YOUR COMMENTS

I'm not particularly religious, but I was ok with the Senator's explaining of his personal preference for his religion. This country was founded on Christian principle, if not always Christian practice. But it is that example of Jesus' love and tolerance for all and forgiveness of sinners that inspires us to try and be better than we are. The United States could have been founded on worse values.

In no way, did I interpret his remarks as intolerant. I think it's refreshing. He's the only candidate who expresses himself fully and damns the consequences. He lets his actions and values speak for him and he would rather lose the election than compromise himself. He's exactly what we need in the White House; an experienced leader, not on opinion-poll follower.
- Matt D, Derby, CT

I thought it was funny that everyone who disagrees with Mccain is either insulting him or Christians. If you are attacking Christianity, why then do you get upset when a Christian merely states he would prefer a fellow Christian? Mccain never said anything about banning other faiths from office, he merely stated a personal preference, just as some people who commented seem to clearly favor an atheist candidate. However, if you are so upset over the Iraq War and Vietnam, why would you elect someone from a faith riddled with suicide bombers and anti-semitism?
- Tim Stringham, Phoenix

In MY opinion, the genius of the founding fathers (who were influenced greatly by their Christianity) was that they designed to create and build a nation based on individual freedoms, individual rights and the idea of tolerance of others. THAT is what made the US stand out, and why for most of US history we have been viewed as a place to go to better your life through your deeds, not your place in society.
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

This would have been an impeccable article had it not used John McCain as its springboard. If only the good Senator would give the Constitution the same venerable treatment he supposedly gives to the principles that inform it, we may have ourselves a candidate, but alas he does not. The 1st comment is exceedingly overinclusive. It describes the likes of Jefferson and Paine, who both maintained logically untenable positions with regard to Christianity. Reason necessarily leads one to faith, and faith indispensibly informs reason. Adrian is completely wrong. The founders endorsed castration for sodomites and capital punishment for murderers. The 2nd & 3rd points were not prohibited because Christians pursuade via ideas not via violence, hence revealing the bankruptcy of military interventionism, and our founder's categorical objection to it.
The founders specifically intended the 1st Amend. to place all Christian sects on equal footing. It did not apply to Mohamadism originally, nor to Judaism. It does now, but it did not then. And the quote from GW is misleading. Check out his "Farewell Address", for a more instructive treatment. Ultimately there are certainly distortions of Christianity (i.e. Hitler's version), and corrupt destruction will stem from these, but that has little bearing on the veracity of Christianity properly understood, and the fruits thereof.
- Joe, Merrimack

I was dicussing this with my father who liked the "straight talk express" in 2000. He thinks that Mccain is going senile, maybe, but I think this is just political pandering. With all the talk of Christian Conseratives not willing to accept any of their candidates Mccain sees the oppurtunity at hand. He knows that republicans can only win if they have that base of religiousity fired up. The "New Mccain" goes and meets with the likes of Dobson only after he had denouced him in the 2000 election.He also has little tiffs with the mainstream media about what exact denomanation he considered himself. I hope that doesnt really matter. If a methodist says he will only vote for a methodist and no other christain denomanation I think we are going no where as a nation.
Oh by the way, last time I checked christ stood for peace on earth, equality for all, annointing the sick, prosperity and the eradication of the rich class. In fact, I think christ would be a socialist today. Maybe thats why we are losing faith and trust in the world as the rest of it bands together. Are they truly all wrong? Are they all going to hell? No.
You dont have to be a "bible thumper" to have morals. Look at New Hampshire. We have one of the lowest church attendance and highest rates of atheist in the country but we are also one of the safest and morally just states in the nation. Whats up with that folks?
- Jason M., Fitzwilliam

Hitler can hardly be described as a Christian. As quoted in Wikipedia "Joseph Goebbels, for example, notes in a diary entry in 1939: 'The Führer is deeply religious, but deeply anti-Christian. He regards Christianity as a symptom of decay.'" Hope this helps.
- Jared, Washington DC

Are these the same christian values that
were used to burn "witches" in Salem?
Are they the same values that molest children in a church where they are supposed to be safe?
Christ wasn't even a christian, come on.
The whole thing was made up for POWER!! Do some research!! Sheep.
Go ahead and keep making excuses.
- Tyler, Farmington

Susan left out the fact that Hitler was a Christian. Was that on purpose or did you not realize that Germany played a minor role in WWII? Hitler cited Martin Luther often who as the founder of Protestantism was a well known anti-Semite.

