Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Oh, really Obama? I beg to differ...

In a speech given two years ago but is getting some play these days, Barack Obama said the following,

"Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers."

He was quoting from the Pew Center US Religious Survey. Obama had mentioned some statistics just before the above sentence, representing his conclusion. However, he manipulated the statistics to support his conclusion, being that he thinks we are no longer a Christian Nation.

Here is what Obama said: "70 percent affiliate themselves with an organized religion." That is not picture that the Pew statistics revealed. If the issue is that we are no longer a Christian nation, then let's take a look at the exact statistics as published:

76% surveyed said they were Christian. (Evangelical Christians, Protestant Christians, Catholic Christians)

16% said they were unaffiliated
1.4% said they were Jewish
1.4% said they were Mormon
.06% said they were Muslim
.04% said they were Hindu
The breakdowns are more minuscule from here.

There is a big difference between Obama saying "70% claim membership in 'an organized religion''" which is not even statistically correct, and reading the truth for myself, that 76% are Christians. A big difference.

In Parliamentary procedure, 50.1% is a majority. 66% is a Super-majority. And 76% of something is definitely enough to make the claim that MOST people are one thing or another. In today's case, it is enough to say that yes, indeed, we are a Christian nation.

Watch those statistical manipulations, Sen. Obama. I just might think you are a liar, or a damnned liar.

7 comments:

David Wozney said...

The “...government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion...”, according to Article 11 of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed at Tripoli on November 4, 1796, and passed by the United States Congress.

Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S.A. Constitution states: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land...”.

David Wozney said...

Re: “‘... we're no longer just a Christian nation; ...’”

I wonder when does Barack Obama believe you were ever “just a Christian nation” and when does Barack Obama believe you stopped being “just a Christian nation”?

Elizabeth Prata said...

Hello David, thanks for commenting.

I believe America was founded on Christian principles and those principles were sprinkled throughout our founding documents in fact and in concept.

And today: if 76% respond when asked that they are Christian, I wonder wat that percentage would have been in 1796. Certainly not less than 76%...

Anonymous said...

It is not enough to "believe" America was founded on Christian principles and then make the leap that makes us a Christian nation. If you do some travelling, you will find that all the major faiths share the same core principles. Christians do not have a monopoly on honesty, kindness, sharing, good stewardship, and do-no-harm. Would you say we are a "Caucasian" nation? Or a nation of people over forty years old? Of course not.

Elizabeth Prata said...

Here is why I believe what I do, which is that America was founded on Christian principles:

Jamestown (The Virginia Company's Charter): (Excerpt from preamble)"...Propagating of Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and savages, living in these parts, to human civility and to a settled and quiet government" King James I of England.

Excerpts from the Declaration to take up arms, July 6th, 1775

"Everyone appointed to public office must say, "I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost. In God who is blessed forevermore I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures and the Old and New Testaments which are given by divine inspiration." Delaware Constitution of 1776

What state are you from, anonymous? At this site you will see that of the 22 states' constitutions listed their establishment and foundation upon God and grateful to same,
http://www.whateveristrue.com/
heritage/preamble.htm

Library of Congress exhibit showing early documents of religious fervor upon the establishment of the US in 1600s and 1700s:

"This exhibition demonstrates that many of the colonies that in 1776 became the United States of America were settled by men and women of deep religious convictions who in the seventeenth century crossed the Atlantic Ocean to practice their faith freely."

Our earliest Universities (Harvard for example) were established as a seminary to train up men in the Christian faith.

I "believe" because it is factually true.

I have traveled the world for ten years straight. 'Some traveling' of mine does not change the fact that America was founded upon Christian principles and that we are a Christian nation.

The above are far from the only examples but give a flavor and support for explaining why I have this belief.

Anonymous said...

I am from New Mexico.

And being a female, I do take exception to this logic. Though only males participated in the founding of the country, I feel I am just as "worthy" as a male. There is no doubt that religion played a major role in the founding fathers lives but I am unconvinced we should refer to ourselves as a Christian nation.

We should be a JUST nation. Alas, the most ersatz Christian leader ever, Mr. Bush, has taken us deeper into sin than I could have imagined. I would rather a holy muslim than a fake Christian.

Elizabeth Prata said...

Of course you are worthy! Christianity makes no distinction as to whom can accept Jesus. Indeed, in the end times, it is prophesied that "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" Joel 2:28

To refer to ourselves as 'just' a nation is to diminish who God wants us to be. We are so much more! We are a Christian nation who loves God and Jesus and who (sometimes faultily) tries to live up to His standards!

I am sorry, it sounds as if you have had negative experiences with Christians who were not living out the standard Jesus set before us. I hope that you will search for the Holy Spirit's conviction in your life, personally and apart from others who have been hypocritical with you. I know that there are some who are. I pray that you run into the many more who are not...