Obama's Pastor...

Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:48 am

Personally, I think Obama's speech on race was somewhat condescending. It really wasn't anything new in the land of political correctness. It seemed to me that he blamed whites for not addressing the issue and that the racist statements made by his pastor are fair in light of what black America suffers at the hands of white folks. Sure, he mentions that some white people have hard feelings due to affirmative action, but of course there's no indication that he really sympathizes with that. In any case, it seemed like just the usual "blame-other-people-for-our-failures" crap some black activists have been spouting for some time now.

Also, I now think he's a duplicitous liar. You don't attend a church for ~20 years if you find much of what the pastor says to be "repugnant". Either Obama is yet another Christian of covenience (i.e. does for the peace of mind factor only), or he agrees deep down with what his pastor says. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the guy who I though could be a good thing is looking worse and worse by the day.

I don't care for McCain any more. *Sigh* Hillary is looking better and better. I hate Presidential races.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/19/oba...view/index.html

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65169

scherzo · Post by **scherzo** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:17 pm

I'm inclined to disagree, with 'faith' issues, it isn't a matter of convince. You make a valid point, but when you are a member of a congregation you simply cannot 'walk out' and choose another denomination or faith. It is like a marriage, hard times, good times, etc. etc. - besides, the pastor should rotate every 5 years or so.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65170

manadren · Post by **manadren** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:27 pm

I really didn't see it that way. Obama was eventually going to have to deal with race, and racial hatred, and I think he did it in a pretty decent way. I don't think he was trying to shift blame, but he wasn't dancing around the issue saying that those kind of emotions don't exist. It wasn't about placing blame, it was about understanding the hate and where it comes from.

Now I don't claim to know the whole story about his pastor and the 20 years he spent at that church, but I will say this. It is entirely possible, and likely if he has half a brain, that a member of a church can disagree with some of the things his pastor says, and still attend that church. Because a church isn't just about the pastor, but also the community, and no 1 community is going to mesh with you 100%. Secondly if you are going to disown someone you've known for 20 years because of a few comments, then you are an idiot.

The speech actually made me respect Obama a little more personally, because he was being realistic, despite what that can typically mean politically.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65172

Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:52 am

I guess the trouble I have is that he described some of the things the pastor says as being "repugnant". Personally, I could not respect a "man of faith" who injects his "repugnant" opinions on race relations and politics into his sermons. I'd find another church to attend. I've read some of the things this pastor has preached and it is repugnant. In fact, it's downright hateful, racist, and wrong. Perhaps Obama looks at the pastor as a parent might look at their retarded child - you can have positive interaction with them when they're cute or mellow, but when they start making a scene at the supermarket, you ignore them as best as you can.

Sure there's more to a church than the pastor, but the pastor is the individual that can build a church up, or tear it down. The sad thing is, lots of black churches have pastors that preach everything in racial tones. It's funny, but some of the most racist people I've known have been blacks.

In any case, check out his first memoir, "Dreams from My Father". It's somewhat eye-opening, and not in a pleasant way, at least what I've read so far.... I sure will not be supporting Obama for President in any way, shape, or form.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65184

Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:57 am

scherzo wrote: I'm inclined to disagree, with 'faith' issues, it isn't a matter of convince.

I don't know... there's a difference between the person who goes to church on Sunday (or Saturday depending on denomination) and consciously tries to live good and right every other day of the week compared with the person who goes to church on Sunday, plays the routine, and then goes back to being a corrupt ass the rest of the time. That is a "religion of convenience", where the convenience is either the position it gives you in a given community, or the peace of mind of thinking you're "saved", despite your very un-Christlike lifestyle can concern for others, etc.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65185

scherzo · Post by **scherzo** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:41 am

Stasi wrote:
scherzo wrote: I'm inclined to disagree, with 'faith' issues, it isn't a matter of convince.
I don't know... there's a difference between the person who goes to church on Sunday (or Saturday depending on denomination) and consciously tries to live good and right every other day of the week compared with the person who goes to church on Sunday, plays the routine, and then goes back to being a corrupt ass the rest of the time. That is a "religion of convenience", where the convenience is either the position it gives you in a given community, or the peace of mind of thinking you're "saved", despite your very un-Christlike lifestyle can concern for others, etc.

right and had he left his church, and went 'testing' others, he would be accused of 'molding' God to his liking. (that is to say, if he hasn't already done this)

when you go to church, you aren't required to agree, but you do have to listen. I per-say don't agree with the church's view on pre-marital sex, this doesn't mean I haven't listened to it (more than once)

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65207

Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:12 pm

Yeah, he'd have been accused of "molding" God to his liking by the bigot pastor and his minions. To virtually everyone else that actually tries to live according to Christ's teachings of love, mercy, and compassion, he'd actually be respected. Attending services led by someone who opposes pre-marital sex is quite different than attending services led by a bigoted ass. To me, there is far less evil surrounding abstinence than bigotry.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3539, old post ID:65211