Paul Johnson,
Posted on 11/18/2005 6:56:33 AM PST by yankeedame
Current Events
Prayer in the White House
Paul Johnson,
11.28.05, 12:00 AM ET
President Bush has recently stated that he prayed to God for advice on his Iraq policy. Should an American President pray before taking important risks? Is a God-fearing and God-consulting President more desirable than an entirely secular one who is guided purely by expert advice and realpolitik?
As Sherlock Holmes would say, "These are deep waters, Watson." Most American Presidents have believed in God and prayed accordingly in moments of crisis. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, was not a regular Christian by most standards, but the record suggests that under the terrible weight of his responsibilities during the Civil War he acquired practical faith. He certainly believed he was guided: "I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not to do a particular thing, he finds a way of letting me know it." He also said, "If it were not for my firm belief in an overriding Providence, it would be difficult for me, in the midst of such complications of affairs, to keep my reason in its seat. But I am confident that the Almighty has his plans and will work them out; and ... they will be the wisest and the best for us."
On the Right Side Throughout the Civil War both sides claimed the Lord was on their side, and the confident statements by bishops and other religious leaders from the North and the South now make for disturbing reading. But when Lincoln was asked if he thought God was on his side, he reversed the question. "I am not at all concerned about that," he replied, "for I know the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." That is the way a truly religious man--and a true statesman--should put it.
Another interesting case of presidential behavior occurred as a result of the Spanish-American War. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris on Dec. 10, 1898, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the U.S. (receiving $20 million in return). The acquisition of the Philippines--with its 7 million inhabitants, 85% of whom were Roman Catholics--placed or threatened to place the U.S. in the invidious position of running a colonial empire. President William McKinley, who on the whole favored keeping the Philippines (the Senate ratified the treaty by a narrow vote), resolved his dilemma by putting it into a religious context: "I am not ashamed to tell you, Gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance that one night. And one night later it came to me this way. ... There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos and uplift and civilize ... them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died."
President Bush is a rather different case than was McKinley. He is a born-again Christian, who went through a personal crisis in early middle age and solved it by fervently embracing evangelical Christianity--with, it is believed, the advice and encouragement of the Reverend Billy Graham. As a result Bush is unusual, by presidential standards, in his attitude toward religion.
On Solid Ground In December 1999, during a presidential debate among the Republican candidates, Mr. Bush was asked to name the philosopher who had most influenced him. This question is often put to leading politicians (as well as other celebrities), and it usually produces insincere, fatuous or confused replies. Many political figures tend to waffle, invent or even lie. "Plato and Aristotle" is one reply I've heard. "Socrates" is a common response. Among American philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and William James rank high. But all these names are given because they are safe, respectable and won't land a politician in hot water. George Bush, however, replied, "Christ. Because He changed my heart." He added a moment later, "When you accept Christ as the Savior, it changes your heart. It changes your life. And that's what happened to me."
Now this was a dangerous reply, because it could have alienated many who don't want the White House occupied by a Bible-thumping, evangelical Christian. But the reply also had the power to attract many others, for it marked Bush as a practicing churchgoer, as a man who, once in office, would stick to Christian values.
Bush's reply was obviously sincere, spontaneous and true. As for his praying to God before making key decisions, I think one has to place this practice in the context of his life. Whether one believes in God or not, and whether one likes Bush or not, there can be no doubt that his acquisition in midlife of a fervent faith has made him a better human being--one more suited to performing useful service to the community and to holding office. That being so, it is right and logical that President Bush should conform to the spirit of his new persona and consult the God to whom he owes so much before taking any momentous step.
I would rather have a leader who always prays than one who never prays. I would rather have a President who is a man of strong faith than one who is of no faith or a weak faith or one who has lost, repudiated or become ashamed of his faith--as, I think, would most other people.
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Paul Johnson, eminent British historian and author; Lee Kuan Yew, minister mentor of Singapore; and Ernesto Zedillo, director, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, former president of Mexico; in addition to Forbes Chairman Caspar W. Weinberger, rotate in writing this column.
To see past Current Events columns, visit our Web site at www.forbes.com/currentevents.
So he prays to God, what's wrong with that? He listens to his advisers, and the people around him, and I'm sure he knows what Americans want, so whats wrong with asking God for a little help? I do it all the time...
Not to the moonbat leftists....JPG)
Should an American President pray before taking important risks?
Well, let's see. Let's ask the atheists? Should the President pray before taking important risks?
Answer: What the hell business is it of anyones??????? Are they going to go inside his head and take out his prayer
Are they going to require him to sign a pledge he wont pray
Are they going to render it a "Prayer Crime"
What an assinine question. If more people prayed before doing something their lives might be better.
No wonder the world is in the chaotic state itis. Thank God for President Bush and all of the rest of us who pray. We pray for everyone even those who dont' want prayer. But, that's the great thing about it...it's powerful and it can't be stopped. :)
holder of sign
Stupid beyond belief.
Just imagine if
the President connected
to an E machine
before deciding . . .
Would the secular people
be happy with that?
I love the fact that my fairly radical homosexual nephew can't keep me from praying for him, that he'll renounce the lifestyle he's chosen. What a great God!
Yep, no one can stop the power of prayer. :)
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