| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Joshua" |
| Date: |
05 Nov 2003 11:30:54 PM |
| Object: |
Bush says God chose him to lead his nation |
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1075950,00.html
Bush says God chose him to lead his nation
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are
entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
Paul Harris in New York
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer
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.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Bush says God chose him to lead his nation |
06 Nov 2003 12:49:19 AM |
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In article <1cadc0ff.0311052130.46dd5e83@posting.google.com>,
(Joshua) wrote:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1075950,00.html
Bush says God chose him to lead his nation
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are
entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
Paul Harris in New York
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer
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.
Were the signs referring to Dubya?
Here is a somewhat longer review of the book at the Working for Change
website:
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=15937
--
John Hachmann, aa #1782
-Question authority. Now more than ever.-
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| User: "Meteorite Debris" |
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| Title: Re: Bush says God chose him to lead his nation |
06 Nov 2003 08:52:07 PM |
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On 5 Nov 2003 21:30:54 -0800 the ET form known as
Joshua<smurf_muncher@hotmail.com> sent a radio signal across the vast
expanse of deep space -._.--._.--._.--._.--._.--._.
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.'
Too bad Boyking does not post here. This is TQOTM material.
--
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