Kerry Describes the Unifying Potential of Faith in Public Life

[kerrygoddess]

Finding Common Ground: Senator John Kerry Describes the Unifying Potential of Faith in Public Life
September 22nd, 2006 @ 10:04 pm



On Monday, John Kerry delivered a speech on “Service and Faith,” to a standing-room-only audience in Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre. In the speech, which I wrote about here earlier in the week, Kerry “shared his personal faith and perspective on the role of faith in public life.”

The video is available now on Pepperdine’s website, you can watch it here.

The video includes the “questions posed by a panel of five Seaver College students as well as Professor of Great Books Paul Contino,” after the speech. The Q&A session was powerful and equally as moving as the speech.

The questions addressed such topics as how Democrats can reach out to more voters, how Kerry reconciles his anti-abortion stance with his personal faith, his willingness to support the new Elizabeth Cady Stanton bill, Christian responsibility in the immigration debate, and the senator’s position on the interrogation of enemy combatants.

John Kerry’s appearance at Pepperdine University kicked off their 2006-2007 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture series. Pepperdine University is a conservative, Republican leaning university, that is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Kerry stepped into the heart of the beast speaking at Pepperdine and stood his ground.

Shannon Kelly, the Perspectives Editor for the Pepperdine Newspaper - The Graphic, offers her partisan, but complementary views on the speech here — Doors closed at politicized Kerry speech:

A Public Safety officer made a huge mistake on Monday. Somehow he let a liberal through the guard gate resulting in a Smothers Theatre appearance by a Democratic (read — not Republican) senator — John Kerry (gasp).

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4262#more-4262

[lvx35]

1. The religious "right" is starting to ask some serious questions...

Like how torture, occupation, and corruption are compatible with the words of Christ:

Despite Pepperdine’s inherent conservatism Kerry’s appearance was so well received that students, faculty and even some Malibu locals began lining up more than two hours before his speech began. Those who had classes opted out of going to snatch a first-come-first-serve ticket, but many students were turned away since the theater was full. This is not surprising despite some people wrongly predicting a negative reception or foreseeing a low turnout.

And they are looking for answers in a BIG way!

[kerrygoddess]

2. They need to keep asking them too!

The reception he received there was a good sign.

[Erika]

3. OK, it's the Christian thing again

I'm more Xtian than the GOP so vote for me.

What does Xianity have to do with governing a secular republic? Nothing. All else is pandering.

People better be reminded that atheists pay taxes and also vote and we seem to have no voice.

[lvx35]

4. It has to do with the idea that its okay to be Christian and Democrat.

Kerry, Dean, any of these guys who have gotten heat for appealing to the evangelicals or other religious folk can be trusted to preserve your civil liberties as an atheist, or person of any other faith. They are just trying to show that you can be a person of faith without demanding the government subsidize your beliefs, an idea that the repukes have been successful at selling. So sit back, enjoy, and don't worry so much.

[kerrygoddess]

5. Well said

People really need to look hard at how the GOP courted the Christian vote and it helped them big time at the polls. There's a new book out that describes what they did in detail - Applebee's America. It's very enlightening.

Meanwhile, John Kerry won't be selling anyone's civil rights out - that's as clear as ever when you watch the speech and the Q&A.

[Withywindle]

6. OK, here's the thing.

He's delivering this speech at a conservative religious school, and *that's* what makes it awesome. I completely agree with him and with other Dems who have said it's very important to NOT cede "Christian values" to the Right, when I think it's clear to anyone with basic reading comprehension that most Dem policies actually contribute to a world that's a lot more like the teachings of Christ--giving up your wealth willingly, helping the needy, reaching out to your enemy, asking questions and having humility. And it's *other Christians* who need to hear this message most.

But I also think it's important for someone to stand up for people like my dad - a strong atheist. (And for me too, I'm Pagan, but I don't wanna be selfish) :) For the people who feel totally unrepresented in public life. I think we'll have a black President and/or a woman President LONG before we'll have an openly, avowedly atheist President.

