Avid faith may hamper presidential decisionmaking

The Deseret News ^ | 2/16/2003 | Paul R. Henggeler

[Utah Girl]

"There is only one reason I am in the Oval Office and not in a bar," President Bush once reportedly said. "I found faith. I found God. I'm here because of the power of prayer." Prior to his conversion, Bush enjoyed beer and parties, had brushes with the law, and was a chronic underachiever. As president, he cites Jesus as the "political philosopher" who most influences him. He says he consults the Bible for political advice.

We now learn from "The Right Man: The Surprise Presidency of George W. Bush," a new book by ex-speechwriter and conservative thinker David Frum, that White House advisers attend Bible study groups not because they are required to but because they are expected to. According to Frum, Evangelicalism has made some policymakers "the gentlest souls, the most patient, the least argumentative."

Following Bill Clinton's failure in character, some Americans may find assurance in a president who turns to the Bible to become a better person. Indeed, Bush laces his most newsworthy speeches with biblical references. He identifies America with the forces of good as he battles "the axis of Evil." Most recently, the loss of the Columbia shuttle inspired a quote from the prophet Isaiah.

Whatever faith's actual influence on policymaking may be, however, it offers no guarantee for effective decisions. Indeed, history suggests that strict religious doctrine can lead to black-and-white reasoning, especially during war.

A devout Presbyterian, Woodrow Wilson believed God ordained him to be president. "God save us from compromise," he once noted. "He who is not with me is against me." He defined America's entrance into the Great War as a moral crusade from which good must arise.

During the Senate debate over America's joining the League of Nations, Wilson emerged a tragic figure, preferring defeat over modestly accommodating his political opponents. One does not compromise with God. Likewise, Herbert Hoover's Quaker faith in community volunteerism proved wholly inadequate in treating the catastrophic problems of the Great Depression.

The faith upon which our most admired presidents drew strength was usually more ambiguous than Bush's and balanced with a rich humanity. Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt both knew the Scriptures and saw history as the working out of God's will. Neither were avid church goers.

For both men, faith was a private, personal matter that rejected dogma. Eleanor Roosevelt once asked her husband if he was convinced of the truth of Christian doctrine. "I never really thought much about it," he said. "I think it is just as well not to think about things like that too much."

For Lincoln, humor, usually at his own expense, comforted him most. One of his favorite stories involved a conversation between two women. "I think that Jefferson Davis will succeed," one said. "Why does thee think so?" asked the second. "Because Jefferson is a praying man," replied the first. "And so is Abraham a praying man," the second responded. "Yes," lamented the first, "but the Lord will think Abraham is joking."

God, even one as ironic as Lincoln's, has long occupied the White House. But presidential Bible study is new and potentially risky. Less "spiritual" advisers could become marginalized, their input lost in a moralistic haze. Frum writes that he felt alienated upon hearing a colleague being gently reproached for missing Bible study.

Issues run the risk of becoming simplified as good or evil. A missionary zeal can create a belief system resistant to outside facts and information. However noble the gentle, non-combative temperament of Evangelicals may be, decisionmaking sometimes requires passionate disagreement.

Lyndon Johnson's un-Christian-like deviousness helped persuade legislators to pass the most important civil rights bills since Reconstruction. This was the same president who drove reporters around his Texas ranch, holding a beer in one hand while using his Stetson to cover the speedometer.

Everyone wants to feel uncomplicated resolve. But sociological studies on the nature of professional conduct in organizational settings suggest that leaders who rely on religious templates when making decisions are less likely to make good decisions than those who consult experienced authority.

As many presidents can attest, even experts can be wrong. But the Bible would have offered President John F. Kennedy little practical guidance in removing Soviet missiles from Cuba. Instead, he turned to Barbara Tuchman's book "The Guns of August," mindful of avoiding the blundering misjudgments that sparked World War I.

In weighing the momentous options over Iraq, the best question asked might not be what would Jesus do, but what might our best presidents have advised? God will hopefully serve Bush well. But he might leave room for humility, the lessons of history and his often heralded instincts, street-smarts and common sense.

[xzins]

Time to bare those teeth and bite this author a few vents in his skull. Might let some air and some light in.

Is it ridiculous or what?

I guess all those religious founders of this nation were just plain old lucky.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

(Our fine ex-prexy Sick Willie Clintoon carried about a Bible weighing about 25 pounds.

The greater the moral dilemma in which Willie was involved, the heavier the Bible he toted.

Never read, of course. )

Heheh, I had almost forgotten. I remember that liberal lady on with Tony Snow on the Sunday morning show always mentioning that Pres. Clinton was so religious because he carried that big Bible every Sunday when he attended Church.

[WriteOn]

Devil's been writing again...

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Kennedy wasn't a "good" Catholic, despite what the historians may say. His wife had to drag him to mass, every time, saying he MUST go, because that's what people expect of the first Catholic president. Carter is a "good" Baptist, by all accounts, and walks with Jesus. However, he was a terrible president.

I think what horrifies people the most is Bush's "good vs. evil" rhetoric, that he believes in evil as an entity, and doesn't believe in moral relativism. Simply put, good always prevails over evil. And to many, this is a threat in itself. Because by enabling the likes of Hussein, you may just be signing up with the evil side.

And most "spriritual" people do not believe that evil will be judged by the law. Only your intentions are judged by the law. You meant well, therefore God will give you a pass. Fortunately, Bush knows that Christianity trumps the law.

