Posts tagged "Barack Obama"

“Evangelicals Do Not Own God”

Welcome back!

It is time for a confession. I have fallen into the trap. I have let Evangelicals define the agenda, even here on this blog. I’ll explain what I mean by telling a personal story.

While I was pregnant with my second child, I was under the obstetric care of two brothers who shared a joint practice. I never knew which brother I would see at any visit. I knew only that I liked one brother and didn’t like the other. Read more…

“Get The Bible Verses Right, Journalist”

Here’s my helpful tip: never trust a journalist who gives “biblical” advice. In the most recent issue of Time Magazine, Joe Klein makes this statement about what Barack Obama “should have said” to Pastor Rick Warren at the “Civil Forum” at Saddleback Church. Read more…

“Why Obama And McCain Will Submit To Rick Warren’s Evangelical Civil Forum”

On Saturday, August 16, Barack Obama and John McCain will attend a “Civil Forum” at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. The forum will be moderated by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church.

Time Magazine made Rick Warren the subject of a recent cover article. The cover identifies Warren as “America’s most powerful religious leader” (Time Magazine Cover, August 18, 2008 Issue.) Read more…

“Evangelical Theology and Barack Obama’s ‘Low View’ Of Scripture”

The Bible as Word of God—inerrant, infallible, and solely the work of God—remains the single most important distinction between evangelicals and other Christians.

In an interview with Stephen Mansfield, author of the new book, The Faith of Barack Obama, this is Mansfield’s answer to the question: Read more…

“What Is The Story You Are Seeking?”

I have addressed this blog to seekers…people who are looking for something, often without quite knowing what they are seeking.

What do seekers seek?  Why do people go from church to church, and from churches to ashrams, from temples to yoga studios, from Presbyterianism to Scientology?  Why do Christians convert to Islam?  Why do black Baptists become Black Muslims?  Why do Catholics stay home and Lutherans consult tarot cards?  Why do people join cults? Why do people flock to evangelical megachurches?  Why do they replace the Bible with “The Course In Miracles?”  Why do seekers put their hopes in “The Secret” and purported revelations from channeled entities?  What are people seeking to find with all of this coming and going?  Read more…

“McCain Goes To Church and Obama Goes Into The Lion’s Den: How Politicians Attempt To Persuade Religious Voters”

Religion is at the heart of this political campaign. Candidates are involved in efforts to persuade religious voters by traveling to particular locations associated with specific religious groups. Read more…

“Religion, Politics, Persuasion, And Barack Obama”

If you wonder about the connection between religion, politics, and persuasion, read the story published by the Washington post about Barack Obama.

“Obama rumors fly in Flag City USA,” by Eli Saslow, Washington Post,  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25447998/

The story is not really about Barack Obama, but about persuasion. How do you believe what you believe?   Why do you believe what you believe?  How do you decide what is true and what is false when you are confronted with radically different claims about the same person?  Read more…