Robert Beckford on Barack Obama

Dr. Robert Beckford presented an excellent programme on BBC 2 this evening - God Bless you Barack Obama?

You can view it again here on iPlayer.

Beckford is someone who always stimulates thought, discussion, debate and much agreement in the Smith household. We have deeply appreciated many of his previous documentaries, particularly the recent Christianity: A History episodes and the Nativity Decoded last Christmas.

This documentary was clever and merged once again his own perspectives with some really interesting guests with varied opinions. To include the interviews with both Jeremiah Wright of Obama's previous church and the current (deluded and unable to answer a question straight) president of the Southern Baptist Convention was brilliantly contrasted and made his point about Obama socio-political and also liberal evanglical standpoint very well. Add into the mix the brilliant Jim Wallis and this is another excellent example of Beckford's accessible, contextual and relevant theological relationship with the media.

 It was a great programme charting the journey of Obama's faith and particularly looking at his social action and outreach initiatives in Chicago in his early political career. It was a fascinating insight into his application of what he knew in the civil rights movement, what he saw in the community's poverty and what he believed about his faith and what God had to say in it all.

Robert Beckford is also very cool - this evening's documentary sees him sporting a nose ring, shaved head and a very sleek brown coat with upturned collar. A contrast to his looks at greenbelt this year (or so Andy reports!) when he saw him in huge red hoody and dredlocks! Cool whichever look you prefer!

If you'd like to know more about Robert Beckford, check out this profile from the Guardian Higher Education supplement

Comments

[AlxR]

I must to confess to thinking Obama is the best American of all time. That hero-worship to one side I too liked the documentary. I found myself thinking how the southern baptist chap got to be so well fed and smug, and thought that must be the result of his radical gospel life! I was also impressed with the inclusion of the Rick Warren interview and the complete honesty and wisdom of Obama in answering the abortion question by saying that trying to work out when life starts was 'a question above my pay grade'. President Obama is the most powerful man on the planet and I believe he still considers the correct interpretation of the Bible, the way to live out his understanding of the truth, and the best way to serve God with his life are all not fixed points. His direction and vision grows and matures as he grows and matures and understands that some things truly are still above his pay grade. I think God isn't finished with Barack yet. I only hope and pray that he can maintain his wisdom and humility whilst weilding so much power.

[Johnny Laird]

Great programme. I was caught out by how much I warmed to previously demonzied Jeremiah Wright.

Robert Beckford always delivers and this doc was no exception.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Alice.

J

[Alice Smith]

AlxR - I thought you would appreciate the programme! Its stayed with me all night and today. The Southern Baptist guy seemed to speak for all Southern Baptists, but came across so smug and arrogant (and well fed, as you say) - whereas the examples of humility and the ability to say sorry I made a mistake came from Obama...but hes having a tought time with the healthcare reforms so that might make things shift a bit in Americas corporate mind? I laughed at the Southern Baptist guys comment that the healthcare reforms were too inclusive and radical...! Save us...

[Alice]

Johnny - thanks for your comment - and for your blog, just taken a peek. Jeremiah Wright was spot on and I have to confess I had believed everything I had heard about him second hand and had not done much investigating myself. He and Jim Wallis seemed to be on the same page - religious issues are political issues. Obama certainly understands that, despite the division in church and state. Thanks for stopping by!

[Paul]

Jeremiah Wright was certainly wilfully misrepresented by the US conservative evangelicals, and ignorantly misreported by the UK secular media, who have a religious literacy level just slightly above ground zero.

He is - from what I can tell - a conscientious pastor and preacher.