Years ago, Orson Scott Card gave a wonderful speech he called Secular Humanist Revival.  It was delivered the way that a stereotypical fire-and-brimstone Protestant revival meeting was given– lots of audience interjections, (“Hallelujah!”  “Amen!”), lots of repeated phrases (“Can you hear me?  Am I talking loud enough?”), that sort of thing.  One of the chief points Scott made (and it kind of slipped past the audience), was that when emotional topics are brought to the fore, it’s important to still engage your brain in the conversation.  This point was made effectively– after preaching to the choir about the perils of teaching creationism in schools, and the dangers of school-sponsored prayer, and after the audience was excited and emotional, Scott said, “DO YOU BELIEVE!”

Audience replies, “YES!”

And Scott says, “NO!  NO!  You haven’t listened at all!  When someone asks you if you believe, the proper response is, “IN WHAT?”

Obama has conducted much of his campaign like a revival meeting.  His cadence and his delivery when speaking is very reminiscent of the type of preaching most people in America associate with charismatic black churches.  It’s extremely effective– on a level deeper than intellectual, Obama has connected to many voters in a way that is comforting, uplifting, and empowering.  He’s been ribbed for having a bit of a Messiah complex; and certainly, his campaign has practically nominated itself as the One, True, Way out of This Mess.

It may be– but part of me, when Obama asks me to believe, still thinks, “In what?”

I don’t have the same problem with Mccain, because I haven’t considered voting for him ever.