- Playing
- God and Obama
- From
- Carnegie Council
Created and managed by Carnegie Council Senior Program Director and Senior Fellow William Vocke, Global Ethics Corner is a weekly 90-second segment devoted to newsworthy ethical issues.
Also in the Global Ethics Corner series
Global Ethics Corner: Who Does Everest Belong To?
(01:59)
From: Carnegie Council
A fight on Mt. Everest between Nepalese Sherpas and European climbers has again raised questions about tourism and the world's tallest mountain. Should the Sherpas, who live ...
Global Ethics Corner: Food for Peace?
(02:12)
From: Carnegie Council
Food for Peace, which ships American farm products to developing nations, has long been criticized for crowding out local agriculture. Now, to the dismay of the U.S. farming ...
Global Ethics Corner: Should Childhood Vaccinations Be Mandatory?
(02:05)
From: Carnegie Council
Childhood vaccination programs have been met with skepticism and hostility in the U.S. Some oppose them on religious grounds, while others worry about preservatives. Do ...
Thought Leader: Dan Ariely
(03:41)
From: Carnegie Council
"The good news is that we're figuring out some of the big mistakes people are making, and if we figure out in time, we can try to fight that and actually do things in a ...
Global Ethics Corner: Was the Boston Lockdown Justified?
(02:09)
From: Carnegie Council
As authorities searched for one of the Boston Marathon bombers, the city of Boston and its suburbs were put on lockdown. Was this action justified? Does this set a dangerous ...
Global Ethics Corner: What’s Going on in Guantanamo Bay?
(02:02)
From: Carnegie Council
With over half of the detainees on a hunger strike, tensions are worse than ever at Guantanamo Bay. Is it finally time for the United States to close this detention camp? Or ...
Thought Leader: Srdja Popovic
(02:45)
From: Carnegie Council
"There are two kinds of countries in this world, the good ones and the bad ones. The good ones I count as the countries where the governments are afraid of their people. The ...
Global Ethics Corner: Kenyan Election Controversy
(02:05)
From: Carnegie Council
After a controversial election, Kenya has inaugurated Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, as its new president. Should Kenya, a hub ...
Global Ethics Corner: Are We Good Because of God?
(01:52)
From: Carnegie Council
A new book claiming that bonobos can feel empathy suggests that morality may be biological. If this is the case, what purpose does religion serve? Is it still a useful tool ...
Global Ethics Corner: Who Benefits Most From Wearable Computers?
(01:56)
From: Carnegie Council
Apple and Google will, reportedly, both soon be selling computers that you can wear. But will the trove of details that these devices will be able to collect be an invasion ...
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Created and managed by Carnegie Council Senior Program Director and Senior Fellow William Vocke, Global Ethics Corner is a weekly 90-second segment devoted to newsworthy ethical issues.
Transcript
For President Obama, what is the relation between religion and politics?
This issue ignited arguments during the campaign, given his middle name, and his relationship with Reverend Wright.
On entering office Obama's religious identity was not as distinct as his predecessor's. The President's views place him in the arc of Reinhold Niebuhr, a favorite of Christians who emphasize pluralism and social justice over any doctrine or sect.
Nevertheless, in the President's first high-profile speeches he spoke of his Christian faith and other faiths in more explicit language and greater depth than expected. In Cairo, he concluded with direct quotes from the Koran, the Talmud, and the Bible.
His Nobel lecture reflected the transcendent powers of religion, yet emphasized its limits, saying, "…no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then...
Read the full transcript
Additional Credits
William Vocke- Producer, Program Director, Writer and Voice Talent
Deborah Carroll- Production Manager
Robert Smithline- Editor
Terence Hurley- Editor
Ina Pira- Media Coordinator
Related Website
