Obama's Faith: Fascinating Interview Unearthed

Cathleen Falsani of the Chicago Sun-Times interviewed Barack Obama in 2004 on his faith and spirituality. She's now published the entire interview. Here are some highlights.

On prayer:

FALSANI: Do you pray often?

OBAMA:
Uh, yeah, I guess I do.

Its' not formal, me getting on my knees. I think I have an ongoing conversation with God. I think throughout the day, I'm constantly asking myself questions about what I'm doing, why am I doing it.

One of the interesting things about being in public life is there are constantly these pressures being placed on you from different sides. To be effective, you have to be able to listen to a variety of points of view, synthesize viewpoints. You also have to know when to be just a strong advocate, and push back against certain people or views that you think aren't right or don't serve your constituents.

And so, the biggest challenge, I think, is always maintaining your moral compass. Those are the conversations I'm having internally. I'm measuring my actions against that inner voice that for me at least is audible, is active, it tells me where I think I'm on track and where I think I'm off track. ...

Looking for, ... It's interesting, the most powerful political moments for me come when I feel like my actions are aligned with a certain truth. I can feel it. When I'm talking to a group and I'm saying something truthful, I can feel a power that comes out of those statements that is different than when I'm just being glib or clever.

FALSANI:
What's that power? Is it the holy spirit? God?

OBAMA:
Well, I think it's the power of the recognition of God, or the recognition of a larger truth that is being shared between me and an audience.

On spiritual leaders:

FALSANI: Do you have people in your life that you look to for guidance?

OBAMA:
Well, my pastor [Jeremiah Wright] is certainly someone who I have an enormous amount of respect for.

I have a number of friends who are ministers. Reverend Meeks is a close friend and colleague of mine in the state Senate. Father Michael Pfleger is a dear friend, and somebody I interact with closely.

FALSANI:
Those two will keep you on your toes.

OBAMA:
And theyr'e good friends. Because both of them are in the public eye, there are ways we can all reflect on what's happening to each of us in ways that are useful.

I think they can help me, they can appreciate certain specific challenges that I go through as a public figure.

On his church:

FALSANI: Do you get questions about your faith?

OBAMA:
Obviously as an African American politician rooted in the African American community, I spend a lot of time in the black church. I have no qualms in those settings in participating fully in those services and celebrating my God in that wonderful community that is the black church.

(he pauses)
But I also try to be . . . Rarely in those settings do people come up to me and say, what are your beliefs. They are going to presume, and rightly so. Although they may presume a set of doctrines that I subscribe to that I don't necessarily subscribe to.

But I don't think that's unique to me. I think that each of us when we walk into our church or mosque or synagogue are interpreting that experience in different ways, are reading scriptures in different ways and are arriving at our own understanding at different ways and in different phases. ...

Nothing is more powerful than the black church experience. A good choir and a good sermon in the black church, it's pretty hard not to be move and be transported.

On spiritual inspiration:

OBAMA: As I said before, in my own sort of mental library, the Civil Rights movement has a powerful hold on me. It's a point in time where I think heaven and earth meet. Because it's a moment in which a collective faith transforms everything. So when I read Gandhi or I read King or I read certain passages of Abraham Lincoln and I think about those times where people's values are tested, I think those inspire me.

I can be transported by watching a good performance of Hamlet, or reading Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, or listening to Miles Davis.

On heaven:

OBAMA: What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, that I will be rewarded. I don't presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. But I feel very strongly that whether the reward is in the here and now or in the hereafter, the aligning myself to my faith and my values is a good thing.

When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I've been a good father to them, and I see in them that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they're kind people and that they're honest people, and they're curious people, that's a little piece of heaven.

Read the whole thing.

Comments

[chronic]

08:27 PM on 12/07/2008

Wow, many of these posts prove the aethists are just as wacked out as the far r!ght r@dical religious fringe of the gop.

You are all cr@zy.

[bipolar2]

01:06 PM on 11/13/2008

. . . not even Mr. Obama can stand tall without deluding himself.

** magical thinking and supernaturalism thrive on junk-food faith **

Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Lincoln did not suffer from "spiritual" delusions. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama's education lacks sufficient training in philosophy.