I am NOT ripping Kerry. I think what he did here is great. Having Christians on our side speak up and say, no, our values are NOT like those of the Christians on the other side and we think ours are truer to Christianity is vitally important. But my larger point is, sometimes everyone else in this vastly diverse country feels marginalized if the dialogue is only about Christian values vs. Christian values.

[Mass]

9. Thanks. This is important to say!!!

[kerrygoddess]

18. Good points

For me personally I get that Kerry understands that our vastly diverse country feels marginalized if the dialogue is Christian vs Christian. He made that clear in his speech.

In '03 Kerry did an interview with Windsurfer magazine that gave a clear view of his understanding of spirituality beyond religion. As a person who's spirituality encompasses a range of beliefs from goddess to buddhist to a course in miracles, reading this interview 2 - 3 years clarified for me that JK gets it.

AW: You mentioned spirituality with windsurfing. Tell me your views on that.

JK: Spirituality is a fundamental for us. I mean, it's the-it is the overpowering, driving foundation of most of the struggles that we go through here on earth, in my judgement. I am a believer in the Supreme Being, in God. I believe, without any question in this force that is so much larger and more powerful than anything human beings can conceivably define.

I think the more we learn about the universe, the more we learn about black holes and the expansion of the universe and the more we learn what we don't know about: our beginnings and-not just of us, but the universe itself, the more I find that people believe in this supreme being. I'm a Catholic and I practice but at the same time I have an open-mindedness to many other expressions of spirituality that come through different religions. I'm very respectful and am interested-I find it intriguing.

I went to Jerusalem a number of years ago on an official journey to Israel and I was absolutely fascinated by the 32 or so different branches of Catholicism that were there. That's before you even get to the conflict between Arabs and Jews. I have spent a lot of time since then trying to understand these fundamental differences between religions in order to really better understand the politics that grow out of them. So much of the conflict on the face of this planet is rooted in religions and the belief systems they give rise to. The fundamentalism of one entity or another.
So I really wanted to try to learn more. I've spent some time reading and thinking about it and trying to study it and I've arrived at not so much a sense of the differences but a sense of the similarities in so many ways; the value system roots and the linkages between the Torah, the Koran and the Bible and the fundamental story that runs through all of this, that connects us-and really connects all of us.

And so I've also always been fascinated by the Transcendentalists and the Pantheists and others who found these great connections just in nature, in trees, the ponds, the ripples of the wind on the pond, the great feast of nature itself. I think it's all an expression that grows out of this profound respect people have for those forces that human beings struggle to define and to explain. It's all a matter of spirituality.

I find that even - even atheists and agnostics wind up with some kind of spirituality, maybe begrudgingly acknowledging it here and there, but it's there. I think it's really intriguing. For instance, thinking about China, the people and their policy-how do we respond to their view of us? And how do they arrive at that view of us and of the world and of life choices? I think we have to think about those things in the context of the spiritual to completely understand where they are coming from. So here are a people who, you know, by and large, have a nation that has no theory of creationism. Well, that has to effect how you approach things. And until we think through how that might effect how you approach things, it's hard to figure out where you could find a meeting of the minds when approaching certain kinds of issues.

So, the exploration of all these things I find intriguing. Notwithstanding our separation between church and state, it is an essential ingredient of trying to piece together an approach to some of the great vexing questions we have internationally.

AW: Do you think that we are headed for more enlightened spirituality or are we doomed to crawl back to the caves?

JK: That's the test! That's exactly what the challenge of life is all about and some people find that. I mean, look at the Dalai Lama who I've spent some time with and who is absolutely intriguing. Extraordinary person. He is certainly telling us there is life from enlightenment-here and hereafter, but I think, whether or not we're going to be is the great test that all of us are struggling with. That's part of what makes life so challenging and so much fun.

http://www.americanwindsurfer.com/MAG/BACK/issue5.5c.html

[Withywindle]

31. Oh, I agree with that.

I would never accuse Kerry of pandering, because I know he's a very intelligent and empathetic and cultured man (and by "cultured" I mean it in the real sense that he constantly makes an effort to learn more about and understand *cultures*--not in the wine-and-cheese insult Rove turned it into).

