< Back to front page Text size – +

Faith at the second presidential debate

E-mail|Link|Comments (2) Posted by Michael Paulson October 7, 2008 10:50 PM

An unexpected twist in an otherwise religion-free presidential debate tonight: Tom Brokaw alluded to Buddhism.

Brokaw, of NBC News, introduced the final question, from Peggy in Amherst, NH, by saying "it has a certain Zen-like quality." He then proceeded to ask the question, "What don’t you know, and how will you learn it?" that both candidates blew past on their route to closing statements.

Otherwise, not only was there no talk directly about religious beliefs or practices, but there were no references to God or faith.

One issue that came up that is of interest to Jews, Muslims, and many Christians: Israel.

McCain, in describing his support for Israel, twice raised the specter of an Iran-triggered Holocaust, saying "we have to say never again to a Holocaust" and "We can never allow a second Holocaust to take place." McCain also used the word "holocaust" in the first presidential debate, and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, used it in last week’s vice presidential debate.

Obama tonight also referred to the Holocaust, saying, "If we could have intervened effectively in the Holocaust, who among us would say that we had a moral obligation not to go in?" He also expressed unqualified support for Israel, saying Israel is "our strongest ally in the region and one of our strongest allies in the world."

UPDATE: Over at Christianity Today's politics blog, Sarah Pulliam hears an echo of Job in Obama's comment, about McCain's health care proposal, that "what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away."

(Pool photo by Getty shows McCain and Obama at the start of the second presidential debate, at Belmont University in Nashville.)

« Back to front page

2 comments so far...

Obama also quoted Leviticus 19:16, "Do not stand idly by... [the blood of your neighbor]."

Posted by JLG October 8, 08 08:52 AM

And it's a good thing there was (almost) no mention of religion or faith. I don't care, nor do I want to hear about a candidate's faith or religion. All I want to know is how the candidate is going to run the country and are they going to do what is in the best interest of me and the country as a whole. I would be scared and run for the hill if I heard a candidate say they were being led by God. (Oh, wait, I think Palin already said something similar...maybe that is why I am extremely afraid of that ticket). If you are being led by God, then the country is being led by God and I don't want religion in my government...plus it shows that you are not thinking for yourself...another thing we have had too much of in government!! (Well, at least the past eight years anyway)

Posted by gov_without_a_side_of_religion_please October 8, 08 02:10 PM

You must be logged in to submit a comment.

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

Blogger

Michael Paulson covers religion for The Boston Globe. He shared in the Pulitzer Prize in 2003, won the Mike Berger, Templeton and Supple awards in 2008, and is a four-time winner of the Wilbur Award.
E-mail mpaulson@globe.com.

Articles of Faith on Twitter

Follow GlobePaulson on Twitter

views

Harvey Cox, the Hollis professor of divinity at Harvard University, marks his retirement by asserting a little-used right of his professorship -- to graze a cow in Harvard Yard. Photo, by Barry Chin of the Globe staff, taken on Sept. 10, 2009 in Cambridge, Mass.