Everything comes about according to necessity . . . . The goal of life is serenity (euthymia) . . . . The qualities of things are only . . . atoms and the void.
~ Democritus* 500 BCE

The de-deification of nature is another task for America, the anti-rational backwater.

bipolar2 ©2008

*quoted by Diogenes Laertius. Lives. Bk IX ∫45.

[dctackett]

02:46 PM on 11/13/2008

Ever stop to think that he HAS to, especially being a black man, belong to the dominant religion to even be considered for any position within the federal, or even state, government?

If you read his comments, he seems to indicate that he doesn't actually believe in any magical super powered beings, and doesn't seem to believe that Jesus is actually the son of any magical super being.

[Zanti]

11:19 PM on 11/17/2008

Most educated Christians recognize mythology as mythology. They consider much of that mythology to be truthful but not factual. There is a difference, of course.

What you're saying, in other words, is not a news flash. Nor is it at all unusual.

[chronic]

08:20 PM on 12/07/2008

You are reading and taking out of context what B.O. is saying..

Don't be so dense.

[Zanti]

11:17 PM on 11/17/2008

I'm sure Obama cares intensely about whether or not you approve of his faith.

[TuffCookie]

09:13 AM on 11/13/2008

very interesting

[normathumb]

06:50 AM on 11/13/2008

When Miles died, I wrote how he transported to to more places I was happy to arrive at than just about any other musician. I know of what Obama speaks.

[naeldwyck]

08:07 AM on 11/13/2008

I'd like to know whether Obama is into the old stuff, only, or also the later. I'd like to think he's a big fan of Get Up With It.

[naeldwyck]

01:39 PM on 11/13/2008

But he seems more like a Plugged Nickle kinda guy, don't you think?

[nkhogan]

03:42 AM on 11/13/2008

This is a nice interview. I like that Obama's spirituality is so evident and so humble. He is not presuming to have all the answers. It seems he's thought deeply about his values and who he is and what his place in the world is. Very reassuring.

And I am sorry that he's had to distance himself from Pfleger and Wright, two men he could talk with. I listened to all the controversial sermons Wright preached, and had no problem with them. He was being prophetic or in 'secular speak' he was being critical of the system. He did get carried away in that last interview in the media during the primary and Pfleger made some statements he shouldn't have. But these are basically good people who care about social justice and about the poor. It's hard not to let one's anger get the best of one when witnessing the fruits racism, poverty, etc. every day at the grass roots level.

Anyway, I am glad this article came out now and not before. Otherwise, I'm sure Palin and the right wing evangelical political gang would have distorted it and made it into something ugly. Talk about pearls before swine (Nanneyboat), this article is a true pearl and some like Nanneyboat have been a bit swinish about it because it doesn't fit into their preconceptions of God or lack of God.

[elimenez]

01:17 AM on 11/18/2008

The most important thing he alluded to is that he has an open mind.

"One of the interesting things about being in public life is there are constantly these pressures being placed on you from different sides. To be effective, you have to be able to listen to a variety of points of view, synthesize viewpoints. You also have to know when to be just a strong advocate, and push back against certain people or views that you think aren't right or don't serve your constituents."

I think this is a guy that we will be quoting a years from now, much like we quote Lincoln, Roosevelt, King etc.

[luke150]

03:39 AM on 11/13/2008

Interesting. Obama's faith, I think, goes beyond organized Christianity. It is a more eclectic perception of what is beyond our understanding. In his elaborations he shows elements of Christianity, but also of Eastern religions. He quotes Ghandi.
As a politician, he has to demonstrate a more traditional view on faith and that is exactly what he did in the campaign. But I find it very refreshing and hopeful that he doesn't perceive faith in narrow terms. Faith is a great thing, organized religion is not so great.
The more I read about Obama, the more I feel honored that he will be our President. It is a good feeling.

[nkhogan]

03:46 AM on 11/13/2008

Luke150, you and I must have been writing at the same time. I agree with you---his faith does go beyond traditional Christianity or any traditional interpretation of any faith. He can see the wider picture of what faith and spirituality is all about, but has the wisdom and grace to put it into terms that traditional practioners of Christianity can understand.

