There's still lots of heat in the columns and blogs after last week's poll by the Pew Research Center on President Obama's religion.
In case you missed it, 18% of Americans surveyed said they think President Obama is a Muslim.
While many are still arguing that he is, or he isn't, or he appears to be, some are also questioning the point of the debate in the first place; this from an LA Times editorial ...
... in protesting too much that he is a Christian -- and one, moreover, who prays daily -- the White House may be encouraging the impression that there is a religious test for the presidency and that a Muslim would fail it.
The same piece points to part of the US Constitution to argue that any American of any religion should be able to hold any office.
If the President didn't say he was a Christian, but instead said he followed some other religion - including Islam - would that be a problem?
Clearly, the thrust of many of the articles that claim he is indeed a Muslim is that that is inherently a bad thing for the United States.
Others are not so much concerned about his beliefs as about whether he is being straight about his beliefs (and their evolution).
This blogger isn't a fan of Obama, but says the religion debate isn't helpful in solving the country's wider problems:
while we are arguing over is-he-or-isn't-he, we are losing jobs, going deeper in debt, destroying our health care system, and running our economy into the ground. There are plenty of excellent reasons to oppose this President and his policies, his religious affiliation, or lack thereof, is not one of them.
Finally, what about the way in which the other politicians are getting involved in this discussion?
Much has been made of leading Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's answer to the question of whether the President is a Muslim: "I take him at his word," said McConnell on MSNBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, which some interpreted as rather evasive.
Hillary Clinton once rebutted the same question about Obama with a similar caveat, "as far as I know".
Are politicians of all sides guilty of letting this linger for their own political ends? Or are journalists, bloggers and conspiracy theorists reading far too much into comments like these for their own ends?!
Tell us what you think - does President Obama's faith matter? Or are there more important discussions to be had in the United States?
Luke in New York
This is a stupid discussion. The only thing that matters to me is if he is lying about anything. I don't care what his faith is. If he is Muslim, then he is Muslim. If he is Christian, then he is Christian.
But he says he is Christian, so I believe that. People who say otherwise are a small minority in this country. Religion is slowly becoming less of an issue in all regards with the younger generation that is coming up in America. The only ones who cling to it, are people of the older persuasion.
The fact that this is even being discussed embarrasses me.
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18:44
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Cari
So one of the comments was that obama's Christianity is not the same as the mainstream...neither was JFK (Catholic). In fact, it is common knowledge (to those who care enough to inform themselves as opposed to ascribing to prevailing dogma) that the majority of the founding fathers of the USA were Deists while most modern Christians are Theists. So again, no match...why don't these differences matter.
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Gerry in Berlin
Apart from the mosque, Obama's policies are killing thousands and making refugees of millions in Muslim Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Does this qualify him as a good Christian?
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18:44
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Anne in Maine
I'm a 29 year old white woman living in a rural state where people are still losing their jobs and homes. The farm I work at hasn't had rain in weeks, my mortgage payment is due shortly, and I'm debating putting my college loans into forbearance to ease the financial hardship that is a regular part of life these days. I couldn't care less about Barack Obama's religion, only that he help us get back on the right track. His religious practices are entirely irrelevant to my life and current struggles.
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18:43
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Jeff
As an American it is infuriating to hear people try to revise history for their own ends while actually denigrating the principles on which this country was founded.
First of all, the "Founder Fathers" were not a homogenous group that all shared the same ideas and values. The were not all Christian and several were as close to being atheist as they could be given the attitudes of the day. Both Franklin and Jefferson were Deists just to name two.
Furthermore, the first treaty that this country engaged in with a foreign power, which was penned and approved by several of the founding fathers was with a Muslim nation. It is called the Treaty of Tripoli, and in its 11th article it clearly states that the US is NOT a Christian country. It can be found easily enough in any encyclopedia or online. Check wikipedia.
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18:43
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Michael
It is believed the inner-city, largely Black, largely Christian, vote boost in California in 2008 for Obama led to the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative to be passed there. What Obama needs to get this 20% is to fight against some progressive social issue like gay marriage....maybe
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18:42
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Adesina in Texas
Is it a fact that separation of Church and State is not mentioned or even implied in the U.S. constitution or the declaration of Independence? Where then did it come from?
