The National Prayer Breakfast Controversy: Obama is Smart, but is he Wise?

The Torch Leadership Foundation's Cross in Culture Podcast #15

On last Thursday, President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast. During his speech, he outlined three things he believed everyone should keep in mind as we face the ongoing war that is being waged by Islamic extremists in the Middle East and North Africa who are also targeting Europe (in fact, another Paris, France-like terrorist attack took place at the time of this recording in Copenhagen, Denmark) and these same Islamic extremists have threatened to carry out attacks in America. Those three things are: humility about matters of faith, maintaining the separation between religion and government; and a commitment to the Golden Rule -- treating others as we wish to be treated.

However, it was his remarks which seemed to draw a comparison between Christianity and ISIS that caused the most controversy. President Obama said, "Lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ." Many Christians and conservatives took issue with this comparison. Some believe that President Obama was comparing Christianity to ISIS which they contend is inherently violent.

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