What I love is that he doesn't presume to have all the answers. I agree---organized religion is not so great.

This articulation of his faith gives me great hope as well that he will be a great President. He is open, humble and sees the bigger picture.

[dctackett]

02:53 PM on 11/13/2008

well said, luke, Obama appears to have a much wider perspective, which is expressed in religious terms, particularly christian terms... if he didn't express it in those terms, he wouldn't be in the position that he is in, because 1. it makes most people feel comfortable that he is like them and 2. most people understand those terms...

this interview, as every time I hear or read his toughts, made me feel more comfortable and proud to have him as president... He seems to truely be a wise man.

[MeritRs]

01:57 AM on 11/13/2008

President Bush deserved respect from the Media and I find it sickening how the Media has not reported fair. I am not going to sit by silently as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid re-make our nation in their liberal image. Half of the Country voted for McCain/Palin and for good reasons.
Obama will soon be ensconced in the Oval Office, with all the people who helped put him there lined up outside for goodies. At the head of the line will be Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. What will they ask for? The three things that they want from a President Obama are more money for their contraception and sterilization programs, an end to any and all restrictions on abortions, and taxpayer funding, including funding for abortion itself. Judging by what Obama has said over the course of the campaign, he will be happy to grant their wishes. First of all, Barack Obama has pledged to pay for abortions with our tax dollars. According to his own web site, he is an original co-sponsor of the “Prevention First Act,”
What this reasonable-sounding languages disguises, of course, is the ugly reality that the Prevention First Act would actually force insurance companies to fund, doctors to prescribe, and pharmacies to dispense, abortifacient contraceptives. “Providing compassionate assistance to rape victims,” when translated into plain English, means forcing you and I to pay for morning after pills and abortions.

[naeldwyck]

03:21 AM on 11/13/2008

I stopped reading this drivel at the 4th word, you?

[BruceHNV]

03:23 AM on 11/13/2008

I tried, but it was like a train wreck. I just couldn't look away...

[BruceHNV]

03:22 AM on 11/13/2008

You believe every little right-wing bit of fundie c r a p you read, don't you.

That's sad. Really sad.

[PennP]

01:53 AM on 11/13/2008

Belief.net okay? Problems after reading the original article:

All but one of my restore points were wiped out.

My antivirus SW quarantined a trojan, wpv301226451509.cpx, lurking in my C:\windows\system32 folder as soon as I closed the Belief.net window.

A DLL for startup went missing, although the system started.

My Windows Automatic Updates settings (alert, don't download) were reset to automatic download in the process.

I ran Restore with the only point available, and all seems okay now. Pls post if you experience system problems after visiting the Belief.net site. Otherwise I'll figure it's me. Thanks.

P.S. Reading the interview made it worth the hassle.

[pupbayer]

11:38 PM on 11/12/2008

I couldn't care less about his faith. Sorry...just doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

[mandyrtaylor]

02:22 AM on 11/13/2008

Even if you are not a person of faith, I think that comment shows a lack of depth of thinking. Obama's faith is clearly a large part of who he is and why he thinks the way he does, and now that he is to be our President it is worth everyone's time to try to understand him as a whole person. We can't expect anyone to be a part of "uniting the country" if we can't first attempt to understand the viewpoint of those we disagree with... and we can't expect anyone else to do it if we don't first do it ourselves.

[BruceHNV]

03:13 AM on 11/13/2008

Disagree.

The important things are his positions and policies.

How he arrived at them, less important.

[GoVeg]

11:35 PM on 11/12/2008

He reads Ghandi, awesome. I hope Obama goes vegetarian soon.haha

[naeldwyck]

03:25 AM on 11/13/2008

He's great at Tuna Mayo, so I doubt it. Unless you're of the "I'm-a-vegitarian-but-I-eat-fish" persuasion.

