Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsQ & A: Jimmy Carter on his Faith-Filled Presidency
Since you've been able to write books like this, do you feel like you made a bigger difference as a Christian in your time as President or in your tenure as a former President?
One of the things that's a little bit embarrassing to me is the Bible that's going to come out with my comments. I'm not a theologian, I'm not a pastor, I'm just a layman. I think my influence on a global basis is probably greater since I left the White House. We've helped cure and prevent disease and promote freedom and human rights in an unrestricted way since I don't have political ties on me anymore. The last 25 years of my life have not only been the most enjoyable and gratifying, but where my influence has been greatest. Part of that is devoted to the little church in Plains where I'm able to teach.
Should evangelicals prioritize their time in areas other than politics, or does politics give them a platform to do other work?
I don't think there's any incompatibility. People who are religious should seek public office if they want to implement the teachings of their own religion and include that in secular life—that is peace, justice, equality, and the alleviation of suffering. The finest teachings of Mohammed, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Protestantism, or Catholicism are compatible where they advocate peace and sharing one's good fortune with those less fortunate. We can't equate democracy with Christianity because the largest democracy on earth is India, which is primarily Hindu. The third largest democracy is Indonesia, which is Islamic. Democracy and freedom are not dependent on Christian beliefs. As a Christian, I don't equate other religions with the impact or influence or supremacy or the Godship of Jesus Christ. Other believers promote similar beliefs in secular life. Our own individual Christian beliefs and the finest beliefs of Islam and Buddhism and Hinduism should be implemented in the promotion of peace, alleviation of suffering, and justice.
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Related Elsewhere:
Through the Year with Jimmy Carter, and the NIV Lessons from Life Bible are available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers.
Christianity Today also interviewed Gary Scott Smith on the faith of presidents. CT also has a new eBook, Faith and the American Presidency, available for Kindle and Nook.
Previous CT interviews with political figures include:
Michele Bachmann: 'It's High Time We Have a Mother in the White House' | Also, the GOP candidate from Minnesota tells CT about her new church. (November 22, 2011)
Q & A: Timothy Goeglein on Redemption After Plagiarism | The former aide to President George W. Bush explains ways to think theologically about repentance. (November 3, 2011)
Q & A: Ron Paul on Leaving the Episcopal Church, and Whether to Legislate Abortion, Narcotics, & Same-Sex Marriage | The congressman who won the Values Voters Summit straw poll tells CT that he believes marriage is a sacrament but laws cannot change morality. (October 10, 2011)
Q & A: Mitch Daniels on the Economy, His Quiet Faith, and a Social Issues Truce | Why the governor of Indiana is ambivalent about "compassionate conservatism," sees fiscal responsibility as a moral issue, and still wants a truce on social issues. (October 3, 2011)
Q & A: Rick Santorum on Muslims, Religious Freedom, and 'Walking' for President | The former senator from Pennsylvania talks about what he thinks Obama got right and becoming a target of the gay community. (April 5, 2011)
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Thomas Fox
Jimmie Carter was right to be against abortion. Thou shalt not kill is one of the 10 commandments. One problem I have with Jimmie Carter is the 6th commandment . Thou shalt not commit adultery. The homosexual adultery of Sodom destroyed Sodom . Lot and his daughters only escaped by being taken out of the city by the hand by heavenly messengers. We now have 12 states that allow homosexual civil union and or marriage. Rick Perry probably can not be president even for 4 years because he has strongly come out against homosexuality. Perry knows that we can not live as a nation if we allow the legalization of sodomy as we have in 12 states. Jimmie Carter has avoided the homosexual arguments as most politicians have making only one statement I could find about civil union. If our nation goes down as Rome and Sodom did, sodomy could be the greatest reason. I wish that Jimmie Carter would change his ways and help christians such as Rick Perry with this major homosexual/sodomy-Sodom problem.
Dan
I went through four years with Jimmy Carter when he was president. He did not inspire confidence in me then with his leadership skills (or lack thereof), and he doesn't inspire devotion in me now with his spirituality.
FredinOMaha
Yesterday it was with a heavy heart I read and even 'heard' the vitriolic anger directed by Chrisitans against another brother, Jimmy Carter because of disagreements over his political views. This morning I came to see what else had been said - some good thoughts and defense of a good and godly man. I encourage everyone to also read the interview with the Jew Paul Simon about the 3 hours he spent with John Stott. And, be sure to clikd the link to a 2004 piece on Stott written by David Brooks. Brooks' article is beautiful. He talks of a man who is both embracing and with a spine of steel. Humble, yet confident. Then Brooks the Jew describes accurately Scott's faith and conviction in Jesus as Lord. Remarkable. The unbeleiver gets it better than we do. Brooks said that Stott understood, "In many cases the truth is not found in the middle of apparent opposites, but on both extremes simultaneously." Ponder that! Perhaps the key to civility and grace with all.