Who cares? Why is this news?

All the other candidates probably attended church as well…big deal, since it has absolutely NOTHING to do with one's ability to occupy the W.H.

I'm with Christopher Hitchens, author of "God is Not Great, How Religion Infects Everything". Whether it's Obama's "birth faith" of Islam or his adopted faith of Christianity, both are "opiates of the masses" and I can't trust any candidate who actually believes such historical drivel.

i'm an Obama supporter and all, but seriously, this is news?

See the McCain thread for a discussion of religion and its role in government.

I don't doubt that Obama or McCain or anyone else is truly a devout Christian. That's their prerogative.

The problem is when these politicians want people to vote for them because they're Christians. How else can the Obama camp explain their need to "promote" Obama's faith? Clearly they've come to understand the reality in America that it's not enough just to promote your candidate's intelligence, reason, rationality, policies, and decision-making skills. Sad.

Good for him.

Thanks CNN. I didn't know black people went to church.

writing this down….O-B-A-M-A….C-H-U-R-C-H….T-W-I-C-E

THANKS FOR THE COMMENT THAT BLACKS AND WHITES ATTEND CHURCH EACH SUNDAY-OK-
WHAT IS YIUR POINT. HOW YOU LIVE THE
WORD OF GOD IS MORE TO THE POINT! I
LIVED IN THE SOUTH(BIBLE BELT), AND I
FAIL TO SEE ANY DIFFERENCE. EACH USE THE WORD OF GOD FOR THEIR OWN ENDS.
WHAT IS LACKING IS TOLERANCE OF ALL,
SAME WITH ALL RELIGIONS. ONLY THE
SILENT MAJORITY GET IT–TIME FOR THE
SILENT MAJORITY TO SPEAK UP–SOMEONE
OUT THERE,EVEN IF IT'S ONE–DO IT NOW!

THANKS FOR THE COMMENT THAT BLACKS AND WHITES ATTEND CHURCH EACH SUNDAY-OK-
WHAT IS YIUR POINT. HOW YOU LIVE THE
WORD OF GOD IS MORE TO THE POINT! I
LIVED IN THE SOUTH(BIBLE BELT), AND I
FAIL TO SEE ANY DIFFERENCE. EACH USE THE WORD OF GOD FOR THEIR OWN ENDS.
WHAT IS LACKING IS TOLERANCE OF ALL,
SAME WITH ALL RELIGIONS. ONLY THE
SILENT MAJORITY GET IT–TIME FOR THE
SILENT MAJORITY TO SPEAK UP–SOMEONE
OUT THERE,EVEN IF IT'S ONE–DO IT NOW!

So when Obama speaks politics to 25K in NY on a Thursday evening, or speaks about Jena in Howard University it is not news but when he quietly attends church its worthy your page?
What happened to CNN the news leader?

This another needless news by CNN Clintons News Network.

Is it just me, or does every story on Obama come with a negative headline to it? Seems like very questionable bias and objectivity by a socalled news source.

I can't vote for him butas a citizen of the world, I sure wish I could as unfortunately the US president has a great impact on the world, not always positive.

I have been watching CNN since the the this presedential campaing started very closely. I was very much dissapointed with the way you are handling this whole campaing senario. I have also noticed when you report poletical news in favour of Hillary over Barack, which you should be ashamed of. The American people deserve to know what every candidates will bring to the table. your job as a jornalist is to REPORT the truth not to creat your own truth and spoon feed the public. where is Nationalism bigns? do you really care about America and the it's people? do you really restore the image of America in the world? if your answere is yes to all the above very critical questions, please report the truth, and be fair. at the end of the day what is good for America is What Barack Obama wants to this country, you should too!

Thanks

hope to see more truth reported to us!

Ok…so Obama draws 24,000 people in Hillary's backyard in NYC on Thursday, and CNN's political ticker does not even mention it, but he goes to church, and it's a headline?????????

By the way, why does this article talk about Obama wooing black voters, when he went to a predominantly white church as well? Doesn't that mean he was wooing ALL south carolinians, not just the black ones?

CNN…so pathetic.

