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Hardcover
Publisher: Harper
George W. Bush has brought the question of religion back into American political life in a way that it has not been for decades. From the 2000 election through the challenges America has faced in the wake of September 11, Bush's personal faith -- and his conviction about the importance of religion in our national life -- have won him lasting admiration from the right, while attracting fury and scorn from the left. Now, presidential scholar Paul Kengor, the author of the acclaimed God and Ronald Reagan, reconstructs the spiritual journey that carried George W. Bush to the White House -- from the death of his sister, which shaped his character, through the conversion experience that changed his life. He offers the most thorough and careful reading of President Bush's public statements about God, Jesus Christ, and the sense of confidence, perspective, and mission that his faith has given him. Kengor devotes special attention to Bush's efforts to highlight America's tolerance of all faiths -- especially, in light of potential tensions after 9/11, his extraordinary support for Muslim-Americans. He investigates whether the invasion of Iraq was precipitated by a specific religious mission on the part of the president. And he outlines the most up-to-date account of the role of religion in the 2004 election, from John Kerry's squabbles with the Catholic Church to Bush's own remarks about the "higher father" to whom he looks for guidance in times of trial. Matching detailed new research with thoughtful analysis, God and George W. Bush is the definitive look at the spiritual life of this American president.
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| Bush's hagiography |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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One of the most salient features of George W. Bush's private and public life is his religiosity. He is the most religiously inspired president since Jimmy Carter, and the one whose religiosity has probably been more of an issue in political considerations than perhaps any president in all of US history. In light of that it would be immensely useful to get a better idea of the development and extent of Bush's faith, and this book by renowned author Paul Kengor is up to the task. Kengor is known for the detailed and meticulous research on all of his subjects, and this book is no exception. We follow Bush from his earlier experiences in Midland, Texas, with particular accent on those themes and events that pertain to his spiritual formation. The image of Bush that is often portrayed in the media is of a reckless and fairly wild youth who finds religion right after his fortieth birthday as a part of his effort to rid himself of the blight of alcoholism. However, as this book shows, religion was never too far away from his considerations, but he probably never made much of it in public until a moment of profound personal crisis forced him to reflect deeply on things that really matter in life.
Another thing that is often made into a big issue is the supposed overly religious tenor of Bush's political speeches and pronouncements. However, a closer scrutiny of the frequency of the use of religion in those situations reveals that Bush, contrary to the public opining, is no more likely to use the "God card" than other US presidents before him, and is in fact much more subdued and careful not to overplay the importance of religion in public statements. The same holds when it comes to other politicians of both parties - on an average, they are probably more likely to politicize religion than Bush is. One gets impression that it is not really religion per se that offends Bush's detractors, but rather the simplicity and sincerity of his faith. Why this should be an issue is probably better left for other discussions, and Kengor wisely eschews plunging too deeply into that subject.
The book ends with the events and issues that were relevant during the 2004 presidential campaign. This is understandable from the point of view of wanting to maximize the impact of the book, but it would have been more appropriate to write and release the book at least until after Bush's public life had ended. This would have provided us with a much more complete picture of the ways that his faith has shaped his presidency.
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| Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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This author obviously hasn't the slightest clue about what the Christian walk requires,judging by this and his other books on the spirituality(more like lack of) of George Bush, Hillary Clinton and the occultist Ronald Reagan!
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
With the evangelicals and people like this author having no better discernment than to label people such as this 'Christian',it is no wonder how many will be fooled by the anti-christ!
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| GOD BLESS PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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When Mr. Bush came to Washington seven years ago, he came with great optimism to do great things. Then, destiny took a hand and turned the world upside down. And, in the middle of it all was this man who had been placed there for such a time as that. Difficult times required difficult decisions and he made them. Some hated him for it, most supported him but in time, many grew weary of him. He was the prominent symbol of one of the most trying times in America's history. While the page will enevitably be turned, I pray the America I love does not regress to the politics of unsubstantative, mindless, flowery rhetoric of most of the 1990's. I like to think that this nation - most of it - has finally grown up and left behind all hippie narcissm. I am one of the 30%(if the polls are correct) who still support the President. It's easy to criticize in hind sight. But, he has done what he's believed to be right as best as he has been able to given the support and resources around him. I recommend this book. Buy it, read it and say a prayer for this great man.
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| Bush as a spiritual person? |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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The title itself is unintentionally funny. Waging a war of aggression, benefiting the rich instead of the poor---please. If Bush is spiritual,
then God help us all.
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| a one sided cheerleading effort |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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It's only fair to read both sides of the story. Therefore after a couple of books critical of George W. Bush and the Religious/Christian Right/Conservatives I figured it's only fair to read one in support of the former, most likely it being in support of the latter too.
So after "With God On Their Side", after "Roads To Dominion", after "Close Encounters With The Religious Right", after "What's Wrong With Kansas?" and after "The Faith Of George W. Bush" by Stephen Mansfield I read this one. And going for full disclosure, I also read "Fortunate Son" by James Hatfield.
And the last one 'enjoys' an infamous reputation of being a full fledged dismantling of GWB. However, Hatfield's book still stroke me as being more fair, more balanced and all in all more neutral in tone, than this cheerleading effort by Paul Kengor.
My tolerance ended on page 210 when there was a paragraph implying that Saddam Hussein was involved in the events of September 11. Before you jump at me and talk about the 'atmosphere' of support that was in Iraq for the terrorists and for Al Qaida, that's not even what Kengor is writing about. He's basically saying that Saddam was about as much involved as you can get, shy from flying one of the planes himself. And that is just false.
This shows Kengor's agenda. And that's why it does not come as a surprise that he leaves out the US support for Saddam during the Iran vs Iraq war (a war he also writes about, plus he mentions "He tried to kill my dad.") Just like "Faith & George W. Bush" he also leaves out 'those missing years', the controversy about his guard service, how he failed as a business man, etc. etc. etc. instead doing his best effort to characterize and portray Bush as messianic and infallible as possible, without being blasphemous about it.
Therefore the conclution is: it's a biased effort by a supporter, who sugarcoats everything the man does, putting him on a pedestal, glorifying him unquestionably.
And I don't like that. I believe that there's always two sides to a story. That's why I read this book after all. A good book to me shows both sides, albeit it may put the emphasis on one. However, this one doesn't. Oh, not even remotely.
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