Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama is overturning the traditional view that Republicans are the religious-talking lawmakers with his faith speeches and frequent church visits on the campaign trail.
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(Photo: AP Images / Mary Ann Chastain)Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Il., attends Redemption World Outreach Center Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Greenville, S.C. Obama spoke to the church's more than 4,000 members during services Sunday morning.
“I think that what you’re seeing is a breaking down of the sharp divisions that existed maybe during the ‘90’s,” Obama said, according to CNN Monday. “At least in politics, the perception was that the Democrats were fearful of talking about faith, and on the other hand you had the Republicans who had a particular brand of faith that oftentimes seemed intolerant or pushed people away.”
The junior Illinois senator stood in the pulpit of a Pentecostal church Sunday to challenge the partisan religious perception by telling some 4,000 worshippers that faith “plays every role” in his life.
“It’s what keeps me grounded. It’s what keeps my eyes set on the greatest of heights,” Obama told members of the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C., according to The Associated Press.
Faith, he said, is “what propels me to do what I do and when I am down it’s what lifts me up.”
Obama, who is a member of the United Church of Christ – considered one of the most liberal mainline Protestant denomination, also said God “is with us and He wants us to do the right thing,” such as breaking down divisions between Democrats and Republicans and among religions, according to AP.
When people work together, there is “nothing that can stop us because that’s God’s intention.” the senator exhorted.
Despite Obama’s increased “God talk,” many conservative Christians are still hesitant to embrace him. Difference on key conservative issues such as abortion and gay “marriages” has blocked Obama from being a serious candidate for many conservative voters.
Obama, although saying he personally does not support homosexuality, has refused to support a constitutional amendment banning homosexual “marriage.” Also, although Obama personally opposes abortion, he refuses to support overturning Roe v. Wade.
“I appreciate that the candidates are taking a risk when they talk about their faith,” commented Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship Ministries, in a past commentary.
“The problem is that all of this ‘God Talk’ misses the point: what Christians want – or should want – is a candidate who shares their moral and culture concerns, not just their religious vocabulary.”
Obama is currently ranked as the Democratic Candidate that invokes religion the most, according to religious Web site Beliefnet.com’s “God-o-Meter” – which measures “God talk” in the presidential campaign.
Obama concluded Sunday’s address from the pulpit by asking the members of Redemption church to pray for him and his family to remain on the right path.
“Sometimes you can become fearful, you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power for power’s sake,” Obama confessed, according to NBC. “Pray that I can be an instrument of God,” he pleaded.
The White House hopeful is currently on a campaign called “40 Days of Faith & Family” to reach out to primary voters in South Carolina and introduce how Obama’s family life and faith have shaped his values.
Last week, Obama attended services at a black Baptist church in West Columbia and a white Baptist church a few miles away in Columbia, South Carolina.
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What is the fighting about? Isn't Jesus the only one who is qualified to judge a person's faith?
Not on your life!!
So, back to the topic at hand. Does anyone think that Obama has any business being our President?
zenodaddy: It must feel very odd to have someone trying to deny you your faith and identity. I sympathize. It happens to Humanists all the time. People try to tell us we have no meaning in our lives, no morality, no hope, even no existence just because we don't believe as they do. I know, crazy, right? So I recognize your faith and your identity has a Christian. Hey, people like us have to stick together when other people try to deny us parts of ourselves, right?
dannygirlagain, your post just gave a prime example of why I believe that personal religious beliefs should remain apart from official policy-making. One extremist can bring the entire civil rights structure tumbling down in the name of "faith" and a position of power.
People will turn to a religion that have active members who present a peaceful, non-antagonistic approach. Yours doesn't fall under that category.
Christians don't vote pro-choice...
www.ronpaul2008.com
wrhalver, you're almost on the money. I don't believe that candidates should hide their faith, or stop being a proudly reliigous person. I draw the line at them declaring that their faith would be a direct part of policy making for the entire nation. Personal morality based on faith is different from "God" (one definition only) is going to be the guiding force for legislation, etc. That sets a very dangerous precedent.
It is an interesting balance we are looking for in our Government.
We ask for Christian like moral values but yet we don't want Government to take an official positon on the God who gave us those values.
We are willing to accept a candidate based on personal views of faith but we don't want that candidate to enforce his/her faith in Government.
Summary: I support entirely a person's right to be open and proud of their faith. I don't support it as a political agenda for a diverse nation.
Secular government was what was intended; Government not establishing favoratism for any one faith. This includes Gov't officials not, in essence, channeling a "God's instrument" philosophy for the nation. It is entirely separate from the idea that everyone is free to be a religious person unto themselves, as long as they don't project that view as being above the law of the people.
WT - The premise that you are positing is secularism - which makes the claim that religion has no place in government or education - this is truly the most intolerant position of all because it makes a claim that secularism is the highest value of society. Unfortunately most people fail to see this double standard - just like those who claim atheism isn't a religion.
I'm very wary of this. From other reports, he's talking as if he wants to bring more religion into Government.