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Liberation theology claim really a claim of Marxism
In the wake of his weekend rally, Glenn Beck kept up the drumbeat of criticism about President Obama's religion, calling it a "perversion" and saying that America "isn't recognizing his version of Christianity," which Beck characterized as "liberation theology."
Despite critique of Obama's Christianity, a recent poll showed that nearly 20% of Americans believe falsely that the president is Muslim.
Why is there so much attention on Obama's religion? Does it matter what religion the president is?
Justice William O. Douglas once observed that Americans are a very religious people. It is no surprise, then, that the religious faith of the person sitting at the desk in the Oval Office is constantly under the microscope.
We have no religious test or qualification for public office, including the presidency, but American presidents do not have to check their religious beliefs at the Oval Office door. America's dizzying diversity reflects a multitude of religious practices and many who embrace no religion at all. The president is the leader of the whole nation, not one segment of the religious community. His speeches and pronouncements should reflect the understanding that he is president of all people in this religiously diverse, religious freedom-loving nation.
When Glenn Beck labels President Obama a follower of Liberation Theology, what he is really claiming in a roundabout way is that the president is a Marxist. One of the trenchant criticisms of liberation theology is that it is too quick to marry the Gospel with a Marxist view of history. But the Gospel is social as well as personal. Very few Christians who take Jesus' teaching about the poor and the social gospel seriously would subscribe to liberation theology. I do not think President Obama does, and he is obviously not a Marxist. (I can't believe I'm really having to write these words!)
It is because of Beck and others like him that people are confused. In Obama's case, to suit their political ends and ratings goals, they keep the steady stream of misleading statements, half truths and lies flowing about his religion, race and circumstances of birth. While it is important that the public develop the ability to think critically about the media messages being delivered, that does not exempt the media, principally Fox News and its pundits, from shouldering its majority share of the blame. In peddling these false claims, confusion and fear prevail, and that's an unfortunate manipulation of the American people.
By
J. Brent Walker
|
August 30, 2010; 2:20 PM ET
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Posted by: eezmamata | September 2, 2010 3:19 AM
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Mr Walker is absolutely right.
Speaking of Wright, Rev Wright of National Church of Christ fame that is: Who is the most similar religious figure in America to Rev Wright? Louis Farrakhan, of course, who has been on the front cover of Wright's church's magazine "The Trumpet" at least three times. And Farrakhan professes a totally different religion.
The fiction that black liberation theology is just like other christian religions falls apart when one realizes that the closest comparable religion out there in terms of world outlook and goals is Farrakhan's. Just because one church speaks of Jesus and the other Allah seems quite secondary to the messages of entitlement, the need for reparations, and xenophobia and racism.
Posted by: tacheronb | September 2, 2010 2:37 AM
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I should add that Liberation Theology and its commitment to the poor should not be dismissed. However, someone can be an equally sincere follower of Jesus Christ and care about the poor without embracing Liberation Theology in principle and praxis or through a Marxist or socialist political stance. I think the president cares deeply about the poor, but would probably characterize himself as a Christian Realist in the Reinhold Niebuhr tradition.
Posted by: BrentWalker1 | September 1, 2010 12:47 PM
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Liberation theology ARISES FROM Jesus's teachings about the poor and the social gospel. I know plenty of serious Christians who subscribe to liberation theology.
Posted by: ProgressiveAmericanBaptist | August 31, 2010 4:41 PM
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Well said, Mr Walker
Posted by: jsmith4 | August 30, 2010 10:30 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
why do you complain one week about atheistic marxism, and the next week about marxist christianity?
You are insane.