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June 28, 2006

Barack Obama Talks Religion

Senator Barack Obama this morning gave a "Call to Renewal" speech in which he talked about the connection between religion and politics and urged Democrats to do a better job acknowledging the power of faith. It is a great read from beginning to end. Here is an excerpt:

For some time now, there has been plenty of talk among pundits and pollsters that the political divide in this country has fallen sharply along religious lines. Indeed, the single biggest “gap” in party affiliation among white Americans today is not between men and women, or those who reside in so-called Red States and those who reside in Blue, but between those who attend church regularly and those who don’t.

Conservative leaders, from Falwell and Robertson to Karl Rove and Ralph Reed, have been all too happy to exploit this gap, consistently reminding evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their Church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage; school prayer and intelligent design.

Democrats, for the most part, have taken the bait. At best, we may try to avoid the conversation about religious values altogether, fearful of offending anyone and claiming that – regardless of our personal beliefs – constitutional principles tie our hands. At worst, some liberals dismiss religion in the public square as inherently irrational or intolerant, insisting on a caricature of religious Americans that paints them as fanatical, or thinking that the very word “Christian” describes one’s political opponents, not people of faith.

Such strategies of avoidance may work for progressives when the opponent is Alan Keyes. But over the long haul, I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people, and join a serious debate about how to reconcile faith with our modern, pluralistic democracy.

Obama discusses why people are attracted to religion, the power of African American churches to spur change in politics, how he became a Christian, religious morals and values and how they impact lawmaking on issues like abortion and homosexuality, and why it is so crucial for Democrats to recognize the religious beliefs of Americans in their role as political leaders.

It is, in my opinion, a brilliant speech.

Posted by Becky at June 28, 2006 09:22 AM