References to God Made Schröder Mistrust Bush

President Bush's frequent references to his relationship with God awakened feelings of mistrust in Gerhard Schröder, according to excerpts of the former German chancellor's memoirs in Der Spiegel magazine.

Mr. Schröder, whose memoir "Decisions" will appear in bookstores October 28, said he understands people who want to consult God on elements of their personal lives. "The problem I have with this starts only when the impression arises that political decisions are the result of discussions with God," Mr. Schröder writes.

"Whoever legitimizes their political decisions like this leaves no room for changing or even moderating those views as a result of criticism or the exchange of opinions with others," Mr. Schröder, 62, writes. He adds that to his mind, secularity is an element of social progress and that Western democracies are right in criticizing Islamic states for failing to distinguish sufficiently between religious values and the rule of law.

Mr. Schröder, German chancellor between 1998 and 2005, lost power to Chancellor Merkel after calling an election 15 months ahead of schedule. Mr. Schröder says in his memoirs that he has no doubt about the wisdom of that decision, which came after a series of regional defeats for his party.