Choosing A Church

Obama's next big decision—and its implications.

By Eleanor Clift | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 19, 2008

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: jh35180 @ 01/06/2009 12:35:20 PM

    I am no fan of Obama's. But whether or not Obama attends church or whatever his relgious affiliation should not matter. Of course, our resident paranoid Harley always assumes that anybody who is not for Obama is automatically a racist or a fearmonger. Harley can't seem to get it through his head (and there is little to work with in Harley's case) that some people did not vote for Obama based on merits. If Harley is a fan of Obama then fine, but I wished that Harley would consider matrurity and intelligence as New Year's resolutions.

  • Posted By: coloboyz @ 12/22/2008 3:51:23 PM

    Religion has absolutely nothing to do with churches. They are a social club where very un-Christine-like people can get together, judge others, use asking forgivness as a "get out of jail free" card, and where they can brag about going so they can try and feel superior to others. It's all about image people, so stop bringing real religious faith and belief into something as un-Christian as organized religion. Organized religion is used by people to do very un-Christianlike activities. Real religious faith and belief is a personal releationship between you and your God. So wondering where he is going to church is akin to wondering what country club he's going to join or what designer Michelle is going to use. It only matters to the superficial people.

    • Posted By: acuview @ 12/31/2008 12:43:39 PM

      Wow... couldn't disagree more. It's sad that so many people have this view of their local churches. Although, I'd wager that many who have this view haven't really tried that hard to find a good one. Sure, there are messed up churches, just like any other human institution. Nevertheless, finding a good one is like a beacon of light in an otherwise dark place. Certainly there's a social aspect to it, as the original poster mentioned, but that's not nearly the extent of what a good church can provide (and it's actually one of the minor benefits from my perspective). A healthy church is a place where people can bare their souls to one another without fear of reproach. It's a place where emotional healing can happen. It's a safe harbor in a world that is hell bent on hate and fear. It's a place where people can pool their resources (time, talents, and treasures) to make wonderful things happen. Ever wonder why so many hospitals have names like "Mercy, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran"? A good church is anything but "superficial" from my perspective.

      • Posted By: acuview @ 12/31/2008 12:49:59 PM

        More to the point though... which church Obama's family chooses is less important for Obama and more important for his family (his daughters and wife aren't in the limelight as much). He long ago gave up most of the benefits of what a church can provide in order to pursue politics. It was a choice he made, and he was certainly welcome to it. More important is who he chooses to confide in and listen to from a spiritual perspective. That individual or group of individuals will have more influence over his thinking than any church or denomination ever would.

    • Posted By: acuview @ 12/31/2008 12:45:18 PM

      Wow... couldn't disagree more. It's sad that so many people have this view of their local churches. Although, I'd wager that many who have this view haven't really tried that hard to find a good one. Sure, there are messed up churches, just like any other human institution. Nevertheless, finding a good one is like a beacon of light in an otherwise dark place. Certainly there's a social aspect to it, as the original poster mentioned, but that's not nearly the extent of what a good church can provide (and it's actually one of the minor benefits from my perspective). A healthy church is a place where people can bare their souls to one another without fear of reproach. It's a place where emotional healing can happen. It's a safe harbor in a world that is hell bent on hate and fear. It's a place where people can pool their resources (time, talents, and treasures) to make wonderful things happen. Ever wonder why so many hospitals have names like "Mercy, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran"? A good church is anything but "superficial" from my perspective.

    • Posted By: acuview @ 12/31/2008 12:43:15 PM

      Wow... couldn't disagree more. It's sad that so many people have this view of their local churches. Although, I'd wager that many who have this view haven't really tried that hard to find a good one. Sure, there are messed up churches, just like any other human institution. Nevertheless, finding a good one is like a beacon of light in an otherwise dark place. Certainly there's a social aspect to it, as the original poster mentioned, but that's not nearly the extent of what a good church can provide (and it's actually one of the minor benefits from my perspective). A healthy church is a place where people can bare their souls to one another without fear of reproach. It's a place where emotional healing can happen. It's a safe harbor in a world that is hell bent on hate and fear. It's a place where people can pool their resources (time, talents, and treasures) to make wonderful things happen. Ever wonder why so many hospitals have names like "Mercy, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran"? A good church is anything but "superficial" from my perspective.

    • Posted By: DaveyD @ 12/23/2008 11:28:17 AM

      No judging of others going on in this post...

  • Posted By: awellesa @ 12/29/2008 10:04:50 AM

    Who caes which superstition he ascribes to? It's what he does not what he "believes" that counts.

    • Posted By: jjb57 @ 12/29/2008 11:44:44 PM

      Welll, what he believe is the way he do!

  • Posted By: eolaifa @ 12/29/2008 2:39:09 PM

    Why should any US President in Washington DC go to any church other than the National Cathedral in DC? The cathedral symbolizes unity and is non-denominational. In Chicago, I will suggest Obamas attend Apostolic Church of God (63rd and Dorchester) where he delivered a powerful sermon on fathers day. The church is a stone throw to his house, and Obama had at one time rendered legal service to the church.

