Serious Questions About Religion

Too often the media has asked the wrong questions of the presidential candidates, probing them to list their biggest sin or name their favorite Bible verse. How will you speak about your beliefs without making them just another political tool?

By Welton Gaddy | August 16, 2008; 8:54 AM ET | Comments (5)

The Obvious Question

How does your faith influence your approach to public policy and what should the church collectively and individual Christians do that would reduce the need, cost and power of government?

By Cal Thomas | August 16, 2008; 7:06 AM ET | Comments (6)

Take a Stand on Climate Change

Recently, major climate change scientist Jim Hanson has warned that the tipping point for runaway climate change is around 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere. We are now at about 385--already beyond the limit.

By Starhawk | August 16, 2008; 6:18 AM ET | Comments (34)

Religious Accommodation or Neutrality?

Sometimes it's hard to tell the First Amendment forest from the trees, especially with respect to deciding whether governmental agents favor accommodating religion as something special or favor only treating it fairly.

By Kathleen Flake | August 16, 2008; 4:48 AM ET | Comments (5)

What We Can Learn from Bahá'í Elections

In sports, violations are often imposed for unsportsmanlike conduct. In similar fashion, voters could discourage negative attacks between the candidates, through opinion polls and on Election Day.

By Eboo Patel | August 15, 2008; 1:57 PM ET | Comments (7)

Pulpit Politics

Are you pimping the American religious community? Is your quest for the presidency so intense that you will do anything, even muddy the so-called separation between church and state?

By Susan K. Smith | August 15, 2008; 8:37 AM ET | Comments (76)

Unclogging the System

It is no secret that Christian fundamentalists have held the Republican Party hostage and caused a sharp decline in Democratic popularity. Do they deserve to have such lopsided power, and if not, what would you do about it?

By Deepak Chopra | August 15, 2008; 7:30 AM ET | Comments (4)

Questions of Life

What are your convictions about the protection of all life from conception to natural death? And on what authority does your conviction rest?

By Charles "Chuck" Colson | August 15, 2008; 7:02 AM ET | Comments (64)

The Candidates Are Going to the Same Church - Once

In inviting the two presidential candidates to his church for this encounter, Rick Warren - an evangelical of generous mind, heart, and pocket - has rendered a vital service to his fellow Americans.

By Willis E. Elliott | August 15, 2008; 3:44 AM ET | Comments (2)

Godless Communism Again?

This isn't Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" versus the God-fearing West and Western- aligned.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | August 14, 2008; 10:36 PM ET | Comments (21)

Forgiveness Requires Repentance

The Christian faith is a faith of forgiveness. Jesus tells us we are to forgive one another. And when asked how often, He said seventy times seven. We who have been forgiven of our sins by Christ are to similarly forgive others.

By Charles "Chuck" Colson | August 14, 2008; 4:59 PM ET | Comments (6)

Hispanic Evangelicals See Major Flaw in Each Candidate

Will Hispanics vote for McCain in spite of his party or will they vote for Obama in spite of his abortion stance?

By Samuel Rodriguez | August 14, 2008; 4:03 PM ET | Comments (24)

What Evangelicals Want

John Mark Reynolds | Tax policy can be debated, but not the right to life. Evangelicals want a candidate to defend innocent human life at every phase.

» Rodriguez: What Hispanic Evangelicals Want

By John Mark Reynolds | August 14, 2008; 2:37 PM ET | Comments (349)

What Do You Do for Jesus?

For too long, we the voters have allowed politicians to get away with vague, gauzy affirmations of faith without bothering to interrogate those claims.

By Randall Balmer | August 14, 2008; 8:47 AM ET | Comments (32)

Starting Campaign 2008 In Church

would either of you have accepted an invitation to appear at a forum sponsored by a secularly oriented group like Americans United for Separation of Church and State?

By Susan Jacoby | August 14, 2008; 8:01 AM ET | Comments (114)

Find the Good in Each Other

What traits or abilities does your adversary possess which you would do well to emulate? How would your presidency reflect your growth in that direction?

By Brad Hirschfield | August 14, 2008; 7:52 AM ET | Comments (8)

Can't We Get Some 'Purpose-Driven Politics'?

The reason we don't have a "purpose driven politics" is because the American people do not set limits on what is acceptable in political campaigning.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | August 14, 2008; 6:16 AM ET | Comments (4)

Role of religion in your administration

What role, if any, will U.S. religious leaders will play in your administration?

