What is an atheist to think?
9 June 2009 by NaomiAfter the Eight-Year-National-Nightmare-that-was-George-Walker-Bush(TM), I was looking 
forward to a respite from xian gobbledy-gook and dog-whistle code. It seems my hopes are dashed.
President Obama is a xian, NOT a muslim. I was satisfied on that subject very early on. In fact, I heard it said by wingnut-pundits and ignored it. Desperate fool/tools lie. The greater the desperation, the balder the lie. Duh.
For whatever it is worth, I’ve never felt “teh love” for Obama among atheists. Liberals and liberal xians, yes. They give off a sort of RockStarGroupie aura, “crushing” on him in shameful ways. I like him but I feel a deeper kinship with his wife. And, there again, we find a big “crush” factor. Her clothes, her shoes, her bare-arms (awesome!) — but, still, many are obsessed with her. I just like her. After dowdy Laura-Librarian, she is refreshing. As for touching the QofE, Liz seemed less fazed than the media. (Shades of Georgie’s casual manner with Ratzi!)
So, two articles arrive in one morning that are somewhat at odds. First, Politico runs Atheists keep faith with Barack Obama.
…But while atheist advocates railed against Bush, they seem willing to give Obama a pass on his God talk — at least for now.
Nathan Bupp, director of communications for the Center for Inquiry, says that many nonbelievers view Obama’s invocations of faith as nothing more than a “symbolic gesture” used to aid his quest for social justice.
“There is a sense where secularists are politically savvy enough to do this,” says Bupp. “They realize [Obama] is not doing what he’s doing for Pat Robertson-type reasons.”
…
Politico then presents a companion piece, Obama invokes Jesus more than Bush. But, again, they dissect the issue and find that there may be complex political reasons: spike the muslim issue, soothe the national community (especially the MiddleEast), disarm the fundies, re-empower the liberal xians and more.
Guess who likes it? Tony Perkins, Family Research Council’s rectal-spokesman(TM).
Obama’s invocation of the Christian Messiah is more overt than Americans heard in the public rhetoric of Bush in his time in the White House — even though Bush’s victories were powered in part by evangelical voters.
“I don’t recall a single example of Bush as president ever saying, ‘Jesus’ or ‘Christ,’” said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Christian group Family Research Council. “This is different.
To Perkins, Obama’s overtly Christian rhetoric is a welcome development from an administration that he largely disagrees with on the issues, though Perkins sees a political motive behind it, as well.
“I applaud that. It gives people a sense of comfort,” Perkins said. “But I think it’s a veneer, a facade that covers over a lot of policies that are anti-Christian.” That includes, in his view, Obama’s stance in favor of abortion rights.
And guess who DOESN’T like it? Rev. Barry Linn, AmericansUnited.
“I don’t need to hear politicians tell me how religious they are,” Lynn said. “Obama in a very overt way does what Bush tended to do in a more covert way.”
Also, David Kuo, …
…a former official in Bush’s faith-based office who later became disillusioned with the president he served, worries that both men have exploited religious phraseology for political gain. “From a spiritual perspective, that’s a great and grave danger,” he said. “When God becomes identified with a political agenda, God gets screwed.”
Screw David Kuo. I want Obama to be an atheist, Failing that, I want him to be a liberal xian. After all, wasn’t his mother a secular-humanist? Since he was brought up by his maternal grandmother, I wonder how infected he is. Granny might have been of a Rock-of-Ages, Old-Time-Religion faithful. We do know that he was a regular congregant at the church of his media-whore pastor, Rev.Wright. Does that tell us anything? Nope. A man’s thoughts are his own.
I, too, professed to a belief I never had…
10 June 2009, on 1:31 am
Even if the president was a genuine closet atheist he would be committing political suicide by not espousing religious rhetoric at this particular time in the history of our country. So, I guess it is something we have to live with and hope for the best. So far, at least, he hasn’t told us that he speaks to God as our past president did.
10 June 2009, on 1:36 am
I wonder myself how far this faith thing goes with Obama. I mean, rev. Wright was/is a media whore, but he is the typical liberation theology style preacher. I’m sure granny messed his mind up, but at least his mother was something of a counterweight. It’s very different than what most people consider religious doctrine. I almost hate to admit it, but I have visited a couple of black churches for various political rallies. It’s like they talk about a completely different Jesus. That’s how they put butts in the pews. It’s also how they move votes for Democrats. Liberation theology is almost communist as opposed to the fire and brimstone crap we think of.
But then they set logic on its’ head and say Jesus is Lord, and fall right down the monarchist rabbit hole. Completely contradictory.
For Obama, the timing is the key to why I wonder what his motives are when it comes to religion. It does seem he decided to get into politics about the time he started going to church. Not only that, but it was the most popular church on Chicago’s south side. To run for office, you need people to knock doors and use phones. Churches, no matter the makeup, ideology or demographic, all do this. federal law be damned.
So, while there has to be some amount of sincerity, (no way he could maintain a xian cover without being outed somewhere along the way to the presidency) I do think there is a crass opportunism to it. It’s also a load of crap he has kept the highly unconstitutional faith based initiative going. His inaction on gays in the military is crap, too. I think those generals (whom are all crazy fundies and the armed forces to seem to reinforce the crazy fundie mindset) have convinced him to keep DADT in place.
But I digress.
Obama pisses me off whenever he plays the god card. We don’t need fundie reinforcement, we need to tell the pope, Ken Warren and the lot of them to g ofuck themselves. I know they are just power crazed tinpots with their little fiefdoms all fawning for more attention.
And fuck Islam. Bunch of murderous moronic nazi fucks. the only thing they need to understand is my balls and how to lick them.
And as far as the liberal xian you want him to be? Well, prepare to be disappointed the way Clinton could do it. He’s being waffled by the Oval office as we speak.
There’s only one way to be heard; get an overt atheist in federal office.
10 June 2009, on 2:11 am
I get the impression that most of Obama’s religious beliefs are sincere. He might be playing it up a little, but I think, only a little. And I find his references to his imaginary friend to be just about as annoying as those made by his feeble-minded predecessor (OK, a little less annoying, given Obama’s erudition.)
That said, he is the first U.S president in this century, as far as I know, to make a speech inclusive of non-believers. So I’m a little hopeful that at least he is actively including the likes of us heathens as a part of the Republic.
Bastid;
Regardless of Obama’s intentions, DADT is being brought before the Supreme Court very soon to be heard as a violation of the 1st amendment, so that will likely force him to take a stand on one side or the other of this issue. I predict he will be in favor of overturning it, but I also suspect he will downplay his position as much as possible.
10 June 2009, on 2:49 am
Fritzy,
I’ll be watching that court case fairly closely, given the number of gay and bi friends of mine who are in the military.
As far as Obama’s faith or lack of goes, I don’t care what he says. Actions, as the saying goes, speak louder than words. The ‘Department of Using Jeebus to Undermine the Constitution’ still exists. It would probably be political suicide to dissolve it, but it would also be the right thing to do.
10 June 2009, on 9:10 am
I think he’s probably taking a page from the likes of your last post and incorporating Jesus into his brand to try and stay popular.
10 June 2009, on 9:32 am
Everything I’ve seen so far suggests it is politics as usual in Washington, DC. It appears the only “change” we’re seeing is just skin deep. As Peter Schiff pointed out in an interview on The Daily Show last night, Obama just hit the gas pedal on the way to the cliff’s edge. Watch out, America! Things are looking mighty grim!
10 June 2009, on 11:08 am
Personally, I’d love to see a Kucinich presidency just to see the collective head of the nation explode when he mentions meditating on foreign affairs, consulting the cosmos on economic policies or some such New Age drivel. I love Kucinich and think he’d be a great president in an alternate world where actual ability mattered, but I’d really love to see the justification as to why his meditation is crazy while prayer is healthy. Just as when people got in hysterics over him seeing a UFO but talking to a sky-daddy is perfectly reasonable.
As for Obama. I am still proud to say I didn’t vote for him. If Jesus is telling him to expand on Bush’s Authoritarian powers with Bagram, continue the greatest heist of wealth to the rich in American history and escalate the occupation of sovereign nations then so be it. He’s “closing” Guantanamo (but leaving Bagram open), withdrawing troops from Iraq (but increasing private contractors), getting banks to repay TARP (but leaving them unregulated). He’s better than McCain/Palin for sure, but not exactly the change we need.
10 June 2009, on 12:38 pm
Anthony has it exactly right. Obama may be a closet atheist (that’s certainly my guess), but he couldn’t possibly let on about it if he wants to be re-elected. If fact, I bet the rethugs would attempt to impeach him he announced any religous skepicism. Clinton got impeached over a private blow job.
10 June 2009, on 2:18 pm
I don’t like to hear elected officials constantly referring to unseen supernatural entities, but in the end it’s what they DO that matters to me. It’s all about the SCOTUS.
10 June 2009, on 5:54 pm
A little off topic, but here is a brand new asshat to attack:
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2009/06/atheists-and-honesty.html
10 June 2009, on 6:47 pm
BEAJ, I read Makarios post (well most of it, anyway). It was about as awful as any I’ve read. But I don’t think I want to waste time and effort on someone so dizzy from circular-reasoning. Trying to have a mature discussion with IDiots gives them some sort of perverse satisfaction they don’t deserve.
Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.
10 June 2009, on 7:37 pm
Mmmmmm Beaj…fresh tasty lion food!
