Bill Maher just said he hopes Obama is Lying about his faith

[UndertheOcean]

and that finally we will have the first secular president .

I hope so too, and I hate that he has to lie about it .

[Ian David]

1. OMG! The Flying Spaghetti Monster would get his own holiday! n/t

[babydollhead]

9. Festivus!

[Kermitt Gribble]

2. I don't hope he's lying about his faith.

I don't care if our President is religious, I just hope he doesn't use his religion to shape his policies.

[wryter2000]

15. I don't, either

I'd rather have a decent person of faith as president that a misogynist like Maher.

[Zhade]

44. I'd rather he were religious (but secular) and honest than an atheist (like me) and a liar.

We've had ENOUGH of liars.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

3. You can be a secular president

and still have a personal faith.

[PM Martin]

38. I believe that is how Obama will be.

And that will put Bill Maher :puke: in the mental hospital!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. Obama WILL be a secular President, regardless.

There was a time when I'd have said the same about McCain. Not anymore.

[rucky]

5. He's not, Bill.

He's Christian. Get over it.

[CoffeeCat]

6. I just have to say this...

I truly believe that Obama did not know that Reverend Wright was a radical, and I also
believe that Obama was unaware of the outrageous things that Wright was saying during his
sermons.

My guess is that he didn't know these things because he didn't attend church regularly. I'm not saying
that he never attended. However, I think it's obvious that he rarely did. It's been widely reported
that Obama didn't belong to a church until one of his community-organizer colleagues told Obama that
it would be a good move to join one of the churches in the community, to gain clout.

I remember chuckling to myself when the right was attacking Obama and saying, "How in the world
could Obama NOT know that Wright was saying these things?" Hello? You don't get it do you? He
wasn't there. He was rarely there!

I don't mind our leaders being spiritual or believing that there is something greater than ourselves.

However, I'm secretively happy that it seems like Obama isn't one of those religious nut jobs.

[tjwash]

17. *sigh* Reverend Wright is not a radical

People make it sound like he was a black panther or funding middle eastern militias, or bombing abortion clinics. The guy was a U.S. Marine for christ-sake. He was also one of the very few stand up people that actually came to the aid of Bill Clinton in his moment of need, and decided to choose friendship over politics. Obama could stand to learn a lesson or two about that.

This is why CONTEXT should matter to journalists, if any real ones actually still existed. The guy had 2 statements cherry picked from 31 years worth of sermons, and taken way out of context by a horribly biased media, while nasty, backstabbing primaries were rolling at full speed.

Media without accuracy or context is only a social manipulation tool.

[immoderate]

27. You got it right. I liked Rev Wright's sermons. At least those I heard.

And I am a Jewish atheist. :)

--IMM

[4lbs]

29. In addition, Wright was found safe enough by Bethesda Navy Medical Hospital to assist in the care of

President Lyndon B. Johnson. He later received a letter from the White House thanking him for his service to the President.

They don't let whack jobs within 100 yards of the President.

[Zhade]

45. What outrageous things? Why are you feeding the rightwing lies about Wright?

NT!

[Beregond2]

7. What a complete jackass Maher is.

[Ian David]

10. No, Bill's heart is in the right place. But I'm not sure this helps. n/t

[Zhade]

46. I'd say partial jackass - right about religion, wrong about woomongering like the anti-vax crowd.

NT!

[fed_up_mother]

8. I'd rather not have a fake and liar. Thanks, but no thanks.

[ContinentalOp]

12. Uh yeah... this is politics.

You don't get that option.

[Greyhound]

42. Yes, but we have to choose between the allowed candidates.

:rofl:

[yardwork]

11. We've already had a Satanist president - that would be w.

[Mariana]

58. A real Satanist would be much more competent than W.

[dkofos]

13. I hope he has faith in himself. There are a lot of people counting on him.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

14. I agree

I have never believed that Obama is Christian. He just knows that he can't become president as an atheist so he has to pretend. I wish our country was advanced enough that he could be honest about who he really is, but alas... that will be the LAST glass ceiling to break.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. Obama's no Atheist. Why don't you people take your religious prejudices

and shove 'em? Bill Clinton managed to be president without allowing religion to shape his policies, and Obama, as a constitutional scholar, will do the same.

[fla nocount]

18. I hope that at best he is a Deist. I am, I feel that's there's something...

about this 3d existence that we're just not picking up on and I don't have the foggiest notion what that something might be. Maybe on the next trip we'll get to meet the driver.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

33. Oh, come on...

Obama's mother was an atheist and I'm sure she exposed him to alternative thinking on religion. He's intelligent and well-educated. There's no way you're going to convince me that he believes in fairy tales about virgin births and zombies.

