Obama's Circle Of Pastors

New York Times:

President Obama has been without a pastor or a home church ever since he cut his ties to the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. in the heat of the presidential campaign. But he has quietly cultivated a handful of evangelical pastors for private prayer sessions on the telephone and for discussions on the role of religion in politics

All are men, two of them white and three black -- including the Rev. Otis Moss Jr., a graying lion of the civil rights movement. Two, the entrepreneurial dynamos Bishop T. D. Jakes and the Rev. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, also served as occasional spiritual advisers to President George W. Bush. Another, the Rev. Jim Wallis, leans left on some issues, like military intervention and poverty programs, but opposes abortion.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[BethS]

For those of you who are so unaccepting, skeptical, cynical, arbitrary, etc.:

Lore, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[BethS]

Correction: LORD forgive them for they know not what they do.

[kwinter]

You were right the first time LORE, I believe it's called FOLKLORE

[hmmmmmer]

Way too easy, seen any aliens lately?

[grata2ude]

You remind me so much of a friend of mine who is a "big time atheist". That is until the day his tanker truck filled with oil lost its break going down a steep hill and heading for a busy intersection and a large brick building. He survived the crash. Had some very critical injuries.

When he was alert I asked him what went through his mind as he was speeding down that hill unable to control it, he said he asked God to save him so he could see his two young sons grow up.

Some big time atheist.

[Sweetbay]

I'm a non-believer, but I don't think I have any say in how someone else chooses to restore their spirit.

If my President wants to or needs to pray, that is such a personal thing that I cannot criticize it nor would I.

For those on here who assume they know the President so well that they are sure he is faking it, I am truly impressed by their extra sensory perception.

For myself, though, I will keep believing in the first amendment and everyone's right to it.

[BethS]

AMEN!

[TheGuide]

I thank God for Barrack Obama. He was so on time.

[AlP]

Uh huh. Get back to work, hun.

[AndThenOneDay]

What's the condescension for?

[NoDubya]

Obama shouldn't worry about getting a pastor. Most Americans are not really worried about whether their leader is going to church or not.

[TheGuide]

What other's think or believe have nothing whatsoever to do with Obama's motivation.

[1088]

All I will say is that when the President is in the furnace, don't be afraid because God is there with you. When you are in the lion's den with the hate, fear and smear party, don't be afraid for God is with you. When you become the victim of the Media, don't be afraid, because God is with you, for Mr. President, I've seen God grace with you day in and day out. You are an example of a true christian, for I seen in you a person that are forgiving, loving, peaceful and calm. Every time your enemy (Republicants) tries to destroy you, it always comes back 10 times fold. Mr President, we pray for you every day and with God's will, you will lead us over the mountain. Thank you Mr. President Obama for having faith and believing in God.

[AlP]

Yeah, I'm sure you were saying that to George Bush as well.

[widdles]

What has happened in your life that has caused you to be so damn cynical???

[HMDMSR]

Is it the Circle of Five, or The Circle of Jive?

[DofG]

In the Christian bible, it states that God is the alpha, and the omega-the beginning and end. That infers a circle. The symbol for infinity is a convoluted circle expressed as a figure eight. If that's the case, can any person truly explain the totality of the cosmic, beyond inference? What person is not connected to the same substance that connects any pastor, or the same substance Einstein posited that could not be created or destroyed?! Unfortunately, religion is the "baby food" that struggles to control mankind through ignorance, fear, and greed.

Perhaps, "the greatest evil (and maybe the only true evil) is that Man is teacher of Man"!

[AceInTheHole]

BOY,THIS MAN IS SMART!

[HMDMSR]

Wow, what a relief. I was worried the President might want to live in the 21st century.

[hbhawaii]

Watch "Religulous" and then tell me you feel happy with what this article is saying.

If true (a big if, I hope), one of the best minds that has occupied the Presidency since Jefferson has a giant fatal flaw -- an inability to break free of the irrational death grip of religion.

You cannot think clearly if you believe in the Space God.

[hyjanks]

But he's thinking clearly in spite of his dishonest confession. See my comment on this phenomenon.

[chronic]

The Space God? Never heard of that one.

Definitely not Jehova!!

[HMDMSR]

It's the deity that appeals to people with a lot of empty space between their ears.

[hbhawaii]

Oh yes, it is.

It's the term Bill Maher uses, and it really works for me. Misquoting horribly:

God from Space comes to Mary: "I'm going to impregnate you with my Son, who is also me. But you'll still be a virgin. Then I'll let the Romans torture and kill him (me), but then he (me) will come back to life and re-join himself (myself) in space." Etc. etc.

[BethS]

My, my...our prejudices are showing.

[TakLoufer]

My my, our faith-based fascism is showing.

[postman606]

Bill Maher mentioned this, and as someone who knows a lot of people from Obama's Trinity Baptist days, I don't think he's a true believer, religion for him is more akin to yoga class.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

So you know " a lot of people from Obama's Trinity Baptist days", meaning you have an inside track, do you? Did you read his books? Are you familiar with the book The Audcity of Hope. I believe you should get the transcprits of the sermon by Rev. Wright (title inspiration) and add your input then. As a member since November of 1995 of Trinity United Church Of Christ, not baptist you are incorrect in your assessment. I think we become an even more dangerous nation when we start assessing the reasoning/habits of those who worship. My goodness!!!

