Obama talks about his faith

In an interview with the Washington National Cathedral magazine, President Obama discussed how his faith influenced his politics — saying that at the end of the day 'God is in control.'


“First and foremost, my Christian faith gives me a perspective and
security that I don’t think I would have otherwise: that I am loved.
That, at the end of the day, God is in control," Obama said.
Obama also tied faith in God to his belief in a compassionate role for government.



"Faith tells us that there is something about this world that ties
our interest to the welfare of a child who can’t get the health care
they need, or a parent who can’t find work after the plant shut down, or
a family going hungry," Obama told the magazine.
"Faith has always provided a moral framework and vocabulary for this
country to come to terms with its most pressing challenges. One of the
great things about this nation is that it is a place where people from
all walks of life can advocate on behalf of their faith and beliefs and
be open about what drives and motivates them," Obama said.
"From slavery to the suffrage movement to civil rights, faith — and
the moral obligations that derive from our faith — have always helped us
to navigate some of our greatest moral challenges with a recognition
that there’s something bigger than ourselves: we have obligations that
extend beyond our own self-interest," Obama said.
Obama also briefly addressed the ongoing (false) doubts about his
faith — including rumors that he is a Muslim (which he is not).
"I have a job to do as president, and that does not involve
convincing folks that my faith in Jesus is legitimate and real. I do my
best to live out my faith, and to stay in the Word, and to make my life
look more like His," Obama said "What I can do is just keep on following
Him, and serve others—trying to make folks’ lives a little better using
this humbling position that I hold."

Obama also nodded to religious pluralism in the U.S. — and the idea that there are people of many faiths in the country.


"This country has a rich tradition of seeking to create an
environment where people of different beliefs can live together and
share common goals. As Americans, I think we understand that—in
protecting our ability to advocate for our own positions—we must protect
the ability of those who come from different backgrounds and beliefs to
do so as well. Faith demands that we see the image of God in one
another and respect it," Obama said.
“Faith can express itself in people in many ways, and I think it is
important that we not make faith alone a barometer of a person’s worth,
value, or character,” Obama said.
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/08/obama-talks-about-his-faith-132696.html