Obama's Next Church

OBAMA FAITH INFUSED INTO POLICIES

According to BEN SMITH-The conservative Evangelical biographer of George W. Bush and Tom DeLay has moved on to a new subject: Barack Obama. And his new book, due out this summer, may lend credibility to Senator Obama's bid to win Evangelical Christian voters away from the Republican Party.

The forthcoming volume from Stephen Mansfield, whose sympathetic "The Faith of George W. Bush" spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004, is titled "The Faith of Barack Obama." Its tone ranges from gently critical to gushing, and the author defends Obama-and even his controversial former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-from conservative critics, and portrays him as a compelling figure for Christian voters.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy," Mansfield, who described himself as a conservative Republican, said in a telephone interview. "They disagree with him on abortion, but they agree with him on poverty, on the war."

His book, provided exclusively to Politico by the publisher, focuses more on Obama's religious journey than his electoral prospects.

"For Obama, faith is not simply political garb, something a focus group told him he ought to try. Instead, religion to him is transforming, lifelong, and real," Mansfield writes, going on to compare Obama favorably to Christian Democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who he says erected a "wall of separation" between their religion and their governance.

By contrast, "Obama's faith infuses his public policy, so that his faith is not just limited to the personal realms of his life, it also informs his leadership," Mansfield writes.

The book is published by Thomas Nelson, the world's largest Christian publisher. It's due out August 5. "The Faith of Barack Obama" is expected to retail in Christian outlets and the Wal-Mart chain of stores, as well as secular bookstores. A motivational speaker and former pastor, Mansfield is the author of several books on faith as well as the co-author of former House Republican powerhouse Tom DeLay's 2007 book "No Retreat, No Surrender," a defense of his tarnished legacy sprinkled with fierce attacks on his opponents and on liberal causes.

Mansfield writes that Obama "is unapologetically Christian and unapologetically liberal." But he writes that in substance and in style, Obama holds an appeal to Evangelicals that Senator John McCain may lack.

He contrasted Obama's relative "fluency" with the language of religion-his campaign has outlined a pitch to the "Joshua Generation," a common term in Christian circles for younger Evangelicals-with the approach of his Republican rival.

"The McCain campaign is pretty clumsy when it comes to religion," he said, noting McCain's courtship, then renunciation, of two prominent Evangelical pastors, John Hagee and Rod Parsley.

In his Fathers Day speech at a Chicago church Sunday, Obama again spoke explicitly of his personal Christianity: "We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock, and for me that means building that house on the foundation of Jesus Christ."

Mansfield's book validates Obama's attempt-which began in earnest in his 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention-to provide a compelling public face to the nascent "Religious Left." In that speech, he proclaimed that "we worship an awesome God in the blue states," and Mansfield tracks his continuing attempts to contest the Republican hold on white Evangelical voters.

One notable moment came in 2006 when Obama appeared at Reverend Rick Warren's megachurch beside GOP Senator Sam Brownback.

"Welcome to my house," Brownback told Obama on stage.

"This is myhouse too," Obama responded. "This is God's house."

Obama, Mansfield writes, "made it clear to all that he [will] not be moved from his rightful place in the Christian fold."

Obama's Christianity, however, has been under attack on two fronts this campaign season. The first is from a false, but widely held, belief that he is a Muslim. Mansfield dismisses that charge, then dwells at length on Obama's controversial church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

Mansfield said in the interview that he entered Trinity having heard "that Obama's church was a cult, something un-Christian, that Reverend Wright was a nut," but emerged with the view that it is "a pretty solid Christian church."

His warm description of the church reflects that view.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy."

By Ben Smith
Copyright 2008 POLITICO

OBAMA FAITH INFUSED INTO POLICIES

According to BEN SMITH-The conservative Evangelical biographer of George W. Bush and Tom DeLay has moved on to a new subject: Barack Obama. And his new book, due out this summer, may lend credibility to Senator Obama's bid to win Evangelical Christian voters away from the Republican Party.

The forthcoming volume from Stephen Mansfield, whose sympathetic "The Faith of George W. Bush" spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004, is titled "The Faith of Barack Obama." Its tone ranges from gently critical to gushing, and the author defends Obama-and even his controversial former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-from conservative critics, and portrays him as a compelling figure for Christian voters.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy," Mansfield, who described himself as a conservative Republican, said in a telephone interview. "They disagree with him on abortion, but they agree with him on poverty, on the war."

His book, provided exclusively to Politico by the publisher, focuses more on Obama's religious journey than his electoral prospects.

"For Obama, faith is not simply political garb, something a focus group told him he ought to try. Instead, religion to him is transforming, lifelong, and real," Mansfield writes, going on to compare Obama favorably to Christian Democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who he says erected a "wall of separation" between their religion and their governance.

By contrast, "Obama's faith infuses his public policy, so that his faith is not just limited to the personal realms of his life, it also informs his leadership," Mansfield writes.

The book is published by Thomas Nelson, the world's largest Christian publisher. It's due out August 5. "The Faith of Barack Obama" is expected to retail in Christian outlets and the Wal-Mart chain of stores, as well as secular bookstores. A motivational speaker and former pastor, Mansfield is the author of several books on faith as well as the co-author of former House Republican powerhouse Tom DeLay's 2007 book "No Retreat, No Surrender," a defense of his tarnished legacy sprinkled with fierce attacks on his opponents and on liberal causes.

Mansfield writes that Obama "is unapologetically Christian and unapologetically liberal." But he writes that in substance and in style, Obama holds an appeal to Evangelicals that Senator John McCain may lack.

He contrasted Obama's relative "fluency" with the language of religion-his campaign has outlined a pitch to the "Joshua Generation," a common term in Christian circles for younger Evangelicals-with the approach of his Republican rival.

"The McCain campaign is pretty clumsy when it comes to religion," he said, noting McCain's courtship, then renunciation, of two prominent Evangelical pastors, John Hagee and Rod Parsley.

In his Fathers Day speech at a Chicago church Sunday, Obama again spoke explicitly of his personal Christianity: "We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock, and for me that means building that house on the foundation of Jesus Christ."

Mansfield's book validates Obama's attempt-which began in earnest in his 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention-to provide a compelling public face to the nascent "Religious Left." In that speech, he proclaimed that "we worship an awesome God in the blue states," and Mansfield tracks his continuing attempts to contest the Republican hold on white Evangelical voters.

