Fifty years ago Thursday, John F. Kennedy placed his hand on the Bible and took the presidential oath of office. On that cold snowy January day as Kennedy became the 35th U.S. president, it represented the removal of the "no Catholics allowed" sign from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. During the closely-contested 1960 campaign, Kennedy faced questions and even attacks from many Protestant leaders who feared that a Catholic president would be dangerous to the nation and foundational democratic values like religious liberty. Kennedy eloquently addressed those concerns in his campaign speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association.
Five decades later, the relationship between religion and politics espoused by most successful national politicians differs dramatically from what Kennedy masterfully advanced. While Kennedy argued that a candidate's personal religious beliefs should not matter, today's candidates often openly testify about their religiosity in hopes of finding political salvation in the ballot box. While Kennedy argued that religious rhetoric should not be used for partisan purposes and political rhetoric should not be sectarian, today's candidates use religious-political rhetoric in partisan and sectarian ways. Finally, while Kennedy believed that religious references should only be ceremonial in nature, today's politicians often adopt a more liturgical tone as if they are running to become the nation's Pastor-in-Chief.
Below are ten of the quotations from general election candidates from 1976-2008 that best represent this dramatic shift in American presidential campaign rhetoric. Although wilder quotations could be assembled from candidates who did not capture their party's nomination or religious leaders who attempted to influence the electoral outcome, the God talk of the nominees best represents the changing American political scene.
10. Ronald Reagan, 1984. One of the most significant developments over the past few decades has been the open opposition to the historic principle of separation of church and state. Reagan often pushed this argument, especially with his support for voluntary school prayer.
"I deeply believe that the loving God who gave us this land should never have been expelled from America's classrooms. If the Congress can begin its day with prayer, children can, too."
9. Jimmy Carter, 1976. Over the past few decades, there has developed an expectation that candidates will publicly confess their private religious beliefs. The born-again Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher helped create this expectation as he openly talked about his religious beliefs and practices -- even suggesting it is the duty of candidates to do so.
"I've wondered to talk about [my faith] at all. ... But I feel I have a duty to the country -- and maybe to God -- not to say 'no comment.'"
8. Barack Obama, 2008. The biggest problem with the claims that Obama is a secret Muslim is not that it is false but that this is offered as a reason for why he should not be president. During the campaign, Obama often reacted so zealously against the claim that he seemed to justify the underlying assumption. Instead of challenging the de facto religious test for office, he instead tried to prove he passed the test.
"I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life."
7. George W. Bush, 2004. A common problem in contemporary political discourse is to describe Americans in sectarian religious terms, thus excluding those who practice a non-monotheistic faith or no faith.
"Americans of every faith and every tradition turn daily to God in reverence and humility."
6. Bill Clinton, 1996. Presidential candidates today frequently quote scripture to promote their specific partisan policy proposals. Clinton drew from biblical texts on numerous topics, including justifying his support for V-chip TV technology.
"The Bible asks, 'If your child asks for bread, would you give him a stone? If he asks for fish, would you give him a serpent? If he asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion?' Our children are what we give them, what we teach them. We dare not forget that basic truth. Their lives and our common future depend upon it."
5. George W. Bush, 2004. Political discourse in recent campaigns often works to rhetorically exclude Americans who are atheists or agnostics from being considered full-fledged citizens or legitimate leaders.
"I happen to believe that it would be very difficult to be the President without believing. I believe that -- I know it's been an important part of my presidency."
4. John McCain, 2008. In addition to atheists, Muslims are also often singled out as not passing the de facto religious test for office.
"I admire the Islam. There's a lot of good principles in it. ... But I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith."
3. Jimmy Carter, 1980. At times, presidential candidates in recent decades act quite evangelistically as they urge Americans to read the Bible and pray.
"I suggest that when you get home, you get your Bible if you've got one -- I'm sure you have -- turn to Exodus 20 and read the Third Commandment. ... Well, don't forget now when you get home, read the Bible, okay? How many of you will look it up? Okay. Keep your promise."
2. George H. W. Bush, 1992. Partisan attacks on the other party for not being good Christians routinely appear during recent presidential campaigns.
"The other party took words to put together their platform, but left out three simple letters: G-O-D."
1. Ronald Reagan, 1984. Much as God apparently helps bring victory in every Super Bowl, candidates also claim his support in campaigns. Reagan borrowed biblical language about being a faithful Christian to explain why he was certain Republicans would find salvation in the ballot box.
"If we trust in Him, keep His word, and live our lives for His pleasure, He'll give us the power we need -- power to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep the faith."