[fla nocount]

40. Welcome, O clear-headed, plain-spoken citizen.

First post that I've seen or I would have done it earlier. So, were the Brothers Grimm historians or clever corporatists? We'll ask the same question of that well-traveled and prolific St. Paul fellow.

Actually I heard about a virgin birth but the mother was drunk at a frat party on the night of conception and didn't remember much about the divine visit except that God seemed a "good looking and decent fellow" and was surrounded with a host of angels who hooted and hollered and "sang praises to heaven."

Leave us zombies out of your myth-busting though, we are Nation and we are strong.

Well met.

[Zhade]

47. Interesting. I did not know that about his mother.

Very cool.

[Zhade]

48. You're probably right - but there's no reason to capitalize atheist.

It's not a religion.

[Freddie Stubbs]

53. What has he said or done for you to conclude that he is not a Christian?

:shrug:

[rebel with a cause]

55. Obama is not an atheist.

I have heard him speak about his religious beliefs four years ago. I don't think he is a person who would use his position to force his beliefs on anyone else, and I believe that his religion is very personal to him. There may be a time when someone who is not religious or belongs to a religion not Christian can run and win the presidency, but right now lets not worry about that and try to get this wonderful not old white man into the WH. :hi:

[marmar]

19. Nothing wrong with having faith....just keep it out of government.

n/t

[emulatorloo]

20. That's Maher's "opinion" -- and you know what they say about OPINIONS

Obama is not a liar, so screw you Bill Maher.

Sorry this guy is real tiresome and has been getting on my last nerve for a quite a while . Want to see his movie anyway, so he will get my $7.00 for that.

[Fumesucker]

39. Obama certainly was somewhat duplicitous about the FISA vote and telecom immunity..

At least that is my opinion..

[yodoobo]

21. That Obama is one sneaky dude.

Lemme get this straight.

So now he's an Athiest, pretending to be a closet Muslim while he presents himself as a Christian, so as not to concern the peoples about his pretend Muslim faith.

I think I need to diagram this.

(yes yes insert the sarcasm tag somewhere in here)

[pansypoo53219]

22. northern midwest religion is a tad different.

usually.

[Irreverend IX]

23. I have a hard time believing any politician is sincerely religious.

Obama had a mostly secular upbringing, then joins the Trinity United Church? What gives? I think I know what gives, he, like any politician, knew that he would be more politically palatable if he was seen regularly attending church, especially if it was the most politically influential church in his area. Same with McCain, who reportedly said "God is dead to me" after returning from Vietnam and more recently dissed Jerry Falwell but then started fellating fundies on the campaign trail. And I hear Bush never goes to church anymore... no need to keep up appearances now. Anyone who immerses themselves in the cutthroat realities of politics can't believe in silliness like "salvation" and an "omnibenevolent god" for long, apart from some exceptional cases like Kucinich and Huckabee.

[ContinentalOp]

25. Yep, I couldn't agree more.

Maher is right on this one.

[tkmorris]

26. Exactly right

If you want to be a player in politics at the national level, you need to be seen as religious. It's that simple. They all know this, and act accordingly.

There are people here who are religious, and really, really, REALLY need to believe that their favorite politicians are too, and those people will lash out with great anger and fury at anyone who suggests that is is all a charade. In my experience it is those people who are having doubts themselves who are most susceptible to this phenomenon. They are uncomfortable in their "beliefs" and need the reassurance that others they respect share in them.

[rebel with a cause]

56. and there are people on here that need to believe that their

favorite politician is an atheist, and those people will argue with everyone that that politician is one even if that politician says he is not. People should not put their own identities on other people. I have heard him talk about his religion and believed him even if I do not believe in organized religion. I cannot say what he believes, but I don't think he was lying when he said he had a personal relationship with his God. I have to take him at his word.

By the way, from what I have heard Lincoln was not much for organized religion either, but I can't say that for sure because I am sure it is written somewhere that he did. ;)

[dysfunctional press]

28. there's a line in the movie 'spartacus' by charles laughton as gracchus- to a young julius ceasar...

he is buying a chicken to make a sacrifice to a god, when julie remarks that he didn't think that senator gracchus believed in the gods, to which laughton replies: "privately, i don't believe in any of them, but publicly i believe in them all"

[fla nocount]

50. Instant classic, bookmarked. Gotta link? n/t

[W_HAMILTON]

32. Is anyone truly "sincerely religious?"

I don't think so. Well, I don't want to be that sweeping; yes, I'm sure there are some, but they are far outnumbered by those "insincere" types.

