Joshua Bennett
John McCain, a former prisoner of war, senator, and presidential candidate, was a man of faith. McCain was raised in an Episcopal family and attended Episcopal schools, but in his later years, he attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family. McCain's religious worldview did not align with the Episcopal Church of his childhood or the Baptist church of his adulthood. He once stated that he viewed himself as a Christian and believed in living a life based on Judeo-Christian principles and honour and integrity. McCain's faith was a private matter, and he was known to be more comfortable expressing it through prayer and spiritual practices rather than public declarations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christian |
| Raised in | Episcopal Church |
| Childhood religion | Protestant |
| Adult religion | Baptist |
| Religious worldview | Doesn't align with the Episcopal Church or Baptist Church |
| Religious affiliation | Presumptive Protestantism |
| Religious reserve | Yes |
| Religious talk | Dramatic turn in his last few months |
| Religious affirmation | Yes, during imprisonment |
| Religious mimicry | Yes, from the most consequential Protestant voting bloc in the Republican Party |
| Religious persuasion | Baptist |
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What You'll Learn
McCain's religious background
John McCain, the late Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate, was a man of faith. McCain was raised in an Episcopalian family and attended Episcopal High School, a private all-boys boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was required to attend chapel services and church on Sundays.
McCain's father, a naval officer, moved the family frequently as he took up various naval postings. On one occasion, McCain's father offered to convert the family to Catholicism to secure his son's acceptance into a Catholic school. However, McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian.
In adulthood, McCain attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family. This prompted questions about his religious denomination, to which McCain responded: "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." Despite this assertion, McCain's religious worldview did not closely align with either the Episcopal Church of his childhood or the Baptist church of his later years.
McCain's faith was deeply influenced by his experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. During his captivity, McCain drew on his Episcopal roots, praying more fervently than he ever had before. He also volunteered to preach at religious services eventually permitted at the prison. In his memoir, McCain recounted a Christmas in captivity when, as "room chaplain," he read portions of the story of the birth of Christ to his fellow prisoners.
McCain's faith was a private matter, and he was known for his "religious reserve." He had a "distrust of the religious right and a faith that is too public, too political." Despite his quiet faith, McCain's religious beliefs were important to him and influenced his time in public service.
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McCain's religious views as a POW
Sen. John McCain rarely spoke publicly about his Christian beliefs. However, he often shared how he kept his faith while a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam. McCain was raised Episcopal and attended a Baptist church.
McCain's writings reveal that faith was essential to his resistance as a POW. In his first book, a family memoir called "Faith of My Fathers," McCain writes that his senior officers stressed "the three essential keys to resistance" during captivity: faith in God, faith in one's country, and faith in one's fellow prisoners.
McCain has shared a story about his time as a POW, where he was alone in his cell, with ropes tightly pulling his biceps and head as a form of torture. A guard came in and loosened the ropes. Four hours later, the guard returned, tightened the ropes, and left again. On Christmas Day, McCain and the other prisoners were allowed outside their cells but could not communicate with one another. McCain recalled:
> "He [the guard] drew a cross in the dirt with his foot while standing near me. For a minute there, there were just two Christians worshipping together. I'll never forget that moment."
McCain's cellmate, George "Bud" Day, recalled that McCain volunteered to preach at religious services when they were allowed at the prison: "He was a very good preacher, much to my surprise."
Towards the end of the war, when the North Vietnamese allowed the POWs to gather in a room, McCain, who knew the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, conducted services and gave sermons. McCain recalled the first Christmas they were allowed to have a service together:
> "They [the Vietnamese] handed McCain a King James Bible, a piece of paper, and a pencil."
McCain's religious faith was a theme in his political campaigns. In one speech, he emphasized:
> "This is my faith, the faith that unites and never divides, the faith that bridges unbridgeable gaps in humanity. That is my religious faith and it is the faith I want my party to serve, and the faith I hold in my country. It is the faith that we are all equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the faith I would die to defend."
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McCain's religious views as a senator
John McCain, a former US Navy captain and prisoner of war, was a Republican senator for Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. McCain was raised in an Episcopalian family and attended Episcopal High School, a private all-boys boarding school in Virginia, where he was required to attend chapel services.
McCain's religious beliefs were forged during his time as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He recounted an experience of religious affirmation during his captivity: one night, a guard entered his room and silently loosened the ropes that bound him, pinning his head between his legs. On another occasion, a guard drew a cross in the dirt with his foot while standing near McCain. McCain's cellmate, George "Bud" Day, recalled that McCain volunteered to preach at religious services when they were allowed in the prison.
As an adult, McCain attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family. However, McCain's religious affiliation was a subject of some debate. While McCain was raised Episcopalian, he stated in a 2007 interview, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." McCain's assertion prompted questions about whether he was an Episcopalian or a Southern Baptist.