And then I start getting all heartbroken again about what we almost had. You know everytime Bush hears the word "Shi'ite" he giggles like a 9-year-old. :cry:

[kerrygoddess]

34. And I agree with you

I waver most days still between heartbroken and thoroughly pissed off!

[JNelson6563]

7. Trying to out-god the rethugs.

*sigh* Yeah, we need to keep religion in politics. Not!

Compare this post election speech to the stuff Gore has spoken on since 2000 and, well, there's no comparison.

Disappointed. Hoping for a new direction, not staying within rethug frames.

Julie

[TayTay]

10. I agree, there is no comparison

I wish Gore would make some speeches like this that talk about what informs his view of the world and how faith plays a part in that. It would be illuminating and insightful. I am very glad Kerry did this in the apprpropriate location. Giving this speech in a public hall would not be right, giving it at a college that is decidely religous in nature is very appropriate.

I hope that Mr. Gore does do something like this. It would be good for him and would allow people to see inside that man's thinking a bit more.

[JNelson6563]

21. I strongly disagree

Religion out of politics. Now.

[Mass]

23. Good. Say that to Dean.

His speech to Sojourners was fairly similar to what Kerry said.

BTW, I agree, but the Democratic Party in general seems to disagree.

[JNelson6563]

25. I'll say it to one and all, happily!

My message doesn't change with my audience.

[karynnj]

32. If you listen to the video- you would see Kerry does not

disagree. He gives a fantastic answer to why his personal acceptance ON FAITH of the Catholic definition of when life begins does not mean he should legislate as though that were the believe of all. He apparently lives by this as he, not Gore, has a 100% lifetime record with NARAL. Gore has religious values as well and I assume his position is not far away from Kerry's.

If he didn't think you should legislate values, would he and Tipper have worked so hard on getting labels on record albums?

As to Gore's speeches they are great - he has spoken on constitutional rights and global warming. Kerry has also given speeches on many many thinks that have nothing to do with religion. I would have a problem if all his speeches were on religion. He has given major speeches this year on national security, dissent, healthcare, environment and our dealing with Latin America.

[TayTay]

36. Do you think Colleges and Universities are a place to discuss religion

Cuz that's where this conversation took place. Should there be free speech on college campuses and should public officials be allowed to talk on such campuses about any topic they choose.

After all, the taxpayers are not paying for the speech, the arrangements for the speech, nor the travel costs for the participants.

This was not said on the floor of the Senate or in a publicly funded hall. It was said at a private university. Do you think all such speech at univerities and colleges should be censored or just Kerrys?

[kerrygoddess]

17. I'd say more like trying to re-frame

the rethug frames, not stay within them. The fact is religion/faith/values drives people to the polls and we can not ignore that. We can stay on the sidelines, or we can re-frame the conversation, which is what Kerry is doing.

He made it very clear in the Q&A that he can not do his job based on his faith, making policy transcends his faith and it must be inclusive for all people rather than lean one way or another, which is the rethug mode.

When we can successfully reframe the debate, the new direction is clear. Many people of faith, particularly the evangelicals are moving away from the biased right wing views and starting to see the differences. More evangelicals are registered Dems than Repubs, but we lost many in the '04 because we did not acknowledge them. Ignoring their sector of the vote is like ignoring the blacks, hispanics or women, etc.

[blm]

19. Out God, them, no - out REASON them through their belief in scripture, YES

Sorry you think Kerry's Iraq withdarawl speeches and plans can't compare to Gore's - maybe you can cross examine both speeches on their withdrawal plans and we can maybe judge anew.

