Aug 25 2008
Review – The Faith of Barack Obama
The Democratic National Convention started today in Denver, Colorado, and it is no doubt that the nominee of the party for President will be Senator Barack Obama. With that nomination, and even before, come the questions of who is this man, what does he believe in, and where does he stand? As our nation has struggled through the recent hardships of 9-1-1, the Iraq war, and turmoils in our local communities, we are increasingly looking beyond the superficial appearances of our politicians to their core beliefs and values. We are, as a nation, more and more interested in what drives out leaders and makes them tick.
The Faith Of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield seeks to help the reader find some of those answers. The book does not make a judgement call on who Americans should elect as their next president. Instead the author, by explaining Obama’s upbringing and influences, strives to show what it is that forms Obama’s beliefs and how that drives his thought process. The book also pulls no punches. On complicated issues such as abortion and the various laws legislating around the issue, Mansfield clearly points out where Obama has logical struggles and at times has mis-stepped his ideals. But again, the strength of this work is that it offers up the facts on those issues and lets the reader form their own opinion.
In addition to detailing the influences that have gone into the Barack Obama’s faith, Mansfield also gives attention to three of the other main characters in this election – Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and George W. Bush. Not only does this help to give a foot in the door for exploring those dynamic individuals, but it also helps to compare and contrast the cast of players. It is made clear that there are more than years of difference in this election, there are also differences of education, social influence, and how their faith was obtained. Revelation versus inheritance versus personal exploration are depicted as paths that help to form the destination.
This book is timely not only in terms of the election and the conventions, but also in terms of where we are currently in US politics. We are seeing, across the board, Republican or Democrat, a renewed interest in values and what goes into a person to form those values. Those values, that faith, is important to the American people and to the world. How our President puts his personal values into action in the world is important to determining how we interact with the world and where this country will be in years to come. Well written, timely, and well researched, this should be considered a must read for anyone on either side of the election interested in learning more about the candidates.
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Tags: Barack Obama, election, Faith, Values
I agree with your post. Which is not something I will usually do!
I enjoy reading a post that will make one think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
I watched Stephen Mansfield discuss his book on C-Span 2, Book TV. He was very honest and up-front about his findings and much to his surprise and those of many, Barack Obama IS NOT AND NEVER WAS A MUSLIM!
In fact, Mr. Mansfield stated that Barack Obama is AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN!!! His evaluation is done by a complete and detailed research and review system of Barack Obama’s entire life from his birth in Hawaii and his move to the Chicago’s South Side and includes his Harvard Law School information.
The name of Barack Obama is African, as his father was from Kenya, Africa. His life with his father is short-lived as his mother and father divorce when he is only 2 years old. His father then returns to Kenya.
His mother several years later marries a man from Indonesia while they live in Hawaii for several years, they move to Indonesia for a couple of years while Obama attends a Catholic School and then a Government School for only two years. His mother and step-father then divorce and Obama and his mother move back to Hawaii when Obama was only eleven (11) years old.
Mr. Mansfield also stated that in the Muslim Religion, you are never even considered a Muslim until you are the age of Puberty, 13 years old. Obama never was even considered Muslim and was certainly under-age for acceptance into that religion.
Obama found Christianity with his Grandparents and again when he moved to Chicago as a young adult searching for the meaning of his life. Being half white and half black, being of no religious affiliations as his mother had no religion, Barack was BAPTIZED A CHRISTIAN AND IS ONE OF THE MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE THAT MR. MANSFIELD HAS KNOWN.
IF PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA INTENDS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES AS STARTED BY GEORGE BUSH, AND MR. MANSFIELD STATED THAT BARACK UTILIZES HIS FAITH IN EVERY ASPECT OF HIS LIFE! HE WAS VERY COMPLEMENTARY OF BARACK OBAMA.
MR. MANSFIELD HAS BEEN A EVANGELICAL MINISTER FOR OVER 21 YEARS AND HAS EVEN PREACHED IN JERRY FALWELL’S CHURCH!!! I WAS PLEASED THAT THIS MAN, DESPITE THREATS AND ANGER FROM PEOPLE THAT HE FOUND OBAMA NOT TO HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE MUSLIM FAITH, THAT HE WOULD BE SO VERY HONEST AND ABOVE-BOARD AND NOT TAINT A MAN’S HISTORY FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO MAKE NEGATIVE AND UNTRUE STATEMENTS ABOUT A GOOD AND HONEST MAN!