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Palin & Religion: What's Scary, What's Not
Those on the left, or merely those who aren't evangelical Christians, are struggling to make sense of the religious life of Sarah Palin. To many, she seems a frightening harbinger of a fundamentalist takeover. Saturday's New York Times piece about Palin's deep faith and Bible-focused church will be chewed over for evidence of her extremism. Conservatives, meanwhile, seize on the scrutiny -- including liberal overreactions -- as evidence that the left and the mainstream media are anti-Christian.
The Palin candidacy does pose real church-state questions, as well as many opportunities for hysterical overreaction. As a service to my panicky friends on the left and my Sarah-smitten friends on the right (who may not understand why she frightens some), here's a guide to what is and isn't scary, or at least questionable about Palin's mixing of faith and politics:
Scary - Palin told a group of young church leaders to pray for a gas pipeline because it was God's will. "God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gasline built. So pray for that." Saying a particular public policy is God's will is far over the line, considerably beyond anything that George W. Bush ever said. It means the advocate is impervious to argument, and critics are going against God's will.
Not Scary - Palin asked members of the church to pray "that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." This has been cited on Huffington Post as proof that Palin justifies the war as being part of God's plan. I read it as meaning the opposite - that people should pray that the war IS part of God's plan. This is a totally appropriate desire for a Christian - and for a Christian politician. All Christian politicians should aspire to do God's will. Where it gets problematic is when they feel God is directing them to take particular steps or claim divine endorsement for their actions.
Scary - She suggested that her work as governor would be hampered "if the people of Alaska's heart isn't right with God." This means that those who aren't Bible-believing Christians hinder the work of the state, harming their fellow citizens and the public interest.
Not Scary - "She asked [her pastor] for a biblical example of people who were great leaders and was the secret of their leadership." Since the Times put it in the second paragraph of their piece, they must have felt this was ominous. It's not. Using the Bible for ethical guidance or wisdom is a standard -- and I would argue noble -- use of faith.
Scary (Probably) - As governor, she signed a Christian Heritage Week. It didn't actually declare the U.S. to be an officially Christian nation but it plucked Founding Fathers quotes way out of context to misleadingly imply they were devout Christians. In many other cases, this same technique has been used to promote the argument that America was created to be a Christian nation, and separation of church and state is a myth. (Full text here)
Not Scary (Probably) - "The churches that Sarah has attended all believe in a literal translation of the Bible," says John Kinkaid, a friend. "Her principal ethical and moral beliefs stem from this." Very few Christian follow the literal meaning of the whole Bible. Conservative Bible-believing Christians tend to focus on the passages related to life and marriage; liberals tend to focus on those related to poverty. It's worth probing this more but it's not by itself either good or bad.
Maybe Scary, Maybe Not - "God has sent me, from underneath the umbrella of this church, throughout the state." It depends how literally she means this. It's one thing to think God has a plan for you, or that all people are part of God's plan; many people believe such things, including Barack Obama, whose campaign literature bore the headline "Called to Bring Change," and read, "We do what we do because God is with us."
But if she feels God has enjoined her to take specific steps - like attacking Obama or drilling for oil in Alaska - as opposed to guiding her in general public service, then many Americans will come to distrust her and feel she's inappropriately using faith as a political weapon. Of course, those who think God really IS guiding her policies and speeches, will just love her even more.
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Literalism is one of the most dangerous mental illnesses in the world.
The Gospels must be understood as an imperfect description of Jesus, that's why there a multiple, sometimes conflicting, reports. These are witness's reporting what they saw with their own biases. The image of Jesus that emerges transcends the literal text. That's why you need to interpret the reports.
Literalists completely miss the point.
I love Jesus's message of Love, tolerance, charity, forgiveness.
Ultimately, a single question that goes like this ... if you could, would you make the nation a Christian Nation?
In my opinion, her answer appears to be a yes. Obviously, a direct question like that would bring a political answer of no from her.
Either way, there is no way she could make this a Christian Nation unless some magical god makes it happen. Thank "god" (whoops) for the constitution!
So, the nation will persist (we will probably get our answers from the people this election day).
Steven, how do you classify her sending an email written in the purported voice of and signed by "Your Heavenly Father"? Scary or not scary?
I guess I must be anti Christian..
