Short answer. No.
He was not brought up Muslim, did not practice or declare himself such at age of “majority” (i.e. teenager, akin to confirmation in xtian faiths).
Nor, as suggested by a rightwing writer (have to check resources) is he apostate.
A more worrying question: Are Americans adult enough to look at this rationally? Look at the way they treated Keith Ellison in this city, much less out in the sticks, where you see how much Appalachia came out for Obama.
Almost 20% of Americans believe that the sun revolves around the Earth. The same percentage still supports President Bush. The same percentage does not accept evolution.
It’s no wonder. They themselves have not evolved out of their lizard brains.
Is Obama Muslim? Depends on who you ask, and what criteria you use. Is he currently practicing? No. Does he have a name (Hussein) that is given only to Muslim children, and did he take part in religion classes while in Indonesia, according to some who were around him? Yes.
By U.S. standards–does he practice?–he is not. By some Muslim standards–did he at any time identify as Muslim–yes he is. People are being killed in some Muslim nations for trying to leave the faith, and in the eyes of some, Obama is is under a decree of death for doing so.
No biggie either way for me, as his stands have told me more than enough about why I’m not voting for him.
Stereotyping the black guy is a lot easier than thinking, that’s for sure. That’s probably the the most over-the-top absurd suggestion about Obama yet. It almost doesn’t dignify a response, but of course it’s the same kind of ignorance I worry about in the general election.
Never mind that John Sidney McCain is the great grandson of a plantation owner in pre-secession Mississippi with a suspiciously Irish name. As a racist and an alcoholic by association, I can’t see how anyone would consider voting for McCain.
I feel bad for Condi. Here is a rare unprecedented time in history when a woman and a black man are running for president. But being Republican, Condi wont be able to choose either. What a pity. The earth is doomed if another Republican is chosen. -the Madness
(Yes.. juan is biased quite left. But his grasp of islamic law is better then Luttwak’s.)
Next up… will anybody be questioning how Xtian, what sect, and have they switched sects in regards to Hillary or McCain? That topic matters as much, to me, as to what theological law declares for Obama.
pcomeau–I don’t believe that this needs to be done per se. Islam is fairly fragmented, so the “fringe” groups (the ones our soldiers are dealing with for the most part) don’t wait for a fatwa from a major imam.
Dunno whether it’s a big or small issue if he gets elected–probably not huge, as they’ve not managed to “off” a major political leader yet.
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9 Responses to “vexing qwextion”
Short answer. No.
He was not brought up Muslim, did not practice or declare himself such at age of “majority” (i.e. teenager, akin to confirmation in xtian faiths).
Nor, as suggested by a rightwing writer (have to check resources) is he apostate.
Followup question: even if so, does it matter?
A more worrying question: Are Americans adult enough to look at this rationally? Look at the way they treated Keith Ellison in this city, much less out in the sticks, where you see how much Appalachia came out for Obama.
Almost 20% of Americans believe that the sun revolves around the Earth. The same percentage still supports President Bush. The same percentage does not accept evolution.
It’s no wonder. They themselves have not evolved out of their lizard brains.
Is Obama Muslim? Depends on who you ask, and what criteria you use. Is he currently practicing? No. Does he have a name (Hussein) that is given only to Muslim children, and did he take part in religion classes while in Indonesia, according to some who were around him? Yes.
By U.S. standards–does he practice?–he is not. By some Muslim standards–did he at any time identify as Muslim–yes he is. People are being killed in some Muslim nations for trying to leave the faith, and in the eyes of some, Obama is is under a decree of death for doing so.
No biggie either way for me, as his stands have told me more than enough about why I’m not voting for him.
McCain ‘08.
Like hope, only different.
Stereotyping the black guy is a lot easier than thinking, that’s for sure. That’s probably the the most over-the-top absurd suggestion about Obama yet. It almost doesn’t dignify a response, but of course it’s the same kind of ignorance I worry about in the general election.
Never mind that John Sidney McCain is the great grandson of a plantation owner in pre-secession Mississippi with a suspiciously Irish name. As a racist and an alcoholic by association, I can’t see how anyone would consider voting for McCain.
I feel bad for Condi. Here is a rare unprecedented time in history when a woman and a black man are running for president. But being Republican, Condi wont be able to choose either. What a pity. The earth is doomed if another Republican is chosen. -the Madness
Bike Bubba - Has an actual decree of death happened?
Being apostate, as some have claimed, is not a black and white topic. Juan Cole has a decent analysis of it here: http://www.juancole.com/2008/05/is-obama-apostate- or-bush-reply-to.html
(Yes.. juan is biased quite left. But his grasp of islamic law is better then Luttwak’s.)
Next up… will anybody be questioning how Xtian, what sect, and have they switched sects in regards to Hillary or McCain? That topic matters as much, to me, as to what theological law declares for Obama.
pcomeau–I don’t believe that this needs to be done per se. Islam is fairly fragmented, so the “fringe” groups (the ones our soldiers are dealing with for the most part) don’t wait for a fatwa from a major imam.
Dunno whether it’s a big or small issue if he gets elected–probably not huge, as they’ve not managed to “off” a major political leader yet.