By NATALIE ANGIER
Added: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Florian Widder for the link.

Reposted from:
http://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20010114mag-atheism.html

This article was published January 14th, 2001.

At a time when religion pervades every aspect of public life, there's something to be said for a revival of pagan peevishness.

In the beginning -- or rather, at the end of a very lo-o-ng beginning -- George W. Bush made an earnest acceptance speech and urged our nation to "rise above a house divided." He knows, he said, that "America wants reconciliation and unity," and that we all "share hopes and goals and values." After his speech he reached out, up and down and across aisles, to embrace Republicans, Democrats, Naderites, Palm Beach Buchananites, the disaffected, the disinclined.

The only problem was what President-elect Bush wanted from me and "every American." "I ask you to pray for this great nation," he said. "I ask your prayers for leaders from both parties," and for their families too, while we're at it. Whatever else I might have been inclined to think of Bush's call for comity, with his simple little request, his assumption that prayer is some sort of miracle Vicks VapoRub for the national charley horse, it was clear that his hands were reaching for any hands but mine.

Click here to continue the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20010114mag-atheism.html

TAGGED: POLITICS, RELIGION