How Would Jesus Vote? Joe Biden

So, just who is Joe Biden, and what are his Evangelical credentials?

Senator Joe Biden-Senator for Delaware

(Official site)

"What has happened in the Democratic Party, there's been this reluctance, in the face of the evangelical, judgmental movement on the far right in the past, of even invoking religion, for fear of being put in the same category. But we're a spiritual nation. We're a nation of faith."

Biden's Faith Shaped by Catholic Upbringing
(News feature)

Biden on the Separation of Church and State
(Video)

Biden's Positions on Abortion, the Environment, Families/Children, Principles/Values and Welfare/Poverty
(OnTheIssues.org)

Note: Biden lost a daughter and his first wife in a tragic car accident back in 1972. In an interview with CNN's Paula Zahn, Biden spoke about the tragedy and how it shaped his relationship with God. Read the transcript here (you'll have to scroll down about 1/2 of the way through to get to Biden's Q&A.)

How Would Jesus Vote? The Iraq War debate...

"Just war" proponents will point to the Hebrew translation of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and point out that "kill" is better translated as "murder." (The difference is highlighted between the King James Version translation and that of the English Standard Version). Fair enough. It adds to the debate, which is OK by me.

But there's still something to be said about rejecting war on moral grounds. So, how does the war in Iraq stand up to moral scrutiny? Would Christ, who so famously implored His followers to love their enemies and turn the other cheek, have supported the war? Would He support it now?

John McCain supports the Iraq war. How does that stance stack up against the debate on abortion rights, which Barack Obama wholeheartedly supports?

How much emphasis do you put on the war in Iraq as a moral issue in this year's campaign? Share your thoughts, and join the conversation.

I welcome all comments. Feel free to comment on-page, or e-mail feedback to CandidChristian@gmail.com.

How Would Jesus Vote? The abortion debate...

Since abortion is a big issue to most evangelical Christians, it's important to note the following blog post, "The Most Anti-Life Candidate Ever."

Of course, ours is a multi-faceted election, with diverse issues such as the Iraq War, the economy and health care all playing central roles. Each candidate, both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, will undoubtedly start revealing policy specifics now that we have presumptive nominees for both parties and with the general elections just months away.

(By the way, I'll be cleaning up the How Would Jesus Vote sidebar in the coming days to reflect the narrow race, and add some more posts on each candidate now that we have to. Also, as soon as we know who the running mates will be, I'll be posting special VP editions of How Would Jesus Vote. Stay tuned.)

The question, then, is this: how big a role does the abortion debate play in your decision this November? Is it important at all? Will the country's laws on abortion change under either administration? How and why? I look forward to your comments.

I welcome all comments. Feel free to comment on-page, or e-mail feedback to CandidChristian@gmail.com.

How Would Jesus Vote? Barack Obama (two)

National Public Radio.

How Would Jesus Vote: More John McCain

Interesting story over at Baptist Press. Check it out.

How Would Jesus Vote: NYU/NSF Survey

I've been asked by some students at New York University to help them with a political survey they are conducting. Here's their description:

"A research team from the psychology department at New York University, headed by Professor Yaacov Trope and supported by the National Science Foundation, is investigating the cognitive causes of voting behavior, political preferences, and candidate evaluations throughout the course of the 2008 election. This stage of the study focuses on the information people use to inform their decisions and evaluations during the course of the nationwide parties' nominating contests, whether or not the primary/caucus in their state has already taken place. They seek respondents of all political leanings from all over the country to complete a 15-minute questionnaire, the responses to which will be completely anonymous."

If you are interested in participating, click here to take part in the survey. (The actual link is http://www.psychsurveys.org/brietruesdell/2008primaries/)

This is all legit and on the up-and-up, I've been assured. So, if you have some spare time, let's help them out.

OK?

OK.