One notable moment came in 2006 when Obama appeared at Reverend Rick Warren's megachurch beside GOP Senator Sam Brownback.

"Welcome to my house," Brownback told Obama on stage.

"This is myhouse too," Obama responded. "This is God's house."

Obama, Mansfield writes, "made it clear to all that he [will] not be moved from his rightful place in the Christian fold."

Obama's Christianity, however, has been under attack on two fronts this campaign season. The first is from a false, but widely held, belief that he is a Muslim. Mansfield dismisses that charge, then dwells at length on Obama's controversial church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

Mansfield said in the interview that he entered Trinity having heard "that Obama's church was a cult, something un-Christian, that Reverend Wright was a nut," but emerged with the view that it is "a pretty solid Christian church."

His warm description of the church reflects that view.

"Young Evangelicals are saying, 'Look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black-and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy."

By Ben Smith
Copyright 2008 POLITICO

A humble suggestion

Senator Obama may find the quiet atmosphere of a Benedictine monastery an ideal place to spend time alone with God and his family. Benedictine spirituality is very Christ centered and doesn't have Marian devotion, so making the shift from a Protestant background won't be difficult. Gregorian chant is wonderful music, the monks pray five times a day and celebrate Mass everyday. Benedictines have a reputation for being the guardians of learning and culture in Europe during politically troubled times, hence St Benedict was declared the patron saint of Europe. Benedictines have groomed nobility, so it is fit to provide spiritual support to a President if he should desire it.

From the website of a Benedictine Monastery in Washington:

Every Christian is called to love God above all and to love one's neighbor as oneself. Many lay people have found the way of St. Benedict as described here to be an excellent and rewarding way to live out these great commandments. A commitment to prayer, to stability, to growth in Christian understanding must of course be expressed according to one's circumstances. This commitment, whether one is a monk or lay person, gives shape and direction to life, to life today with all its complexity and intensity. At heart we are all called to live like Jesus, who "went about doing good." As much as monks lay members of the Church can find "the heart of the matter," the heart of our life in the heart of God revealed in Jesus Christ. They find peace, not in flight from life but by embracing life, in all its complexity, with the help of God's Spirit, leading them from death to life, causing all to sing in wonder: "Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds."

http://www.stanselms.org/Pages/index2.htm

The Guestmaster St. Anselm's Abbey
4501 S. Dakota Avenue N. E. Washington, DC 20017
telephone: 202-269-2300

President John F Kennedy was Catholic. There are Catholic politicians. They must have figured out a successful way to be politically active and to keep their Bishops from refusing them Communion!

GeorgiaSon: I vote for the Jewish option...

June 4, 2008 6:20 AM

In a Catholic Mass the Jewish Scriptural base is always covered: there is an Old Testament reading (which gives background to the Gospel reading with the message of Jesus Himself) and a (responsorial) Psalm. There are two New Testament readings, the second reading (always read before the first reading!) is from the letters of the Apostles. The first three readings are done by lay people. The most important reading is from the Gospel and it is read by the priest celebrating the Mass.

To a Christian, Judaism is the Bible minus the New Testament.

If the priest preaches a bad sermon a Catholic may go out for a breath of fresh air during the sermon! If the parish priest is in the habit of preaching bad sermons on a regular basis it is possible to come to Mass after the sermon is over. Maybe. The reading for the Sunday can easily be accessed on the Internet. Many Catholic sites have good reflections on the Bible readings published on their websites that can fill the gap for bad sermons. These are some of the advantages to being a member of a two thousand year old worldwide Church which no other Christian denomination can match.

GeorgiaSon: I vote for the Jewish option...

June 4, 2008 6:20 AM

In a Catholic Mass the Jewish Scriptural base is always covered: there is an Old Testament reading (which gives background to the Gospel reading with the message of Jesus Himself) and a (responsorial) Psalm. There are two New Testament readings, the second reading (always read before the first reading!) is from the letters of the Apostles. The first three readings are done by lay people. The most important reading is from the Gospel and it is read by the priest celebrating the Mass.

To a Christian, Judaism is the Bible minus the New Testament.

If the priest preaches a bad sermon a Catholic may go out for a breath of fresh air during the sermon! If the parish priest is in the habit of preaching bad sermons on a regular basis it is possible to come to Mass after the sermon is over. Maybe. The reading for the Sunday can easily be accessed on the Internet. Many Catholic sites have good reflections on the Bible readings published on their websites that can fill the gap for bad sermons. These are some of the advantages to being a member of a two thousand year old worldwide Church which no other Christian denomination can match.

Maybe he can become Orthodox. People would scratch their heads, nobody would know what to say, and everyone could then move on without mixing any more religion with politics. And the food at the church fairs would be infinitely better...

Maybe this song can convince you that going to church can be a refreshing experience. Although I don't fully subscribe to it's contemporary style, the chorus portion is passable. Listen to this link :

http://www.imeem.com/people/UjJk48e/music/_PbZMKaO/michael_w_smith_micheal_w_smith_holy_holy_holy1mp3/

You guys are missing a lot both here on earth and the coming next life -- The LIFE which made this life into being. NO SOIL CAN TALK OR BREATHE UNLESS AN INTELLIGENT BEING TOUCHED THE SOIL.

BE CAREFUL GUYS.

****

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Maybe this song can convince you that going to church can be a refreshing experience. Although I don't fully subscribe to it's contemporary style, the chorus portion is passable. Listen to this link :

http://www.imeem.com/people/UjJk48e/music/_PbZMKaO/michael_w_smith_micheal_w_smith_holy_holy_holy1mp3/

You guys are missing a lot both here on earth and the coming next life -- The LIFE which made this life into being. NO SOIL CAN TALK OR BREATHE UNLESS AN INTELLIGENT BEING TOUCHED THE SOIL.

BE CAREFUL GUYS.

****

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

All religions are POISON.

Obama cannot go secular until he has Hillary Clinton exorcized.

Again, Obama should learn the "fems" (flaws, errors, muck and stench) of all religions and he would then fast become a "secularist".

I vote for the Jewish option. Remember Sammy Davis, Jr.? Had a great run with that approach.

Senator Obama could ask Tony Blair why he converted to Catholicism after having been a member of the official Church of England.

