Jan 22, 2008 4:14 pm US/Central
Documentary Shows Tie Between Politics & Religion
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
American politics and religion often mix, perhaps most notably during the election and presidency of John F. Kennedy. But how dominant of a role will religion play in the 2008 election? A new documentary looks at that debate.
The film is called "Article VI" and it draws on the Sixth Article of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees a measure of religious freedom by banning religious tests for public office.
Kennedy once said, "If they disagree with that safeguard, they should be openly working to repeal it." The film asks if some evangelicals are trying to do just that, while looking back at JFK's bid for the presidency in 1960 and the issues the arose due to his Catholicism.
"I believe in a President whose views on religion are his own private affair," Kennedy once said, "neither imposed upon him by the nation nor imposed upon the nation by him."
The 2008 presidential election is once again proving to be ground for religious debate. For example, look at Mitt Romney's Mormonism. "He does wonderful things, has beautiful teeth, great guy," said Bill Keller, an online evangelist. "But he's following a false theology straight to Hell."
Mark DeMoss is the CEO of DeMoss Group, a public relations firm for faith-based organizations. He said that evangelicals have long held that they do not vote based on party lines, but rather for the candidate who best represents their values. "Now there's a real test of whether we've been sincere, because the candidate who best represents evangelical's values happens to not represent our theology," he said.
Pastor Robert Jeffries with the First Baptist Church in Dallas said it in a different way. "Would you rather be ruled by a competent infidel or an incompetent believer?" he asked. "That's the evangelical dilemma for 2008."
Bryan Hall is the creator of "Article VI." He believes that people are losing sight of our founding fathers' intent. He said, "The Sixth Article of the Constitution asks, is any of this even relevant?"
Are people becoming more or less tolerant? Hall looks at that question and reaches back to what history, and some of our greatest ancestors, have taught us.
Kennedy said, "Today, I may be the victim, but tomorrow it may be you. Until the whole fabric of our harmonious society is ripped apart at a time of great national peril."
Those interested in the film can
click here to order the DVD or arrange a viewing party.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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