“An opportunity for the Senator to have a morning of fellowship with South Carolinians."????? What does that even mean? Other than he’s trying to kiss the behinds of the loony tunes in the Bible belt… Give me a break, I was an Obama fan. WAS being the key word! I found his honesty, integrity, and charisma to be refreshing… not your typical candidate. Unfortunately it appears as if he too has been sucked into the phony nonsense politics to win votes.

I am personally an atheist, and while I realize that in my time I will probably never see a candidate have enough guts to state in front of the voting public that they think religion is a dangerous mental illness that is the root of ALL of the world’s problems… As sad as that is, I will most definitely stay away from candidates who deem it necessary to join the crazy’s in their place of “worship” just to win THEIR votes! What candidate right now is standing up for MY beliefs! Oh that’s right… No one… Why? Because the minority that I’m in won’t help win an election! The majority of this country wants a president that prays, yeah… PRAYS, well America, look at what the last 7 years of praying at the White House has done for us. Just look at everything from Terrorism, to War, to National Debt, to FEMA, and someone THEN explain to me why I’M in the minority! It’s about time we start thinking about electing presidents who are logical, intelligent human beings, and people who believe in praying to an almighty creator cannot be logical OR intelligent! So thank you Barack for eliminating yourself from my candidate pool!

Did I say hypocrite?

Heather, I guess you won't be voting since all the canidates claim to be deeply religious. I'm more of a spirtualist than believing one religion over another. I think it's ok for Obama to attend any church service he wants. Like the old saying, when in Rome do what the Romans do. This is especially appropriate for the South. I don't think this is news, especially since it's not being reported about Obama's 24,000 rally in NY or the new Newsweek poll that has Obama in the lead are not even in the political ticker.

Heather, yes I believe all of these candidates exploit their religion in one way or another for votes. But honestly, the basis of Christianity is a simple message of love. To blame the faults and failures of people and our country on our proclaimed leaders who "pray" is irrational. Christianity doesn't expect people to be perfect, in fact it highlights that they're not.

Oh and by the way, the director of the Human Genome Project is a man of faith. He must not be very logical or intelligent either.

Well, that is what we call "hypocrites". Using whatever it takes to gain politically.

Why didn't CNN report when Obama drew a record breaking 24,000+ people in NYC last Thursday?

He goes to church…twice and we have to know?!?? What is new? Are you jealous to the point that you loose your minds?

To answer your question Sonya in Atlanta… right now, none of the Democratic candidates are thrilling me to the point that I feel any of them deserve my vote, however I WILL vote, as it is the one right I believe should not be taken for granted no matter what… All I am saying is I will be taking their religious practices into consideration when I DO vote… as well as a number of other things… this story just rubbed me the wrong way, and my point was Obama transitioned to the dark side of politics, something he said in the beginning of his campaign he would NOT do… so that would be why I have eliminated him as a viable candidate!

And Scott from Florida… I AM blaming certain failures on the current president's religious beliefs. To me people of faith are out of touch with reality to a certain degree… Bush has specifically stated that he PRAYED while pondering the decision to invade Iraq… That's pretty SCARY to me… maybe while he was busy praying, he should've been, Gee I don't know learning the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni Muslim… He PRAYED over the decision to send OUR troops into war with a country that did NOT attack us! Yeah that has the Christian message of love written ALL over it… Just like he must have prayed when he decided to eliminate funding for stem cell research… research that could potentially cure devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s… There’s that Christian message of love AGAIN…and please don't be ridiculous, I don't care that the director of the Human Genome Project is a man of faith, congratulations, you can know a whole lot and be really smart, but still be illogical and unintelligent

CNN! I'm really getting disappointed, this is one of the reasons I stopped watching Fox News, stop slanting the news, just report the facts, good or bad regardless of who's affected and let the reading or watch public decide. this is a social responsiblity, it's not position to anoint any candidate.
Obama had a huge event in NY, it was not worth mentioning, he went to a Church today like most people in America that was news for you guys and it's even slanted to appear negative. CNN!!!!!

IN OTHER NEWS
Barack Obama spoke at Washington Park in New York yesterday, attracting 24,000 visitors.

Compare that to Hillary Clinton, who spoke in Philadelphia and attracted 800.

