Obama inauguration: Speech contained godly references

Stephen Mansfield, author of the book “The Faith of Barack Obama,” predicted as much.

Here are some examples from Obama’s inauguration speech:

1. “We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

There are several allusions to Scripture in this passage of Obama’s text. One that stands out is a specific reference to  1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

Also: Obama’s text indicates a belief that there is a “God-given promise” of equality and freedom for everyone. 

2. “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every End of this Earth; …” 

Obama acknowledges that America is a country that includes both people of faith and those who do not ascribe to faith beliefs.