RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Bush is as entitled to his religious beliefs as much as anyone is in my view. If he gets comfort and good feelings out of his faith that's fine with me. I don't like the enormous influence of the hardline fundies though, to me they are THE single most intolerant, self- righteous, preachy bunch in the country, and the whole Bob Jones incident simply enraged me. I mean come on-John Hagee? Pat Robertson? Fred Phelps? What the hell year is this, 1892? Why the hell do such rampant bigots have such power? Don't you people get it yet? There's a hell of a lot of Americans who ain't white, aren't Christian, or are another sort of Christian, or some other combination that doesn't gell with nativism and your interpretation of The Bible. It's a changing world, face it, most people don't believe in burning Beatles albums or Harry Potter books. If that's what you wanna do, fine, then do it, but DON'T expect everyone else to meekly go along with it. This isn't 1924 anymore, there isn't gonna be any more Know Nothings or Henry Cabot Lodge like beliefs anymore. This whole thing about good wholesome Protestant work ethic and nativist impulses and all that is gonna be OVER soon. The country's changing demographically-deal with it. I don't really think Bush himself is truly prejudiced against other faiths, but I for one am not hoodwinked by his cynical vote -seeking appearance at that abomination of a so called school nor the false stuff that was spread about McCain by some of his campaign people down there.

Wow, the hatred that is spewed out here. I guess you have to have thick skin to be in politics which is why I am not...Thank God....Oops , I guess that makes me a religious fanatic.

religious fanatic: anyone who doesn't believe in the liberal PC doctrine. Guess what? Every belief is a belief. Secular religions have led to more deaths and mayhem than any religious war in history. Tolerance and loving thy brother- even the sinner are all Christian doctrines. Where is the debate on the liberal side? There is none! At the heart of every liberal is a despot in wait. You guys sure are intolerant of the religious! Censor! Slander! Remove them from every area of society! Force them to keep their beliefs cornered up in their homes! Only you the irreligious liberals should have the power to control thought and actions in public- but wait... that sounds like tyranny to me, no? Who exactly are the fanatics here? Update: Mango, Very few Christian theologies still profess the belief that all non-Christians are going to hell. The Catholic Church through it's recent encylicals has taught that it is more important to act virtuous in accordance with Natural Law principles than necessarily professing allegiance to a particular religion. Only very few fundamentalist Churches still behold the belief that everyone who is not Christian shall perish in the pits of HELL. I can assure you if you asked George Bush if he thought a virtuous Muslim or Jew were going to heaven he would reply yes... as would I. Conversely ask a liberal what he thinks of people who don't agree with his ideology and he'll immediately call for that person's excommunication from the public square with a slanderous denunciation- racist... homophobe.. hater of the poor... extremist...imperialist... ignoramous. Liberals are the most intolerant people on the planet because their minds are limited by their definition of freedom.

UPDATE2: The First Amendment...does not say that in every respect there shall be a separation of Church and State. ... Otherwise the state and religion would be aliens to each other -- hostile, suspicious, and even unfriendly. ... The state may not establish a 'religion of secularism' in the sense of affirmatively opposing or showing hostility to religion, thus preferring those who believe in no religion over those who do believe. --Justice William Douglas. I think he described the future and what HAS happened today. Smart guy. UPDATE: Sorry, Iggy, no such wording exists in the US Constitution. Separation of church and state just isn't in there. I've looked. ORIGINAL COMMENT 1/24/05: Nah, this is just an easy, brainless way of characterizing a US President you don't like. It's amusing how name-calling brings out the religious expert in all these non-religious raters. He's a zealot because he is unashamed to believe in God and attend religious services? He justified a war with his religion? HE acts like a christian? Why the audacity! Here's a challenge: name one of Bush's major initiatives (Afghan War, Social Security Reform, Income Tax reform, Iraq War, No Child bill, etc.) which HE connected with HIS faith. Connect the dots to back up your characterization.

Only a hypocritical religious fanatic would be pro-life yet conduct a phony war that kills over 10,000 (and counting) civilians. No alleged follower of Christ could possibly be taken seriously under such circumstances. Hey folks, at least Muslims don't pretend to be something they are not. . .

I'm not so sure he's a religious fanatic-but he is under their influence to the point of endangering our civil rights.The separation of church and state is being violated.

He is a religious fanatic because he praises God for his many blessings and acknowledges we are, in fact, one nation under God? wow, am I missing something here? Do the Lib's criticize Clinton or Kerry for their passionate comments in relation to God? of course not, why, that would be treason! Give me a break and I do mean break me off a piece of that Kit Kat Bar!

By American standards, I wouldn't say he was a religious fanatic, but he does take his faith seriously. It's no worse than anti-religious fanatic to me.

This aspect REALLY ticks me off about Bush. I am a christian too. I don't take it very seriously but I am and always will be a Catholic Christian. I'm from New Jersey, and things here are very diverse. All kinds of ethnic groups and stuff, and were proud of it. Thats what America is supposed to be like. Tolerant of other religions and cultures. In Texas, I don't think they've got the same message, or at least Bush doesn't. He goes up and talks about religion and Christianism and stuff, and America has a good percentage of people who ain't Christian! This is what I really hate about him! He just thinks that everyone who is not a Christian can go **** themselves and that if your not a christian your an idiot. I know thats the conservative way of thinking. Well guess what! THIS IS STINKIN' AMERICA! WHERE WE ARE KNOWN FOR BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT OTHER CULTURES AND ARE KNOWN FOR BEING DIVERSE! AND BUSH COMES UP AND ACTS ALL CHRISTIAN! Please, it's not right for America. That's one huge reason why Bush is easily the worst president in American history.

He is a religous fanatic, but in the way that America percieves Christianity- the twisted malcontented form. He has this notion that America is God's favorite country, so if anyone opposes us, they're wrong. All in all, he's not a very good Christian if all he does is wage war. Whatever happened to love thy neighboor or love the sinner, hate the sin? Out the door.

George Bush isn't, but it appears that quite a few people in this country are. UPDATE TO LANCEROXAS AND BIGBABY: And through a Christian's eyes, anyone non-Christian is going to hell.

he is this for certain. i always thought it would be scary once one of those sick in the head born-agains got into the White HOuse. boy was i right.

I don't think he's a religious fanatic exactly, but he shouldn't be running an all-religion country through ultimately Christian eyes. We're not all Christian....

If he uses the Bible and God to execute a war that would make him a fanatic in my book.

Oh Ralph, how would you know how ignorant Xians are? I'll bet you haven't set foot in a Xian church in years if ever and I'll also wager that you have never had a conversation with a Xian beyond trying to tell them how stupid they are - an approach which as we all know tends to really set the stage for meaningful discourse. Are you Xian-Phobic or what? I think Bush is way less fanatic about his CHRISTianity than some people around here are fanatically obsessed with hating it. Get a new hobby.

Some people have such a dislike for Christianity that they will call ANY Christian believer a religious fanatic. Bush is a Christian, but he hardly wears it on his sleeve. Perhaps people would like for him to be totally silent about his faith, for political reasons. But if he puts Christ first, he can't be completely silent.

Not a fanatic just because he has faith in god doesnt mean he is a religious fanatic.

Solenoid has got in right. In liberals mind, any Christian is a fanatic and a right wing nut.