Barack Obama is not a Christian continues to be a rallying cry from the Christian right. For some, like Joe Carter and Rod Dreher, it is because Obama isn’t orthodox enough (read: he doesn’t believe and act exactly as they believe and act)
For others, like Mark Holick at Spirit One Christian Center in Kansas, it’s because, Barack Obama is…wait for it…A Muslim! The sign from the church says it all.
I’m having a hard time with this silliness. As progressive revival reader Val commented:
I AM SOOOO TIRED OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO FEEL THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE WHO IS A CHRISTIAN AND WHO ISN’T. Judge not lest ye be judged. God is the only one qualified to judge who is a true believer. President-Elect Obama’s life story could put some so called “Christians” to shame. Some of us go to church every Sunday and still practice racial discrimination. Jesus instructed us to love one another and to take care of the poor among us. Obama’s mother and grandparents took issue with (and challenged) the hypocrites who went to church and behaved abusive towards people who are different. Our duty on this earth is to follow God’s commandments so we can give an account for how we spent our time here on the day of reckoning. Pray for the success of our next president (if he fails we will all suffer) instead of judging his faith.
Amen sister.
posted November 21, 2008 at 9:10 pm
My question is: Would it be so terrible IF Obama was a Muslim? Isn’t this a free country? Free to be a follower of any faith one wants to OR to follow no faith or religion? There is no State religion or requirement that tells the people in this country what faith to follow. There is no religious requirement for the office of President. Why the fuss from the religious right? That sign is ridiculous.
Do I think he is a Muslim? No.
posted November 22, 2008 at 8:18 am
Yes, he is a muslim, marxist, socialist, not a real Christian, not born in the United States, paling around with terrorists while redistributing the wealth kind of a guy. The one thing he is not, is a dufus. We’ve had that for about 8 years now and I’m glad for the change. Meanwhile, the oogedy-boogedy wing of the Republican party marches on.
posted November 22, 2008 at 9:14 am
David Letterman wrote this; it’s the David we don’t often see….
‘As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.’
‘The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking,’What are we so unhappy about?’
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Oceanwithout having to present identification papers as we move through each state.
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ‘other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable’ discharge after a few days in
the brig.
posted November 22, 2008 at 9:57 am
well,it is all good if it true.
posted November 22, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Letterman never wrote that. http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
Sheesh.
posted November 22, 2008 at 3:16 pm
It is all right with me if Dreher, Carter, and Holick choose to make themselves feel superior in this misguided manner. I tend to read it as another way of advertising their intellectual inadequacies along with expressing their sense of personal inferiority.
It is very highly unlikely that Jesus of Nazareth would have passed their “criteria” for really being a Christian; and not simply because he was a devout follower of Judaism. Nor would Paul, Peter, or James–of New Testament fame–have met their “criteria.”