Obama Perplexed: Trinity Is A Conservative Church

This is perhaps the most comprehensive defense of Obama's pastor and his Trinity Church I've read and it's worth the read if the subject interests you and you have an open mind. I pulled out a few quotes because they raise questions from my perspective. But these excerpts are not representative of the entire article. Point being - what did Obama convert from in tears under the old wooden cross? I thought he was always a Christian? And what is Wright's evidence that white supremacy is getting worse in America, not better? Also, if that's the case and Obama is a disciple of Wrights, exactly what type of change does Obama have in mind when it comes to race relations in America? The church also celebrates Kwanzaa. I wonder, is this something Obama intends to continue if he's elected president? His holiday cards are pretty generic ... for a committed Christian.

When the first criticisms of Obama's church came to the senator's attention, he seemed genuinely perplexed. He converted to Christianity at Trinity, responding to one of Wright's altar calls, weeping beneath an old wooden cross as he promised to follow Jesus. He told the Chicago Tribune: "I would be puzzled that they would object or quibble with the bulk of a document [the Black Value System] that basically espouses profoundly conservative values of self-reliance and self-help."

Trinity's critics speak as though it is a political organization constantly advocating for social change, like Operation PUSH or the National Action Network. But it is neither more nor less than a church. "Trinity's activism is a write-your-elected-official activism, not one that mobilizes thousands to picket," Hopkins said. The only signs of politics that I saw in Trinity's packed worship bulletin the day I visited were a list of polling places in advance of an upcoming citywide election and a reminder to "boycott Wal-Mart." Not exactly the stuff of revolution.

There is no denying, however, that a strand of radical black political theology influences Trinity. James Cone, the pioneer of black liberation theology, is a much-admired figure at Trinity. Cone told me that when he's asked where his theology is institutionally embodied, he always mentions Trinity. Cone's groundbreaking 1969 book Black Theology and Black Power announced: "The time has come for white America to be silent and listen to black people. . . . All white men are responsible for white oppression. . . . Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man 'the devil.'. . . Any advice from whites to blacks on how to deal with white oppression is automatically under suspicion as a clever device to further enslavement." Contending that the structures of a still-racist society need to be dismantled, Cone is impatient with claims that the race situation in America has improved. In a 2004 essay he wrote, "Black suffering is getting worse, not better. . . . White supremacy is so clever and evasive that we can hardly name it. It claims not to exist, even though black people are dying daily from its poison" (in Living Stones in the Household of God).

Wright agrees. When I asked him whether white Americans are right to maintain that the racial situation has improved since the days when Africentric Christianity was born, Wright pointed to the racist remarks by radio host Don Imus: "And you say things have improved?"

Bible courses at Trinity emphasize the African roots of Christianity, focusing on the account of the Exodus and such passages as the psalmist's promise that Ethiopia would stretch out its hands to God (Ps. 68:31), and the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. In his preaching Wright goes out of his way to describe Moses as "an African prince" and his wife as a "raven-black" beauty. He declares that Jesus himself had "nappy hair" and "bronze skin" (he cites Rev. 1:14-15). Otis Moss III, who will succeed Wright upon his retirement this summer, says that the church is proud of its "Africanity," proud that "when we talk about Sudan, we have Sudanese present."

Comments

[syn]

"The time has come for white America to be silent and listen to black people."

I believe the Oprahfication of a nation disputes this perspective.

[seekeronos]

It is for racist, race-baiting boneheads like the Left Reverend Wright that we still have a spirit of divisiveness between whites and blacks.

For someone like him, there is no amount of reparations nor penance that will satisfy this fat, festering boil upon the hind end of African-American society. In fact, I'd venture to guess he smiled upon the Christian/Newsome murders with glee, thinking that to be his black god's vengeance upon evil whitey.

His hatred is palpable, and it indicates to me that he serves not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the God whose love for mankind was so great that He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross... but rather, he serves a false god: he is of his father, the devil, who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning.

And like his spiritual father the devil, he is deceiving millions of African-Americans into a hateful, wicked racist religion. He is exactly like the KKK grand dragons of old, and like the Aryan Nation of today: the only difference being that he can use his skin colour advantageously to stay tax free and incite blacks to violence, if not fear mongering against their fellow Americans.

