Needed: More religion in politics

I have argued that a candidate’s religion is a legitimate subject in American politics. Simply stated, America as a whole, is one of the most religious nations on the face of our earth. The values of the American population are rooted in religious beliefs. There is no reason for candidates to hide their religion. Neither should citizens hesitate to bring their religious beliefs to the public political forum.

In the present political campaign, the interviews of John McCain and Barack Obama by Rick Warren broke new ground. Rick Warren is not a network news anchor. He is the pastor of a megachurch called Saddleback Community Church. He is a Southern Baptist. There was no reason for him to be anyone other than himself.

My reaction to the Warren interviews was that it was a move in the right direction. My further reaction was that while he was fair, he failed to confront the candidates with core Christian beliefs.

Knowing what to bring to the interviews was not easy. The path of my own spiritual journey is paved with ponderings about what I truly believe. What do I believe about God? What is the nature of the Almighty? What do I believe about Jesus from Nazareth? Do I believe what he said and taught are a legitimate part of modern life? What do I believe about human beings and their value? What do I believe about this place and environment in which we live?

None of these questions have an objective answer. They are questions that are prompted by my search for a truly meaningful life. They are questions, if answered honestly, will determine the way I live my life.

I have concluded that if I am not willing to act on a belief, I do not believe it. If I have beliefs that I fully embrace and are basic to my life, I cannot leave them behind when I enter the political arena as a questioner. My beliefs are an essential part of me.

Rick Warren took on a tough job when he invited McCain and Obama to his sanctuary.

The bottom line is that I was disappointed with the Rick Warren interviews. But I have also been disappointed with the so-called debates hosted by news anchors. There have been no debates worthy of the name.

America would be well-served by genuine debates in which all persons, candidates and questioning citizens, are free to bring their truest beliefs and convictions to the table. Jews, Muslins, Buddhists, Christians, agnostics, and secular humanists should all be invited to the fest.

What question would I like most to bring to a presidential candidate? I would like to ask “How do you respond to the question ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?”’

If a candidate’s answer is “yes,” how then, without compromising the answer, would he as president apply the answer to health care? To education? To Social Security? To taxation? To foreign policy? To trade policy? To immigration policy?

I maintain that if a person embraces a belief, that belief must apply to life situations without exception.

What faith assertions do religious people dare bring to the public square at election time? Here is a starter list.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Whatever you sow, you will also reap.

To whom much is given, much is required.

Do not lay up treasures for yourself on earth.

Go the second mile.

Do not refuse anyone who asks.

Love your enemies.

Do not judge; the judgment you give is the judgment you will get.

If you want to be great, be the servant of all.

Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly.

I reaffirm that our nation is a secular nation of law. However, we dare not leave our religious/moral selves behind when we practice the art of politics in a secular society. Our religions are a part of who we are.

The Rev. Howard Bess is pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.