http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:55:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4925 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:42:40 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4925 I think there is a misconception about Bush's brand of Christianity. His enemies like to portray him as a 'fundamentalist', as a fire-breathing Bible-thumper who gets his marching orders, or thinks he does, from God. And I think Bush used this misconception to win the votes and the allegiance of those real fundamentalists and conservative Christians. However from his actions and his life, I would say he is more of a moderate middle-of-the-road Methodist. The United Methodist Church is not known for being particularly conservative. Isn't Hillary Clinton also a member of this denomination? But I think the GOP sees political advantage in having some of us think that the President is a conservative Christian when he is not. His Middle East policies, such as pushing a 'palestinian' state, are not reflective of Biblical belief, contrary to what many people think. I think there is a misconception about Bush’s brand of Christianity. His enemies like to portray him as a ‘fundamentalist’, as a fire-breathing Bible-thumper who gets his marching orders, or thinks he does, from God. And I think Bush used this misconception to win the votes and the allegiance of those real fundamentalists and conservative Christians. However from his actions and his life, I would say he is more of a moderate middle-of-the-road Methodist. The United Methodist Church is not known for being particularly conservative. Isn’t Hillary Clinton also a member of this denomination? But I think the GOP sees political advantage in having some of us think that the President is a conservative Christian when he is not.
His Middle East policies, such as pushing a ‘palestinian’ state, are not reflective of Biblical belief, contrary to what many people think.

]]> http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4921 Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:30:41 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4921 I agree with the frat boy analysis. I actually met the man when he was governor of Texas, and besides being surprised that he wasn't particularly tall, I was most stunned at his complete absence of curiousity. Now, since our conversation was something under five minutes, conveying lack of curiousity took some enormous effort on his part. To the extent that his religion affects this attitude, it does so by supporting something that was already part of his character. I agree with the frat boy analysis. I actually met the man when he was governor of Texas, and besides being surprised that he wasn’t particularly tall, I was most stunned at his complete absence of curiousity. Now, since our conversation was something under five minutes, conveying lack of curiousity took some enormous effort on his part. To the extent that his religion affects this attitude, it does so by supporting something that was already part of his character.

]]> http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4919 Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:44:36 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/10/29/the-soul-seer/#comment-4919 I noticed this same tendency with Bush. He wants this sort of personal bond with his advisers and other world leaders. Hence, the nicknames and "good person" language. That also explains that bizarre "Yo, Blair!" episode a couple months back. I don't think this is necessarily his evangelicalism (which is becoming really overworked as an explanation for everything the administration does) but his frat-boy background. It's almost as if he wants all the world's leaders to all be "one of the boys." I noticed this same tendency with Bush. He wants this sort of personal bond with his advisers and other world leaders. Hence, the nicknames and “good person” language. That also explains that bizarre “Yo, Blair!” episode a couple months back. I don’t think this is necessarily his evangelicalism (which is becoming really overworked as an explanation for everything the administration does) but his frat-boy background. It’s almost as if he wants all the world’s leaders to all be “one of the boys.”

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