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THE QUESTION
Obama's Religious Values
Barack Obama has been seen as embracing religious values since his June, 2006 "Call to Renewal" speech, but how is his or any presidential candidate's faith reflected in policy positions and campaign tactics?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on February 20, 2008 6:03 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Base Public Policy on Shared Values, Not Religion
I find Obama’s electoral “faith clubs” as disturbing as his Sunday sermons in which he asks Christian congregations to pray for his ability to bring in “the kingdom.” I am appalled at McCain who declares that the Constitution established the United States as a “Christian nation.”
Posted by Welton Gaddy, on February 22, 2008 11:20 AM
Politicians Can't Serve Two Masters
I see precious little evidence that any of the candidate's declarations of faith - all of them claim to be Christians - have a direct impact on their policies.
Posted by Randall Balmer, on February 22, 2008 10:28 AM
Faith in the Public Arena
If religious and political leaders are willing and able to heed the ground rules Obama proposes, the climate of public debate may become considerably more healthy and fruitful.
Posted by James Anderson, on February 22, 2008 8:43 AM
Obama and the Catholic Vote
The slow move away from Clinton gives us another theory: perhaps Catholics are just slower to switch their loyalties than other Americans. After all, they stick with the church through thick and thin.
Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on February 22, 2008 8:05 AM
Faith Doesn't Just Tell, it Shows
Faith in politics can be best seen in the ethical ways candidates conduct themselves when the cameras are off, and in the policies they propose to help society's most needy as well as they serve the public interests, not the special interest.
Posted by Bob Edgar, on February 21, 2008 9:12 AM
Religious or Spiritual?
Obama may have changed the meaning of “faith and politics” into “spirituality and politics” for a long time to come.
Posted by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, on February 21, 2008 7:47 AM
Public Policies, Private Votes
The focus of presidential politics should remain political, economic and social issues. Those for whom religious values are paramount can still bring their beliefs or moral conscience to bear by privately judging a candidate's positions in light of their faith and beliefs.
Posted by John Esposito, on February 21, 2008 6:39 AM
Hope Is Not A "Cult of Personality"
It seems that it's all right to talk about faith in political campaigns if you're talking about faith in some supreme being (who is not running for the presidency) but it's not all right to talk about faith in ourselves and in the future of our country, as Obama often does.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on February 20, 2008 10:15 AM
Faith Revealed by Action
I cannot judge Barack Obama's faith except by looking at his public positions. His stands on the poor and caring for the environment are clearly consistent with biblical commands. His public pronouncements about the sanctity of life are something else
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on February 20, 2008 10:00 AM
Obama is no Huckabee
Obama is less likely to make a public display of his religion or to use it to garner support than are Governor Huckabee and some failed candidates, and if he did either, it would be a deviation from his versions of the Christian heritage(s).
Posted by Martin Marty, on February 20, 2008 9:31 AM
The Thing with Feathers
Hope is the profoundly religious cord that Obama has struck in the minds and hearts of Americans. Religion is the search for ultimate meaning and purpose in life.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on February 20, 2008 8:18 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Anonymous: The candidates are all consummate politicians. You won't know what you're getting until you've got it....
I'm a bit leery of political 'ban...
Chuck: I think you can see Obama's beliefs played out in three ways:
1) He exhibits traditional main-line Christian values;
2) He has lived his ...
Jeff D: For many candidates (McCain, H. Clinton, J. Edwards, R. Giuliani), the god talk, the references to "faith," and the "embracing of religious ...