[rug]

24. I'd pick a believer over a liar.

[tkmorris]

30. LOL, ok

I think you're being naive, but ok.

[ecstatic]

36. exactly! Wtf? nt

[ObamanationYes1]

37. TOUCHE! N/T

[Arugula Latte]

54. I'm the opposite. I'd feel better knowing someone didn't fall for the "faith" B.S., but knew he had

to pretend he did in order to get into high elected office.

[Tutankhamun]

31. I've kind of thought his Jesus bullshit was bullshit.

Proclaiming a love for Jesus is a necessary evil for any serious presidential candidate. If Jesus came back and said he was a Jew, he'd be unelectable.

[amber_86]

34. Obamas faith

Have you not read his book? Audacity of Hope? I'll tell you that Barack Obama is a christian. But don't let that scare you away,because that is good for us as a nation.He beleives in Jesus and don't slam him for it.Thats what makes him kind and loving to others, and yes even his enemies.Thats what God teaches in the Bible.That doesn't mean hes gonna shove it down you're throat.How do you think he handles all that critizism?He can because of his faith,he can let it slide off him,because no matter what he will go on with his life and be fine with the outcome.

[PM Martin]

35. I know who he is.

As a non religious person, we should respect the right of others to live and worship freely.
Also, Mr. Maher :puke: should remember people such as Martin Luther King who's faith guided them to
the cause of justice.

From what I have read from Mr. Maher, he desires to live in a world without morals and standards.
But what else can be said about a "man" who worships Hugh Hefner? :eyes:
Bill Maher is a sad little "man". :puke:

[Zhade]

51. Morals and standards don't come from religions, they're co-opted by them.

One does NOT need religion to be a decent person.

[tkmorris]

59. I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw that.

"He beleives in Jesus and don't slam him for it.Thats what makes him kind and loving to others, and yes even his enemies"

This is at the core of what many religious people I know believe about themselves, other Christians, and Atheists and I have yet to find any logic in it. The argument presumes that everything that is kind, decent, and gentle about people must by definition spring from religious belief, and that those who lack religious belief have no reason to be moral.

Morality does not spring from religious belief. If anything it hinders it. Examine any Christian religion and you will find that one of it's core tenets is the certainty that it alone is correct, and all other religions or lack thereof are wrong. It usually follows that the unfortunates who are NOT followers of the chosen faith are doomed to eternal damnation. Aside from the peculiar notion that one group of people is superior to all other groups (which is fundamentally unjust), the idea that anyone who doesn't believe as they do somehow deserves to be punished eternally for it is one of the most heinous, sick, and uncivilized concepts I've ever heard put forth.

Furthermore, the idea that the sole possible reason for doing anything "good" is because the unseen, unevidenced deity you happen to believe in wants you to (according to some other people who claim to have spoken with Him, but also provide no evidence that this is so) is just a wee bit weak. There are far too many situations which arise that are never addressed directly by any a priori religious teachings, and thus highly subject to interpretation. For example "Thou shalt not kill". Why didn't war end for all Christian nations forever the day that was first written down? I see no ambiguity here. Of course if you remember that the same book also contains the advice that "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" you might begin to get just a tad confused.

No, morality comes from within. There are sound, logical reasons for individual and societal morality that stem from existence as we find it, not the potential for post-death torture at the hands of an allegedly benevolent God figure. The subject is far too complex to go into in any depth here, and simplifying it would do it an injustice, so I will leave it be. If anyone is truly interested they could do worse than to start with Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill. It serves merely as a starting place, but does it well.

[The Gunslinger]

41. I just hope he is honest to the American people about it

no matter what his religion or lack thereof.

[Zhade]

43. Well, remember, secular does not mean atheist (aka irreligious).

It simply means not allowing religion to dictate public policy.

I don't like that Obama's religious (I don't like that anyone is, it's such a waste of time worshiping myths), but it's his right.

[scheming daemons]

49. Thomas Jefferson was our first secular President....

More people need to study history.

[Freddie Stubbs]

52. The problem is, if is is lying about that, what else is he lying about?

Perhaps he is being forthright.

[ACTION BASTARD]

57. I can't wait for President Obama to take these faith based groups...

to the shed with one hand on their throats and the other hand with a belt.

[upi402]

60. me too, but he has to

there are wonderful xtians but most are driven to inject their lunacy into everyone and everywhere

so they need to be stopped, it's just gone too far