Cruz's Christian Campaign

How do we as scholars of religion respond when the Bible is used by politicians? Jacques Berlinerblau spends some time pondering this question in his article “The Bible in Presidential Elections”. He notes that it is difficult due to how the Bible is used in a scholarly setting is so much different from how the Bible is used in the public square. To sum up this disconnect, he says “When a professional biblical scholar reads a verse, she sees a question. When a politician reads a verse, she sees an answer”(15).

In the current presidential race, Ted Cruz is relying heavily on the Bible and his Christian faith for answers to contemporary questions. On his campaign website you can sign up to be a part of his National Prayer Team, where you’ll receive a weekly email with prayer requests and a short devotional. One of the nine issues emphasized on Cruz’s website is religious liberty, which interestingly seems to focus on the liberties of just one religion - evangelical Christianity.

Berlinerblau warned of sermonizing candidates like Rick Perry in his article, saying “either biblical knowledge ventures forth from the cloistered sanctuary of specialization or its obsolescence in these matters of concern will continue to be the norm”(36). It seems that Berlinerblau’s conclusion was correct. Ted Cruz is a serious candidate and according to one survey, nearly half of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence in society. Apparently not enough scholars of religion have been questioning Cruz’s persistent use of Christianity and the Bible. A significant point made by Berlinerblau demands a distinction between a “candidate leaning on the Bible and leaning on the interpretative tradition spawned by the Bible” (23). I believe Cruz greatly leans on evangelical interpretation. He isn’t examining the Bible and considering different meanings and ambiguities. He grew up in an evangelical household, learning conservative theology and interpretation from a young age. This theology is more relevant to his Christian worldview than the Bible. It is important that people see this, and realize the Bible is not a text that gives answers.