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PLAINS, Ga. — In the lead-up to the landmark 1978 peace agreement between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, former President Jimmy Carter engaged in extensive preparations, enduring high-pressure negotiations at Camp David and even a pilgrimage to the Gettysburg battlefield to illustrate the costs of conflict.
However, reflecting on his most prominent foreign policy accomplishment, Carter contended that the complex diplomacy was not what truly secured the agreement. “We finally got an arrangement because we all shared faith in the same God,” he remarked in conversations with biographer Jonathan Alter, linking his Christianity, Begin’s Judaism, and Sadat’s Islam to a shared lineage in their sacred texts. “We all regarded ourselves as the sons of Abraham.”
Jimmy Carter, who passed away on a recent Sunday at the age of 100, was recognized as a man of strong faith, particularly during his extensive post-presidency, characterized by images of the former Baptist Sunday School teacher dedicating himself to building homes for those in need and combating disease in developing regions.
Beyond his devout piety, Carter distinguished himself from the outset of his political career by offering profound and multifaceted insights into his beliefs. He frequently quoted Jesus and notable theologians, integrating these teachings into his policy initiatives, embodying his personal interpretation of being a Christian in the realm of American politics.
“While many come to Washington searching for personal power, Carter approached it with a quest for our national spirit,” stated David Gergen, an adviser who served in the White House under four different presidents. “That’s not to say others lacked good intentions, but for Jimmy Carter, it was a profoundly different aim.”
During his 1976 presidential campaign, Carter introduced himself as a “born-again Christian,” a term familiar to many Southern Protestants who believe that following Jesus signifies a transformative experience. However, for national audiences and voters unfamiliar with evangelical terminology, this distinction made him a figure of intrigue.
As Dartmouth College professor Randall Balmer noted, during the 1970s, evangelicals often felt marginalized, and Carter’s candidacy brought their experience to the forefront of national politics, a substantial development for a movement that had yet to align predominantly with Republican ideals.
Throughout his presidency, Carter championed human rights within American foreign policy, emphasized environmental protection, and resisted military engagements. He criticized rampant consumerism and sought to educate global leaders on ethical principles. These commitments persisted throughout his life, evident in the work of The Carter Center, which focuses on global health, democracy, and peace initiatives, and in his criticism of militaristic policies well into his 90s, echoing a biblical phrase referring to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace.”
Jill Stuckey, a long-time friend from Plains, noted that Carter lived his faith daily, applying it to his service to humanity. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who attended some of Carter’s church lessons, remarked that the former president emphasized a vision of faith that transcended partisan lines.
“There are conservatives using the Bible to attack others and liberals using faith merely to declare themselves as good individuals,” Buttigieg shared. “Carter presented a different model: one where faith inspires genuine service to others.”
Carter’s open evangelism set him apart from a Democratic Party that increasingly leaned towards secularism. Despite this, he advocated for a strict separation between church and state and resisted public funding for religious education. He personally admired evangelist Billy Graham but found it inappropriate for such a prominent figure to lead prayer services at the White House.
Additionally, Carter diverged from many evangelical norms, openly criticizing Israel’s policies toward Palestinians, advocating for civil rights, women’s equality, and, later in life, LGBTQ rights. He expressed astonishment when a Southern Baptist leader urged him to renounce his purported “secular humanism” in the Oval Office.
In his later years, he embraced the label of “progressive evangelical,” as Balmer noted, reflecting a significant evolution in his perspective.
Carter’s journey of faith began rooted in his upbringing as the son of a Southern Baptist deacon, a denomination with a historically conservative stance, particularly related to race. His early reflections did not challenge his father’s segregationist views, but exposure to Black evangelical worship influenced his perspective. He once remarked on the vibrant spirit found in their services compared to his own.
During the Civil Rights Movement, he advocated for integrated church worship, though he did not extend these calls beyond the church. A sense of disillusionment marked his failed 1966 gubernatorial campaign, prompting a spiritual awakening spurred by his sister, who was an evangelist, that led him to embark on missionary work and integrate his faith into his daily life in a meaningful way.
Carter even shared his Christian beliefs with notable figures, including a memorable conversation with legendary musician Bob Dylan.
During his initial international trip as president, he engaged with Poland’s leader, who was constrained by atheistic Soviet rule but expressed curiosity about Christianity. Carter took the opportunity to discuss Christian principles and encouraged him to consider accepting Christ.
In his discussions with global leaders, including the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, Carter advocated for religious liberties, acknowledging the potential growth of Protestantism in China.
At Camp David, he frequently prayed and discussed faith with Sadat and Begin, emphasizing their shared heritage while attempting to quell historic tensions.
As the Carters left the White House in 1981, they shifted their church affiliation due to discomfort with racial tension. Subsequently, Carter disassociated from the Southern Baptist Convention in his 70s, citing the leadership’s stance against women’s equality.
In his writings, Carter articulated the significant impact of Jesus’s equitable treatment of women, which contradicted prevailing norms of his time.
Regarding LGBTQ issues, Carter’s views evolved markedly over time. While he expressed traditional views in a 1976 interview, by 2021, he publicly endorsed the recognition of same-sex marriage, declaring himself “very liberal” on human rights issues.
“He exhibited a thoughtful faith, providing a model for Christians who recognize that spirituality transcends political affiliations,” noted Buttigieg.
The Rev. Bernice King characterized Carter as a “man of peace and compassion,” asserting that at his core, he maintained a simple faith mirroring the teachings of Jesus, continually asking himself, “What would Jesus do?”
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