10 June 2009, on 9:40 pm
I read Makarios post (well most of it, anyway). It was about as awful as any I’ve read.
Me too. There’s some time I won’t get back. Argh!
11 June 2009, on 12:20 pm
If he looks like a “believer” and sounds like a “believer” and acts like a “believer” he sure the hell ain’t an Atheist. The only “believer” thing he hasn’t done yet is prosthelize. Give him time, he will.
11 June 2009, on 1:38 pm
Ron, I agree. I have no doubt that Obama is a believer. Though he hasn’t proselytized in a direct manner, he is still doing so indirectly via his rhetoric. He understands the freedom of religion thing, and understands people have their rights to their own beliefs or to have no beliefs at all, but he is definitely a believer. Maybe not really into the church-going so much, but he does believe in a god. He’s definitely not an atheist. Nothing in his rhetoric about himself is vague about that.
12 June 2009, on 2:04 pm
When he mentioned Jesus during the election, I figured that he just needed to dispel the Muslim rumors and secure the all-important dumbass vote.
But now he’s elected and still doing it. I agree, he’s a believer. *sigh*
I did read an article that stated that he rarely attends church services, though.
12 June 2009, on 6:26 pm
Sarah, the second link carries a “correction” at the end, after the journalist’s bona fides. However, it tells us little more than this bit-o’-spin(?)”:
I say he’s not the faithful/pious xian he wants us to believe he is. Opportunist? Probably. But, like many people in the spotlight, they know that they must appear to believe in order to keep the spotlight. Until the nuisance-value of the fundies is neutralized (or my choice: eradicated), we’re stuck with “Pavlov’s Poodles” salivating every time they hear “jeebus” and “doG” added to a speech. To say nothing of the code: grace, bless, faith, saved, salvation, good news, etc.
12 June 2009, on 10:29 pm
^^ RE “Pavlov’s Poodles”; as I’ve said elsewhere…just ONCE…I’d love to witness Obama having the actual ‘balls’ to end a speech without any Gawd reference, whatsoever.
I can only imagine the brouhaha THAT would stir up.
Or maybe not. The usual: “Pay no attention to the missing Sky Daddy Tyrant behind the curtain…?”
‘The media would certainly squirm, try to avoid, or give some kind of excuses by skipping over that portion of the speech; but like so many aspects which expose the National hypocrisy about religion, move on to other topics.
We all know it ain’t gonna happen, of course!
Today’s News about the election in Iran made me think of similar aspects of media coverage. The bottom-line, no matter who wins the Iranian election; Iran is a Muslim Theocracy, with the Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fucktard at the top (with a Q’uran FIRMLY up his ass); and we’ve all witnessed Ahmadinejad spouting his completely brainwashed moronic Islamic crap in various speeches.
For the nth time; “Religion poisons everything”, whilst the “shitting in their panties”…but potentially violent and vicious…Sheeple majority choose to remain oblivious and relatively unshaken when ANY sign of rational truth pops its head up.
OK…humor me?…
(cue Richard Strauss: “Thus Spake Zarathustra” opening)
Remembering the early “2001 a Space Odyssey” scene with the monolith; it’s like we’ve got TWO dominating monoliths…The Bible and the Quran mesmerizing two huge tribes of totally confused, wide-eyed and in awe, unevolved sheeple apes, (metaphorically) fingering their surface.
And, of course, eventually, perhaps inevitably, beating the shit out of each other over the, mindlessly perceived, total nonsense.
OK…I admit; that was a stretch.
Explanation?…Actually, I had that classic film on my brain. I’m intending to DVR it to disk, from Comcast “On Demand”.
[feigns throwing bone in the air and cueing the Johanne Strauss waltz.]
It’s also kinda strange to me that here we are in 2009; realizing how really far off the film was in its ‘prediction’.
The (1984) “2010″ followup kinda sucked, IMO…zama, zama.
Actually…today is probably more like Orwell’s “1984″…?
Pardon my rambling?
15 June 2009, on 11:19 am
Ever consider the fact that Obama is actually pretty stupid and unquestioning? This is a guy who has moved in the wrong direction on this issue! Once an agnostic and now a fully fledged Jesustani, Barry is a great example of some of the backwardness that still abounds today.
15 June 2009, on 1:00 pm
^^ Or is it another example of “High Profile Ambition”, easily trumping the more bold, but much more highly dangerous…total rational honesty.
[Pardon a VERY slight, and cautious takeoff on Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar"?...
bits of Mark Anthony's speech, perhaps? Definitely skipping any remote death implication, of course.]
Like, in particular…referring to Politicians, in general:
“So are they all…ALL, honorable men (persons?); but perhaps more often…spineless and ambitious bullshitters!”