Mark Noll on the basic issues challenging American Christians
Thursday, October 6, 2005
In a new collection of essays entitled One Electorate Under God? (published by the Brookings Institution) Mark Noll, professor of Christian thought at Wheaton College (Illinois), identifies seven civic issues that are related to how he understands the traditional Christian faith that grounds our existence:
1) social redress for African-Americans
2) protection of pre-natal life
3) equity in taxation
4) expansion of free trade
5) availability of medical care to all
6) free exercise of religion
7) adherence to the international rule of law
Professor Noll notes with dismay that “neither of the major parties is making a serious effort to consider this particular combination of concerns or even something remotely resembling this combination.” He is left wondering if he can vote for any candidate of either party.
–quoted in Peter Steinfels’ “Beliefs” column, New York Times, 9/21/05
