During Barack Obama's presidential campaign and following his election as President of the United States, scrutiny has at times focused on his religious beliefs. While Barack Obama is a Christian, some people have attempted to push conspiracy theories accusing him of hiding his true religious beliefs and claiming that he secretly follows another religion besides Christianity. Others have accused him of being the Antichrist from Christian theology. Like the Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories, these claims are quite varied and sometimes contradict each other, but are always used to attempt to undermine Obama's eligibility as president.
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Conservapedia promotes the theory that Obama is "likely the first Muslim President", citing a number of pieces of "evidence" in its article[1]. It also claims that Obama is simultaneously a communist and a liberal elitist.
Mark Williams, a leader in the Tea Party movement, described Obama as an "Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug" in remarks on his blog; Williams was subsequently confronted about the statements when he appeared on an episode of Anderson Cooper 360. [2]
A study commissioned by the University of Georgia in 2008 showed that the number of Americans surveyed who claimed Obama was Muslim was roughly 20.2% in September 2008 and 19.2% in November 2008. The study found that respondents who were younger, less politically involved, less educated, more conservative, and believed in Biblical literalism were more likely to give incorrect answers in November of that year. According to Professor Barry Hollander, “These are groups of people who are generally distrustful of the mainstream media...So therefore journalists telling them that this is not true could actually have the opposite effect and make them more likely to believe the rumor.” [3]
A chain e-mail circulating during the presidential campaign claimed that Barack Obama, following his election to the U. S. Senate, took his oath of office on the Qur'an (spelled "Kuran" therein) rather than a Bible. This claim is false; Obama was sworn into office on a Bible, which he owned. The claim may have been inspired by U. S. Representative Keith Ellison from Minnesota, who used a Qur'an that had belonged to Thomas Jefferson in the photo-op re-enactment of his oath of office. [4]
Another chain e-mail that circulated during the campaign claimed that "Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world." In fact, the school Obama attended in Indonesia was a public school where students wore Western clothing. Although Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, Obama's school was described by the Chicago Tribune as "so progressive that teachers wore miniskirts and all students were encouraged to celebrate Christmas." Obama had also attended a Catholic school in Indonesia for several years, and was not raised in any particular faith tradition. [5]
One chain e-mail claimed that President Obama's middle name is Mohammed or Muhammed; this is not and has never been true. [6][7]
Ayman al-Zawahiri, a senior leader of al-Qaida, posted an audio message on the Internet in which he questioned Obama's faith, saying "You have chosen to stand in the ranks of the enemies of Muslims and pray the prayer of the Jews, although you claim that your mother is Christian." In the message, Zawahiri also labeled Obama a "House Negro" and compared him unfavorably to Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X. [8]
During the presidential campaign, one chain e-mail accused Barack Obama of secretly being the Antichrist from the Bible:
"According to The Book of Revelations the anti-christ is: The anti-christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything is it OBAMA??"
In fact, the word Antichrist does not appear in the Book of Revelation (though it does appear in 1 John and 2 John); the Book of Revelation instead refers to The Beast. The Book of Revelation never mentions the Beast's age, nor does it include any references to "Muslim descent" (this would be impossible, as Islam did not exist at the time the Bible was written). [9]
Comedian Victoria Jackson, who became famous on Saturday Night Live, claimed on her own website that Obama had "traits that resemble the anti-Christ". [10]
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