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Christian Author Warns of Palin's "Scary" Religion: "Answer Questions, as JFK Did 48 Years Ago Today"
On this date in 1960, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy appeared before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association and a national television audience to address widespread concerns that his religion might harmfully influence the way he would preside over the United States if he won the election.
It is high time for Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, about whose religious beliefs there are questions in many ways far more serious than those about Kennedy's Catholicism 48 years ago, to allow herself to be questioned in a similar open forum.
As the Christian author of a new book, Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America (Crown) on the Jesus Thieves who have hijacked Christianity, I implore Americans to take a careful look at the religious beliefs of Governor Palin before they jump on the Republican ticket's new bandwagon.
I have spent much of the past week looking into Governor Palin's religious beliefs and how they might affect her decisions, were she to become president. What I found is scary.
Early in September, 1960, a group of leading Protestant ministers had held a "Conference of Citizens for Religious Freedom," at which the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, America's most widely read Protestant minister, forcefully demonstrated the power of negative thinking by declaring: "The election of a Catholic President would change America."
"I have always found the Gospel of Paul appealing," Adlai Stevenson responded for the Democratic campaign, "but I find the gospel of Peale appalling."
(As a Christian who attempts to follow Jesus, I find the anti-Gospel of Palin appalling.)
But John Kennedy had to respond himself, and his strategy was direct confrontation with the religious issue, which he did through a speech and open question-and-answer session on religion and government with the Protestant ministers in Houston on September 12, 1960. He won over some of them and reduced the fears of others with such comments as, "I believe in a president whose views on religion are his own private affair, neither imposed upon him by the nation or imposed upon him as a condition of holding that office."
In fact, Kennedy had nothing (in this regard) to hide. His Catholicism was of the most casual sort and he certainly wouldn't follow the Church's directives in governing any more than he did in his sexual life.
There is, in contrast, much reason to believe that Gov. Palin has a great deal in her religious beliefs that the McCain campaign would like to keep hidden from the American voters until after November 4. "We're not going to get into discussing her religion," a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign said last week.
Sarah Palin's lack of experience to prepare her for the presidency is frightening. She actually resorted once again last night in her interview with Charlie Gibson to citing Alaska's proximity to Russia as her qualification to conduct foreign affairs:
GIBSON: "What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?"
PALIN: "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."
But the sorts of experiences she has had to prepare her (in her own mind and those of her backers on the "Christian" Right) are far more frightening.
She believes that everything the Bible says is literally true. She is a Creationist and rejects science. She believes the United States is a "Christian Nation." This is very dangerous stuff, far out of the American mainstream.
For the sake of the country -- and for Gov. Palin's own sake -- the campaign's vow of silence on the subject of her religion must be broken -- completely, publicly, and personally by the candidate herself, in an open forum.
The single religion-related question Gibson asked her yesterday was not remotely sufficient. He asked whether she thought the war against Iraq is a holy war. Her answer does not seem to match what she said three months ago, but there are far more serious questions about her religious beliefs that were not asked.
Here are just two examples of the many questions that Ms. Palin needs to address in order for voters to be able to make a fair assessment of whether her religious views might adversely impact her ability to make decisions in national office:
Do you believe, as at least one of your pastors has said, that the United States is a "Christian Nation"? If so, what does that mean for the nation and for those who are not "Christians," as you define that term?
Just three months ago, you stood next to Pastor Ed Kalnins in your former church, nodding your head in agreement, as he told the congregation that he believes that the "Last Days" are upon us and that the reason Alaska needs to build up its infrastructure through your policies as governor is that Alaska will be a refuge for people fleeing from the Lower 48 states during the coming "End Times." Do you believe that there will be an "End Times," and if so do you think it is coming soon?
If such a question seems bizarre to ask of someone who seeks to be next-in-line to the presidency, it is. But I know about the kooks of the extreme "Christian Right"; I have been studying them for years, and the prospect of having someone who is even more extreme in her belief in this sort of nonsense than the current president is in control of an arsenal of mass destruction that could bring about a real version of their fanciful "Last Days" is literally terrifying.
If Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign will not provide an opportunity for her to be questioned freely and fully about her beliefs concerning such topics of enormous relevance, no American who does not subscribe to the "Greater Gory of Christ" inversion of Jesus depicted in Tim LaHaye and Jerry P. Jenkins's best-selling (and worst-Christian) book series, Left Behind, should vote for the McCain-Palin ticket.
Ellen Goodman said of Gov. Palin the other day, "So far, she looks like a Bridge to Nowhere." Palin's extreme religious views indicate that she may instead be a Bridge to Somewhere Most of Us Definitely Don't Want to Go.
Governor Palin, answer all questions about your religion, as John F. Kennedy did 48 years ago today.
