June 20, 2008

The Odd Couple; Belief vs. Religion; The Accidental Life

By EVAN R. GOLDSTEIN

On January 20, 1997, Bill Clinton placed his hand on an old family Bible and took the oath of office for a second term as president. The Bible was open to Isaiah 58:12, which reads, in part: "Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." The president chose that passage to represent his aspiration to heal and unite the country. And during the inaugural ceremonies, he made numerous verbal