At CNN”s Compassion Forum (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/07/cnn-to-air-exclusively-the-compassion-forum/) in April, both Democratic candidates for President were asked about their faith. At one point, Hillary Clinton was asked about her favorite Bible story. She said, "Ever since I was a little girl, [I have been] a great admirer of Esther ... There weren't too many models of women who had the opportunity to make a decision, to take a chance, a risk that was very courageous."

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It is the quality of our communities, especially our faith communities, that contributes to how healthy or unhealthy we are. I have come to understand that the grace of God includes the way in which we can help each other become healthier and stay healthier through the quality of our lives together. I have also learned that as we sin against one another, we can do real harm to the health of others through stressful relationships.

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The acrimony between religious and secular folks about the proper role of religion in a democracy has sometimes been fierce, especially in the last decade. Depending on your perspective, it can appear to be a pitched battle between “godless, valueless, militant secularists” and “myth-ridden, ideologically driven, irrational theocrats.” Now that’s a divide.

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James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian Focus on the Family, this week leveled a barrage of transparently political criticism at Senator Barack Obama, all neatly wrapped in the bible and theology. Referencing a speech that Senator Obama gave to the Christian group Call to Renewal in June of 2006 about the need for balanced biblical interpretation and civic participation, Dobson said, "I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology.” Dobson revealed that the 18-minute program was political since he said it was paid for by a Focus on the Family affiliate whose donations are taxed.

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