And let all God's people say . . .
There was a telling moment in the last presidential debate, when Bob Schieffer asked the candidates about their faith and its influence on policy decisions.President Bush answered with a statement of personal belief, emphasizing prayer.
Senator Kerry answered with a statement of public theology, quoting scripture (more precisely, Jesus' summary of the law) to identify a key criterion for his own ethical and political decisions.
[Thanks to Fritz for pointing this out to me.]
These answers say a lot, I think, about where each man turns for religious authority. They say a lot about the primary sphere--public or private--in which each man locates faith.
They might even say a lot about the regard each man has for community, understood as the role of Christian traditions in interpreting and living out faith.
With that in mind, it is interesting to read Bill Clinton's reflections on faith, politics, and the Republican agenda prior to the GOP convention in New York City.
Here's a taste:
I was raised a Southern Baptist. I used to wonder why the Republicans hated a fellow like me so much, I'm kinda nice and accommodating, you know? I even go duck-hunting once a year. I think it's because I’m supposed to be some sort of apostate… I mean a white, southern Protestant, why am I not a Republican? Especially now that I'm getting all of those tax cuts. . . .
I believe President Bush is a committed Christian. I believe that his faith in Jesus saved him. I believe it gave him new purpose and direction to his life. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't see through a glass darkly and know in part, just like all the rest of us. It doesn't mean that their positions are not subject to evidence and argument. . . .
So, I say again, don't let somebody tell you you're weak because you don't agree with everything somebody else does. And don't let somebody tell you you're not a good Christian because your views on certain issues don’t fit the party line of the "Values Voter" crowd. And remind them that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and all of us see through a glass darkly, and all of us know only in part.
If only we had a political party that made such "epistemological humility" a part of its platform . . . . [Page down here for a nice summary of what such humility may be.]
.: Posted by Duane Bidwell on Thursday, October 21, 2004