it shows an absolute disrespect for others.
How would they like being given an "opportunity" to become atheist, without their agreement? Do you think they would be happy about it?
That would require knowing what happens after death. We all have our beliefs about after death but reality is no dead person has come on TV to tell us what happen after a person dies. Yeah there are near death experiences but it isn't the same thing as an actually death as in being dead for a year type thing.
Maybe this is his ticket to get at the front of the line on judgement day. You can change your mind after you live the life of the devil, up until the last minute. According to Christian beliefs.
Just another example of religious fanatics determining what's right for "we the heathens"
To think that you're not even safe from them after death!
Ed, I'm a big fan of yours, but I'm going to ask - don't go there - not until you investigate and learn what the practice actually is, its meaning, its purpose. Listen to John Bennett - 5088861. Once you truly understand, I don't think you will want to ridicule. Maybe not agree - that's okay. But I don't think you will be incline to ridicule.
Giving people "opportunities" to go back on their entire life after they're dead.
Nope. Nothing to ridicule there.
I find this practice super creepy and highly objectionable. Am letting all my relatives know if they try this, I will come back and haunt them.
Romney's tax explained:
http://www.politicsplus.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/27mitt-tax-graph.jpg
How could George Romney run for President in 1968 since he was born in Mexico?
He's a Republican. Laws don't apply to Republicans.
He's also guilty of voter fraud. Apparently the Republican party is only concerned with imagined Democratic voting fraud. Proven Republican voting fraud is OK.
No one cares, this is not news. Stick to the issues.
Getting an early start telling us we're all wrong about everything?
Thanks. Everyone here is enlightened by your views.
Well, well Chris nice to see you to...surprisingly you are following me around again making comments. But, yes...I am here to tell everyone they are wrong.
And you are following everyone around on this blog making comments.
I wonder which one of us is more welcome.
I care...I think that this is an issue.
Chris, I don't care if I am welcome or not, nor do I care if people here like me. If you have a problem with me or other conservatives being in here, in a public blog, then start you own private blog and don't invite me...until then quit acting like you are the moderator here. It is childish and immature.
Just curious Jane, why do you feel that way?
No junior I'm glad you 'intellectuals' come in here and show your teabagger way of thinking. It just re-enforces that fact as to why we vote democrat. Keep up the good work.
Thanks buddy...I sure will!
See ya at the polls buddy.
I once asked a mormon how they would baptize the billions of people who never had their names written down. In all the history of the world, writing has only really caught on in the last few centuries. He just gave me a blank look. This belief is reprehensible and outrageous to anyone who is not a mormon.
Do not baptize me posthumously.
Religions are all the same in this country, tax free businesses selling some packaged view of the make believe. The problem is that some of these packages pose a mortal danger to innocent people. Every candidate should be asked, "Do you believe in Freedom FROM Religion?"
Hey! You misspelled genius, Jenius!
My ex-son in law is a Mormon and his sister is one of the "baptizers"...yes, they do this. The dead person is not forced to accept the "free entry pass" into the Mormon "heaven system", but can take advantage of it if they want.
I have NEVER been so thankful as when she left that guy and his insane family!!!!! I had his mother explain their religion to me once and, after she had finished the stuff about Jesus just being one of many gods, and God being a spaceman (or a perfected 'being') and the rest of their nonsensical rubbish, she looked at me and said....See, we are just the same as you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just laughed and told her that I thought that she was the maddest person that I had ever met, but it takes all sorts!!!
Now, do I want one of these crackpots running the country? HELL, NO!!!!
Wikipedia is pretty accurate on this point:
Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on behalf of one who is dead, with the living person acting as the deceased person's proxy. Those who practice this rite view baptism as an indispensable requirement to enter the Kingdom of God, and thus practice Baptism for the Dead to give those who have died without ever having had the opportunity to receive baptism the opportunity to receive it by proxy if they wish. Baptism for the Dead is best known as a doctrine of the Latter Day Saint movement, where it has been practiced since 1840.
I follow this blog and watch Ed almost daily. Even I did not truly thing many would stoop to religious persecution, particularly when you do not have true understanding of what you are discussing. Stick to issues. Do not stoop to the level of those all of us condemn who focus on race and use lies simply to gain political advantage. Did you realize Harry Reid is a practicing Mormon? Again, many of you are better than this.
I personally, don't give a damn about his religion....but this one is a little out side the rim of logical thinking. When you can no longer make your own decisions after death we will decide for you. I think the old man may have been on the right track and on judgement day he will deliver the results.
Thank you.
This is with out a doubt a cult ritual. The one thing that makes us human and separates from animals it the right of free will. When you die you die. I read the article about Anne Frank and it made me mad. I had the privilege of touring the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. I walked in the rooms they were in saw the bookcase that kept them safe for 2 years. It is by Gods will they lasted that long. This little girl had more insight and more faith than that displayed by the Mormon church. She was and will always be Jewish. I cannot even count the ways it is wrong and No church should have the right to baptize the dead. I think God himself would condemn this behavior.
i agree, Pam.