Bible Lesson: Republican Style
November 29, 2007
Some thoughts about the Bible question last night during the Republican debate. First have a look at the actual transcript and see my analysis below:
Joseph: I am Joseph. I am from Dallas, Texas, and how you answer this question will tell us everything we need to know about you. Do you believe every word of this book? Specifically, this book that I am holding in my hand, do you believe this book?
Cooper: I think we've got a question.
Mayor Giuliani?
Huckabee: Do I need to help you out, Mayor, on this one?
(Laughter)
(Applause)
Giuliani: Wait a second, you're the minister. You're going to help me out on this one.
Huckabee: I'm trying to help you out.
Giuliani: OK. The reality is, I believe it, but I don't believe it's necessarily literally true in every single respect.
Giuliani: I think there are parts of the Bible that are interpretive. I think there are parts of the Bible that are allegorical. I think there are parts of the Bible that are meant to be interpreted in a modern context.
So, yes, I believe it. I think it's the greatest book ever written. I read it frequently. I read it very frequently when I've gone through the bigger crises in my life, and I find great wisdom in it, and it does define to a very large extent my faith. But I don't believe every single thing in the literal sense of Jonah being in the belly of the whale, or, you know, there are some things in it that I think were put there as allegorical.
Cooper: Governor Romney?
Romney: I believe the Bible is the word of God, absolutely. And I try.
(Applause)
... I try to live by it as well as I can, but I miss in a lot of ways. But it's a guide for my life and for hundreds of millions, billions of people around the world. I believe in the Bible.
Cooper: Does that mean you believe every word?
Romney: You know -- yes, I believe it's the word of God, the Bible is the word of God.
The Bible is the word of God. I mean, I might interpret the word differently than you interpret the word, but I read the Bible and I believe the Bible is the word of God. I don't disagree with the Bible. I try to live by it.
Cooper: Governor Huckabee?
Huckabee: Sure. I believe the Bible is exactly what it is. It's the word of revelation to us from God himself.
(Applause)
And the fact is that when people ask do we believe all of it, you either believe it or you don't believe it. But in the greater sense, I think what the question tried to make us feel like was that, well, if you believe the part that says "Go and pluck out your eye," well, none of us believe that we ought to go pluck out our eye. That obviously is allegorical.
But the Bible has some messages that nobody really can confuse and really not left up to interpretation. "Love your neighbor as yourself."
And 'as much as you've done it to the least of these brethren, you've done it unto Me.' Until we get those simple, real easy things right, I'm not sure we ought to spend a whole lot of time fighting over the other parts that are a little bit complicated.
And as the only person here on the stage with a theology degree, there are parts of it I don't fully comprehend and understand, because the Bible is a revelation of an infinite God, and no finite person is ever going to fully understand it. If they do, their god is too small.
OK, first of all I'm not here to analyze theology. Forget that. Let's talk about the political ramifications of these answers. They actually say a lot about each candidate.
Giuliani's answer is proof positive of what I've been saying all along. Since day one of this campaign he has taken the philosophy that 'You may not agree with everything I say, but I'm going to tell you where I stand.' His answer about the Bible is a classic example of that.
Look, his answer is not going to satisfy Evangelicals, a crucial block he needs, but he's not going to pander either. Trust is a huge intangible and Giuliani is banking on that and his straight forward answers winning the day. His stances on the issues from guns to the Bible to abortion hurt him, but the trust intangible may negate some of that. -- Especially as it relates to 9/11 -- Will that be enough to win the nomination?
Romney's answer is more problematic. I'm not talking theology here. Forget the Mormon vs Evangelical question. What I'm talking about is the way Romney answered that question. He hesitated about whether the Bible was the literal word of God. He looked very uncomfortable up there during that moment. For Evangelicals, that hesitation is code for "not really". You got the sense that, in that moment of hesitation, Romney was trying to figure out what the best political answer was going to be.
Look, Romney already has an image problem when it comes to flip-flopping on some issues so why not just come out and address the Mormon thing head on. He could take the lead on this and be a straight shooter rather than dancing around it. It's not like he's fooling Evangelicals in Iowa. They know the deal. They know there is a difference. Why not just recognize the differences between the two religions and then pivot to higher ground by saying this election shouldn't be about a religious test for office. Romney and his advisors seem so concerned about the Mormon issue, but Romney also has an authenticity issue too. Addressing the Mormon issue may kill two birds with one stone. It was an opportunity missed.
As for Mike Huckabee's answer, I mean, what do you expect? Can the softball get any larger? That's like asking Giuliani, "So Mayor, tell me about 9/11 and what you did that day?" Or to Romney: "So Governor, tell me about your successful rise and business success?" The part of Huckabee's answer that probably resonated with Evangelicals is when he said, "There are parts of it I don't fully comprehend and understand, because the Bible is a revelation of an infinite God, and no finite person is ever going to fully understand it. If they do, their god is too small". Folks, that's called speaking the language of Evangelicals because that's exactly what many of them think and feel. It was spot on and at the same time a nod to moderates to say "Hey, we Christians don't have everything figured out either!"
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