Jonathan Turley with Further Thoughts on the new President and Religion

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Obviously, important things are to be done in a host of other areas by Obama, but it is a dangerous precedent to have another president who treats constitutional principles as something of a distraction. Just as Bush dismissed abstract principles in his war on terror, Obama seems poised to do the same in his economic war. Again, it will simply be an inconvenient time for principle.

I joined millions around the world relishing the moment Obama took the oath and gave such eloquence and hope to a besieged nation. But there is a danger of a cult of personality developing around Obama, that supporters could, in all this adoration, confuse the man with his mandate. So, when Obama put his hand on the Lincoln Inaugural Bible, I silently prayed not for a president but for principle, and that Obama will be able to tell the difference.

Read it all.



Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * Economics, Politics • Politics in General • Office of the President • President Barack Obama

3 Comments
Posted January 26, 2009 at 12:15 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. IchabodKunkleberry wrote:

From the article ...
“He (Warren) also has insisted that religious people must vote against anyone who opposes abortion, ...”
  Is this wrong ? Didn’t he mean “promotes abortion” ?

January 26, 1:53 pm | [comment link]
2. John Wilkins wrote:

Smart article.  I think he’s right that Obama sees churches as effective distributors of care.  I think its also likely that Obama sees that the separation of church and state is primarily formal. 

I think some conservatives forget that Obama taught at the University of Chicago.  Although he is clearly, at heart, a progressive, he has some minimalist leanings (its not the same as “strict-constructionist”). 

Of course this upsets the author, unfortunately.  I think we’d have to see in practice what happens.

January 26, 3:32 pm | [comment link]
3. Ad Orientem wrote:

I generally concur with the warnings from some of the comments posted over there.  Religious organizations would do well to take a VERY deep breath before taking money from the government.  Once you start down that road it’s hard to go back.  And however unencumbered that money be now, there is nothing to prevent strings being attached in the future.

I support a strict separation of church and state not to protect secularists from religion, but rather to protect religion from secularists.  The history of state involvement in religion ALWAYS ends badly.

January 26, 7:25 pm | [comment link]
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