The news media and political pundits have been dissecting the now infamous comments of Sen. Barack Obama in which he told a group in San Francisco that hard economic times explain why some people cling to religion, guns, and certain political convictions.
Sen. Obama was speaking at a private fundraising event, but his comments became public when leaked to the media. Sen. Hillary Clinton and a host of others accused Sen. Obama of elitism and being out of touch with ordinary Americans – charge that may well gain traction in the crucial days leading up to the Pennsylvania primary next Tuesday.
Take a look again at the words most often cited from Sen. Obama's comments:
"It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
I will let the political pundits have their day with this. My interest is theological, for Sen. Obama has given us a near-perfect expression of a functional view of religious belief. In other words, Sen. Obama said that "religion" is a coping mechanism for hard times – lumping religion with other issues his audience members were presumably to find strange and alien.
A functional view of belief assumes or "brackets" the question of whether the beliefs are true. One who holds to a purely functionalist view of religious conviction is not concerned with the truthfulness of these beliefs, but only with the effects the beliefs have on the believer, both privately and in social contexts.
No one but God knows Sen. Obama's heart, but we are left with his words. In this case, the words are very similar to what is so often heard from political figures. When speaking of their own faith they often speak of how it functions. Sen. Clinton spoke this way at the "Compassion Forum" at Messiah College on Sunday night, but we must note that Republicans often speak the same way – valuing "faith" as if faith has no object.
A functional view of belief appears when people speak of their beliefs or the beliefs of others in merely pragmatic form. It can be a way of avoiding the particularities of belief – speaking only of how their belief system functions in their lives. This function can be in terms of a coping mechanism, hope, comfort, moral guidance, or any number of effects.
In the early stages of modernity, many thinkers – assuming that there is no validity to religious beliefs in terms of truth – nevertheless noted what they described as its functions. Sigmund Freud detailed his psychiatric theory in Totem and Taboo. Karl Marx defined religious belief as "the opiate of the people," used by the politically powerful to oppress workers and keep them subservient. Other figures spoke of religious belief in more positive terms, describing its contributions to social order and cohesion.
In other words, functional views of religious belief are found among both conservatives and liberals. In one famous example, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican, conveyed a functional view of religious belief in an almost quintessential expression. Speaking on Flag Day in 1954, President Eisenhower said: "Our government makes no sense unless it is founded on a deeply felt religious faith–and I don't care what it is."
As presidential historian William Lee Miller once noted, Eisenhower was a "fervent believer in a very vague religion."
Christians should learn to detect a functional account of religious belief when listening to public figures speak. Liberals tend to speak in functional terms of meaning and purpose. Conservatives tend to speak functionally in terms of social order, stability, and morality.
None of these is a substitute for authentic Christianity – a faith that is predicated on being true – not merely meaningful or helpful.
Adapted from R. Albert Mohler Jr.'s weblog at www.albertmohler.com.
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R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. For more articles and resources by Dr. Mohler, and for information on The Albert Mohler Program, a daily national radio program broadcast on the Salem Radio Network, go to www.albertmohler.com. For information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to www.sbts.edu. Send feedback to mail@albertmohler.com. Original Source: www.albertmohler.com.
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I see Mr.Obama as a chamelon....he simply adapts to whatever the values of the group of people he's trying to win support for want to hear. He's a very intelligent man, who can speak eloquently, but he holds his cards very close to his chest.....
I think there is a public Obama who presents a set of views which the public finds favorable, and then there is the private man who has his views, which we know nothing about. That makes me very nervous....
Sen Obama would be an improvement over the war mongering fool that occupies the WH presently. Obama would have the good sense and moral character not to engage the US in another disastrous invasion of another country as bush & cheny have done. McCain may follow the same disaterous foreign poilcies of bush & cheney by invading Iran which would be a very bad idea.
lindaisaiah; Where is the truth in Obama's statement? Who, specifically, is he talking about that do these things?
"It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Cling to guns such as protecting the 2nd amendment? Cling to religion as protecting the 1st amendment? Anti-immigration as protect our borders and allow legal entry into our country Vs illegal entry?
