Do your homework; Obama is Christian

We are entering another knockdown, drag-out political season when matters that are not simple are portrayed in a few words and busy people take cues from headlines and punch lines only.

I am hoping voters won't accept Glenn Beck's or Cal Thomas' description of Barack Obama's religious faith. Obama has shared that himself in a beautiful way in the sixth "Faith" chapter of his book, "The Audacity Of Hope." It was an easy read in the large print edition from my local library.

Our president explains that his mother accepted core values of Christianity but had experienced organized religion as often closed-minded and cruel while pretending to be righteous. She became an anthropologist, a U.S. citizen became a citizen of the world, working to alleviate poverty and injustice. She taught him "values that many Americans learn in Sunday school: honesty, empathy, discipline, delayed gratification, and hard work. But something was lacking.

In 1985 he moved to Chicago to work with black pastors organized to assist laid-off workers. Attending Trinity United Church of Christ he sensed that Christ offered hope and dignity to people struggling in difficult circumstances. He accepted the need for forgiveness of sins and assistance with daily living.

In time he chose to be baptized and he writes, "... kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth."

Explore the website of the church he joined at www.tucc.org. It is a sister church to mine, First Congregational Church of Elgin www.fcc-elgin.org. Declare your independence, investigate for yourself. Respect a man who is open about his life, feelings and reasons for wanting to lead.

Ellen McDonald

South Elgin