October 04, 2004

TNR shows that despite all of his talk, GW isn't much of a churchgoer For (four) years we've discussed how much Christianity is supposed to influence GW Bush's policy... witness the "faith based initiatives" and the "valley of peace" references. As someone who grew up in the evangelical tradition, I fully recognize that GW's speed is chock-full of evangelical language and codewords("wonder working power"). But, what amazed me, is that GW doesn't even regularly attend church... Talk amongst yourselves...
posted by The Giant Squid 20 years ago
  • speech... not speed... Ugh.
  • His "speed" is chock full of the same, if it makes you feel any better.
  • What's the evangelical take on churchgoing? When I was young and Catholic, the importance of attending Mass on Sundays and certain of the more important festivals was insisted upon. You even got a little dry bit of bread for doing so!
  • If Dubya went to church, he'd have to listen to stories of Jesus telling people to love their neighbour. That just won't do when you have a crusade war against Islam terror to win.
  • Has Bush ever said that going to church was essential to be a good christian? You can be religious without going to church. Especially being a born again evangelical, which focuses on the personal relationship with god. In the end, religion and its practice is a very personal thing, and you can only hold people up to their own beliefs. So unless bush has gone on and on about how attending churh on a regular basis is essential this is a non issue. Besides, there are so many other reasons not to like him.
  • Bush doesn't need to go to Church. He has a direct line to God.
  • Of course Bush doesn't go to church, he's a lying fucking hypocrite.
  • My dad's a Christian and he doesn't go to church. Being a Christian isn't about going to church, it's about having a personal relationship with God. That said, I'm not sure Bush is a Christian.
  • Possibly OT, but: I'm hoping my husband will post on this thread. His dad is a reasonably big wheel at the Highland Park Methodist Church (Dallas, the main church for the SMU campus) who is involved in administration and projects now that he's retired. He was a member of the committee that oversaw a $30 million building project. This is the church that GW and Laura Bush belonged to/attended when they lived in Dallas before he became governor of Texas. I don't know all the details, but I know my father-in-law is Not Happy with GW and it has something to do with Bush not being willing to show up and speak at the church for some event. If I remember the story correctly, Bush completely blew them off. My FiL is the kind of guy who ponies up decent money for Republican candidates, too, so cheesing him and his Highland Park cronies off is bad cess. To tie this back to the thread: It seems to me that even though Bush was a member of the church back in the day, he doesn't feel a lot of loyalty to the social community of the church. As someone raised among Baptists, where the religious emphasis is on your personal relationship with God, that's understandable, although there is the idea of getting together with other Christians for fellowship and support in your walk with God. But I get the feeling that this is a much bigger deal to the Methodists (or at least to my in-laws, who are devout) than it would be to other people. Thanks for reminding me to print that article and mail it to my FiL.
  • I know a quick and straighforward way to get Bush into Church. It involves a high powered rifle and a scope.
  • Oh, give me a break. Evangelicals frown - and I mean frowney-frown - on a failure to go to church too (especially, in my experience, evangelical women). It's not just a Catholic thing. And G.W.'s a Methodist anyhow, not a Baptist or Church of Christ person, etc.
  • Nostrildamus, I'm beginning to suspect you don't love our Glorious Leader... (-;
  • More on topic, so much of church-going seems to be for appearances these days
  • Nostrildamus, I'm beginning to suspect you don't love our Glorious Leader... I don't understand; he's said nothing against Tracicle or Turkmenbashi.
  • I was raised a Southern Baptist (it didn't stick) and we were always told that it was in fact impossible to be a good Christian and not go to church. The idea being that you were living too much in the world, the Bible said to have fellowship amongst your brethren, and if you didn't come to church the Gays would getcha. Cuz you know how much them funny boys hanker after a hunka Baptist Preacher, yessirree. I'm sure people have seen this already, but The Sojourners are floating the heretic notion that you don't have to vote for GW to be a good Christian...in fact, most indicators point in the opposite direction: you know, caring for the poor, stewardship of the environment, blessed are the peacemakers, telling the truth...it's all in the Book, people.
  • Nostril, you're not your usual effervescent joymongering self this morning. Understandably so, given the topic.
  • Being a Christian isn't about going to church, it's about having a personal relationship with God.
    Depends on the denomination. Catholic doctrine pushes the idea that the relationship is mediated through the Church, after all.
  • Depends on the denomination. Depends on the Christian. Not fair to mix the institutionalized theocratic policies with an individual's Faith and pass judgement on his/hers 'christianess'.
  • Not fair to mix the institutionalized theocratic policies with an individual's Faith and pass judgement on his/hers 'christianess'. Isn't that what the Catholic church does? Did I miss a memo?