"Why does a candidate’s religion matter?"

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Saturday September 03, 2011 · 12:38 AM PDT

2011/09/03 · 00:38

Colbert I. King asks the question Why does a candidate’s religion matter? in today's Washington Post. He makes a powerful argument that

I don’t have a right to know what a candidate thinks about the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Decalogue or the Second Coming. I do, however, need to know about a candidate’s fealty to the Constitution and laws of the land. And, in reaching a judgment about a candidate’s fitness for office, I will want to know where that person stands on a host of issues, including the social safety net, defense, climate change, teaching evolution, and his or her willingness and ability to defend the rights and protection of the law promised to all citizens. But learning about a candidate’s views on public matters ought to be enough. Whether those views are informed by religion or by non-belief is not my chief concern.

This raises an interesting question of "Do we have the right to know why a candidate believes something?" Take global warming. Do we have the right to know why a candidate believes or does not believe in global warming? I think we do and if that belief is based on religion that should be a factor in our decision to vote or not vote for the candidate. The same can be said for many issues including abortion, evolution and even war.

So the question becomes ones of how deeply should we delve into a candidates beliefs. There is no easy answer to this. For example lets take the death penalty issue. If a candidate is for the death penalty should we ask why? And if the candidate says s/he believes in "an eye for an eye" is that deep enough? Or if a candidate is against the death penalty and is asked why and says because it is against the commandment "thou shalt not kill" is that deep enough? Do these answers raise questions about how much a candidate is guided by her/his religion and then should we know?

I largely agree with Colbert King and I believe he makes a valid point. He also clearly states that

Of course, the ground rules change if, for example, candidates elect to parade their religious bona fides, suggesting somehow that their faith is superior to another or that it somehow trumps the law. Rick Perry is a case in point.

which I also agree with. But when does a candidate parade her/his religious bona fides before us? Did President Bush do so when asked what his favorite book was and he answered "the bible?" The answer to this question is not black or white, but falls into a grey zone. Clearly asking President Obama about his religious beliefs should have been "off limits." And yet what questions should be raised by Obama choosing Rick Warren as a debate monitor?

I don't know the answer. Let me know what you think.

Just for the record Colbert (Colby) King is one of my favorite op-ed writers.

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