Obama says he hopes to be "an instrument of God."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/07/obama-gop-doesnt-own-faith-and-values/

During the nearly two hour service that featured a rock band and hip-hop dancers, Obama shared the floor with the church's pastor, Ron Carpenter. The senator from Illinois asked the multiracial crowd of nearly 4,000 people to keep him and his family in their prayers, and said he hoped to be "an instrument of God."

"Sometimes this is a difficult road being in politics," Obama said. "Sometimes you can become fearful, sometimes you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power just for power's sake instead of because you want to do service to God. I just want all of you to pray that I can be an instrument of God in the same way that Pastor Ron and all of you are instruments of God."

He finished his brief remarks by saying, "We're going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth."

Asked by CNN if he talks about faith more in churchgoing South Carolina than he does in the other early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Obama said: "I don't talk about it all the time, but when I'm in church I talk about it."

FYI: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3588054

Does he think God talks to him?

i am uncomfortable with the kingdom on earth bit because it wrong.

:popcorn:

Actually...never mind...

:puke:

:bounce:

:eyes:

In his principled integrity, charisma, and respect.

Absolutely.

I would never expect for you to own up to it though.

When he has established his golden kingdom, may I please peak through the gates every once in a while? pretty please?

Don't be so hard on yourself. You are *people* too...

So now he's promising us the immanentization of the eschaton?
Look, New Jerusalem is a beautiful hymn, but claiming that we can build Jerusalem upon this green and pleasant land at this point, in the early 21st century, just seems a little outdated, you know? In a bad kind of accidental-Stalinist, inadvertent-Pol-Pot kind of way.

For the discerning, this has to count as a major gaffe, at a "I-joined-a-hedge-fund-to-learn-about-poverty" level. Big mistake. Even the postmodernists would hate this.

he's speaking to anyway. I'm not so sure they are the target audience for this message.

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Hillary could show up at a church and pander as well, and get the faithful to cry "amen" - but when SHE does it, she'll do it with words and phrases that are otherwise completely unobjectionable to the average secularist. "Instrument of God" and "Kingdom of Earth" is just inexperience, and laziness -- a riff (or two) too far from a candidate relying on momentary "inspiration" instead of studying the books and knowing what to say.

there would be 20 different 100 post threads on DU bashing the hell out of her.

I guarantee it.

if I wanted a Kingdom right here on Earth, I'd have remained a Catholic.

It was very good. Obama is no fundamentalist, and he understands deeply the constitution and the separation of church and state. He also understands the historical role of religion, particularly in the black community. He understands the role and power of religious metaphor in the words of Lincoln, King, etc. I think some may misinterpret what he means by these statements, unfortunately, because they don't understand where he's coming from well enough. One thing I remember him saying was that the faith community has no monopoly on morality. I get a sense he joined the church in his community organizing days more to truly feel he was part of the community than anything else. The historical dimensions of the church, particularly the "black church," in fighting for social justice run very deep.

Here's the link. It's a 39 minute speech, but I really understood Obama better after watching this.

"In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life."

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/

CRUCIFY HIM!

:spank:

should have said "am"

Good luck with this post. I posted the identical on General Discussion and in a matter of minutes found myself surrounded by folks with matches and me on a stick pile! Fortunately I had my trust 'Super-Squirter' along and managed to douse enought of the matches to make good my escape. LOL

your welcome to borrow the 'squirter'.

That Bush is a godly man, and doing gods work here on earth?

No, thank you. We don't need a Democratic version.

I don't want a president who thinks he serves his God.

I want a president who knows he's supposed to serve the people.

ALL OF THEM.