Many news agencies carried similar stories in January, and now we get another reincarnation today in the Washington Post. What church will the Obamas choose in DC? Will they choose a black church, to "signal" they want to continue visiting black churches? Will they choose an "integrated" church to "send a message" on race? How do they pick a church that will make them "part of the Washington community?" How do they "find a church family?"
I understand that I'm missing an important piece of this decision, partly because I'm white and party because I'm Catholic. I don't really care about the racial diversity of my parish (and that has varied dramatically in the past few years), and, as much as I disbelieve it, my Church teaches that all parishes are equivalent so I should attend the closest one. Even though I find this ridiculous (all communities have different things to offer) at least some of this notion must have worn off on me. That's why I'm perfectly comfortable attending random Catholic masses across the country and around the world while on vacation.
But regardless of my lack of perspective, I find it appalling that one question seems never to be asked in the gossip of the president's church choice: which church is actually in sync with his faith? The purpose of a church is to help members grow closer to God. While a community and "family" are incredibly important, they're important because by growing closer to your fellow parishioners you can help each other focus better together on the Creator. A church is not a bridge club or a bowling team.
A president's choices have different effects from us commoners so politics must have some impact on his decision. But is no one, NO ONE, is interested in even considering the whole point of church in the first place? Isn't it odd that in an article chock full of quotes and analysis, the word "God" isn't used (reverently) until the very last sentence?
All this ruckus makes me wonder if something similar would have happen if famously nonreligious John McCain had won the presidency. Would we have gone through all of this drama for his decision on "faith" with little to no actual religious significance?
Interesting question...I think that if John McCain had won we wouldn't have had much of a discussion at all if he continued to not go to church. However, if he DID start going to church (or started exploring religion) his every move would be analyzed to death and beyond. I'd be curious to know what Obama really thinks about what is important in a church - maybe I've watched too much West Wing (I have watched an awful lot of West Wing) but it seems likely that politics is not his biggest criteria in finding a church. But people like to analyze and judge and even if he started going to an "integrated" church simply because he liked it lots of people would be making political judgments on that decision.
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