Obama deleted "Creator" from Declaration of Indepe

[coadie]

But the more critical comments also suggest why the transcript was withheld until now.


FALSANI:
What do you believe?

OBAMA:
I am a Christian.

So, I have a deep faith. So I draw from the Christian faith.

On the other hand, I was born in Hawaii where obviously there are a lot of Eastern influences.

I lived in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, between the ages of six and 10.

My father was from Kenya, and although he was probably most accurately labeled an agnostic, his father was Muslim.

And I’d say, probably, intellectually I’ve drawn as much from Judaism as any other faith.

(A patron stops and says, “Congratulations,” shakes his hand. “Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Thank you.”)

So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people. That there are values that transcend race or culture, that move us forward, and there’s an obligation for all of us individually as well as collectively to take responsibility to make those values lived.

And so, part of my project in life was probably to spend the first 40 years of my life figuring out what I did believe – I’m 42 now – and it’s not that I had it all completely worked out, but I’m spending a lot of time now trying to apply what I believe and trying to live up to those values.

He has his bases covered. Judaism, Islam and Christian Tradition.

OBAMA:
I was raised more by my mother and my mother was Christian.

She was an atheist

FALSANI:
Any particular flavor?

[coadie]

FALSANI:
So you got yourself born again?

OBAMA:
Yeah, although I don't, I retain from my childhood and my experiences growing up a suspicion of dogma. And I'm not somebody who is always comfortable with language that implies I've got a monopoly on the truth, or that my faith is automatically transferable to others.

I'm a big believer in tolerance. I think that religion at its best comes with a big dose of doubt. I'm suspicious of too much certainty in the pursuit of understanding just because I think people are limited in their understanding.

I think that, particularly as somebody who's now in the public realm and is a student of what brings people together and what drives them apart, there's an enormous amount of damage done around the world in the name of religion and certainty.

So you got yourself born again

Apparently not. No use of the word "YES"

[coadie]

FALSANI:
Who's Jesus to you?

(He laughs nervously)

OBAMA:
Right.

Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.

And he's also a wonderful teacher. I think it's important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.

That agrees with the Quran. The Quran says he is a good prophet. They also claim Ibrihim was the Father of all prophets. A good man.

OBAMA:
Where do you move forward with that?

This is something that I'm sure I'd have serious debates with my fellow Christians about. I think that the difficult thing about any religion, including Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize and prostelytize. There's the belief, certainly in some quarters, that people haven't embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior that they're going to hell.

FALSANI:
You don't believe that?

OBAMA:
I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell.

[coadie]

FALSANI:
Do you believe in sin?

OBAMA:
Yes.

FALSANI:
What is sin?
OBAMA:
Being out of alignment with my values.

So Obama calls the shots.

[Maximilian]

Obama sounds like the average post-modern 20-something in any of our cities, he's quite representative of their cynical views of organized religions. What's your point? Shall we have a witch hunt for every politician to prove how Christian they are?

And back to my question: Is he a backslidden pseudo-Christian, Muslim or Atheist. Make up your mind.

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by coadie

So Obama calls the shots.

So he's in heresy. He isn't fully aligned with your view of Christianity. What's your point, here, coadie? This isn't a big secret. His ideas are quite popularized in Western culture today. He's a politician, not the head of the church. His views, identification with, and form of faith aren't out of the mainstream -- for better or for worse.

[Maximilian]

Let me change your options:

Is Obama a Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist or Spiritualist? Your evidence is confusing your accusations.

[coadie]

It's amazing the widespread hold universalist doctrine has among the contemporary politically correct religionists. Sin is when he moves against his personal values. Bin Laden can say the same thing.

[coadie]

At the beginning of the interview, Obama says, “So, I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place.” With this statement alone, Obama takes issue with Jesus’ words in John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.”
Last year the highly esteemed Rev. D. James Kennedy closed his sermon on John 14:1-7 with this: “And let me add this. If you go out of here saying you don’t like that text (John 14:6), that is your privilege. But do not call yourself a Christian. You are calling Christ a liar.”

Good example of II Cor 4:4 - a man who's heard the gospel preached but who's mind has been blinded by the god of this age.

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by coadie

It's amazing the widespread hold universalist doctrine has among the contemporary politically correct religionists. Sin is when he moves against his personal values. Bin Laden can say the same thing.

Very true, Coadie.

But to stay on point, BO is a man like any other working through his faith. Why the jabs at his faith? Why do we think that is something Jesus would be in party with?