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My interview with Obama on his Christianity and the 'Muslim issue'Long before last week's revelation that a large and growing chunk of Americans believe that the President is Muslim - and that only about one in three Americans correctly identify him as Christian - Barack Obama was battling misperceptions about his religion. In early 2008, right as Obama was in desperate need of a win in the South Carolina primaries - he'd beaten Hillary Clinton in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses but lost to her in subsequent contests in New Hampshire and Iowa - false rumors swirled that he was Muslim. Obama's father was raised in a Muslim household, though the presidential candidate had repeatedly called him an agnostic, and Obama had spent time attending an Indonesian school where most students were Muslim. An e-mail smear campaign alleged that the White House hopeful was disguising his true faith. In South Carolina, whose primaries were Obama's first electoral test in the Bible Belt, that was a big problem. Less than a week before South Carolina's primary, Obama began calling media outlets with large Christian audiences to set the record straight. His first such interview was with Beliefnet, where I was then political editor. With Thursday's Pew poll showing that nearly one in five Americans think Obama is Muslim, our conversation from 2008 - conducted by phone while the future president sat aboard his grounded campaign plane - has become relevant again. Here's what Obama told me in 2008 when I mentioned the false rumors that he was Muslim:
Clear enough. Obama had almost zero contact with his tacitly Muslim father and had been a committed Christian for decades. But Obama also used our chat to make a case that his exposure to Islam, through his extended family and during his four years in Indonesia, made him unusually well suited to heal the rifts that had opened between the U.S. and the Muslim world over President George W. Bush's war on terror:
He elaborated on this argument elsewhere in our conversation, in comments that would foreshadow his administration's efforts on Muslim outreach:
In recent days, two major themes from my conversation with Obama - misunderstandings about his faith and his vision for improving U.S.-Muslim relations - have become the stuff of national headlines. It was just days before Thursday's Pew poll revealed growing confusion about Obama's faith that he'd come out strongly for the rights of Muslims to build an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero. With the imam behind Park51 - the name of the proposed center - touring the Middle East for the State Department, Obama appears unlikely to back down from his campaign to improve relations with Muslims. Whether he will step up messaging around his religious faith to Christians, as he did in the days before South Carolina's caucuses, is still an open question.
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I'm so tired of all of this nonsense. I have been a member of a Christian (Protestant) denomination all of my life, but see many paths to belief in God and ways to live a good life. The Muslim faith is one that I respect and and hold in great reverence. The Prophet Muhammad famously said, "Anyone who wrongs a Jew or a Christian will have me as his accuser on the Day of Judgement." I believe we will all be judged on how we have treated others, whatever we may or may not agree upon.
It appears that no matter how many times Obama says he's a Christian nor how many times he worships in a Christian church, or how many times his passport and birtth certificate appear, there are those who are so ignorant that they wouldn't know the truth if it slapped them in the face. If people are so unhappy with Obama, why don't they go picket the White House? Or do they only have the courage to gripe about it online. We've spawned a nation of lazy people who only want to contribute to our nation's problems instead of find solutions. It's easy to criticize and find fault. It takes ethics, morals, and courage to make a differene. For me, I believe Obama. I also believe that he'lll never convince that 20% of peoplle who are ignorant, and will not open their minds to learn truth.
It's as simple as this, it is pride. These little ones these days don't want their pride hurt being wrong. It's embarrassing. But unfortunately they fail to see how they dig their own grave. Momma said they were special. Guess not huh? lol. Being wrong hurts. Maybe if we started handing out tissues with our facts. That may ease the pain.
I'm more disappointed at Christians on this one. I'm finding that a lot of Christians have forgotten what was taught by Christ; Love/Charity. Christians are attacking their own brother's and sister's in Christ as well as other religions, due to a lack of understanding of their own faith. A Muslim can point out examples of Jesus' walk with the disciples and amongst the people, and understand where our foundation lay. A lot of Christians, for some reason, have replaced the teachings of Christ with practicing religion: they want to see you go to church, condemn other faiths, and condemn non-believers. All of which is against what Christ taught, which resembles the Pharisees more than Christ. He didn't come to seek the saved, however to save the lost. We should be drawing people to Christ through Love, peace, faith, temperance, goodness, gentleness, long-suffering, meekness, and joy; don't just look at the words, seek understanding of each. But my fellow Christians have lost their way. Muslims show more understanding of their beliefs than a number of Christians I keep running across, especially on this board. Sad and disappointing.
