November 28th, 2007
09:10 PM ET
15 years ago
Question #969: Do you believe every word in the Bible?
Joseph Dearing from Dallas, Texas
(CNN) - Joseph Dearing from Dallas, Texas asks: Do you believe every word of this book? And I mean specifically, this book that I am holding in my hand. Do you believe this book?
What did you think about the candidates' response to the question? What would you have asked? Add your comment below, or better yet, turn on your camera to record your commentary and reaction video and send in your I-Report. Your comments below or you I-Report video could be part of CNN's post-debate coverage.
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Do you believe every word in the Dictionary, or a history text?
Translation creates confusion of reality, the Grimms fairy tales are based on a once reality as well.
Huckabee did a great job, but any minister could make a tear jerk with that.
The ENTIRE platform should of answered it though.
Everyone knows Rudy doesn't, why even bother with him.
CNN tried to screw Romney because they cornered him in with that one. I feel bad for him.
Romney was singled out by Anderson Cooper. After giving his answer, Anderson would not move on, but questioned him!?! What more did Anderson want him to say? Maybe something like "I believe America was chosen by God, to be a 'promise land,' and The Constitution is a glorious banner founded in the wisdom of God. Furthermore, it is our duty of citizens of this great nation to honor, preserve and defend it!" - Hows that Cooper!
The right question would have been: did you read the Bible? Not do you believe every word. That's a stupid question. And if you did read the Bible and the Koran and supposedly many other books from God you will be able to tell they are all pretty much the same story! Idiot!
I agree with everyone who says that this question violates separation of church and state. It may be important for some people what religion someone is affiliated with, but to me it's about the issues and it should be about the issues. CNN could've used the time spent answering this question by giving equal time to the lesser candidates that received absolutely no time (ie Ron Paul).
These questions were selected to make the republicans look foolish, plan and simple.
Lets look at two other similar questions that CNN has picked.
Do you beleive in evolution?
Do you consider Carl Rove a friend?
It is a stretch to actually connect either of those to any qualification for President. They are meant to just make them look bad.
Sadly it seems CNN is pretty much an unoffical arm of the Democrats campaigns!
Charlette Glass, what alternate universe are you living in? Most of the Founding Fathers were deists and agnostics. And pretty much every president we've had was a Christian in some way.
We're electing the President of the United States! When should "the Bible" ever be involved in the process?! I know there's a fuzzy line when morals and religion are crossed, but that was just ridiculous! What kind of question is this for a candidate? What does it matter what his opinion of the Bible is. What does he think of the Tora, the Qur'an, or the teachings of Bhudda?
I have no problems if someone's a minister, a mormon, or anything else, those are non-issues when it comes to the presidency. Moral standing, international policy, honesty, standing by the American way, but they're devotion to Christianity is a slap in the face.
Get religion back out of politics! I'm Christian, I'm republican, and if there's a candidate who tries to stand on a religious platform, I will not be voting for them.
Everyone seems to be convinced that Joseph Dearing was asking this from the point of view of a fundamentalist. Am I the only one that saw a hint of cynicism in his eyes? I felt that maybe the real question was "do you [feel that the fundamentalist vote is important enough to say that you] believe every word in this book?"
If I'm right, then it was a challenging question fit to be posed to a bunch of presidential hopefuls (church and state notwithstanding).
Of course, if I'm wrong, then I side with others on this thread in cringing slightly.
Man's relationship, or lack thereof, with (any) God and a subsequent moral code of conduct is fundamental to the human condition. Apparently a lot of us come to this question with his/her own bias and perspective. As the aspiring President of the nation it is totally fair to ask the question and to expect an "honest" answer from each candidate. Regardless of your bias, there is no other way to judge the candidates' position or honesty in answering it. What I believe is my business, what a Presidential candidate believes is all our business regardless of bias. To believe otherwise is to be blind. Unfortunately, very few of these candidates gave us honest answers, only the answers they thought we wanted to hear or answers that were vague enough to not be answers at all. I wonder what the Democrat candidates' answers would have been and if they would have been more satisfying?
this question should not have been asked and should not have been answered....it is nobodys business what anybodys, including presidential candidates, views on religion are. do you find a question regarding your religion on any goverment applications ? this is question that would not have been asked about any other sacred book other than the christian bible. this nut that asked it is either a pro choice or pro life nut trying to prove a point. the candidates should have said that their belief is a private matter that they do not want to share with anyone. if elected pres they will uphold the constituion and the laws of the contry regardless of their religious beliefs.
"And I mean specifically, this book"
Mr. Dearing never actually said that the book he was holding was a Bible. Haven't any of the candidates ever heard the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover."? When I heard him say "specifically", I took it literally. It's like the riddle that starts out "As I was going to Saint Ives, I met a man with seven wives". Most people get that one wrong too. I'm surprised to see all of that collective brain power in one place and nobody asking "How do we know that's really a Bible?"
Joseph Dearing,
May God Bless your life and hallelujah. I was jumping for joy when I saw the news with a man standing up for the word of God.
Thomas O'Berg
Los Angeles
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