By Rajan Zed | August 14, 2008; 12:28 AM ET | Comments (4)

Enemies and How to Fight Them

How do you fight an enemy that believes it is acting according to divine authority?

By Jon Meacham | August 13, 2008; 4:48 PM ET | Comments (27)

Compromising to Win

Negative ads don't exactly adhere to the Golden Rule. How do you deal with these moral conflicts?

By Sally Quinn | August 13, 2008; 4:38 PM ET | Comments (11)

Big Job, Bigger Questions

By Sulayman Nyang | August 13, 2008; 3:41 PM ET | Comments (0)

McCain, Obama and the Saddleback Forum

SADDLEBACK CIVIL FORUM ON THE PRESIDENCY WITH SENS. JOHN MCCAIN & BARACK OBAMA.

By Rick Warren | August 13, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Comments (0)

Forgiveness Is No One Else's Business And Faith's Got Nothing To Do With It

I don't think that Edwards deserves any forgiveness from voters or political associates who supported his campaign. He took their money and loyalty under false pretenses. He made a fool out of every one of his supporters.

By Susan Jacoby | August 13, 2008; 9:02 AM ET | Comments (31)

"Forgive Me, I'm Sorry I Got Caught"

A cynic might say, in the wake of so many adulterous politicians, that in future they should issue a preemptive confession before running for President to save The National Enquirer excess ink. Why wait until you are caught?

By Deepak Chopra | August 13, 2008; 8:33 AM ET | Comments (7)

Voters Can Be Less Forgiving

Forgiveness is between Edwards and God (though his "confessional" was TV and not a prayer closet) and Edwards and his wife. This is about judgment.

By Cal Thomas | August 13, 2008; 7:18 AM ET | Comments (10)

Forgiving or Enabling Immoral Behavior?

Every time one of these guys goes off the reservation it creates the perception that it's OK, that that's what men do and the women should just shut up, put on a brave face and support them.

By Sally Quinn | August 13, 2008; 6:30 AM ET | Comments (249)

Private Matters and Public Trust

With public figures like John Edwards, we have to distinguish between forgiveness as a personal act and forgiveness as a public absolution. He has violated the public trust in a serious way, and we may well continue to entertain doubts about his ability to provide significant political leadership.

By Richard Mouw | August 13, 2008; 2:06 AM ET | Comments (0)

Vengeance is Mine, Sayeth the Lord

Perhaps Elizabeth Edwards has forgiven her husband; I know that speaking personally, I want to shake John Edwards until his bleached white, perfectly aligned teeth rattle like castanets.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | August 12, 2008; 11:34 PM ET | Comments (2)

Speak for Yourself

The peaceful and pluralistic must work to make their voices heard through actions that speak louder than those of the aggressors. American Muslims will find that voice through civic engagement.

By Eboo Patel | August 12, 2008; 6:38 PM ET | Comments (3)

Isaac Hayes an Example of Christianity's Lack?

Christians criticize the Muslims, but Muslims have been able to empower scores of young African American men. Why doesn't Christianity have that same record?

By Susan K. Smith | August 12, 2008; 2:00 PM ET | Comments (2)

Forgiving Must Be Unconditional

I think the problem in the modern world is that like everything else "forgiving" too is conditional. When we put conditions on forgiving we destroy the essence.

By Arun Gandhi | August 12, 2008; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (1)

Conflict or Cooperation? A Case for the Interfaith Youth Movement

The world would have us hate one another, but here we are coming together to do something we all care about. There must be something divine in that.

By Eboo Patel | August 11, 2008; 3:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

Excuse Me, How Does It Feel to Be Poor?

Having abandoned the welfare state in its most liberal and generous aspects, America ignores the poor as never before. Is there a new idea that can bridge the immense gap between rich and poor in income, education, health, and opportunities? Religion certainly isn't that new idea.

By Deepak Chopra | August 11, 2008; 10:52 AM ET | Comments (92)

"Why Do Low-Wage Workers Have Hope?"

Every Sunday I see, in church, many low-wage workers practicing their "religion" in a community of mutual concern and affection, a community of love.

By Willis E. Elliott | August 11, 2008; 8:23 AM ET | Comments (33)

No Atheists in Recessions

Americans have few biblical or historical religious resources to apply to their current economic situation and they have to soldier on alone, as best they can.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | August 11, 2008; 8:16 AM ET | Comments (35)

God is With Us in Every Circumstance

When a person really believes in God, and has true faith (not just as hollow expressions), one always feels that he depends on God.

By Adin Steinsaltz | August 11, 2008; 7:48 AM ET | Comments (21)