Commentary & Opinions

• A consistent ethic of respecting life
  By Chris M. Wood, Associate Professor of Nursing
• Faith, politics and the presidential “town hall” debate
  Thoughts submitted by GC students during the presidential candidate debate between U.S. Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama on Oct. 7.
• Liberal arts and politics
  By Ross Peterson-Veatch, associate academic dean and director of curriculum and faculty development for the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning
• Small, but significant, differences
  By Joe Liechty, associate professor of peace, justice and conflict studies
• Faith, politics and the vice presidential candidate debate
  Thoughts submitted by GC students during the vice presidential candidate debate between U.S. Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Oct. 2.
• Should the church take a sabbatical from politics?
  By John D. Roth, professor of history
• Talking to the world
  By Adriel Santiago, a first-year collegiate studies major from Souderton, Pa.
• A wider worldview shapes how I govern
  By Allan Kauffman, a 1971 Goshen College graduate and now mayor of the City of Goshen
• The primacy of faith and the limits of political action
  By Matthew Hill, associate professor of music
• If our president was a servant leader
  By Kathryn Aschliman, professor emerita of education
• Politics, faith and Iran
  By John J. Fisher, professor emeritus of English
• I used to be apathetic about my country
  By Sara Groff, a senior nursing major from East Earl, Pa.
• A view from Germany helped
  By Carl Helrich, professor of physics
• My faith impacts my politics, not vice versa
  By Jeff Hochstetler, a senior business and history double major from Orrville, Ohio.
• Reclaiming the positive meaning of politics
  By Norman L. Kauffman, dean of students emeritus
• I have a moral obligation
  By Vicky Kirkton, associate professor of nursing
• We need redemption
  By Beverly Lapp, associate professor of music
• The Earth should get a vote
  By Jerrell Ross Richer, associate professor of economics
• My 5 most important political convictions
  By Theron F. Schlabach, professor emeritus of history
• My vote will go to…
  By Victor E. Stoltzfus, president emeritus and professor emeritus of sociology
• Uncomfortable in the majority
  By Everett Thomas, 1972 Goshen College alumnus, Goshen City Council member and editor of The Mennonite, the official publication of Mennonite Church USA
• My faith and political views
  By Henry D. Weaver, professor emeritus of chemistry and provost emeritus
• We still need to figure it out
  By James Weber, a senior communication major from Reading, Pa.
• VIEW ALL COMMENTARIES & OPINIONS

Before you vote, express your view on faith and politics.

Election Day is looming and public opinion polls show that Indiana voters remain evenly divided in their support for the two leading U.S. presidential candidates. The candidates are debating, TV and radio ads for Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama are inescapable and voting already is starting in some states, Partisans are taking sides — and potshots — at one another. And anger and frustration are building.

That’s not what Goshen College — or this Web site — is about. While we respect those who are actively involved in the campaigns, “Faith and Politics” is not a venue for partisanship or for endorsements or condemnations of candidates. Instead, we want to encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni and retired faculty to share their viewpoints on the intersection of faith and politics.

We seek to foster intelligent discussion and tolerance for opposing views. So while some will exchange deeply-held views, our continuing hope is also that this will remain a “forum of respect, truth seeking and grace – which we believe can be among the greatest contributions by persons of faith to the political climate, no matter who they vote for or what position they take on any issue.”

CNN segment on Mennonites on the election: Mennonite students from GC talk to CNN about issues important to them this election year.
Watch this video

Behind the scenes with CNN at GC: CNN anchor Rick Sanchez talks about his interview with GC students about how their faith impacts how they may vote.
Watch this video:  large  |  medium

• CNN forum features first-time voters at Goshen College, Mennonite Weekly Review, 4.18.08
• CNN interviews Goshen College students, The Mennonite, 4.15.08
• Goshen College students describe faith factor to CNN, South Bend Tribune, 4.16.08
• CNN series on first-time voters comes to Goshen College, The Truth, 4.16.08
• Students offer political views, Goshen News, 4.16.08
• Students at Goshen College discuss Decision 2008, WNDU News Center 16, 4.15.08