January 23, 2006
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True Believer
Gary Wills in TNYRB on Jimmy Carter’s religion:
His attendance at church was not announced; we reporters had to ferret that out by ourselves. Carter is an old-fashioned Baptist, the kind that follows the lead of the great Baptist Roger Williams — that is, he is the firmest of believers in the separation of church and state. Unlike most if not all modern presidents, he never had a prayer service in the White House. His problem, back then, was not that he paraded his belief but that he believed. All this can seem quaint now when professing religion is practically a political necessity, whether one believes or not. There is now an inverse proportion between religiosity and sincerity.
I know at least a few Snarkmarket readers will totally dig the Roger Williams reference. Rhode Island whaaat!
Posted January 23, 2006 at 2:26 | Comments (2) | Permasnark
File under: Briefly Noted, Society/Culture
File under: Briefly Noted, Society/Culture
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Comments
I don't know if you had me in mind with that list, but I am definitely a fan of the founder of Rhode Island.
It makes me think of the verse of a song:
"New England was a simple place then.
Roger Williams changed all that.
He started to preach toleration;
He and Winthrop had a spat.
I'm going to Rhode Island and I'm never coming back!"