[syadasti]

Nice know its all show, a facade to trick right wing religious zealots into voting for him

WHY W. DOESN'T GO TO CHURCH.
Empty Pew
by Amy Sullivan

The New Republic
Post date 10.05.04 | Issue date 10.11.04

Most Americans are aware that George W. Bush is a religious man. He is, after all, the man who presided over a religious revival of sorts at the Republican National Convention. He is the man who has pioneered what could be called cardio-diplomacy, judging world leaders--and, at times, entire nations--by their "hearts." He is the subject of at least four spiritual hagiographies currently in bookstores, and one religious documentary ("George W. Bush: Faith in the White House"). Most famously, Americans know him as the man who, when asked to cite the philosopher who had the greatest influence on him, named Jesus Christ.

What most--including many of the president's fiercest supporters--don't know, however, is that Bush doesn't go to church. Sure, when he weekends at Camp David, Bush spends Sunday morning with the compound's chaplain. And, every so often, he drops in on the little Episcopal church across Lafayette Park from the White House. But the president who has staked much of his domestic agenda on the argument that religious communities hold the key to solving social problems doesn't belong to a congregation.

It should be a politically intriguing story. Bush is one of the most explicitly religious politicians in American history. Both of his presidential campaigns have used religion to appeal emotionally to voters. The entire philosophy behind his signature slogan, "compassionate conservatism," rests on the belief that religious communities have a unique ability to tend to the nation's social ills. And yet, after the flood of coverage around Bush's first--and only--visit to a neighborhood church during inauguration weekend in Washington, D.C., no one has bothered to report on the president's whereabouts on Sunday mornings.

Around Washington, D.C., it's considered bad form to point out that Bush doesn't regularly attend church. "You don't have to go to church to be a good religious person," argue his defenders. And they're right. They have made much political hay, however, over polls that indicate Democratic voters attend church less frequently than Republicans, so even the most brazen feel compelled to offer explanations for Bush's absence from church membership rolls.

The first excuse conservatives provide is that Bush can't possibly be expected to have time to go to church, what with being leader of the free world and all. Yet, during Jimmy Carter's four years in the White House, he found time not only to attend a Baptist church in the Washington, D.C., area, but to teach Sunday school there as well. For a presidential delegator like Bush--who has freed up enough time to spend approximately one-third of his presidency on vacation--finding a few hours for church should be a snap.

But, even if Bush had the time for church services, supporters protest, the security precautions necessary for a presidential visit would drive congregants away. This is the exact same argument the Reagan White House trotted out to explain why the patron saint of the religious right hardly ever attended church from 1981 to 1989. Bomb-sniffing dogs, metal detectors, and security personnel, so the theory goes, would pose an onerous burden for the average church. "The president wants to avoid the sort of major weekly disruption that would be caused if he went to church," says David Aikman, author of A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush.

As it happens, I attended Foundry United Methodist Church for several years during the late '90s when the Clintons were members there. The only imposition was the extra ten seconds it took to walk through a metal detector. Parishioners did not leave the church in droves; on the contrary, many were pleasantly surprised to find that the Clintons played an active role in church life, particularly while Chelsea was involved in the choir and youth group.

If time and security aren't the reasons, what excuse does that leave? The very fact that the president doesn't attend church, some leading conservatives insist, is proof of what a good Christian he is. Unlike certain past presidents they could name but won't--ahem, cough, Bill Clinton--Bush doesn't feel the need to prove his religiosity. "This president has not made an issue of where he goes to church," says Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. "I find it refreshing that we don't have a president coming out of church with a large Bible under his arm." Conservatives relish this opportunity for a little gratuitous Clinton-bashing. In private, however, they admit the explanation doesn't hold up. "I really don't get it," one prominent Bush partisan told me. "There's no reason why the president couldn't find a church around here if he wanted to."

In truth, Bush probably doesn't spend Sunday morning watching "Meet the Press" or wrestling with The New York Times crossword puzzle. He no doubt observes the Sabbath in his own way, as do millions of Americans who identify themselves as religious but don't attend church. Bush has been shaped by a "small-group" mentality, emphasizing a one-on-one relationship with God over the experience of Christian fellowship in a community.

Or it could be that Bush's faith, while sincere, is not terribly deep. Aikman, who had significant access to Bush confidantes while writing his book, has said that he "could not get from anybody a sort of credo of what [Bush] believes." Nevertheless, Aikman pressed on by "intuit[ing]" Bush's faith and presenting as evidence of the president's deep spiritual commitment his fondness for carrots and jogging (apparently a response to the scriptural admonition to treat the body as a temple for God) and the politeness of White House staffers ("though manners are not specifically connected to George W.'s personal religious faith, it was as though the discipline he brought to his own life of prayer and Bible study filtered down into the work habits of everyone who worked with him").

