Which Candidate Will Honor God's Love

"And that's the same argument an Islamic terrorist would use too. In this country the political decisions are based on the constitution. that document is based on equality, justice and liberty for all of us. Now it may come as a shock, but different religions have different approaches to morals and ethics."

I would not vote for either Bush or Palin. Their faith has obscured if not warped their ability to discern political and economic truths, leading them to conceive of situations in grossly simplistic ideological terms - good or evil, all who agree and submit are good, all who disagree and refuse to submit are evil. For them fear and exclusion and hate are weapons of state. Statecraft is a zero sum game.

It may come as a shock but political decisions are not based on the Constitution, they are merely limited by the Constitution. Core values such as protection of life, liberty, property, and equal justice come into play as limitations on the power of the state over individuals and minorities, but those limitations are not the meat of the decisions being made.

Trickle down economics; welfare and entitlements; access to health care; tax increases/cuts for the wealthy or the middle class; international trade barriers; decisions of war and peace and preemptive war, use of force; defensive treaties and disarmament; the point at which the state has an obligation to protect a life; use of torture or rendition; policies toward immigrants, illegal or otherwise; and on and on - all of these issue areas cannot be decided by simple reference to the Constitution - they are made based on the moral compass of the decision makers. That moral compass is what I look at when evaluating a candidate. My standard for evaluation has to be my own moral compass which is largely formed by my faith.

Yes different religions do have different approaches to morals and ethics, as does the lack of, or indifference to faith. And so that is important to me as well in my political evaluations.

To describe the pro-life movement as engaging in a "war on women" is no less polemical and morally weighted than pro-lifers accusing the pro-choice movement of engaging in murder. I hardly think the struggle between the pro-life and pro-choice movements has "hurt this country". For a pro-choice proponent to make such an accusation is no different in its moralizing tone than the counter-allegations made by the pro-life movement.

"The notion of separating issues of faith and morals from politics is absurd. Political decisions are made on the basis of faith and morals. I am saying that a candidate must be a Christian or even a person of faith, but only that I will vote for the candidate who I think will make decision which reflect my values."

And that's the same argument an Islamic terrorist would use too. In this country the political decisions are based on the constitution. that document is based on equality, justice and liberty for all of us. Now it may come as a shock, but different religions have different approaches to morals and ethics. since this is a pluralistic country, different faiths will clash. The constitution is both our foundation and our safety net.

I have no problem voting for a Christian, provided I believe he will protect the constitution and everyone's rights- including their right to be different than the majority. Which happens to be why so many came to this country.

Would I vote for a Christian like Sarah Palin? Never in a million years. The way her faith and her morals guide her is the polar opposite of everything this country stands for. Like bush, her faith will "guide" her to run rampant over womens rights , gay rights and religious rights. There's a big difference. Religious fundamentalists don't believe in the constitution, they believe in the bible. And that's fine, until they get into a position of power and begin to undermine it. They don't belong in government unless they accept the fact that everyone in this country is equal under the law, and religious belief must not determine the law.

The anti-choice culture war is a prime example of how religious values will hurt this country. It's not a war to protect the "unborn innocent." It's a war on women and a war on how we define equality. Put it this way, once you make some people "more" equal and others "less"- it's no longer equality.

The classic Judeo/Christian faith (not the weird fringe movements) espouses values that promote the welfare of all people and a deep and abiding respect for people of all faiths (and non-faiths.)

This would include a deep and abiding concern for those who are most marginalized in society.

Since Bishop Tom Wright is from the Anglican tradition, this is my sense of his post and not the Christian bully approach which some people assume most Christians represent.

" I am saying that a candidate must be a Christian or even a person of faith, but only that I will vote for the candidate who I think will make decision which reflect my values."

I intended to say that I am NOT saying that a candidate must ....

Sorry for my haste.

My religious values inform my moral values and therefore affect my conduct in the world. I cannot act or vote without my faith coming into play. If my faith compels me to love my enemy, then when I vote, I will not knowingly vote for a candidate who preaches a message of hate. The candidate need not "love" the enemy, but the candidate should at least see the enemy first as neighbor, entitled to respect, dignity and humane treatment, and secondarily as enemy, compelling wariness, and preparedness. If my faith teaches me to care for the marginalized, then when I vote I will take into consideration the candidates' respective pledges regarding the marginalized.

The notion of separating issues of faith and morals from politics is absurd. Political decisions are made on the basis of faith and morals. I am saying that a candidate must be a Christian or even a person of faith, but only that I will vote for the candidate who I think will make decision which reflect my values.

Sparrow and Lepi,

You hit the nail on the head. I don't want to be governed by the Christian god nor his son. I would prefer that my President represent ALL the people of America not only the select group who identify themselves as Christian.

JohnMcCauslin,

I would hope that everyone votes for the candidate who best identies with one's moral issues. Religious issues in the political world are irrellevant. We are not voting for Pastor-in-Chief!

Which of the candidates is more likely to be open to the challenge (which it is up to the churches to pose) to enable this quasi-empire to order its affairs, and those of the rest of the world which comes under its influence, power and sometimes actual authority, in a way which honours God the creator and is aware that power itself is redefined, and all human power called to account, by the loving and generous nature of this God as redefined in and around Jesus of Nazareth?
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You seem to forget that many of us Americans do not hold Jesus Christ as the "redefinition" of the Divine. I am Pagan, so which candidate is more like Ieshua isn't my primary concern.
My concern is which candidate will most faithfully uphold the Constitution.

Excuse me?!? Bishop Wright poses a fair issue for people of faith. I will vote my conscience, and yes, I will take into account how well I think a candidate honors my moral and religious values when I vote.

By the way, what is a "religious ego"? Can one deny the value of religion and still retain a vastly overblown religious ego? Does posting an anti-religious comment on a website explicitly titled "On Faith" evidence such an ego?

Excuse me? Have you ever read our Constitution? Probably not. I find your post offensive in the extreme because you, like so many of your ilk can't be bothered to recall that this country is not just made up of Christians but Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jain, Wiccans, Atheists, Agnostics, and many more- we all have a stake in this country and who becomes our President. We don't want a "Christian" for President. we want an American for President who cares about all of us and upholds the Constitution, not the church not Jesus.

You people need to get a grip on yourselves and your vastly overblown religious egos.