Comments on: Passing the Religious Litmus Test http://boldwords.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/passing-the-religious-litmus-test/ Exploring how bold words can give life to bold ideas. Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Britt http://boldwords.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/passing-the-religious-litmus-test/#comment-97 Britt Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:28:38 +0000 http://boldwords.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/passing-the-religious-litmus-test/#comment-97 Carter's religion always seemed a part of him. Reagan never felt overtly religious, and Clinton seemed more inclined to use it to get out of trouble when he required our "forgiveness." Bush I didn't have the same kind of "moral" issues plaguing his presidency, so religion didn't enter the conversation. And I suspect some of it was a generation thing too, which also includes Dole. You didn't talk about those kinds of things in public. You didn't wear religion on your sleeve. Your actions spoke for you. Personally, I think the ante was upped by 9/11. Studies showed a resurgence in religious belief and attendance following the attacks. And while interest has died down in the majority since then, it's only gained traction within minority sections of the population. They've stayed vocal, organized, and demanded political attention. Carter’s religion always seemed a part of him. Reagan never felt overtly religious, and Clinton seemed more inclined to use it to get out of trouble when he required our “forgiveness.”

Bush I didn’t have the same kind of “moral” issues plaguing his presidency, so religion didn’t enter the conversation. And I suspect some of it was a generation thing too, which also includes Dole. You didn’t talk about those kinds of things in public. You didn’t wear religion on your sleeve. Your actions spoke for you.

Personally, I think the ante was upped by 9/11. Studies showed a resurgence in religious belief and attendance following the attacks. And while interest has died down in the majority since then, it’s only gained traction within minority sections of the population. They’ve stayed vocal, organized, and demanded political attention.

]]> By: Morra http://boldwords.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/passing-the-religious-litmus-test/#comment-96 Morra Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:04:19 +0000 http://boldwords.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/passing-the-religious-litmus-test/#comment-96 Bravo! Do you think having Carter, then Reagan, then Clinton, as two Democratic presidents really upped the ante for candidates to show off their faith? I don't recall Bush I as being particularly faith-driven, and certainly not Dole. But when I saw Tony Blair professing his faith, I thought, this is a Clinton legacy... Bravo!
Do you think having Carter, then Reagan, then Clinton, as two Democratic presidents really upped the ante for candidates to show off their faith?

I don’t recall Bush I as being particularly faith-driven, and certainly not Dole. But when I saw Tony Blair professing his faith, I thought, this is a Clinton legacy…

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