Obama: I'm a Christian

GREENSBORO — During a trip to the Bible Belt Wednesday, Barack Obama talked about his Christian faith.

In response to a question during a town hall meeting, Obama said he takes his religion seriously, Rob Christensen reports.

"I'm a Christian," Obama said. "What that means for me is that I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins. Throught his grace and his mercy and his power, through him I can achieve everlasting life."

Obama also said he believed in a gospel where it mattered what you did on earth, including helping the poor and being a good steward of the earth.

Obama said he believed that many Jews and Muslims and nonbelievers are good people whose beliefs should be respected. He added that his mother was a free thinker and a good person who did not share his religious beliefs.

"I'm sure she is in heaven," he said.

Obama said he hoped people would not be distracted from the important issues such as the war in Iraq by the controversial comments of his former pastor.

"My former pastor said some very objectionable things when I wasn't there on particular days," Obama said.

He noted that his pastor gave three sermons per week over 40 years. He said critics found five or six objectionable statements that have been played over and over again.