Role of personal faith in the presidency debated by Republican candidates

[Romney said he "would also seek the guidance of Providence in making decisions."]

Seems like a good idea, I do like Lincoln Chafee.

The role of faith? I assume that if you DO have faith you also practice morality in marriage after all the two go hand in hand according to the New Testament. So - we have one candidate with a 30+ year marriage to one woman and no affairs ... complete fidelity. We then have another candidate who is on wife #3 now having cheated on the previous two and supposedly wanting an "open relationship with other women". Hmmm, the role of faith? I think I will go with door #1. Now of course Newt could have repented and all... but hearing his former #2 talk it didn't sound as if she had gotten that message. But hey all the so-called evangelicals (Palin, etc...) back Newt because after all he is the only "true conservative". I guess if being a "true conservative" doesn't also imply marriage fidelity then I am looking for something else other than conservatism or liberalism. Maybe I will just say - I like Mitt - I trust Mitt both with the economy and as a moral and decent and SMART leader.

'As the field of candidates narrows and the election creeps ever closer, the Republican presidential debates are becoming not just more spirited, but more spiritual.' - Title

Think this is a new thing?

**'Fox News host: Romney not Christian' - By Hal Boyd, Deseret News - 07/17/11

I, would disagree.

**'Trump on Obama's Birth Certificate: 'Maybe It Says He's a Muslim' - Fox Nation - 03/30/11

I care, what a persons faith is...

so long as that faith, does not conflict, with the ability to lead this nation.

Thus we see the fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals. Liberals believe nothing and no one is larger than themselves! Are there any atheits who are conservatives? I rest my case!

A persons religious beliefs should not be a factor in the Presidency, providing that they honor the constitution and the oath of office. If people are going to scrutinize another for beliefs as a measuring stick for fitness of office, then the might want to check if that person honors the sacnity of marriage, for example, did they have an open marriage, or just plain committed adultery...same thing. If they can't manage their personal fairs or affairs, are they fit to manage the nation? The list goes on. Fitness of office should be based upon what that person is going to do for the country and how they conduct themselves on the world stage. Not which pulpit they kneel at, or what they believe in.

atheists my typo

@Mountanman
"Liberals believe nothing and no one is larger than themselves! "

News to me, I'm a liberal but I'm also a Christian.

Dear Everyone on the stand.....Belief in God? Check! Belief in Jesus? Check! Good, now start talking about fixing this country!!!!

'Liberals believe nothing and no one is larger than themselves!' - Mountanman | 1:19 p.m. Jan. 27, 2012

Wow.

So glad to see the Deseret News Double Standard, hard at work.

Since I am a liberal and I have 'nothing.'

Sounds like a pretty sad life.

No wonder the moderator allows comments like that.

Can't have people thinking that Liberals are human beings.

Spouting how much you have "faith" during this election circus is in NO WAY spiritual.

The candidates not only spout their "faith", they've also been making declarations of bigotry and discrimination against their fellow Americans.

They are ripping one another to shreds, frequently using lies and half-truths (which are also half-lies).

There is nothing "spiritual" about this.

I don't care if the candidate is religious, apathetic, agnostic or athiest. I'm really tired of all the religous hoopla attending the circus.

Keep your religion between you and your god, where it belongs.

Mountanman
Hayden, ID
Thus we see the fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals. Liberals believe nothing and no one is larger than themselves! Are there any atheits who are conservatives? I rest my case!

------------

Talk about circular reasoning!

Wouldn't a better question be: Are there any liberal who believe in God?

The answer is yes. The majority of liberals believe in a God.

Your statement is false.

I think having faith is a plus with a candidate but it isn't a reason not to vote for someone. Jimmy Carter was a staunch Baptist and a horrible leader to boot. Obviously his faith didn't help him much with the economy back then. Obama is a once a year church attender and he also is incompetent with the economy. I do think faith in God and a sense of moral values is important when selecting judges although Carter being a Baptist should have been a staunch anti-abortion president but I recall his wife being a HUGE pro choice baby killer and Jimmy went along with the wife.

Would LDS Repubs vote for Newt given he has no morals or ethics?

@Mountanman
Hayden, ID
"Liberals believe nothing and no one is larger than themselves! Are there any atheits who are conservatives? I rest my case!"

Your ignorance is astounding. I'm an atheist and am very conservative. That's like me saying "are there any christians who are not judgemental?" ... and with your statement I could rest my case.

Ernest Bass: would an LDS consertive vote for Gingrich given his moral track record ----- or something like that. I'm conservative, but I value my ethics more than my conservatism so in answer to your question my response would have to be no

The headline spelled it out...faith is personal. Which is to say NOT public.

Couple thoughts:

First, for all the hatred spouted towards President Obama on this board, the man by all appearances has a terrific marriage, happy family, good children, basically passes the "Faith" litmus test with flying colors. Yet he's still hated. So that leads me to believe any Republicans claiming "faith" plays a big part in your disapproval of Newt is dishonest. Clearly "faith" accounts for nothing if they don't agree with everything you believe.

Second, who cares what a candidate believes in? W was a very "faithful" person, yet drove the country into the ground and ran out the White House back door as the tire-fire burned brightly. No doubt many "unfaithful" past Presidents have faired much better than W at their job.

Third, to the embarrassment that is Mountanman. Here's what the majority of humans believe. A faithful person does that not automatically make a good person. While a good person does not automatically have to pass the "faith" test.