Do I think Obama is a Christian? I think he is. Some might say he’s not an “evangelical”. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a Christian.
I am particularly impressed with this statement in his keynote at the A Covenant for a New America conference.
“But what I am suggesting is this – secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryant, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King – indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history – were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their “personal morality” into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition.”
‘Call to Renewal’ Keynote Address
And having an unofficial endorsement from Rick Warren doesn’t hurt his religious image either.
BLITZER: What did you think of Barack Obama?
WARREN: He’s an amazing man. I think…
BLITZER: Do you think he’s got it? In other words, he’s got that potential like so many other presidential prospects, to be the president of the United States?
WARREN: I think he does.
BLITZER: Because?
WARREN: I think he has good character. I think both Sam Brownback and Barack Obama — the reason I invited them both, first, they’ll tell you the truth. They’re not just going to beat around the bush. They’ll tell you what they believe. And I appreciate that.
Second, they’re men of civility. And I’m so tired of the rudeness we’ve got in our society where people are just mean to each other. We need to return to civility, which says, I treat you with respect even if I violently disagree with you. That we’ve lost the “civil” in civilization.
I like the fact that Obama seems to be open-minded and respectful of other opinions. And also that he was opposed to the Iraq war and willing to take a stand about it.
I doubt any other Democrats would become front-runners. So, it should be a very interesting race between Obama and Hillary Clinton.
And given Bush’s abysmal approval ratings, I think it’s almost guaranteed that the next president will be a Democrat.
So, then the only question left is what do Americans want first? The first black president or the first female president?
More links:
Evangelical? Obama’s faith too complex for simple label
Barack Obama: Sheep or Goat?
Much buzz, many questions over Barack Obama’s bid