Obama and the Unbelievers: The Future of Secularism
The presidential inauguration showed that an enforceable wall of separation between church and state simply does not exist in America, at least at the level of expression in the public square. What is the future of secularism in our religious democracy?
Obama’s civil religion, like JFK’s and Bush’s before him, emphasizes the connection between God and American ideals. But Obama spoke not of “endowed rights” but of “God-given promise.” Rights are inherent in the creature while promises are to be fulfilled.
Sure it was nice that Obama gave a shout out to nonbelievers, but the president's actions during the campaign give pause to the nation's atheists and agnostics.
Warren's prayer began with all of us, narrowed itself to the Judeo-Christian monotheist, then more narrowly still on the Christian, then more narrowly still on that faith as experienced by Rick Warren himself. A stunning rhetorical achievement.
The door is not just open to Muslim Americans; we are not sitting in the living room; there is a room for us in the house now.
While calling for all Americans to unite and work together, Warren used his “aggressively Christian” prayer to perpetuate and deepen the religious divide in our country.
Lincoln and Obama: A Precarious Parallel
Drawing connections between history’s heroes and today’s leaders is one way to tell a political story. But invocations of Obama as Lincoln, as MLK, or as FDR are double-edged.
Rick Warren Gives Pre-Inauguration Sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Controversial mega-pastor Rick Warren gave a little-noticed sermon at King’s home church in Atlanta on Monday. In it he seemed to dance around the controversy, invoking King’s unpopularity seemingly in reference to his.
Bishop Gene Robinson's prayer at the "We are One" inaugural event is silenced by technical difficulties, and cut from the broadcast. If you pray and HBO doesn't cover it, can God still hear it?
MLK SPECIAL: Awake From Dreaming—King to Obama
In a series of short essays, special to Religion Dispatches, religious historians, philosophers, and ethicists celebrate Obama’s place in American history while heeding Dr. King’s continued prophetic challenge for our nation.