Barack Obama: Keeping His Religion

Since Barack Obama emerged as the Democrat candidate, my inbox has been deluged with daily emails about his religion. Often these emails would refer to him as B Hussein Obama, giving readers here some idea, perhaps, of where they were coming from.Today, after his election, a new tone is coming through. Even republicans are talking of their biblical duty to honour his election. Religious agencies are welcoming his election with almost evangelical fervour.

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Take this from the development agency Progressio, formerly known as the Catholic Institute for International Relations:

Director, Christine Allen, says that 2008 would be remembered as the year when the 'tectonic plates of international relations shifted and hope for a new world order was reborn. Obama’s election offers an opportunity to build new relationships and partnerships between countries which will form the basis of a new vision of development. In the 11 developing countries where we work, from Ecuador and Peru to Yemen and Somaliland, there are strong hopes. Hopes for change.'

She says that in Latin America, an Obama-led government will be a chance for 'real dialogue between leaders from North and South, where enforced economic models and unfair trade agreements have exacerbated the challenges faced by societies already tackling extreme inequality.'  In Muslim countries too, people hear America talk of  'freedom and democracy' but their experience is of occupying forces and Guantánamo Bay. 'For too long this has smacked of hypocrisy,' continues Allen. 'Our hope is that the message and the reality of US actions are integrated in a new, more collaborative approach to foreign policy.'

In the present era of interfaith dialogue, wouldn't it be wonderful if anything Islamic in his background could indeed be seen as testament to new bridges being built between the faiths?

Conservative commentator Albert Mohler writes warmly of this possibility. He admits to disappointment on one level but adds: 'Every American should be moved by the sight of young African-Americans who -- for the first time -- now believe that they have a purchase in American democracy.  Old men and old women, grandsons and granddaughters of slaves and slaveholders, will look to an African-American as President. Regardless of politics, could anyone remain unmoved by the sight of Jesse Jackson crying alone amidst the crowd in Chicago?  This dimension of Election Day transcends politics and touches the heart of the American people.'

He goes on: 'At the same time, we must be honest and recognize that the political maps are being redrawn before our eyes. Will the Republican Party decide that conservative Christians are just too troublesome for the party and see the pro-life movement as a liability?  There is the real danger that the Republicans, stung by this defeat, will adopt a libertarian approach to divisive moral issues and show conservative Christians the door.

'Others will declare these struggles over, arguing that the election of Sen. Obama means that Americans in general -- and many younger Evangelicals in particular -- are ready to "move on" to other issues. This is no time for surrender or the abandonment of our core principles.  We face a much harder struggle ahead, but we have no right to abandon the struggle.'

And interestingly, he raises the concept of duty:

'Evangelical Christians face another challenge with the election of Sen Obama, and a failure to rise to this challenge will bring disrepute upon the Gospel, as well as upon ourselves. There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama's election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honour due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command.'

Last month on this blog, inspired by the interest in Sarah Palin who then seemed to be on an unstoppable roll, I ran a poll on the four candidates, asking 'Who is the better Christian?' The results were an accurate indicator of the subsequent election result: Obama came first with 69.3 per cent of the vote and Joe Biden second with 16.5 per cent. To the surprise of many, Sarah Palin trailed at 12.1 per cent and John McCain did even worse, at 2.1 per cent.

Comments

[Kate]

"Obama did not even go to church last Sunday. He's an abortionist."

Wow! Insane paranoia rules! We must understand from this that RD accompanied Obama throughout the 24 hour period that comprised "last Sunday".

Further an "abortionist" is a person who performs or induces abortions, usually illegally. I very much doubt this is the case with the President Elect.

I find myself appalled by the public education system in the USA. Hysterical conflation of the terms Marxist, Communist, liberal, leftist, radical and socialist sprinkled 'liberally' across all Republican/conservative publications, suggests the American Right - in particular the Evangelicals - would benefit from an intensive course in basic comprehension.

It might enable the not-so-fragrant Sarah Palin to articulate a coherent sentence.

[rd]

You must have polled the people in England. Obama did not even go to church last Sunday. He's an abortionist. See blackgenocide.org for more info on what it is doing to the black community in US.

[Malcolm+]

I wonder if RobRoy has anything to back up his accusation about Obama accepting illegal contributions.

But then, why should RobRoy start now?

Eve Faux News isn't that desperate . . . or creative.

