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 10
... human nature, the basis of salvation, the locus of government power, the role of government, how justice is achieved, economic perspective, and preferred rate and type of change. Dunn uses this paradigm to classify American presidents ...
... human nature, the basis of salvation, the locus of government power, the role of government, how justice is achieved, economic perspective, and preferred rate and type of change. Dunn uses this paradigm to classify American presidents ...
Page 11
... human experience'': human nature, ''moral values and actions,'' ''society and one's place in it,'' ''knowledge and understanding,'' and transcendence.35 They determine what people believe about God, humanity, society, and ethics ...
... human experience'': human nature, ''moral values and actions,'' ''society and one's place in it,'' ''knowledge and understanding,'' and transcendence.35 They determine what people believe about God, humanity, society, and ethics ...
Page 22
... human expectation.''2 The colonel wrote to Robert Jackson two weeks later, ''See the wondrous works of Providence! The uncertainty of Human things!''3 Preaching to a volunteer company of militia, Presbyterian minister Samuel Davies ...
... human expectation.''2 The colonel wrote to Robert Jackson two weeks later, ''See the wondrous works of Providence! The uncertainty of Human things!''3 Preaching to a volunteer company of militia, Presbyterian minister Samuel Davies ...
Page 25
... human affairs and held instead that he regularly shaped and molded history.27 Others use the term ''enlightened deist'' to describe Washington and some of the other founders.28 Perhaps a better label for what Washington and other like ...
... human affairs and held instead that he regularly shaped and molded history.27 Others use the term ''enlightened deist'' to describe Washington and some of the other founders.28 Perhaps a better label for what Washington and other like ...
Page 26
... of church attendance, attitude toward worship and the sacraments, and views of the Bible, prayer, God, Christ, salvation, human nature, and life after death all help substantiate this claim. During 26 faith and the presidency.
... of church attendance, attitude toward worship and the sacraments, and views of the Bible, prayer, God, Christ, salvation, human nature, and life after death all help substantiate this claim. During 26 faith and the presidency.
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