WORLD VIEW

More a Matter of Mystery than Magic

It seems that, for Obama, faith is about enduring questions.

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: adla @ 07/28/2008 7:48:05 AM

    As I read the article written by Jon Meachcham entitled :"More a matter of mystery than magic" One point threw me into deep thinking.When Meacham mentioned in his article:"Where was god at Aushwitz?" I thaught about all of the miseries and massacres that we could have asked this question.I write this to ask the writer:Where was god in Nagasaki and Hisroshima?,Where was god in Iraq when millions were killed because of still unknown reasons?!where was god in palestine when israel committed massacres that killed children,women and men?!I only like to share this note wit the Newsweek readers because this question of where was god is very important in these days where damages and msieries are spreading.However,this question should be asked for everytime in history where men committed hideous crimes against other men and not only for a certain event like Aushwitz.

  • Posted By: Thewhitesmiter @ 07/23/2008 4:05:14 AM

    A good poem but you seem to be somewhat naive. Can you explain how democracy would work without libraries, free public schools, clean parks, a police force and other taxable commodities which make a true democracy possible?

  • Posted By: Shaka @ 07/20/2008 8:47:49 PM

    I disagree with the comment by Chagasman. I thought the article was relevent. There are lots of people who care what a canidate believes about Jesus. In fact this is the most important issue for me when I am considering what canidate to vote for. I also appreciate that while Barack Obama is a born again beliver, he is not a legalist that condems followers of other religions to hell. That decision is God's alone.

  • Posted By: Chagasman @ 07/18/2008 12:38:00 PM

    By writing this article, Newsweek is imposing its own religious litmus test on Barack Obama. It's past time to start discussing the real issues in this election, not whether or not a candidate believes or doesn't believe in Jesus. This article was a waste of time and paper.

  • Posted By: josemarti @ 07/12/2008 7:09:27 PM

    Blah. Blah. Blah. (but what about Reverend Wright?) Blah. Blah. Blah. (but what does it say about Obama that he would choose to worship at Trinity Church for 20 years?) Blah. Blah. Blah. Judge not you say? We must judge. We are choosing our next President. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/12/2008 10:54:51 PM

      Yes, we are choosing our next president and hopefully smart people will choose the one who is moral and faithful to his spouse. McCain chose to cheat, leave and divorce his disfigured and crippled helpless wife for a rich younger woman. A man like this can never be my president even if he were to win. Big IF.

      • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/13/2008 4:49:31 AM

        Pia, what is it with you harping on McCains wife being in car accident over 20 yrs ago and McCain divorcing his wife which she admitted in articles online that she doesnt hold against her husband. She, by the way is no longer wheel chair and waling yrs. ago with a slight limp which had nothing to do with McCain when she got in a car accident and over the years while he was in a POW camp their lives became distanced. Naturally. Either way, I doubt a divorce on McCains record no matter what for whatever reason in this day and age will make those supporters turn against him if they are a true supporter for more important reasons to make them feel he is more equipped to be in charge in the White House.

        • Posted By: summer4077 @ 07/14/2008 9:25:06 AM

          Uh, because you guys are harping on Obama attending a mosque a handful of times over 30 years ago. And McCain also abandoned his current wife, multiple times, by her own admission.

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/14/2008 4:16:55 PM

            Thank you summer! Good looking after. Go girl!

            • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:41:55 PM

              such a weak post -- do you really need a cheerleader to make you feel like you have made a point?

              • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/17/2008 8:47:22 PM

                Pearson, give it up. You bore me......

          • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 12:06:03 PM

            Obama attended Friday prayers with his stepfather for years. That would be hundreds of visits to the mosque, not a few.

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/14/2008 4:20:28 PM

              So what? Pearson , you once posted that you have family members who are of the Muslim faith. What gives?

              • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:46:20 PM

                I'm not opposed to Muslims. They believe what they believe. It is not for me to judge them. I do confess Christ, we do discuss religious questions sometimes too, and in that way I am spreading the word. It is up to the individual to decide for him/herself.

                What I am opposed to is Obama using religion for political political gain, claiming to be a Christian when he knows he does not agree with basic tenets of the Christian faith.

                That is lying.

          • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:43:22 PM

            wasn't a handful of times. His stepfather went to prayers each Friday, and Obama went with him. From age four to age ten, six years, fifty weeks a year, that would be 300 visits to the mosque.

            And then there was his tour of Pakistan. How many times did he go then? That was before he decided to become a Christian for political reasons.

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/14/2008 4:19:12 PM

          share, McCain cheated on her. Just because it was 20 years ago and he has admitted and taken responsibility does not excuse him in my world. Do you excuse Obama and Trinity Church? Never.

          • Posted By: mindylwilliams @ 07/14/2008 6:06:40 PM

            Wow. God has forgiven him. God forgave him the moment he confessed his sin.

            It's a good thing you aren't God. Otherwise - Paul would never have been such an instrumental writer of the New Testament. Seeing that he was a tax collector. Not to mention God's forgiveness of Peter denying Christ 3 times.

            I abhore when "Christians" twist and use the word of God. I wonder how God feels about His own followers using His sword to attack instead of to protect and defend?

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/17/2008 8:46:28 PM

              mindywilliams, are your comments directed at me? Is so, what are you talking about? Where did I mention God in my comments? I commented to sharenews that she does not excuse Obama's ties with Trinity Church. I'm an Obama supporter, not against him. And, regarding my comments about McCain and his first wife, God may have forgiven him, but that does not mean I have to.

      • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 12:04:09 PM

        Better a reformed adulterer than a reformed cocaine addict.

        • Posted By: bwlear @ 07/14/2008 1:15:48 PM

          You mean like Mr. Bush?

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/14/2008 4:15:48 PM

            bwlear, glad to see that you know how to get pearson's goat. She won't vote for any candidate that does coke. Wonder if she voted for Pres. Bush.

            • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:40:49 PM

              Nope, didn't vote for him either.

              Pia did. Now she feels guilty.

              Drank the koolaid once, drinking it again.

              • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/17/2008 8:36:56 PM

                Pearson, I feel no guilt. I had my reasons for voting for him and I posted what they were. If you are interested, I can post them again. I had the right to vote for Bush the way you Pearson, have the right not to vote for Obama for whatever reasons. I only hope one of your reasons is not because he is African-American. Is it?

      • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 12:07:33 PM

        Hopefully we will choose the one who has actually done something to change our government. McCain is the only one who has changed anything, making the earmarks transparent for the first time, and never taking an earmark, unlike Obama who has requested earmarks to benefit his political and financial supporters and even his own wife!

  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 07/16/2008 12:15:14 AM

    The United States can only trust John McCain as Commander-In-Chief. On the matter of the economy , Barack Hussein Obama and John McCain are equally effective or ineffective , depending how you look at it,
    which means only John McCain is the logical choice for the next President of the United States.

    • Posted By: no bigots here @ 07/17/2008 1:05:53 AM

      The bigots comes marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah, get back to Canada hurrah hurrah, do you know how to spell Canada bigot?

  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 07/13/2008 6:06:56 PM

    Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim.....and if not...he's atheist.....he's not even close to be a Christian. Obama is all bs and hype. Nobody wants to be his running mate either...is anyone surprised ? ...the Presidential campaign is a total farce , the DNC regrets the day they appointed Barack Hussein Obama as the democratic nominee for President...in short the US is screwed.

    • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 07/13/2008 11:38:06 PM

      I don't care what Obama's religion is, or McCain's, either.

      All I want to know is what either of these men propose to do about health care, jobs, pensions, the war, and the price of a gallon of gas.

      And frankly, I don't care if either of them makes a deal with the devil, as long as they come up with some workable solutions.

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 07/14/2008 9:22:38 AM

        I completely agree with your frank, honest post. Does anyone REALLY care what religion our president is, as long as he gets the job done? Bush is a Christian, as most presidents have been, and has made a royal mess of things. Religion does not make you a better, more capable person. We have had wonderful Christian presidents and terrible Christian presidents.
        Besides, Obama is not Muslim. That has been proven time and time again. Whoever clings to that dumbfounding lie as evidence is truly pathetic and realizes that McCain is losing.

        • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 07/15/2008 8:19:47 PM

          He's a Muslim....its spelled M ..U...S..L..I..M...you stooge.

