Cynics may think that Senator Obama left his church of twenty years for political reasons.

Realists may believe that he has not changed his mind or politics just his style. Religion, like a suit of clothes, has its central purpose in making the wearer look good. The United Church of Christ was a good suit for the Senate, but not for the White House.

But why believe this? It is easy to think of five different reasons, much more familiar to Church goers, for Senator Obama leaving a church he so eloquently defended in a speech (which I really liked) just a few months ago.

While not probable, they are possible . . . and it is the virtue of a certain kind of politics that it clings to the possible even when it becomes very unlikely. For those leftists I offer the following to give them hope in the goodness of their candidate who is hard to love if he claims he will defend a thing only to abandon it for political convenience:

It is possible . . . that Obama left his church, because, as he grew older, he could not see the words on the power point projector used at Trinity. He complained privately, but has finally decided to transfer to Willow Creek which has technology decidedly kinder to aging Boomer eyes.

It is possible . . . that Obama left his church, because a new family came and sat in his pew during one of the long stretches of time (including every time Rev. Wright ever preached a controversial sermon) that he missed Sunday morning service. Any long time church attender knows that some Christians cannot stand to sit in a different pew. They would rather move churches than seats.

It is possible . . . that Obama left his church, because the quality of food served at pot lucks declined. One can stand a pastor saying most anything, including d-America, but when Sister Jones brings her strange family casserole one time too many, that is the moment to find a new place of worship.

It is possible . . . that Obama left his church, because there is a new, much trendier, pastor at some other place of worship in Chicago. We all know Christians who pick churches as if it is an American Idol contest . . . which for them it probably is . . . church being mostly about finding a social group fitting their own vision of American culture and finding a new idol.

It is possible . . . that Obama left his church, because he has become a Mormon. Seeing how well Mormonism is treated in US politics based on how Mitt Romney was treated by the press and left, Senator Obama decided to cut into John McCain’s staggering Utah lead for the all important electoral votes of what is now the new swing state.

I hope this helps those worried about the reasons for Senator Obama’s change of heart.