- On August 16th Pastor Rick Warren hosted a televised discussion with John McCain and Barrack Obama on issues related to faith and morality. Most agree that Pr. Warren did a good job as the interrogator/questioner [many thought he was head & shoulders above the job done by many network leaders during the debates!].
On stage singly, both candidates responded to questions about evil, sin, faith, Jesus, abortion, homosexuality and the usual issues normally associated with one’s views about religion. While technically it was presented as a “neutral” atmosphere, the applauses spontaneously generated by the audience to the un-nuanced answers of McCain left little doubt as to where their own views were.
The whole event seemed surreal, especially when viewed against the backdrop of multiple election campaigns dating back to Truman vis Dewey: - In 1952 Eisenhower was queried about the fact he had never been baptized. His answer: I’m busy right now, but after the election & installation I’ll do it! [And he did.]
- In 1960 Kennedy asked the nation to disregard his religion [ie. denomination]. His argument to not regard questions of faith as factors in voting prevailed through 1972. When George Romney ran in 1968 for the Republican nomination, being a Mormom was not an issue!
- Faith did become an issue in 1976, when the nation turned to a Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher in rebellion against the lies and corruption in the Nixon era.
Since 1980, however, there has been a steady growth towards the development of a “test” to determine the religiosity of candidates. Increasingly, candidates are assessed on factors that are, without doubt, religious. Factors directly related to the questions posed by Rick Warren on that Saturday night.
The United States Constitution is very clear as to the role of Religion in government. Article VI states: no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
And, since there is little agreement as to how one’s religious faith actually plays out in the day-to-day operations of government, I think Article VI is a good thing!
There will be many efforts between today and November 4th [Election Day] to posit which of the two candidates is more [or, less] Christian. Those statements will be related to their views about Israel, abortion, homosexuality, the pastor of their church, and other issues. Issues which, we know, have little reference to how our nation treats the poor, provides for the sick, seeks peace with other nations, and responds towards God’s Creation.
Knowing whether Jesus is, or is not, their personal Savior is largely irrelevant! Not because of anything about Jesus! But because we know that throughout history some of the most cruel acts were perpetrated “in the Name of Jesus”.
Both candidates are decent persons.Let’s work to make sure that on November 4th all people have the necessary facts to cast their vote for that candidate whose views on resolving our nation’s problems seem most relevant to how we see our own faith in relationship to community.
-
