Religion Questions for Barack Obama

Bill Keller of the New York Times opened this can of worms when he wrote that Republican presidential candidates should be asked a series of questions about their faith, questions that just happen to end up as not very subtle gotchas.

But I do want to know if a candidate places fealty to the Bible, the Book of Mormon (the text, not the Broadway musical) or some other authority higher than the Constitution and laws of this country. It matters to me whether a president respects serious science and verifiable history — in short, belongs to what an official in a previous administration once scornfully described as “the reality-based community.” I do care if religious doctrine becomes an excuse to exclude my fellow citizens from the rights and protections our country promises.

That last is a little dog whistle that Keller, like many leftists, want to use social issues to force socially conservative Americans to have to defend their faith in court. That’s where we’re headed (and where Canada already is to some extent), but I digress.

Mr. Keller wants questions asked of Republicans? Well then it’s only fair to ask some questions of the lone Democrat running for president, one Barack Obama. Verum Serum provides a very thoughtful list.

1. Do you believe Jesus was God? Do you believe Mohammed was a prophet of God?
2. Do you believe Christ will return to earth in the future?
3. Do you believe in a future end of days aka Armageddon? Do these beliefs influence your view of Israel and/or foreign policy?
4. Who is your favorite old or new testament figure excluding Jesus and why?
5. Is there anything in the Bible that you disagree with? What is it and why?
6. How do you see your faith and the faith of Christians around the world benefiting humanity?
7. Why don’t you go to church very often?

That’s not the full list. VS has 13 more along the same lines. Obama says he’s a Christian; if Keller wants Republicans queried, then those questions for Obama aren’t out of bounds. Ace adds this:

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

Indeed, what did you find so appealing about Wright that you converted to Christianity in his church, remained in the pews there for 20 years, raised your daughters there, and used one of his sermon titles as the title of one of your books?

And here’s another one:

Would you appoint a socially conservative Christian to the federal bench?