During the National Prayer Breakfast, President Barack Obama spoke about violence that has been committed in the name of faith. The President said that both Christians and Muslims were guilty of justifying acts of violence with religion, a statement that has some raising eyebrows. 

 

 

 

Obama said, “Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. Unless we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.”

 

He also referenced violence recently committed by Muslims including the Pakistan school attack, Charlie Hebdo shootings, war in Syria, killing of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, and rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. 

 

“It’s not unique to one group or one religion,” the President said. “There is a tendency in us—a sinful tendency—that can pervert and distort our faith.”

 

Christians News Network reports that the response to Obama’s words has not been all positive. Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said, “The president’s comments this morning at the prayer breakfast are the most offensive I’ve ever heard a president make in my lifetime. He has offended every believing Christian in the United States. This goes further to the point that Mr. Obama does not believe in America or the values we all share.”