This man has let us see that he is in fact a Muslim, he is what ever he needs to be to that crowd. I do not and will not trust him ever! He is not hot or cold he is lukewarm
Sherri: How has he shown he is a Muslim? By worshipping in a Christian church? Tell me–cite to me how he has shown he is a Muslim. Do you get your inforrmation from Rush Limbaugh? Robertson? Some far right wing radical fundamentalist.
@Northridge – it sounds like Sherri does not think for herself!!! I truly wonder what crowd she's been hanging out with!
Personally, winter is too cold, and summer is too hot, I'll take it. Wait, what are we talking about again? the weather?
My view on Islam is that its not simply a religion, rather its a CULTURE, which sadly has a faction that thrives on violence. Christian faiths for example do not dictate dress, or require the "faithful" to walk like zombies to pray at specific times of the day. This much control over its members takes religion too far and as I said it becomes a cult...ure.
By your logic we should also fear the Amish, orthodox Jews and everyone who goes to church every Sunday morning...
@ frogist...I think we should fear the Amish as they would be the only ones to survive without electricity, computers, "modern" conveniences (LOL)!!!
TammyB++
I say it's a shame to live in a country such as the U.S., and us as citizens dont even know what religion our President embraces? We know so much about kinds of clothes, music, food, movies, celebrities personal business, etc. But dont take the time to inquire about the person that leading our way of life? Stop the racism, before it stops us...
Books are hard and heavy. We don't like them.
Reading some of the comments on this blog that were written by people claiming to be devout Christians almost makes me ashamed to be one myself. These Bible-thumpers are so terrified that Obama isn't as devoted to your interests as our last president that you will believe anything you hear about him so long as you hear it from Pat Robertson or some other wack-job. Hey Republicans – remember all of those leftist hippie wannabes who looked so ridiculous when they kept making outlandish comments about George Bush? The shoe's on the other foot now. You might want to keep that in mind.
I have a deep respect for Christianity. I was baptized and raised in that religion, and although I'm far from a perfect example, I try to remember and apply the teachings of Christ in my daily life. But I also accept the fact that other points of view are just as valid as my own. I reject extremism in all forms – Muslim, Christian, or otherwise – and I believe Obama feels the same way. Unfortunately, there are too many people in this world with an all-or-nothing complex who believe that if a leader is not slavishly devoted to a certain set of principles, than he or she is an enemy of those that are. It's a dangerous line of thought that has caused so much misery throughout our shared history. One would think that we had learned our lesson.
It never ceases to amaze me at how much Obama is hated on the basis of rumor alone. This entire article is based on a smear tactic that was circulated two years ago (probably by Hillary Clinton's campaign team). It caused much of the American public to distrust and/or hate him before he was ever elected to the Presidency. And let's not pretend his race wasn't an issue as well. Too many of my fellow white people won't admit to this.
These are the known facts – Obama's father (who had contact with his son for only a brief period) was a Christian-born Muslim convert who later became agnostic. His mother was also raised Christian, but for all intents and purposes, was also agnostic. He lived in a Muslim country for a few years as a child with his mother and Muslim stepfather where he attended a school that was by all accounts secular, or at the very least, non-extremist. Later on as an adult, he moved to Chicago and not only became involved in politics, but also in the church of Reverend Jeremiah Wright – a controversial preacher to be sure, but a Christian minister nevertheless, and a man to whom Obama felt loyal enough to take a lot of political heat.
If you people would take time to look at the facts, it is easy to see that he is NOT, in fact, Muslim. I'm willing to believe that he is not a particularly observant Christian, and by his own admission he has stated that his background gives him a unique insight into the Islamic faith, but that is a far cry from saying he's an adherent of that faith. The only reason that this is such an issue is because he is trying to be sensitive to Muslim concerns (which is not a bad idea considering how our last President treated them).
Don't get me wrong – there are plenty of reasons to oppose Obama. I personally don't agree with many of his policies, and he has not yet lived up to the promises he made on the campaign trail. But if you must despise him, do so for THOSE reasons – not his race, alleged religious affiliation, or non-traditional background. Stop believing everything that Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck tell you, and make your own decisions!
" – - -but, she was not particularly religious."
This is a terribly ingenuous statement, and typical of Barack Obama. Everything about his mother's young life indicates rebellion against her family, their identities and their midwestern values. She seems to have rejected their Christianity and lived her life either as a passive a-theist or a hedging of a-gnostic.
One of the chief complaints, particularly with the far North Eastern States, regarding the proposed constitution was that the prohibition against Religious Tests would "allow Jews and Turks to hold elected office in the new federal government" (James Madison). Nonetheless, the proposed constitution was ratified without any changes to this prohibition. Bearing in mind that the vast majority of this viral right wing movement swear that only strict interpretation or construction of our constitution is permissible, per that doctrine, the fact that no changes were made to the clause before or after ratification and the belief of its affect are well documented in the historical record, this CARVES IN STONE that our Constitution allows for Jews and Turks (Turks = Ottoman Empire = Muslims) to hold any elected office in the federal government. The mere fact that so many are willing to impose a religious test on our President when our constitution prohibits it, regardless of their hollow claims of patriotism, dishonors our constitution and our founders, not to mention our President.
As for ground zero, two blocks away is not hallowed ground (no one is buried there nor was anyone killed at this location as a result of the attack on 9/11), and even at ground zero, if hallowed ground of such vast importance that a place of worship and social gathering cannot be built nearly a 1/8 a mile away, then why not viral protest to the erection of a commercial building or the modern representation of the golden idol right smack dab on top. No Religion has ever killed anyone – people kill people (and a whole lot in its name).
@Ron you are an idiot, In Iraq not IraK 1/3 of population is christian and the number has been increasing as population grew, and you are making no sense regarding their book saying you either convert or die, otherwise, the whole world would be muslim now, how do you know if that is even true if you cant read it or know anybody who can read Arabic?,..... you say the Arabic translated the Koran to English and lied about that point? are you telling me you can't find a single educated American who can speak Arabic and read the Koran and clarify that to the world?
Now In Iran or Saudia Arabia which are both countries run by extremist religous government, christianity is permitted but not publically, which sounds like what it will be over here if this country kept being run by Bush and his likes. please go and read about it and stop getting your info from Fox extremist brain washing news and post them here.
Religion has a lot to do with how the person views all issues. If he were Muslim his views would reflect its beliefs. The same if he were any other religion his views and ideas would shadow its beliefs. I still do not understand why people overlook what the Korans message is. There is no NEW Testament to the Koran mandating to stop treating women as a lesser being. There is no message of "Him without sin cast the first stone". The BIBLE no longer teaches to stone to death people, the Koran does. The BIBLE doe not teach to kill all whom is not a Christian, but the Koran does. You can not overlook these points. You say Moderate Muslims do not believe or practice that part of the Koran. By saying this it totally make the Koran and Islam a pick and choose religion. If you follow the New Testament Bible word for word no one is harmed and it teaches how to live a righteous life. You see the Bible is YOUR CHOICE to believe or not to. The Koran is believe or else. I would hope you believe in the Bible and have a personal relationship with Jesus and eternal life, but if you do not that is on you. Some say the Bible spews HATE, only if you make it that way. The Koran says to kill all who do not believe. The Bible says GOD will punish. I could go on but you need to look at the whole picture do not leave things out and say that doesn't matter, trust me it does.
The global debate about the need for religion in the 21st century has begun. It is about time as it is obvious that the time of flying, wingie, thingies and chariots, resurrecting, ascending and assuming bodies, virgin births, heavenly virgins, monkey gods, revered cows, gold tablets, atonement theology, wine and water conversion to blood and three headed/horned gods is fast coming to an end. Unfortunately, the topic debate did not delve into this needed, more important review.
The global debate about the need for religion in the 21st century has begun. It is about time as it is obvious that the time of flying, wingie, thingies and chariots, resurrecting, ascending and assuming bodies, virgin births, heavenly virgins, monkey gods, revered cows, gold tablets, atonement theology, wine and water conversion to blood and three headed/horned gods is fast coming to an end. Unfortunately, the topic conversation did not delve in this needed, more important review.
There is ignorance on both sides of this issue which makes the matter worst. First, I put my faith in Christ and know that "Christianity" has not always shown its best side in relationship to the human condition. Those who profess their faith in Christ have for his name sake enslaved African-Americans, belittled the Native Indian, placed Japanese-Americans into isolation camps.
These same Christians have also been the biggest advocated against equality of those who are the minority in this country ethnically. I put NO faith in organized religion since it is full of many hypocrites and allow my faith to be ONLY on GOD. Mankind has failed time and time again his brother and it is not up to me to hate a man because he believes in something else it is my job to despite our differences love him and hope through my actions that the non-believer sees the light of Jesus through me.