Barack Obama received 500,000 donations to his campaign from 350,000 people in his final drive toward the end of this financial quarter.

Ron Paul and Bill Richardson BOTH broke the eleventh hour $1,000,000 goals they set.

Your welcome for me doing your job and reporting the news, CNN.

Honestly, CNN, this is what you come up with? A few days after the man draws over 20,000 people to a rally in his opponent's adopted state?

All politicians go to church, go hunting for a photo op, shake hands and kiss babies. Absolutely inconsequential.

But Obama just passed 350,000 contributors to his campaign, a stunning number over a year before the election. And the reason has got nothing to do with going to church. ("Twice!")

Everything written or published has a bias, my friends, whether it be the writer's experiences , his editor's vision, or the company owner's reason for owning the company. What is the purpose of such fluff?

My bias? Well, I think Barack Obama is the best presidential candidate I have seen in my entire life.

Chris from Middleton, you're a genius.

"So when Obama speaks politics to 25K in NY on a Thursday evening"… And?
It is Sunday now and I guess I saw a couple dozens postings from Obama's supporters about that one meeting. And Rolling Stones get 100,000 people on the stadium shows; maybe we should elect Keith or Mike?
As fo his TWO church visits: I'm not christian and don't like evangelicals/born again etc, but his church visits tell me only that religion for Obama is only a way to campaign, not to cear the soul. Did we see Hilary praying before cameras? Remind me.

Obama is naive in his faith too. Twice church attendance is not a campaign issue. He is trying to cover his Muslim
background and pretend as a Christian. I don't trust Obama.

These are sad time for the United States, when will everyone wake up and realize we need a leader that is for the United States of America,all the citizens as one, not black votes, latin votes, christian votes.Why can't we just have a person who thinks of the country as one. United we stand, divided we fall.I am so tired of hearing (black vote),(Latin vote),(christian vote), etc!!!The changes we need for this country affects us all

just because hes black and reaches out,doesnt mean they all support him…or going to vote for him,ya have hillary,biden, and on richardson there is lotts among the black voters voting for him..

So, Heather, NY, in your assumption then 99% of American population is illogical and unintelligent. Did you ever think why America is the reachest and the most prosperous country in the world? If 99% of us were illogical and unintelligent, like you say, I doubt this country would have been where it is now prosperity wise. You should be thankful to those that pray to the Almighty for this country.

My second point, I am from the former USSR where atheism was taught in every school and government's objective was to proclaim the nation religion-free empire. You are intelligent and should know the history and the GREAT COLLAPSE of this empire. Can you ask yourself why?

Posted By Kyu Reisch, Radcliff, Kentucky : September 30, 2007 7:15 pm

Thank you for pointing out to everyone why CNN covered this as a story. It is the ignorant people, or dishonest political operatives, who want to spread the disinformation that Obama is a muslim sympathizer to Bin Laden that this post counteracts.

Yes, it is ridiculous, but FOX news already tried to spread this lie and repeat it enough so that some brainwashed idiots would believe it.

So YES CNN, this is a service to counteract the disinformation campaign. Whether you believe in religion or not, spirituality is important to all people. Brotherhood and sisterhood is important. We have been led to believe it is a zero sum game and only survival of the fittest. Survival of the fittest is true as a scientific concept in terms of evolution. But it is not a great model for our society.

Obama is guided by his Christian faith, in part, to lead us to a more empathetic and rationale course in our government.

99% of americans aren't anything,let alone all suffering from the religion defect.The best estimates are that 85-90% of americans have a defective neural pathway between the amydala and the temporal lobes of the brain. That is the problem,it has been common knowledge for nine years. This in my opinion disqualifies them from being effective in a world that requires logic and reason. Unfortunately with the vast numbers being affected by a condition beyond their control,it will take generations of medical research to remedy this problem. Forgive them for their disability and rest assured that most areas of our lives are controlled by the few of us who do not have this issue. We are smarter,healthier, and stronger humanoids that have great advantages over our brethren. We are to them superhuman,our ideals are seen as impossible dreams. Try to pity them for falling victim to their deficiencies. It's not their fault. At least we live in a country where we are not stoned to death or crucified.