[minimalist syntax]

I don't think he believes in the space god.

[Zanti]

Funny, though, how many atheists seem to believe in that entity. To me, a fundie is someone who suffers from a completely literal interpretation of faith. It doesn't matter, of course, whether the person is a believer or unbeliever.

But try to get that point across to the guilty parties....

[MajorKong]

At least John Hagee won't be dictating our Middle East policies.

[hyjanks]

Honesty insofar as religion is concerned is the one suspect quality I have of Obama. There is no doubt in my mind that Obama secretly views religion as fraudulent and a blight on 21th century man. One need look no further than his comment in San Francisco to a bunch of pinko atheists (of which I am proudly one) in which he stated that Southern Man turns to his guns and god during time of crisis: A Freudian slip if I ever hear one.
As an extremely intelligent, introspective, logical, reasonable man, Obama couldn't possibly believe in the phantasmagoria that is religion. But he also sees himself involved in a higher calling: Representing the comman man and using his legislative and executive skills to realize an improvement above and beyond anything "Southern Man" has experienced under the born again George W. Bush.
So, I can readily excuse #44 for his lack of honesty when it comes to his so-called faith because he knows that if he admitted to being anything other than a god-fearin', Christian his chances of advancing up the political ladder would have been quashed before he even printed his first bumper sticker. Furthermore, to admit that he has atheist leanings would have halted his political aspirations before they started.
Go for it, Barack! String the boobwazees along with your pious attitude, enough so that you might actually do something for them besides promising a place in heaven next to you.

[Pie7]

Believe whatever you like, but you forget one piece of your puzzle, Michelle. Michelle is a Christian and if there is one thing most blacks woman want in a man/husband is someone who is spiritual.

[postman606]

He's faking the funk for Michelle and the kids, not that unusual.

[tan8277]

This comment is ridiculous. You have no idea that Pres Obama views religion as fraudulent, that's your view. It is inconceivable to many of you guys on here that people actually believe in the death and resurrection of Christ. For some of us, especially AA our Christian views inform us and it is the reason we become social activist. Your comment is no different than right wingers who mock liberals, you guys are all ignorantly offensive. YOu have a right to disbelieve religion but you don't have the right to determine whether a person's stated spiritual beliefs are authentic.

[minimalist syntax]

amen.

[AndThenOneDay]

So your 'respect' for Obama is grounded in your conviction that he is utterly cynical and holds his followers, at least the religious ones, in contempt.

[vjoseph]

Read his book Audacity, he ain't faking it

[minimalist syntax]

His statement that people cling to guns and religion is a statement about right wing extremist Christianity. It was not anti-Christian in anyway. It's hard for you to accept that highly intelligent people can have faith.

[boogygran]

After reading the entire article by L. Goodstein, it appears to me that he/she based this story on hearsay and maybe wishful thinking in order to have a story. It clearly says about midway through that there was no input from the White House regarding this issue, and not even much by the 5 men themselves, to put much credence into the story. Maybe these five would like to consider themselves as confidants of the President. But after O got burned by the Rev Wright saga, I imagine he, his family, staff, Cabinet and who knows who else might need to be involved in vetting any "official" home church and pastor.

[Haditup2here]

Yes, I have noticed that one little comment also. New York Times has been notorious for doing articles based on hearsay also.

[BlazeKING]

Obama uses religion to garner power and I totally agree with his doing so since the ends justify the means. Religion is a great tool to make people follow you, especially the sheep who go to church every Sunday. I knew he was faking it after I saw that "a light will shine down on you, and you will vote Barack" video surfaced. He's a clever fellow and he knows that, to gain power, you have to get the mindless brainwashed fools behind you. This story shows that he's thinking about 2012 already.

[Trogenhorse]

Why so much hate? The ministers did not come after the press, the press came to them. They were interviewed and said "they pray with him". There's nothing fake in that. Do not mix up faith/spirtiuality with religion. All religions have some fault but for christians- faith is very grounding .

[AndThenOneDay]

That is a totally fascistic viewpoint.

[hyjanks]

Totally fantastic but totally true. Think outside the box, AndThenOneDay, and you'll see his point.

[hyjanks]

Right on, Blaze. See my comment above.

[ThinkLiberal]

Let's hope that the President absolutely resists the temptation of taking any of these religious types too seriously. We've seen what religion can do. Wherever religion rears it's ugly head, discord, death, division, mayhem, hatred and intolerance is sure to follow. Just forget these self-absorbed, power-hungry charlatans, President O. We'll all be so much better for it.

[Zanti]

Yes, if we could just get rid of religion and its influence, then all we'd have left to worry about would be greed, lust for power, political strife, the human instinct to wage war, extreme nationalism, racial prejudice, gender discrimination....

TO BE CONTINUED

[carnelld]

If this story is correct, Obama is the ultimate politician. Having a "committee" pastor rotation
is the ultimate in expediency. It leaves no room for criticism.

Criticism of "all things Obama", appears to be the new national past time.