Church or Political Movement? - Obama's Church

[AcesFull]

With all of the hand wringing about the religious beliefs of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, why have the major media outlets and other candidates not raised serious questions about Barack Obama's religion? I am not talking about the internet chain letters that attempt to convince people that Obama is a Muslim because of his name and his kinship to Muslims. I am referring to Obama's current membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ.

 

Apparently Obama is worried that his membership in the church and his close relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. will become a campaign issue. Obama invited Rev. Wright to the press conference at which he announced his decision to run for president and then withdrew the invitation upon the advice of his campaign staff.

 

Why are Huckabee and Romney regularly grilled about their religious beliefs and Obama gets a free pass on his religion and on the political agenda of the Trinity United Church of Christ?

 

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

 

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

 

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.

2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.

3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.

4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.

5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.

6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.

7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.

8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.

9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.

10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

 

Trinity United Church of Christ

[rockmom]

With all of the hand wringing about the religious beliefs of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, why have the major media outlets and other candidates not raised serious questions about Barack Obama's religion? I am not talking about the internet chain letters that attempt to convince people that Obama is a Muslim because of his name and his kinship to Muslims. I am referring to Obama's current membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ.

 

Apparently Obama is worried that his membership in the church and his close relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. will become a campaign issue. Obama invited Rev. Wright to the press conference at which he announced his decision to run for president and then withdrew the invitation upon the advice of his campaign staff.

 

Why are Huckabee and Romney regularly grilled about their religious beliefs and Obama gets a free pass on his religion and on the political agenda of the Trinity United Church of Christ?

 

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

 

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

 

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.

2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.

3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.

4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.

5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.

6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.

7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.

8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.

9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.

10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

 

Trinity United Church of Christ

 

I believe the issue with Huckabee is that he has made it his issue to include in his platform.

 

Romney is being grilled because other candidates want to find some negative connotation with LDS.

 

Obama hasn't made Christianity his platform, and frankly, he's a Democrat. The other two are Republicans, and evidently fighting for the "evangelical" vote, which apparently only votes Republican.

 

Ho hum....

[rockmom]

Further, if Obama happens to win the D nomination, and Huckabee the R nomination, I predict Huckabee makes a big deal out of Obama's Church's mission statement.

[H]

^ I agree with your post, Rockmom.

[AcesFull]

Obama makes frequent references to God and faith in his speeches but nobody asks him for any specifics. Both Huckabee and Romney have been hit repeatedly in debates with questions about their religion. I think that the media has made their religions an issue more than the candidates have. Democrats play by different rules and the media tends to give them free passes on religious issues.

[ladiesbballcoach]

Right now, Democrats don't address religion at all and according to their 2004 Presidential candidate, their faith plays no part in their governing.

 

Now come general election despite the attempts to smear Huckabee, any of the Republican candidates will make it an issue, because they unashamedly let their faith guide their governing. They don't always stay true to it but at least their is an attempt.

[rockmom]

I disagree that the Republicans are "unashamedly letting their faith guide them". I personally feel that the Republicans are unabashedly willing to make religion an issue to garner the vote of the "evangelical right".

[ladiesbballcoach]

I disagree that the Republicans are "unashamedly letting their faith guide them". I personally feel that the Republicans are unabashedly willing to make religion an issue to garner the vote of the "evangelical right".

 

And how is that different than playing to the low income as being mistreated by the Republican rich begging them to vote for the Dems while getting $400 haircuts getting $100,000 or more for speeches, and living in 3000 square foot houses?

[rockmom]

And how is that different than playing to the low income as being mistreated by the Republican rich begging them to vote for the Dems while getting $400 haircuts getting $100,000 or more for speeches, and living in 3000 square foot houses?

 

 

I didn't say it was. I believe, though, we're speaking of religion here, not income levels. So, to stick to the topic, I just answered the question that was asked.

[AcesFull]

Right now, Democrats don't address religion at all and according to their 2004 Presidential candidate, their faith plays no part in their governing.

 

Now come general election despite the attempts to smear Huckabee, any of the Republican candidates will make it an issue, because they unashamedly let their faith guide their governing. They don't always stay true to it but at least their is an attempt.

If a person's faith plays no role in their decision making process, then they are most likely professing faith to pander to portion of the electorate. If Obama believes in the political agenda of his church, then that is a problem. The very nature of Obama's church is shaped by its political agenda, as evidenced by its 10-point vision.

 

If Obama disagrees with the basic tenets of his church, then why is he a member?

 

Substitute the word "white" for "black" and "Europe" for "Africa" in the Trinity United Church of Christ's 10-point vision. If the resulting creed belonged to the LDS church, would it be considered racist? I do not believe that there is any doubt that it would be.

