was indeed a ballsy thing to say and drew some condemnation from the fundies. I've always suspected he might be a non-believer just based on how I saw my own children grow up. I'm an atheist and my wife has always been a Christian but not always a church-goer. We agreed early on to not press our philosophy on our children but there was nothing wrong with exposure and honesty.

Both chose atheism. One of Obama's parents was an atheist (I believe it was his mother) and I feel that without the peer pressure of a Christian, Muslim, Jewish home, atheism is a natural response for a questioning and bright child.

My own early doubts were always quashed by the fact that I considered my mother (who seemed amazingly intelligent yet was deeply religious) to be a role model. For me to question her beliefs was naturally to question her own ability to analyze. My father was not the intellectual in the house and could care less about church.

It stood to reason that there must be something to the whole religion thing if the more intelligent and caring of my parents embraced it. After my mother died, I went into faith even deeper and began to learn more of its origins and see more of its dark side. It didn't take long before I really began to question.

If Obama is a closet atheist, I'm a bit bugged that he chooses to play the religious charade but at the same time, I understand it. It's much like jury nullification, the right for a jury to completely disregard a broken law if they feel justice is served by not convicting in extraordinary circumstances. In this case, the expectation in this country that no atheist may be part of our higher political offices is not only an injustice but an abomination of reason and a slap to our Constitution.

At the same time he could very well be what he says he is, a believer in a higher power and a follower of Christ. That he acknowledges his stated belief is not the only acceptable one is a huge step forward.

Art