Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
No matter how many news inches or cable spots are dedicated to coverage of President Barack Obama's church attendance, the message just will not reach some people. Some 11 percent of Americans still mistakenly believe that Obama is a Muslim, a number that might seem outrageous to those who live in D.C., where the number of the pew the President occupied is reported on the front page of the Metro section.
For the big Easter service, the Obamas picked St. John's Episcopal Church, the so-called Church of the Presidents, so named because every President since James Madison has popped his head in for at least a quick prayer. The Washington Post reported his attendance in detail, and by that account, nothing of interest happened inside the church beyond what you might expect of an Easter service yet outside crowds and tourists gathered in hopes of catching a glimpse of the President.
Putting aside the question of spiritual nourishment, which no one but the Obamas themselves can speak to anyway, wouldn't it be better for everyone if the First Family didn't decide on a church home? For one, parishioners at a permanent church home for the Obamas are likely to get over their regular attendance far, far more quickly than tourists, who will spend the next 4 to 8 years' worth of Sundays gawking at this church, wherever it is. If the Obamas were to spread their love for the divine, on the other hand, more churches might enjoy an Obama bounce. The Sunday after a First Family visit might be a visitor draw to match the boost that restaurant would once report the night after a dining visit from the Clintons. Further, roving Obama worship might motivate local reporters to write in depth about area churches, a beat that has been sadly neglected since the end of the "Service Industry" column at the Washington City Paper.
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It would be amazing if some time during a second term, some President came out of the closet and admitted to being a non-believer. If he/she was just like; "yeah, I was on the fence last year being raised that way and all, but I now realize- it's all bullshit."
I agree with your rhetorical question, "wouldn't it be better for everyone if the First Family didn't decide on a church home?" ...But not for the reason you indicate.
How about a president that doesn't pander to religion? How about a president that doesn't need religion? How about a president that can base his decisions on the facts and the analysis of his trusted experts?
There has been tremendous pressure from the media for the Obama's to pick a church, and even in this post, where it is suggested that a church not be picked, the reason is so that churches in general will benefit. Why should a church or many churches be expected to receive such support?
"How about a president that doesn't pander to religion? How about a president that doesn't need religion? How about a president that can base his decisions on the facts and the analysis of his trusted experts?"
Having a religion or going to church isn't by definition pandering. Presenting religion as a 'need' is misguided and disrespectful. Being religious does not preclude one from basing decisions on the facts and analysis of trusted experts.
"Presenting religion as a 'need' is misguided and disrespectful."
If its not "needed" then its superfluous anyway. Why should I respect silly ideas or those who hold them? Respect is different from acting in a civil manner.
Your answer is very true, but it ignores the context in which the question was asked. The context, as I see it, is this: No openly non-christian has ever been elected to the presidency, nor is it easy to envision an openly non-christian being elected to the presidency in the forseeable future.
Why all the pressure for the Obamas to pick a local church? As far as I know the Bushes (W and HW) never joined a local church, nor did the Clintons. I guess they remained members of their "home" churches outside of DC, and since the Obamas left their Chicago church it's different, but I still don't understand all the attention this is getting.
He's always welcome to join my church. I'll "keep a pew warm for him" and it'll be nice and stinky.
I don't think it's the Obama's job to boost church attendance. I think they should be able to worship wherever they are comfortable. I could care less where the Obama's attend church services, and don't think there should be added pressure on them to either choose one church or visit many churches.
isn't worse that being called a muslim is such a tremendous smear? or that obama didn't come out and say that there's nothing wrong with being muslim? instead it was colin powell who had to do that.
I'd like to see a stark Heidegerrian in the office. A real thinking about thinking kind of thinking man. The kind of guy who might begin the SOTU with "Nationhood, the very idea of a collective, a man's need to live like an animal in relation to the pack, to present four sides of life as solid walls and to leave our tentative notions of God society and the universals of angst and existentialism...where the fuck was I?...ah, right. Nationhood..."
But that's just me.
When the Bushes first arrived in 2000 they came to my neighborhood Methodist church, a congregant who was there tells me the snipers on the roof were a tad off-putting.