The recent debate over the religion of President Barack Obama is not new to most readers. Some say he is Muslim,others ask how can he. Some even think he is agnostic. Obama says he is a Christian, and I always thought that was good enough.
The President recently said he became a “Christian by choice”. When I was put into Sunday as a toddler, I was taught that one becomes a member of a particular faith or religion by choice. I’ve never been taught that once born to parents of particular religion, one is automatically of that faith. Simply put, religion is a choice. If its that simple, why will people not hold the President to the same standards.
Religion is determined by choice, not biology. If Obama was raised by Muslim father and a not-so-religious mother, does that really makes him a muslim? It’s my belief that it’s only politics and race that can make a person miss such a simple premise. Of course both can be very toxic.
I’ve listened to the President talk about religion more often than any President that I’ve seen. (Of course I’ve seen few Presidents.). What is undeniable is the fact that the Presidents shows admirable respect for people of other faith. This is called religious tolerance. Mr Obama does not look down on Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Shintoism and Atheism even if that will win him some political capital, as the do-to-please politicians like Newt Gingrich, and Michele Bachmann will do. In my opinion you cannot be a leader in the modern complex world and lack the religion tolerance demonstrated by Mr. Obama. Is such open mindedness not a respect to the principles upon which the American nation was founded?
In any case, what is wrong about one being a Muslim? Any politician who resorts to muslim bashing or ‘islamophobia’ for the reason that a few Muslims have hijacked the Islamic faith to unleash terrorism on humanity has no substance. Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, was reportedly raised Catholic and received the sacrament of confirmation (or course I’m not certain about whether he practiced the faith). Will it make sense to blame all Christians or Catholics for the terrible acts he committed? I’m yet to find a politician who will say ‘Yes’.
