Ron Suskind wrote, in The New York Times Magazine, a disturbing examination of President Bush’s faith. One of the many Mr. Suskind spoke with was Jim Wallis, of the Sojourners, who had worked with Mr. President during the transition. The article concludes
[Bush’s conversation with God] is what Jim Wallis wishes he could sit and talk about with George W. Bush. That’s impossible now, he says. He is no longer invited to the White House.
“Faith can cut in so many ways,” he said. “If you’re penitent and not triumphal, it can move us to repentence and accountability and help us reach for something higher than ourselves. That can be a powerful thing…. But when it’s designed to certify our righteousness — that can be a dangerous thing. Then it pushes self-criticism aside. There’s no reflection.
“Where people often get lost is on this very point,” he said after a moment of thought. “Real faith, you see, leads us to deeper reflection and not — not ever — to the thing we as humans so very much want.”
And what is that?
“Easy certainty.”