Tempting faith : an inside story of political seduction

David Kuo came to Washington wanting to use his Christian faith to end abortion, strengthen marriage, and help the poor. He reached the heights of political power, ultimately serving in the White House under George W. Bush. It was a dream come true: the chance to fuse his politics and his faith, and an opportunity for Christians not just to gain a seat at the proverbial table but also to plan the entire meal. Yet his experience was deeply troubling. He had been seduced, just as so many evangelical conservatives had been seduced by politics. Tempting Faith is a wrenching personal journey and a heartfelt plea for a Christian reexamination of political and spiritual priorities. "David Kuo spent nearly three years as second in command at the president's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Yet his experience was deeply troubling. It took both the Bush White House and a severe health crisis to show him how his Christian values, and those of millions of Americans, were being corrupted by politics." "Instead of following the teachings of Jesus to serve the needy, Kuo found himself helping to manipulate religious faith for political gain. Public funds were used in battleground states, for Republican campaign events. The legislative process was used as a football, not to pass laws but to deepen purely symbolic fault lines. Grants were incestuously recycled to political cronies. Both before and after 9/11, despite lofty rhetoric from the president claiming that his faith-based program was one of his most important initiatives, there was no serious attempt to fund valuable charities. Worst of all was the prevailing attitude in the White House and throughout Washington toward Christian leaders. Key Bush aides and Republican operatives spoke of them with contempt and treated them as useful idiots. It became clear, during regular conference calls arranged from the White house with a key group of Christian leaders, that many of these religious leaders had themselves been utterly seduced by politics." "It is time, Kuo argues, for Christians to take a temporary step back from politics, to turn away from its seductions. Tempting Faith is equal parts expose, political and spiritual memoir, and plea for a Christian reexamination of political involvement."--BOOK JACKET David Kuo Came To Washington Wanting To Use His Christian Faith To End Abortion, Strengthen Marriage, And Help The Poor. He Reached The Heights Of Power, Ultimately Serving In The White House Under George W. Bush In The Office Of Faith-based And Community Initiatives. Yet His Experience Was Deeply Troubling--he Began To See How His Christian Values Were Being Corrupted By Politics. Instead Of Following The Teachings Of Jesus, Kuo Found Himself Helping To Manipulate Faith For Political Gain. The Legislative Process Was Used Not To Pass Laws But To Deepen Purely Symbolic Fault Lines. Despite Lofty Rhetoric From The President, There Was No Serious Attempt To Fund Valuable Faith-based Charities. Worst Of All Was The Prevailing Attitude Of Contempt In The White House And Throughout Washington Toward Christian Leaders. It Is Time, Kuo Argues, For Christians To Take A Temporary Step Back From Politics, To Turn Away From Its Seductions.--from Publisher Description. God, Politics, And Fishing -- Odd Fellows -- Buffalo Hunting -- The Last Acceptable Form Of Bigotry -- Struggling To Kneel -- Swirling... -- Just When I Thought I Was Out... -- Looking In All The Wrong Places -- Breaking Down Gates Of Bronze -- Tripping On Marble -- This Is The Whit House -- Sunny Days -- Politics Actually -- That's The Way We Do It, Baby -- Seeing Dimly, Seeing Clearly -- Reel Life -- Fast, Let's Fast. David Kuo. Includes Index. CONTENTS......Page 8 PROLOGUE......Page 10 God, Politics, and Fishing......Page 16 Odd Fellows......Page 36 Buffalo Hunting......Page 52 Struggling to Kneel......Page 84 Swirling. . .......Page 106 'Just When I Thought I Was Out. . ."......Page 122 Looking in All the Wrong Places......Page 138 Breaking Down Gates of Bronze......Page 150 Tripping on Marble......Page 166 This Is the White House......Page 182 Sunny Days......Page 198 Politics Actually......Page 214 That's the Way We Do It, Baby......Page 232 Seeing Dimly, Seeing Clearly......Page 248 Reel Life......Page 260 Fast, Let's Fast......Page 274 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 284 INDEX......Page 286 Charges the Bush administration with manipulating people of faith, documenting the White House's canvassing of religious leaders to promote judicial appointments and policy approvals regardless of moral content.