 

There is a double standard for Democrats on religious matters and it is unfair. If voters have a right to know the details about Mitt's Mormonism, then they have an equal right to know about what is IMO the racist agenda of Obama's church.

[ladiesbballcoach]

The answer won't be popular but it is honest. Racist. If you were to come out and challenge the teachings of the church, you would be labeled with the racist label which is 7,000% worse than being labeled a liberal.

 

It is political and commercial nightmare to challenge a predominate black church that would have such teachings that are listed above.

 

There is no media or political fallout for challenge a white, male Christian. They are attacked for their views for the past 20-25 years and it offends no one when it occurs.

 

Turn that on others of other faiths and races and genders and it is not tolerated.

[rockmom]

If a person's faith plays no role in their decision making process, then they are most likely professing faith to pander to portion of the electorate. If Obama believes in the political agenda of his church, then that is a problem. The very nature of Obama's church is shaped by its political agenda, as evidenced by its 10-point vision.

 

If Obama disagrees with the basic tenets of his church, then why is he a member?

 

Substitute the word "white" for "black" and "Europe" for "Africa" in the Trinity United Church of Christ's 10-point vision. If the resulting creed belonged to the LDS church, would it be considered racist? I do not believe that there is any doubt that it would be.

 

There is a double standard for Democrats on religious matters and it is unfair. If voters have a right to know the details about Mitt's Mormonism, then they have an equal right to know about what is IMO the racist agenda of Obama's church.

 

 

Well, being Catholic, I don't see the issue you're raising regarding Obama's Church. By their nature, I believe Churches SHOULD influence their members, and attempt to influence the issues of the day. Now, if a member of a certain church accepts elected office, then I would expect that the member to attempt to shape the direction of the country consistent with his/her beliefs. Exactly what is more political about the church that Obama attends, and your congregation, or the Catholic church?

[ladiesbballcoach]

Well, being Catholic, I don't see the issue you're raising regarding Obama's Church. By their nature, I believe Churches SHOULD influence their members, and attempt to influence the issues of the day. Now, if a member of a certain church accepts elected office, then I would expect that the member to attempt to shape the direction of the country consistent with his/her beliefs. Exactly what is more political about the church that Obama attends, and your congregation, or the Catholic church?

 

If #4 and #7 said, Southern heritage and Obama was white, how would it be portrayed in the media?

 

Let me add, if a person shows or is involved in activities that show any RACIAL prejudice, I would never vote for them.

[Hatz]

I'm not saying AcesFull is wrong in his critque but here are some things not being mentioned that might be helpful to understanding the particular church Obama belongs to.

 

 

Much of the Black American religious experience takes a more political tone than historically White American Religious experience. That is because for the African-American community the church for nearly 100 years or more was the place where they were free to explore the visions of being an equal part of society and the American dream.

 

The two ideals of political and economic franchisement walked hand in hand in the culture of the church where they were truly segregated from the White Community (particularly in the South).

 

It's hard for those roots to be severed now that so much has happened to bring an equal footing in society for Blacks with Whites.

 

Secondly, out of that feeling, a lot of the theology that viewed the enslaved and repressed of Black America as the true people of God became developed and practiced. (Kind of a backlash to some American thoughts and theologies that supported segregation) Those beliefs saw themselves as pilgrims of a diaspora (look up the conquering of Israel to understand the concept) and that God was continually calling them to remain faithful to their native land (no different than Jews looked for centuries at Palestine and some look at modern day Israel now.)

 

I think some of these contexts might shed some light to the discussion.

[ladiesbballcoach]

I'm not saying AcesFull is wrong in his critque but here are some things not being mentioned that might be helpful to understanding the particular church Obama belongs to.

 

 

Much of the Black American religious experience takes a more political tone than historically White American Religious experience. That is because for the African-American community the church for nearly 100 years or more was the place where they were free to explore the visions of being an equal part of society and the American dream.

 

The two ideals of political and economic franchisement walked hand in hand in the culture of the church where they were truly segregated from the White Community (particularly in the South).

 

It's hard for those roots to be severed now that so much has happened to bring an equal footing in society for Blacks with Whites.

 

Secondly, out of that feeling, a lot of the theology that viewed the enslaved and repressed of Black America as the true people of God became developed and practiced. (Kind of a backlash to some American thoughts and theologies that supported segregation) Those beliefs saw themselves as pilgrims of a diaspora (look up the conquering of Israel to understand the concept) and that God was continually calling them to remain faithful to their native land (no different than Jews looked for centuries at Palestine and some look at modern day Israel now.)

 

I think some of these contexts might shed some light to the discussion.

 

It would if I understood them.

 

The things I don't understand are underlined.

On the italics, are you saying that are to be more faithful to Africa than America?:confused: