McClatchy: Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines

[rodeodance]

Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines
By Margaret Talev | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008

This article appeared in the mainstream news today.
McClatchy actually reported that Obama's church merges
Marxism and Christian Gospel and preaches that the white
church in America is the Antichrist because it supported
slavery and segregation. And, the founder of the modern
black liberation theology James Cone announced that Obama's
Church most embodied his message.

McClatchy reported:

Jesus is black. Merging Marxism with Christian Gospel may show the way to a better tomorrow. The white church in America is the Antichrist because it supported slavery and segregation.

Those are some of the more provocative doctrines that animate the theology at the core of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Barack Obama's church.

Obama's speech Tuesday on race in America was hailed as a masterful handling of the controversy over divisive sermons by the longtime pastor of Trinity United, the recently retired Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.

But in repudiating and putting in context Wright's inflammatory lines about whites and U.S. foreign policy, the Democratic presidential front-runner didn't address other potentially controversial facts about his church and its ties.

Wright has said that a basis for Trinity's philosophies is the work of James Cone, who founded the modern black liberation theology movement out of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Particularly influential was Cone's seminal 1969 book, "Black Theology & Black Power."

Cone wrote that the United States was a white racist nation and the white church was the Antichrist for having supported slavery and segregation.

Today, Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, stands by that view, but also makes clear that he doesn't believe that whites individually are the Antichrist.

In an interview, Cone said that when he was asked which church most embodied his message, "I would point to that church (Trinity) first." Cone also said he thought that Wright's successor, the Rev. Otis Moss III, would continue the tradition...


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html


And one final tidbit in the McClatchy article...
plagiarism, borrowed or what?

But Cone stands by his message, and sometimes Obama echoes it.

Consider this passage: "Hope is the expectation of that which is not. It is the belief that the impossible is possible, the 'not yet' is coming in history."

Those words sound as if they were pulled from Obama's latest campaign speech. Instead, they're from a memoir Cone wrote in the 1980s. In it, Cone said blacks shouldn't limit their hope to what the Republican and Democratic parties stand for. Then he posited a thought that voters are unlikely to hear from Obama:

"Together, black religion and Marxist philosophy may show us the way to build a completely new society."

[babylonsister]

1. Special, Do you go to church?

Which one, and what do they push?

I await your educated response.

[rodeodance]

2. anyone named special around here?

Special, Do you go to church?

Which one, and what do they push?

I await your educated response.

[babylonsister]

6. Good point! nt

[jackson_dem]

65. typical Obamite. Don't put much stock into it. She can't handle Obama getting some bad press for onc

[Hawkeye-X]

86. Well, jackson_dem, honestly y ou do NOT belong here.

You belong in Freeperville or Capital Hill. You also broke that boycott for Hillary supporters. I am amazed that you have returned here. I'm sure a granite cookie will be heading your way shortly.

[Hawkeye-X]

85. Did this shit came from your so-called Capital Hill?

Or HillaryDump?

Hawkeye-X

[PerfectSage]

8. This one?

GObama!
Go Dean's 50 State Strategy!
Go Grassroots!

[rodeodance]

10. Hillary is a Dem pres. Candiate---You have no respect for her with that pic in your tx

[UALRBSofL]

48. I'm sorry to inform you but there was no 50 state strategy

It was a 48 strategy. Florida and Michigan doesn't count in the primaries or the General Election.

[DemBones DemBones]

56. I do and the basics are to

love the God with all your heart and love others as much as you love yourself.

I have never, ever heard hate preached in any church.

My church does a lot to help others, whether or not they belong to our church.

[Mags]

74. how bout you? Doy go to church? Which one, and what do they push?

[oasis]

3. Nothing that I would get overly excited about, but then, I'm not your average American voter. (eom)

[rodeodance]

5. chuckle.......

I gotta wonder what the "average" voter is these days.

[EmilyAnne]

11. That is a blatantly sexist photograph. Please remove it immediately!

Hillary Clinton has not given her consent to have her bare thigh used on a message board.

She is not an object!

[rodeodance]

15. you forget your sarcasm icon or are writing for the ONION?

EmilyAnne Donating Member (471 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Mar-22-08 12:52 AM
Response to Reply #5
11. That is a blatantly sexist photograph. Please remove it immediately!

Hillary Clinton has not given her consent to have her bare thigh used on a message board.