Why not good music sans the satanic doctrine? There are churches there that offers both - good music and true christian doctrine.

*****

Obama Well Wisher wrote "As to your next Church, if only the Catholics would have you!"

BECOME CATHOLIC? HOLY COW !!! Holy water, holy bread, holy rosary, holy father,... EVERYTHING IS HOLY but you seldom see them reading the TRUE HOLY BIBLE.

They don't believe the Bible in its entirety so they make their own HOLY DOGMAS like priests absolving sins WHICH IS WORSE THAN ALL THE MISTAKES REV WRIGHT HAD COMMITTED.

Sprinkle those babies with "holy" water and then he or she is ready to go to heaven. HOLY BALONEY AND HOLY BEADS. WHERE ARE THE BRAINS OF THESE PEOPLE?

"father priest, forgive me for I have sinned."

The father priests replies "your sins are forgiven. go and sin no more ". WOW, IT'S LIKE SATAN SPEAKING. WHEN DID IT OCCUR THAT A FELLOW MAN CAN ABSOLVE SIN?

The Vatican is the seat of Satan and it's a pity that 70 million Americans are really that stupid not to know it.

Washington National Cathedral, the Church recommended by Sally Quinn, is an American politician's dream Church, perfect in every way.

For a taste of the good music in the Catholic Church in Washington

http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/pp.asp?c=etITK6OTG&b=4103551

Worth a visit

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is numbered among the ten largest churches in the world...

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located at 400 Michigan Avenue in Northeast Washington. Adjacent to the campus of The Catholic University of America, it is minutes from the Capital Beltway (Interstates 95 & 495) and downtown Washington. Ample free parking is available...

http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/pp.asp?c=etITK6OTG&b=107986

I believe all this catholic stand against abortion and contraception is not about "holiness" but more of their true father's (the devil) catholic cycle scheme.

THE CATHOLIC CYCLE

In one third world country where population explosion has become a major problem, Catholic chapels or centers offer free operation to untie the fallopian tubes of mothers after indoctrinating them that it's a SIN.

This devilish Church invent their own doctrines so parents would produce more children despite their abject poverty. With more extra children, they are forced to raise them with no proper education and decent meals and most of all, no future.

They then teach these poor people that their government is the cause of their poverty due to corruption but lo and behold those same government personnel are usually "devout catholics".

Some revolt (with the church's help of course) which cause more poverty and this has become a "CATHOLIC CYCLE" which I presume is routinely duplicated around the world.

To escape poverty, many go abroad adding more economic pressure to their countries of destination.

Catholic countries not only over populate, they produce extortionist rebels too. Had you wondered why there are no marxist rebels in Islamic countries but there are so many in catholic countries? It's because many of their priests support that ideology. They breed fast and then kill each other fast too. WHAT A CYCLE.

There are many things this church does which is outside our scope of detection. The devil could be using a much bigger cycle that is harder to detect. Consciously or unconsciously, all catholics is part of that grand cycle.

Bgone, Walter Disney was once accused of being anti-Semitic. Actually he is not and maybe you should reconcile that info to your claim and check out your sources.

He has many Jewish friends but it doesn't say he is Jewish.

Is this another atheist lie akin to their claimiing of Einstein as one of their own?

Disney ABHORRED the ATHEIST COMMUNISTS. For him communists are trouble makers. For me, they are trouble makers because they are ATHEISTS. ATHEISM AND TROUBLE ARE TWINS.

Points in favor of the Catholic Church:

The music is good; different styles available to suit every musical taste.

The Mass, the ritual of which can be a sacred and solemn experience, is the same everywhere in the world. The Bible readings are pre-selected for the whole Church worldwide; the priest has the freedom to preach only within the context of the reading.

The sermon is not the high point of the Mass. It is possible to tune out a bad sermon completely or pay no attention to the priest as a person and yet have the satisfaction of having attended a full religious service.

The Catholic priest is expected to be only a moral voice not a partisan supporter of any politician. The Church is active in all areas of life as a Christian denomination - love for Jesus in selfless action.

The Church has extremely liberal believers in its flock.

There are different styles of spirituality to choose from in personal worship.

Deeply prayerful and spiritually insightful monks hidden away in monasteries with no worldly agenda can serve as confessors and spiritual guides.

Two thousand year history with the very good and the very bad.

Downside:

Some Church doctrines are conservative and the local Bishop could determine whether a politician may be refused Communion if the politician enacted or supported secular laws which disagree with the laws of the Catholic church.

Real smart spiderman2:

Walt Disney, deceased, was a Jew. Wanna give the Marx brothers a try?

Obama's next prayer meeting may well be held in the oval office at the white house and he'll be doing the preaching. Has he been burned enough by religion yet? Will he invite Reverend Jeremiah Wright to hold a prayer meeting like Bush did Graham?

How right you are Obama Well Wisher:

70 million Catholics? Will Obama have them and not will the Catholic church have him? Will the bishops who worked so hard for civil rights long side the Baptist ministry make a vote for Obama a sin like they did for Kerry? How many Catholics will GM lay off when they close the 4 plants they announced today? Religion is good fer ya, stupid. How many will find out the Bible is a hoax, see the error of listening to Lucifer's agents and never go to church again like that hoax-buster.org fellow?

Po evangelicals, they is lost their chimp at the rudder. McCain just ain't righteous enough. His wife owns a beer distributorship, makes Pat Robertson foam at the mouth. I've seen better heads on a pitcher of beer than Pat's at her place. Lucifer does pay well but not to auto makers just those leading the multitudes to the house of the father of Jesus, hell -like sacred scriptures tells those that can read.

Jacques Berlinerblau, it's not the God vote. It's the Lucifer's ministry vote. Have people have been burned enough yet is the real question.

The faint sound of history can be heard. It's the silent sound of the silken slipper sort of slithering down the marble staircase drowned by the sound of hobnail boots ascending it. Will Lucifer's chorus be loud enough to drown it out? Those fancy duds, vestments worn by the pope are made out of silk? His shoes too?

Obama Well Wisher wrote "As to your next Church, if only the Catholics would have you!"

BECOME CATHOLIC? HOLY COW !!! Holy water, holy bread, holy rosary, holy father,... EVERYTHING IS HOLY but you seldom see them reading the TRUE HOLY BIBLE.

