Rachel Evans
John McCain was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, and his experiences there shaped his religious beliefs. McCain was raised in an Episcopal household, and his father, John Sidney McCain Jr., prayed aloud twice a day. McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student. However, McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian. Later, McCain attended a Phoenix Baptist church with his family, and he was buried at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. McCain rarely spoke publicly about his Christian beliefs, but he did discuss his faith in 2008 with Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church. McCain's family attended his memorial service, and he was remembered as a man of courage and faith who loved his family.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| John McCain's religion | Baptist, Episcopalian, Christian |
| John McCain's father's religion | Episcopalian |
| John McCain's children | Sidney McCain, Doug Shepp, Andrew Shepp, Meghan McCain, John Sidney McCain IV ("Jack"), James McCain, Bridget McCain |
| John McCain's wife | Cindy Hensley McCain |
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What You'll Learn
John McCain's religious upbringing
John McCain was born into a military family with a long tradition of serving in the U.S. Navy. He was raised in the Episcopal Church, a mainline Protestant denomination and branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. McCain's father, John Sidney McCain Jr., was an admiral in the U.S. Navy who prayed aloud on his knees twice a day using a well-worn prayer book, despite not talking about God or the importance of religious devotion.
McCain attended Episcopal High School, an elite, all-boys, preparatory boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was required to attend daily chapel services as well as Sunday church services, where he frequently recited the Apostles' Creed. He also attended Episcopal day schools.
McCain's family moved frequently due to his father's military career. When his father was transferred to Long Beach, California, McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student. However, McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian.
In his adult life, McCain began attending a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his wife, Cindy, who was baptized in 1991. McCain never officially joined the church, but he attended services there whenever he was in the Phoenix area. In a 2007 interview, McCain asserted, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." However, he later clarified, "I'd like to add there's been some talk about my religious persuasion."
McCain's faith was deeply influenced by his experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. He recalled that a guard in the prison camp silently shared his Christian faith with him one Christmas, drawing a cross in the dirt with his sandal. McCain also scratched the first seven words of the Apostles' Creed, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty," on his cell wall and prayed fervently during his incarceration. He later wrote that his faith in God was reinforced by this experience and that he prayed more often and more fervently during his captivity than he ever had as a free man.
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McCain's religious beliefs as an adult
John McCain grew up in an Episcopal household, where personal faith was largely a private matter. His father, John Sidney McCain Jr., prayed aloud twice a day using a tattered prayer book, but he did not talk about God or the importance of religious devotion. McCain attended Episcopal High School, where he was required to attend daily chapel services and Sunday church services, reciting the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.
As an adult, McCain's religious beliefs were less clear-cut. He was a self-described Baptist and attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family for years. However, he never officially joined the church and did not identify with any particular denomination. McCain's faith was deeply personal, and he rarely spoke about it publicly. He once said, "I pray regularly, and I don't have to be getting ready for bed, or getting up in the morning. I seize opportunities throughout the day.... I haven't always succeeded; I've failed many times. But because the foundation of your and my belief is redemption, I've been able to receive additional comfort, strength, and the desire to move forward again."
McCain's time as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam also influenced his religious beliefs as an adult. He recalled that his faith in God was reinforced during his captivity, as he prayed fervently and scratched the words "I believe in God, the Father Almighty" on his cell wall. In a campaign ad and a memoir, McCain recounted a story about a guard in his prisoner-of-war camp who silently shared his Christian faith by drawing a cross in the dirt. McCain also stated that he found strength and purpose in Judeo-Christian ideals during his captivity.
McCain's political views were also shaped by his religious beliefs. He believed that the family is the foundation of Western civilization and that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. He also opposed abortion and believed that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, stating that the decision to end a pregnancy should be left to individual states. McCain's faith and political views were not always in alignment with any specific denomination of Christianity, but he considered himself a Christian and believed in a higher power.
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McCain's family's religious beliefs
John McCain grew up in an Episcopal household where personal faith was largely a private matter. His father, John Sidney McCain Jr., prayed aloud twice a day using a tattered prayer book, but he did not talk about God or the importance of religious devotion. McCain attended Episcopal High School, where he was required to attend daily chapel services.
