Changes

On the way home last night, I listened to a NPR discussion group about race and the presidential election. One woman said that Obama was a muslim and he will be one until the day he dies. Why does she think that? Why is that belief held by some people who contribute to Conservapedia? What constitutes sufficient proof of the religous beliefs of anyone?  

On the way home last night, I listened to a NPR discussion group about race and the presidential election. One woman said that Obama was a Muslim and he will be one until the day he dies. Why does she think that? Why is that belief held by some people who contribute to Conservapedia? What constitutes sufficient proof of the religious beliefs of anyone?  

To start the debate I will offer that I am an atheist. My name is Michael Fredlund Anderson. I was raised in the Lutheran church.  

To start the debate I will offer that I am an atheist. My name is Michael Fredlund Anderson. I was raised in the Lutheran church.  

My behavior seems to fall in line with my declared atheist point of view.  

My behavior seems to fall in line with my declared atheist point of view.  

I would contend that Obama's behavior seems to indicate that he is a christian and not a muslim. He has attend a Christian church for years, he give money to that church and supports its causes. On the other hand, he does not pray to Allah facing Mecca everyday, doesn't belong to a mosque and doesn't support muslim causes.  

I would contend that Obama's behavior seems to indicate that he is a Christian and not a Muslim. He has attend a Christian church for years, he give money to that church and supports its causes. On the other hand, he does not pray to Allah facing Mecca everyday, doesn't belong to a mosque and doesn't support Muslim causes.  

If you analyse my name, it has some christian meanings. Michael was an archangel and Michael has a literal translation of "who is like God?". Anderson is "Andrews son". Andrew was an apostale. Could it be that my name points to my true colors? Am I really a christian and the meaning of my name shows that? Not really. I was just given a popular name by my parents and inherited Anderson and Fredlund from my parents (Fredlund was my mothers maiden name).  

If you analyse my name, it has some Christian meanings. Michael was an archangel and Michael has a literal translation of "who is like God?". Anderson is "Andrews son". Andrew was an apostale. Could it be that my name points to my true colors? Am I really a Christian and the meaning of my name shows that? Not really. I was just given a popular name by my parents and inherited Anderson and Fredlund from my parents (Fredlund was my mothers maiden name).  

The same type of approach is used to suggest that Obama is really a muslim. Look at his name right? But just like me, Obama just was given a name by his parents. It was popular. It really has no bearing on his religious beliefs.  

The same type of approach is used to suggest that Obama is really a Muslim. Look at his name right? But just like me, Obama just was given a name by his parents. It was popular. It really has no bearing on his religious beliefs.  

What about slips of the tounge or use of certain expressions? For some reason I have come to say "Oh Lord" when I am exasperated with something. Am I really saying a small prayer and giving away my true colors? Nah.  

What about slips of the tongue or use of certain expressions? For some reason I have come to say "Oh Lord" when I am exasperated with something. Am I really saying a small prayer and giving away my true colors? Nah.  

I think this type of innuendo about Obama's religious beliefs has gone far enough. I think Conservapedia needs to reverse all of it's edits that use tactic like those described above to paint Obama as a muslim. They are wrong and end up creating wrong thinking in the gullible readers of things like this.  

I think this type of innuendo about Obama's religious beliefs has gone far enough. I think Conservapedia needs to reverse all of its edits that use tactic like those described above to paint Obama as a Muslim. They are wrong and end up creating wrong thinking in the gullible readers of things like this.  

Frankly, I don't care if he is a muslim (except that I would think he is wrong just like I think christians are wrong). It doesn't make him a bad person or unfit to lead. But in a christian nation, trying to claim that he is a muslim is clearly a rotten, political trick.  _{unsigned, by [[user: MickA]].}

Frankly, I don't care if he is a Muslim (except that I would think he is wrong just like I think Christians are wrong). It doesn't make him a bad person or unfit to lead. But in a Christian nation, trying to claim that he is a Muslim is clearly a rotten, political trick.  _{unsigned, by [[user: MickA]].}

