There's still lots of heat in the columns and blogs after last week's poll by the Pew Research Center on President Obama's religion.
In case you missed it, 18% of Americans surveyed said they think President Obama is a Muslim.
While many are still arguing that he is, or he isn't, or he appears to be, some are also questioning the point of the debate in the first place; this from an LA Times editorial ...
... in protesting too much that he is a Christian -- and one, moreover, who prays daily -- the White House may be encouraging the impression that there is a religious test for the presidency and that a Muslim would fail it.
The same piece points to part of the US Constitution to argue that any American of any religion should be able to hold any office.
If the President didn't say he was a Christian, but instead said he followed some other religion - including Islam - would that be a problem?
Clearly, the thrust of many of the articles that claim he is indeed a Muslim is that that is inherently a bad thing for the United States.
Others are not so much concerned about his beliefs as about whether he is being straight about his beliefs (and their evolution).
This blogger isn't a fan of Obama, but says the religion debate isn't helpful in solving the country's wider problems:
while we are arguing over is-he-or-isn't-he, we are losing jobs, going deeper in debt, destroying our health care system, and running our economy into the ground. There are plenty of excellent reasons to oppose this President and his policies, his religious affiliation, or lack thereof, is not one of them.
Finally, what about the way in which the other politicians are getting involved in this discussion?
Much has been made of leading Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's answer to the question of whether the President is a Muslim: "I take him at his word," said McConnell on MSNBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, which some interpreted as rather evasive.
Hillary Clinton once rebutted the same question about Obama with a similar caveat, "as far as I know".
Are politicians of all sides guilty of letting this linger for their own political ends? Or are journalists, bloggers and conspiracy theorists reading far too much into comments like these for their own ends?!
Tell us what you think - does President Obama's faith matter? Or are there more important discussions to be had in the United States?
Kwame Onyina Bbc should please know what to discuss on world service Why should obama's faith and news like a planned building near world trade centre be a bother to me in Ghana Or must we panic when USA snaps its fingers this is a pure local news
Comment sent via Twitter
18:16
114647650
@91بب±¬_WHYS Percentages do not matter - Obama was speaking to freedom of religion. We do not have a state religion.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
113631290
Ibrahim Diallo I see no reason why a person religion be questioned,i taught i America stands for freedom of religion and worship,will it be an issue if he was suspected of being with another faith?say buddhist or sikh?pls let the man be.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
113631290
Temitope Taiwo
It's not just about religious freedom; it's mainly about the fact that most of those clinging to the right of everybody in America having the freedom of worship will deny most Americans freedom of worship in their own native countries (reference to majority muslim nations). This is where the double standards are. Let them free up their countries to freedom of worship without hidden and very bad consequences like deaths and Americans will wholly accept the principle in full!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:10
113631290
Ramune Tamasauskaite I assume in a modern democracy state shall be separated from religion. Consequently no one should be concerned about Obama's beliefs.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Eddie Szeliga I'd like to remind the religious right in america of the constitution they often claim to hold so dearly of the 6th article of said constitution and specifically that congress shall make no law establishing a "religious test" for office.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Senyo J. Assor
Is this what's up for discussion today? His religion does not matter. What he does for the country matters. Maybe you could have two topics today. I am more interested in the manila case.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:08
113631290
Temitope Taiwo
He came in with the message of "change"; but the very first decisions he made put to doubt his understanding of America! His first appointment were of dubious people, again his professor friend and now, "ground zero"! He's either a great liar or an arrogant novice!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:08
113631290
Mohamed Keita
Obama like any other person has the total autonomy of his pesonal life,and if his religion has become a bigger concern to the extend of testing his FAITH, Well he should just say it,no matter what! Afterall it will not change things up!!! So let the BLACK MAN BE
Comment sent via Facebook
18:07
113631290
Zakaria Hajj
Religion doesn't matter when it comes to politics, after all we are all humans and we should not be concerned weather one is a muslim a christian or any other religion.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:06
113631290
Laura McCarty Personally, I couldn't care less as long as he lives a life which leads to leaving the world a better place than he found it. Our ability to be distracted by unimportant issues may be our undoing.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:03
113631290
Moses Modi
One cannot plz everyone and certainly Obama is no diferent.. People will try to find fault in everything he does and says..
Comment sent via Facebook
18:02
113631290
Bonnke Wordsmith Mutias
I think Obama has a right to choose and belong to any religion like any of us
Comment sent via host
17:59
113631290
We''re on air discussiing: Does Obama''s faith matter? Send us your comments via text, email or facebook.
Comment sent via SMS
17:56
108486501
If the religion of their president is that important to americans i find it extremely worrying. Surely there are more important things of concern. SimonFlorence Italy. Call me.
Does Obama's faith matter?
| Wednesday, 8 Aug. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
There's still lots of heat in the columns and blogs after last week's poll by the Pew Research Center on President Obama's religion.
In case you missed it, 18% of Americans surveyed said they think President Obama is a Muslim.
While many are still arguing that he is, or he isn't, or he appears to be, some are also questioning the point of the debate in the first place; this from an LA Times editorial ...
... in protesting too much that he is a Christian -- and one, moreover, who prays daily -- the White House may be encouraging the impression that there is a religious test for the presidency and that a Muslim would fail it.
The same piece points to part of the US Constitution to argue that any American of any religion should be able to hold any office.
If the President didn't say he was a Christian, but instead said he followed some other religion - including Islam - would that be a problem?
Clearly, the thrust of many of the articles that claim he is indeed a Muslim is that that is inherently a bad thing for the United States.
Others are not so much concerned about his beliefs as about whether he is being straight about his beliefs (and their evolution).
This blogger isn't a fan of Obama, but says the religion debate isn't helpful in solving the country's wider problems:
while we are arguing over is-he-or-isn't-he, we are losing jobs, going deeper in debt, destroying our health care system, and running our economy into the ground. There are plenty of excellent reasons to oppose this President and his policies, his religious affiliation, or lack thereof, is not one of them.
Finally, what about the way in which the other politicians are getting involved in this discussion?
Much has been made of leading Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's answer to the question of whether the President is a Muslim: "I take him at his word," said McConnell on MSNBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, which some interpreted as rather evasive.
Hillary Clinton once rebutted the same question about Obama with a similar caveat, "as far as I know".
Are politicians of all sides guilty of letting this linger for their own political ends? Or are journalists, bloggers and conspiracy theorists reading far too much into comments like these for their own ends?!
Tell us what you think - does President Obama's faith matter? Or are there more important discussions to be had in the United States?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Kwame Onyina Bbc should please know what to discuss on world service Why should obama's faith and news like a planned building near world trade centre be a bother to me in Ghana Or must we panic when USA snaps its fingers this is a pure local news
Comment sent via Twitter
@91بب±¬_WHYS Percentages do not matter - Obama was speaking to freedom of religion. We do not have a state religion.
Comment sent via Facebook
Ibrahim Diallo I see no reason why a person religion be questioned,i taught i America stands for freedom of religion and worship,will it be an issue if he was suspected of being with another faith?say buddhist or sikh?pls let the man be.
Comment sent via Facebook
Temitope Taiwo It's not just about religious freedom; it's mainly about the fact that most of those clinging to the right of everybody in America having the freedom of worship will deny most Americans freedom of worship in their own native countries (reference to majority muslim nations). This is where the double standards are. Let them free up their countries to freedom of worship without hidden and very bad consequences like deaths and Americans will wholly accept the principle in full!
Comment sent via Facebook
Ramune Tamasauskaite I assume in a modern democracy state shall be separated from religion. Consequently no one should be concerned about Obama's beliefs.
Comment sent via Facebook
Eddie Szeliga I'd like to remind the religious right in america of the constitution they often claim to hold so dearly of the 6th article of said constitution and specifically that congress shall make no law establishing a "religious test" for office.
Comment sent via Facebook
Senyo J. Assor Is this what's up for discussion today? His religion does not matter. What he does for the country matters. Maybe you could have two topics today. I am more interested in the manila case.
Comment sent via Facebook
Temitope Taiwo He came in with the message of "change"; but the very first decisions he made put to doubt his understanding of America! His first appointment were of dubious people, again his professor friend and now, "ground zero"! He's either a great liar or an arrogant novice!
Comment sent via Facebook
Mohamed Keita Obama like any other person has the total autonomy of his pesonal life,and if his religion has become a bigger concern to the extend of testing his FAITH, Well he should just say it,no matter what! Afterall it will not change things up!!! So let the BLACK MAN BE
Comment sent via Facebook
Zakaria Hajj Religion doesn't matter when it comes to politics, after all we are all humans and we should not be concerned weather one is a muslim a christian or any other religion.
Comment sent via Facebook
Laura McCarty Personally, I couldn't care less as long as he lives a life which leads to leaving the world a better place than he found it. Our ability to be distracted by unimportant issues may be our undoing.
Comment sent via Facebook
Moses Modi One cannot plz everyone and certainly Obama is no diferent.. People will try to find fault in everything he does and says..
Comment sent via Facebook
Bonnke Wordsmith Mutias I think Obama has a right to choose and belong to any religion like any of us
Comment sent via host
We''re on air discussiing: Does Obama''s faith matter? Send us your comments via text, email or facebook.
Comment sent via SMS
If the religion of their president is that important to americans i find it extremely worrying. Surely there are more important things of concern. SimonFlorence Italy. Call me.