Barack Obama's Religion
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I would think that in the year 2008, the religion of a presidential nominee wouldn’t matter. It seems old-fashioned to think that people would consider not voting for someone based on their religious beliefs, but this is a country that made a big deal about its first Catholic president. There is already a lot of focus on the fact that both Democratic front-runners are from minority groups – one a woman and the other African American. Hilary Clinton has to unfairly convince the American people that a woman can indeed be president, but at least she doesn’t have to defend her religious beliefs.
Barack Obama has come under religious attack based on the idea that he might be a Muslim. In a country that is supposed to provide religious freedom, this is crazy.
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What is Obama’s Religion?
Barack Obama is a Christian and has belong to the same Christian church for almost twenty years. Obama’s wesite even has a section that states:
“Barack Obama Is Not and Has Never Been a Muslim. Obama never prayed in a mosque. He has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ”.
Why the Confusion?
The Chain Email – You probably got it in your inbox one day. I know I did, but luckily I am smart enough to know that these kinds of email rarely provide facts. The email says that Obama is trying to hide his Islamic roots from the American people. It talks about how he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran, instead of the bible. Some versions of the email even showed a picture of Obama turning his back on the flag during the pledge of allegiance.
The email is a hoax and should not be treated as fact. It has seemed believable because there are some truthful details in the email, like the fact that Obama’s middle name is Hussein. I shouldn’t have to say it, but his name does not make him a terrorist. There are a lot of people in the world with this name, and it is considered a great name in many cultures (and not because of the deviant leader it is famously known in the United States for). As well, both Obama’s father and stepfather were Muslim. He lived for a few years in the largely Muslim country of Indonesia, but attended Catholic schools there.
For more debunking of this email, check out snopes.com.
Why Does it Matter?
For some people, it doesn’t matter. But, for others it does. The United States has a strong history built on Christianity. The Christian religion has played a large role in how the U.S. developed as a country, and it remains the dominant religion in this country. A lot of Americans want a Christian president to represent them because they are Christians, or follow Christian values.
However, it is important to remember that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state, so when it gets down to the nitty gritty, a leader’s religious beliefs should not affect their political decisions.
I think the big deal stems from ignorance and fear. Please don’t be offended by the term “ignorance” – it isn’t always meant as an insult. Wikipedia defines ignorance as:
“The condition of being uninformed or uneducated, lacking knowledge or information.”
The fear that Obama is a Muslim stems from people’s lack of knowledge about the religion itself, or the facts about Obama himself.
Barack Obama addresses lies and smears and their role in the election.
Facts about Obama and the Pledge of Allegiance
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Comments
In a democracy we have to accept faiths, otherwise we should say we are not a democracy. I care more about the character than anything else.
Well said, Stacie. I personally think people who say Obama is a Muslim are those right wing flag wavers who think Obama is some kind of mole who is secretly out to destroy the country. Ignorance is not offensive when used generically, but it definitely has an offensive connotation when it's directed at an individual. I hope all of your readers view the excellent video. It should clear up any authentic misunderstandings.
I am an Indonesian and a muslim. I wonder why people in America afraid of anything related to Islam? Islam teaches us to be tolerant, respect other, discipline (by doing the prayer 'sholat' in 5 times a day), care and love. If Obama supposed to be a muslim, would you give your vote to him? Or you'd rather vote other candidate just because Obama was a muslim? I think this is the time for USA to prove their truly democracy to all people in the world.
I'd like to know how in the world is OBama is supposed to wreck this nation in war or any other disaster. Can you tell me that? I wonder why in the world we have a congress and other political leaders if they put any President in complete charge of anything. How can the America people be so stupid ? Every business has a CEO; someone in charge; but he does not have the final say so. So it is with the President of the United States. He is only our Leader. And if we don't get our butts out of this war in Iraq and finish up in Afghanistan; we are going to be in more trouble that we can imagine. So the only difference in the presidential candidates: one wants to end the War; one wants to keep the War going. Go Figure!!!!!
hullo. I am Arifah from Malaysia and I am a Muslim. In my personal point of view, Obama's religion isn't a big deal here. Does matter if he is a muslim or a Christian, that is his right and personal faith pratices. What most important is that so far could Obama drive and lead US to better condition in the future? Muslims from all over the world never hate Americans, but the leader made stupid things onto Muslims worlds that created tenses among us. I never care whom US's President will be, what I care is how far US's President could create a better world and life condition for the Americans as well as for the world! Dont ever let a stupid man drives a briliant country into troubles! Give peace space to grow in our world! Remember, we only have one world. Let us take care of our world peacefully. Adios!
