My submission at digg made it to the frontpage. Upon making it to digg frontpage, somebody posted the video (transcript here, or here) at James Randi Forum, Metafilter, Reddit, and Atheist Forums.

 

A famous atheist blogger, PZ Myers, stated that although Obama is a “weak progressive who is tainted with religious delusions,” he nonetheless will vote for him, and hoped that he will focus on more practical issues. PZ Myers comments reminds me a lot of bestselling atheist author Christopher Hitchens article, saying that there’s something pathetic and embarrassing about our obsession with Barack Obama’s skin color. There is an ongoing discussion at the Richard Dawkins Forum.

 

I hope Obama wins

 

The goal of aiming to put the Obama’s speech on faith at digg frontpage was to jumpstart a discussion. Now that Obama is as popular as his political opponents, I wanted to find out what are people’s reactions are to Obama and his views on the separation of state and church.

 

I’ve already stated exactly one year ago how Obama’s view on the separation state and church is inline with much of the moderate secular view. I’ve even posted this video a year ago, as a response to the rift caused by a prayer in a Filipino secular event.

 

As an atheist, I support Obama because he promised to increase the budget in humanitarian aid internationally. As some Filipino knows, the fundamentalist Bush regimen recently stopped sending much needed contraceptives to our financially-strapped family planning programs.

 

Also, Obama is the only candidate I’ve seen who can withstand a religious attack, and come out winning. I have to agree with Friendly Atheist that Obama is our best shot when it comes to issues we deeply care about. Many international Atheist and Agnostics blogs, seems to agree.

 

Talking Points

 

 

Oipom: This morning I spent a good amount of time perusing YouTube for Obama videos after watching something somebody posted on Digg. It was of Obama giving a speech about religion in America, and it sounds so sappy and awful but I teared up about halfway through

 

The Frame Problem: Obama really impressed me. By upholding secularism, reason-based political discourse, the protection of religion, dignity for non-believers, and gay and abortion rights, he seems like a candidate that could effectively represent many nonbelievers and believers alike.

 

Henkhaus: He speaks about his religious experience not to make atheists uncomfortable, but rather to tap into the language of morality of a nation of christians.

 

Daily Atheist Quote: This was a huge relief to hear in what seems to be the most religious-based election of all time. If I wasn’t already going to vote for Obama, this would have turned me into an Obama fan, as he is the only one that seems to keep religion out of the government.

 

Frozen Clocks: Haha, he then sort of brings up Kierkegaard’s “suspension of the ethical” to support his point. Obama gets extra brownie points from me for indirectly referring to Kierkegaard’s intuitions.

 

DJ Mischiff: He understand his country in historical context, and acknowledges that the greatest catalysts of change were not moderates or members of the majority, but vocal champions of the minority. I believe that in spite of that he still understands that good government must not cater to special interest groups.

 

Live QnA: This guy is simply amazing. This speech just reminded me of why I ought to be more tolerant of the faith of others. Just beautiful. I love Barack. Finally a politician with a sense of tolerance for all people.

 

Writing Science Writing: If you enjoyed our in-class discussion about the teaching of evolution in schools, or the discussion about the rhetoric used by politicians, I would highly recommend this excellent and refreshing speech by Obama about the role of religion in politics. He uses both logic and his own experience with faith to talk about faith and the impact of religion on society.

 

Shannon Ehlers: That said, if ever the democrats needed something, it is a person who can address situations with truth, with reason and with humility. Funded by individuals and not beholden to suspect special interest groups, Senator Obama might be the best hope for the democrats.

 

A Typical Guy: Overall, I have mixed feelings on these statements. On one hand, it finally restores a sense of separation between church and State (something that shouldn’t be optional in our current government). However, I wish Obama would have gone further.

 

Dignoscentia: If you’ve doubted that a progressive like Obama can appeal to Christian voters, and that he is a Christian man, then I highly encourage you to watch the video, because you will be amazed.

 

Here There Nowhere: I found this video to be very powerful. What Obama did was brave and sincere.

 

Ansem Report: This is the kind of man I want in the oval office. I listened to this speech and was truly awestruck by his wisdom - not just intelligence, but true wisdom. I don’t want a president that I feel I can have a beer with. I want a president who fills me with awe because he is so much wiser than I feel I ever could be.

 

Openswitch: I’m seriously starting to think he’s got a lot to offer in this presidential campaign. At this point I’d be proud to have him as president. I really like what he has to say about the way religion and secularism can work together.

 

O’Donnell Web: It may be even more revealing in that he wasn’t running for President when he gave this speech.

 

Neon Nazgul: I didn’t think is was possible in these evil years to hear a politician speak with such level-headedness.

 

Truist: It is a strong clue that Obama is a reasoning, thoughtful leader. I am starting to have hope

 

Mumpish: That’s possibly the smartest, most thoughtful position I’ve ever heard a politician take.

