Presidential Candidates: Religious Affiliations

By Alexis Garrett Stodghill, BlackVoices.com

Click through the gallery, and post your thoughts below: Should these candidates be questioned about how they may mix their policies with their religious beliefs?

Religions of Candidates

Sen. Obama reached a turning point in his campaign when his membership with the Trinity United Church of Christ came under severe scrutiny in the press. In particular, Hillary Clinton's camp whipped the public into a frenzy over Obama's controversial ex-pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Mannie Garcia, AFP / Getty Images

After giving a speech to specifically address the complex issues of race that might force a man like Wright to speak negatively of America, Barack left his church of 20 years on May 31, 2008. But the religious affiliations of other popular candidates are just as controversial. Will these candidates face the same fate?

Getty Images / AP

Sarah Palin is a fundamentalist Christian, but claims that she is not a member of any church. She is not afraid to let her religious views inform her political policies. According to The Huffington Post, Palin has strong ties to The Wasilla Assembly of God, which she was a member of from age 12 until 2002.

Chris Miller, AP

Palin is still close friends with the senior pastor of Wasilla, Ed Kalnins, who believes the Iraq conflict is part of a religious war, that democrats go to hell, and that these are the 'end times' -- as in "end of the world." With a religious confidante like this, should this candidate potentially control nuclear arms?

AOL / AP

According to the Associated Baptist Press: "John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man McCain calls his pastor,' Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church.

But, in the course of his political career, McCain has made some strange religious bedfellows. This year, he had to reject the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee, pictured here, after it was revealed that the controversial figure believes Hitler was "doing God's will."

Associated Press

John McCain has also been associated with the Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933-2007). Among many controversies, Falwell was critical of the policy of U.S. sanctions against South Africa, an effort to punish the overtly racist Apartheid government during the '80s.

Don Petersen, AP

Sen. Joe Biden actually has one of the more calm and clear religious records of any candidate around. A devout Catholic from birth, if elected Biden would become the nation's first Catholic vice president.

Mark Hirsch, Getty Images

As a Roman Catholic, Biden's religious leader is Pope Benedict XVI. As a pro-life Democrat, Biden has come under fire from his religious community, who tried to pressured former Diocese of Wilmington bishop Michael Saltarelli to refuse to give Biden Holy Communion over the issue.

AOL / AP

George Bush comes off as a "good ole boy," all about family, apple pie and American traditions, including the tradition of conservative religious worship. The support of evangelical Christians has helped him to secure his two presidencies.

Yuri Gripas, Pool / Getty Images

As the election draws near, folks are focusing on the facts. Education. Health care. Gun control. The war. It seems that people are coming down to earth, and expecting the candidates to focus on the nitty-gritty realities of our daily lives.

But I cannot forget the very recent moment in the campaign when more ethereal questions threatened to totally derail Barack Obama's campaign. The afterlife. Religion. God. And the power one's pastor and religious affiliations would have on a leaders' decisions.

Now that Sarah Palin has been swept into the hearts of millions everywhere, accepted in large part due to the fundamentalist Christian views that she shares with her supporters, I think the question of religion is back. We need to know where our politicians stand, and how their religions will affect their policies.

Obama's feet were held to the fire over his affiliation with Rev. Wright. For some reason, Barack's membership in Wright's church lead many to believe that Barack's mind set was aligned 100% with all aspects of Wright as a man, flaws and all. Barack had to leave his church and break all affiliation, because of a few speeches coughed up on YouTube.

If we were to hold each of these candidates, and the current president, to the same standard of scrutiny, would they fare so well in the public eye? Click through the gallery above, and you decide. Most of these characters will be around for a long time, in many presidential campaigns to come.

Note: The Wasilla Bible Church pictured with Gov. Palin is different from the Wasilla Assembly of God. The Wasilla Bible Church is another evangelical church that Sarah Palin regularly visits.

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