          • Posted By: no bigots here @ 07/17/2008 1:03:34 AM

            do you know how to spell racist bigot stooge

          • Posted By: no bigots here @ 07/17/2008 1:02:24 AM

            get out of dodge and dont come back racist bigot moron can you spell that

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 07/14/2008 4:23:16 PM

          Good comment, summer.

    • Posted By: JimWalsh @ 07/14/2008 10:29:46 PM

      Concerned Canadian: Do you have a religious faith?

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/15/2008 9:56:53 PM



    pearsoncrz

    You really need to get over yourself and get a real education on McCain. You have to really do some home work and it takes more than just a night fantastic on the web. I have been watching his career for many years and it is far from stellar and far from clean and far from honest. I was watching the Cspan broadcast when his temper tantrums ruined the entire proceedings. Bad about Mccain has been around longer than dirt. And i have read both of Barack Obamas books.. have you read his books both of them. i can tell you one thing Barack Obama has laid it all out for you to see and McCain has not. Do some real research of his congressional record and voting practices and his destructive practices of bills by instilling amendments at midnight before the day of the votes so they would die and never reach the floor for a vote. (Hence where he got his nick name Johnnie Midnight) Look up the McCain Bill where he has single handed sealed all of his serious service records. never to be opened again! Ask around Washington if you know anybody who woks in the Halls and you will hear a different story. His own party knows the story and they will tell you they are afraid of getting another 4 years of Bush policies. They also know that they are going to lose many seats in congress and probably the Presidency come November. It is not a pretty picture for the Republicans this election cycle. The MSM needs a horse race so they are keeping many things from the general public about McCain but it is all out there.

    McCain, I have never seen a presidential candidate that was so manufactured. There isn't anything about this guy that is real. His policies are 7 months young if that. He flip flops so much it is hard to keep track of all of them but I have. (64 and counting) Barack Obama is very intelligent and has made mostly all correct decisions after weighing all of the facts. He does not jump to conclusions. What is really impressive about Barack Obama is he gets it. McCain is so far off from getting it, it is scary. We don't need someone like McCain who doesn't have a clue what is happening in this extremely scary world. He will be just like Bush in that aspect. He will make it even scarier.

    And you still are Giving Jr and the Devil a pass and by doing that you are saying you are okay with what they are doing. Now that is scary!

    "Danger Will Robinson Danger"



  • Posted By: JimWalsh @ 07/14/2008 9:20:33 PM

    pearsoncrz: How does Obama not adhere to the central tenants of Christianity? Being pro-choice does not mean he believes abortion is right. As many Christians believe, making abortions illegal will not stop abortions, it will mean people without sufficient money to pay a doctor for an illegal abortion will have unsafe abortions in back-alleys, many dying or ending up in emergency rooms for hours of surgery to repair the damage. <br><br> Obama said for him, he believes Jesus is the only way to heaven. I can certainly understand his not wanting to think his mother did not go to heaven. Jesus says in Matthew 25, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." What have each of you done to help the least of these? Obama has dedicated his life to helping people in need. Is judging Obama's Christianity in accordance with the Bible teaching about let the first without sin throw the first rock, do not gossip, and love your neighbor as yourself?

    • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/15/2008 5:17:02 PM

      He says he does not believe there is a hell, and he does not believe that God would condemn those who deny Christ to hell.

      You tell us he believes Jesus is the only way, but that is not what he says. Would you like the link?



      It is not a question of my "judging" him. It is a matter of whether he believes what those who profess to be Christians believe.

      I have not raised the abortion issue, so I do not know why you are discussing that in response to my post.

      .Obama has not dedicated his life to helping people in need. Please post proof of this.

      As far as I can tell, Obama has dedicated his life to promoting himself and pursuing his ambitions.

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 10:22:55 PM



    Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 19:38:24

    Comment: Not for me to judge them, that is God's decision.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    So you give them a pass but you judge Barack Obama and question his faith. Wow that answer was extremely entertaining and hypocritical I might add. Here you have two "THINGS" Jr and The Devil who are responsible for the death of millions of human beings and you are giving them a pass.

    Wow "Danger Will Robinson danger"



    • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/15/2008 5:07:19 PM


      I don't judge Obama in the sense of condemning him to hell, which is what the question asked.

