Bush Says He Doubts Bible Literally True

AP ^ | 12-09-2008

[My Favorite Headache]

President George W. Bush said his belief that God created the world is not incompatible with scientific proof of evolution.

In an interview with ABC's "Nightline" on Monday, the president also said he probably is not a literalist when reading the Bible although an individual can learn a great deal from it, including the New Testament teaching that God sent his only son.

About creation and evolution, Bush said: "I think you can have both. I think evolution can — you're getting me way out of my lane here. I'm just a simple president. But it's, I think that God created the earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty and I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution."

"You know. Probably not. ... No, I'm not a literalist, but I think you can learn a lot from it, but I do think that the New Testament for example is ... has got ... You know, the important lesson is 'God sent a son,'" Bush said.

"It is hard for me to justify or prove the mystery of the Almighty in my life," he said. "All I can just tell you is that I got back into religion and I quit drinking shortly thereafter and I asked for help. ... I was a one-step program guy."

"I do believe there is an almighty that is broad and big enough and loving enough that can encompass a lot of people,"

Asked whether he thought he would have become president had it not been for his faith, Bush said: "I don't know; it's hard to tell. I do know that I would have been — I would have been a pretty selfish person."

[SkyPilot]

Oh dear.

[RightOnline]

sigh.............Mr. Bush, just shut up and retire to Texas. Please.

[silverleaf]

well there goes the evangelical vote for a 3rd Bush term...

s-a-r-c

[My Favorite Headache]

“You can’t look at the decision to go into Iraq apart from, you know, what happened on Sept. 11. It was not a religious decision,” he said. “I don’t view this as a war of religion. I view this as a war of good, decent people of all faiths against people who murder innocent people to achieve a political objective.”

[MeanWestTexan]

Misleading headline.

[netmilsmom]

>>well there goes the evangelical vote for a 3rd Bush term...<<

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

[mnehring]

I was just posting this article as well. Something jumped out to me. Note the parenthetical statements versus the editorial comments. The author seemed to take liberty at points drawing her own conclusions of what statements meant.

[neocon1984]

Based on my Christian background, I agree. The Bible is a work of inspiration (Man inspired by God) not a literal book of science and/or history.

Many of us will have to agree to disagree (politely) on this issue.

[slnk_rules]

What idiot picks these headlines?

All it would take is someone reading about 2 of my posts on GWB to know that I am NO fan of his, but this headline is totally incongruous with the article...., unless you are a staff cartoonist for Jack Chick or something.

[pjluke]

Methodists..... (1/2 sarc)

[Recovering_Democrat]

:) Good old George. Hey, he is a good man...and he definitely had God’s hand upon him as he led us through the darkest days of my adult life.

[Our man in washington]

President Bush has a fairly mainstream view on this issue, actually. A lot of Christians view Genesis as partly metaphorical.

[stockpirate]

“I would have been a pretty selfish person”

So now we know why he gave away so much taxpayer money to everyone all over the world.

Oh lets not forget he wanted to let the whole of South America move to the US.

[mombonn]

'God sent a son,'"

God sent His One and Only Son.

Yikes! This from the man who named Jesus as his philosophical advisor.

[DocRock]

bookmark

[SkyPilot]

I would say after reading this that Bush was not misquoted, so I hope people don't use that. However, I do believe that GW Bush is a saved brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. On interpretation of the Bible as literal truth in the statement he made, he was wrong.

I listened to an audio interview with GW Bush about his encounter with Rev. Billy Graham, and how Bush described giving his life to Christ.

I believed him then, and I believe him now.

Do Christians make Doctrinal errors and misinterpret Scripture?

You bet. But, Bush's declaration that the Bible is not literally true is very troubling, and the debate on it here is welcomed.

In many ways, I have been greatly disappointed in the GW Bush. Let me count the ways......

In other instances, I think he did a helluva job, and I couldn't have approached his leadership.

So yes - I am on both sides of the fence with this. Difficult for me to hear him say this though..........

[nobama08]

He doesn’t know what he believes or why. Wishy washy.

[SoldierDad]

Do you mean, “there goes the evangelical vote for a 3rd Bush becoming President”? This could cost Jeb any chance in the future.

[SecAmndmt]

That these comments would come as a surprise to any conservative, any Christian or any evangelical is an indication of how willfully undiscerning we have become.

The President is a universalist. His stated worldview is incompatible with Biblical Christianity. I don’t know whether he is a Christian or not - I doubt it - but his comments should be a reminder to Christians that we must NEVER adopt pragmatism or unBiblical compromise in the selection of our leaders.