Source: Pew Research Center, 2012.  (Click to enlarge.)

Since this is a Mormon blog, and in America, at least, most Mormons tend to be politically conservative, I thought it odd that so few politically conservative Mormons contributed to our upcoming politically-themed issue of Exponent II magazine and our recent series of politically-themed blog posts. Exponent staff tried to make both the magazine and series politically balanced, but achieving balance was challenging because conservative submissions were so scarce. Is the Exponent community really that different from the rest of our Mormon peers? Let’s find out.

by Laura McCune-Poplin

I stopped running for mental health reasons. No matter where I started my run, cerebrally speaking, I always ended up on Oprah, sitting on her couch, preaching my pro-choice, pro-gay marriage gospel to the world. Without fail, I would end my run out of breath, my face burning red with anger and my forehead dripping with beads of frustration, which I disguised as physical exertion. And why? For various, yet predictable reasons—a letter to the editor decrying all healthcare reform supporters as socialists, a newspaper article defending tax cuts for the wealthy, any quote, however small or insignificant, issuing from Glen Beck’s mouth were all plausible instigators of my imaginary (yet they felt so real!) rants. But my angriest imaginary tirades were always devoted to perceived hypocrisies of the religious-political variety. When moral issues are paraded as a veil for bad economic policy, and the religious right starts thumping their Bibles, without reading them long enough to realize that Jesus was the greatest social revolutionary of all.

A friendly reminder about Exponent II’s Fall 2012 Political issue…we’ve also decided to extend the deadline from this Wednesday (yikes! how did that happen so fast?) to July 1st (Sunday).

Specific topics we hope people will explore include:

• How I became a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party, Tea Party, Socialist, etc.
• What volunteer work do you do in the political sphere? Personal experiences of political action.
• How does your religious belief inform your political leanings? Does your Mormonism affect your party affiliation?
• For Mormons outside the US, what does Romney’s nomination mean for you? Is his religion noted in the press? How do members of your ward feel?

Promises #1 by Jamie Gagan

by EmilyCC

Recently, I got an email talking about an upcoming Relief Society class series where we’d study the U.S. Constitution. I’m intrigued by the idea of this course of study and think it could be worthwhile.  Heavens knows, I need to know more about the Constitution.  But, I’m worried about mixing politics and religion in a Relief Society setting.  At first, it seems like a class on the Constitution would be politically-neutral, but gosh, I’m not sure.   I think of some of those Amendments and I wonder…can it be?

On the one hand, I think it could be terribly productive and enlightening to have a variety of readings and vigorous debate in class. It would do me good to have my political beliefs questioned and to tear down some stereotypes I have about those who’s opinions differ from mine.