Is Bush's fondness for fundamentalism courting disaster at home and abroad?

Question

Affinity with the Christian right has led to banning stem cell research and turning a blind eye to civilian deaths in Lebanon.

Do you agree with this British assessment:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1833809,00.html

Answer 1

Yes. One of the primary problems with the Republican fixation of courting the "religious right" is that it has served to polarize their constituency ... creating a situation where they MUST appease the religious notions of their base or risk losing power.

This is very evident when you see/hear of Republican members from Congress appearing on The 700 Club praising Pat Robertson, an individual whose ideas/thoughts/actions should be considered harmful and condemned by both major parties.

The Republicans have created a unfortunate situation for themselves ... one in which they are controlled by religious fanaticism rather than serving the interests of the people as a whole.

Answer 2

I like the original way you put the quesion best. Yes I believe I agree his fundamentalist policies are ruining our foreign relationships. I can't wait for him to leave office. But on the other hand fundamentalism is not christianity. It is legalism. It is taking god's comandments for the individual and placing them as law on everyone else. God gave us free will to choose if we want to love him or not. By making his comandments into law again we are trying to undo the effects of what jesus did on the cross.
A lot of weaker christians don't realize that they are doing the wrong thing by supporting his fundamentalist policies. They think, okay the bible says homosexuality is wrong so we should definitely ban it. They accept things like this out of fear that if they don't ban gay marraige and stem cell research they are espousing themselves with sin.
Sorry for ranting I could go on and on but to simply answer your question I would say, 'yes.'

Answer 3

The Guardian is such a bastion of politically correct blather, I don't trust anything they print. Especially when it comes to religious issues (Except Islam, which they support.)

Here's a news flash for you: Bush is a Methodist. Methodists are hardly fundamentalists. In fact, the United Methodist church is largely liberal. And while Bush is conservative, politically and theologically, he could hardly be called a fundamentalist. Evangelical for sure, but not fundamentalist.

Even my source, the liberal Seattle Post-Intelligencer, confirms this.

Answer 4

Not courting, he already IS a disaster! Just skimmed the article, but yes, I'm inclined to agree.

What a total disgrace Bush is.

Answer 5

Maybe. But I'm sure they like Democrats better.