Donald Trump on Saturday raised questions about Republican presidential challenger Ben Carson's faith with recent surveys showing the retired pediatric neurosurgeon leading among voters in Iowa and Wisconsin.
"I love Iowa,"
Trump told a rally in Jacksonville, Fla., The Washington Post reports. "And, look, I don't have to say it, I'm Presbyterian.
"Can you believe it? Nobody believes I'm Presbyterian," the billionaire developer added. "I'm Presbyterian. I'm Presbyterian.
"I'm Presbyterian. Boy, that's down the middle of the road folks, in all fairness," he said. "I mean, Seventh-day Adventist, I don't know about. I just don't know about."
In his 1992 book, "Gifted Hands," Carson disclosed that he is a twice-baptized Seventh-day Adventist.
Seventh-day Adventists are Protestants who believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to Earth and adopt a literal interpretation of the Bible.
They also observe the Sabbath on Saturday. That differs from most Christians, including Presbyterians, who observe the Sabbath on Sunday.
The denomination was established in 1863 in Battle Creek, Mich.
"We believe that the biblical events recorded in Genesis 1-11, including the special creation of human beings, are historical and recent, that the seven days of creation were literal 24 hour days forming a literal week, and that the flood was global in nature,"
the church's web site says.
Asked whether Trump meant to single out Carson's religion with his remarks, campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told the Post: "I think the remark speaks for itself."
The billionaire developer sharpened his attacks on Carson in a two-day swing through the Sunshine State, telling an audience Friday in South Florida that his challenger was "super low on energy."
"He's even lower-energy than Bush," he said, referring to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
The Carson campaign told Newsmax Saturday that the candidate would not be responding to Trump's remarks.
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