Comments on: Obama’s Theology Problem

By: George Michalopulos

George Michalopulos — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:25:02 +0000

Darell,

I don’t disagree w/ you. Unfortunately what passes for Christianity in America today is deist. (Think of all the mainstream denominations.) What is more hurtful is the enthusiasm w/ which many Orthodox bishops have shown when it comes to being one w/ the NCC/WCC axis.

I fervently believe that there will come a time in which it will be impossible to belong to some Orthodox jurisdictions and be a faithful Christian if things keep going this way. As to which jurisdictions, I wouldn’t venture a guess as irresolute ones may find a backbone whereas some of the more pietistic ones may lose theirs’. That’s why we pray for a “Christian ending to our life.”

By: Darell Moseley

Darell Moseley — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:48:22 +0000

Hello, I have read the comments, and what I fail to see is true backbone from anyone to call this theology what it truly is! Obama clearly states “we are a nation of Christians, Muslims,Jews, Hindus, and unbelievers” This states that he is a Deist, a Deist believes that as long as you believe in some higher power, or some god, you are a believer. This is an antichrist theology, which seeks to bring the world into a one world religion, (Rev 17:13) as in the tower of babel: He is deceiving the Christians that will be deceived, the Muslims, that believe he is one of them, and all the rest with his seduction, that we can come together on a “One World peace accord, and pray to the God of our own understandings ” This guy is dangerous, and is not a saved individual! Any true Christian knows there is only One True God, (John 14:6) “Jesus says: “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me”
That is what a real Christian stands on! And by the way, Obama’s father was a radical Muslim,not an atheist:as was his step dad, read his book, “Dreams of my Fathers”…………
Also for those of you who pray, please be led by the Holy Spirit to pray for Obama, not compelled by man using scripture, because there is a sin we are not to pray for: (John 5:16)………..D-Ray

By: George Michalopulos

George Michalopulos — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:13:42 +0000

I believe it is incombent upon all Christians to pray for the new president, especially that his heart will be softened towards the unborn. We cannot despair. This being said, it is given to us to be “wise as serpents” and not operate under any delusions that Obama is anything more than heterodox (at best). I like Fr Andrew’s remark: “mere Arian,” I think that sums up best Obama’s theologically muddled upbringing (atheist father, hippie-agnostic mother, both lapsed).

This is one of the reasons I was so upseet with Bishop Savvas’ enconium to the new president after the election, besides the abrogation of the Christian witness and responsibilities, which have been taken over by the state with the willing acquiescence of the Church.

By: Fr. Andrew

Fr. Andrew — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:31:24 +0000

FWIW, there's that 2004 interview Obama did on his faith. He doesn't openly come out and say that Jesus isn't God, but his response to "Who's Jesus to you?" sounds pretty heterodox, almost sort of a "Mere Arianism."

By: Michael Bauman

Michael Bauman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:01:51 +0000

I found Mr. Reynolds comments a really odd mixture of political commentary and social theology. I did not find it either particularly well written or persuasive in any particulars, especially his unjustifiable optimism.

The oddest idea is that Obama could be a great President. How, when the earliest acts of his administration are focused on allowing and spreading the killing of the unborn?

Such government sponsored killing violates every bit of the Constiution Obama swore to uphold and defend as well traditional Christian teaching on the nature of human beings and our responsibility to one another. Great Presidents are not those that allow and encourage the killing of the weakest citizens of the this nation.

We haven’t even gotten to FOCA yet (the so-called Freedom of Choice Act). If FOCA goes through without a freedom of conscience clause (a clear violation of the 1st amendment), forcing religious hospitials and providers to do abortions, the Catholic Bishops will close down all Catholic hospitals rather than comply.

Obama might likely use such an action as an excuse to nationalize the previously Catholic hospitals thus gaining defacto control over the health-care industry in the US. The economic and social disruption of such an act is quite far-reaching.

Obama is a corrupt Chicago politician (I know that’s a redunancy) with a theology that is far worse than Liberal Christianity. (Sin to Obama is anything that violates his own values). It is not really a theology at all because it denies the dignity of human beings as unique persons in the image and likeness of God (otherwise one cannot promote abortion). It is a construct that sees nothing higher than man’s own will(the essence of nihlism). Such a philosphical orientation cannot result in either justice or genuine compassion. Any real possibility of maintaining the ‘more perfect union’ the Constitution was established to create, encourage and allow is destroyed.

The assumption that Maria says is made here regarding Obama should be the normative assumption for any Orthodox Christian. Unfortunately, Obama’s orientation is the creature of the depraved darkness that dominates the American soul. That is why we elected him.

By: Scott Pennington

Scott Pennington — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:07:25 +0000

“It would help to better understand in what ways, other than speechifying, that this new President is already measured and found wanting.”

Maria,

Well, he’s already signed executive orders directing the federal government to fund abortions. Moreover, he supports the Freedom of Choice act wich would abolish many currently legal restrictions on abortion. It is unclear how many abortions per year were prevented by measures in place before Obama’s election but I have heard estimates of 30K -100K per year. Abortions which will now go forward. Sounds like a run of the (abortion) mill liberal “Christian” to me.

By: Fr. Johannes Jacobse

Fr. Johannes Jacobse — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:36:50 +0000

Maria, John Mark Reynold's piece is an editorial, not a research paper, thus the broad themes and the lack of "evidence" you require. But these themes presume a basic familiarity with the ideas that inform them -- as all editorials do. Your responsibility is to understand the ideas, and then offer a rebuttal to the piece based on those terms rather than dismissing it as "speechifying" (finger-wagging doesn't get very far here.) You can start by reading John Mark Reynold's blog.

By: Maria Weir

Maria Weir — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:15:51 +0000

What a disappointment that this blog assumes we all agree that President Obama is just another liberal Christian (distinguishable from another liberal politician) and makes little to no effort to support this supposition with evidence. It would help to better understand in what ways, other than speechifying, that this new President is already measured and found wanting.