# Bush says Bible is not literally true **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 11, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744 "2008-12-11T18:30:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/1 "2008-12-11T18:30:34Z")
In the recent ABC [Nightline Interview](http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/498658.aspx) with George W. Bush, he was asked by Cynthia McFadden asked Bush if the Bible was literally true. He replied: > [@](#): > > You know. Probably not. … No, I’m not a literalist, but I think you can learn a lot from it, but I do think that the New Testament for example is … has got … You know, the important lesson is ‘God sent a son’ For debate: Is this belief something that Bush essentially kept under wraps for the last 8 years? Was he previously pandering to the fundamentalist community, or have we just been unaware of his non-literalist leanings until now? Another question - will this harm his “legacy” among the fundamentalists, or will they just go “meh”. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/2 "2008-12-11T18:34:53Z")
I think he just blew his chance at re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/3 "2008-12-11T18:37:27Z")
Has anyone asked Obama if he believes the Bible is literally true, or is he pandering to the fundamentalists too? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/4 "2008-12-11T18:42:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Has anyone asked Obama if he believes the Bible is literally true, or is he pandering to the fundamentalists too? > > Regards, > Shodan I’m sorry, this thread is not about Obama’s beliefs. If you would like to start one, feel free. In the meantime, please do not hijack this thread with your usual tu quoque. (at least we can be thankful he did not bring up Clinton…) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/5 "2008-12-11T18:42:37Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Has anyone asked Obama if he believes the Bible is literally true, or is he pandering to the fundamentalists too? Was Obama elected with the aid of strong support from the religious right? He did get some significant support from religious voters which Democrats hadn’t enjoyed recently, but Obama isn’t pro-life and hasn’t pushed for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which are issues of import to social conservatives. I have no idea why you asked this question. That said, when I heard this I found I wasn’t surprised. Maybe a little surprised he admitted it (in the last days of his term, of course), but not surprised that he feels that way. It wouldn’t fit his personality, even if it did fit his social views. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/6 "2008-12-11T18:47:14Z")
Did Bush ever say in the past that he blieved the bible WAS literally true? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/7 "2008-12-11T18:49:01Z")
A minority of Christians are biblical literalists. I know it takes the fun out of Christ bashing, but that’s the case. It might be a sizable minority but biblical literalists are rarer than you might think. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/8 "2008-12-11T18:51:48Z")
Great. NOW he starts saying things that kind of make sense. Nice timing, George. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/9 "2008-12-11T18:52:13Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Did Bush ever say in the past that he blieved the bible WAS literally true? That’s what I’m not sure on… did he just say nothing and let people assume? Or what? And to **mswas** : I certainly apologize to you for the “Christ bashing” in my OP. It was certainly uncalled for. I wonder if you could answer the original question though; will this harm Bush’s legacy among those that are biblical literalists? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/10 "2008-12-11T18:57:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Has anyone asked Obama if he believes the Bible is literally true, or is he pandering to the fundamentalists too? > > Regards, > Shodan I rarely get involved in these discussions, but WHY do you do this? They asked you a question about Dub, not about Obama. Stop hijacking the discussion! Back Dub all you want but this never provides for a good discussion. **Euphonious Polemic** said it already. This is not a thread about Obama. Make a new thread. ETA: You are not the only one who does it, but you do it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/11 "2008-12-11T19:04:45Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > A minority of Christians are biblical literalists. I know it takes the fun out of Christ bashing, but that’s the case. It might be a sizable minority but biblical literalists are rarer than you might think. You can easily bash non-literalists. Literalists are utterly unimaginative and dim-witted, while non literalists are hypocrites for picking and choosing what they want to believe in their holy book. I find it interesting that Christians have a sense of persecution, considering they are the most powerful religion on the planet. When a Christian is eaten by a lion nowadays it’s usually a wealthy, fat, moron at a Safari Park. On topic: Bush was presumed to be really evangelical, but I suspect it was like the administration’s case for getting into Iraq. Lots of innuendo and people assumed what they wanted to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/12 "2008-12-11T19:17:10Z")
Apparently the fundamentalists are pissed [Video News - CNN](http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/12/11/am.intv.brody.bush.bible.cnn) (WARNING: video - curse you CNN for making so many of your stories by video only!) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/13 "2008-12-11T19:18:20Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > That’s what I’m not sure on… did he just say nothing and let people assume? Or what? Well, did people assume Bush thought the bible was literally true? He’s born-again and an evangelical, and that’s never been a secret, but as far as I know, nobody’s ever said he was a fundamentalist or a literalist. And he’s a United Methodist, which isn’t exactly a fundamentalist denomination. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/14 "2008-12-11T19:19:22Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > On topic: Bush was presumed to be really evangelical, but I suspect it was like the administration’s case for getting into Iraq. Lots of innuendo and people assumed what they wanted to believe. Not all evangelicals are literalists, remember. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/15 "2008-12-11T19:19:50Z")
> [@](#): > > I find it interesting that Christians have a sense of persecution, considering they are the most powerful religion on the planet. I’m sure that the thousands of Christians who have been starved to death in Sudan, shot in North Korea, imprisoned in Cuba, sent for “re-education” in China, and murdered or abused at other places around the world take great comfort from your interest. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/16 "2008-12-11T19:19:59Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > non literalists are hypocrites for picking and choosing what they want to believe in their holy book. I fail to see how this is hypocritical. That’s a common charge thrown out against believers and I think it’s absolutely intellectually dishonest - as you say, either they’re idiots for accepting the literal truth of a contradictory and metaphorical document, or they’re hypocrites or somehow dishonest for not believing every word of the story or of their particular religious authority. Members of non-religious groups aren’t generally held to that standard and it makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/17 "2008-12-11T19:24:14Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > I’m sure that the thousands of Christians who have been starved to death in Sudan, shot in North Korea, imprisoned in Cuba, sent for “re-education” in China, and murdered or abused at other places around the world take great comfort from your interest. You forgot to mention the war on christmas. Isn’t that important to you? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/18 "2008-12-11T19:25:28Z")
Please note: The “Christians are persecuted” “no they’re not” “yes they are” Thread and the “believers are hypocrites” “not they’re not” “yes the are” Thread are next door. Thank you for coming. Please see the OP for the topic of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/19 "2008-12-11T19:28:12Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > I’m sure that the thousands of Christians who have been starved to death in Sudan, shot in North Korea, imprisoned in Cuba, sent for “re-education” in China, and murdered or abused at other places around the world take great comfort from your interest. I thought martyrdom was a key tenet of their faith. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744/20 "2008-12-11T19:36:20Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > A minority of Christians are biblical literalists. I know it takes the fun out of Christ bashing, but that’s the case. It might be a sizable minority but biblical literalists are rarer than you might think. [One third](http://www.gallup.com/poll/27682/OneThird-Americans-Believe-Bible-Literally-True.aspx). Is that rare? I reckon it’s higher among Conservatives who supported Bush and McCain. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-bible-is-not-literally-true/476744.md?page=2)