In perhaps the most religious Western nation, it is not surprising that faith has played an important role in the current presidential election. Social conservatives, many of whom describe themselves as Christian Fundamentalists, have influenced the Republican Party for a few decades, and this election is no different. Not satisfied with John McCain’s more moderate social stances – for example, his opposition to an amendment to ban same-sex marriage – many prominent Christian leaders, including Chris Dobson, have said that they will not support him. This election has also seen the three leading Democratic candidates (including John Edwards) openly discuss on CNN the influence that their faith has had on their lives. Given the influence that religion has on politics and on these candidates’ lives, several things still concern me about Mitt Romney, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee.
Romney’s family is and has been prominent members of the Mormon Church. Romney was a Mormon throughout his life and did missionary work in France in the late 1960s. The Mormon Church was officially a racist organization until 1978. It did not believe that Black people had souls and refused to allow them into the church. Romney was an adult at this time, and he should be made to directly answer (and should have been asked as soon as he announced he was running) how he reconciled this aspect of his Church with his own beliefs. I don’t think he’s racist at all, but this is nonetheless an important question that I think many have overlooked.
Obama is the first evangelical liberal running for president in a while, and what concerns me about him is similar to what concerns me about Romney. He was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ, and only separated himself from this Church when he began campaigning for the Democratic nomination. The following is taken directly from their website: “We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian…Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain ’true to our native land,’ the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.” This Church also sells creationist books and has previously given an award to the racist and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. Again, I’m sure Obama doesn’t adhere to any of this ignorance or bigotry, but he should be asked why, of all the churches in Chicago, he decided to join this one.
Huckabee is, quite frankly, a moron who gets votes because he says he loves Jesus, hates gays and staunchly supports South Carolina’s right to hang the Confederate flag on its state capitol. I don’t know where to begin criticizing his stupidity. Huckabee has repeatedly denounced the theory (a word he also doesn’t understand) of evolution, even calling it a farce. At the very least, he should be asked why anyone could trust someone as president whose views on a central scientific fact is in disagreement with virtually every scientist in the world. Given his total and absolute misjudgment in this matter, what does that say about his judgments in other, more consequential matters?
I think we should be more critical of people’s faith and realize that religious influence can, and often does, lead to illogical and immoral policies. For example, consider the federal ban on funding most stem cell research or the policy of not distributing condoms in Africa, a region plagued by AIDS. Being more aware of the influence that faith has on candidates will only yield positive results.
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