Obama's Church Resignation: Not a Rebuke
Saturday May 31, 2008
Categories: Barack Obama
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The God-o-Meter (pronounced Gah-DOM-meter) scientifically measures factors such as rate of God-talk, effectiveness—saying God wants a capital gains tax cut doesn't guarantee a high rating—and other top-secret criteria (Actually, the adjustment criteria are here). Click a candidate's head to get his or her latest God-o-Meter reading and blog post. And check back often. With so much happening on the campaign trail, God-o-Meter is constantly recalibrating!God-o-Meter blogger Dan Gilgoff is Beliefnet's Politics Editor. A former political correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, he is author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War.
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Baracka Bull****** is what it is. politics as usual Huh .
This is a shell game sham. Obama and his Church is playing a game of hide and go seek. If the unthinkable were to happen, and Obama is elected, you'll see leadership at this Church at the White House within months. This is typical corrupt Chicago politics practiced at its best. This is the Church that birthed a man saying this: "I don't want them PUNISHED, with a BABY!!!!" There are many, many reasons to reject Obama for president, his being half-Black, is not one of them.
our hearts are so cold.
It may have been "political" but it was still the right move. My heart goes out to Obama and his family in making this hard choice. May My God bless them.
I'm sure that the Clintons also understand that this was his only choice and they also praying for him.
Thank you for a fair posting about his resignation. Obama is correct that every bad thing that happens at that church is going to make news.
Matthew 7
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Donny, I'll be praying that you will soften your heart, and that God chooses in His infinite mercy to judge you much less harshly than you judge others.
Donny,
When Obama said "I don't want them punished with a baby" I am sure he was not saying that babies are punishment....he is merely acknowledging that unplanned pregnancies are very hard on women who are not prepared for motherhood (as well as their partners and/or spouses). Instead of being so shamelessly judgemental, can't you show a little bit of compassion for the scared, overwhelmed pregnant women and try to help her through such an emotionally harrowing time?
My husband and I watched on TV Sen. Obama's announcement that he is
leaving Trinity church. We both have great respect for this man
as he came forward with his decisions and thoughtfully answered
questions from members of the press who were not always as principled
as they should have been. I feel that Sen. Obama is a man of
integrity and deep spiritual faith and I find it sad that he has
been forced to defend his faith in such a manner. None of us have
walked in the shoes of any of the 8,000 members of Trinity church
including those of Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. None of us
have been a part of the many, many outeach programs conducted by
this church to provide help and education and comfort to those in
need in their community.
For the media to cause such chaos in a church is unacceptable. When
are we ever going to be able to distinguish between freedom of the
press and blatant bad taste? I think Sen. Obama's decision
to protect the right of these people to worship in peace is truly
an honorable and Christian thing to do. God Bless him and his
family!
It's so sad that he has had to this, that during this campaign his church has gone under fire. Why has this much attention not occured at Sen. Clinton's or Sen. McCain's churches? How come no one ever bothers to bring up religion with them? The most we got about religion with others is John Hagees endorsement of Sen. McCain and then Hagees "outrageous" sermons (though I watched more of the sermons and actually the sermon in its entirety actually kinda helps understand the strange, outrageous, short clips you see...basically whoever posted them took the controversial statements and left out the rest of the sermon...funny, something tells me that we might actually gain a spiritual insight by listening to the rest). As a Hindu I'd hate to run for public office and have everyone looking up all about the gurus I've met or the temples I've visited or the satsang I'm a part of. I can understand how disruptful all this prying can be. My satsang isn't as large as Trinity, it's only 10-12 people. To know that those 10-12 people would be scrutinized, that the activities of the satsang would be checked, that guest speakers to the satsang or even members of the satsang could have their words taken out of context, misconstrued, or even whole conversations removed and only brief comments clipped and played in a way that doesn't reflect the entire conversation...I'd be appalled and I know that I would do the same thing, leave the satsang so the others remaining could continue to grow spiritually and learn, express, and practice their religious beliefs. I often hear people, some who aren't even Obama supporters and are planning to vote for McCain, say that even they'd hate for their church to be treated like his has been. They think that it's just tacky and rude what the media and politicians are doing to Trinity as well as to him. That's saying a lot when even people who aren't going to vote for you even think that it's wrong and dirty!!!
The first Sunday after 9/11 I attended services at my Grandmother's Catholic church.
The priest, not a yelling, screaming caricature, in his homily placed the blame on the US for the attack.
I have never gone back.
It is amazing that a Presidential candidate lacks judgment, or is it possible he agrees with the hard left views of this church?
How does that square with Mr. Obama being a uniter? Is that just ephemeral nonsense, marketing slogans?
Rev. Dr. Buzz Miller...
I do not blame the US for the terrorist attacks of 9/11 which killed nearly 2,750 people - not all Americans.
I DO blame the US for the hundreds of thousands of deaths - not all Americans - incurred as a result of the Iraqi invasion of 2003, for which 9/11 was, has been and continues to be used as justification for an illegal military action against a sovereign nation. In my book, BOTH acts were acts of terrorism.
As for Mr. Obama, I believe he demonstrates a depth of judgement the American public is not accustomed to seeing in its politicians. For one with advanced education and theological training, I would expect one such as yourself to be more discerning and less quick to judge. As a clergy-person, I know all too well what it's like to have my words scrutinzed and picked apart, especially by those who have an agenda. I'm glad to know the Obama's wrestled so hard with their decision. That tells me their hearts really were (are) in the right place.
I am certain that the United Church of Christ which stems from the First Church of Christ is surprised that Obama has given up his church. Perhaps this will open him up to being able to go back to the radical Muslim roots he was educated as a youth and of his father or perhaps the Atheist roots of his mother. At any rate it appears that Obama may be thinking like Carl Marks, that "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses," who needs these people lousing up my campaign. Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men?
To the ShoshannaSue comment: Obama is not a muslim and has no "radical muslim roots." Please check those facts on the Obama website here (http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_is_not_and_has_never_bee.php)
and here (http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_never_attended_a_muslim.php).
I believe this is an unfortunate move, but a necessary one caused by the hyper media coverage of the race and every exigency that confronts each candidate.
I am glad because I would not have voted for Obama, because of his minister alone. I did not want to hear the minister for the next 8 years. All he would have ben speaking on was the race issue or the Civil Rights movements of the 1960's. It is not the 1960's and I will be glad when a few more generations come and go so that that era of time will be forgotten once and for all. It is the year 2008.. everyone living has the same chances in life now and so all that race issues of the past should be in the chronicles of a library with dust on it.
I also, do not want to hear the "usual" NAACP or the civil rights leaders on the news every morning bashing the white race for the next 8 years...I want a good cup of Java with a different subject line than Obama's prejudiced minister every morning on CNN.
Where did Barrak Obama get his Muslim name? His father was Muslim and so was his step father. Where were you born Colin? Obama will not win against McCain unless he brings Hillary Clinton on as a running mate. Obama and Mama all the way.
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