That certainly looks nice but I know for a fact you refused to help not only a brother in Christ but also a brother in arms when he was abused in your state, at boot camp? Christian, I think not. Thankfully Hillary has her beliefs in the right place, believing that every person regardless of color deserves the same chance at life and freedom.

To Jimmy J:
>Did I say hypocrite?

>Posted By Jimmy J : September 30, >2007 4:07 pm

Looks like we have something in common.

This country already has too many hypocrites. We need no more of that.

Barack Obama's "birth religion" isn't Islam just because he lived in Indonesia and went to a predominantly Muslim school. I lived in Turkey as a child and went to preschool with Muslim kids, but I'm not a Muslim. Not that there would be anything wrong with it if he was Muslim at some point.

Obama went to a predominantly muslim school when he was SIX YEARS OLD…sheesh! He went there for two years, then went to CATHOLIC SCHOOL for 4 years, so why do some ignorant clowns keep insisting he's muslim???
Why not claim he's catholic?

Unreal….

Did he go to church twice in one day to pray and worship or to be seen? This is truly how hypocrite this man is. To use the house of God to masquerade his political agenda is not only deceitful but a sign of what a low life he is.

to Davydov, Agawam, Ma

Be very careful not to equate prosperity of this country with freedom of religion.
Capitalism/democracy and free enterprise is more likely the cause of this disparity of prosperity when comparing the two countries. And further, the USSR's collapse was due to a number of very complex conditions.,, and only one of which could have been religious suppression. Open your eyes and take in all and I mean all the information you can, now that you are here. And welcome to America.
And just because Obama goes to church doesn't make him a good candidate, or twice as good because he goes twice.

what did he eat for breakfat

Gina, its uninformed, ignorant people like you that will keep this country on the wrong path. This man does not have to go to church to be seen, the 24k speaks to that(which went mostly unreported for stories such as this which is not news).Maybe he got invited or maybe just maybe its part of the 40 nights of faith initiative he just launched. Dont speculate and ass-u-me. Get the hatred out of your heart and read,listen and learn. This is a great,great man and if he doesnt get in we all lose.Please read and learn http://www.barackobama.com OBAMA 08!!!

Obama went to church on Sunday and i walked around in my underwear watching TV. Neither is news

This man is supposed to be this big visionary? He's already pandering to the Bible-bangers. What's visionary about that? Sounds like politics as usual to me. Men of faith have no need to advertise it.

I could truly care less if he went to church ten times on Sunday….I would never vote for this White flag waving raging lunatic…People look what he wants to do with the whole tax system,,, if you like a socialist society where everyone makes the same amount of money and there is no chance to be successful then this is your guy….

now thats funny a muslim in a baptist church you think he might be trying to down play his regilion and make people forget he's not christian, we havent forgotten

I hate it when people say they won't vote for him because he is actually campaigning… HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO GET ELECTED if he doesnt compaign to everybody.

The difference btw Obama and everybody else is
1) He knows NOT to make political decisions for the whole country based on HIS own faith or GUT feelings

2) when he did go to these churches he slipped in the side entrance of both. He did not make an anouncement of what services he was to attend, sit in the front row or get on the pulpit so everyone can see his face.

Faith is a detriment ONLY when it controls ALL aspects of your life and as a politician you attempt to use your faith to controll everyone elses life. If you think that Obama will cater to the religious right YOU ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION.

CAN YOU NAME ONE CANDIDATE THAT IS EITHER MORE SECULAR OR WILL NOT PANDER TO THE UBER RELIGIOUS?

If you won't vote for him because he went to church then you may as well not vote and dont act suprised when Hillary sell us out to the Family Research Council… (and I actually like Hillary.

Heather,

If you are using George W. Bush as your example I can see why you are so hostile towards Christianity. However, to completely write off ANYONE of faith as irrational or unintelligent seems to be quite the stereotype. Trust me, there are millions of Christians who are put off by W's "Christian Presidency". Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and you may be put off by Obama because of this, but this is not news. His book, "The Audacity of Hope" has an entire chapter devoted to faith and he has been a speaker at several left leaning Christian groups such as Sojourners for years. You may not be happy with Sen. Obama for his church attendance, but he did not suddenly "go to the dark side", he has been a churchgoer for quite some time.

