I am Indonesian and I am not a muslim, I am sure Obama also not a muslim!!!

Submitted by Olie (Indonesia), Aug 25, 2008 at 11:23

I am an Indonesian, where we usually had a very tolerant way of life. In my childhood, I used to live in a remote area to follow my father's job, there was no normal school there except madrasah. Then I attended that school also must attend the islamic study lesson.... That's why I can quote some Quran verses. Then later on, my father moved to other remote place where I attended catholic school, learnt catholic katekismus and got 9 mark!

But this is Indonesia, we can attend any religion lesson at school, but it does not meant we change the religion. I was born as a hindu, and whatever lesson I attended, still I am hindu an dnever converted to other religion. In teh past, Indonesians can say whatever their religion is without any problem, we students sometimes even attended mosque activities or chruch activities, but it does not meant we belong to these community. As a kid we can play around with others, as one of my muslim friend sometimes came to my house and join our family prayer, even eat our food with pork in it, and their muslim parents were not compalin at all. But recently there is a big change, most of muslim community seems nto similar to the past. They tend to be exclusive and put barrier to others faith.

So I believe, Obama also in similar situation when he lived in Indonesia. He did not pay attention or never care what his step parent put his religion in his school registration. As usually the parent will take responsibility to fill the form (not the child). His step father may just show off, that this Obama, even only his step son, but he was treated as his own son. Or maybe hi sstep father just try to avoid curiosity of community, when h eis a muslim, why this son is christian? So that migh tthe reason why hi sstep father put Obama religion was muslim, just to avoid curiosity. In the past, people in Indonesia can marry even with different religion. maybe during that time even his father is muslim but maybe his mother still a christian. During that time, it was not so important if people have different religion in marriage, but now Indonesia has a new rule, that in marriage both must have one religion.... Maybe this is one of the muslim way to preserve their population.

So, I guess during that time, Obama and his mother maybe still considering themself just to be tolerant to the step father of Obama, while deep down they still christian. So, I never believe Obama really picked up muslim teaching while he was in Indonesia.

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