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Divine politics
In "The Stillborn God," a history of the separation of church and state, Mark Lilla urges the West to remember the religious fanaticism in its past -- or risk its return.
By Laura Miller [2007-09-24]

  • Messianic political cults are a "thing of the past?"

    Not the very distant past. In fact, as recently as the Presidential election of 2004, I remember hearing things that sounded suspiciously like claims that Bush was God's annointed vessel on earth. One speaker at a rally introduced him with remarks culminating in the sentences "I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe in George Bush." Later he explained to Bush that he would have said more, but the people in the audience knew what he meant (wink, wink). If Bush's colossal ineptitude has one bright side, it's that perhaps he has sunk the cult of divine leadership again, although it may pop back up sooner than we'd like.

    -- Susan Wood
    [Read Susan Wood's other letters]
    Sunday, September 23, 2007 06:44 PM
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