I think that Jesus, if nominated, would not run. Jesus' function as a prophet transcends political partisanship. I am utterly convinced that he would have a corrective for all political parties, this is what prophets do. Let me be clear that Christian does not equal blind allegiance to any political party or ideology. This is dangerous and idolatrous. Jesus would also be critical of religious practices that oppressed and ignored any group that includes Jews, Muslims, Hindus, agnostics, atheists, secularists, etc.

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Much has been said, replayed, and critiqued about the sermons of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Questions and comments abound concerning the nature of prophetic speech. When does speech transgress the lines of prophetic and become hateful and racially divisive? What do we make of Trinity in light of its prophetic role as part of the historical black church and its belonging to the UCC a predominantly white denomination.

First, let us address some of the questions at hand. Should the Senator disavow comments that are anti-semitic or racists? Indubitably, yes. Should the Senator disavow comments that are historically wrong and distort the truth? Of course, yes. While I say that racist, xenophobic, and untruthful comments should be disavowed I agree with Senator Obama that the attention given to Dr. Wright's sermons afford the country a great opportunity to talk about the difficult terrain ("Stony the Road we Trod") of race in America. I wish to particularly address the recent barrage of negative comments made against Black Liberation Theology and some Black Churches as examples:

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The Question: Which "ism" is more entrenched in America, sexism or racism? Which should religion address?

Emmanuel Levinas argues that much of Western thought "suffers from an allergy to the other." All over the world this is demonstrated through the unlimited lists of isms; sexism, ageism, racism, classism, etc. There is no monopoly on hatred of the other.

This reality is manifest in the ill-treatment and prejudice against people because they belong to a certain demographic which is different from our own. The histories of genocides, slaveries, concentration camp internments, and holocaust against groups like Armenians, Jews, Native Americans, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, are all examples of the sin of racisms and xenophobia. In addition, the history of patriarchy and kyriarchy has left too many women ill-compensated, marginalized, exploited, abused, raped, and murdered at the hands of a society that sees woman as less-than man.

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