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18:41
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Jeff in Ohio
The fact that we are having this discussion is wonderful. During the time of slavery, there was no discussion of discriminatory employment practices. We are having a discussion of faith and the presidency only, and precisely, because we as a country have progressed to a point where someone with a vague appearance of a connection to a faith other than Christian, a country other than the US and a race other than white has risen to the highest political position possible. The extremist discussion should be of no surprise, and the fact that we have achieved a milestone which provokes it should be celebrated!
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18:41
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Anne in Florida
Can you please ask your guest to cite exactly where Jesus Christ’s name appears in the either the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, as he claims they do?
As to Jeff from Kentucky, please remember his kind of Christianity was used for several centuries to justify the enslavement, rape, torture and murder of millions of Africans, then American blacks.
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18:41
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Charlotte
The Bill of Rights, an Amendment to the US Constitution, explicitly reads:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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18:40
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John
Muslim extremists and right wing republicans and evangalical so called christians are all in the same bed. they believe that if you don't agree with me you're wrong and going to hell.hopefully that's where they will all meet and have a good political discussion
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18:40
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Scott in New Columbia
I have a problem with any leader who believes that a magic, invisible man lives in the sky and decides our fates.
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18:39
114647761
. I could care less if the president is muslim or christian. I would prefer a leader with no religion...ie no imaginary friend.
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18:39
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C King
Indiana, United States
1. Barack Obama's religion is between himself and God. No one has the right to judge him. Only God can do that.
2. Every faith has extremists. The Nazis killed Jews in the name of Christianity and the KKK killed people based on Christianity. That does not mean the entire faith practices those extremist acts
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18:39
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Allison
What this discussion reveals is that there is a big disagreement on the meaning of Christianity within the US. Black v. white, rural v. urban.
What you will find is that most who doubt Obama are white conservatives in rural and southern "Bible Belt" regions. They are also those who typically vote Republican and would argue a "literal" reading of the Bible. It shows the social and cultural differences in the US.
Does Obama's faith matter?
| Wednesday, 8 Aug. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
There's still lots of heat in the columns and blogs after last week's poll by the Pew Research Center on President Obama's religion.
In case you missed it, 18% of Americans surveyed said they think President Obama is a Muslim.
While many are still arguing that he is, or he isn't, or he appears to be, some are also questioning the point of the debate in the first place; this from an LA Times editorial ...
... in protesting too much that he is a Christian -- and one, moreover, who prays daily -- the White House may be encouraging the impression that there is a religious test for the presidency and that a Muslim would fail it.
The same piece points to part of the US Constitution to argue that any American of any religion should be able to hold any office.
If the President didn't say he was a Christian, but instead said he followed some other religion - including Islam - would that be a problem?
Clearly, the thrust of many of the articles that claim he is indeed a Muslim is that that is inherently a bad thing for the United States.
Others are not so much concerned about his beliefs as about whether he is being straight about his beliefs (and their evolution).
This blogger isn't a fan of Obama, but says the religion debate isn't helpful in solving the country's wider problems:
while we are arguing over is-he-or-isn't-he, we are losing jobs, going deeper in debt, destroying our health care system, and running our economy into the ground. There are plenty of excellent reasons to oppose this President and his policies, his religious affiliation, or lack thereof, is not one of them.
Finally, what about the way in which the other politicians are getting involved in this discussion?
Much has been made of leading Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's answer to the question of whether the President is a Muslim: "I take him at his word," said McConnell on MSNBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, which some interpreted as rather evasive.
Hillary Clinton once rebutted the same question about Obama with a similar caveat, "as far as I know".
Are politicians of all sides guilty of letting this linger for their own political ends? Or are journalists, bloggers and conspiracy theorists reading far too much into comments like these for their own ends?!
Tell us what you think - does President Obama's faith matter? Or are there more important discussions to be had in the United States?
