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The author analyzes U.S. President George W. Bush's use of religious language, arguing that Bush uses religious discourse to further his own political ends. When Bush decided to run for office, political strategist Karl Rove helped him make the link with the evangelical sector. While other candidates were discussing polemical themes, Rove advised him that it was much better for him to simply speak about his faith. Bush presented himself as "a man with Jesus in his heart." Politically, Bush's discourse has been very effective, but theologically the results have been more problematic, as evident in particular in three areas. Manicheism: This ancient heresy divides all of reality in two: Absolute Good and Absolute Evil. But on the day after 9/11, the President first stated the position he would continue to maintain: "This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail." Messianism: As he declared in his 2003 State of the Union address, the nation must go forth to "confound the designs of evil men," because "our calling, as a blessed country, is to make the world better." Bush does not seem to have much hesitation in identifying God with his own project. Manipulation of Prayer: It is remarkable how closely Bush's discourse coincides with that of the false prophets of the Old Testament. While the true prophets proclaimed the sovereignty of Yahweh, the God of justice and love who judges nations and persons, the false prophets served Baal, who could be manipulated by the powerful. Karl Marx concluded that religion is "the opium of the people." How paradoxical, and how sad, that the President of the United States, with his heretical manipulation of religious language, insists on proving Karl Marx right.
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