The Faith of Barack Obama | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephen Mansfield
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 18069
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1595552502
Dewey Decimal Number: 328.73092
EAN: 9781595552501
ASIN: 1595552502
Publication Date: August 5, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
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Product Description
Get inside the mind and soul of Barack Obama In The Faith of Barack Obama, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield takes readers inside the mind, heart, and soul of presidential hopeful Barack Obama—as a person of faith, as a man, as an American, and possibly as our future commander in chief. America faces looming inflation, climate change, a national credit crisis, war in the Middle East, threats to security and liberty at home, and skyrocketing oil and gas prices. With all of these threats to our security, prosperity and freedom on the horizon, it has never been more important to choose the right leader for America. “If a man’s faith is sincere, it is the most important thing about him, and it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life,” writes Mansfield. In The Faith of Barack Obama, Mansfield holds back nothing to share that vision and explain its roots, including: •Obama’s upbringing in a non-Christian home
•the influence on his life from his agnostic mother and Muslim father
•his remarkable turn to Christianity after working in the inner cities of Chicago
•his years at the controversial Trinity United Church of Christ
•his association to the radical teachings of Rev. Jeremiah Wright
•the source of Obama’s relentless optimism and hope for America
Every American voter concerned to know more about Obama’s beliefs, both religious and political, and how the two intertwine should read this book, as should every thinking person who continues to shape and evolve his or her religious beliefs. Barack Obama, according to Mansfield, is “raising the banner of what he hopes will be the faith-based politics of a new generation . . . and he will carry that banner to whatever heights of power his God and the American people allow.” “You must read this perceptive and well written book. Then you will know why Barack Obama has such a passion for justice and equity, such a gift for filling people of different generations with a newfound hope that things can and will change for the better.” —ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 An Important Book at an Important Time August 20, 2008
Over the past 9 months I've gone from being somewhat of a McCain fan to more of an Obama supporter. I'm convinced a McCain administration will be nothing more than a third term of George W. Bush and, yes, I'm looking for change. I'd like to see more substance behind the "change" Obama always refers to, but I'm also curious about his religious beliefs and the journey that led him to Christianity.
With that in mind, The Faith of Barack Obama, Stephen Mansfield's latest book is right up my alley and it didn't disappoint. As you might imagine, Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a person who pops up frequently throughout this book. Prior to reading Mansfield's work I considered Wright nothing more than an unfortunate footnote from Obama's past who managed to surface at the wrong time. This book caused me to look at Wright and Obama's relationship with him in a completely different light.
I still feel Rev. Wright was an overzealous minister who didn't do the best job of emphasizing the right aspects of the key points he's tried to make over the years. Exhibit A is all across YouTube, for example. And as a white person who's never attended Trinity United my comments are easily dismissed by Wright supporters. Nevertheless, I feel he crossed the line too many times, so shame on Obama for not parting ways with Wright many years ago. I don't plan to run for public office but I'd quickly move on from a church/pastor who regularly expressed such a twisted view of the world. The fact that Obama stuck with Wright for so long really does say a lot about the senator, I'm afraid. But what benefit was Wright expecting when he's spewed that sort of venom anyway? He's so full of anger and lacking in forgiveness....gee, maybe he ought to read The Shack!
The bottom line is Rev. Wright probably pictures himself as a modern day Martin Luther King, Jr. He isn't though, and time will easily prove this point. If Rev. King were in Wright's shoes today I'm quite convinced he'd take a much more diplomatic approach and would be more embracing and far less antagonistic.
The Faith of Barack Obama isn't just about Rev. Wright though, of course. The book does a great job taking the reader through Obama's youth, exposure to multiple religions and how he eventually become a Christian. It also exposes some of the warts in Obama's beliefs, including coverage of how he voted against a bill to protect the lives of babies who managed to survive late-term abortions. Wow, how heartless must you be to vote against something like this?!
One of my favorite parts of the book was chapter 5, Four Faces of Faith. The author uses this chapter to contrast and compare the religious beliefs and paths of Obama, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. At first I felt this was nothing more than filler but I have to admit it's fascinating to look at all four of these political heavyweights through this sort of lens.
Finally, I think Mansfield very effectively captured Obama's critique of George W. Bush with the following excerpt: You rose on the strength of a vicious use of faith. You then baptized a greedy conservative agenda and called it God's will. Along the way, you labeled us Democrats as somehow antifaith. Now, your political faith failing you, your religious base abandoning you, it is time for you to go away. A new faith, based in the genuine compassion of the Religious Left, is waiting in the wings. Step aside, and let us heal what you have broken.
We'll never know if that's really what Obama thinks but it sure sounds right to me, a guy who twice made the mistake of voting for George W. Bush. I'm still leaning towards Obama but I'm not 100% committed as I'm waiting to see who he picks for a VP (please, not Evan Bayh!) and what specific plans he has to fix the limping economy. This book has also helped open my eyes a bit wider as I realize the faith part of the equation isn't as clean and simple as I previously thought.
 The Faith of Barack Obama August 20, 2008
The Faith of Barack Obama offers a candid look at the eclectic upbringing, cultural influences, and religious beliefs shaping the life and worldview of Barack Obama. The recollection of Obama's nomadic rise while seeking to find his place in society is a story that bears witness to the struggle to do good in a society that has yet to fully embrace her own.