McCain's religious views influenced his political stances. He supported vouchers that would allow students to attend public or private schools, including religious schools. McCain also believed in keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and voted in favor of Senate legislation to affirm this reference. Additionally, he stated that the United States was founded on "Judeo-Christian values."
McCain's religious beliefs were also reflected in his personal life. He was described as "a man of courage and faith who loved his family" by his church, the North Phoenix Baptist Church.
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McCain's religious affiliation
John McCain, the late senator and Republican party nominee for president in 2008, was a complex and intriguing figure in American politics. While he was very open about his political views and stances, his personal life, including his religious beliefs, was a topic he did not often discuss in great detail. McCain's religious affiliation was a subject of curiosity for many, and understanding his faith provides insight into his values and how they may have influenced his political career.
So, what was John McCain's religious affiliation? McCain was born on August 29, 1936, at a naval base in the Panama Canal Zone, which was a US territory at the time. He came from a long line of Protestant Christians, and his family had a rich military history, with both his father and grandfather serving as admirals in the US Navy. McCain himself followed in their footsteps and became a well-respected naval officer.
In terms of his own faith, McCain identified as a Christian and was baptized in 1999 at the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona by Pastor Dan Yeary. This church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States. McCain's baptism was an important step in his spiritual journey and indicated a public commitment to his Christian faith.
However, McCain's religious practices and personal beliefs had some nuances. While he was raised in a Protestant tradition, his wife, Cindy McCain, is a devout Baptist, and McCain often attended Baptist churches with her, particularly later in his life. McCain also had a close relationship with Pastor Yeary, who not only baptized him but also offered spiritual guidance and support throughout his political career.
McCain's faith was deeply personal, and he did not often invoke religion as a primary rationale for his political positions. However, his Christian values undoubtedly influenced his stance on various moral and ethical issues. For example, McCain was known for his strong opposition to torture, which he attributed in part to his faith and the belief in the inherent dignity of all people.
In conclusion, John McCain's religious affiliation was primarily rooted in Protestantism, with a specific connection to the Baptist denomination later in his life. His faith was a private matter, but it also played a role in shaping his values and, by extension, his political career. Understanding McCain's religious background adds depth to our understanding of this influential and respected political figure.
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McCain's family's religious affiliation
John McCain, the late Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate, was raised in an Episcopalian family. McCain's father was a naval officer, and the family moved frequently as he took up various naval postings. McCain attended about 20 schools, including Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia. Here, he was required to attend daily chapel services and Sunday church services.
McCain's family once considered converting to Catholicism to secure his acceptance into a Catholic school. However, McCain was accepted without converting, and he remained an Episcopalian.
In his adulthood, McCain attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona with his family. In a 2007 interview, McCain asserted, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist." McCain's religious affiliation has been described as charting a unique path between Episcopalianism and evangelical Southern Baptist beliefs.
McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, is also a Christian. In 1991, she adopted a child with a cleft palate from an orphanage run by Mother Teresa in Bangladesh. McCain accepted the child and became a loving father to her, demonstrating his commitment to living out his Christian faith.
McCain, a former prisoner of war, was known as a man of quiet faith. He drew on his religious beliefs during his captivity and later recalled how prayer was the most important thing for him during that time. He also spoke about his reliance on prayer in times of national crisis. McCain's faith was an important aspect of his life, influencing his political career and how he was remembered by those who knew him.
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Frequently asked questions
Senator John McCain was raised in the Episcopal Church, a Protestant denomination, and attended Episcopal day and boarding schools. However, later in life, he and his family attended a Southern Baptist megachurch in Arizona. McCain himself asserted in an interview, "I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist."
No, Senator McCain did not identify as Catholic. His family moved frequently due to his father's naval career, and when they moved to Long Beach, California, McCain's father offered to convert the family to Catholicism so that McCain could enrol in a Catholic school. However, McCain was accepted without converting and remained an Episcopalian.
Senator McCain was known as a maverick in both his politics and his faith. While he generally adhered to conservative principles, he broke with his party on certain issues, such as LGBT rights, gun regulations, and campaign finance reform. McCain's faith was also described as "a language game" and "a confusing hopscotch of churches." He was also known for his religious reserve and "distrust of the religious right and a faith that is too public, too political."
Yes, Senator McCain's religious beliefs were influenced by his experience as a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam. He recalled praying more during his captivity than he ever had before and volunteering to preach at religious services that were eventually permitted in the prison. McCain also described a Christmas in captivity when he was allowed to read portions of the Bible and sing hymns with his comrades. He considered this to be "more sacred" than any other religious service he had attended.