She is not an object!

[babylonsister]

24. Agreed! When it suits them... Ugh. nt

[rodeodance]

27. I forgive you--I see you forgot your sacsasm icon also.

babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Mar-22-08 01:12 AM
Response to Reply #11
24. Agreed! When it suits them... Ugh. nt

[EmilyAnne]

9. Are you sure?? You should read it again!!! "Those people" are saying really radical stuff....

like Jesus was BLACK! That is enough to put any good American into a total meltdown mode! Are you one of them terrorists?




:sarcasm:

[ClassWarrior]

13. LET IT SINK.

NGU.

[rodeodance]

18. maybe all Obama fans don't want to be sheepie

[Joe the Revelator]

29. Whats a shee pie?

Unless it tastes real good I don't want to be one.

[LulaMay]

41. Yes, refuse to discuss a serious issue. Stick your fingers in your ears and close your eyes children

[rodeodance]

50. They think by ignoring issues they will go away. Heads in the sand. te he

[vita405]

4. I agree with McClatchy that "James Cone" should be discussed more

Now that was a kook.

[rodeodance]

14. Wright says Trinity's philosophies is the work of Cone

Wright has said that a basis for Trinity's philosophies is the work of James Cone, who founded the modern black liberation theology movement out of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Particularly influential was Cone's seminal 1969 book, "Black Theology & Black Power."

Cone wrote that the United States was a white racist nation and the white church was the Antichrist for having supported slavery and segregation.

Today, Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, stands by that view, but also makes clear that he doesn't believe that whites individually are the Antichrist.

In an interview, Cone said that when he was asked which church most embodied his message, "I would point to that church (Trinity) first." Cone also said he thought that Wright's successor, the Rev. Otis Moss III, would continue the tradition.

[EmilyAnne]

17. Wow! This is so totally like the Da Vinci Code! You've cracked right into the mind of

Barack Obama!

[rodeodance]

20. Have you?? not me!

Wow! This is so totally like the Da Vinci Code! You've cracked right into the mind of

Barack Obama!

[EmilyAnne]

16. Exactly. James Cone is really causing problems these days. The United States should collectively

dissect his 1960s era works, like biblical scholars, looking for any clues as to the secret, sinister intentions of that anti-white radical Barack Obama. That's really the best thing we can focus on right now. Afterall, we just have to fix this mess we're in.


:eyes:

[rodeodance]

21. No attempt at discussion from you--just mockery.

Exactly. James Cone is really causing problems these days. The United States should collectively

dissect his 1960s era works, like biblical scholars, looking for any clues as to the secret, sinister intentions of that anti-white radical Barack Obama. That's really the best thing we can focus on right now. Afterall, we just have to fix this mess we're in.

[creeksneakers2]

44. Why discuss it?

Guilt by association based on another level of guilt by association.

[DemBones DemBones]

58. Obama went to that church for twenty years, don't tell me he doesn't

buy into what they're selling. He would have left if he didn't approve of it.

[creeksneakers2]

62. You must not be Catholic

Lots of people go to churches and don't buy into everything that's said.

Hell, the wingnuts are told to love their neighbors and they hate everybody. The wingnuts lie too.

I think Bush's clergyman even told him not to invade Iraq.

[DemBones DemBones]

71. As a matter of fact, I am Catholic, and

agree with traditional Catholic teaching.

I have never heard a priest preach hate.

[grantcart]

7. I wonder where they got the idea from?

"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords and drove all from the Temple, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said: 'Get out of here.' (John 2:13-16)

[jefferson_dem]

12. Church? What's this about Obama's church?

Haven't heard about that...

:sarcasm:

One. Trick. Ponies. Suck.

[rodeodance]

19. You can ignore/mock. But people in the Heartland are reading about his church

[still_one]

23. OK, then I suggest you peddle those wares to them if you think that issue

is so important to them

Incidently, Wright isn't running for president

[rodeodance]

26. ARE YOU the content police on DU now?

OK, then I suggest you peddle those wares to them if you think that issue

is so important to them

Incidently, Wright isn't running for president

[still_one]

28. I am just stating my view that I don't think the issue is important. You have made it clear

that you believe the issues is important

We both have every right to peddle it anywhere we want.