They don't believe the Bible in its entirety so they make their own HOLY DOGMAS like priests absolving sins WHICH IS WORSE THAN ALL THE MISTAKES REV WRIGHT HAD COMMITTED.

Sprinkle those babies with "holy" water and then he or she is ready to go to heaven. HOLY BALONEY AND HOLY BEADS. WHERE ARE THE BRAINS OF THESE PEOPLE?

"father priest, forgive me for I have sinned."

The father priests replies "your sins are forgiven. go and sin no more ". WOW, IT'S LIKE SATAN SPEAKING. WHEN DID IT OCCUR THAT A FELLOW MAN CAN ABSOLVE SIN?

The Vatican is the seat of Satan and it's a pity that 70 million Americans are really that stupid not to know it.

Well, here's MY INTERPRETATION of what Obama MEANT:

"My -- again what I want to do in church is I want to be able to take Michelle and my girls, sit in a pew quietly. AN HOUR OF PEACE AND QUIET WILL BE LIKE HEAVEN ON EARTH FOR ME THESE DAYS. Hopefully get some nice music AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE TO SING IN THE CHOIR, some good reflection AND CATCH UP ON SOME SLEEP DURING THE SERMON...AFTER THIS CAMPAIGN, I CAN SLEEP WITH MY EYES OPEN, praise God, thank Him for all of the blessings He has given our family, I AM THE CANDIDATE, AFTER ALL, put some money in the collection plate JUST LIKE I'M GOING TO PUT MORE TAXPAYER MONEY BACK INTO SUPPORTING SCIENCE AND SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY, maybe afterwards go out AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE and grab some brunch INCLUDING A FEW BLOODY MARYS, have my girls go to Sunday school BECAUSE THAT MEANS EVEN MORE QUIET TIME FOR ME AND MICHELLE, AND GET HOME IN TIME TO WATCH MOST OF THE FOOTBALL GAME ON TV. That's what I am looking for."

In other words, Sen Obama wants to treat Sundays and churchgoing like 90% of his fellow Americans treat Sundays and churchgoing.

Congratulations Senator Obama for winning the nomination of the Democratic Party and being on your way to making history as the first black President of the United States!

As to your next Church, if only the Catholics would have you! With a membership of seventy million Americans, one billion+ worldwide...

To-be-President Barak Obama should think many times before considering membership in ---

http://home.snafu.de/tilman/politics.html

This piece is absolutely disgusting. You, Berlinblau, are actually coaching Obama on how to be an expedient, calculating poltical opportunist. Join a church of a particular demographic just to secure their votes. That is the worst bit of journalism I have ever read. And it is also an insult to the populations (working class whites, Jews, etc.) that you think they would fall for those kind of calculations instead of seeing it precisely for what it is.

What is even more disgusting to me, as a black woman, is that eurocentric journalists like yourself forget that black people are also watching Obama, and weighing him carefully. You forget that some of us are taking note of how quickly he will denounce and distance himself from black leaders to secure white approval and white votes. Obviously, this has no relevance whatsoever to you. Obviously, you don't have the capacity to acknowledge that most black people, even though they disagreed with Rev. Wright's timing, agreed with most of what he said, and would not take too kindly to having him "ripped" on Obama's way out the door, as you suggested.

What matters most to you is that white and Jewish voters are appeased. To hell with black people and their sensibilities, just so these other demographics get the dramatic spectacle they need to ensure them that all is well with their white supremacist world. Like I said, you are beyond disgusting.

RE: Obama's problem with whites
1. White women resent Obama for usurping the election from Hillary.
2. Jews are aware of Obama's ties to Louis Farrakhan.
3. Obama insulted blue-collar whites with his "cling to guns or religion" remark.

Obama cannot win because of himself.

RE: Obama's problem with whites
1. White women resent Obama for usurping the election from Hillary.
2. Jews are aware of Obama's ties to Louis Farrakhan.
3. Obama insulted blue-collar whites with his "cling to guns or religion" remark.

Obama cannot win because of himself.

Bgone wrote "A theme park like Disneyland,..." (He encourages people to go to disney instead of going to church)

Disneyland was built by a christian churchgoer. Atheists should stay at their homes instead and lock up their doors. They haven't done anything except create trouble like espousing communism and some dumb theories like soil turning into brains all by itself.

If they are tasked to build a disneyland of their own, they would probably form mickey mouses made up of CLAY and hope that it becomes alive thru time. Just thru the process of time without intelligent input.

DUMB FOREVER AND DUMBED ALL THE WAY.

Pinky and Brain are genetically enhanced laboratory mice who reside in a cage in the Acme Labs research facility. Brain devises a new plan for the two mice (led by Brain) to take over the world, which ultimately ends in failure.

Bush and Chaney are genetically enhanced laboratory mice with a plan to take over the world that is ending in failure.

He took the right first step, get the hell out of church. The next step is to find something for he, his wife and girls to do besides go to church come Sunday before the nice brunch afterwards. Maybe just go straight to brunch? A theme park like Disneyland, the mall even will get him much larger and friendlier crowds. Mickey Mouse won't say anything for him to apologize for or threaten his chances of being elected president. Mice are a lot smarter than preachers or the dummies that put money on their plates.

Religion is the great enemy of democracy. Mice have never attempted to take over a government or even control the outcome of an election.

You missed the most likely of new churches to join: the Catholic Church that first hired him and with whose social teaching he agrees. Come to think of it, the bishops in the RC church are likely to denounce him.

As I understand it, Sen. Obama has resigned from Trinity UCC in Chicago. If he would like to continue in the UCC tradition, there are several local UCC churches that he and Michelle may consider. One nutty pastor in Chicago notwithstanding, the UCCs seem like pretty welcoming folks.

Or, like a previous poster says, he could join the Unitarian Universalist Church. They also are a proud American tradition - with the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Susan B. Anthony, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Paul Revere, et al.

What Obama was talking about is true for many Americans; that church is a way for people to bond with God in their own way.

For many, too much emphasis is placed on interacting with the other congregants and having an "experience" with bells and whistles and whooping and such.

That is not religion. That is entertainment.

Good luck in your search, Obama.