Arifah, Malaysia.
Greetings,
I did not vote for Obama, not becaues of his faith; but because as one who strongly believes in Adopting I can not support as our President one who strongly supports the mass murder of unborn children.
Other wise I find him to be a highly intellengt man and believe that the way he has selected his cabinet and some of his ideas; will probably make him a very positive President for us and a respected world leader.
Wake up! You need to do your own research and not believe what you see on CNN, MSNBC, John Stewart, and Bill Mayer, or what you read in the New York Times or Newsweek magazine. These media outlets are run by a few extremists that are able to dupe you with their point of view and they claim that "it's everyones point of view, so you are not even able to know what the real truth is. Political opinions should be studied as well as history (before academia rewrote it) not glanced for a few minutes on the T.V. during dinner. Find the facts objectively look at two opposing view points and you make up your mind. The above institutions listed DO NOT WANT YOU TO DO THAT, THEY WANT YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU ! They would be outraged at you looking into things for yourself. They think you are a dope ! It's as plain as day. Take your blinders off ! Are we to believe that everything Clinton did was wonderful, everything Bush did was terrible, and everything the President elect does will be great? 80% of the media votes for a democrat (look it up) what do you think they want you to believe ? No one is going to tell me what to think !! Since the 1930's there have been many professors in academia (universities and colleges) who professed to be communists (look it up), these socialists influence (brainwash) the journalists you see reporting on T.V. today. In case you are unaware communism is not a good thing, people are not FREE. Log onto the communist website in America, who does the leader tell you to vote for? In 1963 Congressman A.S. HERLONG from Florida outlined 45 CURRENT COMMUNISTGOALS, number 11, 15(democrat), 16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,36,40,42, have already been achieved. Read what defectors of communist countries tell you the leaders do...lie, subvert, brainwash propaganda. We as a country are being exploited. It is human nature to deny what we don't want to hear, but it takes maturity to deal with it ! And reality, what's the truth, what's real will always be your friend !
As a Christian who believes that everything in the world happens for a reason, I don't think there is no coincidence that the very Hussein US destroyed few years came back as the head of US. Think about it!
if US is really a democratic states then they must not judge a person base on his faith! don't be hypocrite! you've chooe to vote your candidate not because of his ability to govern the states but because you have the same faith! be fair!
He is Muslim
There is no in US Constitution separation Church and State. But it is in Soviet Constitution. The socialistic liberals are liars.
Obama dont care about Religion.
If he is a Muslim then he has lied to get into power and lies to stay there. I think he may be the greatest political coup of all time. We will see.
I to am a Christian and I do care what religion the president of the US is... I am from South-Africa and believe in God. How would God bless a country that does not beleieve in him??? Now dont get me wrong, God is a loving God who always looks after his children but how is your "Father/God" going to protect a country or the people in it if they keep ignoring him?!?
I heard, recently, that president Obama would not enter a Catholic school to speak if they didn't cover religious statues first. I believe he even wanted a statue of Jesus covered.
Now it is probably true that no one today knows just what Jesus actually looked like but having said that it frightens me to think that a "tolerant" president would ask the homeowner to change his or her home to suit a guest. Kind of ironic -- perhaps even akin to what the ACLU was trying to do when outlawing Gibson's Passion of the Christ. I don't remember anyone holding a gun to their head and telling them they must see the film. Thank God America is still america and my money is mine -- for how long God only knows. *Having said that, America for all of her reverends and/or bishops would not think of telling the man that (won"t) work he should not eat. Oh but Mr. Sharpton and Jackson know the Good Book probably about as well as former president Clinton. LOL.
Bonnie Ramsey says:
2 years ago
Stacie,
I think you hit the nail on the head at the end of your hub. If there wasn't the fear of him being a Muslim, I don't think there would be such a resistance. It isn't the fact that he may not be of Christian faith, it is the fear of the word Muslim. Many people still fear the religeon itself due to past events. People feel that if he is tied to the Muslim religeon and becomes president, he has the power to destroy this country from within.
While my vote will not be with Obama (for reasons other than race and religeon) I feel that any president has the power to do that if they so choose. Not to mention the fact that we are doing an awsome job of destroying ourselves from within without the help of any president of any religeon LOL. Great hub!
Bonnie