2 of 5: Obama's Christianity: why it might be sincere, why it might not, and why it might not matter

This is a reading of my article "Obama's Christianity: why it might be sincere, why it might not, and why it might not matter," a post to the blog site "Clashing Culture" (http://clashingculture.wordpress.com/).

Here's the direct link to the article: http://clashingculture.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/obamas-christianity-why-it-mi...

My four YouTube channels:

- http://youtube.com/user/ToddGates - my musician channel

- http://youtube.com/user/ToddAllenGates - where I discuss the ideas in my book "Dialogue with a Christian Proselytizer" (a dialogue between a Christian proselytizer and a Socratic skeptic)

- http://youtube.com/user/ToddAllenGates2 - where I discuss the ideas in my book "Hunting, Gathering, & Videogames" (such as "Why do we have to work?" and "Why do we have to use money?" and "How should we define 'success'?")

- http://www.youtube.com/user/BlasphemyPiano - where I provide background piano accompaniment for songs in Nick Gisburne's "Blasphemy! Anthems for Atheists."

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• Christianity
• Creationism
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• Bible
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• skepticism
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• The Audacity of Hope
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[billredeemed]

In response to your comment about not responding to me further that is ok and i did not really expect you to do what you said and watch or comment on this video either. Rest assured we will meet again only there will be no need for debate at that time.

[billredeemed]

non answer

[billredeemed]

>Agreed. So I take it that you also agree that the God you think exists DOES approve of lying if to serve a greater good.

What you fail to realize is that we like God sometimes have to choose the least of two evils. To me that does not automatically make the least evil righteous.

>If a god (be it Jehovah, Allah, Zeus, etc.) made "Himself" known to me than I certainly would! I would certainly not want to fall out of favor with the Creator of the Universe. He has and will again.

[ToddAllenGates]

> That sounds kind of communist.

No, I am quite in favor of capitalism. There is nothing "communist" about a community banning destructive behavior like theft, rape, and murder.

> Or does the individual matter at all?

I don't know WHERE you got the idea that I'm against "the individual." These tangent accusations are time-consuming and pointless.

My advance apologies should I cease to respond to you.

[ToddAllenGates]

> He does not hate homosexuals and would tell anyone he could that they should not hate homosexuals.

I agree that I probably should not have used the phrase "invoking hatred toward homosexuals." Yes, he's just pointing out that the ancient text he believes was inspired by a Creator calls homosexuality a sin.

[ToddAllenGates]

> This cannot be right because if it were then what we did to the peoople who lived here before us would be ok. The same way what hitler did would have been ok and i think we can agree that was definitely wrong. By an absolute standard non the less.

Genocide is definitely destructive to society as a whole - so yes - definitely wrong.

[ToddAllenGates]

> there is a difference in do not bear false wittness and do not lie

Agreed. So I take it that you also agree that the God you think exists DOES approve of lying if to serve a greater good.

> i think it better that you should find out from Him yourself and that day is coming

If a god (be it Jehovah, Allah, Zeus, etc.) made "Himself" known to me than I certainly would! I would certainly not want to fall out of favor with the Creator of the Universe.

[ToddAllenGates]

> Yes, honest to Jesus and His Spirit you forget that His sheep have.

Honesty is an absolute only when it comes to your relationship with an invisible presence?

> as long as it does not make you break the two primary commands

So it DOES depend on circumstances.

> easy done because it never does

"Don't murder" and "Do murder" is the most striking biblical example that comes to mind.

[billredeemed]

> Honesty regardless of circumstances?

Yes, honest to Jesus and His Spirit you forget that His sheep have.

>Compassion for fellow humans regardless of circumstances?

Exactly, just look at how Jesus lived and died. He is our role model.

>Honoring parents regardless of circumstances?

Yes as long as it does not make you break on of the two primary commands mentioned earlier.

>Be careful to pick ones that the Bible *never* contradicts.

Ok, easy done because it never does.

[billredeemed]

I don't want to distract you from the current topic, but there is a difference in ,do not bear false wittness and do not lie. And even if there were not the Top two commandments trump any other interpretation of a rule; love the Lord with all you got and your neigbor as yourself.

As for why God has done anything He has done i think it better that you should find out from Him yourself and that day is coming.