Letters to the Editor
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The comfort and security of knowing that you are right.
A few years ago I attended a seminar in Plano, Texas. I did not know , initially , that it was conducted by fundamentalist Christians. The experience opened my eyes as to the power of this type of thinking. The fundamentalist appeal is powerful, for it frees you from having to think.
For many people, our world is threatening and filled with uncertainty - which is a condition many find unbearable.
Thus the sweet and calming appeal of faith based religion. It is a truly astounding experience to be in a room with about 100 people and realize that thinking and investigating are absolutely out of the question. Questioning or challenging authority is unacceptable.
It was at this moment I understood the appeal of George W. Bush, as he exemplifies a totally faith-based, non rational approach to life and to governing.
Mike Huckabee is clearly in this tradition. It is not a lack of intelligence - but a limited approach to understanding how life truly works - that is the problem. There are no guarantees in life; you can believe in God and there will still be poor people, natural disasters, wars and general all around unwillingness for governments to cooperate. All the faith in the world will not stop people and their respective leaders from being difficult, irascible and just generally being a royal pain in the ass.
Mike Huckabee would be a huge mistake, as George Bush has already been, because their world view is too rigid and naive. Essentially, both men are unsophisticated and naive because they think that their grasp of the world is expansive and correct. History has proved them wrong.
Belief in the inerrancy of the New Testament is no substitute for understanding psychology, politics, regional differences, tribalism and having a general grasp of history.We are not electing a Sunday School teacher but someone who has a grasp of how things work in the real world of people and institutions.