Religion is supposed to be Barack Obama's strength.
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(Photo: AP Images / Alex Brandon)Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks in front of the Gettysburg Address, Friday, March 28, 2008, at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum and Memorial in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Unlike many Democratic candidates before him, Obama speaks with ease about his faith. He attends Sunday worship and knows his Bible. His supporters believe he can pry some committed churchgoers away from the GOP.
But the furor over comments by his Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, broadcast again and again on TV and viewed by millions on YouTube, is tempering those hopes.
"It certainly gives people pause," even in the Democratic Party, said Corwin Smidt, a Calvin College professor who studies religion and politics.
All the top Democratic presidential contenders spoke of their faith this election year. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Methodist and Obama's remaining Democratic rival, has spent years reaching out to traditional Christians. But more than any other candidate, Obama has made religion a core part of his message and outreach.
The Illinois senator has held faith forums, created a grass-roots support network of "congregation contacts" and has spoken at evangelical churches that Democrats had rarely visited.
His strategy is rooted in the Christian faith he found as an adult through Wright at Trinity United Church of Christ, a predominantly African-American megachurch. Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope" was inspired by a Wright sermon.
But last week, Obama distanced himself from his pastor, after video circulated of Wright's most inflammatory rhetoric from the pulpit. Among the most remarked upon sound bites was Wright proclaiming "God damn America" for its racism. He also accused the government of flooding black neighborhoods with drugs. In a March 18 speech on race that was partly aimed at damage control, Obama described the history of injustice that fueled Wright's comments, while also condemning his pastor's statements and acknowledging the resentment of whites.
Shaun A. Casey, an Obama adviser and a Christian ethics professor at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, said the campaign will change nothing about its faith outreach because of the controversy.
"We're months and months away from the general election. I think that gives Sen. Obama time to lay out his own views," Casey said. "Over time, people will spend a lot more time listening to what Sen. Obama says than to a few well-chosen, cherry-picked video clips from his pastor."
But at least for now, the campaign is on the defensive.
No one expects Obama or Clinton to draw voters from the Christian right, especially considering the candidates' support for abortion rights.
Still, polls have found that younger evangelicals are less tied to the Republican Party than their parents have been. As a generation of old-guard Christian conservative leaders, such as the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, fade from the scene, some evangelicals are pushing for a broader agenda that includes environmental protection and fighting poverty. And Christian right activists remain wary of the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.
Democrats view this as a rare opening that could win them the White House. In a close general election, if the Democratic nominee can peel away even a small percentage of the traditional Christian vote, he or she could win the presidency. Continue >>
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"Obama says than to a few well-chosen, cherry-picked video clips from his pastor"..cherry picked? from an orchard of trees to choose from... it's been my experience as well as biblical truth that says that the more you do something the easier it becomes, for a "minister" or whatever to make statements like this unashamed and as passionately as he has without regard to repercussion shows that it isn't an isolated incident.....
"and NO ONE can say that at one point in their life they were not embarassed or discomforted by comments said by people close to them" there is a difference between one point in time of embarassment and a period of time those same words and thoughts are conveyed with no condemnation of them until it become public news and can be detrimental to one's campaign.
Oh, give it a BREAK!! McCain allegedly cheated on his wife, divorced, and married someone almost 20 yrs younger than him, but Obama, wow that's pushing it... Oh, but good grief Obama's pastor says something , Obama braves the embarassment and apologetically condems the man (and NO ONE can say that at one point in their life they were not embarassed or discomforted by comments said by people close to them), and now people just will not leave it alone! Move on to more important political issues, seriously.
It is shocking to read such bigoted comments by those that purport to be Christians. I expect many of you will be shocked when you find that heaven includes many who did not bear the title "Christian" on this Earth, but who are in fact children of God. Jesus' commandment is one of love and inclusion and peace. Bush did not espouse these beliefs by his acts. Obama has the policies which most mirror the teachings of Jesus than any other candidate. As to Wright's comments...didn't God punish Bablyon and those that gave themselves over to greed and godlessness.
Where did you get such lies? I'm having trouble where start with such misguided words.
1) 2 Peter 2: 5-6 God did not spare the ancient world but save Noah a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly. And turn the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example for all those who would live ungodly.
2) Jesus did not come to unite but to divide: Matthew 10:35-37
For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be those in how own household.
He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more that Me is not worthy of Me.
2. Obama is talking about another way into Heaven:
Acts: 4-12: Nor is there salvation in any other; for there is No ther name under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved.
Now unless you call God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit liars, you must be a believer.
So if Obama has led you to this conclusion then who are you following? LuvAll
Many will confess to be Christians but Jesus will tell some to depart because I know you not.
If one is truly on the inside of the Christian society in the U.S. he/she would know that it is God Himself who is helping those in the black and whites who are humble and tired of all the past mistrust. Obama or no one else is doing this. God, thru his Holy Spirit is doing it. Please look at the candidates for what they are and not what someone else is. The pastor in that case if the biggot. We need to look at the platform, experience and vision for the best candidate.
You are in error. Your pastor is the sheppard God has appointed to bring the word of God forth. He represent God in his sermons. If his message is unholy which is suppose to be spiritual, the people will be unholy if they continue to follow him. God has exposed his pastor to show you Obama's foundation and platform. The serpent (spiritual being) convinced Eve to sin against God.
