President George W. Bush
Religious Affiliation: Methodist
Summary of Religious Views:
Views on Religion & Politics:
Quotations:
"Schools must never impose religion--but they must not oppose
religion either. And the federal government should not be an enemy
of voluntary expressions of faith by students.
"Religious groups have a right to meet before and after school.
Students have a right to say grace before meals, read their Bibles,
wear Stars of David and crosses, and discuss religion with other
willing students. Students have a right to express religious ideas
in art and homework." -- speech, Gorham, New Hampshire, 2 November
1999
"I'm a Methodist. I'm an active church member. . . . I attend
church, I like church . . . . I've heard great preachers, I've heard
not-so-great preachers. I love the hymns, I read the Bible daily. .
. . I pray on a daily basis. I've got a structure to my life where
religion plays a role. I understand religion is a walk, it's a
journey. And I fully recognize that I'm a sinner, just like you.
That's why Christ died. He died for my sins and your sins." --
"George W. Bush: Running on His Faith," US News Online
"I believe in tolerance, not in spite of my faith, but because of
it. I believe in a God who calls us, not to judge our neighbors, but
to love them." -- Acceptance Speech, Philadelphia, 3 August 2000
"Our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a
model to the world of justice and inclusion and diversity without
division. Jews and Christians and Muslims speak as one in their
commitment to a kind, just tolerant society." -- speech to B'nai
B'rith, 28 August 2000
"The state should not be the church, and the church should never
be the state. But we ought to welcome people of faith into the
political process." -- "God and the Governor," Charisma Magazine
interview, 29 August 2000
"I would describe myself as a man who was raised a Christian, who
sought redemption and found it in Jesus Christ. And that's important
by the way, for someone running for public office. It's a humbling
experience to make that admission. I admit I'm a lowly sinner. It's
that admission that led me to redemption and led me to Christ.
Without making that admission, I don't think there's such a thing as
redemption." -- interview with the Baptist Press, 31 August 2000
"My parents are Episcopal, I'm Methodist, my brother Jeb's a
Catholic. It's a religious blend of diversity, and I respect the
religious nature of our country." -- Catholic News Service
interview, 20 September 2000
"I support voluntary, student-led prayer and am committed to the
First Amendment principles of religious freedom, tolerance, and
diversity. Whether Mormon, Methodist, or Muslim, students in America
should be able to participate in their constitutional free exercise
of religion. I believe it is wrong to forcefully expunge any mention
of religion, or dilute its impact and importance, when discussing
world affairs. Religion is a personal, private matter and parents,
not public school officials, should decide their children's
religious training. We should not have teacher-led prayers in public
schools, and school officials should never favor one religion over
another, or favor religion over no religion (or vice versa). I also
believe that schools should not restrict students' religious
liberties. The free exercise of faith is the fundamental right of
every American, and that right doesn't stop at the schoolhouse
door." -- Associated Press questionnaire, October 2000
"And some needs and hurts are so deep they will only respond to a
mentor's touch or a pastor's prayer. Church and charity, synagogue
and mosque lend our communities their humanity, and they will have
an honored place in our plans and in our laws." -- Inaugural
Address, 20 January 2001
"Americans practice different faiths in churches, synagogues,
mosques and temples. And many good people practice no faith at all.
For those who observe Easter and Passover, faith brings confidence
that failure is never final, and suffering is temporary, and the
pains of the Earth will be overcome. We can be confident, too, that
evil may be present and it may be strong, but it will not prevail."
-- Radio Address to the Nation, 30 March 2002
"Justice and cruelty have always been at war, and God is not
neutral between them. His purposes are often defied, but never
defeated." -- Radio Address to the Nation, 30 March 2002
"I want to thank all who have worked hard to set this breakfast
up. It gives me a chance to come and remind us all that America has
many traditions of faith, and that's important to always remember.
"We have never imposed any religion, and that's really important
to remember, too. We welcome all religions in America, all
religions. We honor diversity in this country. We respect people's
deep convictions.
"We know that men and women can be good without faith. We know
that. We also know that faith is an incredibly important source of
goodness in our country. Throughout our history, Americans of faith
have always turned to prayer -- for wisdom, prayer for resolve,
prayers for compassion and strength, prayers for commitment to
justice and for a spirit of forgiveness.
"Since America's founding, prayer has reassured us that the hand
of God is guiding the affairs of this nation." -- Address to
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, 16 May 2002
"Baptists have had an extraordinary influence on American
history. They were among the earliest champions of religious
tolerance and freedom. Baptists have long upheld the ideal of a free
church in a free state. And from the beginning, they believed that
forcing a person to worship against his will violated the principles
of both Christianity and civility.
"What I found interesting is the Baptist form of church
government was a model of democracy even before the founding of
America." -- Remarks Via Satellite to the Southern Baptist
Convention 2002 Annual Meeting, 11 June 2002
"Since the earliest days of our Republic, Baptists have been
guardians of the separation of church and state, preserving the
integrity of both. Yet, you have never believed in separating
religious faith from political life. (Applause.) Baptists believe as
America's founders did: that religious faith is the moral anchor of
American life.
"Throughout history, people of faith have often been our nation's
voice of conscience. We all know that men and women can be good
without faith. And we also know that faith is an incredibly
important source of goodness in our country.
"True faith is never isolated from the rest of life, and faith
without works is dead. Our democratic government is one way to
promote social justice and the common good, which is why the
Southern Baptist Convention has become a powerful voice for some of
the great issues of our time." -- Remarks Via Satellite to the
Southern Baptist Convention 2002 Annual Meeting, 11 June 2002
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