The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HEADLINE: Faith is a unifying force
BYLINE: Bob Reccord

In this March 1 letter to the editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the president of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (Bob Reccord) criticizes Rev. Gaddy and Dr. Pagels for their commentary concerning President Bush's use of religious language. Reccord argues that the Bible and the Christian faith "have been the foundational basis of religious freedoms to all groups throughout the United States."

In this March 1 piece, David Lightman, the Washington Bureau chief of the Hartford Courant, explores the concerns over President Bush's use of religious language. Rev. Gaddy and Dr. Pagels are both quoted.

This March 1 column from the Toronto Star explores the use of religious language by President Bush, and quotes Dr. Pagels' contention that using the language of good and evil can only lead to "the victory of one side and the annihilation of the other."

These letters, which appeared in the News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana between February 27 and March 1, were written in response to a piece that chronicled the audio news conference and quoted Rev. Gaddy and Dr. Pagels regarding President Bush's use of religious language. In the letters, the readers argue that the President should not be criticized for injecting religious language into his remarks because he has the right to free speech and to express his beliefs. Some of the writers contend that Americans should be thankful for having a faithful person in the White House, and that citizens should pray for him and the future of the country.

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The Oregonian
HEADLINE: Putting a public face on private beliefs
BYLINE: Nancy Haught

In this March 2 piece from the Oregonian, Nancy Haught explores the concerns over the President's use of religious language. Haught quotes both Rev. Gaddy and Dr. Pagels in the piece.

This March 2 opinion piece from the Los Angeles Times questions the use of the term "moral certainty" as applied to the reasons why Americans might support a war in Iraq. The author of the piece, John Balzar, explores how it is often necessary in times of war to demonize an opponent by using moral language and quotes Dr. Pagels at the end of the article.

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Baptist Standard
HEADLINE: President's private faith undergoes public scrutiny
BYLINE: Marv Knox

This March 3 editorial from the Texas-based Baptist Standard website argues that while President Bush shouldn't be required to hide his faith, he must remember that he is "not national pastor to a single constituency." The writers also note that Bush's idea of righteousness "does not seem to extend to the root causes of international evil that inflict suffering on the poor and the powerless."

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Scripps Howard News Service
HEADLINE: Bush's faith out front as war nears
BYLINE: Bill Straub

In this March 5 Scripps Howard article, Bill Straub analyzes President Bush's use of religious language as the nation prepares for war.

Paul Kengor, a political science professor and contributor to National Review magazine, wrote this lengthy piece which appeared on the magazine's website on March 5. Kengor analyzes the importance of evangelical Christians in helping to elect President Bush, and how his faith influences his presidency.

This March 5 UPI wire piece focuses on how no major Christian theology supports the idea of a holy war -- despite the religious rhetoric used by President Bush surrounding the conflict with Iraq.

The Atlantic Unbound
HEADLINE: In the Name of God
BYLINE: Jack Beatty

Jack Beatty, a contributor to The Atlantic, analyzes President Bush's contention that God has chosen him to lead the United States against "evil" in this March 5 piece that appeared in Atlantic Unbound, the on-line component of the magazine.

In this March 5 opinion piece from the Springfield News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri, Ken Jones writes that theologians and religion professors "are deluded, dangerous people." After quoting Rev. Gaddy and Dr. Pagels from the audio news conference, he goes on to write that they "commit two grave errors." Jones, the pastor of Mound Baptist Church in Oldfield (Missouri), writes that President Bush is not promoting a particular church or sect when he makes biblical references, but "simply reading and quoting the Revelation of God." Jones also writes that religious pluralism in the United States is a "grave and shifty attempt to revise history and refute our Biblical heritage," claiming that "numbers show" less than 5 percent of the U.S. population professes any non-Christian religion.

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Newsweek
HEADLINE: Bush and God
BYLINE: Howard Fineman

This cover story—one of three pieces on the subject in the March 10 edition of Newsweek (which hit the stands on March 6)—is a "faith biography" revealing how President Bush has been influenced by his religious faith throughout his life, and how his faith has framed a world-view that has directly influenced foreign policy decisions.