Why you find this so upsetting is a mystery. In fact, it reminds me of all the people who believe that Gore's Senate work on dirty song lyrics was so much more important than Kerry's work on IranContra, BCCI, illegal wars in Central America and CIA drugrunning. Oops - did Gore ever apologize for supporting Reagan and Bush's Contra policies and their illegal wars in Central America, or Clinton and his silence on the CIA drugrunning documents that they tried to downplay?

I keep forgetting if Gore ever spoke up about that stuff, especially considering how those matters relate to today - - maybe you can remind me what he's said?

[JNelson6563]

20. I'm not a one issue girl

and Kerry's ancient work on BCCI isn't enough to woo me into cult like worship of him.

As to speeches, Gore's made many, on many topics. Not one of them was anything like this and that's one of several reason's I prefer him to Kerry.

Religion needs to keep out of politics. Doing anything that offers succour to the current relationship that is currently flourishing between the two is not helpful. I might go so far as to say counter-productive.

Really BLM, you do little for your credibility when proclaiming "BCCI!!" in your many posts on Kerry as the answer to any and all criticism (real or perceived). It's not only tiresome but it effectively diminishes the other good Kerry's done since the 80's.

Julie

[blm]

24. You didn't list the 4 other issues I posted - CIA drugrunning was in 1995

and that was the Clinton/Gore administration who chose to keep that quiet. Maybe that's why you only said BCCI.

BCCI matters BECAUSE of everything happening today - and really, J, if you don't know that - - well, you should, because it doesn't help your credibility to act as if there is no correlation between IranContra, BCCI, CIA drugrunning - unless you think Robert Parry is as uncredible as I am.

Truth should never be tiresome - and repetition is unavoidable because of the repetitive nature of the FALSE POSTS that need honest replies. If correcting false claims with the truth bothers you, then ignore the posts.

[JNelson6563]

26. BCCI, BCCI, BCCI

Look at the post you just wrote to prove your point. :rofl:

[blm]

27. Again you ignore every other issue I posted - why? Because Gore supported

the policies or because he and Clinton tried to keep the CIA drugrunning story quiet in 1995?

Or because everything I listed has EVERYTHING To do with 9-11 and Iraq. And either you get that or you don't. Octafish, H2O Man, and many others get it and post about it. Robert Parry writes about the connections. Those posts are never tiresome and hardly funny.

My guess is you know that, but lashing out at me is reflexive for you at this point.

[TayTay]

37. That is not true.

Gore is working with the religious community on environmental issues.

Perhaps there may be some who are fond of Kerry, though it doesn't have the official trappings of a cult. But they have done their homework and actually know what their candidate has said, which is more than I can say for supporters of other candidates.

[JI7]

39. sometimes Kerry fans are more informed about Gore than Gore fans also

"Former Vice President Al Gore used religious references Thursday night in New York City in an attempt to convince a "town hall" meeting that human-caused catastrophic climate change is real.

"The Book of Revelation God will destroy those who destroy his creation," Gore said, noting that some evangelical Christian leaders have expressed concern about climate change. "Whatever works," Gore added, prompting applause and laughter.

Gore noted that the Bible promotes good stewardship of the Earth. "Noah was commanded to preserve biodiversity," he said. "

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200605/CUL20060526b.html

[Mass]

8. Dont lose track of what this speech really is. It is about saying

christians a christian can be democrat without going against their religion. This is NOT a general speech. It was given by a christian TO christians. Nothing else, nothing more.

In this context and in this context only, it is a good speech. I was not shocked at all, but I hope Kerry does not feel he needs to repeat that too often. We are a secular country (as in " religion should not intervene in politics") and it is important.

EDITED after calming down.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Only if one believes in a benevolent Gawd, or a distant one, or a critical

one. Those that believe in an authoritarian Gawd (according to the Baylor study) are concentrated in Jesusland and the only unity they believe in is in imposing their sectarian views on the rest of us.

