Bush and Religion... Germany's Schroeder's View

Much has been made of David Kuo's recent book about his experiences as part of President Bush's faith initiative team. Kuo has made news because he's asserted that many of those around Bush, especially Karl Rove, referred disparagingly to fundamentalists and apparently used fundamentalists to further the Bush agenda.

German President Gerhard Schroeder also has a book out. In it he says that Bush was always talking about being "g0d-fearing." ...

According to al-Jazeera online:

While meetings with Bush at that time were friendly, Schroeder writes, he could not reconcile himself with the feeling that religion was the driving force behind many of the president's political decisions.

"What bothered me, and in a certain way made me suspicious despite the relaxed atmosphere, was again and again in our discussions how much this president described himself as 'God-fearing,"' Schroeder wrote, adding he was a firm believer in the separation of church and state.

...

"We rightly criticise that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated," he added.

"But we fail to recognize that in the USA, the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies".

On Kuo's book, and Bush and religion in general, Eteraz has his usual insightful experience to add.