Mansfield's rendering of Obama, when compared to other Commanders in Chief, offers hope that change is on the way. The author casts an inspiring vision that America, with or without Obama, will one day embrace her greatness with a transformational leader whose faith is big enough to embrace the disenchanted and disenfranchised, the Christian Right, and a worldview broader than their own.
A considered, deliberate view of the meaning of "faith in God" for Obama... August 15, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
For better or worse (depending on what your particular viewpoint is), a candidate's religious views always come into play during a Presidential election. Stephen Mansfield sets out to examine exactly what "faith" means to the Democratic candidate in the book The Faith of Barack Obama. I'll admit when I was offered the chance to read and review this, I was expecting a bit of a puff piece trying to paint him as highly acceptable to the evangelical conservative group of voters. Instead, it was an honest look at his background and upbringing, explaining how all those elements play into his definition of faith in God. While I know I don't quite agree on all his particular slants, I feel more comfortable with where he is coming from, and what that might mean if he is elected as President of the United States.
Contents:
The Life of Barack Obama - A Chronology; Introduction; To Walk Between Worlds; My House, Too; Faith Fit for the Age; The Alters of State; Four Faces of Faith; A Time to Heal; Acknowledgments; Notes; Bibliography; About the Author; Index
Using a number of speeches and excerpts from prior writings, Mansfield constructs what Obama says about his own faith, his own brand of religious thought. Placing those views against his life background gives a much clearer picture of exactly what Obama means when he uses words that are interpreted differently by people of varying religious viewpoints. Being raised in a mixed-race family, he had trouble figuring out where he fit in society and culture. His mother had her own views of religion (mainly secularism), while his biological father had problems with alcohol abuse. After the breakup of that marriage, his mother remarried and moved to Indonesia, where Obama was exposed to the teachings of Islam. Coming back to the States, he continued his education and also became involved in social causes in Chicago. This led him to Trinity United Church of Christ and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Unless you understand the black church and black liberation theology, it's very difficult to understand Rev. Wright and the influence he had in Obama's life, as well as the life of the community there. Mix all of these influences together in the mind of a very well-educated, deliberate person, and you start to understand the gist of Obama's faith. It's reflective of what the author calls the Religious Left, a group that places more emphasis on social responsibility as part of their doctrine, as well as blending in elements of truth from various sources.
Mansfield also takes a chapter at the end to compare the religious backgrounds of Obama, Clinton, Bush, and McCain. It becomes evident that McCain comes from an older generation where faith is something that is done but not talked about. Bush is more "open" about his religious conversion coming from his alcoholic background. Clinton professes more of a traditional religious faith, while Obama is representative of what some would call "post-modern Christianity". The chapter also tends to point out how each end of the religious spectrum has problems with whatever level of faith is professed. Welcome to the age of cynicism in America... :)
Personally, I found the book interesting and useful in terms of understanding Obama more than I did before. I've tended to be more "right-wing" in my views and thinking, but this last eight years has left a dent in my political leanings. Instead of buying into the "all good/all evil" extremes that tend to dominate the media, I now can make choices based on actual evidence rather than rumored innuendoes and accusations. Being how short the book is (165 pages), I'd recommend it as useful reading to anyone who wants to give more than a passing thought on who they should vote for in the next election.
Take An In-Depth Look at the Spiritual Life of Barack Obama August 14, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's difficult in the news media to find anything in-depth about the faith of Barack Obama so I was fascinated to read Stephen Mansfield's well-researched biography. One of the most telling passages to me begins on the bottom of page 57 and goes to part of page 58 which says, "What did Barack Obama become, then, on that Sunday morning in 1985? He became, he says, a Christian. He confessed his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for his sins and rose again. Yet he denies that his Christianity is the sole path to God, and he applies a great deal of doubt to the doctrines of his faith: the inspiration of Scripture, the matters of the afterlife, the moral standards of tradition."
Each of you can draw your own conclusion but that last sentence is troubling to me since I believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture and the words of Jesus when he said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." John 14:6. That verse (and many others) is clear to me that there are NOT many paths to God but only one through Jesus Christ.
My recommendation: get this book and make your own decision.
The Faith of Barack Obama August 12, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
"An excellent clear view of Barack Obama. The Faith of Barack Obama clearly defines the lines of his faith and politics. There have been many arguments about Obama, his faith and his values. From both the right-wing and left-wing, Barack has taken his punches. This book is a transparent look at how he allows his faith to define him. Not conformed to the right-wing of Christianity, nor fully defined by his Spiritual Father (Rev. Wright), Obama is and will remain a man of faith, defined by what he believes.
The Faith of Barack Obama answers many questions of those concerned about the mans faith. It takes you from the beginning of his faith journey to where he stands now. A moving piece of literature pregnant with the real hard facts. Stephen Mansfield hits a homerun with his literary piece on The Faith of Barack Obama. Not content to wallow in the mushy falsified attempts to discredit Obama as a man of faith, Mansfield highlights all of the key speeches Obama has made in order to define what he truly believes. I strongly recommend you pick up your own copy in order to clearly view Barack Obama and his faith."
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