Leaves on the Current has a recommended diary about the questioner at the Republican debate that asked the participants if they believed every word in the Bible. Leaves on the Current was depressed that none of the candidates spoke to the Constitution’s restriction that no religious test would be used for public office.
Commenters rightly stated that the Constitution doesn’t preclude citizens from asking candidates anything they like and that we shouldn’t be shocked that such questions are asked at Republic forums.
But there’s another point that needs to be made. More below.
Progressives need to change the nature of the public debate about values. Certainly that’s not going to be done at a Republican event, but we need to be clear as to how a candidate we would like to support would answer such a query.
Everyone from Kos to James Carville has pointed out that Democrats need to learn how to evoke emotions when making a point about values. It is disastrous to be rationally cool like Mike Dukakis so infamously was in a debate.
So, this is how I would like a candidate to answer the Bible question:
In terms of governance, and also just in terms of how we relate to other people on a day to day basis, what’s important is not what’s written in a book, but rather, what’s written in our hearts.
The point of studying sacred texts, or of any other spiritual practice, is to open our hearts to that fundamental teaching that underlies all religions: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
It is our ability as a people to embrace and strive for this goal that makes America great.
What would you like to hear?