Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsA Pilgrim's Progress
Since Thomas Jefferson was accused of being an atheist in 1800, the religious convictions of presidential candidates have often been an issue in American political history. In 1928 and 1960, the Catholicism of Al Smith and John F. Kennedy, respectively, drew close scrutiny and created controversy. Jimmy Carter's declaration that he was a "born again" Christian and George W. Bush's statement that Jesus was his favorite philosopher injected religion into the 1976 and 2000 campaigns.
As important as religion has been, Stephen Mansfield (author of The Faith of George W. Bush and other faith-focused biographies) argues in The Faith of Barack Obama that it is especially significant in the 2008 campaign, primarily because of the Illinois senator. Four factors have focused public attention on Obama's faith: the Democrats' revamped approach to win the votes of the nation's most religiously devout citizens; Obama's unusual faith journey; his frank admission that his faith informs his policies; and the inflammatory remarks of Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright Jr. Along with the claim that he lacks experience, especially in foreign policy matters, the nature and potential influence of Obama's faith on his presidency will undoubtedly remain a key campaign issue.
After John Kerry narrowly lost the 2004 presidential election in large part because Bush captured the votes of78 percent of evangelicals and 52 percent of Catholics (a higher percentage than Republicans normally win), Democrats developed a strategy to appeal more to religious Americans. They hired advisers and held forums to learn how to speak more effectively to religious groups and created organizations to target specific religious communities. Because many evangelicals are ...
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susan
Christians at any point in their Christian journey really need to get into God's word and get a grasp of the incredible story God has given us in the OT and the NT. It still seems to me that people who think that they are do gooders; "helping others, loving their neighbor, problem-solvers, and claim to have all this "compassion" for others, are still missing DOING GOD'S WILL. We are told to have the "mind of Christ" in God's word. We are told many things and by listening to the Holy Spirit (that dwells within a believer) and having the knowledge of what God HAS already told us in His Word, and through the WORD, and desiring to bring honor and glory to HIM, we will do HIS will. Alas, to many, that means becoming popular, powerful, and people pleasing. JESUS was NOT a people pleaser. I am really weary of the world's philosophy recited by intelligent elitists when they have not got a clue of plain spiritual understanding of God's Word. Stop PRACTICING SIN. Where is TRUTH?
x
But, its not about his faith and what we accept from him is about our beloved nation and what we want for it.
alanps
This is an interesting piece and I think I may actually buy this book. In this election we have 4 candidates - McCain, Palin, Obama and Biden. I know nothing of Bidens positions but what I do know is that Obama is a Christian (no logical reason to doubt that) but he is not evangelical and maybe (like many of us) has doubts. I know that McCain has shown nothing but distain for Christianity (particularly Evangelicals who he has lashed out at in the past) and that Palin may profess to be a Christian and probably is, she is currently sowing some very un Christian messages. I think in this election we need to be honest - no candidate will save us - and no candidate is particularly appealing. We are in a position of chosing the best of a bad lot. For me that will likely be Obama - but it is not a choice I am all that comfortable about.