Historian Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts & Letters at Millsaps College. His latest book is Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America 
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Don't miss out on reading "Palin and those 'Scary' Christians" which can be viewed at http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/huntwork/080924
Thank you for your thoughtful post. As a person of faith, I am scared, too, at the thought of McCain and Palen in the White House. If, indeed, the Governor subscribes to the Dominionist ideology, all people need to know and need to be educated as to its dangers. I have been devastated for the past eight years (at least) by the antics of the "religious right." Unfortunately, so many of them have been brainwashed that I doubt any evidence against the McCain/Palen/Bush catastrophe will make a difference. I could not believe that Bush could be re-elected, and here we are again. What will it take for this country to wake up? I just don't know.
I'm not anti-religion but I'm concerned Gov. Palin risks using her offie to further a fendamentalist agenda. Does she believes in the End of Times prophecy?
End of Times believers are fierce supporters of Israel and reject negotiating land with the Palestinian. The 2nd coming of Christ happens after the Jews occupy the Promised Land as specified in the bible –this is essential, thus the chant, “Not one inch of land, not one inch!” The Bush administrations zero Israeli/Palestinian policy might have something to do with this.
War with Iran will serve to further the prophecy and trigger the apocalypse, although most deny this and claim to want security for Israel and the Jewish people; this might be true for some, but not all. Does Gov. Palin fit into either camp?
This may seem paranoid but if someone believes the Book of Genesis is reality, why wouldn’t they also believe the End of Times and the Rapture?
Some fundamentalists partnered with US and Israeli Jews to promote strikes against Iran, Example: Joe Lieberman is cozy with Rev. James Hagee. Add the pro-Israel neo-cons, who are by definition elitist, ivory league, arrogant, snobs who in private think fundamentalists are silly. This partnership is consistent with current conservative principles - the end justifies the means.
The bottom line: We must know more about Gov. Palin’s fundamentalist beliefs and practices!
Sarah Palin, as far as we can tell, is not only a Fundamentalist, but a Dominionist....
she doesn't understand that there is, or should be, a separation of church and state
for her, the two are one.
THIS makes her religion germaine- because it informs the totality of her domestic and foreign agenda. Otherwise, it would be irrelevant - SHOULD be irrelevant - as is the faith of the leader of just about every other western democracy.
The rights of women have been heralded by Sarah Palin's church and those of its ilk since their inception in the early 1900's. As the sister of an licensed minister who spent years evangelizing in Pentecostal churches throughout the country, I would encourage Mr. McElvaine to do his research, and he will find that among the millions of believers around the world who share Sarah Palin's beliefs there is one firmly held confidence that in the eyes of God, there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek! Women pastor churches. Women evangelize. Women are elected to leadership positions. In other words, Mr.McElvaine, the only thing "scary" to you is that Sarah Palin represents the true rise of women from a flock who for almost 100 years has prepared, taught, undergirded and educated their women to be seated "for such a time as this" (reference Ester, Old Testament).
As a former member of a penecostal church, I can tell you first hand that what you have to understand is that it is generally not the leaders of the church who are the true believers.
It is the ordinary members of the congregations who are the true believers and they usually believe whatever crap they are fed from the pulpit. That's why you can't have civil debate with voters from the evangelical right. Their opinions are articles of their faith at the moment. The preachers etc. are just about collecting offerings which is generally their only source of income - a big source for the televangelists.
At our church, the preacher was revealed to be a child molester, the head of the choir was cheating on his wife. My point is that the only thing Sarah Palin believes in is Sarah Palin. A true evangelical believer would never even get involved in politics. What is to be more feared is her lack of scruples.
McCain and the men who picked her better be watching their backs because she'll turn on them in a minute. And you non-evangelical republicans, Reagan democrats and independents need to control your emotions and consider whether or not the politics of the last 8 years have really been in your best interests. If your answer is yes, then McCain may be your man. If not, you know what you HAVE to do.
Thank you for this - you have made clear what I feared. Would you feel able to post it to every news network in the land? It's just possible they might see their own self-interest in co-ordinating a response to this.
These are some of the most prominent:
letters@nytimes.com; executive-editor@nytimes.com; managing-editor@nytimes.com;letters@latimes.com; letters@washpost.com; letters@newsweek.com; wsj.ltrs@wsj.com;wsjcontact@dowjones.com; netaudr@abc.com; evening@cbsnews.com; earlyshow@cbs.com;ftn@cbsnews.com; nightly@nbc.com; today@nbc.com; letters@usnews.com; joe@msnbc.com
Watching Palin the past week I get the feeling she is involved in religion only because it helps her political career, and is probably not guided by it, and certainly has not been transformed by it. Today's NYT makes it clear she really is a barracuda.
Her change from the AOG charismatic church to the Bible church was likely a political move to make her less strange to the evangelicals that make up her base. AOG are looked at funny by many evangelicals; they tend to both be fundies, but the AOG people also practice their religion in unusual ways - see Borat for a good example.
I think you are right, Its all political; Palin use to be a "Pentecostal" and alot of people don't understand this religon. Most all of confessed pentecostals are very sincere in their belief. For the most part they truly love God, and try to please him; in spite of their shortcomings. Palin, denied this faith. "I use to go to a pentecostal church but, I don't any more. I go to all churches." This will not sit well at all with "Pentecostals." Pentecostals know how they are looked at, and for most of them in spite of society, they stay true to their religon. Sarah Palin, denied her roots in the eyes of "most pentecostals" they will not like it, and will take it personally and spiritually.
