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DEL.ICIO.USObama: ‘How I came to Jesus, and not Muhammad’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tom Baxter, the ex-Insider, was in Macon on Sunday to hear Obama describe how he came to a late baptism.
Baxter rightly points out that this was also inoculation against those nasty e-mails accusing the candidate of Muslim tendencies. And you thought Mitt Romney had a theological hurdle.
On today’s InsiderAdvantage web site, Baxter wrote:
In some detail, Obama told of how he had come to walk down the aisle and get baptized, while doing social work with churches on the Chicago South Side.
It was only at the suggestion of the preachers he was working with, Obama said, that he began attending church. He noted how his mother was skeptical of organized religion, while his father - who left when he was two years old - was absent.
Obama described his conversion as a slow and unremarkable turning toward faith.
“The skeptical bent of my mind didn’t suddenly vanish, but kneeling beneath the cross I discovered God’s spirit beckoning to me,” Obama said.
It seemed Obama was less interested in making his road to the cross dramatic than in making it plausible: A simple story which many in the church could relate to, settling any lingering doubts about the stories on the web that he has Muslim ties.
In some of the Feb. 5 states where he’ll be competing, such a long explanation might not be necessary. In South Georgia, which Flannery O’Connor once referred to as “Christ-haunted,” it is.
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Comments
By reeves
January 28, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
He went from being skeptical to being stupid? Hard to believe.
Too bad he has to lie to get elected. He would have my vote if he admitted that he knows religion is for the simple and weak.
By Will Jones
January 28, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
reeves - Re-lig-ion is just “reconnecting” with the Creator. The “lig” is the same as in ligament. If you’re an diehard atheist come out and say it, please. Or, if you aren’t American, please share that fact as well, because Americans, true Americans, follow the Mottoes left to us by the Founders. Annuit Coeptis means “Divine Providence blesses our endeavors.” Do you reject Divine Providence? Do you resent others for recognizing Divine Providence? Do you think you’re smarting than America’s Founders? Please, tell all.
By NCdawg
January 28, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
If he’s such a devout Christian and prays to Jesus as he says he does, why does he support killing unborn babies? Maybe he needs to pray more and read the Commandment that states, “Thou shalt not kill.”
By FL Dawg
January 28, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
When sworn in as Senator of Mass., he used the Koran vs. the Bible.
Ask him to explain that. Also, what will be his book of choice if elected President.
By Dave
January 28, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Here we start the vicious cycle where the athiests just throw out anyone that professes to have a faith that extends beyond what you have here on earth. They continually say “religion is for the week and mindless”. Hey Reeves, athiests are just arrogant individuals who just can’t see the forest for the trees. You foolishly interpret faith as weakness. Your weekness comes from your pride and arrogance towards anything but yourself. Your whole life is filled with discontent, anger and the blinders on your eyes. “If I can’t see it, it just isn’t so.” is your mantra. I’m glad that there are people that think outside the box on issues, possibilities and the faith that there are some things that your feeble mind cannot explain. While I don’t support Obama, I understand that at some point there comes a reckoning. The bible is full of people that think the way you do and at some point in time, it will be too late to say “OK, OK,…I was wrong.”
Enjoy your life in your own private hell.
By Copyleft
January 28, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
I don’t see where Obama needs to explain anything about his personal religious beliefs. What do they have to do with his ability to hold office?
By Rick
January 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
As a Republican, I support neither Hillary or Obama, but I’m glad that neither of them spout off the same gibberish as Reeves. He simply a dog lost in high weeds, closing his eyes and covering his ears towards any debate or reasoning towards the subject of faith or religion. He will be forgotten as soon as he shuts off his computer. Religion ahd politics should be kept seperate as you can’t legislate morality and you can’t pass bills against stupidity and imorality. When was the last time you heard a candidate say “I don’t belive in god and I think religion is for the weak.”? That’s what I thought. At least our choices have SOME sense of a world beyond what we see, whatever their views are. Reeves views are so narrow minded, simplistic and downright arrogant. His kind are usually regarded with a grin, rolling of eyes and then you move on to something intelligent and worth experiencing. In other words, Reeves has the credibility of a 16 yr. old trying to explain to an adult the values found on MTV.
