As the Obamas Celebrate Christmas, Rituals of Faith Become Less Visible

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/us/as-the-obamas-celebrate-christmas-rituals-of-faith-stay-on-the-sidelines.html?hpw&rref=politics

By ASHLEY PARKER
Published: December 28, 2013


Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press
President Obama and his family with the Rev. Luis Leon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington in October.FACEBOOK

HONOLULU — President Obama celebrated a low-key Christmas in Hawaii this year. He sang carols, opened presents with his family, and visited a nearby military base to wish the troops “Mele Kalikimaka” — the Hawaiian phrase meaning “Merry Christmas.”

But the one thing the president and his family did not do — something they have rarely done since he entered the White House — was attend Christmas church services.

“He has not gone to church, hardly at all, as president,” said Gary Scott Smith, the author of “Faith and the Presidency: From George Washington to George W. Bush,” adding that it is “very unusual for a president not to attend” Christmas services.

Historically, watching the nation’s first family head to church dressed in their Sunday best, especially around the holiday season, was something of a ritual. Yet Mr. Obama’s faith is a more complicated, more private, and perhaps — religious and presidential historians say — a more inclusive affair.

more at link

[catbyte]

1. Isn't that because he's a commie Muslim?

Ronald Reagan never went to church much either but they forget about that. An overly religious president makes me queasy.

[cbayer]

2. I think he's walking a line here, but maybe he's just too busy.

He can be neither too religious nor too areligious.

[goldent]

7. After the Jeremiah Wright thing I can see he might want to keep it private n/t.

[madamesilverspurs]

3. Feh.

More much ado about absolutely nothing.

Face it, whatever event the President attends, at some point it becomes about him. Maybe he wants the congregation to have a Christmas service that is actually about Christmas. Maybe he wants to celebrate privately and peacefully with his loved ones. And maybe, just maybe, it's nobody's damn business how (or if) he celebrates.

Criminy. And Happy New Year.

pppffffftttt

[cbayer]

6. I think it's a good thing that he is essentially doing what most christians do and

not going overboard with the religiousness as a political ploy.

Agree that it isn't anyone's business, but it is interesting to note.

Happy New Year to you madamesilverspurs!

[kestrel91316]

4. What part of "there shall be NO religious test" do these people NOT GET??

[cbayer]

5. What people?

[kestrel91316]

9. The people who are bitching about Obama not spending enough time, or

the correct times, in church.

I'm so sorry that you seem to be unable to read the original article cited.

[cbayer]

11. You are sorry that I am unable to read the original article cited?

I am sorry if you read the original article cited and came away with that as the most important point, since it doesn't even really mention that.

[Igel]

8. The Constitution is a constraint on the people?

Do all candidates get the same "due process" as a right on the part of every citizen? I cannot vote for Obama unless I have given the same attention and consideration, the same good or ill will, to every other candidate?

What about the right to privacy rooted in the 4th amendment? Surely if most of the background mining done for candidates were done on individuals there'd be lawsuits over invasion of privacy.

Do candidates have the complete freedom to say whatever they want to without risk of punishment or censorship?

Nope. The Constitution is a constraint on the US government--originally federal, later extended to the individual states. Congress can't require that the president submit to a religious test.

How the individuals decide based on the privacy of their own braincase is up to them. Freedom of thought is surely the right that precedes all others.

[kestrel91316]

10. Obama has the same 1st Amendment rights that the rest of us do,

and no one gets to bitch that the president isn't religious enough.

Yeah, they can actually bitch, but I rank that right up there with bitching about how Jews are allowed to attend temple, etc etc etc.

Obama is free to cavort around naked and worship Satan for all I care. Too bad you take the opposite approach and think he has to be churchy.