Has Ben Carson said he believes US Presidency is God's plan?

Ben Carson has put the success of his campaign down to a "force greater than myself."

In an interview with the Washington Post, the retired neurosurgeon refused to say whether or not he thought it was God's plan for him to become President of the US. However Carson, one the leading candidates for the republican nomination, put his success down to a higher power.

"I don't know what will happen to my campaign for the presidency, but I do know that up until this point it's been a force greater than myself," said Carson.

"And no one can really explain what's happened here. I was talking to a famous pollster within this past week and he said, 'We were all sitting around talking and, you know, none of us can explain why you're doing so well.'"

Carson went on to tell the Washington Post that he felt directed by God to enter and wasn't something he was interested in initially.

"I would put it this way. [The campaign] wasn't something I particularly wanted to do.

"And I finally just said, 'Look Lord, you know this is not on my bucket list. And the pundits say it's impossible anyways.'

"But, I said, if you really want me to do this, then you will have to open the doors. I'm not going to push them open. And the doors have flung open. So I don't know what the eventual end of it all is, but I promised that I would walk through the doors if they opened."

However despite saying he felt God had opened the door Carson said he would not be burdened or all that upset if his campaign failed.

"I would hope that it would be, if that happened, the American people making a decision that they're comfortable with," he said.

"I would hope that my candidacy had in some way helped to awaken large groups of people. And everywhere I go, people tell me, 'I have never participated, and now I have hope.' And those people will have come out. And that's good.

"I don't know what his eventual plan is. When I commit to something, you know, I go into it wholeheartedly. If I'm not president, it will not be a devastating blow to me."

The latest polls suggest Carson has slipped from a solid second place behind Donald Trump to a joint third with Ted Cruz as Marco Rubio climbed to second position.

related articles
White evangelicals favour Carson the most and Trump the least, survey shows

White evangelicals favour Carson the most and Trump the least, survey shows

Ben Carson compares worry over Syrian refugees to parents\' concern about \'mad dogs\' in neighbourhood
Ben Carson compares worry over Syrian refugees to parents' concern about 'mad dogs' in neighbourhood

Ben Carson compares worry over Syrian refugees to parents' concern about 'mad dogs' in neighbourhood

US House votes to suspend acceptance of Syrian refugees

US House votes to suspend acceptance of Syrian refugees

Jesus loved outsiders. Why do Christians hate them?

Jesus loved outsiders. Why do Christians hate them?

Ben Carson calls for surveillance of churches and mosques to counter radicalisation

Ben Carson calls for surveillance of churches and mosques to counter radicalisation

Refugees persecuted for their faith should be given priority – US body
Refugees persecuted for their faith should be given priority – US body

Refugees persecuted for their faith should be given priority – US body

News
Relief as Scottish Parliament rejects assisted suicide in historic vote 
Relief as Scottish Parliament rejects assisted suicide in historic vote 

Christians and groups opposed to assisted suicide have welcomed the vote in the Scottish Parliament and urged MSPs to now focus their energies on improving palliative care provision in Scotland.

More Brits want better palliative care over assisted suicide - poll
More Brits want better palliative care over assisted suicide - poll

A new poll has found greater support among members of the public for improved palliative care than assisted suicide. 

Archbishop of Canterbury will be attending abortion vote in Lords on Wednesday
Archbishop of Canterbury will be attending abortion vote in Lords on Wednesday

The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury has confirmed she will be joining a key vote on abortion in the House of Lords this Wednesday after there was backlash over the suggestion she might be absent due to a planned pilgrimage.

Disestablishing Church of England 'will not be a priority' at next election, says Green Party
Disestablishing Church of England 'will not be a priority' at next election, says Green Party

The Green Party has responded to claims it wants to disestablish the Church of England by saying that this will "not be a priority" at the next General Election.