It just occurred to me that * is not taking any religious instruction

[no_hypocrisy]

from a minister, pastor, etc., or alternatively, one that yeses him to death.

My theory: He has a messianic complex, thinks he is here to do God's work, to bring on End Times if necessary, a "charge to keep". If he was doing Bible study with a minister, etc., the latter would be tactful and show * a passage or two to bring him down a peg and give him a reality check that * is just another Christian, not a biblical figure in 2006. And (is it me?) it seems that * has just become worse since 2001, really out of control, which is something that is unlikely with religious counseling and study.

Your thoughts?

[knowbody0]

1. pat robertson is his mentor

[Jigarotta]

6. PNAC is his mentor.

mom and pop trained him from birth to be the destructive, souless piece of nothing he is now to be used.

[Richard Steele]

2. Don't need no Padré when the Lord speaks to you directly....nm

[Zen Democrat]

3. I think his whole religious persona is a ruse. He's a fake Christian.

He's never been church-goer, except when the cameras were present. He has given at least two different stories about the time and circumstances of his "conversion". The whole thing is phony.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. I agree

He doesn't want to hear anything but what he wants. So he simply cuts out anyone or anything that might go against his wishes. Surrounds himself, both politically and in every other sphere of life with people who will simply nod their heads and agree with him.

He's not looking for any religious meaning here. He wants only whatever will support his basic desires. There's nothing of religion or faith in that. There's nothing of humility in that. There's absolutely nothing of wisdom in that.

It's all a ruse to further his entirely self-centered aims.

Gotta wonder about how he was raised... what a psychological mess!

[Lars39]

16. There is another possibility.

I believe he is religious, but that he believes he's been chosen to do God's work in this manner.
It's very similar to the way some southern baptist missionaries believe.
They believe that because God chose them to do this all-important work, that they don't necessarily need to attend church like everyone else when stateside.

And I gotta tell you, this possibility scares me worse than any other.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. A Rove PR stunt.

[alfredo]

38. He's an On Camera Christian.

[patricia92243]

4. Does he go to church at all?

[babylonsister]

7. Only for the cameras. nt

[dchill]

8. Yes.

But not regularly. It's a show for the inferiors.

[bunkerbuster1]

29. His supposed DC "Church Home" is much more liberal than he is.

I doubt he feels real warm and fuzzy when he visits his local UMC congregation.

[dchill]

39. Any church in DC...

has GOT to be more liberal than he is.

[Olney Blue]

5. Well, we really don't know what goes on in regard to his religious

counsel. We just know that its failing.

[rzemanfl]

9. His religion is fake, just like everything else about him. n/t

[jody]

11. I disagree, * is a fake but the religion of which he is a member is not.nt

[JerseygirlCT]

14. I think that's what was meant.

He's not really involved in any particular religious tradition -- his claims to the contrary notwithstanding.

[rzemanfl]

15. Should probably said religiosity, but I have trouble spelling it.

Always put in a "U."

[jody]

19. I understand. I have many, many close friends who are Methodists and

they are kind, giving, and tolerant. None of those terms apply to Bush.

[rzemanfl]

36. They must be tolerant, to allow * to invoke the name of their

Church.

[jody]

10. * has repeatedly refused to meet with the Council of Bishops of the United

Methodist Church of which he is a member.

QUOTE
Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

Resolution on the War in Iraq
May 11, 2004

Whereas, the prophet Micah reminds us that God "shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate strong nations far away," and calls nations to "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," that nations will no longer "lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:3); and

Whereas, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church states that "we deplore war" and "urge peaceful settlement of all disputes" (Para. 164G, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2000); and,

Whereas, the continuing loss of Iraqi civilian lives, especially children, and the increasing death toll among United States, coalition military and civilian personnel in Iraq grieves the heart of God; and,

Whereas, the premises advanced by the United States government for engaging in this war, namely, the presumption of weapons of mass destruction and alleged connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq have not been verified; and,

Whereas, the cycle of violence in which the United States is engaged has created a context for the denigration of human dignity and gross violations of human rights of Iraqi prisoners of war;

Therefore, The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church:

1. Laments the continued warfare by the United States and coalition forces.

2. Prays for military personnel and their families who have sacrificed as a result of this war and for a swift end to the destruction and violence raging in Iraq.

3. Asks the United States government to request that the United Nations become involved in the transition process to a new Iraqi government.