There is only one church that I know of that is all inclusive, and that is Glide Memorial in San Francisco. While the church is truly progressive, and often speaks on subjects considered more social than religious, it is a true success. There would never be anyone ever turned away, it is an all-inclusive family. Equality reigns at this church, whether you are Black, White, Asian, Latino, Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Transvestite, homeless, or rich. No one cares what you do, those titles i.c., are unimportant. Equally unimportant is dress, the church feels it is another method to label and marginalize people. I would say that the talks or sermons are more about "human" issues, the way we live our lives, and the way we treat others and that includes our earth.
The wonderful thing is that everyone who attends are on the same page most of the time, and therefore there is an embracing of the ideas and messages that this church brings which is unique, and yet somehow simple.
Is it perfect? No, but the wonderful thing about all involved, is the love of challenge to make things better.
If you saw the movie with Will Smith, where he is homeless with a young son in San Francisco, that true story was an example about how Glide brings out the best in every human being and the church which was involved in that true story was Glide Memorial.
Isn't that how God would want us to act, and isn't that the type of message that a church should be sending?
Try looking up Glide Memorial on the internet, and you will find out what a church should look like.
It's about sharing kindness and love, about helping those who need help, it's about realizing that there is racism, classism, sexism, etc., in this wonderful country & how we can go about healing it.
Just because it is wonderful in many ways, what is truly the most valuable is that it never stops trying to improve itself and the lives of others.
As you can tell I am a member who had to relocate to another area of California. To say I miss the love shared in just this one space, cannot begin to express my feelings. It is the people, who come with all their flaws and attributes which make Glide the church it is. It is a church of the people, reaching out to each other.
During a sermon, perhaps from a visiting minister, have I heard something socially distasteful, probably yes, but I am not going to let that tarnish my view of such a phenomenal church. We aren't meant to be robots agreeing on everything,neither are we clones,looking all alike and having the same life experiences, but how are you ever going to experience different concepts and other's views if you close you mind and your heart to others. This church saves peoples physical lives as well as their spiritual lives, and that is the reason for it's existence and it's success. It promotes programs for the homeless, spousal abuse,unemployment,drug abuse, spiritual guidance, and anything that will give hope to all. It feeds thousands,giving them dignity so they can find their own resources for their own success.
Many have tried to label Glide as "Black", as the founding minister, Cecil Williams, is black. However, the other founding minister is his wife Jan, and she is Asian. Some have labeled this church as radical and progressive, one which it's member fully embrace. Glide is like no other church I have ever come across, but I am filled with hope, that the vision of what being a church means and how it is defined changes.
To understand a church like Glide is to understand what it means to feel safe as a human being. There is a family without judgment, while at the same recognizing each others experiences and differences and embracing them.
I understand the anger of Rev. Wright and his members, what I don't understand is the way they go about healing that anger. Isn't that what a church is suppose to be, a place of healing?
I understand the need for the church to be a place where those who have felt discrimination can express their hurt. I would recommend that while it is important that a church be a place of refuge, it also has to be place of healing.
The success of Glide is that it brings together all different kinds of human beings, each coming with their own "damaged hearts", and it is in that bonding and affirming each other that the actualization of each of us is possible.My fault with Rev. Wright and the church is the issue of only listening to the problems and not being the problem-solvers, especially where it involves race issues, in fact he and others have chosen instead to "fan the fires." If we as a country, are to be successful in the integration of all beings, the first place that should bring a real healing, it is the churches. Is your church segregated by race, class,age,sex,or sexual orientation? If so, it is not fulfilling it's role as spiritual leader and healer of all human beings.
If your message is spiritual healing, sharing God's word, and love of each other as human beings, does it matter if the person doing it is a billionaire, or homeless, or does the prejudice of the church and it's members prevent this.
People need to face the real need to reach out to each other, for indeed that is the real message of God.

From Trinity to Unitarianism. LOL! That would be something! ;D "Secret Muslim" anyone?

I have an even better idea. Have him start attending a Unitarian Universalist congregation. We have some Christians, some Jews, some atheists/agnostics, some Buddhist, some pagans, etc. While we are mostly liberal Democrats, there's no political litmus test for joining (unlike the Catholics who seem to be going toward prohibiting communion for anyone voting for a pro-choice candidate).

We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, compassion, social justice, and taking care of the planet. We have no historical scripture or prescribed belief in the supernatural, much less the Trinity, but we do believe that people are entitled to search for truth and meaning in any way they choose---as long as the first resort in studying questions about the natural world is reason and/or science.

Unitarian Universalism would welcome Barack Obama. And there are some great congregations in DC!

Last anonymous was me. Forgot the name.

@ Alberta Heim

Read again… and try not to SCREAM. It makes you look like a nutcase believer. (I'm not saying that you are, though.)

@ ONE FOR THE ONION

Believe it or not, I did get the irony, even the occasional cynicism creeping up between the lines in terms of modern politics.

But that doesn't mean that I have to *share* the author's irony.

FIRST OFF I DONT KNOW WHERE YOU PEOPLE ARE GETTING YOUR QUOTES FROM THE BIBLE. JESUS WAS NOT INTO POLITICS GIVE UNTO TO CAESAR WAS IS CAESAR AND GOD WHAT IS GOD IN OTHER WORDS GIVE CAESAR THE TAXES OF THE CITY AND YOUR SOUL TO GOD. JESUS WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN THE SOUL AND NOT MONEY. WHEN PRECHED HE PRECHED TO THE POPELE WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POLTICS. SO YES POLTICS SHOULD BE SEPREATED FROM STATE AND RELGION. NOBODY TELLS ME WHO TO VOTE FOR NO CHURCH NO FRIEND MY MIND ALREADY MADE UP AND IT IS NOT OBAMA HE THANK WRIGHT AND THAT PRIEST.

We know about Obama's ex-pastor and ex-priest friend. We never hear about the rabbis (orthodox and hassidic) who denounce Obama constantly because he is not a Likudnik. Send some to those little synagogues in Brooklyn and elsewhere and you may be surprised a bit.

Candide: Do you even know any white women? I (as a white woman) have never had a rape fear/fantasy of any man, black or white -- and I've been raped. Obama is intelligent, well-spoken, handsome, charming, and happens to be black. You, on the other hand, are an ignorant racist.