I just provided a suggestion, which you have every right to ignore

[rodeodance]

33. I think it is important for all DU people to be aware of what major

newspapers are writing about in relation to our candidates. Don't you?
I have not said anyone has to agree with the content.




I am just stating my view that I don't think the issue is important. You have made it clear
Posted by still_one


that you believe the issues is important

We both have every right to peddle it anywhere we want.

I just provided a suggestion, which you have every right to ignore

[still_one]

52. I realize that you believe it is important /nt

[Joe the Revelator]

30. SHAME ON YOU!!!!-----ALERTIN-----

ou cant kallpeopl nams!!

[zabet]

51. ooooh...

Wolsh has a crush on Rodeo!
:rofl:

[rodeodance]

53. oh my--is he gay?

[zabet]

64. I dunno

but he tends to follow you
around live a love-struck
grade schooler.

:rofl:

[DURHAM D]

70. And all this time I just thought he was insecure. eom

[still_one]

22. Gosh, I guess Wrights church is the most important issue facing America today

The only reason I can think why some keep trying to bring this issue up is because it is far easier than talking about the issues that actually affect people.

Just a small reminder, about a million people are dead because of the illegal Iraq war. The Iraq war, which the IWR removed most congressional oversight from by repealing the war powers act has lead to higher fuel prices and higher food prices

Corporations who called for less government regulations in their affairs, have no problem when the government steps in to keep a private company, Bear Stearns from going under. Of course that is being financed by our tax dollars.

Obama made it very clear he didn't agree with the statements of Wright, but some still want to continue to pound on it as a major election issue, have fun because the country will be moving on

[babylonsister]

32. Thank you. I look forward to another lame excuse from the OP, but

you said it all.

[rodeodance]

34. Your comments consisted of calling a photo of Clinton sexist, and looking for

someone called Special.
Now you say i had a lame excuse?---What is your problem?


Thank you. I look forward to another lame excuse from the OP, but
Posted by babylonsister


you said it all.

[DemBones DemBones]

59. If Obama really didn't agree with Wright, what was he doing sitting there for

twenty years listening to his sermons? Or consulting him as his mentor?

He just tried to get himself off the hook by saying he didn't agree with everything Wright said, which nobody believes except obamatrons.

Then he threw his poor grandmother under the bus, calling her a racist, like any 'typical white person' when she helped raise him.

Obama is a liar and an ingrate. He's also a racist himself, hating the white part of himself. He needs therapy.

[Drachasor]

25. OMG, what an outrageously poorly written article with ridiculous accusations

1st:
Wright has said that a basis for Trinity's philosophies is the work of James Cone, who founded the modern black liberation theology movement out of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Particularly influential was Cone's seminal 1969 book, "Black Theology & Black Power."

Cone wrote that the United States was a white racist nation and the white church was the Antichrist for having supported slavery and segregation.

Today, Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, stands by that view, but also makes clear that he doesn't believe that whites individually are the Antichrist.
--------------------------------
So it is not at all clear that this is a view espoused at Trinity (and in fact it is unlikely given its ties to white churches and the fact whites are members). In fact, that and the fact that Cone thought Trinity "most embodied" his message -- so it is unclear how much Trinity actually "measures up" to Cone's views. In particular:

He and other Chicagoans have praised Trinity's role as a melting pot that brings together blacks and some whites from all levels of wealth and education, boasts a joyous and energetic choir, and is deeply involved in community work, such as helping the homeless, the incarcerated and those touched by HIV and AIDS.

But Trinity has a history. Its affiliation with the United Church of Christ makes it part of a liberal, mostly white denomination that was the first in America to ordain gays, women and blacks as ministers.

2nd:Wright, who hasn't been giving interviews since the controversy broke, told conservative TV talk-show host Sean Hannity last year that Trinity's black value system also had parallels to the liberation theology of laypeople in Nicaragua three decades ago. There, liberation theology became associated with Marxist revolution and the Sandinistas, and split the Roman Catholic Church.
and
Then he posited a thought that voters are unlikely to hear from Obama:

"Together, black religion and Marxist philosophy may show us the way to build a completely new society."

Asked about that, Cone said: "I'm not a Marxist. . . . I'm a theologian, and I want to change society. I was searching for my way forward. I want a society in which people have the distribution of wealth, but I don't know how quite to do that institutionally."

So he's not a marxist, and again, this is Cone's POV, not Trinity's!

