I’ve not been particularly bothered by President Bush’s religious references in his speeches since becoming president. But this AP story titled Bush Increasing Religious Allusions caught my eye. The article notes that in his State of the Union address, Bush said, “We Americans have faith in ourselves, but not in ourselves alone. We do not claim to know all the ways of providence, yet we can trust in them, placing our confidence in the loving God behind all of life and all of history. May he guide us now, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.”
At first glance, it seems innocuous… the usual presidential blah blah at the end of a speech. But a closer reading makes me think that his line of thinking is along the lines of “I’ve prayed for guidance, therefore I’m confident that what I’m about to do in Iraq is God’s will.”
Turning to God may very well have been the difference in Bush’s overcoming his drinking problem. But that’s an emotional and spiritual struggle. It’s a mistake for him to assume that God is guiding his political decisions, just because he’s asked for help. We don’t know the any of ‘the ways of providence’ when it comes to war or football or any other human events, big or small.
I’m going to see the new movie Gods and Generals on Saturday. I expect to see something similar there.
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. – Susan B. Anthony