By Takeyo Dollar
January 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
His statement has no ring of truth to it. it sounds like a contrived bit of religion to get spiritual black voters on his side. Is he muslim? No. Did he swear on the Koran? No. Is he a christian? Only God knows. Is he religious? Everyone in Washington D.C. is.
By C
January 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
To: FL Dawg
Get your facts straight before you dissemate untruths. Sen. Obama was not sworn in w/ the Koran. U.S. Rep. (Congresman) Keith Ellis of Minn. was sworn in w/ the Koran.
By TC
January 28, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
B. Hussein Obama isn’t a muzzie. He does however need to explain how his personal views on faith, policy and race regarding the black separatist church of which he’s a member.
Go ahead and do a web search for Trinity United Church of Christ and click on the “about us” page. It hints at some of the church’s beliefs and has been toned down quite a bit due to the negative publicity it’s received.
By Kyle B
January 28, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
FL DAWG
Well for starters he is a Senator in Illinois not Mass. Second he did not use the Koran but the Bible to be sworn. The swearing in on the Koran is just a internet rumor that has no basis in fact
By Ga Dawg
January 28, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Fl Dawg, not only are you wrong but your ignorance is sad. First of all Obama was never a Senator from Mass. When he was sworn in as the Senator from Illinois, he used the Bible. You are confusing him with a Congressman from Michigan who used the Koran.
By C.
January 28, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
To: FL Dawg
Get your facts straight before you state untruths as facts. Sen. Obama was not sworn in w/ the Koran. U.S. Rep. (Congressman) Keith Ellis of Minn. was sworn in w/ the Koran. Anyway, I am sick of “religion” being a factor in whether or not a candidate should be elected. We are a nation founded on the sep. of church and state.
By Deborah
January 28, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
FL Dawg - Obama was never a senator from Mass - that was another person. Obama is a Senator from Illinois and he used the Bible when he was sworn. That misconception has been refuted in all the news media over and over again. Why in the world haven’t you heard it. Do you live under a rock?
By June Bug
January 28, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Copyleft, I agree with you.
Although, I believe you should have some type of Christian beliefs as a foundation to lead this country.
Nonetheless, people ALWAYS try to find the not so important facts to relish on. If their lives were so perfect then why don’t they run for president or at least president of their local Humane Society.
Hell, these are the SAME people that kept voting for Bush and can’t understand nor see where he went wrong. Ghee!
By Jan
January 28, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
The church Obama attends describes itself as “a church whose theological perspective starts from the vantage point of Black liberation theology being its center”.
Read the manifesto of Obama’s church: tucc
The church gave an award to Louis Farakkhan (sp?) last year.
Black liberation theology is concerned with the political and economic aspects of salvation *rather than * salvation in spiritual terms. Moreover, God is viewed as being primarily for the poor over against the rich in society.
Evangelical theology has usually seen the person of Christ as the center of the Bible and thus of theology. However, black theology’s center is the theme of oppression.
As a person’s world view greatly influences their actions and judgment, it is imperative that you know a candidate’s world view before casting your vote for the person.
By DoubleD
January 28, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
For the record Obama was sworn in with the Bible, Keith Ellison (Minn) has been the only person sworn into the Senate on the Q’uran.
By Snidely Buttright
January 28, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
and it was Thomas Jefferson’s Q’ran at that!
By GeezGuys
January 28, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
When sworn in as Senator of Mass., he used the Koran vs. the Bible.
Either you’re incredibly stupid, or you’re a troll from Ga Tech. First, Obama has never been a Senator of Massachusetts, idiot. Second, he wasn’t sworn in on a Koran. It’s an internet rumor.
