Question #4

"For war and hunger, and ignorance and despair know no religious barrier." John F. Kennedy says this in his speech on separation of church and state and he is advocating that his religious beliefs should not affect his eligibility for presidency. He is arguing that since he is the first Catholic elected president, there should be no judgement on his beliefs because the separation of church and state is absolutely necessary in a democratic society like America. He wants all religions to feel welcome in the United States and to declare that America is neither Catholic or Protestant. This religious freedom is what he believes is the reason for fighting for independence and that this is what our forefathers died for. He feels that no elected official should take advisement from the Pope or any other church head. He wants to end religious intolerance in the United States and wants every man to feel comfortable attending or not attending the church of his choice. He delivered this speech to explain his views on the need for separation of church and state and how his religious beliefs should not affect the way people view him when they go to vote. He says that all of his decisions if elected president would be based on national interest and not his own religious personal views. He even goes as far to say that if his religious views did come to affect his presidency, he would resign and that he hoped any other public servant would do the same. He says that he will faithfully execute the oath of presidency if elected and rely on that for his judgement. He said that a man's religious beliefs should be private and not analyzed by the nation or have any affect on the nation. Kennedy wanted to make sure that the United States was focused on the real issues like poverty, schools, war, ignorance, and not the fact that he is Catholic because it is not an issue. He believes that the White House should not be an instrument for any religion but that it should be strictly ran on governmental views. I could imagine a presidential candidate saying this today if they were trying to appeal to the younger generation or the Democratic party because he was advocating for the acceptance of all religions in the United States despite his own being Catholicism when he could've advocated for Catholicism alone. He was the Democratic nominee for president and his views still relate to the Democratic party's views today. Balmer's initial question in God in the White House has a complex answer but a theory could be Bush's reasoning for advocating his religion in his campaign was for an attraction from a larger audience, Christians. But, this could also hinder his chances of being elected because displaying these religious beliefs could show a weakness or a preference of one religion over another one when we advocate for religious freedom in the United States.