CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, joined by prominent religious leaders, questioned presidential hopefuls Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), former Senator John Edwards and Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the forum on "Faith Guiding Our Votes: Faith, Values and Poverty," hosted by the progressive Christian social justice ministry Sojourners.
One of the first questions asked was on evolution and whether Edwards, who grew up in a Southern Baptist Church, believed in it despite arguments by some that the Bible's creation narrative and evolution cannot co-exist. The question was asked amid revived creation-evolution debates spurred by the recently opened Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky.
Edward, in response, said he believes in evolution and does not think his Christian faith is challenged by scientific evidence of evolution.
"I think a belief in God and a belief in Christ, in my case, is not in any way inconsistent with that," he said, "Because the hand of God was in every step of what's happened with man. The hand of God today is in every step of what happens with me and every human being that exists on this planet."
Edwards was further questioned on same-sex "marriage" to which he said he does not personally think homosexuals have the right to marry. However, he added that his own personal belief system is different than what he would support as president pointing out separation of church and state.
"First of all, my faith, my belief in Christ plays an enormous role in the way I view the world," claimed Edwards. "But I think I also understand the distinction between my job as president of the United States, my responsibility to be respectful of and to embrace all faith beliefs in this country because we have many faith beliefs in America."
The former senator also said the United States shouldn't be called a Christian nation.