I am opposed to exorcisms, creationism being taught as science, (I dont give a rats ---- what they teach in Bible School (did the parents of the brown shirts say that?) and abstinence as birthcontrol and the inquisition and faith based healthcare (that is if god did not want me to have this baby, it would abort naturally OR if god did not want me to have a baby, why should I be allowed to have in vitro, after all god does not want me to have a baby.... or adopt...
I saw this recently... The message is generally to treat others as you would treat yourself...I think it should be to treat others as they want to be treated.... with dignity, respect, consideration.. and that is why I support Obama...
So, you want to "treat others as they want to be treated". Not a bad sentiment on its face, I'll admit. So, you'll kowtow to Hugo Chavez if he demands that the U.S. admit its "crimes". You would be happy to treat Adolph Hitler as the Fuhrer, if he were still alive? You'd have no trouble at all marching into the Cambodian countryside to be murdered by Pol Pot's minions, because that's what he wanted.
I see absolutely no problem with your statement!
Semper fi
There are many real crimes to fess up to for the US, but military-minded dim-bulbs will never face that, as it destroys their "greatest nation on earth" moral fantasy.
Here's one for ya: let the US extridite the known TERRORISTS we protect here in this country; it's not a fantasy, it is a FACT, but it all comes down to the idiotic concpet that we are always right, and anyone opposing our will isn't just wrong, but CRIMINAL.
Thank you liberals for helping decide my vote in this election, your intolerant, narrow minded ways and lack of support for a woman regardless of her views shows what hypocrites you are. Waaa Waaa Hillary didn't make it.. get over it.
...but, but, she's so unlike C h r i s t !
Thank You for talking about this!!!!
This what John McCain's "best" judgement is like:
Sarah Palin has lent the authority of her office to the AIP’s effort to gain mainstream credibility.
She has addressed the AIP by video earlier this year, applauding its work with lines like: “Your party plays an important role in our state’s politics” and “Keep up the good work.” She also acknowledges having campaigned at the AIP convention in 2006. And her husband was enrolled as an AIP member from 1995 to 2000 and It’s also in dispute whether both Palins attended the 1994 AIP convention.
These issues are important-
In any other country this would be considered treason, why is this being ignored?
You worry too much. Need I remind you of Planned Parenthood v. Casey? Bob Casey was a Democratic governor who was of the Catholic faith. They legislated a number of restrictions to abortion.
My point? One does not have to be of "fundamentalist" or "evangelical" faith to attempt to further one's personal convictions via law nor does one have to be of non-Democratic party persuasion.
It's best not to try to predict what a person of faith will do. Wouldn't you expect an evangelical mother to berate and punish her daughter if she got pregnant? Certainly she wouldn't parade her on a national stage, would she?
Skip the stereotypes and look at their actions if you want to better discern what someone will do.
drgrph- I guess you haven't read about her throwing her daughter out of the house when she found out. Bristol had to go live with her aunt and was shunted to say the least . Do you think Palin just found out about the pregnancy? It was very obvious by her size Bristol was with child and I am sure her parents knew for awhile. They even hid her in the bus and made her "take care" of her brother to keep her out of sight at first.
Once upon a time, it was sufficient that our elected officials attended a church (preferably mainstream protestant) and, placing their hand upon the Holy Bible, swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States (not that THAT meant very much to the present administration).
Sarah Palin has been "sent... from underneath the umbrella" of a church with a particularly troubling theology, however. The Wasilla Assembly of God promotes dominionism which, I take to mean, intends to take control of civil government through political action to govern according to a strict interpretation of Biblical law.
Is that something we should be concerned about, Mr. Waldman?
If the media makes a big deal about Obama over Rev. Wright but tells us to respect Palin's Pastor and church then it is biased hypocricy of the highest order. Rev Wright and MLK both denounced America's foreign and domestic policies and had insults lobbed at them by the" America is never wrong" crowd. I guess using god and a secular institution like governmnet to harass gays, the poor, or anyone who does not attend their church is all fine because "we 're doing god's work." I fear if these Christian fascists get another term not just the country but the world will be doomed due to their cement like adherence to scripture and prophecies from a book with more flip flops than a politician's reputation. The media should be forcing Palin to renounce her association with that church just like they did with Obama and Rev. Wright.
amen to that
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
What they will do is let everybody know that Palin called Rick (hypocrite) Warren for advice yesterday.
http://www.chopra.com/wordsfromdeepak
Dude,
What do you know about giving birth to a baby? Let me tell you, NADA!!!! I find it amazing that it is a bunch of men who decide a woman right to kill or not kill her baby. You are a complete idiot. Sarah has shown all you left wing rats the correct way to live life, by giving life to a wonderful kid. Just stop for two minutes and try to imagin that all the abortions have/could have killed a genius that could find a cure for AIDS or cancer. May God have mercy on all your souls, what left of them. I just want to witnessing your day before God and him passing judgement on your dumb ass ......CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT ONE.