:I agree with the above sentiments.  This is supposed to be a "no gossip" website, and, by my reckoning, speculating that somebody's religion might secretly be other than what he claims it is constitutes gossip.  There are plenty of legitimate criticisms to be made of Obama and his politics without resorting to crypto-racist slurs associating him with Islam.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 10:13, 12 September 2008 (EDT)

:I agree with the above sentiments.  This is supposed to be a "no gossip" website, and, by my reckoning, speculating that somebody's religion might secretly be other than what he claims it is constitutes gossip.  There are plenty of legitimate criticisms to be made of Obama and his politics without resorting to crypto-racist slurs associating him with Islam.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 10:13, 12 September 2008 (EDT)

:::::I second that proposal.  Printing unfounded conjectures about anyone's religion on the main page is a bad precedent for a site that is supposed to have a 'no gossip' rule.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 09:47, 15 September 2008 (EDT)

:::::I second that proposal.  Printing unfounded conjectures about anyone's religion on the main page is a bad precedent for a site that is supposed to have a 'no gossip' rule.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 09:47, 15 September 2008 (EDT)

I agree with the first poster. I'm a life-long, God-fearing Christian who voted for McCain-Palin. But I can't stomach attacking someone else for his religious views -- especially if there is not any compelling evidence that he even has those views. I don't see eye-to-eye with him on the economy, but I'm not afraid of the man, no matter what his name is. This has become just too silly, and, frankly, it embarrasses me, for people who voted for him automatically lump me in with racists and xenophobes, which I certainly am not. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them feared me. Feared me for something that they assumed about me but which was not true. I think I know how Mr. Obama feels.

I agree with the first poster. I'm a lifelong, God-fearing Christian who voted for McCain-Palin. But I can't stomach attacking someone else for his religious views -- especially if there is not any compelling evidence that he even has those views. I don't see eye-to-eye with him on the economy, but I'm not afraid of the man, no matter what his name is. This has become just too silly, and, frankly, it embarrasses me, for people who voted for him automatically lump me in with racists and xenophobes, which I certainly am not. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them feared me. Feared me for something that they assumed about me but which was not true. I think I know how Mr. Obama feels.

We are certainly no fans of Barack Obama; in fact I spent four days in Pennsylvania campaigning for Chris Hackett for Congress and McCain for President and I don't even like MacCain but it seems to me that this whole "Obama is a Muslim" thing is largely based on a verbal slip during one interview.  I like Conservapedia and it seems to me that it discredits the whole site when you keep referring to Obama as a Muslim when he has denied it.  (Even if he were a Muslim he certainly is not orthodox in his beliefs and practices so it would not be valid to say that he would make policy decisions based on the Koran or historic Islamic practice.)  I suppose it is okay to report on the controversy but it seems like the new links that appear on the main page are frequently based on the assumption that it is a proven fact.  Stuff like that makes conservatives look like flat eath advocates.  Do you really think that he is a Muslim in a meaningful way and if so is there real proof beyond his childhood schooling, that refernce to "my Muslim faith" in one interview and those publicity pictures from Kenya?

We are certainly no fans of Barack Obama; in fact I spent four days in Pennsylvania campaigning for Chris Hackett for Congress and McCain for President and I don't even like MacCain but it seems to me that this whole "Obama is a Muslim" thing is largely based on a verbal slip during one interview.  I like Conservapedia and it seems to me that it discredits the whole site when you keep referring to Obama as a Muslim when he has denied it.  (Even if he were a Muslim he certainly is not orthodox in his beliefs and practices so it would not be valid to say that he would make policy decisions based on the Koran or historic Islamic practice.)  I suppose it is okay to report on the controversy but it seems like the new links that appear on the main page are frequently based on the assumption that it is a proven fact.  Stuff like that makes conservatives look like flat eath advocates.  Do you really think that he is a Muslim in a meaningful way and if so is there real proof beyond his childhood schooling, that reference to "my Muslim faith" in one interview and those publicity pictures from Kenya?

By ChrisM. posted by his relative [[User:Additioner|Additioner]] 20:29, 18 November 2008 (EST)

By ChrisM. posted by his relative [[User:Additioner|Additioner]] 20:29, 18 November 2008 (EST)