John McCain has stated that he would prefer a Christian president over someone of a different faith...?

Question

Here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_faith

McCain does not rule out the value of having a person of a different faith but says (effectively) that, given the choice between two otherwise equivalent candidates, he would choose the Christian over a non-Christian.

He calls it ""an important part of our qualifications to lead."

Do you agree?

I do not. I think it should not enter into the election process. The Constitution explicitly states that there shall be no religious test for the presidency. This, of course, will not stop many from affirming their beliefs through the election process (and maybe it shouldn't) but I for one will not elect someone solely for their religious beliefs.

Then again, I'm an agnostic... :D

Further in the article McCain is quoted as saying "I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles ..."

I'm not sure why he believes this. The Constitution's establishment clause clearly states no endorsement of any religion and historians generally agree that many founding fathers were deists.

rt: Agreed... but then what is the point of electing someone for their religious beliefs?

Answer 1

I don't care what religion the president is, as long as he doesn't use that as a basis for policy or law.

Answer 2

I read the article earlier this evening, and, also being agnostic, I felt very much as you are writing that you do. A person's religion or lack thereof should not be the foremost consideration in his or her election to the Presidency, especially since, as you mention, the Constitution is specific regarding the prohibition against the establishment of a state religion, yet the majority of Christians will insist that this is a Christian nation, that the founding fathers were Christians. They may have been or may have been deists as you suggest, but whatever their personal belief systems, they surely felt strongly that the United States should permit freedom of religion. However, all that being said, it remains very doubtful that a nonChristian ever could be elected President of this country for the simple reason that the vast majority of the population are Christian and would not support a candidate with unorthodox religious views, including particuarly one who claimed to be agnostic or atheistic! John McCain should be castigated for making such a statement but most probably will not be because he is merely reiterating Republican "litany" which is intended to mollify their conservative Christian base...

Answer 3

He did state that he was choosing between two otherwise equivalent candidates, so therefore he would pick the one he trusted more. He was stating a personal choice rather than "This is the way it should be".

He won't get in anyway, although I personally think he'd have made a much better President if he'd got the White House in 2000, instead of monkey-boy.

Answer 4

I believe that because our country was built upon Christian values and the Bible clearly says that the return of Christ is an inevitable event during which God will judge the entire world, so I know that the only hope, not just for our country, but the entire world is Jesus Christ. So our country needs a Commander in Chief who is not ashamed to speak the Truth about Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

Well that's just nuts.... Good ppl come from all faiths. I am a Christian and I would rather have a candidate with a good track record of having good morals and high standards that are unwavering.

Answer 6

I would perfer a Christian leader also because if they are praying about the decisions that need to be made on behave of the country, there will be a lot less of the drama in America than there is now. What many people don't realize is that a lot of what is happening in this country is caused because there is a lack of reverence to God and a lack of praying to Him on what "decisions" should be made.

Answer 7

Believing in a jewish zombie carpenter who requires us to eat his flesh and telepathically tell him we accept him etc etc is an important part of the qualifications to lead, which includes having control of our nation's nuclear arsenal?! Seriously?!

Answer 8

Religious beliefs should never, I repeat, never play into politics.

Answer 9

Well, he lost my vote long ago on the basis of his statist impulses, so his poor knowledge of history doesn't cause him to lose my vote any more.

Answer 10

For a moment I thought you were saying John McClane!!LMFAO!!