Bush, President or Minister?

Before rising from bed to bring coffee to his wife, First Lady Laura, President George W. Bush prays and reads the Bible. The book of Psalms is his favorite. He also reads ‘My Utmost for His Highest,’ a book of evangelist teachings by Pastor Oswald Chambers. The book conveys the teachings of the Prophet Isaiah that “God writes all lives and history.”

He prescribes Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as “evil” and it is the intention of God to punish what’s evil. During the Gulf War in 1991, when his father and former President George Bush was pointed out by an Anglican bishop that war was against God’s intentions, he ordered his staff to find biblical evidence from works by theologians such as St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas that argued for a ‘just war.’

But for George junior, this all seems unnecessary. To him, President Hussein is evidently and unmistakably “evil”. And listening to President Bush’s religious rhetoric makes some Americans unsure if they really voted for a president or a pastor.

The Christian Church is also voicing their opinions against war with Iraq. But Bush belongs to a more fundamental and radical school of evangelism. He started going to Bible study meetings in 1975, became a devout believer, and believes that it was with God’s help that he was able to stop drinking.

Following his daily prayers and bible readings, he runs several kilometers and strength trains with weights before he starts his official schedule at 7 a.m. As soon as he gets to the Oval Office, he asserts the legitimacy of war with Iraq and calls leaders from around the world for their cooperation.

When he works during the day, he looks dark and burdened. It is hard to find his characteristic smiles and practical jokes, as war with Iraq becomes more imminent. The White House is full of reverence though. Bible study meetings are held in many places. Chief Secretary Andrew Card’s wife is a Methodist minister, and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice’s father was also a minister.

After work Bush rarely has evening dinner parties but when he does, he has a glass of cola and finishes eating by 10 p.m. He then usually reads a 6 to 10 page report written by his advisor Rice, and a short memo by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Then he goes straight to sleep. He has a book to read in the morning that is far more important than staying up late.

Eun-Taek Hong euntack@donga.com