[Corin Stormhands]

But the Bible would have offered President John F. Kennedy little practical guidance in removing Soviet missiles from Cuba.

Yeah, but it might've kept him out of Marilyn's drawers long enough to pay attention to what was going on.

[Robert_Paulson2]

yes... yes it is.

they are grasping at everything they can to demonize a good man.

I wonder if they don't like his choice of toilet paper too? Perhaps he squeezes the charmin... unlike they, who routinely like to use the constitution for toilet paper.

The president is free to pray to three blind mice, if that is his choice. When the mice start talking back to him, I will get worried, but not until.

The haters of religious freedom will never rest, while the pushers of religious repression... commies, islamists and democrats... never sleep.
Terrorists all.

[DUH]

I'd rather that Bush serve God well. Leave it to the media dunces to characterize God as a cosmic bellhop to the President.

Perfect and Amen.

[Hila]

Dems may trys to undermine the President of faith, but in judging one of His own, they are undermining themselves. And there they go, the liberals deeper and deeper into the abyss, it's as though they would knowingly wanted to curse themselves.

[Hila]

Dems may try to undermine the President of faith, but in judging one of His own, they are undermining themselves. And there they go, the liberals deeper and deeper into the abyss, it's as though they would knowingly wanted to curse themselves.

[goodnesswins]

Nope....sociologists are much better at predicting and evaluating behavior than God.....didn't you know?

[RonF]

It's way too early to make a judgement on Bush's presidency. See how the economy is in a couple years, and what the overall effects are of his foreign policies. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

[sd-joe]

"Dont you know that it is a violation of church and state for a conservative to read or quote Bible verses or say anything about God....if a liberal does it fine and dandy.. !"

ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH. -- REMEMBER CARTER.

Carter was Christian (Baptist I believe) and very forward about it, and the Liberals loved him. AND HE WAS ONE OF THE WORST PRESIDENTS EVER.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Dumbarsed dems their lack of faith and principle is cripling countrys all over the world and its not that their blind they just dont give a damn because things arent falling into place for them were not under their thumbs far enough .

From tyrades to temper tantrums sabatage to subordinates democrats scream freedom while the whole time pushing the knife of tyrrany further into our backs

These dem/libs seek to take away the very freedom and virtue that is given to us by God himself after 8 years of a whoring abomination of a president they got used to subverting the truth and twisting whatever was recognized as good into an evil swill the people of this country are forced to swallow

We now have a president that is worth his weight and can carry a posture true to American Liberty and Freedom And the stinking dems dont like it THEIR THUMB IS BEING FORCED OFF THE THROAT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and they dont like it one bit i say SCREW EM AND LET THEM MOVE TO FRANCE !

[RonF]

Carter is a "good" Baptist, by all accounts, and walks with Jesus. However, he was a terrible president.

Neatly demonstrating that devout Christianity doesn't necessarily lead to being a good President. So Bush's devoutness (which I will not question) doesn't guarantee it either.

[M Kehoe]

Let the media and the Left ridicule this President for his belief in Jesus. For they who run scared from the Lord's name will have no rest. And they who come in the name of the Lord will have eternal life.

5.56mm

[Samwise]

Did I read this correctly? It's OK for a President to be religious, as long as he's a hypocrite?

[CyberAnt]

The biggest boost "candidate" Bush got at the beginning of the campaign was when he was not ashamed to speak of his faith.

Again ... just like all the other garbage these disgusting people put forth ... this one will really bite them in the behind.

As a Christian, I am not only outraged, I am extremely offended by their assumptions. Since THEY ARE NOT CHRISTIANS, who are they to judge my Christianity!!

As for divisiveness - the democrats are the only ones causing that - and they know it - and this is their usual method of projecting upon the President the very thing they are doing. This is the same old, same old ... and it just isn't going to work anymore.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

There are no guarantees, of course. So far, I think he is a good president, considering the mess he inherited from Clinton, the economic uncertainty, Enron mess, and then comes September 11th, 2001. I think, given what he has had to work with, he is doing well. But, time will tell.

I think Carter is often blinded by being such a GOOD man. He over-thinks things, and wants to take the high ground, which leads to many misteps, not to mention enabling dictators throughout the world. I think it would behoove him to remember that most of the world isn't Christian, doesn't share his point of view, and isn't praying on bended knee to God.

Bush, I think, does understand this. And, he has no trepidation when dealing with Muslim terrorists. I think he sees the broader picture, in that God may be using him as a tool to bring more peace to the world. But, I don't think he believes that God chose him to be president. But, God may be giving him the strength to be the president that we need. Peace comes, after war has been fought brutality. He knows this. I don't think he lays awake at night, muttering, "What would Jesus do?"

[olliemb]

"See how the economy is in a few years--"


No matter what everyone says, from what I can see,I dont see why the president is blamed for the economy. I don't see what the president can do if the economy does not improve. It takes at times 6 years for the policies of one president to show its effect in the economy. So Clinton benefitted from Reagan and now Bush is taking the brunt of Clinton's policies.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Don't forget, the revisionists of history keep coming out with new books, showing that the Founding Fathers were alcoholics, adulterers, liars, opportunists, etc... in other words, they like to say that they are just as immoral as our leaders in government, today. But, they forget that most of the founding fathers attended seminary. Such an easy thing to forget, I know... I mean, they couldn't have been Christians, could they?