Religious scholar Martin Marty wonders in this opinion piece—which accompanied Howard Fineman's Newsweek cover story—whether Bush has the requisite humility to see the complexities behind the present conflict with Iraq. Marty writes that theologians from a number of faith backgrounds have reminded us that demonization of an enemy—even by using the words of Jesus—can inhibit self-examination and repentance, which are critical components of any faith.

This Newsweek piece by Kenneth Woodward analyzes how presidents have used Scripture passages throughout the course of US history, and shows how "denominational labels no longer tell much about those who wear them." Woodward also ends the piece on a cautionary note, writing that the "danger of invoking God for any political or military purpose is the presumption that He is on our side."

This cover story from the March 10 edition of US News & World Report (published on March 6) also focuses on how President Bush believes that removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq is a moral imperative, and how his use of evangelical Christian language in his speeches reflects this belief.

This sidebar article from the March 10 edition of US News also analyzes how critics believe the President's use of religious language can be divisive and exclusionary. Jeffrey Sheler explains that while Bush's religious allies are comforted by his seeking out divine wisdom, others believe it is dangerous to apply theology to world events.

Catherine Bennett pokes fun at President Bush's affinity for a book of devotional readings in this March 6 piece from The Guardian in Great Britain. Bennett surmises that people can analyze which passages Bush read based on his activities on particular days during his administration.

This March 6 piece from Canada's Ottawa Citizen analyzes how President Bush is stepping up the religious rhetoric as he moves closer to a war with Iraq. The piece quotes several academics from Canada and the United States, including Rev. Gaddy, and analyzes how the President's supporters in the evangelical right wing support his use of such language.

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The Church of Ireland Gazette
HEADLINE: US President's use of religious language 'stifles debate'
BYLINE: Chris Herlinger

In this March 7 article from the Church of Ireland Gazette (published by the Anglican Church in Ireland), Chris Herlinger details the criticism of President Bush's use of religious language. Herlinger quotes Dr. Pagels and Rev. Gaddy directly on how the President's use of such language stifles political debate and can justify extreme acts, such as warfare.

Business Week Online
HEADLINE: Bush, the Bible and Iraq
BYLINE: Stan Crock

This opinion piece from Business Week Online analyzes President Bush's use of religious - and specifically biblical - language as the nation prepared for military conflict against Iraq. The author, Stan Crock, writes that Bush may use biblical language to justify and explain his position on the war, but the Bible itself is not the basis for his strategy -- and while such language strengthens his position with political allies in the United States, it also has corroded relations with important allies abroad.

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The Christian Century
HEADLINE: Bush religious rhetoric riles critics
BYLINE: John Dart

John Dart explores President Bush's use of religious rhetoric in this March 8 article from Christian Century magazine. Dart explains the controversy behind Bush's use of such language, and quotes Dr. Pagels and Rev. Gaddy from the audio news conference in addition to other religion professors and analysts.

March 9

San Jose Mercury News
HEADLINE: Bush's use of religious imagery divides faithful
BYLINE: Randy Myers (Contra Costa Times)

This March 9 article, which ran in the San Jose Mercury News, analyzes how some academics and analysts have concluded that President Bush's use of religious language is divisive, summarizing many of the points covered in the audio news conference (though not quoting Rev. Gaddy or Dr. Pagels directly). The article was written by Randy Myers of the smaller circulation Contra Costa Times.

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The Christian Century
HEADLINE: Bush's worldview

This March 10 editorial from The Christian Century magazine echoes Rev. Gaddy's contention that President Bush is acting like the nation's religious leader, not its political leader, when he uses religious language. The editorial notes that while American presidents have long used scripture in addressing the nation, Bush's religious rhetoric is unprecedented—and that the American people have a right to know how the President's faith is informing his public policies.

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The New York Times
HEADLINE: How a War Became a Crusade
BYLINE: Jackson Lears

This op-ed from the March 11 edition of the New York Times analyzes the "providential spirit" of President Bush's religious rhetoric, and compares it to other political and religious leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.. The author, Jackson Lears, writes that combat troops are often far less confident that "God is on the premises" than the political leaders who send them into battle.

