Nearly a quarter of Americans think President Obama is a Muslim or a follower of Islam, according to a recent Newsweek poll. The poll, conducted August 25-26, suggests that 24 percent of Americans believe he is a Muslim, compared to 42 percent of respondents who believe he is a Christian.
Ten percent believe he was "something else" and 24 percent don't know. In April and June of 2008, a similar poll suggested that 13 percent of Americans believed that Obama is a Muslim.
"I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian," Obama told Christianity Today in 2008. "I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
A poll taken by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life before Obama's remarks related to the proposed mosque in New York City suggested that 18 percent believe he is a Muslim.
According to the latest Newsweek poll, 31 percent think it's definitely or probably true that Obama "sympathizes with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose Islamic law around the world."
President Obama told NBC's Brian Williams that there is a "network of misinformation" going on.
"I'm not gonna be worrying too much about whatever rumors are floating on out there," Obama said Sunday. "If I spend all my time chasing after that, then I wouldn't get much done."
Regarding those who suggest Obama wasn't born in the United States, he said, "I can't spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead."
Last week, World Vision president Rich Stearns, Sammy Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter were among the signatories to an open letter challenging the belief that the president is a Muslim.
George Barna responded to recent polls by suggesting he doesn't care whether Obama is a Christian or something else.
All things being equal, I'd probably prefer a genuine Christian to someone who is not a devoted follower of Christ. But, then again, all things are never equal and past experience has shown that being a committed Christian is not necessarily a recipe for successful political performance.
Charismareports that Rick Joyner is now on the fence.
Joyner said after reading Obama's books during the 2008 presidential election he was "95 percent" sure the president was a Christian, even if a "superficial" one. But now he's not so certain.
He said he is "about 55 percent persuaded that Obama is a Christian" and 45 percent convinced that he is possibly a Muslim. "And at times I have been more persuaded that he is a Muslim," he said.
On the other hand, pastor Thabiti Anyabwile posted Jimmy Kimmel's defense on his Gospel Coalition blog.
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