[MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS][RELIGION] Billy Graham and the Presidents

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Did any of you see the special 20/20 episode on Billy Graham a few weeks 
ago?  It was very interesting.  Here's some info:

http://www.google.com/search?q=20%2F20+billy+graham

The most interesting aspect was that Graham believes that Presidents of 
the United States are chosen by God.  The Presidents either have similar 
beliefs or they play along because they think it helps their public image. 
I thought we had gotten passed the days where our leader was God's 
representative on Earth.  I thought GWB was unusual in his religiosity. 
But if you believe the show, most, if not all, recent Presidents were like 
that -- believing that through prayers they can connect with God and 
receive direction.  This is a little worrisome, isn't it?

The reason it is worrisome is that when a person prays he is not being 
guided by some supreme being, or at least there is no reason to think that 
he is and there is no way to know that he is.  So we end up with a man who 
believes that his thoughts have been planted in his head by an omniscient 
God and I would think that he might become a little overconfident.  I 
mean, why rely on expert advisors who have dedicated their lives to 
analyzing certain problems in economics or international affairs if you 
can go straight to an omniscient God for an answer?  I hope that even the 
religious readers of this list can see why that possibility is a bit 
disturbing to most reasonable people.

For the religionists:  What would happen if we had a President who is not 
very good at praying and he never really makes the connection?  He ends up 
following his own advice as if it had come from God.  Or what if we have a 
President who hears God and Satan, but he chooses Satan and tells us he's 
working for God.  How do you know?  I think the answer is that we have to 
ignore Presidential religiosity, or claimed religiosity, and push for a 
President who selects excellent advisors and follows their advice.

Mike

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