And McCain said "Behold! I have given you this beautiful Golden Calf! Behold its beauty! Worship the Golden Calf and it will lead us out of the wilderness into the Promised Land."
David Cloud, a Baptist Minister, has given a lecture series on the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement that I believe are very germane when considering McCain's selection for Vice President. One segment of this lecture can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-slkSIUo4c&feature=related The first two minutes of the video say it all. The entire series can be obtained from his website: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=5106212642
There shall be no religious test for office!
I said this when Senator Obama was getting raked over the coals for church attendance and I'll say it again in regards to Governor Palin. This is very dangerous territory and will only lead to more stress on a already tenuous democracy.
Besides, Republicans only want to talk religion when its used to bringing down the other guy or pumping their own side up. You cannot have an honest conversation with them because they'll reduce everything to Rovian talking points.
> She believes that everything the Bible says is literally true.
> She is a Creationist and rejects science.
Of course, this goes way beyond the Separation of Church and State.
The Western World is (for the moment, as long as it lasts) the leading entity in this world *because of science*.
Once we lose that, we'll turn into a people of goat-herds in a generation.
....or the shepherds....
sheep are stupid and can be herded where you want them to go
goats are intelligent and have to be led
Lo... the Palin/McCain shepherding of their flock
I am a Christian evangelical who believes in the divine inspiration and the inerrancy of the Bible and all that entails. That does not necessarily make me a radical fundamentalist. In fact, many Protestant churches subscribe to the same beliefs as I do, at least on paper. (BTW, Palin is a Pentacostal which many evangelicals consider somewhat heretical.)
I have been against the war in Iraq from the start and cannot stand GWB. I am a longtime Obama supporter (see my other posts). I am appalled that John McCain picked Palin for his VP. She lies and she is a lightweight intellectually and experience-wise. I have written to evangelical "leaders" like Dobson many times about their hypocritical stands on the war and abortion and embryonic stem cell research. (Despite the fact that many fertilized eggs are destroyed during in-vitro fertilization procedures, they don't seem to have a problem with this, probably because many of their followers have used this technology.)
On Olbermann the other night, Rachel Madow stated that if one looks closely at any religion, many of the beliefs would seem to defy reality, but we have to look at how a candidate would govern. Please don't put peole in a pre-defined box because of their faith. That comes close to persecution. Please look at their record and stands on the issues. There is enough on those scores to show what a poor choice she is.
I think the point is that you've shared more about your political philosophy and how being an evangelical Christian impacts it than Sarah Palin ever has.
No one will be guilty of unfairly stereotyping her until she speaks about how -she- interprets the separation of church and state and the duties of President/VP in our SECULAR country.
Until she does (and I'm not holding my breath that she EVER will), all the above criticism and speculation and characterization is completely fair, in my opinion. She is entitled to any religioius belief that she wants (or none), but we voters are also entitled to full disclosure of her religious views as they would or could impact on her governing this country.
Gwen Ifill certainly has a big responsibility--and big opportunity. Hers may be the only questions Palin is not able to sidestep, sugar-coat or outright avoid.
Palin needs to answer many more questions including very probing ones. She has not been tested by fire as Obama, Hillary, John McCain and other primary candidates were. Voters need her to be grilled by the press ASAP.
Since she is so open about her faith (although she already backtracked on her "God's task" answer), I would like her to state how she reconciles her faith with our war in Iraq which has resulted in over 100,000 dead Iraqi citizens with many more maimed and injured. How she reconciles it with the fact that prior to the war, Christians - and others - could worship freely in Iraq, and how now there are no churches there because Christians will be killed for attending. Does she even know that? Would she have gone to war?
When she was mayor, her hand-picked police chief started charging rape victims for evidence kits This led the state of Alaska to make a law prohibiting this practice just because of Wasilla! Why didn't she change the practice on her own?
Has she read any books on economics, foreign affairs, US and world history lately? How does she think we should respond to Cuban hurricane victims? What about the massive federal debt? Social Security? Clinton left office with a small budget surplus. Now there is a huge deficit. Would she have done anything differently about that than GWB? Specifics please, Sarah!
Everyone in this world is actually an infidel -- in someone elses estimation. We are united as infidels, not united by faiths. Lets keep personal religious beliefs out of government. Its perfectly possible (and perhaps easier) to "have your heart in the right place" without religion.
Unfortunately, this line of questioning is not an effective tac in defeating the McCain/Palin ticket. People like me who found our worldview in science and scepticism have learned not to open our mouths when the stakes are this high. To us, so called "mainstream" Christian dogmas are no less absurd than the so called "marginal" dogmas anyway so it's really not a productive discussion.
Look at all of the hateful posts and comments here, now ask yourselves if you are helping to elect a democrat to the whitehouse!
What's hateful about finding out if she's a zealot or not? Sure is a double standard going on with you. They dragged Obama through endless scrutiny over his pastor. Works both ways, compadre.
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