3rd:He said that the idea of a black Jesus didn't mean Jesus necessarily looked like a black African, but it did rule out Jesus being a white European. More importantly, he said it meant that Jesus "made a solidarity with the (oppressed) people of the land."

Oooooo, that's so controversial that any historian or decent theologian will back it up. How ludicrous.


In conclusion, I think it is pretty clear why they didn't go and talk to the people at Trinity for what they preach. I think it is pretty clear why you haven't heard this elsewhere. It's because these are baseless assertions.

[rodeodance]

31. Good points--I, myself, certainly am unclear if Trinity 'measures up" to Cone's view.

So it is not at all clear that this is a view espoused at Trinity (and in fact it is unlikely given its ties to white churches and the fact whites are members). In fact, that and the fact that Cone thought Trinity "most embodied" his message -- so it is unclear how much Trinity actually "measures up" to Cone's views. In particular:



So he's not a marxist, and again, this is Cone's POV, not Trinity's!

[babylonsister]

35. Hon, you didn't write this. You are either plagarizing or someone

is doing your dirty work. Which is it? :freak: :dilemma:

[rodeodance]

36. I did not write what?

.........

Hon, you didn't write this. You are either plagarizing or someone

Edited on Sat Mar-22-08 01:31 AM by babylonsister
is doing your dirty work. Which is it? :freak: :dilemma:

[babylonsister]

37. Proof. You have no clue what I'm talking about? Bon soir. nt

[rodeodance]

39. Why not answer my question?--How can I have a clue?

[ecstatic]

38. They think Jesus is black?! OMG! Everyone knows that Jesus was a blonde haired, blue eyed white man!

Series!

[roseBudd]

55. And his hair was really really straight

[DemBones DemBones]

76. I have known blue-eyed blond Jews, but I doubt Jesus was one.

Most likely, Jesus and the Romans who crucified Him had similar dark eyes and hair and
olive skin.

[LulaMay]

40. The media is sitting on these things now, like the Hamas article Wright printed in church program..

but the Rethugs won't.

[MADem]

43. That HAMAS situation will probably cause a problem if Obama is the D nominee.

That WILL be a tough sell. It's reasonably recent, some of it, too.

And I agree with you, it will be the GOP that has the field day with it. It guarantees FL goes red. And it puts NY in play.

[rodeodance]

45. Repugs are bidding their time on that issue.

[Eric J in MN]

42. The Catholic Church has controversial doctrines like no contraception.

Therefore, everyone who goes to a Catholic church doesn't use contraception.

Or not.

[Barack_America]

46. No divorce... Shun your homosexual family and friends...

The list goes on and on.

Now THOSE are ideals that progressives should find controversial.

But economic and social inequality due to racism? Isn't fighting that exactly what "progressives" are supposed to be all about?

[SoxFan]

61. Abolish the death penalty

Environmental stewardship
The Preferential Option for the Poor

[DemBones DemBones]

73. John Paul II tried to get the rich nations to forgive the debts of the poor nations

in 2000, which he named a Jubilee Year. The Old Testament idea of jubilee years every
seven years gave people a chance to start over, without debts.

Naturally, that idea was too radically Christian for the U.S. or any other rich nation.

[DemBones DemBones]

75. There are many divorced people in my parish and gay couples as well.

I'm sure there are more divorced people and more gays than I know of since I don't know the marital
status or sexual orientation of most of the parishioners. There are over 800 families registered in the
parish so I know only a fraction of them. With five Masses on Sundays, I'm sure there are many people
I've never even seen.

The parish is also multi-racial and multi-ethnic.

Nobody shuns anybody, or is told to shun anybody. In my entire life, I've never heard hate preached from
any pulpit.

And Catholics are very concerned with social inequality, do a lot to help people in need.

[shellinaya]

47. Jesus is Black?

I thought Jesus was Jewish. Where is the proof that he's black?

Good for McClatchy, and anyone, who looks at this church critically. Rev. Wright is a loud-mouth bigot, but he's also violating the law by preaching politics from the pulpit.

[rodeodance]

49. I believe the IRS is now looking into some issues--or they have been requested to investigate.

[Critters2]

63. Anyone can preach politics from the pulpit. God knows I have.

What you cannot do is to endorse a specific candidate or party. I think Wright did this in ONE sermon, and yes, his church may pay the price. But preaching that Jesus is black does not violate the law.

