Palin's Apocalypse

Does Sarah Palin believe in the Anti-Christ? Does she believe true Christians will be whisked up to heaven sometime in the near future? Does she expect Jesus to come back to earth in our lifetime and battle the armies of Satan? Which nations would participate in the Battle of Armageddon, and whose side would they be on? These questions seem far out, but they're not. They cut to the core of Palin's perspectives on who holds power in our world, on humanity's future, and on foreign affairs.

They are urgent questions that Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, and many others in the media have failed to ask. According to Chip Berlet, a leading expert on the Christian right, mainstream reporters tend to view apocalyptic fundamentalists as a "silly little side show" in American political life, when, in fact, one such participant in that show, Sarah Palin, may soon be a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world.

While producing the American News Project video Palin's Apocalypse, I've been astonished at how the media avoid these questions like kryptonite - presumably for fear of being branded anti-religious or becoming the target of a boycott by fundamentalists. But Berlet, who identifies himself as "Christian and a reporter," urges his colleagues to overcome their fears. The stakes now could not be higher. Someone -- ideally the moderator of Thursday night's vice-presidential debate -- must speak up.

Millions have now seen the video from this past June of Palin speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God. But Palin's Apocalypse contains some important new clips. The most troubling come from Pastor Thomas Trask, who was, until last year, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, the very conservative Pentecostal denomination that Palin has been affiliated with for most of her life. (Although she claims not to be Pentecostal anymore, she still attends an Assemblies of God church in Juneau.) Trask says that the second coming of Christ could happen at any moment because "we are living in that very moment in God's time clock today." He also speaks of the prophetic role of Israel, and he literally applauds the coming of the Apocalypse.

Another clip that will be new to many shows Pastor Ed Kalnins of the Wasilla Assembly of God expanding on the idea that during the so called "last days" leading up to the apocalypse, Alaska will be a "refuge state," along with "Wisconsin" and "one other in the lower 48."

We ask our political candidates all kinds of questions - from when human life begins to what kind of underwear they wear. But we rarely probe their religious paradigms. It's possible that Palin does not believe in the Anti-Christ, the Rapture, or an impending battle at Armageddon, but the American people deserve to hear what she does believe . . . and why she has, for her entire adult life, followed pastors who preach that human history as we know it is drawing to a close.

Watch the video below:

Harry Hanbury is a Senior Producer for the American News Project.

Comments

[Jim Pivonka - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you so much for producing and posting this very important video.

I have been studying this and other aspects of the dispensationalist and dominionist segments of the religious right for some time; the frame of mind involved is so different than the religious mindset and points of reference I grew up with in a farm community in central Kansas that it has been quite difficult to get my mind wrapped around it.

I think it is important that those from non Christian religious backgrounds, and from other Christian traditions study these movements, and understand very clearly that they are immensly different than traditional Christian beliefs and doctrines - as you point out toward the end of the video.

That understanding is essential partly so that Christians can defend against the subversion (steeplejacking) of traditional church congregations by ministers and laypeople from these sects who receive formal training in how to accomplish that kind of suborning of churches.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/10/14253/9957

It is also important so that Christians and non Christians, and non believers can properly distinguish between the novel (in another age they would have been considered heretical) beliefs of these sects and true, or at least historical Christian teachings - folks, this is not Christianity as it has been understood and practiced for most of the last 2000 years, and the differences are important even to non believers.

[flatus]

Hey, people have been waiting for two thousand and eight years now. He's got to be coming soon now, right?

When will it be realized that the religion you profess is the religion of the country in which you were born? Simple peer pressure doing its thing.

[Norge]

Mr. Hanbury,

Thank you for the fine work.

As tragicly sick and firghtened people, it is difficult to come through to them as they do not hear themselves and cannot think, they do not Think, they function. They have no place in positions where they can do harm to others, nature or the earth.
We can hear them and when we do we hear the functioning insane.
Strange is it not how they have become their own worst enemies, the terrorists they so dispise.