Hopefully people will begin to wake up and realize that the vile filth coming from his mouth are not the words of Christ our Saviour, but are of the devil.

[anonymous]

Buried about 20 paragraphs into the article, Obama's conversion to Christianity is mentioned. The UCC is one of those free-wheeling Protestant sects that wears inclusion on its sleeve. Remember those TV ads with the bouncers, and the one with the pews functioning as ejector seats?:

http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/televison-ads.html

My point is, the UCC doesn't seem to be seeking converts from those who are already Christian.

BTW, I disliked those ads intensely.

Thank you, Dan.

[Beth]

"racist remarks by radio host Don Imus"

Oh my God. Yeah, like that's JUST LIKE being forced to ride in back of the bus, or use separate facilities, or not get to VOTE. Good grief!!!

"I would be puzzled that they would object or quibble with the bulk of a document [the Black Value System] that basically espouses profoundly conservative values of self-reliance and self-help."

Who objects to that? Nobody I've seen who's talking about Wright's hateful rhetoric takes issue with THAT part of Black Liberation Theology. If they want to believe Jesus was black, I don't care about that either. Good for them, if it makes them feel closer to Him. That is NOT the problem, and if Obama doesn't understand people's criticism, he's as steeped in that garbage as Jeremiah Wright himself. It's telling that he doesn't consider it controversial, doesn't understand how offensive it is. Just who does he think his voters (and potential voters) are? His big echo chamber? Maybe so, to a point. Not to THAT point, though. Honestly, I've seen pictures and videos from the most virulently anti-American leftists, and even they at least say they "love" America enough to want to change it (with friends like that, who needs enemies?--but I digress). Not so with Rev. Wright; it's as though he basically wants to obliterate all white people--sorry, white "supremacists."

I am damned PISSED OFF. Nobody calls me a white supremacist and gets a pass. Nobody says "God damn America" (from the pulpit!) and gets a pass. Nobody says the "chickens came home to roost" when my country is attacked and gets a pass. And nobody who stands by idly, giving silent, tacit approval to such ugliness will ever, ever be worthy of consideration for any public office. John F'n Kerry was bad enough, but this is worse.

What about "if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem"--Obama has not done a damn thing to be part of the solution to this cancer that breeds racism and hatred. JUST WORDS, and apparently "just words" when electoral viability was a question.

Epic. Fail.

[Beth]

"He is exactly like the KKK grand dragons of old, and like the Aryan Nation of today: the only difference being that he can use his skin colour advantageously to stay tax free and incite blacks to violence, if not fear mongering against their fellow Americans."

EXACTLY.

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 03/14/2008 - A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/03/web-reconnaissance-for-03142008.html

[Jeffersonian]

Tom Sowell coined the perfect sobriquet for this ilk: The Klan with a Tan.

[joeb]

So far this is the worse thing that has happened to Obama. It makes him look like tool of a racist.
This should be widely talked about in the Main Stream Media. Not swept under the rug. Or wherever they sweep stories like this.
Obama was supposed to be the one to bring us together. This is not going to bring anyone together. Just drive the races further apart.
Hillary must really be happy about this little matter coming out before Obama could seal the deal.

[huxley]

It seems to me the McCain campaign could run that clip of Wright screaming, "God Damn America" with a caption reading, "If Obama won't stand up to his friends when America is attacked, how will he stand up to her enemies?" from here to November and McCain would win in November without breaking a sweat.

[seekeronos]

I wonder how well this will play out in the Rendell machine as it harvests the votes both living and dead for Hils... will it be even a landslide for Her Thighness?

Will we see PA drenched with adverts full of soundbites of the Left Reverend Wright screeching his racist hate for the fine white voters in PA to "appreciate"?

[Brainster]

"Point being - what did Obama convert from in tears under the old wooden cross? I thought he was always a Christian?"

No. His mother was an atheist. She felt he should be exposed to religion, but as a cultural artifact, like an anthropologist (which she was) would study it.

[Sharon]

What's wrong with Walmart? Why do they have to boycott them? Don't they provide jobs,cheap prescription drugs and clothing to inner city areas normally held hostage to high priced convenience stores?

