Issues of faith and religion come to the forefront quite often during elections and presidential campaigns. In preparation for the primary elections, I thought it would be helpful to provide a "faith snapshot" of each of the 2008 presidential candidates. I have sent each candidate a brief questionnaire about their faith. This project will be continually updated as I receive responses and find additional faith-related statements from the candidates. Please check back often!
Go Back to Complete List of 2008 Presidential Candidates.
• Edwards withdraws his candidacy - 01/30/08.
Party: Democratic
Age: 54
Education:
North Carolina State University, B.A.
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, J.D.
Current Position: Director for Center on Poverty
Experience: Trial Attorney, U.S. Senator, North Carolina
Declared Candidacy: Dec. 2006
Web site: John Edwards for President
Religion/Church: United Methodist
Although raised in what he describes as a "very Christian home" in the Southern Baptist faith, Edwards drifted away from his Christian upbringing in college. It wasn't until after the tragic death of his 16-year-old son that Edwards says, "My faith came roaring back and has stayed with me since ... and helped me deal with the personal challenges we've had." One of those challenges is his wife's fight against breast cancer. He and Elizabeth are now members of the United Methodist Church. While in the Senate, Edwards was co-chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast for two years.
When asked by David Kuo from Beliefnet.com, what he has learned about God, Edwards said, "... when things seem at their worst and their lowest, he will always be there for you. That no matter what you do, he will forgive you. And it is important to ask for his forgiveness. It's important in my case to have a personal relationship with the Lord, so that I pray daily and I feel that relationship all the time. And when I'm faced with difficult decisions, which I regularly am, I very often go to him in prayer."
• Background & Religious Bio of John Edwards
• John Edwards: 'My Faith Came Roaring Back'
• What John Edwards Believes
• John Edwards' Rating from GodVoter.org
Democrats
Hillary Clinton - United Methodist
Barack Obama - United Church of Christ
Bill Richardson - Roman Catholic
Mike Gravel - Unitarian Universalist
Dennis Kucinich - Roman Catholic
Republicans
Rudy Giuliani - Roman Catholic
Mike Huckabee - Southern Baptist
Mitt Romney - Mormon
Fred Thompson - Church of Christ
John McCain - Christian
Duncan Hunter - Southern Baptist
Ron Paul - Baptist