4. Requests the United Nations to establish a legitimate transitional government of Iraq to maintain the peace and safeguard sustainable development efforts.

5. Calls for the rebuilding of Iraq and other nations in the Middle East through a multinational development plan that honors the participation of the peoples of the region and gives them hope for the future.

6. Invites United Methodists throughout the world to pray for a new era of peace and to advocate for public policies that promote justice, life, and reconciliation among adversaries.
UNQUOTE

[dflprincess]

13. He doesn't need to

God speaks directly to him. :sarcasm:

[speedoo]

17. He's as much a Christian as he is a recovering alcoholic.

In other words, he's a phony as far as both areas are concerned.

Anyone who understands the New Testament knows that * does not follow the teachings of Jesus in any way, shape or form. Quite the opposite, actually.

And anyone who is familiar with AA and the 12 steps knows that he is at best a dry drunk.

A total phony. Maybe a Rovian fiction on both counts.

[madeline_con]

18. The Yurica Report has an excellent article...

The Despoiling of America

How George W. Bush became the head of the new
American Dominionist Church/State
by Katherine Yurica

http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/DirectoryRiseOfDominionismInAmerica.html

[smtpgirl]

20. * does only the

dog and pony show for the religioous right anyway.

The guy is so transparent

[smtpgirl]

21. While I burn my Nag Champa

RED, I meditate and think positive thoughts that * will be a better show than the Nixon Watergate hearings

[fearthem]

22. We have a president who is . . .

an alcoholic, doesn't read -- dangerous combination. He substituted religion for drinking but his innate nature, that which caused the alcoholism, is still with him and manifested as obsessive, compulsive, fanatical, hence the term "dry drunk." There should be legislation prohibiting anyone with mental health, addiction issues from running. There should be full disclosure of all medical records for those who wish to be president.

[Kutjara]

23. If you excluded those with mental health problems...

...from running for President, there'd be no candidates.

The very monomaniacal, arrogant, narcissistic, overreaching drive and hunger for power and control that motivates a person to want to be President is sufficiently pathological to disqualify them from running.

"You have to be crazy to want this job" is literally true.

[speedoo]

24. I strongly disagree.... there are many exceptions to your generalization.

See Jimmy Carter as most obvious exception.

And, much as I dislike Reagan, I don't believe he fits your description either.

And I'd say that Ford, Eisenhower, Truman, Adlai Stevenson, Kerry, Gore and even JFK are additional exceptions. There are many more, IMO, particularly if you include men who ran and were not nominated. Eugene McCarthy is a great example.

Nixon and both Bushes? I absolutely agree with you.

[renate]

26. I wish I could give your post a million thumbs up

These days especially, but throughout our nation's history, GOOD men and women have wanted to serve humbly, honorably, and honestly.

It's too easy to be cynical, in these Diebold days, about real leadership. There are so many examples of truly good, decent, honest, and I would say God-sent humans who have fought the good fight--Carter, as you mentioned (and who is a brilliantly obvious exception--what a beautiful human being), Boxer, Conyers, Feingold, and my man Wes Clark--so many good people who love this country, who love decency and honor and (I'm getting all teary now)--so many good people without whom this country would have descended into the depths long ago.

[speedoo]

28. Thanks very much.

You may be too young to remember Eugene McCarthy, a truly great American, who fought a relatively unpopular battle to end the Vietnam War during the 1968 Presidential Campaign, which history does not properly recognize.

[newyawker99]

32. Hi fearthem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[sheelz]

25. If Bush has a messianic complex...to bring End Times...

What is he waiting for?

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Timing is everything . . . Probably getting his ducks lined up.

Provided that Cheney doesn't shoot them first.

[sheelz]

35. All he has to do is enter a code and push the button.

:scared:

[Norquist Nemesis]

30. He has a direct line to God in Jesus name.

:freak:

[DetroitProle]

33. It was published a while ago,

that Bush doesn't have a parish where he's registered or a regular.
He goes to St. John's Episcopal, the "president's church". Every president has gone there, out of tradition. It's a liberal church, and he's not an Episcopalian. He just goes for the cameras.
He's technically a Methodist, but I think if he ever sat down with any Methodist minsiter...which vary widely from conservative to liberal...he'd get a good talking-to.

[helderheid]

34. DING DING DING! We have a winner!

[sheelz]

37. Bush is a megalomaniac

1. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence..

2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.