[huxley]

"Point being - what did Obama convert from in tears under the old wooden cross? I thought he was always a Christian?"

If you read Andrew Sullivan's quotes from Obama about his conversion (http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/what-obama-saw.html), you will see that Obama didn't convert to Christianity--nothing whatsoever about Christ--but to a liberation victim story of blacks as an oppressed chosen people. It's all Old Testament allusions except the confused reference to "Christians in the lion's den."

[ec1009]

If only Wright had said what Hagee believes. McCain's "pastor" want's to start WWIII/Armeggedon and correctly believes that McCain is his best option. I know, I know, Jonnie Mac is not really "proud" of JH's support. It's just politics. The media (and you) are silent about that. Its OK to suck up to religious extremists if you are a Republican. If you are a Democrat you had better not ever even meet one or else there will be hell to pay.

[Jeffersonian]

The difference, EC, is that McCain did not pick Hagee as his spiritual mentor, Hagee picked McCain. Obama picked Wright and then stuck with this fulminating racist conspiracy-monger for 20 years, larding his ministry up with nice, fat checks. Even when called on it, Obama won't go as far as McCain did in distancing himself from the kook.

[OMG]

"Also, if that's the case and Obama is a disciple of Wrights,..."

Well, ya see, it _isn't_ the case, you stupid fucking idiot.

[Beth]

Well, ya see, it _isn't_ the case, you stupid fucking idiot.

Of course not. The Obamessiah has disciples!

Blasphemers!!!

[Jeffersonian]

***Well, ya see, it _isn't_ the case, you stupid fucking idiot.***

No, of course he isn't a disciple. Obama just joins his church, gives him piles of cash, consults with him before taking any significant political step and puts him on his black pastor campaign staff. Oh, and of course, he absents himself from any and all sermon that might cause consternation in any potential voter block.

[OMG]

"...and puts him on his black pastor campaign staff"

Wright has been removed from the campaign.

"Oh, and of course, he absents himself from any and all sermon that might cause consternation in any potential voter block."

Wait, are you implying that Obama got a heads-up on the content of each sermon before it was given, then gauged the potential reaction to voters in a campaign that wouldn't even begin for many years ?

You people are retarded.

[Jeffersonian]

The true test of charcter is what you do when no one's looking, OMG. When no one was looking, Obama joined this lunatic's church, trusted him as a close confidant and larded his organization up with tens of thousands of dollars. Then he put him on his campaign staff. Only when the hue and cry had reached a fevered pitch did he distance himself from the man. Not exactly a principled stand, it would seem.

And I think you get my drift on the sermon issue...I was lampooning Obama's insistance that he was never there when inflammatory things were said, thus absolving himself from objecting or leaving Wright's presence. Obama almost surly would not have forewarning of a spittle-laden tirade denouncing whites, peddling conspiracy and condemning America, making his denials, well, less than credible.

[templar knight]

"Obama almost surely would not have forewarning of a spittle-laden tirade denouncing whites....making his denials, well, less than credible."

Exactly, Jeffersonian, and the fact that liberals like OMG came up with the particular implication he did in reference to your point is...well...retarded. To borrow a phrase.

[Jeffersonian]

And now Obama's implausible denial about being totally unaware and totally disgusted by Wright's words is coming apart, too:

***Wright laced into America's establishment, blaming the "white arrogance" of
America's Caucasian majority for the woes of the world, especially the
oppression suffered by blacks. To underscore the point he refers to the country
as the "United States of White America." Many in the congregation, including
Obama, nodded in apparent agreement as these statements were made. [Emphasis added]

The sermon also addressed the Iraq war, a frequent area of Wright's
fulminations. "Young African-American men," Wright thundered, were "dying
for nothing." The "illegal war," he shouted, was "based on Bush's lies" and is
being "fought for oil money."

In a sermon filled with profanity, Wright also blamed the war on "Bush
administration bulls--t." Those are the types of statements that have led to
MSNBC's Tucker Carlson describing Wright as "a full-blown hater."***

Behold America's racial healer. Was David Duke unavailable?

[Christian Prophet]

Probably Barack Obama is perplexed because he never attended a REAL Christian church. He cannot survive if his THEOLOGY gets attention. See: http://miraclesdaily.blogspot.com/