Your comments
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Luke in New York This is a stupid discussion. The only thing that matters to me is if he is lying about anything. I don't care what his faith is. If he is Muslim, then he is Muslim. If he is Christian, then he is Christian. But he says he is Christian, so I believe that. People who say otherwise are a small minority in this country. Religion is slowly becoming less of an issue in all regards with the younger generation that is coming up in America. The only ones who cling to it, are people of the older persuasion. The fact that this is even being discussed embarrasses me.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Cari So one of the comments was that obama's Christianity is not the same as the mainstream...neither was JFK (Catholic). In fact, it is common knowledge (to those who care enough to inform themselves as opposed to ascribing to prevailing dogma) that the majority of the founding fathers of the USA were Deists while most modern Christians are Theists. So again, no match...why don't these differences matter.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Gerry in Berlin Apart from the mosque, Obama's policies are killing thousands and making refugees of millions in Muslim Afghanistan and Pakistan. Does this qualify him as a good Christian?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Anne in Maine I'm a 29 year old white woman living in a rural state where people are still losing their jobs and homes. The farm I work at hasn't had rain in weeks, my mortgage payment is due shortly, and I'm debating putting my college loans into forbearance to ease the financial hardship that is a regular part of life these days. I couldn't care less about Barack Obama's religion, only that he help us get back on the right track. His religious practices are entirely irrelevant to my life and current struggles.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jeff As an American it is infuriating to hear people try to revise history for their own ends while actually denigrating the principles on which this country was founded. First of all, the "Founder Fathers" were not a homogenous group that all shared the same ideas and values. The were not all Christian and several were as close to being atheist as they could be given the attitudes of the day. Both Franklin and Jefferson were Deists just to name two. Furthermore, the first treaty that this country engaged in with a foreign power, which was penned and approved by several of the founding fathers was with a Muslim nation. It is called the Treaty of Tripoli, and in its 11th article it clearly states that the US is NOT a Christian country. It can be found easily enough in any encyclopedia or online. Check wikipedia.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Michael It is believed the inner-city, largely Black, largely Christian, vote boost in California in 2008 for Obama led to the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative to be passed there. What Obama needs to get this 20% is to fight against some progressive social issue like gay marriage....maybe
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Adesina in Texas Is it a fact that separation of Church and State is not mentioned or even implied in the U.S. constitution or the declaration of Independence? Where then did it come from?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jeff in Ohio The fact that we are having this discussion is wonderful. During the time of slavery, there was no discussion of discriminatory employment practices. We are having a discussion of faith and the presidency only, and precisely, because we as a country have progressed to a point where someone with a vague appearance of a connection to a faith other than Christian, a country other than the US and a race other than white has risen to the highest political position possible. The extremist discussion should be of no surprise, and the fact that we have achieved a milestone which provokes it should be celebrated!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Anne in Florida Can you please ask your guest to cite exactly where Jesus Christ’s name appears in the either the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, as he claims they do? As to Jeff from Kentucky, please remember his kind of Christianity was used for several centuries to justify the enslavement, rape, torture and murder of millions of Africans, then American blacks.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Charlotte The Bill of Rights, an Amendment to the US Constitution, explicitly reads: Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
John Muslim extremists and right wing republicans and evangalical so called christians are all in the same bed. they believe that if you don't agree with me you're wrong and going to hell.hopefully that's where they will all meet and have a good political discussion
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Scott in New Columbia I have a problem with any leader who believes that a magic, invisible man lives in the sky and decides our fates.
Comment sent via Twitter
. I could care less if the president is muslim or christian. I would prefer a leader with no religion...ie no imaginary friend.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
C King Indiana, United States 1. Barack Obama's religion is between himself and God. No one has the right to judge him. Only God can do that. 2. Every faith has extremists. The Nazis killed Jews in the name of Christianity and the KKK killed people based on Christianity. That does not mean the entire faith practices those extremist acts
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Allison What this discussion reveals is that there is a big disagreement on the meaning of Christianity within the US. Black v. white, rural v. urban. What you will find is that most who doubt Obama are white conservatives in rural and southern "Bible Belt" regions. They are also those who typically vote Republican and would argue a "literal" reading of the Bible. It shows the social and cultural differences in the US.