A measure of convenience. Obviously not very good "foresight" on his part. Obama should have seen that to be a problem from the start. If you belong to a church, you would and should know what's going on in the church (especially since he wasn't not in the U.S. Senate when Rev. Wright was preaching his infamous post 9-11 sermon). Basically typical Politician and of course its even more a pie in the face for one who claims to be different. Bottom line, he's the same as every other politician. He just know how to change his rhetoric, but his actions give him away. Unfortunately most fevered supporters of his pay attention to his words more than to his actions.

This article is hilarious!

To those of you posting criticisms of this author's suggestions, please read the article again. It's satire, intended to be ironic. Try reading it again with that assumption. You might actually get a kick out of it, as I have.

6/3/08

Hello Mr. Berlinerblau:

I've read your piece with interest since I'm involved with a theology school and regularly attend a church in Cambridge. I also have a second home and life in Canada where the church certainly exists but within something of a secular society. Here religion is present but never seen as a central focus in the political arena which seems to work well there.

Though there is a tendency to speak of America as a Christian nation the reality is that it was a mixed bag even in Jamestown at the outset and is now presently exceedingly varied as it is up north. Therefore the states are less a melting pot and more a tossed salad approaching the mosaic Canada considers itself.

It is this America that Mr. Obama if he is elected will be leading come January. It seems to me that one very important part of what he does is to allow his faith to inform him within this context of a society that is both multicultural and secular as well as religious. From all I can tell he would seem to be very well equipped critically to lead us well in this respect.

Hopefully the new church or direction he and his family select will allow him to act out the collective and empathetic qualities of his faith at it's best in pro-action and service to others. This it seems to me in fair measure what the life and mission of Jesus was all about.

Peter Barkley

I'll mind my church business and he can mind his.
What Bill did with that "girl" was his business.

As a serious comment I'd like to add this:

as much as I (as a Roman Catholic) would welcome Barack in my Church, it's the totally wrong approach to even ponder the thought of Obama switching denominations or even religions, which Mr. Berlinerblau must be criticized for. He doesn't seem to be a very religious person, if he thinks that religions can/could/might/should be discarded and donned just like that, just for political conveniences.

Maybe becoming a Jew is something different, because in a way it's like changing citizenship, because Judaism is not *only* a religion, at least in its original construct. But Christian religions are missionary religions. You're never born (or even "reborn") a Christian, a Christian religion is no given biological and hereditary fact, because you are baptized, which means you swear an oath, a religious pledge of allegiance, you enter a relationship of obligation, which is one of the original meanings of the Latin "religio" by the way.

If Obama actually switched his denomination or even religion, he would lose all credibility. Because what would that tell us about the person Barack Obama? It would seem like he would not even be able or willing to fulfill his religious responsibilities, respect his engagement with his god and his religion, and respect the duties that come with it, namely staying with it, no matter what. If a politician is not even able to keep his religious sh*t together, it would tell a lot of concerned voters that he would never be able to face the political challenges. He would not seem integral, steadfast and honest.

But only leaving his church (that means the building, the congregation and community) is something different. So I guess Obama should stick with his current mainstream Protestant denomination and look for a new congregation near Pennsylvania Avenue after he has been elected. What's wrong with that?

Great article! So that's what church is for ... to sit peacefully, hear nice music, then go for brunch. Oh, I forgot ... and thank God and put a few coins (of my $4 million income) onto the collection plate.

Ain't life grand?

Secularism, black liberation theology, gospel of wealth, eschatology.

By the time theologists are finished with it the Holy Bible has been bashed to pieces and is unrecognizable.

I go by the bible not some cold-hearted academic with a bunch of degrees.

Jesus is love, forgive your enemies and learn the art of war no more.

Obama should sign up with Ted Haggard's church. He helped GWB get elected. Plus, I hear new members get a free massage too!

He needs a totally boring church with a totally uncontroversial minister. While the suggestion of a Trappist monk who has taken a vow of silence is a bit extreme, the minister should be so middle-of-the-road that nobody has ever heard him say anything objectionable about anything or anyone more complex than a cockroach. Going Jewish is jumping the shark, of course, but going ecumenical isn't. Also, finding a church with black, white and all shades in between is a good idea. The church will have to do outreach to theh community around it in DC, run classes in parenting or something like that, have a couple of Weight Watchers classes meeting in the church hall and have a nice lady teaching Sunday school to the kids.

After about two years of that, during which time Obama will learn the joy of dozing through sermons, maybe the public will forgive and forget Wright. Also, Obama's political advisors will have to schedule him for a trip to another city if anyone controversial is invited to preach from the pew of his new church.

I'm still waiting for someone to prove the assumptions made in the media. 20 yrs membership doesn't mean Obama faced 20 yrs of the Rev Wright we witnessed and only the side some are willing to pay attention to which was 10 secs.

I don't agree with the AIDS thing, but Rev Wright explained his sermon word for word on PBS before the fiasco he demonstrated at the press club.
That PBS special he explained his biblical references and how the words were from the bible.
But again, this was a minister. I never agreed with everything of the ministers in my history.

The recent mocking of Hillary in my opinion has some truth to it if you remove the racist remarks.
And he was one of many priest going out nationwide on that Sunday to address race so I think this is why he tossed it in.
But remember, Hillary was all but nominated before the race even began. So did she feel entitled? Why did Bill have to speak after she lost in SC? She doesn't acknowledge defeats to Obama, but Obama acknowledges defeats to her.
Lets not ignore the entire story here.

Catholics have known priest for more than 20 yrs and find out they molested someone and yet we don't associate their character with them.

Finding a new church home is hard. Will he have to vet them like he does his staff to make sure there is no history of the church that will tossed in his face?

Personally, I'd like to visit the church before making such a negative assessment that so many have leaped to make about the congregation.
One because I know that style of preaching involves a lot of theatrics, if I may call it that, to get across a message and if you weren't their for the wind up you won't understand the height of the message or the winding down.

VOTE OBAMA!!!!

Barack should become a Catholic! Didn't the Liberation Theology movement originate in that church (in Latin America I believe)? Catholics believe that our Savior Jesus will ask each of us one day whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the imprisioned. "When you did it for the least of my people, you did it for me." Plus, he seems to understand, unlike some democrats, the tragic nature of abortion. Finally, there are lots of Catholic voters out there, and we'd love to have you!