You cannot destroy hate with hate!
It is interesting that even though the President took an oath to defend the citizens of the United States and the nation's constitution, so many believe that this protection from the head of our executive branch only applies to those of a certain faith. Apparently to my fellow citizens "Freedom of Religion" equates to "freedom of christianity but any non-christian faith, if it absolutely has to be practiced, should be done so as quietly and imperceptibly as humanly possible".
President Obama has explained his faith more times than any one person should have to. Anyone who at this point thinks that he is a muslim is a bigoted idiot and will only see what allows them to dislike the man as much as possible. Period. He has been a member of a christian-based church for over twenty years. To say that he is a closet muslim is to basically say that the man has been planning on being the US president for over two decades (a black man thinking he would be president well into the future that long ago? Fat chance...) and that he would have to disguise his true religion his entire life in order to pull it off. Sound ridiculous? That's because it is! It's as ridiculous as people's accusation of him being a muslim.
Believe it or not, by defending the rights of those muslims to build a mosque two and a half city blocks away from ground zero HE IS DOING HIS JOB AS THE U.S. PRESIDENT. Every single law-abiding citizen of this nation should have their rights defended, no matter how small a minority or how publicly opposed they are. To do anything less is to say that the constitution applies to only certain citizens and that ANYONE has the say-so to declare someone else's rights forfeit. You don't have to like the muslim faith or the idea of a mosque somewhat close to ground zero, but you absolute should respect other's rights to be of that faith and have a place to practice or be willing to give up any of your own rights as soon as public opinion moves against anything you believe in.
And please stop pretending like there have been zero atrocities commit under the banner of christian faith. History has proven that to be incredibly false too many times and to believe otherwise is sickeningly hypocritical and purposely stupid.
Wow...it's funny the language Leftists use on their way to calling someone else intolerant. In their self-proclaimed brilliance, they've missed the irony of their own words.
In the early 18th century, the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey promoted a genocide of their local Natives by imposing a "scalp bounty" on dead Indians. "In 1703, Massachusetts paid 12 pounds for an Indian scalp. By 1723 the price had soared to 100 pounds." 10 Ward Churchill wrote: "Indeed, in many areas it [murdering Indians] became an outright business." 6 This practice of paying a bounty for Indian scalps continued into the 19th century before the public put an end to the practice. 10
In the 18th century, George Washington compared them to wolves, "beasts of prey" and called for their total destruction. 4 In 1814, Andrew Jackson "supervised the mutilation of 800 or more Creek Indian corpses" that his troops had killed. 6
Extermination of all of the surviving natives was urged by the Governor of California officially in 1851. 4 An editorial from the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, CO in 1863; and from the Santa Fe New Mexican in 1863 expressed the same sentiment. 6 In 1867, General William Tecumseh Sherman said, "We must act with vindictive earnestness against the Sioux [Lakotas] even to their extermination: men, women and children." 6
In 1848, before the gold rush in California, that state's native population is estimated to have been 150,000. In 1870, after the gold rush, only about 31,000 were still alive. "Over 60 percent of these indigenous people died from disease introduced by hundreds of thousands of so-called 49ers. However, local tribes were also systematically chased off their lands, marched to missions and reservations, enslaved and brutally massacred." 12 The price paid for a native scalp had dropped as low as $0.25. Native historian, Jack Forbes, wrote:
"The bulk of California's Indians were conquered, and died, in innumerable little episodes rather than in large campaigns. it serves to indict not a group of cruel leaders, or a few squads of rough soldiers, but in effect, an entire people; for ...the conquest of the Native Californian was above all else a popular, mass, enterprise." 11
all that poll tells me is that christians believe in freedom of religion so long as it's only christianity that is in question. not that anyone needs to be told this, but what a bunch of hypocrites.
It is the view of many that religious beliefs do not play a part in everyday life, but they are all sorely mistaken. The fact that this country is facing the problems it does is due to the compromising of past and current regimes. Compromise always equals loss when it comes to beliefs. Compromise may lead to temporary peace, but that peace will come at a price. Compromise will also lead to more compromise and more and more... until eventually the frog is dead from the boiling water. Thisis what has been happening to this "Christian" country since it was founded on Christian principles. What has happened to those principles? Where are they today? Can you see them when you look at Capitol Hill?
"Christian nation" = lie.