Obama is very divisive and his tactics for class division come straight from the devilish spirit of the marxist Saul Alinsky.
What I do know about this man called Senator Barack Obama is that he has been anointed for the huge tasks that God have release for his assignment for this era. Prophet/ess have been crying out to America to change their hateful, seductive, lustful, loathing ways, etc. for many years and if they do not with this "wonderful new breathe of fresh wind" that Mr. Obama has ushered in (thru the Spirit), it well be too late (read the book of Jonah re Nineveh). I'm not ascribe to try to figure out why Mr. Obama said what he said about bitterness, religion, and the such, but why he said it is simply THE TRUTH!
Obama's religious worldview is that of a humanist along with the majority of democrats and many republicans. Those in power will instill their religious worldview on the minority through laws and regulations. Humanism is contrary to God's will for family, church and state. Our culture will accelerate its downward spiral by incorporating more humanist doctrines.
The truth is always bitter. He (Obama) as said the truth. Let us put sentiment apart. A lot of the so called Christians do not know the road to the church, excepts on christmas day and festivities. Many bear the names associated with Christ only on paper but not in character. Some becos they are economically stable, if you ask them to come to the church, they w'l look down on you as if you are nothing. But when things are out of hand for them, it is then they will know that there is a place called church. Obama is speaking the reality on ground, so leave him alone.
Ethan, you should know better than to make such a logical and well thought out argument here...
Really, while there are certainly righteous and morally upright religious individuals there are at least 2 misguided and hateful zealots for every positive example of religous individuals. Religion was the original cure-all. Charity, therapy and community service all in one. But nowadays, even looking around on these comment board you are just as likely to be apalled as you are inspired...
None of these is a substitute for authentic Christianity – a faith that is predicated on being true – not merely meaningful or helpful.
Mr. Mohler, I completely agree.
Although I highlighted this one specific comment, your entire writing is truth.
Functional vs Being True.
Thank you.
I think it should be pointed out that there is a logical disconnect between the way that many are characterizing Obama's remarks and what he actually said. What do I mean by this? Well, what he actually said was that people who are economically depressed often turn to religion. However, many are implying that he said that people turn to religion because they are economically depressed. These are not the same statements, and they have very different meanings.
I think this comment is exactly what a president should be saying. As a leader of a country containing many believers of all faiths it is important to think about religion in a functionalist view. As soon as he sides with one religion he is opening himself up to conflict and would not be a unifying symbol for a muliti-religious country. A close-minded person who doesn't understand that different faiths cause people to behave in different ways (in a functionalist sense) would be dangerous for the United States' safety. I really don't care what obama's personal beliefs are on religion, I'm just glad he is accepting of other religions.
The first thing I thought when I read about what he said was that his view of religion seemed rather Marxist. Like it's not something real, but just a tool people use as a coping mechanism. It makes me think that perhaps Obama is atheist as well. Wouldn't surprise me.
Your concept of "authentic Christianity" might miss the core of what it means to be a Christian. Does it mean Christianity is a mental ascent to a "belief" system? Or does it mean living an actionable life dedicated to serving society's marginalized and promoting social justice and peace? I know many people who have turned to religion or re-awakened to religion in hard-times. Christians are often called “believers”, as if believing in a set of statements is what it means to be Christian. You speak as if it is a bad thing to consider the effects religion has on the faithful. It is not wrong to expect religion would benefit us personally. More importantly, you failed to mention that when religion is practiced with tolerance and compassion for others - it benefits others in our publc sphere. The conservative vs. liberal "argument" is also quite tired.
When did America STOP being a FORGIVING sociaty? Last I checked America is built and proud of her christian values.This man Obama has appologized for his choice of words to discribe the obvious conditions of the economic situations of this country which undeniably are true. So can we forgive and forget and move on with a truthful non-partian politics and campaign that will bring A More Perfect Union. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS DIVINE HELP! on what is going on in-IRAQ, the ECONOMY,MORAL decadence in the society etc. We cannot be a nation of "DON'T WORRY, JUST BE HAPPY"