Obama; Faith and Politics

Dear Ted,

Faith and politics have long been at odds. People of faith struggle with how to reconcile their faith and their public lives.

A little over one year ago, Barack Obama delivered a speech where he spoke candidly about his personal Christian faith, the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life, and the faith-based attacks on his 2004 candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

"[The attacks] nagged at me, and I was also aware that my answer did not adequately address the role my faith has in guiding my own values and my own beliefs. Now, my dilemma was by no means unique. In a way, it reflected the broader debate we've been having in this country for the last thirty years over the role of religion in politics."

-Barack Obama, June 28, 2006 Call to Renewal Keynote Address

In the coming weeks, we'll hold a statewide series of forums on faith, values, and politics here in Iowa where we will tackle these issues head-on.

Forum to Discuss Faith and Politics
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Sanford Center
1700 Geneva Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
12:30 PM
RSVP: http://iowa.barackobama.com/siouxcityfaith

Forum to Discuss Faith and Politics
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Council Bluffs Public Library
Meeting Room 2C
400 Willow Avenue
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
3:30 PM
RSVP: http://iowa.barackobama.com/councilbluffsfaith

We'll talk about how we translate values rooted in our faith into universal principles, and what Barack Obama has added to this critical conversation.

These forums are a chance for people of any faith (or non-faith) to come together and discuss the role of faith in public life. Barack often talks openly about both his own personal journey to his Christian faith and the uncertainties involved in religious belief.

These forums are free and open to the public. We encourage you to come and join in the discussion, or just listen and contemplate your own feelings on these issues.

Sincerely,

Michael Blake
Iowa Director of Faith Outreach
Obama for America

P.S. -- If you can't make it to one of our faith forums, I encourage you to watch Barack's speech on faith and politics or visit the people of faith section of our website to get a better sense of how Barack is trying to address faith in the public discourse.