It shouldn't really matter. A president's religious habits often reveal far less about his faith than the decisions he makes. But, more than any other president, Bush has staked his political reputation on being a devout man of faith. The implied and often explicit responsibility for one another that undergirds congregational life is at the heart of Bush's faith-based policy agenda. The fact that he isn't himself a member of a congregation should be relevant.

It's not as if political reporters have ignored the church-going habits of Bush's opponent. During the "John Kerry Wafer Watch," they have done everything short of inspect the senator's molars for evidence of any unswallowed Host. Hyperbole? A recent Kerry campaign pool report included this observation: "Both Mr. and Mrs. received communion, taking the host from the priests in their hands (others took direct to mouth). They spent ample time on the kneeler."

When Bush moved to Washington in early 2001, many religious observers bandied about the question of which church the incoming president would attend. Four years later, the answer is hidden in plain sight: The emperor has no church.

 

[BurlyShirley]

who says Bush likes attending church at all? What's that got to do with religion?

 

[zod]

Judge Not

 

[syadasti]

who says Bush likes attending church at all? What's that got to do with religion?

To win their vote...

 

[BurlyShirley]

To win their vote...

Yeah, whatever...you again refuse to make any sense. Remind me to taunt you when Bush wins. And if he doesnt, remind me not to care.

 

[jdcamb]

I am very religious and do not attend temple regularly. Am I a bad person too?

syadasti = parallel universe N8

 

[valve bouncer]

I think it's cause the holy water burns too much.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Being a Christian does not require going to a building that says "church" once a week(contrary to what the Vatican would ahve you think). A building with the word "church" on it, is not what the Bible defines as a church/assembly. "Church" can occur anywhere.........

BTW - this statement/philosophy of mine is independant of my thoughts/stand on "W".

 

[valve bouncer]

Being a Christian does not require going to a building that says "church" once a week(contrary to what the Vatican would ahve you think). A building with the word "church" on it, is not what the Bible defines as a church/assembly. "Church" can occur anywhere.........

BTW - this statement/philosophy of mine is independant of my thoughts/stand on "W".

Man I gotta get me some of that "religion radar". We don't hear from you for yonks and then as soon as a religion thread comes up you're here like flies on 3 day old prawns in the sun.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Man I gotta get me some of that "religion radar". We don't hear from you for yonks and then as soon as a religion thread comes up you're here like flies on 3 day old prawns in the sun.

It's a well honed skill sniffing out a good religion/faith debate or discussion. It doesn't hurt being one of the 's token "Jesus Freaks" either..........

I try to limit my discussions on the political forum to issue of religion/faith, any other issues and I'm out of my element.

 

[fluff]

Judge Not

Amen!

 

[valve bouncer]

I try to limit my discussions on the political forum to issue of religion/faith, any other issues and I'm out of my element.

Don't sell yaself short mate. You go alright from what I've seen. I don't agree with ya much but your opinion is worth a listen.

 

[Andyman_1970]

We don't hear from you for yonks...........

It's nice to know I'm sort of missed...................

 

[valve bouncer]

It's nice to know I'm sort of missed...................

Hey, we PD forum blokes have gotta stick together. We're the black sheep of ridemonkey.....mmmmm....... actually in light of all the accusations of racism thrown about here lately maybe we are the rainbow coloured sheep of RM........sh*t that won't work either, I'll start a gay thread with that.....we are the (insert colour here) sheep of RM.

 

[Tenchiro]

Maybe he is an enlightened christian who doesn't feel that he needs to go to church regularly. Maybe he is just too busy. Maybe his faith is just an act to get more right wing votes.

Really though, who cares.

 

[ohio]

Being a Christian does not require going to a building that says "church" once a week(contrary to what the Vatican would ahve you think). A building with the word "church" on it, is not what the Bible defines as a church/assembly. "Church" can occur anywhere.........

I think that's something we all (including the author of the article) agree on. The comments in the article were more directed towards the hypocrisy of criticizing democrats who DO attend services while failing to examine the depth of Bush's faith.

It reminds of "The Life of Brian:"

FOLLOWERS:
Hail Messiah!
BRIAN:
I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand?! Honestly!
GIRL:
Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.
BRIAN:
What?! Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!
FOLLOWERS:
He is! He is the Messiah!

 

[Andyman_1970]

My point was not really commentary on what "W" did or didn't do, it was more a general clarification of the whole "what is church" deal.

