THE QUESTION

The percentage of voters who find Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama "honest and trustworthy" is declining as the campaign wears on. Why? From a moral standpoint, how important is this quality in a president?
Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on May 6, 2008 3:33 AM

FROM THE PANEL

"On Faith" panelist Deepak Chopra is the author of more than fifty books translated into over thirty-five languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. His latest is "The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore." Chopra’s Wellness Radio airs weekly on Sirius Satellite Stars, Channel 102, which focuses on the areas of success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being, and spirituality. He is founder and president of the Alliance for a New Humanity. Time magazine heralds Deepak Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.

Politicians and the Cycle of Lying

Clearly we have reached a critical point in the cycle of lying, because Obama's appeal remains strong, and although he has been diverted into negative campaigning, his opponent has paid just as dearly, if not more so, in her negative ratings.

Deepak Chopra Founder and president of the Alliance for a New Humanity | 37 COMMENTS
May 9, 2008 at 8:58 AM
"On Faith" panelist Daisy Khan is Executive Director of ASMA Society (American Society for Muslim Advancement). As wife of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Ms. Khan mentors young Muslims on questions of assimilation, tradition and modernity, and intergenerational challenges. In the aftermath of 9/11, Ms. Khan focused on creating interfaith programs aimed at seeking commonalities among the Abrahamic faith traditions, such as a groundbreaking theater production titled Same Difference and The Cordoba Bread Fest interfaith banquet.

President Needs Honesty and Far More

Daisy Khan Executive Director of American Society for Muslim Advancement. | 4 COMMENTS
Syndicated political columnist and “On Faith” panelist Cal Thomas has a twice-weekly column that appears in over 500 newspapers around the world. A graduate of American University, Thomas is a veteran of broadcast and print journalism. He has worked for NBC, CNBC, PBS television, and the Fox News Channel where he currently appears on the weekly media critique show, “Fox News Watch.” Thomas has authored ten books, including Blinded by Might: Can the Religious Right Save America?, A Freedom Dream, Public Persons and Private Lives, Book Burning, Liberals for Lunch, Occupied Territory, The Death of Ethics in America, Uncommon Sense and Things That Matter Most. His latest was The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas. In 1995, Thomas was honored with a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Interview Program. Other awards include a George Foster Peabody team reporting award, and awards from both the Associated Press and United Press International. Common Ground, which Thomas writes for USA Today, offers insightful discussion of contentious social issues with his friend and political counterpart, Bob Beckel. The two are working together on a book to be published in 2007.

Moral Character, Yes. But Whose Morals?

Cal Thomas Syndicated political columnist | 58 COMMENTS
Nicholas Thomas Wright is Anglican Bishop of Durham, England. The "On Faith" panelist taught New Testament studies for 20 years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities before becoming Dean of Lichfeld in 1994. He was named Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000, and consecrated bishop in 2003. He has written hundreds of articles and more than 40 books, including Judas and the Gospel of Jesus (2006) and Evil and the Justice of God (2006). He has served as Visiting Professor at numerous institutions including Harvard Divinity School, Gregorian University in Rome and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr Wright holds four degrees, including a divinity doctorate from Oxford University, and honorary degrees from several universities and colleges.

Can Politics Serve Democracy?

Nicholas T. Wright Anglican Bishop of Durham, England | 9 COMMENTS
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite   |  Pamela K. Taylor   |  Charles "Chuck" Colson
ALL PANELIST RESPONSES

READER RESPONSE

» Paganplace | Could it be it has nothing to do with any actual perception of morals, but rather the corporate media's insistence upon finding any slightest wedge o...
» Unamerican | I would attribute part of the cynicism of politicians to a contradictory set of expectations: 1) STAND FOR SOMETHING. This expectation works as long ...
» Aquarius | From a moral standpoint, "honest and trustworthy" is much more important than being versed in sociology, ethics, history, economics, engineering and e...
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On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to editor and producer David Waters.