[Ninja Jordan]

12. Nice prejudice there

very liberal of you

[IndianaGreen]

15. Have you read the Baylor University report of how people view Gawd?

Obviously not!

[Ninja Jordan]

30. Nice prejudice there

very liberal of you

[Bill McBlueState]

33. where's the prejudice?

The poster's description of the Baylor study is accurate.

[Ninja Jordan]

35. Was "Gawd" in the Baylor study too?

[Mass]

13. Definition of faith? If I have faith in mankind, but not in god, ...

am I a person of faith?

[TayTay]

14. You could be. You very well could be.

Just as there is morality apart from religion and religious upbringing, there is a sort of faith apart from religion as well.

You post here, on a Democratic forum in a time when Democrats control nothing and can change nothing in the federal government. We had a devastating loss in '04, not just of the Presidency, but of Congress that plunged a great many people into a sort of despair.

And yet, you come back here, you keep posting, you keep asking questions, you keep hoping. If that isn't a sort of faith, then I don't know what is.

[kerrygoddess]

16. Yes

Fatih is not based on religion or spirituality alone. I think the basic message of all the religions and spiritual masters all boils down to the same thing. Likewise, the faith and values that atheists and people who lean more towards science than religion/spirituality are similar.

[Vidar]

29. Hell of a lot of faith IMHO.

[ProSense]

22. No torture!

"the senator’s position on the interrogation of enemy combatants."

Awesome, detailed response in the Q&A!

[blm]

28. Any transcript on that answer, yet?

.

[eridani]

38. Unifying? He's kidding, right?

What fosters unity in the public sphere is ethics, not faith or any specific tradition. Like 'frinstance "It's just plain wrong to wage pre-emptive war against people who have never attacked you" is a statement of ethics. Such ethics might well be rooted in some traditional faith, or perhaps no faith at all. Maybe you feel that way because Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers" and to turn the other cheek, or because ancient Jewish prophets advised beating swords into plowshares and modern Jewish tradition directs you to engage in repair of the world, or because the Q'ran says that God does not like those who commit aggression, or because the Buddha told you to be compassionate, or because Confucius said that the superior man should exhaust all other means of solving disputes first. Or maybe you're just a hardcore anti-faith materialist who thinks that mass murder is a really crappy way to spend some of the limited time of your one and only trip through life.

Who gives a flying fuck one way or another? The point is being on the same page ethically, not the various ways that we got there. Focusing on that is nothing but divisive.

(Apologizing in advance for not actually, but I rely on text transcripts entirely.)

[ProSense]

40. People can be on the same page ethically and still despair,

make mistakes and be misled. Faith is hope:

We are more than just Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims or atheists: we are human beings. We are more than the sum of our differences — we share a moral obligation to treat one another with dignity and respect—and the rest is commentary. Nowhere does this obligation arise more unavoidably than in when and how to resort to war.

[beachmom]

41. "The rest is commentary" -- I like that

It's one of the best lines in the speech.

[karynnj]

56. "the rest is commentary" may reference

a very famous Hillel commentary. In the story he was asked to explain the Torah while standing on one foot:

"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it." (from the Talmud - the Jewish book which is the commentary sages have written commenting on the Torah.)

This is thought to be a root of the Golden Rule, as it was something Jesus would have known.

[eridani]

58. It is?

Then why do people talk about "faith, hope and charity"? If faith and hope are the same, then why mention hope at all? Faith and charity should cover it.

Seriously, I was hoping someone would post the whole transcript--I don't have the time or the means to watch a lot of video clips.

[Q]

42. Another great political strategy...

...brought to you by the DLC. I guess they still haven't learned their lesson that Dems can't win by co-opting the Right's agenda.

It reminds one of the time Kerry announced to big business that he wasn't one of them there 'redistributionist' Democrats. A 'wink, wink' to let the lobbyists know that they would come before the people.

