Clinton, Obama focus on faith at forum

Monday 14th April, 12:07 PM JST

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Sarge at 02:54 PM JST - 14th April
"I believe the potential for life begins at conception"
- Clinton
Or, "I have no idea when life starts."
buttamimi at 05:44 PM JST - 14th April

After the second world war Japan had to separate religion and politics on the orders of the American occupiers. The Emperor was no longer to be regarded as a devine, spiritual leader of the nation. It goes without saying that a man or woman cannot become president of the United States unless he or she professes their belief in Jesus Christ. God bless America, as long as it's their God running the show.
skipthesong at 05:59 PM JST - 14th April

the first person to ban religion in the US is the candidate I will give all my money to.
semperfi at 06:52 PM JST - 14th April

- What does the religious persuasion of a candidate have to do with his/her allegiance to the country and his/her ability to govern with integrity ? ........................................................................ With respect to the two democratic candidates - Obama comes across more credible and honest than Hil-liar-y. :)
curlygene at 07:10 PM JST - 14th April

**

I respect a woman's right to choose and it is mind boggling to think that there could seriously be a viable and fair alternative to this view.

It's only mind boggling if you leave the kid in the womb out of your ponderings. If you think about him or her then your mind may be less boggled, and a little more balanced. Why not follow Obama and Clinton's example and try looking at things from everyone's point of view?
skipthesong at 08:33 PM JST - 14th April

there is an alternative view and I got slammed by a poster several months ago and he was right. If a woman can choose what she wants to do, why does a man still have to pay out if he chooses not to take care of a kid....

I am for a woman's right, but I have to say, that poster did leave me thinking.
Terinati at 10:48 PM JST - 14th April

I agree with "buttamimi," strange as the handle is. Religion has no place in the government of a democratic republic. The very fact that the candidates were even willing to participate in a forum devoted to their personal religious beliefs is insulting to me. Especially in light of America's foreign policies towards religion in other countries' governments.
redacted at 11:09 PM JST - 14th April

"Especially in light of America's foreign policies towards religion in other countries' governments."

Exactly what is America's policy towards religion in other gov'ts?

Can you elaborate?
keech2 at 11:53 PM JST - 14th April

All I know is that the founders of the US must be all rolling over in their graves with all this extreme pandering to religion that has been going on in US politics for the last couple of decades. Remember the US Constitution was called the Godless Constitution. There is no mention of any supreme being, because the power of the state was not meant to rest with any god but with the people. These politicians should remember that. As it stands now, they all disgust me.
serendipity628 at 12:33 AM JST - 15th April

keech2

You took the words right out of my keyboard. It has been boring enough to hear Bush waffling on about how "God guides me..." (a very scary thought considering what Bush as got everyone into) but now Clinton and Obama are getting drawn into this ridiculous topic. Granted, the questions are asked so they have to answer but when will everyone realize that the separation of God and State is so absolutely necessary (as the founding fathers were aware of so long ago). Have a read of "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It's a real eye-opener.
dat5h at 04:14 AM JST - 15th April

I hate recent American politics because everyone has to be so concerned about if the candidate has the same religious views as themselves. I am so fed up ... I'm leaving this country (seriously). The problem is, while you are right that the founding fathers of the US wanted a separation of church and state, it was a lot easier for the people back then. The reason being that everyone had the same religious views more or less in the US, so nobody cared. Now with the onset of American mysticism and hating all things secular, the people here all think that they are correct and don't bother to listen to anyone else. Sadly though, this isn't just an American view as I've traveled to world seeing this in people everyone.

Oh ya, I'd also like to point out the results of a survey I read about a year or two ago. They surveyed the American public about how they would feel about electing presidents of varying religions. Guess who is the least trusted religious group in the US ... Atheists. That's right, if you don't believe that there is some unobservable, all-seeing deity(ies) then you must be the antichrist (because clearly the antichrist would not believe in a god, despite the fact that his purpose is to destroy god ... paradox? ... yes). I've been called that more times than I like to count.

Sorry, I am just angered about how my own people care so much about ensuring their candidate is as i****ant as they are. God bless the first Atheist president we elect (in the future if ever).
Badsey at 06:57 AM JST - 15th April

I respect a woman's right to kill her own child and in fact I believe this right should be extended far into the child's adulthood. The liberals have abortion all wrong and just think of the potential time savings on our judicial system.
keech2 at 07:44 AM JST - 15th April

serendipity, thanks for the tip. I read "The God Delusion". It was very good. "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism" by Susan Jacoby is a great book. You should give it a look. dat5h, the good news is that the fasting growing religious group is atheist/agnostic/non-religious. Up to almost 14%. Badsey, and the conservatives, especially the religious conservatives, have got it right? They refuse to allow real sex education in schools, relying on abstinence-only programs. The conservatives who won't allow teenagers access to condoms have got it right? The people who would make the government force a woman to have a child and then won't let the government do anything to help her financially once she has the child have got it right? Abortion would be a much smaller problem if people were taught about and supplied with better birth control.
dat5h at 12:25 PM JST - 15th April

here here, keech2
serendipity628 at 07:29 PM JST - 26th April

keech 2, sorry for this belated reply. Thanks for the tip on the Jacoby book. I'll get myself a copy.