Obama is a clown with hugh ears....get him an op before the next election. Never mind Bilary will on the ticket next for ya'll.
10/10
i lol'd
bustnyrballs-
God told me that life doesn't begin until a breath is taken. Read the bible dude!
It is an unholy union between the evangelical groups and the republicans that is anything but Christian.
www.RealChristiansVoteObama.com
Nice article!
Important to parse so that the valid arguments aren't discredited by over-reaction.
By I found several scary issues missing from your article.
1) Her censorship - or at least the smoke around the librarian firing.
2) Gay attitudes.
3) Environmental and animal-related attitudes probably influenced by Biblical notions of Human superiority.
4) Abortion, particularly wanting to impose her views on us.
5) Teaching creationism. Why should the Hindu, Atheist, Celtic, Animistic etc. students in U.S. public schools have to hear Biblical creationist theories?
6) Abstinence only teaching???
These ALL scare the hell out of me and are obviously influenced by her religion.
Fed up with Christian fascism? Check out one of my all-time favorite films, called "Coming Soon" that deals with these very issues. You'll also laugh you're ass off - particularly once you realize that's it's not a real documentary. See it for free at http://www.comingsoon.cz.
Obama-Biden-Democracy 08!!!!!!!!!
And I'm just as fed up with "Christian Bashing" too...
May God have mercy on your soul!
What really scares me is that the whiners might just give it away...
AGAIN...
to Republicans!
Roe v. Wade is the law until it is changed...
You folks are whining like it's already changed....
Each day and every Sunday, Christians from all over the world pray to God for protection for the little ones yet unborn and for an end, worldwide, to abortion.
It's NOT the supreme court that you should be afraid of, and what are you going to do when bilions of folks pray for the same thing????
Many sane Christians are no doubt praying to keep abortion safe, legal and rare. Won't they cancel out all of the insane "prolifers" who view women as property without rights over their own bodies?
I respectfully disagree with the notion that Palin's comment about the Iraq war was a hope that the war was "God's plan". She's saying that, basically, the war either is or is not sanctioned by God - that God is either on our side or is against us. It's entirely possible that neither is true, that the war is an event that men made happen. Maybe it's justified or maybe it's not, but to apply "God's will" to a war is always wrong. God's will is always peace - men make war. But aside from theology, it also reveals a pretty shocking immaturity in Palin's world view; she still has the idea that those who are seeking God are never wrong, and those who are not seeking him are never right. I strongly believe that George W. Bush shares that same world view.
Exactly! As presented here the prayer is cited out of both immediate and referential context. Yes, independently (as written, not spoken), it could have meant "Let's pray that what they're doing is in accord with God's will." OK. No problem. But it could equally as well have meant "What they're doing *is* God's will, so let's pray that they will succeed."
So which is it?
To answer that, you don't take the assertion out of its immediate context in the address. And you don't take it out of its referential context in the church doctrine (deemed heretical by other evangelicals) in which both she and those she's addressing have been immersed for years--or, in her case, for decades. In both contexts it's clear, not that she's praying this *might* be God's will, but that *is* God's will. The only question is whether the aggressors will be up to the task of realizing God's will.
The scary part about the Iraq war being a task from God thing is that we are fighting against people who see us as the enemy in a global jihad. If our leaders talk about it as holy war as well, that helps the other side recruit and fuels the fire. It's a problem and something any sensible politician should understand and stay far away from. It's way different than praying for God to keep everyone safe or something.
You're allowing your intelligence to cloud your understanding.
These religious wackos WANT a holy war.
You're absolutely right, and the Muslims got exactly what they wanted, just as you say! Thank you for being so right on this issue.
Semper fi
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