Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsQ & A: Nikki Haley on Faith, the 'War on Women,' and Why She Would Say No to VP
Q & A: Nikki Haley on Faith, the 'War on Women,' and Why She Would Say No to VP
Nikki Haley's faith caused a stir in her primary race for governor of South Carolina when her upbringing as a Sikh drew questions from her opponents. She occasionally visits a Sikh temple in honor of her family's tradition, but she regularly attends a Methodist church. Her new book, Can't Is Not an Option, explains her conversion to Christianity and the kinds of questions she faced as the daughter of immigrants. CT spoke with Haley about her conversion, whether Mitt Romney has a "woman problem," and how her faith influences her policy.
Since you faced questions about your Christian faith and Sikh upbringing, what would you say to those who would question President Obama's faith?
We have the right to ask what faith someone follows. But what church they go into and what they do in that church doesn't matter as much as what they do when they come out. How strong is their faith, and how does that lead them into decisions going forward that will impact the states and the country? That's what I think matters the most. Yes, my husband and I are Christians, but we're not going to say anything negative about the way my parents raised me, because they reminded us every day how blessed we were to live in this country. My mother took us to every church in my hometown because she wanted me to see the many ways that people get to God and to respect all of them. She would say you can't have too much God in your life. She actually wanted us to be exposed so that we weren't judgmental, so we didn't think it was wrong. We shouldn't have to put anyone else down in order to talk positively about what we believe.
You attend a United Methodist Church, Mt. Horeb—would you describe yourself as evangelical or born-again in addition to being Methodist?
We've always been somewhat private about our faith because I'm not one that likes to see politics in church. We sit in the back row in church because we want to hear and feel the message without distraction. I don't want to go to a label because I don't know what that means. I know that we both feel like we have personal relationships with God that we want to continue to strengthen for ourselves and for our family.
You wrote, "I converted to Christianity because the teachings of Christ spoke to me in a way that I could understand and that would help me live my life." Do you see religion as something that has a benefit?
Absolutely. When you go to a position like this, the one thing that helps you get through political challenges is your faith. You have to have a deep faith, you have to have a strong connection to God, and you have to stay very close to your family. In this job, there's a lot you can control and a lot you can't control. At some point you put your hands up and you say God's going to let the right thing happen.
Was there a specific moment that you had a come to Jesus experience or said "This is what I believe"?
I think it was somewhat of a long conversation, but it was more of me trying to figure out who I was and how I was going to be. I felt my faith, and I felt the feelings, but I couldn't understand the language. It was like I developed the connection with God just in an emotional way. When I met my husband and we started talking about how we wanted to raise our family, it was really just listening to the teaching and going to church. I felt like I took something I knew was right, which was a strong belief that there was a Lord, but being able to put that in words that I could understand—I can't explain it, but it was just a very enlightening and a very good moment for me and a good moment for our family.
The 'Handicap Icon' Gets New Life
Sidelining the Stigma of Mental Illness
Not part of the community? Subscribe now, or register for a free account.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Newsletters
Google
Join the Conversation
Displaying 1–5 of 8 comments
See all comments
Colin Nunn
This lady avoids saying that she has faith in Jesus Christ. She refers to god in general, is not concerned that her family are not Christian. These things convince me that her "Christian faith" is not real. As for why she claims to be a believer, I have no right to attribute motives, but the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?
Sarah Jane Byars
As a South Carolinian who follows politics faithfully, I have yet to see anything about her that indicates authentic Chrisianity. Her tax returns indicate that .8% of her income is given to charity, a far cry from a tithe; simultaneously, she advocates churches taking over most social programs that the govenment currently provides. How hypocritical can you get?! Her actions are more apparently self-serving than even the flamboyant politcians. This article and all other efforts to promote her book are considered by most who follow her moves closely to be designed for national recognition and further moves. Her biggest campaign contributors are from outside South Carolina. She whines regularly about politicians "picking on me." Large numbers of her previous supporters have abandoned her altogether. Her agenda is not to help the people of South Carolina, I assure you!
DELWYN X CAMPBELL
Lloyd states as a fact that which has not been proven. Nowhere does the Bible speak in opposition to civic involvement, and "calling" texts call us to serve as examples whereever we are when we become Christians. "If you are called while a slave," Paul wrote, serve your masters as if serving the Lord, rather than using your salvation as a grounds to seek emancipation. By contrast, if you are a master, treat your servants as if they are brothers, which, if they are in Christ, they are. Soldiers are not commanded to desert their post, or resign their commission, so I really fail to see where the Bible restricts politicians to the choices of resignation from their post, or denial of the Faith. Perhaps you need some training in the "Right and Left Hand rule of God." Regarding Gov. Haley's description of the Christian faith, it sounds more like a self-help formula for personal enrichment than call to "deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." I don't know her, so I'm just sayin'.
Ben Montgomery
(continued) In the American freemarket, studies have shown that (in particular, during the Reagan years and immediately following) people tended to remain in the lower economic classes for 10 years or less. In other words, poor people had the ability to build wealth. The government that has the ability to feed you also has the ability to starve you and control you.
Ben Montgomery
Christine, there is so much wrong with your post that I don't have the time or the energy to address, but I will say this: Conservative values (in particular to your post, conservative economic values) create opportunity for people to create their own wealth based upon their hard work and ingenuity. Socialistic programs, although they sound so people friendly, enslave people to the government because they create a system where the people depend on the good will of the government for their daily bread. This is clear if you will consider two examples: 1) the native American experience. The resistance against the U.S. advancement into Indian territories was holding its own until the U.S. started supplying the Indians with food (cattle) and clothing. When the native Americans became dependent on the government assistance they lost the war. 2) The European experience. In the socialist governments of Europe it is essentially impossible to rise up in class. (continued)