[ellacott]

82. There are black Jews

He was definitely a person of color. Just look at the region he came from.

[DemBones DemBones]

54. Excellent article. I explored the Trinity Church web site so

none of this surprises me but it should have been discussed months ago.

Shouldn't the DNC have vetted Obama?

Why didn't Howard Dean know about this and tell Obama to drop out back in the fall? A good time would have been right after Wright made up a new award and presented the very first one to Louis Farrakhan. Nice way to help his protege, huh?

Dean or some Dem with good sense should have acted.

[JerseygirlCT]

57. Now look into "the Family" or "The Fellowship"

That make you comfie?

[DemBones DemBones]

78. I read about them years ago. Hillary's a Methodist, always has been,

and she might be in an all-Dem prayer group if there were one.

As it is, she is transcending party lines, which I seem to recall Obama saying was a good thing, and getting to know Republicans and Democrats in her prayer groups.

That will make it easier for her to work with them when she's president.

[DURHAM D]

69. I assume you are aware that the CEO of the DNC -

the person who sits at the right hand of Dean, the person who runs the corporation that is the Democratic party, the person in charge of the convention and all those committees (rules/credentials,etc.), the person who loooooves to raise money from homosexuals but will not spend any fighting anti-gay initiatives, is a PENTECOSTAL minister.

Her name is Leah Daughtry.

Makes my skin crawl.

[totodeinhere]

60. Did you ever stop and think that most of what that article quoted...

that they say in that church is true? Are you going to tell me that white churches in America did not support slavery?

[krabigirl]

66. yawn...sooo tired of hearing about pastors, churches, and religion with this election...

[xultar]

67. x

[Seabiscuit]

68. Oh geez, did Cone really say Marxist? You know what that means for the GE don't you?

A neverending loop of Marxist/Communist etc. statements from Cone and on and on and blah blah and then at the end of all that vitriol a complete loss to McCain in the GE. I do not believe that Obama will do well in the GE against the RW attack machine.

[Forkboy]

72. So did Jesus.

[DemBones DemBones]

77. Yes, but remember what happened to Him.

Controversy doesn't win a lot of friends.

I am NOT suggesting anybody involved in all this will be crucified, except metaphorically speaking, as in "crucified at the polls."

Some of the ugly details of how Emil Jones made Obama a U.S. senator are out now so his political mentor will be under scrutiny now, in addition to the continuing revelations about Jeremiah Wright.

[Forkboy]

81. I understand you mean it metaphorically.

You're cool about this stuff. :)

My point was in a larger sense I guess. The best ideas are always controversial at first. At what point do we embrace them instead of fear them? When do we stop giving in to those afraid of that change? Do we keep cowering as we have for years and years, or do we say, "No more fear!"?

This is an issue I grapple with far beyond the constraints of our two choices, and my thoughts here go beyond simply the Obama or Hillary paradigm.

I genuinely think we need to change things in a deeper sense than just the figureheads we elect. I don't think we can afford to play it safe anymore, which is why neither choice thrills me.

Peace, and I hope you had a great Easter! :)

[mmonk]

79. I think the continuance of this in the media and pushed

by the opposition in both parties may have the desired effect you seek in destroying the frontrunner in delegate counts. I see a very weak party in November. Enjoy yourself.

[DemBones DemBones]

80. Obama would be a weak nominee.

His entire record of achievements in the Illinois Senate was racked up in one year, his 7th in office. The Dems got control of the Illinois House and Senate and Obama's political mentor, Emil Jones, Jr., made a bunch of other senators give bills they'd worked on for years to Obama so that Obama got credit for sponsoring them. He sponsored 26 bills that year. In the previous 6 years, he'd sponsored a few but none had passed because the GOP controlled the Senate.

In return, Obama got tens of millions in earmarks for Jones's district, among all the other earmarks he got.

Without Emil Jones, Obama would either still be sitting in the state senate or have gotten bored and moved on to something else. He tries to get a promotion every three years.

Does not look good for Obama. Why wasn't he vetted? Why did people line up to vote for him without knowing jack about his record?

[Buzz Clik]

83. I'm finally and gratefully putting your sorry, worn-out ass on ignore.

Why the hell did I wait so long?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

84. .

[JackORoses]

87. OperationKick3dayoldshit?