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shoe77 · 4758 days ago · link · · parent · post: Ask Barack and Mitt: What do you fella's know about science?
I would have to say, though, that scientific endeavors such as stem cell research ( Bush vetoed bill on this) and global warming are largely dwarfed by certain religious beliefs and influence that the church has on issues. A good question then would be what effects the leader's "personal inspiration" has on his scientific enthusiasm and support.
A large scale discussion of the politics of religion would be messy, but I think independent considerations of religious beliefs are fair game.
I tend to agree with you, but the risk you run by asking direct questions about religion is to turn the person into a cult hero. Remember when the media asked W if he had consulted his father when thinking about the wisdom of invading Iraq? His answer was "I consulted a higher power". His minions ate it up. Jesus gave his seal of approval to murder, and that's good enough for a lot of them, apparently. The same goes for scientific issues. You or I might be appalled by the idea that someone would overtly use their faith to discern the best and brightest science policy, but you and I aren't the 60% of people who don't believe in evolution.
thenewgreen · 4758 days ago · link ·
Do you remember how big the question of religion was in 2008? I don't think we need to worry about those questions getting asked, this time we have a Mormon running and the electorate are going to want to know what that means ideologically. I think the stem cell question in and of itself is a good one though, this could get to the heart of what I would like to know, "is the candidates decision making influenced more by logic and reason or religious dogma"? Without asking that specifically you could likely deduce as much.