Verum Serum: Here Are 20 Questions, Which I'm Sure Bill Keller Will Endorse, To Ask of Obama

As mentioned earlier, Bill Keller thinks it is good and wise and just to press "candidates" for President closely on religious matters, asking exactly what beliefs they may or may not hold.

He means Republican candidates, of course, but there's no reason to be so stingy with his general principle.

Barack Obama, disciple of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, is a candidate for President too.

Verum Serum has 20 questions for Obama.

Here are some of the trap-piest-- but when Keller speaks of questioning Republican candidates about religion, he's talking about trap questions and wedge questions. Things that will alienate some voters.

Sauce for the goose.

Do you believe the God of the Christian Bible is the same as the God of the Koran? Does this view influence your foreign policy?

Do you believe in hell and if so who is damned? Do you believe in heaven and if so what are the qualifications for entry? Do either of these views influence your interaction with people and or foreign leaders?

Do you believe, as some liberals churchmen do (including some you’ve consulted with), that socialism is the system most compatible with the Gospels? Does this influence your public policy and if so how?

Are the stories in Genesis (the Garden of Eden, the Flood, etc.) just stories, actual histories or something else? How does this influence your faith in the modern world?

When was the last time you read the New Testament and what did you take from it?

Do you believe Jesus was God? Do you believe Mohammed was a prophet of God?

Do you believe Christ will return to earth in the future?

Is there anything in the Bible that you disagree with? What is it and why?

How do you see your faith and the faith of Christians around the world benefiting humanity?

Why don’t you go to church very often?

Add to that: What did you find so appealing and comforting about the preachings of the Reverent Jeremiah Wright?

No, seriously. If we're going to ask "candidates" some questions, lets ask "candidates" some fucking questions.

posted by Ace at 05:11 PM

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