If Kerry wants to show his 'spirituality' as a Democrat...he should go to church and pray in his closet.

[beachmom]

43. Read the darn speech before you opinionate

The speech is how his faith informs his political views. It is a great speech, and shows continuity in his life. Unlike Obama and some others, there is absolutely NO criticism of Democrats or liberals, and no preaching; in fact, at the beginning of his speech he gives the reason why he's speaking out, and it ain't the DLC:

There will always be those bent on corrupting our political discourse, particularly where religion is involved. But I learned how important it is to make certain people have a deeper understanding of the values that shape me and the faith that sustains me. Despite this New Englanders’ past reticence of talking publicly about my faith, I learned that if I didn’t fill in the picture myself, others would draw the caricature for me. I will never let that happen again—and neither should you, because no matter your party, your ideology, or your faith, we are all done a disservice when the debate is reduced to ugly and untrue caricatures.

[kerrygoddess]

54. Text is here:

“Service and Faith”
Senator John Kerry
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

September 18, 2006
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you. It’s wonderful to be here. For some time, I have looked forward to this opportunity to come here to talk about my faith, and the role of faith in public life. And I’m very grateful to Pepperdine—an institution explicitly founded to shine the light of God’s truth through the service of its graduates—for giving me this opportunity.

There will always be those bent on corrupting our political discourse, particularly where religion is involved. But I learned how important it is to make certain people have a deeper understanding of the values that shape me and the faith that sustains me. Despite this New Englanders’ past reticence of talking publicly about my faith, I learned that if I didn’t fill in the picture myself, others would draw the caricature for me. I will never let that happen again—and neither should you, because no matter your party, your ideology, or your faith, we are all done a disservice when the debate is reduced to ugly and untrue caricatures.

I was born, baptized, and raised a Catholic. Needless to say, my first and formative sense of religion came from my parents, Richard and Rosemary. My mother was a Protestant but went out of her way to see that I learned my catechism, attended Church, and prepared for First Communion. Both my parents taught me early on that we are all put on this earth for something greater than ourselves. Later, I was an altar boy at my Church. My parents taught me my faith and they taught me to live by it.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4212

[ProSense]

44. Because you believe the RW agenda is

to end poverty and disease and protect human rights. DLC! BS!

[RangerSmith]

45. I agree

this is just pure pandering and it's pretty sleazy, IMHO.

Run on your own agenda, not theirs.

[ProSense]

46. How is this their agenda?

Kerry isn't allowed to have faith and express it? Is he allowed to talk about what influences his life?

What's "pretty sleazy" is the hypocrisy of trying to deny that people, even elected officials, have a right to express themselves.

So how is this pandering? Where does Kerry diverge from what he has always said on the issues?

Accept it: This is his agenda, and this was one of the greatest speeches on the topic of faith and finding common ground.

[RangerSmith]

47. I think one would have to be

about as naive as a newborn baby to not believe that all this talk of religion in the last two months isn't about nothing more than following a scripted strategy. This is the old Kerry, pandering to what he thinks the people want to hear.

If this was "our" issue it should have been a speech about the need to keep a seperation of church and state. This is like McCain's visit to Falwells camp. No difference.

[ProSense]

48. How is this there agenda?

"seperation of church and state" doesn't prohibit an elected official from sharing his views on faith in a private venue. "Separation of church and state" isn't "our" only issue and that's where the bogus argument begins. Nowhere in the speech does Kerry state or even imply that religion should be injected into politics.

"pandering to what he thinks the people want to hear."

Mischaracterizations often are telling -- a least you admit that it's what people want to hear. Like I said, it's a great speech with universal appeal!

