The New York Times Sunday Magazine will run a cover feature Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum this week, which will offer all kinds of interesting thoughts and perspectives, including a quote from a former Senate aide who calls the senator “a Catholic missionary who happens to be in the Senate” and the fact that some of Santorum’s Hispanic constituents greet him as a “holy man.”
He is, however, a religious person who isn’t into reading long books. Even when the book is Santorum’s Holy Scripture.
“I’ve never read the Bible cover to cover; maybe I should have,” Santorum said.
Indeed, as Taegan Goddard noted, Santorum goes on to explain that he’s “not a reader of scripture” and instead “reads magazines and journals offering commentary on religion.”
To be fair, this is probably more common that a lot of people, even devout theists, would care to admit. For that matter, I strongly believe that whether Santorum reads his Bible or not is entirely his business.
I nevertheless find it a little odd that a senator, who frequently offers his religious perspective on political issues, has shaped his entire life, worldview, and governing philosophy on a book he hasn’t read.
It’s one thing to accept the idea that Scripture offers believers a guide on how best to lead one’s life. It’s another thing to accept that belief while relying on magazines to tell you what Scripture says.