Luther wrote that jews were, “base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth." They are full of the "devil's feces ... which they wallow in like swine,". Luther also argued that Jews should have their synagogues and schools burned, they should be forbidden to worship and their holy works should be burned. If WWII was simply about good and evil than the most evil man of the bunch was a devout Christian.

Then we move onto the Treaty of Tripoli (1796), "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
- John R., Keene

John McCain was right on the money. I commend him for having the courage to stand up for Christianity. This is a war of good vs evil, much like WWII. The Japanese were suicide pilots much like Muslims are today. The Secularist community would have you throw all religion way. Our country was founded on Judeo Christian values, and that has what has helped make us the greatest nation in the world. I think John Adams said it best: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
- Susan Fulchino, Hollis, NH

One of the biggest problems I have with this letter is that it implies that other religions do not have “Enlightenment principles”. Last time I checked, the other major religions have those things too. We can’t be running around telling non-Christians that our god can beat up their god. In fact, a great amount of violence has resulted through that type of thinking. Our founding fathers knew this when they put together this great country. They knew it was a losing battle for everyone if our country favors one religion over another. George Washington said it best, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion…” In other words, although we might be a nation of mostly Christians and have Christian personal values, we will not use our Christianity to justify our government’s actions. The fact is, Mr. McQuaid, is that we are a country that embraces all religions but endorses none. Reading the Treaty of Tripoli alone might cause conservatives and squishy Evangelical preachers of "A Christian Nation'' to faint dead away. The simple notion of sharing equal respect for all religious beliefs scares some people. They want their god to win in the public forum and they’re willing to fight anyone who practices tolerance. But then again, that’s the problem with melting pots; not everyone wants to blend together smoothly.
- Breyer S., Manchester, NH

I always thought that our founding fathers were to be commended for ignoring certain Judeo-Christian principles. I am pleased that they did not adopt stoning as a punishment for adultery. (Or any other crime.) I am glad that they did not prohibit the worship of graven images. (Like flag burning, graven image worshipping is an activity that is actually encouraged by its prohibition.) Finally, I am thankful that I live in a country where I do not have to observe the sabbath. (I think it was Benjamin Frankilin who said, "Going to church is a fine waste of a Sunday.")
- Adrian Garbacz, Derry NH

The God of our forefathers is indeed the same God of today. It just seems that America has lost sight of basic biblical principals and many people have created a god all of their own that they can feel comfortable with. God is not watching us from a distance He is present and right here. He does give free will to us. It is ignorance and anger that causes biblically uneducated people and those with a lack of understanding to blame God for Iraq and the state of society. We have done it to ourselves. If Americans could put foolish pride and ignorance aside, truly understand the roots of faith responsible for founding our great nation and embrace them perhaps we could turn things around. I doubt that will happen since ignorance is bliss... I agree with Sen. McCain and I'm not afraid to say so. Gods favor will not rest on a Godless land. If you don't believe me check the bible yourself.
- Erica Jeanes, Candia

McCain is deluded, as is this paper. He was deluded bombing innocent civilians in 'Nam, and he's still deluded today. You'd think the man would understand the downside of war, he does not, just blind ambition in his old bones.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be
one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, then that of blindfolded
fear. -Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author
(1743-1826)
- Victor LeClair, manchester

Is it a Christian principle to attack Iran? If Christ decides who to attack, what role do the American people have? The US Congress?
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

The Christian principles the founding fathers practiced was nothing like what Evangelical Christians preach today. Transcendental Christianity best describes the Enlightenmient principles. The God of our Fathers was a god who set the world in motion and expected his creation to continue his work while he sat and watched. The founding fathers also used these principles as the reason why indigenous people should be subjugated, the environment tamed, and the United States the promised land.
- Leonard Campbell, Center Harbor