Catherine Guiles, a reporter for Medill Reports, spent part of the summer and fall traveling across the country to Christian college campuses to talk to students, professors and staff about issues of faith and politics. Her work, which was funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation, included interviews with Goshen College students and faculty.   » Read more…

At my high school in rural Ohio I was part of a small group of students who were thought of as rebellious and unpatriotic, and given names like “hippy” and “tree-hugger.” I was a Democrat.   » Read more…

When I was in third grade, I remember having a conversation with my parents about land mines. An international treaty that aimed to stop the use of land mines had triggered our conversation, and then-President Bill Clinton, who was previously in favor of the treaty, was suddenly persuaded by the Pentagon to avoid the treaty. Confused about the details, I asked my parents for more information.   » Read more…

As the election nears, I find that I’ve become increasingly concerned with the focus on faith that has become quite evident. This is surprising to me, as I usually am fairly apathetic regarding most issues political and religious. However, this country’s intense focus on the religion, spirituality and faith of our candidates for and holders of political office is quite alarming.   » Read more…

At a town-hall style meeting in early October, Republican supporters booed John McCain for calling Barack Obama “decent.” McCain said Obama is a “decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.”   » Read more…

Students submitted these views during the presidential candidate debate between U.S. Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama on Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.   » Read more…

Students submitted these views during the vice presidential candidate debate between U.S. Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Oct. 2.   » Read more…

As my Saturday afternoon attention waxed and waned, I sat listening to a surrogate of one of the presidential candidates speak when my heart skipped a beat and my mind lurched forward to face the fact that I may bring children of my own into the world during the next president’s terms in office. For me, this is why this election matters so much.   » Read more…

As I follow politics, I am always struck, and saddened by, the general unwillingness to listen. “Because I know the Truth, everyone else must not unless they agree entirely with me. Because I now have a monopoly on absolute Truth, there is no reason for me to listen to others.”   » Read more…

At a roundtable discussion held at Goshen College on May 6, 2008, Mennonite students in Indiana talk to CNN’s Rick Sanchez about issues important to them this election year.

I am so glad that I decided to participate in the CNN interview. It was a positive experience and it reinforced my interest in this election. I was slightly nervous at first as I anticipated the day of filming, but as I took the time to think about what I might want to say, I became more excited and more convinced that my words could be useful to the continuing conversation of faith and politics.   » Read more…

At the CNN interview, it was amazing to hear how similar our views were on so many of the issues. Of course, we all have our nuanced differences of opinion, but it’s clearly evident that our Anabaptist Mennonite faith plays a defining role in how we think about politics.   » Read more…