  • Posted By: cjfb @ 12/29/2008 12:35:50 PM

    If he wants to stay out of trouble he should find himself a nice Unitarian Church.

    "Love is the doctrine of this church,
    The quest for truth is its sacrement,
    And service is its prayer.

    The dwell together in peace,
    To seek knwoledge in freedom,
    To serve humanity in fellowship,
    To the end that all souls shall grow into
    harmony with the Divine--
    Thus do we covenant together.

  • Posted By: Tony_in_Indy @ 12/24/2008 10:06:38 AM

    Are you fliippin kidding me? Rick Warren says ignorant things and Jeramiah Right is the saint? Riiiiggght!!!! This is why no one listens or reads your ever left leaning socialist dribble!

  • Posted By: Zombiehero @ 12/24/2008 4:40:43 AM

    Why can't Obama still attend Trinity?

  • Posted By: sm78 @ 12/21/2008 11:03:50 AM

    I'm far more interested in what will happen when there is a non-religious, more spiritual than religious, or just non-Christian president. I think that would be really interesting when we can get out of our own way on what we *want* our president to believe in and just let him/her do the job they've been elected to do and let them do what they want for their faith or non-faith aspect of their life. I mean, do you care what your mechanic, manager, CEO, or local weatherman is?

    • Posted By: sanstov952 @ 12/23/2008 2:25:02 PM

      YOU ARE REALLY A CLONE OF YOUR GOD HANNITY THAT RACIST .I THINK YOU AND HANNITY ARE MORE THE SLIME RACIST THEN REV WRIGHT . REV WRIGHT SPOKE THE TRUTH WHICH YOU MY SLIME FRIEND KNOW NOTHING ABOUT . THE GOOD REV FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY AND SURVIVE THE RACISM HE WENT THOUGH DURING THE JIM CROW ERA DID YOU BROTHER.

  • Posted By: tiger800 @ 12/21/2008 12:59:46 PM

    Who care what Church he goes to? Why does he even need to pick a Church? Would it be so bad if they decided not to attend Church? For pete sakes find something new worthy to discuss!

    • Posted By: sanstov952 @ 12/23/2008 2:13:09 PM

      AMEN BROTHER I AM JUST SICK ABOUT THIS WHOLE STUPID SILLY COLUMN OH WHY ARE WE WORRY ABOUT WHERE OBAMA AND FAMILY WILL ATTEND CHURCH WHY IS IT OUR BUSINESS. WILL THAT MAKE US TRUST HIM MORE IF WE ARE OR HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW I FOR ONE WANT HIM TO BE THE BEST PREIDENT HE CAN BE AND BE THE PRESIDENT OF ALL AMERICA. GOD BLESS HIM.

  • Posted By: The18000 @ 12/21/2008 1:07:46 PM

    My husband and I are one of the 18,000 couples in California whose marriages Rick Warren wants nullified. He is comparing our relationship to criminal acts. He is telling America that we are harming millions of people simply by our existence. How on earth can you say that is "more progressive"? I guess "bring[ing] the various strains of American life together" only applies to heterosexuals.

    • Posted By: sanstov952 @ 12/23/2008 1:59:49 PM

      IF YOU VOTED FOR PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA WHO HASN'T TAKEN OFFICE YET YOU ARE ALREADY SCREAMING AND FALLING DOWN AND HATING YOU VOTED FOR HIM THEN YOU WERE NOT A TRUE SURPORTER NO WHAT YOU WERE VOTING FOR WAR FOR TO BE A PUPPET PRESIDENT THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PUSH AROUND AND DICTATED TO AND DEMAND HE DO WHAT YOU COMMAND AND HE BETTER OBEY.HE TALK ABOUT CHANGE AND HE IS THE CHANGE THAT IS WHAT HE SAID I JUST LOVE WHEN HIS EMENIES AND THERE ARE MILLIONS WHO ARE BRING UP THE STATEMENT I THINK TO MYSELF THESE ASSWIPES ARE REALLY JUST FOOLS THAT HAVE NOT GOT THE MEMO OBAMA WON HE WILL BE PRESIDENT HE WILL BE THE COMMANDER AND THE HEAD OF THE COUNTRY NOT THEM AND WHERE EVER HE GOES TO CHURCH IS UP TO HIM AND HIS WIFE HIS FAMILY . THERE ARE MUCH TO BE DONE UNTIL IT WEARS ME OUT TO THINK THAT WE AMERICA COULD BE SO PETTY AND SILLY.

