Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. BushIn the wake of the 2004 election, pundits were shocked at exit polling that showed that 22% of voters thought 'moral values' was the most important issue at stake. People on both sides of the political divide believed this was the key to victory for George W. Bush, who professes a deep and abiding faith in God. While some fervent Bush supporters see him as a man chosen by God for the White House, opponents see his overt commitment to Christianity as a dangerous and unprecedented bridging of the gap between church and state. In fact, Gary Scott Smith shows, none of this is new. Religion has been a major part of the presidency since George Washington's first inaugural address. Despite the mounting interest in the role of religion in American public life, we actually know remarkably little about the faith of our presidents. Was Thomas Jefferson an atheist, as his political opponents charged? What role did Lincoln's religious views play in his handling of slavery and the Civil War? How did born-again Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter lose the support of many evangelicals? Was George W. Bush, as his critics often claimed, a captive of the religious right? In this fascinating book, Smith answers these questions and many more. He takes a sweeping look at the role religion has played in presidential politics and policies. Drawing on extensive archival research, Smith paints compelling portraits of the religious lives and presidencies of eleven chief executives for whom religion was particularly important. Faith and the Presidency meticulously examines what each of its subjects believed and how those beliefs shaped their presidencies and, in turn, the course of our history. |
From inside the book
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Page v
... church and state, the use of religious language, and God's relationship with the United States. Numerous indicators (recent elections, polls, levels of church attendance and charitable giving, and the numbers and impact of parachurch ...
... church and state, the use of religious language, and God's relationship with the United States. Numerous indicators (recent elections, polls, levels of church attendance and charitable giving, and the numbers and impact of parachurch ...
Page 4
... church and state.''2 Charles Krauthammer contended in Time that Reagan had crossed ''the line that in a pluralist society divides civil discourse from demagoguery.'' Claire Randall, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches ...
... church and state.''2 Charles Krauthammer contended in Time that Reagan had crossed ''the line that in a pluralist society divides civil discourse from demagoguery.'' Claire Randall, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches ...
Page 5
... church members, and all of them attended church at least occasionally and ''considered themselves in some sense to be Christians.'' Every inaugural address, except George Washington's very brief second one, acknowledged God and invoked ...
... church members, and all of them attended church at least occasionally and ''considered themselves in some sense to be Christians.'' Every inaugural address, except George Washington's very brief second one, acknowledged God and invoked ...
Page 12
... Church and State Since Christianity began, Western societies have struggled with how the church and the state should be related.38 The American colonies rejected the idea of clerical rule and, following the example of Protestant ...
... Church and State Since Christianity began, Western societies have struggled with how the church and the state should be related.38 The American colonies rejected the idea of clerical rule and, following the example of Protestant ...
Page 13
... churches (denominations) and three levels of government—federal, state, and local—the relationship between institutional religion and the state has been complicated. The perceived ideal relationship between church and state has varied ...
... churches (denominations) and three levels of government—federal, state, and local—the relationship between institutional religion and the state has been complicated. The perceived ideal relationship between church and state has varied ...
Contents
3 | |
21 | |
53 | |
Saving the Last Best Hope of Earth | 91 |
4 Theodore Roosevelt and the Bully Pulpit | 129 |
Presbyterian Statesman | 159 |
6 Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Quest to Achieve an Abundant Life | 191 |
7 Dwight David Eisenhower Dynamic Conservatism and the Religious Revival of the 1950s | 221 |
The First Catholic President | 259 |
First Servant of the Nation | 293 |
Making America Gods Shining City on a Hill | 325 |
A FaithBased Presidency | 365 |
Conclusion | 415 |
Notes | 431 |
Index | 635 |
Other editions - View all
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
abortion Abraham Lincoln administration American argued Baptist believed Bible biblical Billy Graham Bush Bush’s campaign Catholic Christ Christian church Civil Religion claimed Clergy Letters Congress conservative contended David declared Democratic divine Eisenhower Eisenhower’s election evangelical faith faith-based federal foreign policy Franklin Franklin Roosevelt freedom George W George Washington God’s Graham human ibid Inaugural Address insisted Iraq issues James Jesus Jewish Jews Jimmy Carter John July June justice Kennedy Kennedy’s leaders liberty Methodist ministers moral National National Religious Broadcasters pastor peace political PPF 21A pray Prayer Breakfast Presbyterian president Presidential Protestant quotation Quoted relationship Republican Robert role Ronald Reagan separation of church Sept sermons slavery social Soviet speeches spiritual Theodore Roosevelt theological Thomas Jefferson United University Press urged vote White House William Woodrow Wilson wrote York