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| The Faith of Barack Obama | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 72 reviews)
Sales Rank: 61046
Category: Book
Author: Stephen Mansfield
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Studio: Thomas Nelson
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
Label: Thomas Nelson
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1595552502
Dewey Decimal Number: 328.73092
EAN: 9781595552501
ASIN: 1595552502
Publication Date: August 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Get inside the mind and soul of Barack Obama In The Faith of Barack Obama, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield takes readers inside the mind, heart, and soul of presidential hopeful Barack Obama?as a person of faith, as a man, as an American, and possibly as our future commander in chief. America faces looming inflation, climate change, a national credit crisis, war in the Middle East, threats to security and liberty at home, and skyrocketing oil and gas prices. With all of these threats to our security, prosperity and freedom on the horizon, it has never been more important to choose the right leader for America. ?If a man?s faith is sincere, it is the most important thing about him, and it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life,? writes Mansfield. In The Faith of Barack Obama, Mansfield holds back nothing to share that vision and explain its roots, including: ?Obama?s upbringing in a non-Christian home
?the influence on his life from his agnostic mother and Muslim father
?his remarkable turn to Christianity after working in the inner cities of Chicago
?his years at the controversial Trinity United Church of Christ
?his association to the radical teachings of Rev. Jeremiah Wright
?the source of Obama?s relentless optimism and hope for America
Every American voter concerned to know more about Obama?s beliefs, both religious and political, and how the two intertwine should read this book, as should every thinking person who continues to shape and evolve his or her religious beliefs. Barack Obama, according to Mansfield, is ?raising the banner of what he hopes will be the faith-based politics of a new generation . . . and he will carry that banner to whatever heights of power his God and the American people allow.? ?You must read this perceptive and well written book. Then you will know why Barack Obama has such a passion for justice and equity, such a gift for filling people of different generations with a newfound hope that things can and will change for the better.? ?ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
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| Customer Reviews: Read 67 more reviews...
Quick Review - Faith of Barak Obama January 5, 2009
When I finished reading the book I couldn't help but wonder about the title. Yes, the book has as centralized theme of Senator Obama. However, I found that particularly in the center sections, that Mansfield would seem to lose his focus and he would be off on an expose about the Reverend White and what he believes and teachers, or in another section what McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Bush believe. He does weave Obama into these sections but it is almost secondary. It felt to me as if Mansfield wanted to write a book about faith in politics but didn't have enough material so he wrote the book about Obama and then added these other materials throughout.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Since faith in politics is a common theme in our elections I think it is important to cut through the rhetoric and really try to understand what the candidates believe. Obama himself believes that faith ought to influence governance, and Mansfield does a good job at describing the faith that Obama is bringing to the political arena. A faith that by Obama's own admission, should be considered in the election since it will influence the way he governs.
 The Faith of Barack Obama-well worth the read December 30, 2008
The Faith of Barack Obama
At first look I was not sure what to expect out of this book. Was it the unauthorized religious biography of President elect Obama or would it have enough dept to allow readers around the world a chance to understand this man's religion?
What I found was a solid offering from author Stephen Mansfield. Although a bit formulaic I found this book to be a quick and thought provoking read. It is short, less than one hundred and fifty pages and only six chapters.
Mansfield does a nice job of explaining the wonderful mixed-up upbringing of Barack Obama, Catholic primary school with Mass every morning, Islamic services on the weekends and a professed atheist as a mother, all things that have lead this man to be more than a little wary of organized religion. Most of one chapter dispels the current urban myth of Obama as a Muslim, now or in the past, it just never happened. In the early eighties his heart lead him to become a member of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright's, "United Church of Christ." The church fit him both personally and professionally and likely benefited him politically. This part of the book is a must read and a real eye opener to people from mainstream WASP environments. It does a fine job of explaining the feelings of a very educated, very complicated leader like Jeremiah Wright.
The fifth chapter of this small book is of interest to anyone that takes more than a passing interest in politics/religion in America. This chapter entitled, "Four Faces of Faith," focuses on the religious beliefs of the four big political players in this year's presidential race; President Bush, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and President elect Obama.
Although the book may not do anything to convince evangelical Christians that he is the right person to lead America it will at least give hope to the far right that he is not anti-Christian, anti-American or anti-white. The only bad taste left for the far right may be Mr. Obama's unyielding stance as a pro-choice liberal, a section that Mansfield covers very well in this book.
