Even (and Especially) the President Needs God

Amen and my prayers are with him.

Sparrowhawk, I strongly support and join you in your hopeful comment that

"I would like to think he was elected because people thought he would be a good president...you know, because he's smart, hard-working, and understands the constitution...stuff like that. Whether or not he ends up feeling like he "needs" a god to help him with his duties is of no concern to anyone but himself"

I think there is a pervasive human need for relationship with something greater, and I think many of us wish that this 'something' greater had the ability and desire to help us solve our problems. I think there is little evidence of such a "something greated', and I certainly do not think it is anything like the God proclaimed by many churches. Obama (and most of us) will need spiritual help from time to time, but that is much different than needed the Christian God.

You seem awfully eager to dictate what Mr. Obama will "need" spiritually. Personally, I think it's up to him to decide how often and what church he goes to, if he goes at all. I mean, honestly, did we elect him because he "promised" us he'd go to church every Sunday or something? I would like to think he was elected because people thought he would be a good president...you know, because he's smart, hard-working, and understands the constitution...stuff like that. Whether or not he ends up feeling like he "needs" a god to help him with his duties is of no concern to anyone but himself.

So, Rev. Smith, as an apologist for Rev. Wright and Black Liberation, would you suggest Obama find another Trinity Church of jumping-up-and-down-and-cheering Black racists?

It would be an absolute shame if President-Elect Obama hasn’t been able to attend a church of his choice due in part to a news clip of Rev. Wright. A media mastered minded clip with just enough sizzle to allow them to have a field day with limited and piece milled information.

It saddens me to think that the media holds us its audience with so little regard that they can just feed us half truths and we blindly believe. But it’s true, at least in this case. After all Mr. Obama no longer attends Trinity UCC.

I like you Rev. Smith, am not a fan of organized religion. I believe there are many paths that lead to the one and only God. For me God is not some Skygod who lives far away in some never never land, but rather an active Spirit that lives inside us all regardless of our whereabouts. However, I pray that while the Obama’s attended Trinity UCC Rev. Wright’s sermons feed their Spirits enough to sustain them until they are able to find another church home. For it is there that others with the same Spirit filled bodies gather as one to give thanks, praise, renew, and find peace, love and understanding. Just some of the things needed to carry out our everyday lives. That is the purpose of the church. No one should be denied access to a church of their choice, particularly not our President.

One God,

fedennis

As there would appear to be no gods (except in the imaginations of the indoctrinated) it is outrageous to expect intelligent folk to actually buy into such nonsense.
We would be better off without superstitious drivel being drummed into the heads of our children, who grow up under the delusion that an invisible SkyGod is up there somewhere...looking out for us.
Pulease let's get REAL. There are no gods.

Hey Rev Sue! You have nailed it again! I remember President-elect Obama saying prior to the election that contrary to popular opinion he was not born in a manger. I too am blown away by the plethora of expectations afoot--somehow i don't recall these expectation for other presidents before or during their time in office. Nevertheless, unrealistic expectations also dogged the steps of Jesus.

You have rightly noted that attending church of him would be cumbersome. Trinity UCC has made efforts to reclaim its sacred space from the media, but they, like water seem to manage to slip in.

I too believe he needs God with or without the expectations of this world. In his book Audacity to Hope, he mentions realizing this need upon watching his mother dying. He said that he walked the aisle of Trinity UCC yet with questions, but he walked. I pray that the media blitz of his pastor didn't jade him about church. Certainly he politically distanced himself from it all, but as I heard pundits weigh in on that media created debacle, I wonder if there was any understanding of how central God ought to be in a person's life if that person expects to do anything substantive in life. Of course secular humanists, atheists, and agnostics will dismiss all of this, but I cannot fathom president elect Obama attempting to change anything without God in his life and praxis of faith. He did go to a church on Thanksgiving Day to distribute food to the needy in order to show his daughters the importance of charity and to appreciate their blessings.

Yes, and unfortunately, organized religion has left charred ruins of many lives in its wake. Yet, I am reminded of Howard Thurman's response to a Hindu who wanted to know how he could subscribe to a Christianity that bought and sold his people. Thurman said, I am here representing the religion "of" Jesus, what you have seen is a religion "about" Jesus. The religion "of" Jesus that Thurman alluded to is void of the shackles of organized doctrinal hair-splitting, divisive dogma, and segregated sanctuaries. I pray that president-elect Obama will once again choose worship as central to how he lives, moves, and serves as President of the USA. I believe that he will find a church home soon somewhere in the Beltway. Thanks again for raising the issue.

Dear Rev Smith

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia