This question has been asked a lot of times already.

My answer is still the same: I don't care what religion he is. He identifies as a Christian, so I consider him Christian.

Yeah but what is he really? I wonder which God he prays to??!

Why does it matter? Praying to a god doesn't automatically make you a good person. And it certainly doesn't automatically make you a good president.

Well, conservative logic says black, so he can't be Muslim.
I'm kidding.

But seriously, I don't care what he prays to. It really wouldn't change anything. I have no reason to believe he's lying about his religion.
If the aprehension is based on his name, I know a Muslim names Joseph. I'm pretty sure it's allowed.

I'm not saying it makes you a good president. But obviously the president of the united states of america can't pray to allah!

^Hussein is definitely a Muslim name, it's not like Joseph. He was also born in Kenya, where they're all muslims.

If he can't pray to Allah, can he pray to Odin? That would make me exponentially more comfortable, and I would probably give an interest in his religion if he did.

Seriously though, I don't understand why his religion matters at all. Or why his own words aren't good enough for people.

Also, 4/5ths of Kenyan's are link. There is no country in the world where everyone is all the same religion.

As in the pagan one? Of course not, that's like devil worship! he should be Christian like a true American- most Americans are Christian, and he should reflect that.
And of.course the presidents religion matters, if we have a muslim one he could try turn us to sharia! Or else turn us into easy prey, like obamas doing- he's slowly leading the country to communism and the countrys going to the dogs!

He was born in Hawaii (America), not Kenya.

Yet he doesn't show proper birth certificates to prove it.

That's false
link

So he's a muslim and a communist? Intriguing.

I don't know, and I don't think it matters.

Karbon, this is absurd. The man's a Christian, and has gone to church more than often enough in order to make that point quite clear. If you think he's some sort of secret Muslim, then nothing anyone says or does will dissuade you, mainly because you're willing to believe that in spite of all the evidence. You say his middle name is Muslim, but since when has a middle name ever prescribed a religion to the person who has it? I'm Jewish, but my middle name isn't, does that affect my Jewishness? Oh, and I love the sentiment that only a Christian can lead our country. Glad to know that everyone else is shit for leadership. After all, Christians have such a swell track record for leading nations *sarcasm*?

Even if he was a Muslim, I have to ask, why would that be so bad? Most of the Muslim world isn't exactly united. The largest group of Muslims in the world is in Indonesia, and they don't get along at all with the Arabic Muslims. I say this because it seems you're assuming some harm comes from a leader being Muslim. What harm? Do you think it would suddenly make him eager to sell our assets to Saudi Arabia? Do you think he would push to institute a new legal system in this country akin to Sharia Law? Amazing how he is taking his time getting to that. Three and a half years, he must really be playing a slow game.

@KarobonKopy:he should be Christian like a true American
Ah, the "no true Scotsman fallacy. No debate is complete without at least one popping up.
America is a melting pot. It's filled with different races, genders, backgrounds, political leanings and different religions. If you want our president to be "reflective" shouldn't he reflect the varied people in America? Shouldn't we be welcoming a president that is reflective of the not all of America is Christian fact?

And of.course the presidents religion matters, if we have a muslim one he could try turn us to sharia! Or else turn us into easy prey, like obamas doing- he's slowly leading the country to communism and the countrys going to the dogs!
I cannot tell if you are being serious or not. Honestly.
Do you know what the Sharia Law says? What it actually says, not what Fox News tells you? Do you know anything about Islam (again, what Islam is really about)? Do you know what communism really is? (Again, Fox News does not count as a credible source here.)

Also, while you're researching, you should probably look into other religions, or at least at how to interact with them without greatly offending them. Most Pagans won't be as "open-minded" to you calling them "devil worshipers" as I have. Nor will Muslims take very kindly to your wildly absurd claims about what their agenda is, and what they would do if one of them became president.
Just a friendly tip.

Most people in America are Christians. All the others are minorities. The president shouldn't be in the minority, he should be something that most people can connect with, and he should share the interests of that majority.
Sharia law is Muslim law from the kuran. It involves people HAVING to be Muslim! And I know what communism is, thanks. Just look at all the things he's doing,like Obamacare!

So what you're saying is that the President should never represent a minority? White, Christian males all? Why? Honestly, the President is supposed to represent the interests of the country as a whole. I don't think that includes leaving out every single minority. Also, that implies that being a part of a minority means you're unable to make decisions based on the best interests of the entire country, and that someone who is a part of the majority can do better. I'd say neither is true. But hey, if we're going with your idea, in a few years our president should be a Hispanic male. I'm sure you'd enjoy that.

If you know what communism is, you're doing a bad job of representing it. Sharia Law and communism don't really go together, in any way. If that's the only thing you know about Sharia Law, then bri-marie is absolutely right, you don't know anything about it beyond the talking points you've heard on Fox News (which are wrong). If you think Obamacare is communist, then you are huffing paint thinner, because that kind of hyperbole requires that you're high as a kite.

The president shouldn't be in the minority, he should be something that most people can connect with
Just because he's a minority, doesn't mean he's someone people can't connect with. He's black (which is a minority) and yet thousands of people can connect with him. I can connect more with him than Romey, despite the fact I'm white (and female).

And then you run into an issue of "who's the majority?" California has the biggest population. Should we only have presidents from California?
There are more women than men. Should we never again have a male president?
Protastant is the largest Christian branch. Should we never again have a Catholic president?

the interests of that majority.
The interests of the majority should be the interest of the country as a whole, which means letting the minorities have their say, being tolerant of those minorities, and trying to make the country function in a way that gives everyone as equal an opportunity if possible.
Religion does not have to play a part in that.
If the interest of the majority is to make sure everyone is the same religion (ironically, a religion that gives cis, white, rich men all the power), then I will definitely agree with you that this country is "doing to the dogs."

Sharia law is Muslim law from the kuran. It involves people HAVING to be Muslim!
Just look at all the things he's doing,like Obamacare!
All you're doing is proving my point. You don't know anything about Islam, communism, or the Sharia Law. (Fun fact: it's about to how conduct their personal religious lives. It's not a "law" in the sense that anyone must do any thing.)

Also, please explain how Obamacare is communist. Or why communism is a bad thing.

Here what I will say, most of my former Muslim friends I know who converted to Christianity changed their name to disassociated themselves from the Islamic religion. I am not saying he is a Muslim but why wouldn't he change his name

Why would he? When I converted from Christianity, I didn't change my name to disassociate myself from the faith I had come from. It's not a necessity to change your name when you change religions.

I have to be honest, this debate looks so phenomenally stupid from the outside. Sometimes I don't think Americans realise how insane it looks to the rest of the world to have people actually genuinely debating this topic.

It's one thing to be black, it's another to be Muslim! Haven't you realised that all the nations that are enemies of the USA are Islamic? Just imagine having the president on their side.
And I'm not watching Fox News, since I've been living in New Zealand the past month, that doesn't affect anything at all!
Of.course.communism is a bad.thing, it nearly.destroyed the world! The whole philosophy of it is.completely wrong anyway!
Obamacare is a tax for the people who have worked the hardest to give to the lazy to keep being lazy!
And yes, Hussein is a muslim name!,

@bri-marie, I am just saying it is interesting, most Muslims that convert to Christianity change their name esp if it has a Islamic name, just like People who convert to Judaism have a name that associates with the religion ie Madonna and her Jewish name "Easter". Its not uncommon to have a different names to associate or disassociate yourself from a culture or religion ie I have lots of Korean friends who have Korean names for living in Korea and English names for living in America.

"As in the pagan one? Of course not, that's like devil worship! he should be Christian like a true American- most Americans are Christian, and he should reflect that. "

Pagan, pagan, pagan, God is derived from pagan religions! ALL of them are! Whether you like it or not, every religious person is pagan.
Devil worship? Yeah, right. Devil worshipers haven't been known to kill thousands of millions of people in crusades.

He should be Christian? No, he should be himself. Just because a lot of people in this country are part of one religion doesn't mean this is a theocracy. We created this country to get away from theocracy.

And as for true Americans? Let's talk about that. Lemme guess, you probably don't remember Native Americans, do you? THOSE people are true Americans, we are not. We are immigrants who destroyed their land and their people.

And he should reflect a good person, and be a person, he shouldn't be the reflection of one group's views, that can be very bad or violent.

"Of.course.communism is a bad.thing, it nearly.destroyed the world! The whole philosophy of it is.completely wrong anyway! "

Dictatorships=/=communism.

Communism is an ideal situation with an unlikely chance of happening. And it's wrong only if you make it wrong. Equality for all doesn't sound bad at all.

You're in NZ?! Your perspective is very rare down here, so... good luck with that.

Technically, NZ is a form of enemy against the United States because of out anti-nuclear policy. We are, I think, the only country banned from docking at some specific ports because we refuse to allow US nuclear ships near us. Now, if you have been living here for a month, you'll note that we are not, by any stretch of the imagination, an Islamic country.

Me and my brother are both named after European cities (ie cities in Scotland etc), yet we were born and raised in NZ, by NZ born parents. So because my name comes from another country, does that mean I'm from that country?

Native Americans aren't the only true Americans, we've become American too!
Yes I'm in NZ, but I'm American, and I miss it :( and yes NZ is like one of the most liberal countries ever! It's ridiculous! The politicians and the voters here are so stupid!
What? Australia and NZ are both American allies, they support us against China, and they're great strategic places.
That's just a name like Paris or something- Hussein is in the kuran and only Muslims are named it.

"we've become American too! "

By killing and destroying everything in sight, yeah, how incredibly amazing. Now we're the laughing stock of the world. I am soooo impressed.

@misanthrope86, are you asking me? about the naming orgins

^ The naming thing was a general question to anyone wanting to answer.

Can I ask why are you in my "stupid" "liberal" country? You don't have to answer. I find that hilarious because we currently have the most conservative government in a long time that has systematically shut down various policies relating to health and welfare, and is in the process of selling off our assets to the highest bidder. This current government that you think is so stupid is the equilalvent of the American Republican party. So I totally agree: I think the current NZ government is leading us into a shit hole because they are focused on big business which has widened the gap between the rich and the poor dramatically recently, while homegrown issues like student debt, poverty and health are ignored.

NZ is not 100% allied with America because of the nuclear issue. America continues to throw a mega-tantrum about our refusal to accept your nuclear energy.

Again, your logic is that anyone named Adam or Eve or Mary or Joseph or Jesus or Peter or Eden or Mark or Paul or Zach or Isaiah or Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter must be a christian?

The NZ government? Conservative? Lol that has to be the funniest thing I've ever heard, your political spectrum is so screwed. All the people I meet here are liberal, like you obviously are.
No they're Western names, not specifically Christian names.

And how has that been bad for you in our country? You don't like your basic human rights? Too much health care for ya?
The biggest issue we have faced in years has been the economic collapse brought about by a conservative American government and its banking system.
I'm glad all the people you meet here are liberal. Maybe some will rub off on you and unclutter your brain of all this bizarre propaganda.

No, I declare that all names in the Bible are christian names and therefore all people with names from the Bible are christians and if your name isn't in the bible, you are clearly a dirty, stinkin' Atheist. That is, essentially, your logic here, correct?

Wow, does anyone smell that? I think it's the amount of bullshit on this page.

@KarbonKopy, it is very difficult to verify what religion someone is because they can say one thing but their actions may say something else, this is fair. I don't think President Obama is a Muslim because he says he is one, as the Spokesperson (that was voted from the people) he at least deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I put my two sense in because I think it is strange his name hasn't changed but by no means does him having a Hebrew and Muslim name doesn't make him unchristian. I think there are just as many crazy Christians as there are Crazy *insert religion* so I think that this a fair question because it is fun to analyze something but try to have some more respect for the CEO of our Country, provided that you are an American citizen

Yes it's been bad, we're taxed heaps when we can get our own doctor! And LOL the economic collapse was brought about my the LIBERAL democrat party, and LIBERALS everywhere.

Liberals cause cancer.*

* May or may not be true, but it is definitely true. I just made that up then based on ignorance, propaganda and something a homeless man yelled at me once.

@tiagih:most Muslims that convert to Christianity
No. Most Muslims you know change their names. But you don't know "most Muslims."

Its not uncommon to have a different names to associate or disassociate yourself from a culture or religion
Actually, it is uncommon. There are over 300 billion people in the U.S. Only link people change their name. But name change also includes
-marriage
-divorce
-transgender people wanting a new name to reflect their gender
-same sex partners wanting to share surenames
-an umarried couple wanted to hyphenate their names
as well as religious reasons.

Misanthrope I don't understand what you mean.

I was just sharing made-up fact. Ya know, just like you're doing. Making stuff up that incites hatred.

My facts aren't made up, and I'm sharing truths that all these liberal fanpoppers so blindly overlook.

Yeah, me too. Liberals cause cancer, goats wrote the bible and KarbonKopy is a liberal, atheist homosexual. These are all facts that you are blindly overlooking.

What are you implying? That I'm a liar??

I'm stating factual information. Those are facts and I stated them.

I"m not liberal or an atheist, that's really mean!! And I am proudly heterosexual because I'm a follower of God's Word.

Incorrect. You are blindly overlooking the facts.

@bri-marie, I am not limiting my information to just the USA and again its not uncommon. I am not dragging, or I don't mean to come off as proud but I lived in a few foreign countries, I know a little bit about names and how people will have a separate name for a religion or culture. Wither you are in Africa or Korea a name is a but more important, so therefore if a name associates your with a religion or culture that you don't like or want to stray from you have a separate name for that culture or religion.

There are books for days that explain how people make new "names" for themselves to identify with a religion or culture.

The U.S. isn't rare in the way name changes are handled. You don't how "the majority." You know the majority of the people you know.

In Korea, only [ur="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/­new­s/n­ati­on/­201­0/0­3/1­17_­627­54.­htm­l&q­uot­;]7­50[­/ur­l] thousand people have changed their name over the past ten years.

I couldn't find any statistics in Africa, but I did find that the people have to apply for their name to be changed and that link needs to feel the reason for the change is "good and sufficient", and they have the right to deny the change if they don't feel this way. Marriage, divorce, and surnames of minor children are pretty much the only reasons they accept.

Also, making a new legal name for yourself, and making a nickname for yourself are two very different concepts.

A legal is just he name you were birth with, but people can still sign for another name that doesn't have to be their birth name because it is still the same person but a different name.

Ok let me clear up the confusion, you have a birth name yes, its on everyone birth certificate (to those who have ones) however you can change you name in the sense of what the public can or want you want them to call you. Its not a legal change of name where you are almost a have to change your social security number but I guess the best way to explain is the way you put it a "nickname" but that is not really it either.

My point again is that most people who convert to a religion or culture have a name to associate to it. Ie my friend Kim, Soo-jin her Christian name is Mary because it is to associate her with that religion.
link:link

Names are a bit complex because you can have more than one, I am not referring to change you given name (the name you get when you are born) but most people but more a name you want people to know you by because of a change in lifestyle or you simply change or setting.

A legal is just he name you were birth with, but people can still sign for another name that doesn't have to be their birth name because it is still the same person but a different name.
Yes. That is called legally changing your name. Those aren't very common at all.

however you can change you name in the sense of what the public can or want you want them to call you.
Yes. i get that too. And those are extremely common. However, this pick is talking about the President of the United States. He can't be addressed by some random name he picked out of a book. (Especially given all the hype about where he was born and what religion he is.)

I am just saying I find it interesting he doesn't want to be called by a different name is all, esp if he has a Islamic middle name and is now christian

But, again, why would he want to be called by another name? He's obviously proud of where his family has come from, and what he has done with that name. Why change it?

@tiagih
Why are you implying that Obama converted to Christianity?
From what I've read, Obama grew up as a non practicing Baptist.

Considering that is full name is Barack Heussain Obama II, he's named such because he was named after his father and his father's father, and such. It's a name passed down through generations. If he changed it, it wouldn't be the same name anymore.

a name is more then just heritage its identity but i am not saying what he shouldn't or should, is or isn't I just think its interesting. Why would he?, well i guess an answer like goes back to biblical understanding.

Paul in the bible was first named Saul (Jewish name) but when he became a Christian he changed his name to Paul, same with Abram to Abraham, same with Jacob to Israel.

Its just typical Eastern culture, which alot of the popular religion's origin come from the Eastern societies.

Cassie-1-2-3, i don't him personally to give an honest answer all I know is what he tells us, i guess the answer is no. If he says he is a Christian then fine whatever, i won't question when someone became a Christian or not.
I am more Eastern and like I told Bri-Marie, a name is not just heritage but also identity. Yes he has a "II" in his name but he also has Hebrew and Arabian names, i just find it funny is all, some people who convert to a religion have a name they are called by to identity with that religion.

My name may be Muhammad Ali, but if I chose to convert, my given name my be Muhammad Ali but I would want people to call me what I identify myself with first like Mark Anthony if I was a Christian or something, its just a way of doing things

Why did I suddenly get the urge to shoot myself in the head?

Oh wait - it must be because I'm secretly a Muslim and has nothing to do with the utter facepalmfail of this absolutely irrelevant and ignorant question.

I tolerate many things, and conservatives have many good ideas and can be very intelligent and articulate. But this "debate" does not embody any of those virtues.

link, where are you when I need you?

As in the pagan one? Of course not, that's like devil worship!

Okay, now that is a bit offensive to me. So you're saying pagans worship the devil? WTF?! Most pagans don't even believe in the devil! I don't!

he should be Christian like a true American

WTF?! So you're saying Americans that aren't Christian aren't true Americans?! What the hell is wrong with you?! I'm a Pagan who has been in America since birth. Doesn't that make me just as American as you? And there are tons of Americans, true Americans, who are Jews, Athiests, Muslims, Pagans, Buddhists, Sihks, etc.

most Americans are Christian, and he should reflect that.
No, he should not be one just because most Americans are. He should be whatever he wants. That's why we have freedom of religion.

My first name, Sabrina, is just a name my parents thought was pretty, for my second I was named after my mother, the third after my aunt. The second and third are catholic names. My family has been catholic for generations: my parents aren't really practising and I am an atheist. But according to some people's logic I am catholic, because my names are. You are wrong and ignorant.

I think he already said he wasn't.

"Hussein is a muslim name"

Ehh, my given names are Chantal Claire Desirée. Those are all French. Yet, there's nothing French about me nor do I speak the language.

Besides he was born in Hawaii, not in the middle of Saudi Arabia or Indonesia or something.

^My sister's name is Chantal :)