 

Cruftysite: A testimony to the brilliance of a particular speaker is their ability to speak to people outside of their set of beliefs and get a message across despite vast differences in opinion. As some of you may know, I’m very much an athiest but Barack Obama gave a brilliant speech on his faith and the faith of Americans that even someone like me could relate to.

 

Doctor Fedora: It’s remarkable to see someone running for president who is capable of such nuance and understanding of big issues.

 

Tulsa Now: Here’s a little bit of the substance that some of you guys have been looking for.

 

Foxy Moon Heart: Mr. Obama, I honestly wasn’t sure about you (even if I still preferred you over Billary or McCain), but you just won me over, sir.

 

Optical Conclusions: After watching this video, there is no reason why I wouldn’t vote for Obama.

 

Evan Hanson: This video just destroyed all my doubts. In it, Obama speaks clearly and frankly on religion and its place in politics. Addressing a subject that all too often goes untouched in American politics, he affirms both his Christian faith as well as the need for the separation of church and state. The most significant point of the speech for me comes, however, when he explains the need for our nation’s leader to justify his beliefs and decisions to both the religious and those with no religion at all.

 

RogersMJ: The most intelligent thing a politician has EVER said about religion

 

Jeremy and Ruzena: This is an intelligent man who has faith, but recognizes that there are people in this country that either don’t or don’t share the same faith as him. That doesn’t make him a bad Christian. It also makes an excellent example of why Christians who refuse to accept the fact that we are not a Christian Nation (this is not a theocracy), but a nation of diverse people (Muslims, Buddists, Jews, Atheists, and more), make bad politicians. This is because they’re only seeing to make true to their own personal convictions and refusing to recognize the beliefs of others.

 

JD Harper: He is not a Muslim, despite the emails you may be getting.

 

TCR America: Well, I must say this caught me way off guard, and I must say I have so much more respect for Obama after viewing this video. Will I vote for him? Most likely not, but I will say I would not be as upset if he wins.

 

A Typical Spirituality: It was given during a sojourners meeting and I think Jim Wallis introduced him right before the speech because he makes a few mentions to Jim.

 

Pseudolectual: It’s so refreshing to actually be engaged by what a politician is saying.

 

Asluk: Even the points with which I disagree, I find engaging rather than enraging

 

Octopoid: IF you plan to pass legislation regulating aborting, you HAVE to be able to argue your position logically and rationally and COMPLETELY INDEPENDENTLY of your religious views, whatever they may be. If at any point, your argument falls to, “Because my religion says so,” then you have failed.

 

Lakeshore: My main man says it much better than I have, capturing everything I think is wrong with faith-based politics and spinning it to a positive — something I haven’t yet been able to do. Go read this, no matter what your political or religious stance. It’s worth your two minutes.

 

tongodeon: It’s a very well laid out, sophisticated argument. I just hope it’s not so nuanced that it gets him in trouble the way Al Gore and John Kerry’s intellectual rambling did.

 

Abandoning Eden: I especially like the end part where he talks about abortion and how not all people who are prolife are anti-women.

 

Lou Huang: It’s one of the best speeches I’ve heard from a pulpit in recent times.

 

The Blog Side of the Moon: I’m much more comfortable with Barack Obama’s take on the relationship between religion and politics than I am with someone like Mike Huckabee’s. It’s refreshing to see someone who professes to be a Christian focusing on social justice issues, rather than just beating on issues like gay marriage and intelligent design in schools over and over and over.

 

J-Wild: Whether you choose to vote for Obama or not, his expression of how faith and civic life interact is inspiring regardless of how you plan on voting.

 

The Toys Are Us: He inclusively embraces everyone on all sides of the church and state issue, patting us all on the head while also very softly smacking on the nose with a newspaper. He uses law and scripture, and also admits his own culpabilty and mistakes. He does not have all the answers to ending the culture wars, but he speaks without pointing a finger or blaming anyone for dividing us, all the while charging everyone with the task of reuniting us.

 

Sillytech: Even as an atheist I am persuaded and almost moved. It’s remarkable to me - almost unprecedented - when you contemplate that this guy might actually have a shot at the presidency.

 

Dymersion: Obama is a typical liberal? Try again… many conservative evangelicals would have trouble arguing with a lot of his logics

 

Pat Parent: He genuinely seems like the real deal, but the criticism you often hear about his campaign, mainly that it’s “more about style than substance”, stuck in my mind for the longest time. That is, until I saw this video… it is the most sensible thing I heard any politician speak about faith, religion, freedom and the first amendment of the constitution of the United States of America.

 

Chris Diclerico: As most of you know, I am both politically and religiously atheist… This is surely the type of religious belief that this country needs and the type that I can certainly live with. I am rarely impressed. I am impressed.

 

Talking With Strangers: I have been watching the US Election very closely, like much of the rest of the world, and this speech stands out.

Posted in: time · talk