VP Debate on Deck

Since Senator Biden and Governor Palin will engage in their first and only debate tomorrow night, the experts are beginning to pontificate on what should be asked of them. In the Washington Post's On Faith section some of their regular columnists are asked to weigh in on the topic of questions about their faith. I think their responses are interesting.

First, Susan Jacoby writes:
My consistent position is that a candidate's religious beliefs are relevant to political campaigns only if he or she wishes to impose those beliefs on other American citizens--whether by administrative fiat, legislation, or attempts to reshape the judiciary in a particular religious image. I do not care whether Joseph Biden believes in the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, which states that bread and wine are actually transformed into the body and blood of Christ during the Mass. I would care very much, however, if he suggested that this religious belief should be presented as a fact in a public school science class. And I do not care that Sarah Palin has worshipped at a church where she received a blessing to guard her against witchcraft during her campaign for the governorship of Alaska. I would care very much, however, if Palin wanted students to open their school day with an invocation against witchcraft.

Yet, she would propose these questions:
Do you interpret our Constitution as an instrument intended to separate church and state?
Do you believe that the founders established a Christian government and that America should be considered a Christian nation?
Do you think that religious theories, such as creationism and intelligent design, should be taught along with evolution in public school science classes?
Do you believe that parents who wish their children to attend religious schools should receive a tax break to defray the tuition?
You have both said that your religions teach--and you believe--that life begins at the moment of conception. Why do you, Gov. Palin, think that your personal beliefs should set the legal standard for Americans who do not share them? Why do you, Sen. Biden, draw a distinction between what your faith tells you and the legal standards your government should set for others?
What do you consider the proper approach for judges to take on legal disputes involving the relationship betwen religion and government?
Do you believe that religious interference with government is as dangerous as government interference with religion?

Cal Thomas proposes the following:
My question for both of them would be: "How does your faith influence, even mandate, your positions? Senator Biden, do you believe it is mainly up to government to follow the principles in Matthew 25 to "do unto the least of these," or is that primarily a command for the church? And Governor Palin, how do the "end times" described in the books of Daniel and Revelation, among others, influence your view of the Middle East, of Russia and your own worldview and which policy matters might be influenced by your conservative Christian beliefs?

Michael Otterson, the Head of Public Affairs for the LDS Church would ask nothing aboutb their faith of them writing:
It does matter to me that a presidential candidate reflects values of decency, honesty, reliability, steadfastness and trustworthiness. But whether he or she draws those values from celebrating mass or attending a synagogue or from some other source entirely is quite irrelevant to me.

So, would you ask either of these people who are known for their faith about their faith? If yes, what would you ask? If no, why not?