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New Book Labels Bush "Phony Christian"
In his latest book Jumbotron Jesus: An Examination of the Evangelical Movement, noted theologian Father Alvin Freedkin raises serious questions about the current melding of politics and religion. DeadBrain sat down with Father Freedkin to explore themes in the book.
Q: In Chapter 3 of Jumbotron Jesus you call President Bush a phony Christian. What do you mean by that?
A: Phony may be strong but not totally inaccurate. One of the concerns I raise in this book is the apparent ease with which cooption of the Evangelical movement may occur for personal political gain. Almost anyone can say, in effect, "I am one of you; therefore you can believe anything I say." President Bush is dangerously close to this type of behavior.
Q: That's a strong assertion. What makes you think it is the case?
A: I am concerned about those who come to Christianity in an alcoholic or drug-induced stupor. Christ should not become a substitute or surrogate intoxicant for those people. I put the President in this category. Second, what is implied in coming to Christianity in this manner is a presumptive absence of individual thought. After all, God didn't give us a brain for nothing.
Q: You imply there is some danger here. How so?
A: Remember that in the United States when a President is sworn in he swears to uphold the Constitution, not the Bible that is used in the ceremony. Failing to separate the two [faith and state] damages both. It enhances neither. More importantly, to bring an individual's personal religious view to public office as a matter of public policy has the danger of imputing a particular religion to the national dialogue, let alone that that religion be the only one acceptable. This can lead to intolerance. Christianity comes in many flavors.
Q: What would you say to the President if you could?
A: He needs to cut the coded rhetoric, the use of which corrodes both faith and state. It's a formula for good intentions gone woefully wrong, some of which we are beginning to see already.
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