"The real theological problem in America today is no longer the Religious Right but the nationalist religion of the Bush administration—one that confuses the identity of the nation with the church, and God's purposes with the mission of American empire."

Yes, Amos, but put the quotes they use to "prove" this about Bush up against any speech by Lincoln, FDR or Churchill immediately after a major crisis. The language is nearly identical. With a reason. That's how leaders are supposed to sound at times like that. If he didn't sound confident, he'd be as useless as a leader as Carter was (great ex-President though he is).

Bush's "nationalist religion" doesn't even compare to the jingoism of Presidents past whose wars were not "pre-emptive" only because of the flimsiest of pretexts. The religious tint is limited to some figures of speech and something so outrageous as proposing that some social services might be funded through charities that have religious connections. There are two social issues where some claim his position is relgiously based, but there his own denomination is evenly divided on the issues, as is the rest of the nation. The case for this argument just doesn't hold up.

Ellenpoly, no I don't know your history. Whatever it is, you don't have the right to tar 70% of the population with tripe no more substantial than this.