Last Friday, according to a Catholic News Agency report, Republican presidential nominee John McCain spoke about religion and political governance in an appearance on the ABC television show, The View. He said:
Judeo-Christian values were the foundation of our nation. 'In God we trust' - clearly - the belief that God has a plan for the world, and that we should do what we can to live as good a lives as we can and trust that - 'in God we trust' - will guide the nation and this world to a better existence.Interviewer Whoopi Goldberg asked McCain whether Christianity could take over to the detriment of those with other beliefs, McCain responded:
I think everybody obviously is entitled to their individual faith, including not believing in anything. But I pray every day for guidance, and to do the right thing... and to do what is in the best interest of the country.
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4 comments:
"In God we trust" was NOT a phrase used by the founding fathers!
Will someone please buy McCain a history book?
Uh, where does it say McCain claimed the phrase "In God we trust" was used by the founding fathers?
Better to make no point than a silly one.
He certainly implied it.
-American Atheist
'In God we trust' - clearly - the belief that God has a plan for the world
Certain beliefs are ones the US government may legitimately espouse. Beliefs such as, for example, that people should be deemed innocent until proven guilty, or that liberty is better than tyranny, or that all are equal under the law.
Certain beliefs are ones the US government may not legitimately espouse. You know, things like holding accused criminals indefinitely without trial, or religious beliefs. The issue isn't whether individuals, including McCain, are entitled to their religious beliefs; it's whether the country as a national entity is entitled to them. It isn't, according to the first Amendment.
In fairness to McCain, it's a rather complex question to ask on a talk show -- whether Christianity "could" take over involves a lot of prognosticating, and then he has to judge whether that would or could be detrimental to other faiths (I would think so, but it's not a question that should be ignored). And I'm somewhat heartened by his acknowledgement that atheists exist at all. I won't vote for him, but not because of the answer to the question.
The idea that JC values were the foundation of the nation is a bit ridiculous, if those values are to include anything like not coveting your neighbor's possessions, or honoring your parents, or worshipping only one God, or humility.
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