ON THE MAIN ARTICLE ITSELF:

Where should Obama go in religious terms? Has the author been living in a dark cave the past few months? Obama's movement is more than just standard-political, it's very similar to the founding of a Church, a spiritual movement. It may be a coincidence, but his slogan of "hope" came at roughly the same time when the Pope published his encyclical SPE SALV ("saved by hope"). Some commentators have already made the Messianic comparison, so if there's any religion, any religion at all, that Obama should switch to, it's the original one, the one that already has a Messiah, namely the Roman Catholic church.

But he doesn't need that. He's got his own spiritual movement, which by the way sheds some light on the equivocal argument that religion/faith and politics don't go together. They always did go together, and it seems that this still applies in modern times. Obama is the living proof of that, far beyond the merely calculating statements by other politicians on their faith… like the current "born-again" preznit.

He should name Rick Warren his interm pastor. That would really save Obama.

It is imperative that the Obama family are open to a variety of faiths without preconditions. Where do they find the spiritual strength to press on despite adversity? An ecumenical approach is the best path. It allows for questions relating to their belief in Jesus Christ. Since being a candidate for the presidency, Barack should not pose his own questions which may be turned around by journalist. Rather, Michelle could pose concerns about points of faith. When individuals are searching for answers, they have to be discrete. Because being a politician and not a theologian, questions can leave them vulnerable. For this sake they should not join a church until after the election. But all Christians are open to a searching heart (mentanoia). I also think that Barack as a presidential candidate should invite leaders of all faiths to come together and discuss what are the salient aspects of their faith. They would be able to present to him the common ground that motivates them that it may be used to guide public policy. In that way he promotes dialogue that will encourage unity. God bless America!

@ Tom Hudson

First of all, religion *was* politics in the ancient times, and vice versa. So to say that the Christ kept out of politics, is a false statement.

Furthermore, in the example you try for ("Render to Caesar…"), Christ explicitly comments on a political issue, namely tax debts, so it's the exact opposite: it's evidence that the Christ was not unconcerned with political issues. Nowhere does this episode mention the Christ proclaiming to stay out of politics. That's only a wild interpretation, nothing more.

This is even more the case, when one exposes the linguistic error of the evangelists, because the word "kênsos" in the Greek codices is a loan-word from Latin "census", and means the fiscal assessment and registration of taxation, not the tax itself, so the episode actually deals with a very specific part of fiscal politics. The Evangelists (and later translators) misinterpreted the meaning of the word, which obviously shifted the meaning of the whole episode. In this original context, the "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" can only be read as that the Christ orders to pay the creditors/the state/the emperor the things that Caesar decrees, namely the tax debts as assessed by the emperor.

"Kênsos"/"census" can also mean a commission of taxes (i.e. reduction of debts), which would fit neatly with the Lord's Prayer, namely the original version, where there's nothing about forgiving "trespasses" or "sins", but about forgiving "debts"… you know, as in *real* debts. So to read the NT and deny Christians any political and fiscal authority, which can clearly be derived from some of the teachings in the NT (there are lots of examples) is false, not in accordance with the gospels and therefore un-Christian. You're basically whitewashing the Bible here, to make it compatible with modern Western culture, which includes the segregation of Church and state.

But in general… if one of the core elements of Christian faith, the Lord's Prayer, deals explicitly with an political/economic issue, why then should Christian politicians not be allowed to claim political/economic authority also based on their religion?

For the next 4 years, the Obama family is going to need a church in DC, near the White House. They should continue to be involved in a church that is engaged in the community, but not controversial, one that is multiracial. Even though I'm Catholic, for the Obama family I would recommend National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Its location on Thomas Circle, very near the White House, makes it an ideal place for the family. It has a history of being involved in social projects in the neighborhood for Michelle and Barack, has an excellent music ministry, and Sunday school for the girls. I can easily imagine the family worshipping comfortably there.

Barak Obama’s mistake, I think, lay in answering criticisms in the first place. By responding to questions and by commenting, even negatively, on the utterances of Jeremiah Wright, he effectively took responsibility for what someone else had said. Holding one person accountable for the words and deeds of another is guilt by association, a practice as reprehensible when NBC and CNN engage in it as it was when Joseph McCarthy did so.
Who shoveled up the Jeremiah Wright dirt in the first place? It is noteworthy that the major media conspicuously did not raise the question. Probably an enterprising reporter did not do the digging. Most likely a rival campaign organization sniffed this out, for campaigns do hire people to dig for dirt on opponents, and volunteers contribute (think Swift Boat). Whatever the source of the dirt, the media have thrown most of the mud on behalf of Obama’s enemies and left the likely first diggers with clean hands.
Sen. Obama should have—and belatedly still should—use the term “guilt by association,” curtly refuse to take responsibility for what others have said, and express annoyance at those who ask him to do so. He must speak for himself and direct his interrogators' questions to those who have made intemperate remarks.

Ha ha ha, raising alpacas.

Good one.

Was this stolen from the West Wing? You know, Deborah Fiderer (Lily Tomlin) was an alpaca farmer after she got fired...

Anyway, I'd hate to have to make these decisions under the public microscope.

Best wishes, Obama!

Interesting reflections. He could stay within his UCC denomination to find another church (which he needs to do regardless if he is elected President and should do anyway living in Washington DC). And most likely this would be a "White" congregation, as most of UCCers are white.

But his comments are really striking to me, how they reflect the average American's desires in a church. Most go to feel comfortable, to feel good about themselves genuflecting before an altar, a religion, a minister or a concept. Most want to feel the approbation of society for being good and going to church.

But for the activist Christian, and certainly Christ was an activist, such majority church-goers are frustrating in their complacency. If his comment was calculated, Obama could do little better in appealing to middle America. And if this truly fills his needs as well, then it's an all around good fit for him.

There can be a wide gulf between inner needs and political needs. I marvel that any President is able to fill both needs in a church, and certainly presidents need to attend to their personal spiritual needs as well as their political religious needs.

Jacques,

Surely, you can't believe that this Wright affiliation was primarily driven by religeeon.

Say it ain't so, Jacques. Say it ain't.

Surely, you know a POLITCATUNIST when you see one.

And in the Wright-Obama waltze two Tunists were dancing. They still are, Jacques. It's Romantic.

Wake up. Smell the coffee. Forget about Virginai--There ain't no Santa Claus.

"At least the Jewish woman protesting for Clinton at the DNC meeting was honest about this. Jon Stewart showed her on the Daily Show last night."

