The portrait of George W. Bush being anointed by Lincoln and Washington and framed by a cross is just one of many religious paintings by one Ron DiCianni. You can view his work here and, for the most part, it’s completely conventional spiritual artwork. But as with the anointing of Bush, some paintings suggest a fusion of American force and Christian theology that is troubling in a secular society, and especially in a war where we need to do everything we can to avoid the appearance of a "crusade." In that light, check out another painting by DiCianni above. It’s called "Chariots of Fire." It may spring from good motives, but it’s troubling to me to see the military so sectarianized.
The Dish 