Jesus Politics

Like many Israelis, director Ilan Ziv served in his nation's army, where he witnessed too much interaction between religion and politics. Moving to America, Ziv found “a safe haven” in New York thanks to America's separation of church and state, but the filmmaker felt that 9/11 changed all that. In Jesus Politics, Ziv explores the role religion played in 2008's presidential campaigning. He begins by talking to religious activists, such as Reverend Helen Seenster, a Baptist minister who helped get out the vote for Barack Obama, as well as New Hampshire Representative Maureen Mooney, a Catholic who did the same for John McCain. Seenster states, “You can't separate your politics from your faith. My Sunday values must determine how I vote on Tuesday.” In contrast, Ziv speaks with many ordinary citizens throughout the country who claim that religion has no bearing on their votes. Along the way, the filmmaker examines the connection between the black church and the Civil Rights movement, which Reverend James Jackson describes as “social, political, and spiritual.” Other speakers include campaign strategists, supporters for Mike Huckabee and Hillary Clinton, and late Moral Majority founder Paul Weyrich. Historical context is provided by theologian Randall Balmer (God in the White House), who compares the secular campaign of Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy with the faith-oriented campaign of born-again Christian Jimmy Carter. In Balmer's eyes, the failure of the Nixon presidency created a climate in which future candidates would prove more eager to demonstrate moral fortitude. An interesting look at the intersection between “the Bible and the ballot,” this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)