Saint Paul Pioneer Press
HEADLINE: Faithful should try stealth to get to pious Bush
BYLINE: Laura Billings

This March 11 column from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press details how the leaders of the country's major religious groups and denominations - almost all of whom have taken a public stance against a war with Iraq - have not been able to meet with President Bush face-to-face to voice their views. Laura Billings concludes the column by asking if President Bush can be sure that God is on his side "when the leaders of this nation's faithful haven't had a chance to share their side."

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Chicago Sun-Times
HEADLINE: Praying is fine, but Bush should make up his own mind
BYLINE: Roger Ebert

In this March 13 op-ed from the Chicago Sun-Times, film critic Roger Ebert writes that the tone adopted during a press conference by President Bush is a direct reflection of his prayer tradition, whereby he has a dialogue with God through prayer. He concludes that as a result, Bush may no longer feel free to have opinions of his own on such matters, because although one may change one's mind, "God sure isn't going to change His."

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CBS News.com
HEADLINE: Jeeeee-Hawd! Bush's War Cry?
BYLINE: Dick Meyer

In this March 14 piece from the CBS News website, editorial director Dick Meyer writes that notions that President Bush is waging a holy war because of his use of religious language in policy speeches are "almost silly" and that he doesn't believe the President is a "religious nut." But he also writes that public people should keep their religion to themselves, and that the White House is being reckless in using religious rhetoric to "sell a war to a wary public" when so many in the Muslim world believe that Bush is launching a "new Crusade."

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The Manila Times
HEADLINE: Is President Bush too Christian—or not Christian enough?

This March 18 opinion piece from the Manila Times in the Philippines analyzes US media coverage of President Bush's use of religious language in speeches, especially noting coverage in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek and Business Week Online. The op-ed writer concludes that religion and foreign policy have "long been entwined in the United States" and that to argue a politician should decide policy in a moral or religious vacuum "is to ignore long-standing American traditions of its presidents and political leaders who have frequently used religious language."

The March 10 Newsweek cover story on "Bush and God" - which analyzed how President Bush is motivated by his personal faith and how he inserts religious rhetoric into policy speeches - generated over 800 reader responses. A selection of these letters were published in the March 24 issue of Newsweek, which appeared on newsstands on March 18.

In this March 18 piece from the New York Times, Alessandra Stanley analyzes President Bush's final warning to Saddam Hussein in a national television broadcast the night before. Stanley notes that Bush might have been "trying to avert concern that religious convictions steer his black-and-white worldview" since he avoided messianic language and used the word "evil" only once in the televised message. Stanley's note of the President's use of the word "evil" is a direct reflection of Dr. Pagels' expressed concern - articulated during the audio news conference - that the use of the word is loaded and potentially very dangerous.

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The South End
HEADLINE: Bush leads in good faith
BYLINE: Eric Czarnik

In this March 20 opinion piece from the South End, the student newspaper of Wayne State University in Detroit, Eric Czarnik writes that President Bush's use of religious rhetoric has been benign. After quoting Dr. Pagels as saying that "axis of evil" references demonize those who disagree with the President, Czarnik objects to such criticism by writing that "those who disagree" include people who have committed heinous acts, such as Saddam Hussein or North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

This March 20 piece from the Springfield News-Leader details how the conflict with Iraq may inspire religious debate, as many Muslims have interpreted the U.S.-led war as a step toward controlling the entire Arab world. The reporter, Linda Leicht, quotes Rev. Gaddy as saying that when political leaders like the President use moral language in speaking about military and political objectives, whoever opposes those objectives is "put in the awkward position of not just holding a different idea, but opposing righteousness."

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The New York Times
HEADLINE: With God On His Side
BYLINE: Garry Wills

In this March 30 piece from the New York Times Magazine, Northwestern University history professor Garry Wills explores how despite attempts to keep religion out of governmental actions, religious language always seems to sneak back into political and public discourse. Wills analyzes the historical use of religious rhetoric by American political leaders, and notes that the use of such rhetoric is always more prevalent during times of conflict and war.

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Religion & Culture: Meeting the Challenge of Pluralism focuses on the role of religion in shaping our lives and cultural values, and serving as a resource for positive social change.

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