 

[Skookum]

i think it's significant, since he is one of the most powerful men on the Earth right now and makes decisions that have ramifications on practically all of us here.
The connatations of him embracing and feigning his beliefs in order to garner support from the religous right, while they hold a blind idea to his failings or other sly deeds would actually elevate his status from dumbass to genious in my view.
Hitler did that too, but i don't think Bush is a megolomaniac psycho, just greedy and opportunistic.
My grandma had him pinned as being a fraud from the gate, i should have listened to her.

 

[valve bouncer]

Maybe he is an enlightened christian who doesn't feel that he needs to go to church regularly. Maybe he is just too busy. Maybe his faith is just an act to get more right wing votes.

Really though, who cares.

It's interesting to relatively impartial obsevers of the American political scene just how important being a man of God is to your political career. It seems that secularism hasn't really caught on in America. You're right though mate, who should care.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Maybe he is an enlightened christian who doesn't feel that he needs to go to church regularly.

Maybe he does go to church regularly, it's just not in the narrow traditional sense (as I would argue a non-Biblical one as well) most tend to think of. Which brings up, what if those he is critisizing are doing the same as he is "church wise", they "attend" just not in the way it is thought of by most people.

Maybe his faith is just an act to get more right wing votes.

I would hope not, but it is a possibility.

 

[Silver]

It's interesting to relatively impartial obsevers of the American political scene just how important being a man of God is to your political career. It seems that secularism hasn't really caught on in America. You're right though mate, who should care.

A majority of Americans wouldn't vote for an atheist, according to polls.

If God's on our side, it sure helps to excuse a lot of sh!t, y'know?

 

[valve bouncer]

A majority of Americans wouldn't vote for an atheist, according to polls.

If God's on our side, it sure helps to excuse a lot of sh!t, y'know?

I couldn't honestly tell you the religious affiliations (if any) of Australia's leading politicians. I guess it's the same for you as a Canadian Silver. That's not to say that religion has never been a part of Australian politics but it seems that it assumes massive proportions in America. Not being judgemental frothers, just observing.

 

[BurlyShirley]

I couldn't honestly tell you the religious affiliations (if any) of Australia's leading politicians. I guess it's the same for you as a Canadian Silver. That's not to say that religion has never been a part of Australian politics but it seems that it assumes massive proportions in America. Not being judgemental frothers, just observing.

Honestly, I think our liberals just like to point it out more because they cant find another way to explain why people are conservative. Not all conservatives are religious, they just know its wrong to piss in the sink.

 

[valve bouncer]

Honestly, I think our liberals just like to point it out more because they cant find another way to explain why people are conservative. Not all conservatives are religious, they just know its wrong to piss in the sink.

Were you toilet trained?

 

[Silver]

I couldn't honestly tell you the religious affiliations (if any) of Australia's leading politicians. I guess it's the same for you as a Canadian Silver. That's not to say that religion has never been a part of Australian politics but it seems that it assumes massive proportions in America. Not being judgemental frothers, just observing.

I never heard how interested Jesus was in tax cuts until I moved to the USA, if that's what you mean

 

[laura]

they just know its wrong to piss in the sink.

there is nothing wrong with pissing in the sink.

 

[Silver]

there is nothing wrong with pissing in the sink.

And yet crapping in the urinal is considered wrong...

 

[MikeD]

And yet crapping in the urinal is considered wrong...

That's more of a mechanical issue than a moral one...

 

[Silver]

That's more of a mechanical issue than a moral one...

After 50 beers, it becomes possible. I thought the toilet paper was too much of a stretch, however...

 

[Andyman_1970]

I never heard how interested Jesus was in tax cuts until I moved to the USA, if that's what you mean

LOL...........I love that...............that could be one of the "lost beattitudes"............. :dancing:

 

[genpowell71]

After 50 beers, it becomes possible. I thought the toilet paper was too much of a stretch, however...

I bow to your superior drinking abilities

 

[Skookum]

After 50 beers, it becomes possible. I thought the toilet paper was too much of a stretch, however...

Yah the conservatives must have made a law against that. i gotta agree with them there. Poor urinal discs they were never meant to bear such a brown squirty burden.

 

[MikeD]

brown squirty burden.

You're SO glad I'm not a mod with custom-title granting capabilities.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I am very religious and do not attend temple regularly. Am I a bad person too?

syadasti = parallel universe N8

No way... that's changleen's domain...

 

[jdcamb]

No way... that's changleen's domain...

Agreed. Atleast Syd has his own opinion most of the time. Were as you guys are in right field waiting for the ball that was hit to left field. Hey however you feel good about yourself dude......jdcamb