Yeah, Pepperdine University and Falwell's camp, same difference. :sarcasm:

[TayTay]

49. Really, so this has nothing to do with Iraq or with an immoral war?

And you know this because you have spoken with Sen. Kerry and he told you that? Next time you talk to him please ask him what he meant by these sentences in his speech about National Security, cuz they sure as hell beg the question of morality, moral belief and what constitutes right and wrong in government action to me. (Of course, there is always the chance that you think asking that the war end on moral grounds is the 'wrong' thing to do. Suit yourself. But it is hardly pandering to bring this up, it is, in part, a moral question which you ignore at your peril.)

It is immoral for old men to send young Americans to fight and die in a conflict without a strategy that can work – on a mission that has not weakened terrorism but worsened it.

It is immoral to lie about progress in that war to get through a news cycle or an election.

It is immoral to treat 9/11 as a political pawn – and to continue to excuse the invasion of Iraq by exploiting the 3,000 mothers and fathers, sons and daughters who were lost that day. They were attacked and killed not by Saddam Hussein but by Osama bin Laden.

And it is deeply immoral to compare a majority of Americans who oppose a failing policy and seek a winning one to appeasers of Fascism and Naziism.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2006_09_09.html

Now, since you stated that this is clearly pandering, which implies that you have talked with the Senator and know his mind and what he was thinking when he wrote his speeches, please tell me what he means by 'immoral' in this context. Also, please tell me why it is wrong to bring this up or why it is pandering.

Let me guess, I can tell from your prior posts that you think ending the war is just not that important and that building an argument that the actions of the United States should have a moral context is just silly. I can guess your motivations and you are pandering to a non-religious audience here, right?

[RangerSmith]

50. LOL

You're quoting me stuff from a different speech to prove he didn't go to a Conservative Christian school to pander?

I mean yeah, no doubt nothing you could ever take away from the actual event itself could ever hold up, but that's pretty good!

You clearly have a future in deflection!

[lwcon]

51. Is there a complete transcript anywhere? I'm praying to the good lord...

... that Kerry didn't throw atheists, agnosistics, and secular humanists under the bus the way Obama and Biden did.

I'm halfway through Jimmy Carter's book on "America's Moral Crisis." Though he's an evangelical, someone who proselytizes in his spare time, he's a great defender of the separation of church and state and, impressively, our best watchdog of the abuses of religious fundamentalists.

As far as I'm concerned, Dems and Repubs can have all the faith they want, as long as they keep it the Hell away from governance. I don't love that Carter is out trying to recruit more people into organized religion, but he was always very scrupulous about separating that from his day job.

As long as they have a good moral and ethical code, what does it matter whether it came from Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster -- or simply using their own eyes, brains, and hearts.

Al Franken recently said "I'm an ethical person. And I believe in god." If he's running for office, I care about the first part. The second part is his business, and his business alone. He paused a good long time between the two statements, to indicate that he understands the distinction. I hope in the me-too politics of this religified age, our other Democratic candidates don't lose site of that.

___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[Mass]

52. Here - And I agree with you 100%

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801046.html

[lwcon]

53. Thanks for the link, and...

... IMHO, it's not a bad speech at all.

Naturally, I'd like to see a critique of religion (such as the role that Christians play in limiting sex education and access to condoms), and to the dangers of blind faith (e.g., holy wars, slamming planes into buildings, and institutionalized child abuse).

But insofar as what he says, I didn't find anything objectionable, and he offered a lot of good guidance and food for thought.

Biden and Obama could learn a lot from Kerry's position on religion and politics -- your faith can inform your world view, but there's nothing holy about being sanctimonious or manipulative about it.

___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[cadmium]

55. As someone who also grew up with the hopes of Vatican 2

I am sure this was an honest speech. In Kerry's formative years the Catholic church was changing for the better. The beatitudes were emphasized. There were open discussions about sex. This started to come apart with Pope John 23rds death and the Vietnam war. The American Catholic Church became intensely polarized. I am 100% in favor of secular government and I am pretty much an atheist myself. Religion, however, is a major force in our country and you just can't ignore it.

[Arugula Latte]

57. Oh crap. Here we go.

:eyes:

Pandering to the non-reality based community ...