Candidates for office should be questioned on their religion/belief in God.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Do you think it is fair that reporters question candidates for public office on their religion, holy scriptures, and beliefs in God? Or is it such a personal issue that it should be off limits to the press and not presented to the public as a point to consider (if an individual wishes to do so).

Would you want to know if a candidate were actually a Muslim? How about if they belonged to a Christian sect that hoped to usher in the Apocolypse?

I think the public has a right to know these personal things of a candidate, particularly when that office is the Presidency of the United States or another elected position that could be a stepping stone to that office. The vast military arsenal(nuclear and conventional) that the U.S. possesses, requires that its leaders be the most transparant for the public to make the most informed and responsible decision that could have ramifications for the whole world.

What do you think?

[P_chan]

If religious people weren't always trying to combine church and state, then I'd say no it doesn't matter. But since they do, I think people should know. I'm not very religious and I get annoyed once someone tries to force me to believe their religion, let alone expect me to fight for their religious beliefs.

Reminds me of a story. I was attending a formal dinner of sorts a couple years ago. Well, once it came time for the pre dinner 'prayer' everyone bowed their heads, except me. I just stood their looking forward with a normal look on my face and my hands folded in front of me. Well a little while after dinner I had some lady come up to me. She said "I couldn't help but notice you didn't bow your head during our prayer". Keep in mind I was there for a friend (ex girlfriend) and didn't really want to be there. I explained to her nicely that I'm not religious and don't really practice praying. LOl crazy lady got all pissed and started to lecture me about how our country was founded by god, yada yada yada, all the normal religious BS a mindless zealot can say to you. Well, I just left after that because I was pissed and didn't feel like dealing with her crap.

Anyways, sorry to go off on a rant like that. Whenever I hear the subject of religion, I think of that experience. Just peeves me off that people try to tell you what's right, taking no regard into what your personal beliefs are.

[Fonze]

I thought they already did ask them all these questions. Maybe not the main stream media but I remember Bush/gore and kerry getting asked these questions.

[TheNoNamedOne]

They ask very shallow and general questions, usually being careful not to probe too deep. I think what we have now is a very superficial probing of their beleifs by reporters. Handling it in such a shallow way makes it easy to fake answers and not get caught in contradictions as their true beliefs come out.

Those questions should be more intense and dig deeper.