Obama's "conversation with God"

"So one Sunday, I put on one of the few clean jackets I had, and went over to Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street on the South Side of Chicago. And I heard Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright deliver a sermon called "The Audacity of Hope." And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ. I learned that my sins could be redeemed. I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, He would accomplish with me if I placed my trust in Him. ... Kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side, I felt that I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to his will, and dedicated myself to discovering his truth."

Those are the words of Barack Obama, taken from his own web site. I find this scary. It's one thing for a candidate to believe in a deity and declare allegiance to a particular system of belief. It's another to declare that he's "too weak" to act for himself, he felt God was communicating to him, and he has submitted himself to supernatural powers. Elsewhere on the page he says "I think I have an ongoing conversation with God." This may be metaphorical language, but it sounds disturbingly like hallucinations of a direct divine connection. If he has to deal with a national crisis, will he allow an imaginary divine voice to influence his decision?

The page repudiates malicious rumors that Obama is a Muslim. It's appropriate to do this. But then he goes on to declare his Christian credentials at great length. In doing so he accepts the premise implicit in the smear: that only a practicing, devout Christian is a suitable presidential candidate. An appropriate response would have been to state his religious affiliation, give some supporting evidence, and then say that it shouldn't matter anyway. Instead he makes his religion a campaign point.

Here's one section, quoting just the main head and the three subheads:

OBAMA IS A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN
 
Obama Was Baptized And Attends Church Once a Week When He is Able.
 
Obama Reads The Bible, Finds Time to Pray On Campaign Trail.
 
Obama Held His Personal Bible When He Was Sworn-In As A U.S. Senator.

Obama gives the impression that religion will be a major influence in the way he holds office. He mentions the Rev. Jeremiah Wright approvingly three times, once referring to him as a "close confidant." I thought he'd repudiated Wright?

Elsewhere, Obama has declared that "leaders in both parties have recognized the value of a partnership between the White House and faith-based groups" and said that he'll maintain but reform Bush's faith-based initiatives.

None of this is to say that John "Christian Nation" McCain is better. But as far as I know, McCain hasn't claimed to be in direct communication with God.