BTW, Microsoft won’t pay you for forwarding e-mails, your cellphone will not make gas pumps explode, and a Mrs. Fields cookie recipe doesn’t sell for $500.
By June Bug
January 28, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Copyleft, I agree with you.
Although, I believe you should have some type of Christian beliefs as a foundation to lead this country.
Nonetheless, people ALWAYS try to find the not so important facts to relish on. If their lives were so perfect then why don’t they run for president or at least president of their local Humane Society.
Hell, these are the SAME people that kept voting for Bush and can’t understand nor see where he went wrong. Ghee!
By Copyleft
January 28, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it interesting that the far right has had to resort to made-up lies and rumor-mongering to attack Obama?
That’s because they have nothing of SUBSTANCE to attack him with. Says a lot for the guy, I think.
By Peri
January 28, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
* To: GeezGuys:*
LOL! You made me laugh so hard, I spit coffee on my keyboard! That’ll cost me. But it’s worth it — I love a good Monday morning laugh!
By Victor Jones
January 28, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
“Where you came from is gone, where you thought you were going to never was there, and where you are is no good unless you can get away from it.”
-Wise Blood 1952 -Filmed in Macon 1979
By Little One
January 28, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
TC and Jan, I am SURE there are black people at your church on Sunday morning, right? Tell me that you attend an integrated church. In fact, few of us do. I don’t see you counting heads at HRC’s church. Let’s count how my Blacks go to church with Romney.
Just go ahead and say you don’t want to vote for a Black man and quit hiding behind all the feeble excuses. We can respect honesty. Or don’t they teach that in your church.
By GeezGuys
January 28, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Thanks, Peri. It would be funnier if it didn’t involve our selection of the next president.
Just wait ‘til Will Jones checks in. The unintentional humor is way better than any of my deliberate sarcasm.
By Truthman
January 28, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
I’m a true A-theist American who has worked successfully for the DOD for more than 23 years and is raising two perfectly lovely children who think for themselves.
You wanna argue who is American? You don’t have to buy into the god-myth to be a good American. In fact, you don’thave to buy into any organization to be a good citizen of planet earth. Just leave it better than you found it!!
By Dave
January 28, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Little One, or should I say Little Mind, why is it that whenever someone doesn’t want to vote for Obama it’s because they don’t want to vote for a black man? Are you really that shot sighted or just drinking from the Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson coolade cooler? It’s comments and attitudes like that that make everyone just roll their eyes and think “Good GRIEF! There’s another ‘Vote for the black man or you are a racist’ voter…”
By Honesty
January 28, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
I do not want to vote for a BLACK man!! There is your Honesty!!
By Honesty
January 28, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
Truthman - Are you saying that born again believers can’t think for themselves?
By Jan
January 28, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Little One:
Actually there are black people in my church on Sunday and in my weekly bible study and serving as deacons. But the only theology they aspire to is what is taught in the bible. (I’m guessing this is true as they are members of the same church as me.)
My beef with the church Obama is a member of is the theology it teaches apart from biblical theology.
Surprisingly even though I am a white Southerner I can divorce bad theology from skin color. I would hardly call Farrakhan a role model for the church regardless of his skin color.
By Righty
January 28, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Little One, I go to a church that is half black and half white. Jesus loves us all. My best friend and love of my life is black. What I can’t stand is bigotry where ever it comes from. Black or White. I think Obama need a new church that teaches Jesus love for everyone.
By Jerry
January 28, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
I fail to observe how being religious (any sect) makes one a better person. In Georgia, odds are great that the person giving you the finger in traffic or cursing some poor clerk or having an affair or beating his or her child is a Christian. It does, however, make them arrogant to the point of stating that secular people are morally inferior beings with no principles. I wish it were illegal for political candidates to blather on about something as wholly irrelevant as religion.
By Copyleft
January 28, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
Nice thought, Jerry; if only our society were mature enough to handle something like that!