Posted on 11/01/2003 6:34:32 PM PST by Pokey78
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
President George W. Bush stood before a cheering crowd at a Dallas Christian youth centre last week, and told them about being 'born again' as a Christian.
'If you change their heart, then they change their behaviour. I know,' he said, referring to his own conversion, which led to him giving up drinking.
Behind Bush were two banners. 'King of Kings', proclaimed one. 'Lord of Lords', said the other. The symbolism of how fervent Christianity has become deeply entwined with the most powerful man on the planet could not have been stronger.
Few US Presidents have been as openly religious as Bush. Now a new book has lifted the lid on how deep those Christian convictions run. It will stir up controversy at a time when the administration is keen to portray its 'war on terror' as non-religious.
The book, which depicts a President who prays each day and believes he is on a direct mission from God, will give ammunition to critics who claim Bush's administration is heavily influenced by extremist Christians.
Bush is already under fire for allowing the appointment of General William Boykin to head the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Boykin, who speaks at evangelical Christian meetings, once said the war on terror was a fight against Satan, and also told a Somali warlord that, 'My God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.'
Bush has also been accused of a 'creeping Christianisation' of federal government programmes. In September, the government made more than $60 billion available for religious charitable groups. Critics say the groups will be able to use the cash to promote their religion. One group that benefited from previous grants was an Iowa prison project that entitled inmates to televisions, private bathrooms and computers - in return for Christian counselling.
Now Bush is likely to face intense scrutiny. The book, The Faith of George W. Bush, was written by Christian author Stephen Mansfield. It details numerous incidents where Bush's faith has been shown to be at the centre of his political thinking.
Among Mansfield's revelations is his insistence that Bush and Tony Blair have prayed together at a private meeting at Camp David. Blair has previously denied this.
Mansfield, however, says that, while there were no witnesses, aides were left in little doubt as to what had happened. He told The Observer: 'There is no question they have shared scripture and prayed together.'
The book also shows that in the lead-up to announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Bush told a Texan evangelist that he had had a premonition of some form of national disaster happening.
Bush said to James Robinson: 'I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it.'
In another incident, Mansfield recounts how, on Palm Sunday last year, Bush was flying back from El Salvador aboard the presidential jet Air Force One and seemed to be destined to miss church.
However, knowing that Bush hated to miss a service, some officials suggested they worship in the air. Bush agreed, and soon 40 officials were crammed into the plane's conference room. The service was led by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, while the lesson was read by close Bush aide Karen Hughes.
The author also proves anecdotes about Bush that had previously been dismissed as false. Rumours that he had prayed with a young soldier who had lost a hand in Iraq were thought to be myth, but Mansfield tracked down witnesses and a hospital chaplain who said that Bush had prayed with the man, ending by kissing him on the forehead and telling him he loved him. 'For me, that sums up Bush's beliefs. He really believes Jesus is taken up in his heart and soul,' Mansfield said.
· A woman rammed a car carrying her children, aged three, five and eight, into a building where Bush was campaigning in Mississippi yesterday. Betina Mixon, 29, was dragged away at gunpoint and charged with aggravated assault.
LOL! Case in point: Bush to visit state amid controversy
| God Put Bush In Charge, Says General Hunting Bin Laden ^ |
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| Posted by blam On 10/16/2003 8:05 PM CDT with 80 comments The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10-17-2003 | David Rennie God put Bush in charge, says the general hunting bin Laden By David Rennie (Filed: 17/10/2003) The general leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein has publicly declared that the Christian God is "bigger" than Allah, who is a false "idol", and believes the war on terrorism is a fight with Satan, it emerged yesterday. Investigative reporters from the Los Angeles Times and NBC television have dug up two years' worth of seemingly incendiary comments from Lt Gen William "Jerry" Boykin, the newly promoted deputy undersecretary of state of defence for intelligence. Gen Boykin has repeatedly told... |
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Oh yes, Blair, another man of faith, who prayed with Bush (oh the horror), is not a religious nutter either. He too is calm and composed and focused on furthering what he in good conscience thinks is good for his nation, and for the planet as a whole. In that sense, while Blair is to the Left of Bush on some issues (I am kind of in-between the two), he and Bush are sympatico.
My suggestion to the author is to chill out, and move on to some other marketing plan for self attention and aggandizement. The dog he has chosen as his vehicle won't hunt.
What I do fear are intolerant anti-religious bigots. That is how I see it, from this direction.
Recent Presidents would be a more accurate statement. Washington and Lincoln certainly were. Probably most of the early US presidents were.
I'm sorry, but I am trying to understand exactly what an extremeist Christian would be. And after that, I am trying to understand why someone would think that was a bad thing.
Exactly what they should have been doing!
It is a mark of how secular anad anti-religious much of the world has become, that George Bush who speaks his faith about the same as Eisenhower, is suddenly seen as some kind of nut case.
I am comforted that President Bush is a normal person, who lives his faith as best he can while not hitting people over the head with it. Those who think he is a religious zealot are way too paranoid about their own faith (or lack of it) in my opinion.
I am heartened that you see things the same way.
That should probably be James ROBISON, Paul.
http://www.christianity.com/CC/article/0%2C%2CPTID309008|CHID570894|CIID1459614%2C00.html
There is a right time and place for this President, and I believe God has a larger purpose for GW. One that has to do with the war on terrorism and the enemies of Israel.
Who brought his pregnant mistress with him.
The hypocrisy of this crowd just astounds me.
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