Faith and Politics--A More Perfect Union?

By now we've all heard or read Barack's speech “A More Perfect Union,” which addressed both race and religion--two topics most often found on the “do not discuss at the dinner table” list, not to mention in the political arena.

In his attempt to draw a picture of his experience in the black church, Obama brought up one very difficult reality: people are angry. Not just black people, but lots of people. And the amount of racially-fueled resentment that lurks beneath the surface is astounding. It is not all that uncommon to hear that anger expressed when racially homogenous groups get together around the kitchen, the water cooler, or even in the pews. My experience living in New Orleans and working with and worshipping alongside mostly African Americans offered me just a taste of this reality.

The speech, as a response to the controversial sermons of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was successful; meaning, he managed to disconnect himself from Rev. Wright's politics of anti-Americanism and the belief that racism is endemic in the United States. At the same time, he clarified that the true nature of their relationship was spiritual: “He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children.”

A NY Times editorial interpreted Obama's speech as one that drew a pretty clear separation between religion and politics:

On Tuesday, Mr. Obama drew a bright line between his religious connection with Mr. Wright, which should be none of the voters’ business, and having a political connection, which would be very much their business. The distinction seems especially urgent after seven years of a president who has worked to blur the line between church and state.

and again,

Mr. Obama’s eloquent speech should end the debate over his ties to Mr. Wright since there is nothing to suggest that he would carry religion into government.

However, I'm not so sure that I completely agree. While distancing himself from the rampant anti-American sentiment of Rev. Wright, his language around the “racial stalemate” certainly included a fair amount of religion. Overtly, Obama claims that he has

...a firm conviction – a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.

His vision of a more perfect union includes a necessary commitment to the common good and solidarity:

it also means binding our particular grievances – for better health care, and better schools, and better jobs - to the larger aspirations of all Americans.

and again,

It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.

Ultimately, Obama claims, it's about the Golden Rule:

Let us be our brother’s keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister’s keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.

Personally, I find Obama's honesty about the “racial stalemate” refreshing and his vision for encouraging the US beyond that stalemate one that cracks away just a bit at the American ideal of individualism. Don't get me wrong, Obama upholds that age-old notion of self-help and personal responsibility; however, he simultaneously calls us to be one another's keepers, to believe that our neighbor's grievances are our own, and that “the children of America are not those kids, they are our kids.” For Obama, these beliefs were strengthened by sitting faithfully in the pews of his church, despite his disagreement with the political beliefs of his pastor.

But does any of this religion stuff even matter? Earlier I quoted the Chicago Tribune article, in which the author says that Obama's religious beliefs/connections are none of our business. Again, religion is viewed as belonging only in some sort of private sphere. Perhaps this is because I was raised Catholic, and like Stanley Hauerwas says, Catholics don't really understand how to separate church and state; but how can we possibly expect someone's personal beliefs to NOT influence into their careers? And certainly ones that are service-oriented (a politician's job is technically one of service to the country).

While Obama tried to clarify and describe his relationship with his pastor, I'm not so sure he so clearly delineated his faith and his politics. And I'm, quite frankly, okay with that.