Obama And Romney Faith Interview: Candidates Speak Openly About Religion

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/obama-and-romney-answer-q_n_1818290.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Posted: 08/21/2012 11:51 am Updated: 08/21/2012 11:51 am



Washington National Cathedral’s magazine, Cathedral Age, asked President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney an identical set of questions about the presence of faith in their lives and the role of religion in America. Each was given the opportunity to respond freely, and their responses appear as in full.

Cathedral Age: How does faith play a role in your life?

President Obama: First and foremost, my Christian faith gives me a perspective and security that I don’t think I would have otherwise: That I am loved. That, at the end of the day, God is in control -- and my main responsibility is to love God with all of my heart, soul and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself. Now, I don’t always live up to that standard, but it is a standard I am always pursuing.

My faith is also a great source of comfort to me. I’ve said before that my faith has grown as president. This office tends to make a person pray more; and as President Lincoln once said, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.”

Finally, I try to make sure that my faith informs how I live my life. As a husband, as a father, and as president, my faith helps me to keep my eyes on the prize and focus on what is good and truly important.

more at link

[pinto]

1. I find this answer a bit troubling, to tell the truth -

CA: How do you view the role of faith in public life?

Governor Romney: We should acknowledge the Creator, as did the Founders -- in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our Constitution rests.

(on edit) I don't think Romney "gets" the separation of church and state at all. He states as much pretty simply here.

[cbayer]

2. I find it very troubling.

[pinto]

3. Yeah. And Romney seems a guy who often, inadvertantly lets slip his core stands.

[skepticscott]

7. One of the reasons is that

cowardly interviewers let them get away with talking about "faith", which sounds so much nobler. It's fucking RELIGION. Every time they say FAITH, they mean RELIGION, but they just want to soften and elevate it somehow.

[pinto]

8. It was a simple answer these questions thing. Not a give-and-take, back-and-forth interview.

Everyone gets it that faith means religion in this context. They are synonymous, no? Romney's answer clearly states support for a legal (Constitutional) role for faith / religion in his view of a Presidency. Hence my concern.

That's likely your concern, as well. Not the distinction between the use of "faith" or "religion". A minor distinction, imo, that misses the bigger issue - separation of church and state.

[skepticscott]

9. It's an issue than goes well beyond

this one "simple answer these questions thing". Why do you think the White House subsidy for religion is labeled "faith-based" and not religion-based? Why are there so many references to "faith communities" that are nothing more than gaggles of religionists? The dodge of softening religion by not using that word to describe it is just another tactic to lower the wall.

[YankeyMCC]

4. Wow, yet we can't get a similar interview/response on science n/t

[cbayer]

5. Who says we can't? Perhaps an agency representing scientists just needs to ask.

[YankeyMCC]

6. They have been for the last couple of election cycles in fact

http://www.sciencedebate.org/story.html

There was a response, written by their advisers last time around but it wasn't given the personal attention of the candidates.