I have a hard time believing an Obama presidency would even somewhat resemble anything close to George Bush's last seven years of troubles. To base your thoughts of faith on the horrendous Bush presidency and his politicizing Christianity may be easy but is not representative of what the real message is. Not every Christian is one of these crazy fundamentalists you see in the media, those are just the ones that get all the attention.

Still thinking in WPB, fl :

Obama is NOT my choice for president and I wasn't making a point that because he goes to church he is now qualified to be one.

My point is: freedom of religion is a significant part of America's prosperity. You haven't lived under the suppression of communism so you wouldn't know. Back in the USSR because I believe in God I couldn't go to college, thus, cutting off even the thoughts of being prosperous. It is different in America - isn't it?

Val-here in America an athiest cannot be elected. Isn't that the same oppression in reverse? Are 10-15% percent of the population with genius IQ's somehow unfit for office? Use perspective. I'd rather a genius ran for president and it's disappointing to us that in this country of freedom that this isn't possible.

to Davydov,

I respect your perspective and your views…they reflect a deep thinking person.
My point : freedom of religion should not be associated with material gain.
Other factors play a bigger role like the ones cited in the previous post.
Again , welcome.. we need more people like you here.

Ed,Ellenville,New York :

How do you know that in America an athiest cannot be elected? Name one athiest that even TRIED to run for a president. So it's NOT the same oppression in reverse because no one has ever tried. As the saying goes, "No pain no gain". Right?

Heather,

If you are using George W. Bush as your example I can see why you are so hostile towards Christianity. However, to completely write off ANYONE of faith as irrational or unintelligent seems to be quite the stereotype. Trust me, there are millions of Christians who are put off by W's "Christian Presidency". Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and you may be put off by Obama because of this, but this is not news. His book, "The Audacity of Hope" has an entire chapter devoted to faith and he has been a speaker at several left leaning Christian groups such as Sojourners for years. You may not be happy with Sen. Obama for his church attendance, but he did not suddenly "go to the dark side", he has been a churchgoer for quite some time.

I have a hard time believing an Obama presidency would even somewhat resemble anything close to George Bush's last seven years of troubles. To base your thoughts of faith on the horrendous Bush presidency and his politicizing Christianity may be easy but is not representative of what the real message is. Not every Christian is one of these crazy fundamentalists you see in the media, those are just the ones that get all the attention.

Posted By Ed : October 1, 2007 9:59 am

Sorry Ed but you do not speak for me or my family. George W Bush is a man of character,intergrity and a Godly man. Sorry your hate for Bush makes you blind but Bush is fine christian man that has had to make tough decisions that neither you or your pantywaste kind could ever imagine making. GW keep up the good work and dont let these idiots get you down.

Val-can you name one openly religious leader under the former USSR? We know why and you aren't making a valid point. Look around at your fellow religious friends and see if they could support an atheist. We're not even given a break from the oath of office. Supporting the question of religion in politics is discriminatory to everyone of different faiths as well as no faith. Your viewpoint is flawed by your religion,though your experience of being denied should make you understand. Atheists are the most discriminated group in America. We don't interfere in your religion,why do you religious people interfere in our lack of it? Aren't you being the same as the communists? Your view is very narrow.

Ryan,

My point was that Christians all think differently and to try to lump them all together is completely illogical.

While you may be a Christian who is very happy with the job George Bush is doing, I happen to be a Christian who is disgusted with the job he has done. We both profess the same faith and are very different politically, which is fine. Christianity is not synonymous with being a republican or a democrat. It is also not productive to base your views on something as big as a religion on a politician, who will ultimately mess up and distort your views.

If you are interested in Christianity look at Christian texts, go to churches, pray, etc. Don't learn it from a politician. The mixing of church and state can ultimately cheapen both and is a very dangerous thing.

To Still thinking in wpb, fl:

Thank you very much. America is beautiful because of people like you. I wish Americans would come to appreciate this country more and realized how blessed they are to live here. Thanks again.

To Ed,Ellenville,New York:

Yours is a very shallow argument at best. You've failed to present any evidence that atheists are the most discriminated group in America.

Val-shallow is a good description of your understanding.