[pushkinjim]

Mr.Hanbury, Thanks for the piece. PLEASE, we need to see more exposé on this. I might suggest looking into some of the freaky teachings coming from Morningstar Ministries and Rick Joyner, along with others in his orbit, as they have definitely influenced Palin and/or her church. You mentioned in the video that millions believe in the rapture, they are by far a minority among Christians. Most of this minority live in the US. The Assemblies of God, are likely the biggest proponents of this teaching about the end times. They are not generally known for either intellectual sophistication or theological sophistication, rather leaning towards a simplistci approach to biblical scholarship. It reminds me of a bumper sticker I often see when I travel to the US, which states ”God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” The problem here being, exactly ’what’ did God say? The lack of critical scholarship employed by much of the pentecostal denominations has led to simplistic conclusions. The same can be sadly seen with Sarah Palin’s approach to history and philosophy. One more thing. I would not propose asking her anything about her beliefs, although I understand what you are thinking here. The problem is that she lies uncontrolably (like some preachers.) She has thus far displayed little propensity toward truth telling. I think it would be better to continue with pieces like this one you did instead of injecting the debate with more Palin lies and cover-overs.

[FreedomFries]

There is something else about this particular faith, and that is only by J Henry can one go to heaven. Thus, furrenirs will be going elsewhere. So when George W and their ilk contemplate the consequences of their actions, there is no regret for moving along the inevitable process. Nor is their any moral problem with torture, as the other place these folks are going is just Gitmo with sulfur. They are really just doing God's work.

[MrGill]

She's a tool for the GOP, an empty vessel for them to use.

[janinei]

The Apocalypse is coming, and then the planet will be ours!!

[PioneerKing]

MR. HANBURY:

You falsely assert "We ask our political candidates all kinds of questions - from when human life begins to what kind of underwear they wear. But we rarely probe their religious paradigms. It's possible that Palin does not believe in the Anti-Christ, the Rapture, or an impending battle at Armageddon, but the American people deserve to hear what she does believe . . . and why she has, for her entire adult life, followed pastors who preach that human history as we know it is drawing to a close."

WHERE WERE YOU DURING THE REV. WRIGHT DEBACLE? PALIN MUST BE QUESTIONED ON HER RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS JUST AS RIGOROUSLY AS SEN. OBAMA WAS.

[mnkors]

She is the GOP-created emblem of a GOP's high-level official: an ignorant, incompetent, shameless, aggressive, and pliable thing. The curves and glasses are a plus, since she is expected to entice a segment of population with a certain IQ.
The pseudo-Christian crowd is elated - Palin is so fresh, so righteous (never mind the Troopergate scandal and her neglected and poorly educated children), so non-elitist.

[Frederic]

Most people have some slight, sometimes only playful inclination towards superstition. It is the innate urge in humans to create a causality, even where there is none. Even if you consciously decide to walk under that ladder, you somehow draw superstition into account. Astrology is another example of superstition, sometimes harmless, sometimes harmful.

But if superstition turns into a mass phenomenon, like in religious extremism of any color, it becomes a real danger, comparable to huge natural global catastrophies (30 years' war was one). To trust a person with such a lethal degree of superstition to lead a nation is a criminal attempt. It is criminal, not only wacko. Superstition multiplied by mass hysteria (Goebbels towards the end of WWII) IS Armaggedon. To an outsider, it is unconceivable how a nutjob like Hagee, just to name one, is not firmly tucked away in an insane asylum, never to reappear to wring havoc again. And Palin being part of this - incredible.

[Buffkat00]

When did seperation of church and state stop applying??

[southernsepia]

When they blasted O for Rev. Wright.

[gaja]

When McCain was asked if he believed in separation of church and state, on the View, he DID NOT say YES... They also did not answer when asked if they believe the VP office is not part of the executive branch of gov't, as Cheney claimed. They obviously don't have any intention of upholding the constitution!

[Alethia]

Sarah Palin does not have to explain to the American public what her religious dogma is.

This is America, man! Remember..­.SEPARATIO­N OF CHURCH AND STATE!

[YellerDawg]

If her dogma threatens the stability of the United States of America, she should curb her dogma. We have a right to know if she sympathizes with an endtimes philosophy. I think we already know that she's nuts.

[appleknocker]

Why hasn't anyone asked these questions of Bush? After all, a belief in impending Rapture would explain his otherwise irresponsible positions on long-term issues like the national debt and global warning. Remember the Reagan cabinet secretary who said there was no point in saving the environment for future generations because there weren't going to be many future generations?

[averygard]

I know I've written to the major news networks about this issue. The only way they'll do anything about it is if EVERYBODY writes them and asks for it.

[busterggi]

I wish someone would ask her those questions but we both know no one will. The economic clout of a boycott by the 30% of the population that consists of these deadly whack jobs preevents it.

[alansky]

The Christian right can believe anything they please as long as they KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES! Thanks you very much!