John McCain: "I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation."

Oooh, sorry. The correct answer is "No."

But really, how important is it that presidential candidates know that kind of stuff?

Comments

[billg]

McCain must know better. The fact that he panders to the GOP base this way disqualifies him from occupying the office. The base is populated by people who were educated in all those so-called "Christian academies". Who knows what lies they heard, and hear, there?

[Anthony]

Wow... How's he supposed to "defend the Constitution" if he doesn't even know what it says?

[Jeffrey Sykes]

"Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John McCain discusses the country's Judeo-Christian roots, explains why the prospect of a Muslim in the White House makes him uncomfortable ..."

Is there a Muslim currently running for the office?

[tw]

"I admire the Islam," McCain says.

The "such as" is implied.

[bubba]

"Wow... How's he supposed to "defend the Constitution" if he doesn't even know what it says?"

He obviously intends to rely on experts like you, billg, and Ed to guide him.

[John G]

I think the "gooks" in North Nam screwed him up pretty bad.
Jeff; I think he was referring to Obama. Who some think is hiding his relationship to Islam. Obama went to an Islamic school in Indonesia

[Jeffrey Sykes]

John:

I was thinking the same thing. That's a cheap shot for a Christian web outlet to take.

Here's what I had to say about something similar last month.

[Joel Gillespie]

I found the partial transcript very odd, and wonder if it accurately reflects the interview. If it does, it seems McCain is sucking up. He is considered more "moderate" generally and probably feels he has to kowtow to the Christian right. If anyone has read the constitution it is clear at first glance that it did not establish a Christian nation, or a nation of any particular religion, but did establish a nation where Christians would be free to worship according to their conscience along with others. As to the world views that contributed to this founding, the Judeo/Christian world view was certainly a significant contributing factor, but not the only factor. As to a Muslim as President, I could only be supportive of that if the Muslim man or woman was committed to a secular state. That would be a realistic and legitimate concern. Islam is much more inherently theocratic than Christianity or modern Judaism, Pat Robertson and other Zionist Dispensationalists not withstanding (or Rushdoony and other Theonomists). It is still an open question as to whether secular governments can really thrive in a Muslim context, but that is a slightly different question than a Muslim president in our context. Anyway, I feel kind of embarrassed by the web site, being a conservative Christian and all...

[Sue]

Well, Joel, that was a new one for me. "Zionist Dispensationalists" - I had to look it up. Are these the folks who support Israel because it brings about the 'infrastructure' for those who hope for Jesus' return?

[billg]

We also need to read the notes of Madison and others at the convention to fully understand the reasons they wrote the Constitution the way they wrote it. The notion that they were creating a Christian regime would have astounded them, since they quite explicitly and quite deliberately did nothing of the sort.

Islam is, I think, no more or no less prone to theocracy than Christianity. Theocratic Islamic regimes are actually few in number compared to the number of secular regimes in which Muslims are the overwhelming majority.

In any case, Christianity secured its position in Europe thanks to its adoption by a theocratic state, Rome. The entire political structure of Europe until the modern era revolved around a struggle by secular rulers to liberate themselves from the allegiance they were expected to give to the church.

It's not religions that are theocratic. It's people.

[Joel Gillespie]

billg,

You're just wrong about that. The Islamic Holy Books are much more supportive of and conducive to a theocratic necessity than the Christian Scriptures. A

Sue, it's those Christians who think that modern Israel and the eventual rebuilding of the temple and such is the fulfillment of God's promise in the OT, and that the Christian church is sort of a parenthetical insert into God's plan A which is for Israel. Don't get too excited :) because all of this centers around Jesus as the Jewish Messiah who will come and take his literal position on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Almost all Jews who become Christians are Dispensational Zionists, and it is a huge movement in the United Stated.

[billg]

Perhaps I am, Joel, but I've noticed that the content of holy books is not a useful way to forecast the behavior of believers.

[Joel Gillespie]

Granted

[James]

More on this discussion

Ed's a trendsetter!

[jimcaserta]

Before I can watch his comments, I get...Dennis Hopper?

Ironic they don't have the partial transcript for what he said. After he said the constitution established a Christian nation he hit the big BUT, the lady with the lamp doesn't only welcome Christians, she wants the poor, the tired, and the huddled masses. His explanation of the founding fathers leaning on their Christian values while writing the Constitution seems weak. Many other harsh governments were led by Christians, and the Constitution, as originally written, was not fair for everyone.

However, the next questions was "Many Republican activists say the separation of Church and State is a myth, your opinion" Part of his answer: "our founding fathers believed in separation of church and state, and they state it unequivocally."

Candidates should be able to answer these questions easily.

[Sue]

Joel, "Jesus as the Jewish Messiah." Yup, that's what I figured. Formerly known as "Jews for Jesus?"
--

"Almost all Jews who become Christians are Dispensational Zionists, and it is a huge movement in the United States."

Huge? Got any references I can look at? The term isn't familiar to me; would like to see some cites, please and thanks.

[Lex]

Deists, John, not Christians. Deists.

But we have this same discussion every election season and probably always will.