LuvAll,
Your post is very disturbing as far as Christianity is concerned. You suggest that there is a right wing Christianity. This must mean that there is also a left wing Christianity as well. In Christianity there is no division, only in religion. But since you opened the door, your post suggests that you are speaking from a left wing perspective. Religion is the birthplace for denominational divisions. The tendency of denominational behavior is to observe one another, compare activities, and count heads. There is a competitive spirit to outdo the church down the street. Each denomination declares, “We're right, we've got it all together.” Although unsaid, the implication is that the others are wrong. As you suggest, we may not be talking about denominations in right and left but the principle is still the same. If the right needs to get it together, then it is implied in your post that the left has it all together. And as such I would use your comments,"remember what becomes of the church that purports to be righteous".
marteblackmon
It is not just the statements of Pastor Wright that are of great concern. It is also about the support given for preaching such things from the puplit. This election season has shown us some other ministers as well who have made statements just as bad as Pastor Wright.
What is done secretly is made open for all to see. The secular world now sees another form of Christianity, a form that says that it is ok for ministers to use the pulpit to spread hate.
I see no difference between this and similiar messages spread from the pulpits of other faiths.
Christians can no more point a finger at other faiths such as Islam until we clean up our own mess.
If one is truly on the inside of the Christian society in the U.S. he/she would know that it is God Himself who is helping those in the black and whites who are humble and tired of all the past mistrust. Obama or no one else is doing this. God, thru his Holy Spirit is doing it. Please look at the candidates for what they are and not what someone else is. The pastor in that case if the biggot. We need to look at the platform, experience and vision for the best candidate.
"Obama has the policies which most mirror the teachings of Jesus than any other candidate"
Do these include murdering millions of babies for the convenience of women? Did Jesus tolerate sin? Did Jesus aknowledge sin? Is there such a thing as sin? I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. I'm no Bush fan, but please, when you can justify infanticide in the name of "women's privacy", please don't preach to me about your "faith" and "christ-like" policy.
Read this:
www.dharmavision.com
It is shocking to read such bigoted comments by those that purport to be Christians. I expect many of you will be shocked when you find that heaven includes many who did not bear the title "Christian" on this Earth, but who are in fact children of God. Jesus' commandment is one of love and inclusion and peace. Bush did not espouse these beliefs by his acts. Obama has the policies which most mirror the teachings of Jesus than any other candidate. As to Wright's comments...didn't God punish Bablyon and those that gave themselves over to greed and godlessness. THe fact is that USA has not promoted policies that are in line with the teachings of Christ. In fact this society has been hedonistic. I don't believe God orchestrated 9/11 but I do believe it is partially a consequence of our hedonistic and Roman like dominance and control of the rest of the world. The Great Roman Empire crumbled and the USA is repeating history.
Right Wing Christianity is the antithesis of Christ's teachings. Christ was pretty clear on his commandment of love and inclusion and not judging. Wake up Right Wingers! Read Revelations...remember what becomes of the church that purports to be righteous.
Forgot to post that Obama also said he was sure his dead mother made it to heaven - even though she wasn't a believer.
Again, lack of judgement & understanding. There is only one true gospel of salvation.
If anyone is voting for him because they think he's a Christian, try again.
His actions (like his voting record on abortion & Partial Birth Abortion) deny it and his theology denies it.
Not everyone who says they are a Christian, is a Christian.
You can listen to this news & audio clip of him claiming Muslims & Jews who live moral lives are "children of God". God loves everyone, but that doesn't mean everyone is a "child of God".
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=73553
He should stay away from talking about the Christian faith, because it's obvious he doesn't know what he's talking about there.I think this whole mess with his "pastor" shows his lack of judgement and understanding, as well as his previous statement does. Either that or he is a liar.
As followers of Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit, true Christians say and pray “God Bless America,” and many are now saying and praying “God Please Help the US.” However, the Holy Spirit of God would never inspire a true follower of Jesus Christ to say or pray “God Damn American” in any context, much less as part of a taped public sermon.
Holy Scriptures say to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Reverend Wright obviously has a fiery spirit that is condemning at times, particuarly when he curses our nation in public sermons. It's certaintly not Christ-like or characteristic of the Holy Spirit.
Most of his life Senator Obama has trusted and tollerated this particular pastor. Although Reverend Wright is retiring, he will remain as Senior Pastor, and his replacement essentially agrees with him in spirit and truth. Senator Obama must agree with them in spirit, if not in truth.
There is reason to not trust the spirit in which Reverend Wright made such remarks, and so there is reason as well to question the spirit leading the youthfull Obama Hussein Barack as a professed Christian and prospective president of our nation. May God’s Holy Spirit be our guide. May God have mercy on those who preach "God Damn America" in any context; especially with a fiery, condemning spirit in a taped public sermon especially where children are involved.
Hope Page: http://itsallaboutjesusnotme.blogspot.com
"He attends Sunday worship and knows his Bible."
Umm, based on what is the author making this statement? So far, like every other politician who tries to pander to us "crazy" religious folk, I'm not sure he has one made one statement yet in this regard that would remotely lead me to believe he "knows his bible". Its not to say at all republicans have a corner on Christianity, in fact I think it amplifies the concept that simply saying one is a Christian and quoting the golden rule is really not what makes someone a Christian (which is a common thread in many republicans more than democrats - the latter seldom even try to pander).
Personally, I am about as tired of Obama trying to court evangelicals as I am republicans trying to court libs. Let's call it like it is and have the people vote.
Obama and MacCain, and W for that matter, when you start standing up against the senseless murder of literally millions of innocent babies for the convenience of their mother, then maybe your "faith" might be relevant to us that care about such things. The whole thing simply makes me think of James 2:18-19 for those of you who have a bible (maybe Obama et al can look this one up, or is this one too "obscure" too?)