Personal Thoughts on the Faith of Barack Obama

After having read the book and done the review, it’s time to give some of my personal thoughts. This is not a reflection on the book, nor the author, or the publisher, but my own thoughts. Clear?

As I hinted at in my review, one of the central issues is the church where his faith began, was formed, and was the only significant church influence in his spiritual life in the past 20-odd years. It goes without saying, then, that the influence of the church is of paramount importance.

Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago was formed and until very recently, headed by the controversial Jeremiah Wright. And the church isn’t what most of us would expect: it is often militant, radical, political, and Afro-centric to the extreme. Wright has declared that “God Damns America”, that 911 was “America’s chickens coming home to roost”, and he was reared in a theology that “black theology is concerned only with the tradition of Christianity that is usable in the black liberation struggle”. The rest can be tossed, apparently.

This is the church were Obama began his journey of faith. This is the only church he called home until earlier this year. This church is key to understanding Obama. [Another reason to read the book!].

After having read the book and done the review, it’s time to give some of my personal thoughts. This is not a reflection on the book, nor the author, or the publisher, but my own thoughts. Clear? As I hinted at in my review, one of the central issues is the church where his faith…