[...] the Brownback campaign's smear of the Mormon faith a month ago focused on this issue (see here), and Al Mohler now opines that Mormons and creedal Christians worship very different saviors (see [...]

As a previous Methodist and convert later in life to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I have to say that the Christ I worshiped then IS the same Christ I worship now. Absolutely, no different. I still keep in contact with my Methodist Sunday School teacher from my childhood and adore her. She set the foundation for the same Christ I worship today. Those that say otherwise are simply misinformed, and I believe purposely so in many cases. I expect that most that support this view have never even stepped into an LDS church or devoted any serious time to any reading other than anti-Mormon literature which typically selectively chooses controversial issues and uses quotes taken out of context to support mis-leading half truths. I am grateful that those of faiths other than mine have faith in their lives and in particular a belief in Christ. It is however hard for me to understand why members of other faiths attack my faith. I have no interest in attacking theirs. I have no problem with others investigating my church, in fact I invite it. However judging a candidates worthiness to serve as President of the United States based on his faith is disturbing when we consider separation of Church and state. But if you are going to use that for your criteria you better do it for all of the candidates and to the same degree. I think what you find may surprise you. From what I have seen so far, many talk the talk but I’m not convinced they walk the walk. By the way, I will not vote for a candidate simply because he is a Mormon. Harry Reid for example is a Mormon and I strongly disagree with his views. I will vote for the candidate that I think will do the best job based on his track record and my perception on who will do the best job for the country. At this point I am undecided, but have to admit that Mitt is pretty impressive.

So what, exactly makes a Christian a Christian? I truly thought it was a belief in Christ. And if that is the case, then the members of the LDS faith are Christians. Oh, and by the way, what does a person's religious faith have to do with a government that is supposed to separate church from state? This looks like another attempt to hide from the issues that really matter. I think it would be better to measure the candidates by their response to truly important issues like how to handle international issues like the war in Iraq and critical domestic issues like energy and the economy.

Folks, there are dozens of Jesuses. Down South we got a Jesus in a NASCAR hat. Up North you got one in a cheap suit. Let's not start strip-searchin' each others' Jesuses or we'll NEVER get a president elected.

Are we going to start questioning Jews on "how does your faith interact with your decisions?" or even more doubtful how about if he were a muslim?

Yeah, didn't think so.

Is it because he is a mean old, conservative religious zealot?

"The LDS Jesus is not the same Jesus of the Christian faith." Are you kidding me? How many Jesus Christ's are there? Mormons worship the same Christ that Christians do. Mormons ARE Christians.

I agree with Jon Marvel that "What is important is if Mr Romney has agendas motivated from within the LDS church." That's the question to ask.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. Mormons), I am very sad to live in a day and age in which religion is used as a weapon.
Just my two cents.

The only thing Brownback is actually sure of is…

That stem cells talk… and he wants to save them.

As most have said, it isnt a bad thing to discuss the differences if not for education. The vast majority of people probably do not understand that when a LDS talks of "Jesus" he is not talking about the Jesus of Christianity. Most dont realize (and probably a lot of mormons) that because of their beliefs, mormons are not considered to be christians even though they will say they are.

The Jesus of the LDS church and that of main stream christianity is different. Why the sensitivity? Is it for votes? We need to recognize the teachings of the LDS church, which have a stark differences as well as similarities to mainstream christianity. State the facts and let the readers / voters decide whether candidates from the LDS church would have implications in the socio-political makeup of our government and society. Just as in any religious denominations there are ultra right-wing / centrists / and liberal agendas. What is important is if Mr Romney has agendas motivated from within the LDS church.

Brownback is a hack. A no-issue candidate that only drags others down. The sooner he is gone the better.

"it is true that most traditional Christians would find the LDS structure radical" And you speak for "most" traditional Christians?

Exploring religion is not bigotry, publicly proclaiming reasons their belief system is wrong and holding it up for ridicule is, or stating that yours is traditional and theirs is radical just might also fall under that category.

Considering the federal government almost went to war with the LDS, I think it's fair to say that most Americans don't know a great deal about this faith. While we should dispel the notion that different means wrong, we should acknowledge that the intracacies of the LDS are radically different than those of traditional Christianity. If Romney and the others are touting their religious values as a basis for their conservative credentials, then yes, I believe we do have the authority to examine the practices from which they preach.

I don't know that it's bigotry to explore the intracacies of another person's faith. I mean, if this is what the candidate is touting, his conservative credentials viz a vie his religious beliefs, then I think we are all within a proper zone to examine the tenets of that faith. And, it is true that most traditional Christians would find the LDS structure radical in light of their own.

The religion heckling is quite stale. Smart of Brownback to find another topic.