As the 2012 election approaches, President Obama took the occasion to speak at today's Nation Prayer Breakfast (having skipped such opportunities in the past, such as regular church attendance) to proclaim to the electorate that he indeed is a Christian, regardless what most people may believe.
UPDATE 4/24/11: Obamas' Rare Church Attendance is Easter
UPDATE 2/3/11: WWJD per Obama - "There’s only so much a church can do . . ."
UPDATE 2/5/11: Civil Rights movement brought Obama to Jesus Christ
-- From "At prayer breakfast, Obama calls Jesus 'my Lord and Savior'" posted at Reuters 2/3/11
President Barack Obama made a clear declaration of his Christian faith on Thursday and seemed to express some frustration that his beliefs continue to be called into question.
“A call rooted in faith is what led me, just a few years out of college, to sign up as a community organizer for a group of churches on the south side of Chicago,” he said.
“And it was through that experience, working with pastors and laypeople, trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighborhoods, that I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and Savior.”
But he also seemed to vent frustration that despite more than 20 years as a practicing Christian, people still question his religious persuasion.
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From "Obama calls his Christian faith 'a sustaining force' in prayer breakfast speech" by Perry Bacon Jr. and Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post Staff Writers 2/3/11
Obama, who has faced a persistent number of Americans who mistakenly believe that he is a Muslim as well as questions about why he only occasionally attends church, described how he "came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and savior."
"My Christian faith, then, has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time," he said to a crowd of about 4,000 at the Washington Hilton hotel. "We are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we're being true to our conscience and true to our God. 'Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, as well.'"
Some high-profile religious conservatives have raised the question [of Obama's religion], while some religious progressives have criticized Obama for not framing his policy priorities through a religious lens. The president's supporters have noted that President Bush did not attend church regularly while in office either.
It's unclear whether - or how - Obama's handling of the subject affects his political standing, as the last several elections have shown a strong divide on voting regardless of the candidates: people who attend church more frequently, particularly evangelical Christians, tend to back Republicans, while Democrats have more support among voters who rarely attend services.
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From "The Political Subtext Of Obama's National Prayer Breakfast Address" by Michael Scherer, Time Magazine 2/3/11
President Obama has spoken three times at the National Prayer Breakfast, and there has been a pattern to his speeches. He thanks his guests, speaks briefly about the history of the National Prayer Breakfast, and then delivers what amounts to a essay on faith in light of current events. In 2009, he quoted Jesus, the Torah and the Koran, while making reference to Buddhists, Hindus and Confucius. In 2010, he spoke about Haiti, and the need for more civility in Washington. On Thursday, as his presidential reelection approaches and large numbers continue to misidentify his faith, the president took a different tack. He spoke at length and in detail about his personal faith.
. . . his prayer breakfast [speech today] is clearly an attempt to claim his own Christianity, something he has tried to do in subtler ways before. Rather than Confucius or Islam, Obama mentioned T.D. Jakes and Joel Hunter. He was sending a signal to the Republican field: He will not allow others to define his own beliefs for him.
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