McCain's faith was shaped by his experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He recalled a guard in his prisoner of war camp who silently shared his faith one Christmas: "He stood there for a minute, and with his sandal on the dirt in the courtyard, he drew a cross and he stood there," McCain told megachurch pastor Rick Warren. "And a minute later, he rubbed it out and walked away. For a minute there, there were just two Christians worshipping together." McCain also scratched the first seven words of The Apostles' Creed—"I believe in God, the Father Almighty"—on his cell wall and prayed fervently during his incarceration.
While McCain was raised Episcopalian, he and his family have attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona for years. McCain has not joined the church but has said that he likes its message. In a September 2007 interview with The Associated Press, McCain asserted, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." However, a few days later, he tried to clarify his religious affiliation, stating, "I'd like to add there's been some talk about my religious persuasion."
McCain's wife, Cindy, was baptized in the North Phoenix Baptist Church in 1991. The McCain family has called on the church's pastor, Dan Yeary, "at times of family challenge," and he has "forged a friendship" with McCain. McCain's funeral was also held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.
McCain has described himself as a Christian and has said that his faith is deep, but he has generally kept it private, including for political reasons. He has also been described as a maverick in his personal faith, charting his own unique path between the Episcopal Church and the evangelical Southern Baptist Convention. McCain's religious beliefs have influenced his political views, including his opposition to abortion and his belief that marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
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The influence of religion on McCain's politics
John McCain was raised in an Episcopal household, but he and his family have been attending a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona for years. McCain's father, John Sidney McCain Jr., prayed aloud on his knees twice a day, using "a tattered, dog-eared prayer book". McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers", that his father did not talk about God or the importance of religious devotion.
McCain's religious beliefs have influenced his politics. He has stated that the United States is a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian values. He has also voted in favour of keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. McCain has also said that his view that life begins at conception is based "to some degree" on his religious beliefs.
During his political career, McCain has had a rocky relationship with religious conservatives. He has been criticised for his pointed criticism of some evangelical Christian leaders and for his relative reticence to speak publicly about religion. However, he has also sought to improve his relationship with religious conservatives, such as by giving the commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University in May 2006.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, McCain tried to convince the party's base that he was a Bible believer by seeking and obtaining the endorsement of two influential evangelical preachers, John Hagee of Texas and Rod Parsley of Ohio. However, this backfired when the media uncovered controversial views held by these preachers.
Overall, McCain's religious beliefs have had a complex influence on his political career, both helping and hindering him at different times.
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McCain's religious experiences as a prisoner of war
John McCain was raised in an Episcopal household, where personal faith was largely a private matter. He was required to attend chapel services at Episcopal High School, an elite, all-boys, preparatory boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia. However, McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student. McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian.
McCain was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years, during which he had a profound religious experience that he would recount many years later. He endured solitary confinement, torture, and interrogation. On one occasion, after being bound painfully by his captors, a guard entered his room and silently loosened the ropes that pinned his head between his legs. On Christmas Day, the same guard approached McCain in a courtyard and drew a cross in the dirt with his foot while McCain was allowed to stand outside his cell. McCain recalled: "For a minute there, there were just two Christians worshipping together. I'll never forget that moment."
McCain's faith sustained him during his imprisonment. He refused early release, which was offered because his father was an admiral, as there were other POWs who had been there longer. He later recalled: "It took a lot of prayer; it took a lot of prayer." McCain's cellmate, George "Bud" Day, recalled that McCain volunteered to preach at religious services when they were allowed at the prison and that he was "a very good preacher". McCain's faith was also evident in his patriotism, as he fell in love with his country while imprisoned in a foreign land.
After his release, McCain and his family began attending a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona. In a 2007 interview, McCain asserted, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." However, McCain rarely spoke publicly about his Christian beliefs.
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Frequently asked questions
No, John McCain is not Catholic. He was raised in an Episcopal household and remained an Episcopalian throughout his life.
Yes, when McCain's father was transferred to Long Beach, California, he told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student. However, McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian.
Yes, McCain's faith influenced his political views, particularly on issues related to religion and family values. He saw himself as a Christian and believed in the importance of faith and religious freedom.
McCain's religious affiliation was a subject of some debate. While he was raised Episcopalian, he later attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family and referred to himself as a Baptist. However, he did not officially join the church and did not identify with any particular denomination, charting his path between different branches of Christianity.
Yes, McCain's family attended church with him and shared his Christian faith. They sought spiritual guidance from pastors during times of family challenge and illness. McCain's wife, Cindy, was baptized in the North Phoenix Baptist Church in 1991.