[Rt. Rev'd Richard M. Bruton]

Ruth,
The title to this column was Barack Obama: Keeping His Religion, just which religion would that be?

[robroy]

Obama was elected by running against George Bush and benefited from a perfect storm of serendipitous economic meltdown.

He raised millions overseas, but it is against American law for a candidate to accept money from a non-citizen. All his money from Americans living abroad and none from muslim fundamentalists? We'll never know now for the evidence will be buried. But I don't think that it is unlikely that "Tony Romo and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys" were living in Iran and were big contributors.

[4 May 1535+]

Hi, Ruth--

For what it's worth, "Democrat candidate" sounds over here like a partisan position: some members of the Republican party (including Mr. Bush) regularly use expressions like "Democrat Party," "Democrat candidate," instead of "Democratic Party." Apparently this is meant merely to be annoying, though possibly it represents a principled stand against adjectival endings.

(rg writes: thank you. that is a helpful insight.)

[George Parr]

Father [T]ed. "but Christian- only loosely at best"

Oh, of course, we all almost forgot that the 'Christian' super-race is steeply hierarchical and varies in worthiness and importance from those sitting, arguably, just under God's feet, right the way down to the drones they programme. It has the last word in all things - abortion, human sexuality, wars (with God firmly on their side) and is able to define degrees of holiness in all people from homosexuals to presidents.

So that's all right then...

[George Parr]

"Yeah, we'll give him [Obama] the same respect Democrats gave George W. Bush."

Oh, did Bush earn some respect? I must have missed that...

[Fr. Ed Tomlinson]

How anyone who supports partial birth abortion can be called Christian is quiet beyond me. That said in a secular sense he may do well...but Christian- only loosely at best. And I do believe the luke warm are spat out? Non?

[J Pearce]

Amazing that some people still regard Sarah Palin as a "superior" Christian, when she supports the murder of thousands of innocents outside the US. Only yesterday, Americans bombed and killed an innocent Afghans. But hey, they are only collateral Muslim deaths, right?

I guess the wilful ignorance, of the damage done by America in the Middle East, by US Christians, is a symptom of the inherent racism of the Christian right.

Good enough reason to celebrate Obama and his "radical" views.

(Radical? Are these people having a laugh or something? Are they not cognisant of, say, the damage wrought by 8 years of untrammeled Republican economic and military policy? Do they not realise the US - and much of the western world - is being dragged into a recession by the cupidity of the unfettered free market? In light of this absolute greed, it speaks volumes about the ramapant hypocrisy (and sheer stupidity) of certain American Christians, accusing Obama of "socialist" policies when their favoured political party is responsible for an explosion of greed, profligacy and selfism. All of which are apparently contrary to their beloved Christian ideals).

[Fr. Van Windsor]

Thank you for this perspective, it has helped me to see this election through another set of eyes. As a Republican, this has been a difficult election cycle. The only one we can blame is our leadership. I voted for McCain, but I think President Obama will be a fine President --- though I am not thrilled with some of his liberal/radical views. One good thing I see is that the Evangelical death grip that has had hold of the Republican Party may have been broken. I am proud that America has shattered so many "glass ceilings," and I am proud of our new President.
"The King is dead, long live the King."

[Soreofhing]

If Obama's victory sidelines the US religious fundamentalists then bravo.
If his win indicates a reduction in the influence of the NRA and more gun control then good.
If it means more balanced actions regarding the Middle East conflict then that's fine.
If free basic health care for all Americans is to brought into effect then wonderful.
If he keeps religion firmly out of politics then that's as it should be.
If he gets the US out of Iraq then it's high time.
If he forbids official torture of prisioners then he's my man.

Obama has a lot on his plate, let's wish him well.

[Greg]

"There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama's election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honour due to anyone elected to that high office."

Yeah, we'll give him the same respect Democrats gave George W. Bush.

[Victoria]

If people in your poll really believed Obama is the better Christain that is so very sad and shows the lose of our Christain faith in America. Sarah showed God's love and peace in each of the terrible, abusive interviews she did with the press. Sarah spoke the truth about Obama. A truth the press did not want told. If sitting in a church that uses the Lord's name in vain against the United States is living his religion than, indeed, Obama lives his religion. Understand he lives a religion not a belief in God. This is one country under God and we will prevail. God bless American and God bless and be with our new president. May he be given wisdom, knowledge, understanding, joy, and peace.