Paulette: Now, as Barack Obama is inaugurated as president of the United States, do Christians feel the world could become a better place, or does a president always have to be pragmatic first and a man of faith second? Joining us now is Revd Neil Bishop from the Yorkshire and Humberside Faiths Forum and he’s based in Darnall. Morning, Neil.
Neil: Good morning.
Dean (Pepall): Morning, Neil.
Paulette: Now the whole world does seem optimistic, doesn’t it, about Barack Obama. Is that a feeling, is there a feeling of optimism in the faith communities?
Neil: I think there is, yes. I think it’s, um, I think it’s one of those moments that could be a turning point in, in history. I mean only time will tell, obviously, but – um – Martin Luther King said he had a dream that one day the – um – the content of people’s character would be more important than the colour of their skin and now the most important nation in he world has taken that on.
Dean: It’s an interesting situation this, isn’t it? We have a President just around the corner – er – that generally speaking has had, the election of whom has had, a favourable response around the world. The last two, with George W Bush, had the complete opposite effect, didn’t it? And yet he would profess himself to be a Christian and Barack Obama is a man of faith as well, they tell us. I don’t think you could become elected president if you said otherwise, but do you feel this man has the kind of Christian principles that people outside of America recognise?
Neil: Well, I think, I think what has impressed people about Barack Obama is that he obviously does believe in things like peace and dialogue. Er, somebody said that President Bush, I mean I don’t doubt his Christian convictions for a moment, but they said that he – he came alive when he was talking about conflict, you know. Er, and that’s when he was most articulate. Whereas one senses that Barack Obama is more interested in, in doing things a different way. I mean, I know their talking about smart power, I guess Christians are a bit worried when people talk about power at all, but smart power’s got to be better than brute power.
Paulette: But, from a Christian perspective do you realistically think that Obama as a, as a president of the United States is going to make a difference to the world in general?
Neil: Well, um there’s a long tradition within the Bible of looking to political leaders to make a difference and, and even talking about them as God’s – er – chosen leader at times. A guy called Cyrus, who was the leader of – um – the Iranian Empire, er it wasn’t called that, it was the Persian Empire then, um about 3,000 years ago. And, and the Bible says that this guy is our representative and he’s making a difference to the world. So there’s a long tradition within faith communities of looking to political leaders to make a difference. I think two areas where faith communities are expecting something to happen would be – um – Israel Palestine and global warming, two ares where – you know – there’s been significantly little progress over the past few years.
Dean: When we think of, er, a President of the United States he gets there by compromising all the way down the line really, doesn’t he? Because he has so many interests to try and represent. He eventually gets in, and when he gets in they start to tap on his shoulder and say, ‘Hey! Remember us?’ And very often that can conflict with the kind of things that you’ve been talking about, whether you’re talking about care of the planet, whether you’re talking about the Arab Israeli conflict, he’s – he’s in a lose lose situation in many respects.
Neil: Well, that’s true, but I think that’s why we have to keep on gently pressing for change and also praying for change.
Dean: Been good to talk to you. Thanks very much indeed for coming in.
Neil: It’s a pleasure.
Dean: And would you say, you know, that the views you’ve been talking about there are generally reflected in the – er – Yorkshire and Humberside faith communities that you come across? You do talk to a lot of people and I should imagine his election was something that many of you cottoned on to.
Neil: I think some of the people in some faith communities think less about politics than others but I think those people who do think about politics, yes, are certainly very hopeful that er that Barack Obama’s going to look for reconciliation
Dean: Thank you, we can but hope.
Paulette: Yes. You’ve got to hope.
Dean: Thank you very much, indeed. Neil Bishop, thank you.
