Right wing pundit George Will, usually an apologist for the Republicans (but not so bootlicking as Limbaugh-Hannity-Coulter), is apparently a little scared of the fierce firestorm of religious crusading fervor surrounding the Republican Party and the President.

George Will has written a cautionary column, reminding the faithful that our Constitution forbids religious tests.

He has also reminded the faithful that many years ago, Presidents did not feel it necessary to end all speeches with “God Bless America”.

And he says that unbelievers are so numerous that they would make up the second largest state in the Union.

Oh, and one more thing —- He points out the hypocrisy (but doesn’t call it that) of Rev Pat Robertson. Robertson declared that Rudy Guiliani would make a fine president, despite his support for gay rights and abortion rights. Of course, Robertson has convinced the faithful that you’ll go to hell if you vote for a pro-choice Democrat, but apparently he feels that a pro-choice Republican is fine. The Republican Party, as the theocrat party, is ok regardless, apparently.

And so, even George Will, the Republican apologist, seems to be running a little bit scared of the intense religious fervor, and is trying to do his part to cool down the passions.

He fears how out of control things can become when religious fever overtakes the masses. Just look at the Middle East. He does not actually state those fears - he’d piss off too many people. But his fears are an obvious underscore to his cautionary writing.

The Christian Complex

The Christian Complex

By George F. Will

Thursday, May 5, 2005; Page A25

The state of America’s political discourse is such that the president has felt it necessary to declare that unbelievers can be good Americans. In last week’s prime-time news conference, he said: “If you choose not to worship, you’re equally as patriotic as somebody who does worship.”

So Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes and a long, luminous list of other skeptics can be spared the posthumous ignominy of being stricken from the rolls of exemplary Americans. And almost 30 million living Americans welcomed that presidential benediction.

. . .

Unbelievers should not cavil about this acknowledgment of majority sensibilities. But Republicans should not seem to require, de facto, what the Constitution forbids, de jure: “No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust.”