  • Posted By: sanstov952 @ 12/23/2008 1:18:08 PM

    I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT EVER CHURCH PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA AND FAMILY ATTENDS . I AM MORE WORRY ABOUT THE COST OF FOOD AND HOUSING PROBLEMS AND ALL THE TROUBLES AMERICA HAS LEFT ON THE TABLE FROM BUSH AND CHENEY 8 YEARS IN OFFICE . I AM SICK WITH WORRY HOW WE WILL SURVIVE THIS HORRIBLE WAR SORRY TWO WARS OR WILL MY SONS HAVE TO FIGHT IN A WAR THAT BUSH STARTED FOR OIL. NO! THESE SILLY STUPID THINGS THE MEDIA BRING UP ON THEIR SO CALLED TALK CABLE SHOW ARE SO OUT OF DATE THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AS THE REAILTY SHOWS ON T.V I THINK THE PUBLIC IS SICK OF THEM BOTH. THEY DON'T TELL THE NEWS OR REPORT IT THEY REALLY THINK THEY MATTER OR WHAT THEY FEEL MEAN A LOT TO US IT DOESN'T WE CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS . THE MSM SHOULD HAVE NOTICE BY THE LANDSLIDE OF THE ELECTION WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO THEM OR BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SELLING AS HANNITY AND RUSS L OR OTHER ON NASTY RADIO AND CABLE FOUND OUT .

  • Posted By: The18000 @ 12/21/2008 1:15:27 PM

    My husband and I are one of the 18000 leggaly marriged couples whose marriages Rick Warren wants to see nullified. He has compared our relationship to criminal behavior. He has stated that we are harming millions of people simple by our existence. How on earth is that "more progressive"? When someone wages a campaign to nullify your marriage based upon their religious beliefs and the president invites them to pray at his inaguaration, you might have a different opinion on what brings this country together. But there are only 36,000 people in this country who knows what this feels like and means in our lives and NO ONE IS LISTENING because they are so caught up in Obama fever.

    • Posted By: mcdeere72 @ 12/23/2008 9:59:41 AM

      18000,
      I find it amazing that the gays are so upset about a prayer. This isn't a keynote address, not even close. You ask for tolerance and then react this way to someone saying a prayer, it doesn't sound like you are applying your (or your group's) own advice.

  • Posted By: Getitout @ 12/22/2008 10:28:52 PM

    We know Obama was a muslim, he said he didn't practice it, I say good. He change and I think he became christian, and joined Rev. Wright church. That was bad. What he need to do is change it again and become jewish. Now, he can go to a mosque, to a church, to a synagogue, and no one will be offended.

  • Posted By: cuppa jo @ 12/22/2008 5:54:59 PM

    So Warren is a bigot and Wright is alright. The only rube is you Eleanor. Do you really believe the garbage you write?

  • Posted By: forparity @ 12/22/2008 4:40:37 PM

    The black churches didn't respond; they didn't want to play, said the reporter. "They don't trust us," ?? Well, it's the voters who shouldn't trust the press:

    Why on earth was Eleanor Clift not carrying Wright's message to the electorate during the heat of the Democratic primary this past season? After all, this voice crying in the wilderness was preaching to the church, that one President Bill Clinton had ------ over the black community [Wright's and Obama's communal community], as he had done Monica Lewinski - and further, that Hillary Clinton would do the same thing.

    Should not the MSM played that social issue out in full fanfare prior to and during the Democratic convention?

    Jeremiah Wright on Bill Clinton ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enMWfQl_Qeg ):

    Rev. Wright: Hillary is married to Bill and Bill have been good to us? No, he ain't! Bill did us [as he pumps his pelvic to and fro] just like he did Monica Lewinsky!

    Congregation: (cheers)

    Rev. Wright: He was riding dirty!

    Are we to assume that Eleanor Clift does not find this offensive? Perhaps she finds it factual. Whatever she finds it to be, I find that she, and the MSM, ought to be tied to a chair and forced to watch it 100 times; then asked the question: "how in the world did you manage to not ask, during the heat of the campaign, Bill & Hillary, Obama and Rev. Wright about the implications of his message here on the Democratic party?

  • Posted By: paulte @ 12/22/2008 3:52:40 PM

    I suggest that Obama eliminate the middle name when he takes the oath of office. If Jimmy Carter could use that name for the oath, then why can't Obama? Hussein is the most offensive of the three exotic names anyway. If we change Barrack to Barry, then we are only left with one offensive name, Obama. Barry Obama, that's not too bad. What can we do with Obama? How about change the last "a" to an "e"? Barry Obame. We're making progress. Now if we add on an "r", we have Obamer. Barry Obamer. That's close to his real name. What if we move the "r" from the end to after the "b"? Barry Obrame, almost a wasp! Of course we all hope he will bring a certified birth certificate when taking the oath of office!

  • Posted By: varacefan @ 12/22/2008 1:30:20 PM

    See, He doesn't give a ---- what you call him now. He won!! That combined with many other issues that he no longer gives a ---- about after winning will make for a interesting first term. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me the second time shame on me!

  • Posted By: Richard Neffson @ 12/22/2008 2:28:45 AM

    Would Barack Obama have chosen a minister to lead the nation in prayer who equated interracial marriage such as the one that existed between Obama's parents with incest?

  • Posted By: Richard Neffson @ 12/22/2008 2:27:25 AM

    Barack Obama may have had good intention in selecting Rick Warren but it is clear the vetting process came up short. Would Mr. Obama have chosen a minister to appear at his inauguration if that person equated an interracial marriage such as the one between Obama's parents to incest?

    I don't think so.

    Neffdogg

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse