Most people are probably aware that religion is very important in President George W. Bush's life and in the development of his policies. Bush reads the Bible daily and biblical language influences the language he uses. But is this for good or for ill?

Peter Schweizer and Rochelle Schweizer write in the Los Angeles Times:

"George sees this as a religious war," one family member told us. "He doesn't have a PC view of this war. His view is that they are trying to kill the Christians. And we the Christians will strike back with more force and more ferocity than they will ever know." Critics charge that the president is blindly engaged in a crusade, propelled by a belief in Armageddon that will end in a geopolitical disaster. One has compared his faith to the fundamentalists of Islam. Another calls it downright "frightening." Do we have something to fear from Bush's obviously strongly held convictions?

The president's interpretation of Jesus' parables directly influences his moral vision for foreign policy. Rejecting the notion of realpolitik — that cold, hard self-interest should be the sole guide of policy — Bush embraces the idea that the United States has a moral obligation to help those in trouble. ... Even those who don't share Bush's religious convictions should see them as a good thing. His faith compels him to wrestle with ethical questions that less religious men might simply ignore.

The Schweizers are correct to emphasize the importance of religion in Bush's life and decisions - and they are gratuitously offensive for suggesting that there is something about being less religious that would cause a person not to wrestle with ethical questions as much as Bush does. This is a common prejudice among the religious - and a sad one, for it betrays a fundamental lack of understanding about religion and irreligion.

Read More:

• Religion 101
• Philosophy of Religion
• Books on Religion and Religious Beliefs