Obama does some distorting

The right wing threw yet another Obama inspired hissy-fit this past week for doing something they tend to favor themselves. Obama channeled some of the religious right's favorite hypocritical ignorance laden bullshit. During his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast he commented that "As people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion — any religion — for their own nihilistic ends." This, of course, is what many theists have been deluding themselves about for ages. They never seem to notice that Religion as institution has no "true" version. All variations are completely subjective and unfounded. Even though prefer that theists follow a more liberal version that doesn't make it any more or less legitimate than the more conservative or violent forms of faith. This is also not the part of his address that got the right wings bent out of shape.

Obama quickly followed up with "Here at home and around the world we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom: freedom of religion, the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination." The idea that he might be sympathetic to non-Christians and even atheists was not to their liking. Reactions to this part was way overblown given that the intent was all but erased the venue and manner of delivery. The fact that he attended the National Prayer Breakfast as the President rather than a private citizen basically provides a government endorsement of religion over non-belief. It is actually a distortion and an affront to one of the most basic principles of our Constitution: Separation of Church and State.

Then he really pissed them off by pointing out that Christianity isn't completely innocent when it come to persecuting other and committing acts of violence. Ironically, the comments he made in this area were among the few that had any accuracy and merit to them. It also demonstrated why government officials should not be endorsing faith of any sort. All variations of faith are subjective and tends toward authoritarian anti-democratic practices.