How Obama's Faith Guide's His Politics

I found this morning in my Faith in Public Life daily news email a piece by Anthony Robinson published in the Seattle Post Intelligencer that concerns his faith and his politics. It's an intriguing piece to put together with the recent statements made by Newt Gingrich, posted elsewhere on this blog.
Newt seems quite sure of the problems and the solutions, and perhaps his calling to be be the means of that solution. Barack Obama offers a quite different perspective.
Consider:

From Niebuhr, Obama said, "I take away the compelling idea that there's serious evil in the world, and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief that we can eliminate these things. But we shouldn't use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction. I take away the sense that we have to make these efforts knowing they are hard and not swinging from naive idealism to bitter realism."

In deftly summarizing Niebuhr's thought, Illinois's junior senator provides insight into his own. Unlike some religious liberals, Obama understands that there's real evil in the world and that saying "peace" will not bring it about.

But unlike many contemporary religious conservatives, Obama believes that we must be humble and modest in our ambitions as well as in our claims for our own virtue. In contrast to the evangelical fervor of President Bush and his grand idea of bringing freedom and planting democracy, Obama appears to be a man of more modest hopes. Modest hopes, hope tempered by realism, and awareness of our own fallibility are themes Niebuhr brought to American life and theology.

Modesty and humility, what intriguing qualities. Qualities that might serve us well?

Comments

Publia said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Publia said…
I agree that modesty and humility are excellent characteristics, but from an Illinois perspective it's a real stretch to say that Mr. Obama evidences either. He is a great orator, but subject to endless self-promotion, caught in a web (in Illinois) of highly questionable deals; mischaracterized his job with the University of Chicago, giving himself a promotion in the process; and all tied up with a group of Democrats who are backpedaling like crazy to avoid indictment. You might want to google "Obama" and "Rezko" to learn more about Illinois jr. senator.

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