Almost 50 people gathered at the University of Iowa on Friday to discuss the two things you’re not supposed to talk about in polite company: religion and politics.

Political science professor Cary Covington’s presentation on “God Talk on the Campaign Trail” outlined how he sees the pendulum of religious favor swinging back to Democratic presidential candidates, Senators Clinton and Obama. He said that for decades (with the exception of former President Jimmy Carter), anointed candidates have consistently been Republican.

Three videos from the event are below the fold.

Covington praised candidates Edwards (who bowed out last week), Obama, and Clinton.

“The Democrats seem to have the candidates who are more comfortable with and more genuine talking about their religious beliefs and how it impacts on their political positions.”

He also described the changes in a historically strong conservative voting bloc:

“The evangelical or religious right vote is not so monolithically concerned about a small set of issues … among generational lines you find younger conservative Christians who are voicing a deep concern about issues like AIDS, issues like poverty, global warming. They see those as religious issues, as moral issues and they want their candidates to take a position on them … that’s causing a fracture with the ‘establishment’ religious right leaders who want to maintain the focus on the standard social issues of abortion, gay rights, gay marriage, strong national defense, support for Israel.”

One of those young Christian voters is Samantha Honken, who said, “it’s very important that a candidate is religiously grounded.” She didn’t vote last month, but was surprised to see her dad become so excited standing for former pastor Mike Huckabee at the caucuses.

Religion and faith play a big part in her life. She feels she has a calling to ministry and is seeking to major in communications studies and minor in religious studies at the University of Iowa. After graduation, she wants to be a writer for a Christian magazine.

A recipient of the 2007-08 Jason Chen Faith and Learning Scholarship, Honken was named as the first student minister by the Geneva Campus Ministry and works with the group doing outreach.

Evan Fales hasn’t found God and stopped looking long ago. A professor in the UI Philosophy Department and an avowed atheist, he was concerned that faith is playing too strong of a role in politics. As a member of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, he believes strongly in the separation of church and state.

In this video he talks about his impressions of the event and some of his concerns about the role of religious faith in politics:

Geneva Campus Ministry sponsored the event as part of a series entitled, “Finding God at Iowa.” The events are being held on the first Friday of the month on campus.

Dr. Ed Laarman, director of the Geneva Campus Ministry, introduced Covington and posted a schedule for future “Finding God” events:

“The Music of Lent and Easter: A Theological and International Approach”
Friday, March 7, 12-1 PM, River Room #1, IMU, University of Iowa
Koi Hin Samuel Kwok, School of Music DMA candidate and Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Iowa City

“Qho Tolis Peccata Mundi? US Foreign Policy on Religious Persecution”
Friday, April 4, 12-1 PM, Penn State Room (#337), IMU, University of Iowa
Prof. Chris Rossi, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Law, former Director on the National Security Council, Executive Director of Humanities Iowa

“The Human Dilemmas of Genetics and Genetic Counseling”
Friday, May 2, 12-1 PM, River Room #1, IMU, University of Iowa
Lih Yeen Tan, Genetic Counselor for UI Children’s Hospital

For more info, contact the UIowa Geneva Campus Ministry at geneva@uiowa.edu or call: (319) 341-0007.