Hey- Why didn't Jon Stewart just tell it? He's jewish too.

The Obama family is already the subject of those who perpetuate the celebrity mystique. So far, they have been remarkable in adjusting to the whims of a scandal-hungry press and a voyeuristic, small-minded public. They may have to find a private chapel where some fellow workers and friends worship together away from the glare. The Obamas are quickly becoming America's family. I pray God will guide them to peaceful spots where they can reflect on the example they are setting for this often, misguided world.

What's sad is that Obama's comment about what he looks for in a Church is exactly what many call "the death of the church" -- somewhere to go, feel good, give some money, have your kids 'morally educated' in Sunday School, have other 'good people' to have brunch with afterwards, and, oh yeah, and 'worship' God [by reflecting on my blessings].

I think that shows a juvenile understanding of Christianity, yet is commonly believed among many church-goers. Sitting in a pew doesn't make you a Christian.

Obama needs to join the Episcopal Church, where the only controversy is just how "high church" the next procession ought to be!

Seriously, Obama needs to check out Grace Church in Georgetown, Washington DC. http://www.gracedc.org/ It's not my church but the pastor there was my pastor in Chicago for many, many years. He doesn't shove politics into his sermons, but he's fiercely partisan when it comes to helping others less fortunate.

>>And placing him on a “Religious Diversity and Discovery Tour” would expose him to markets that John McCain lacks the ability to crack.>>

I don't know if I'd go that far- after all, Sen. McCain was a lifelong Episcopalian until his sudden conversion to Southern Baptist during this election. (Jesus can convene at very convenient and opportune times, wouldn't you say?) That's a bit of a jump.
I'm not quite sure where he stands now that people have gotten around to doing their homework on Mr. Hagee....

>>Claim that the whole Trinity experience has led you to rethink your stated desire to rethink the role of religion in public life. (The downside: If you did this you will be raising alpacas in December)>>

And THIS is a tragic truth in this country.

Jacques,

Perhaps you might want to read Stanley Kurtz'a article "No Liberation" in the National Review and see why Obama is very unlikely to take any of your suggestions. His affinty for the Trinty church was less religious, and more political.

Obama should come to grips with the "fems" (flaws, errors, muck and stench) of all religions and he would fast become a "secularist".

As a reminder, the "fems" of the major religions:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a mythical character as was Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt and as was Queen Ester.

Many of the 1.5 million Conservative Jews and many of their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

The muck and stench in Judaism you ask?

Belief that that the Jews are god's chosen people and its resulting consequences.
simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.

The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics. earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

For added "pizzazz", Catholic/Christian theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider".

The muck and stench of Catholicism you ask?

Pedophiliac priests, atonement theology and original sin!!!!

3. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

The muck and stench of non-Catholic Christian churches you ask?

Adulterous preachers, "propheteering/ profiteering" evangelicals and atonement theology. .

4. Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing (11 wives), lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

The added muck and stench of Islam you ask?

The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering , womanizing, hallucinating founder.

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) -

"Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’."

The caste/laborer system and cow worship/ reverence are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."

The muck and stench of Hinduism you ask?

The caste system and cow worship/reverence.

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."
"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life. e.g. Buddha by one legend was supposedly talking when he came out of his mother's womb.

If you might recall, the Lord Jesus remained completely outside of "politics" and when attempts to trap Him were leveled, He simply replied "Render unto Caesar..." Perhaps it his high time for ALL politicians to keep their respective "religious" beliefs out of their dirty endeavors. Quite frankly, most of us are sick and tired of the entire political "mis-speak" and fully understand, without a doubt, that virtually every politician is lying to us anyway. Let's move on and put a stop to this "religious affiliation". We don't believe a word you, (like all of you politicians), are "mis-speaking" anyway.

Its unfortunate that Barack Obama felt the need to have to resign his membership from his church of nearly 20 years. I hope that he will find a place where he and his family can worship and experience God in a way that will not be politicized by the media. However I don't feel that its anybody's business where he and his family choose to worship. We should stay out of it and leave them alone. Let them worship God in peace and in privacy.

I would say this to Candide: #3 is more universally true than #1 or #2. It seems that a majority of #1 and perhaps #2 (at least those under 50 years old) will not allow such implicit biases to drive their voting behavior. Therefore, he can win.

the comment from "CANDIDE" below is dead wrong

Obama can win (I'm not saying he will win for sure, but it's a possibility)

Hillary Clinton (on the other hand) would NEVER stand a chance in a general election - and I'm amazed that more Dems don't recognize that

THAT is the truth

If Obama does adopt the Jewish faith, he will have to find a young congregation. Many older Jews consider him a "schwartze," (i.e., "N-word") and would never vote for him because he's black. It has nothing to do with his support for Israel. That's used as an excuse to mask their racism. At least the Jewish woman protesting for Clinton at the DNC meeting was honest about this. Jon Stewart showed her on the Daily Show last night.

It would be good if he could find a truly multiracial church somewhere. Good luck finding that.

if Obama had seemed really angry at Trinity Church he would have risked offending some people whose votes he might need - white working class votes aren't the only votes he needs - he went to the church for a long time and suddenly turning on it wouldn't have looked good to a lot of people (myself included) - he took exactly the right tone in his resignation from the church

The saddest thing is that it took no maverick (sp?) to see that. He simply would need someone that wasn't a complete yes-man. While I do, unfortunately, feel he has very little chance come November unless there is a major policy and pr shift, the reasons are nothing like those that the Voltair lover above tried to be coy with.

My vote goes to Jacques Berlinerblau...this is one of the most interesting, insightful columns of this political season! Go, Jacques!

It's too bad that church has such influence on our society.

First thing's first: I really think you meant to say "phoenix-like ascent" which means rising as opposed to "phoenix-like assent" which means agreement. Next: I don't think that Obama will be joining or searching for any church any time soon. At least not until his political career completely deflates and he needs some new friends.

"My -- again what I want to do in church is.. that's what I am looking for."

Do I hear the "flailing backstroke of a drowning man"..

Obama's problem with whites:
1. White women see in him what they see in all black males, the rapist of their fear/fantasy.
2. Jews see in Obama the schwarze who might pollute their kitchens as they clean the house.
3. White redneck workers see in Obama the product of affirmative action they have never had the benefit of.

Obama cannot win.