- Book Reveals How President's Religious And Political
Beliefs Are Entwined - And Claims He Did Pray With Blair
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- NEW YORK -- 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.
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- '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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.'
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.'
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- 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.
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- 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.'
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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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- * A woman rammed a car carrying her children, aged three,
five and eight, into a building where Bush was campaigning in Mississippi
yesterday. Betina Mixon, 29, was dragged away at gunpoint and charged with
aggravated assault.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1076026,00.html
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