FALSANI:
What do you believe?
OBAMA:
I am a Christian.
So, I have a deep faith. So I draw from the Christian faith.
On the other hand, I was born in Hawaii where obviously there are a lot of Eastern influences.
I lived in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, between the ages of six and 10.
My father was from Kenya, and although he was probably most accurately labeled an agnostic, his father was Muslim.
And I’d say, probably, intellectually I’ve drawn as much from Judaism as any other faith.
So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people. That there are values that transcend race or culture, that move us forward, and there’s an obligation for all of us individually as well as collectively to take responsibility to make those values lived.
Jesus says, “ I am the way, the truth,and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). Christians believe Him.
To: Vision,
I have an honest question for you: How can you be such a big admirer of Ronald Reagan, when Osteen is such a big fan of Obama?
I know all humans have a certain level of inconsistency, but your devotion to Joel Osteen is, well, .... puzzling, to say the least.
The complete 2004 Obama interview, where he talked about his (weak, agnostic) Christian faith with a sympathetic interviewer can be found here.
http://cathleenfalsani.com/obama-on-faith-the-exclusive-interview/