[nanneyboat]

09:41 PM on 11/12/2008

Get excited!! This was my first and last day on this site! I know you are as thrilled about that as I am. After having wasted the day on the computer I developed a really bad case of "pig" eye. It happened because I was casting pearls before swine!! Thus the "pig" eye. So I am out of here. Now you can slice me and dice me to your hearts content...and I won't be reading it. Why?? Because Jesus said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs,and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matt. 7:6 Amen to that!! Ouch! What was I thinking ?? And to think I spent the day doing it!!! But in the end may God get the glory, great things he has done!!! Thank you, Jesus!! :)

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

10:21 PM on 11/12/2008

Please. Do your family a favor and seek professional help.

[osalover]

10:47 PM on 11/12/2008

Wait..... don't go, yet. Please tell me first what on earth you are talking about? This is the first time I'ver heard of you, so I must apologize for my curiosity. But, I won't be able to sleep unless you tell me just what your rant was about!

[BruceHNV]

11:33 PM on 11/12/2008

nanneyboat came in the door guns blazing, challenging Obama's Christianity and trying to get us to prove he was Christian. His word is not good enough for nanneyboat, but some sort of religious test must be passed, and we were to give examples of how he passed the test.

We were not terribly welcoming of this approach. Of the 34,000 branches of Christianity on the planet, I think most of us felt Barack was Christian, at least by his own lights, under at least several of them. This was not suitable to nanneyboat.

I'm afraid I was the most aggressive in expressing disapproval of a blogger putting themselves in judgment of the Presedent Elect's religion, and I even called names. Hence, the biblical wisdom of nanneyboat was wasted on me/us. Pearls before swine.

We dogs and swine will have to get along, I guess. Rather than take a couple of biblical passages I used in defense of religious privacy to heart, it appears nanneyboat would rather leave. If we will not accept this person's religious tutelage and fall into line with their standards of how we ought to believe, then apparently there's no point in having a conversation.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

09:19 PM on 11/12/2008

Mr. Obama digs Miles Davis! Just another reason to vote for him. He has great musical tastes.

[Madmac]

09:06 PM on 11/12/2008

I KNEW IT....He is a CHRISTIAN!!!

[ladydriver]

11:44 PM on 11/12/2008

Yes, some of the rumors were true! ;)

[naeldwyck]

03:30 AM on 11/13/2008

Eeeeeeeuwgh!

[pfrogger]

08:37 PM on 11/12/2008

This is exactly the kind of honest sentiment that we need.
God is not the problem. Religion is not the problem. Most religious people I know are good and decent people. Most non-religious people, whether agnostic or atheist, are good and decent people. Religion or the lack thereof do not make you "bad". Ignorance, fear, hate, and indifference are the root of "evil". And those qualities are not dependent on religion.
It's specific people, "leaders" who quest for power or money, that are the problem. The religious extremists in this country are not that different from those in other countries. All religions have them. It's when a religious agenda is pushed into influencing policy - therein lies the problem. Because instead of being just to all, these religious "leaders" have an agenda and they interpret their religion to fit their own agenda. Not all religious leaders are like this, but sadly the few bad apples ruin it for many of us. That's why we separate religion and government.
Example: On the bible stating gays are an abomination, "Remember, this isn't about faith whatsoever. It's about people who have pre-existing anti-gay prejudice in their hearts." from http://www.fallwell.com/selective%20quotation.html (this website is not affiliated with Falwell, it debunks many of his statements - good read, check it out.)

[BruceHNV]

03:17 AM on 11/13/2008

You believe every little right-wing bit of fundie c r a p you read, don't you.

That's sad. Really sad.

[BruceHNV]

03:22 AM on 11/13/2008

OK - I replied to a post six up from this one, and it landed here - where it definitely doesn't belong. If I could delete it, I would. Meantime, I'm gonna re-post the reply where it goes.

[Canuck4Obama]

08:27 PM on 11/12/2008

"When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I've been a good father to them, and I see in them that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they're kind people and that they're honest people, and they're curious people, that's a little piece of heaven."

Amen.

[essanzo]

10:28 PM on 11/12/2008

Not to be incredibly mushy, or anything, but isn't that the most beautiful thing?

[ladydriver]

11:17 PM on 11/12/2008

Yup! He makes me miss my Dad.