Overall this book is an excellent read, showing a side of our next president that most Americans will embrace. It is a truly open look at a man that has already lead a truly extraordinary life.
Illumination and Revelation December 28, 2008
Mansfield's work is engaging and illuminating. I learned so much about a candidate that I had closely followed. I learned more about the state of religion in post-modern America. I am grateful for all that Mansfield includes here on Jeremiah Wright and the state of the Black Church, providing a helpful corrective to the media persecution of one who has consistently preached the Gospel in the prophetic manner of the the original Jeremiah. Indeed, in order to understand Obama, a large section of this book is devoted to Trinity and the Rev. Wright.
What we discover is not a faith that fits with American civil religion, but one that is very familiar and understandable to those who are committed to Jesus Christ above everything- including country. It is no surprise to those who have followed Obama's candidacy that he fits with the Sojourners Red Letter evangelical Christians. It is a surprise to learn here that, until now, we've never had a President raised in a non-Christian home. Which means until now, we've never had a President who made a full-on conversion to Christianity, rather than simply being raised in the faith. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But it's rather mind-blowing to realize that, for the first time, we'll have a President who fully chose the faith of Christianity.
If you hate Obama or love him, if you are a woman of faith or a man who sneers at those under such delusion, you should read this book. This is about the man who is soon to be the most powerful man on Earth. It's not just about his private or personal faith. It's about the first Democrat who believes that faith should actually influence his leadership and decisions.
Presenting the Facts, Opinions Witheld December 15, 2008
This book came to me mistakenly and at a very bad time! I was supposed to review another book for Thomas Nelson but instead The Faith of Barack Obama ended up in my mail box.
It came two days after the election was over and I was still emotionally charged from what I considered a dire reflection on the state of American and American Christians. This was the last book I wanted to read, quite honestly. I had no desire to read some fluffed up book about a man who claimed Christianity but fore-went, what I consider a Biblical worldview in the meantime!
I must say, Stephen Mansfield tackled the faith of our new President-elect quite well. I really thought I was going to be told why I need to believe President-elect Obama is a Biblical world-view Christian and that there would be no objectivity whatsoever in the arugments presented. I was wrong. Although Mansfield indicates at the end of the book he writes from a more liberal standpoint, he represented the opinions and heart-held convictions of Biblical worldview Christans accurately in this book.
Mansfield did a wonderful job of presenting how Obama's held-to tenets affect both liberals and conservatives. He spoke of the concerns those of us in the conservative realm have concerning Obama's stance on women's choice and gay rights, and in the same breath, wrote of how refreshing Obama's belief system is to liberal Christians and those seeking healing due to years of racial oppression and prejudice.
The facts presented were done so objectively and in reporter-like fashion instead of based on the author's subjective opinion and I appreciated that as a reader. It takes true talent as an author to present facts as just that--facts, instead of emotionally charged opinions. Mansfield achieved that in this particular book.
 The Faith of Barack Obama December 9, 2008
I recently read the book "The Faith of Barack Obama" written by Stephen Mansfield. I found the book very intriguing. Mansfield records the faith journey of Obama very well.
Some of the key things that stood out in the book were the following:
- Obama's parental influence of faith came from an athiest mom and a step-dad who was a 'folk-religion' muslim.
- Obama's view on Chrisitianity is a little off key. He has some things that sound Christian, but on they other hand contradict the Christian teachings.
- Obama's mentor Jeremiah Wright, learned from some theologians who don't hold the Bible has the final and leading authority for theology and life....scary.
- Obama's church has some extreme's from preach Christ only for forgiveness of sin to Anti-America pushes.
- Jeremiah Wright seems like a pretty good guy at times, but on the other hand a creppy dude.
- Obama's 'salvation' experience doesn't seem to line up with the bible.
- Obama's mother was an atheist who said religion was a good guide, not to be taken serious.
- Stephen Mansfield wrote some of the chapters in a very intriguing way. He at times seemed to be writing a full chapter that was totally irrelevant to the book, but tied the entire chapter together with one simple sentence.
Thanks to these guys, I got a copy of the book for free. All they asked was that I do a simple review of the book.
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