Bonus: Most surprising non-campaign quotation. During Reagan's presidency, the man often viewed as his conservative prototype -- Barry Goldwater -- offered a stunning critique of the increasing role religion was playing in American politics. Despite the shared political ideals of the two men, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee appeared to differentiate himself dramatically from Reagan's religious electoral model.
"I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across the country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in the 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral belief to me? And I'm even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. And the religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected with them recognize that religion has no place in public policy."
Goldwater's sentiment helps demonstrate how substantially God talk in presidential campaigns has changed since the era of Kennedy and Goldwater. Today's era of confessional politics stands in stark opposition to the ideals JFK espoused five decades ago.
Dr. Brian T. Kaylor, a former Baptist pastor, teaches political communication, advocacy, and public speaking at James Madison University. He is the author of a new book, Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics, on religious rhetoric in presidential campaigns.
"Religion is to the foolish, wise, to the wise, foolish, and to the rulers, useful." --- Seneca the Younger
Goldwater's Response:
"I Think Every Good Christian Ought To Kick Jerry Falwell's Ass!"
And the funny thing was--Goldwater never aplogized for that comment!
Probably never happen again in this lifetime!
--RKJ
Quotation in the above article above reinforces my admiration. He would
Be appalled by the lack of both integrity and intelligence of the far right who
Have become too powerful in the Republican party today. Would that there
Were more around like him.
Doctrine"
Thomas Jefferson: "I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming
feature."
Thomas Paine: “Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion
is the worst.
Ben Franklin: Lighthouses are more useful than a church
-- The Reverend Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister in Albany, New York, in an interview with Mr. Robert Dale Owen written on November 13, 1831, which was publlshed in New York two weeks later, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents, pp. 27
"Sir, Washington was a Deist."
-- The Reverend Doctor James Abercrombie, rector of the church Washington had attended with his wife, to The Reverend Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister in Albany, New York, upon Wilson's having inquired of Abercrombie regarding Washington's religious beliefs, quoted from John E Remsberg, Six Historic Americans
And weren't the CIA involved in a million-dollar-a-year Top Secret program testing 'remote viewing' for 10 YEARS?(a la Men Stare @ Goats)
We can see that in the 'othering' of fellow Christian Barack Obama and 'libruls' in general and the violent talk that's so recently been in the news, not just directed at non-Christians, but 'wrong sorts' of Christians.
Putting control of money and power at stake there is just asking for the kind of oppression and upheaval and civil war that was 'Current events and recent European history' to the Founding Fathers.
Happens every time: it's structural to those authoritarian monotheisms.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]
Matthew 21:18-22
Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except
leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the
tree withered.
The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he
refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong
will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is
given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given."
(Luke 12:47-48 NLT) (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them
sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)
Ephesians is a quote from Paul, not Jesus. Has no bearing in a discussion of Jesus' morality. Paul is often at odds with the Jesus of the Gospels.
I don't see immorality in the "Much is required from those to whom much is
given" passage. I can't think of any rational person who'd call that sentiment immoral, except perhaps billionaires trying to avoid paying taxes and giving to charity.
In the fig tree passage, Jesus tells the disciples if they have faith, not only will they be able to make a tree wither, their faith will move mountains. I don't see how sacrificing one fig tree to make a vivid point is immoral.
In the "sword" passage, it's obvious (by what follows the line "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword") that "sword" in this context is not an incitement to physical violence, but a metaphor for "dividing." This is backed up by Luke's telling of the same story, which begins, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." For me, Jesus' definitive take on violence
comes from Matthew: "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
I'm an atheist. But presenting a mishmash of out-of-context quotations in an attempt to debunk Jesus is just as lame-brained as doing the same thing to glorify him.
The irony! Now its Protestants that are trying to close the gap between church and state. Looks like people will never learn.....
Poor guy.
Simple fact is, on that day and the days after, Islamophobia and a Christianist religious-war footing was not the first reaction of very many Americans at all. Far fewer than I expected to see, in all honesty. People I thought sure would be waving Bibles and flags and harassing people that looked Muslim turned up to protect the few in our neighborhood just as I did. I think the 'redneck' types were just as surprised about each other as I was.
The point is, this stuff took a *lot* of effort and stoking and propaganda to raise, on the part of conservative Christianists and all. It's not who we are as a nation or who we were on that day.
Clinton's statement cuts right to the heart of what is wrong with this country. Parents are not teaching their children the difference between right and wrong. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. I have some wonderful grandchildren, but there are many children that I see who scare the crap out of me.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a] Matt 10:34
Dont forget Jesus killing 2,000 pigs, a fig tree, the tempertantrum with the moneychangers, and endorsing slavery.