      Yes, I judge whether a person misrepresents himself or herself, that is part of the dynamic of choosing from among the candidates available. I also look to the fruits of their labors, the evidence of "good works" in their lives. And with only bad choices available since the best candidate is not in the running, I must chose which I believe will do less harm, which I believe to be more honorable and ethical.

      Given Obama's history with requesting earmarks for his cronies and funders and even his own wife's employer, his dealings with Blackwell, Rezko, et al., his blatent pandering to the black vote and solicitation of republican cross-overs to defeat Hillary Clinton, I do not find him honorable or ethical. Nor do I find any "good works" in his resume, no credits which would make him the lesser of two evils. In fact, I see significant danger in his taking office with a Democratic majority in Congress. His mistakes would not be vetted the way a Republican's would, just as his past hasn't been vetted by the press because they are in love with his story.

      Perhaps most important, I do not think any person who admits to using cocaine for years should be elected to POTUS. I admire people who overcome addiction, don't get me wrong, but I don't want someone who seemed to glory in his drug use because of the way it aligned him with the classic "black" profile, because it helped him gain an identity. Read his book.

      John McCain may not be perfect, but then we've never had a perfect person running for president, have we? I find him honorable, patriotic, committed to doing the best job he can, and willing to stand up and expose himself to ridicule and attacks from both sides when he believes the truth should be told, as in his unceasing efforts to bring transparency to earmarks, and his commitment to the surge.

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 07/15/2008 4:15:00 AM

    Freddie Mac &Fannie Mae hold Debt US 5 trillion,The US government moved to shore up the beleaguered the companies by injecting 2.25 bilion ONLY through investment and loan. What a Joke.!!!!!!!...MC Bush & MCSame tells America Economic is SOUND.and SAFE.keeping all BORROWING from other country including enemy are kept secrets under Carpet,from American Public,so Keep sleeping Americans DONT Worry Our Bank verge of Bankrupt so dont bother TAKE your money OUT....We guarantee..US100,000 but cost you 0.50Ct every dollar...Americans now under going ONLY Mental Recession just like (John MCSame having Vietnam Mental treatments) and the AMERICANS are just whinners Bunch......GREAT REPUBLICAN POLITIC ANALYSIST.

  • Posted By: Patsy5 @ 07/13/2008 2:18:33 AM

    Funny Obama knew nothing about religion and did terrible when He and Hilary debated she beet him at the religous debate and seemed way more spiritual in knowing what her faith was.he seemed to have no knowledge of faith and see,med lost.if he is quoting bible stories now its because he has been coached and just learned them.That is the fraud he is.Propaganda all the way and now attack woman like the thug he is.

    • Posted By: JimWalsh @ 07/14/2008 10:31:35 PM

      Patsy5: Is lying a sin? Not once, but multiple times, Hillary lied about the sniper fire in Bosnia. Do you have a religious faith?

    • Posted By: bwlear @ 07/13/2008 9:51:13 AM

      So when was this religion debate supposed to have happened? I watched them all but can't recall that one. And are we electing a President or a Pope? G. Bush can quote the Bible verse for verse but he's still a bad President. Help me to understand why this makes one person better.?

      • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:39:17 PM

        It was called the faith forum. you can see pretty much all of it on youtube

  • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 11:29:57 AM

    I wouldn't care if Obama wasn't trying to woo the religious right and presenting himself as something he isn't. He does not adhere to the central tenents of Christianity. He does not believe in hell, and he does not believe that those who reject Christ as savior will be denied entry to heaven.

    • Posted By: JimWalsh @ 07/14/2008 9:20:19 PM

      pearsoncrz: How does Obama not adhere to the central tenants of Christianity? Being pro-choice does not mean he believes abortion is right. As many Christians believe, making abortions illegal will not stop abortions, it will mean people without sufficient money to pay a doctor for an illegal abortion will have unsafe abortions in back-alleys, many dying or ending up in emergency rooms for hours of surgery to repair the damage. <br><br> Obama said for him, he believes Jesus is the only way to heaven. I can certainly understand his not wanting to think his mother did not go to heaven. Jesus says in Matthew 25, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." What have each of you done to help the least of these? Obama has dedicated his life to helping people in need. Is judging Obama's Christianity in accordance with the Bible teaching about let the first without sin throw the first rock, do not gossip, and love your neighbor as yourself?

    • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:47:04 PM



      So do you believe that there is a place in heaven for Jr and the Devil (Bush & Cheney) since they are guilty of killing millions of people in the Middle East. Do you think that God will make an exception in their case because they believe Christ is their savior?

      • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 07/14/2008 7:38:24 PM

        Not for me to judge them, that is God's decision.

  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 07/13/2008 11:35:18 PM

    As Barack Hussein Obama wins.....Americans lose !! I predict the blacks in America will be sneared and jeered at forever after a Barack Hussein Obama finalizes the fall of the US as it is known...mark these words.

    • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:48:29 PM



      Can you tell me what the winning Power Ball numbers are for swaturday? LMFAOAY

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:41:10 PM



    King Daddy of the Flip Floppers Johnnie Midnight

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:39:54 PM

    National Security Policy

    1. McCain thought Bush???s warrantless-wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.

    2. McCain insisted that everyone, even ???terrible killers,??? ???the worst kind of scum of humanity,??? and detainees at Guantanamo Bay, ???deserve to have some adjudication of their cases,??? even if that means ???releasing some of them.??? McCain now believes the opposite.

    3. He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it ???one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.???

    4. In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.

    5. McCain was for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.

    6. When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with predators, McCain criticized him for it. He???s since come to the opposite conclusion.

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:39:30 PM

    Foreign Policy

    7. McCain was for kicking Russia out of the G8 before he was against it.

    8. McCain supported moving ???towards normalization of relations??? with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.

    9. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.

    10. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.

    11. McCain is both for and against a ???rogue state rollback??? as a focus of his foreign policy vision.

    12. McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty???s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.

    13. McCain was against divestment from South Africa before he was for it.

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:39:10 PM

    Military Policy

    14. McCain recently claimed that he was the ???greatest critic??? of Rumsfeld???s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as ???a mission accomplished.??? In March 2004, he said, ???I???m confident we???re on the right course.??? In December 2005, he said, ???Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.???

    15. McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions, concluding, on multiple occasions, that a Korea-like presence is both a good and a bad idea.

    16. McCain said before the war in Iraq, ???We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.??? Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was ???probably going to be long and hard and tough.???

    17. McCain has repeatedly said it???s a dangerous mistake to tell the ???enemy??? when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.

    18. McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:38:51 PM

    Domestic Policy

    19. McCain defended ???privatizing??? Social Security. Now he says he???s against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)

    20. McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn???t.

    21. McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Now he believes the opposite.

    22. He argued the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party???s policy making. Now he believes the opposite.

    23. In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won???t commit to supporting a regulation bill he???s co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris??? former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.

    24. McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.

    25. McCain???s first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn???t be ???rewarded??? for acting ???irresponsibly.??? His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.

    26. McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn???t be allowed.

    27. McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.

    28. McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he???s pro-ethanol.

    29. McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

    30. In 2005, McCain endorsed intelligent design creationism, a year later he said the opposite, and a few months after that, he was both for and against creationism at the same time.

  • Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 07/14/2008 1:38:27 PM

    Economic Policy

    31. McCain was against Bush???s tax cuts for the very wealthy before he was for them.

    32. John McCain initially argued that economics is not an area of expertise for him, saying, ???I???m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues; I still need to be educated,??? and ???The issue of economics is not something I???ve understood as well as I should.??? He now falsely denies ever having made these remarks and insists that he has a ???very strong??? understanding of economics.

    33. McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal. And soon after that, McCain abandoned his second position and went back to his first.

    34. McCain said in 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were ???too tilted to the wealthy.??? By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and falsely argued that he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.

    35. McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.

    36. McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a ??????read my lips??? candidate, no new taxes, no matter what???? referring to George H.W. Bush???s 1988 pledge. ???No new taxes,??? McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, ???I???m not making a ???read my lips??? statement, in that I will not raise taxes.???

    37. McCain has changed his entire economic worldview on multiple occasions.

    38. McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off economically than they were before Bush took office.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse