Sarah Palin & the Wasilla Assembly of God 1 of 2

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Atheism Creationism Harris Hitchens Politics Religion Sarah Palin Shermer
AlecsDeLarge
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  • Added: 03-Sep-08

Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.

Her speech in June provides as much insight into her policy leanings as anything uncovered since she was asked to be John McCain's running mate.

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "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."

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

This is person could possibly be the Vice President or, considering the health of her partner J. McCain, furthermore President. Allow me to make a “prophetic declaration” that seems to be more predictive than any pronouncement from pulpits of this sort: the continuation of conversations like this from public officers can do nothing but detriment our civic health. Why is it that some leaders of the United States insist that a “higher power” or “Jesus” is giving them support and providing them with impetus to govern? Why is it that Governor Palin’s friend and obvious ally Steve Allen called “this a god thing?” What does that even mean?

I submit that one of the many deleterious effects of claims to religious affiliation is the absence of use of intellectual faculties generally. When GW Bush vetoed federal funding on the most promising research in the history of science, namely stem cell research, he did so because it was a “god thing.” When the Archbishop of Canterbury claims that England ought to adopt Shar’ia law for its muslim population, he did so because it is a “god thing.” In present political situation it is beyond difficult to challenge the religious backing that so many politicians, of classically opposing faiths nonetheless, use to gain support. Look at how this unknown mayor was able to garner support from the faithful by her religious devotion alone. Shouldn’t it be asked what she really believes economically, sociologically, or politically? This is the pain of religious moderation. We no longer hear the truth about her personality but her lofty and diaphanous ideas about how the god of Abraham ought to be consulted for energy policy. One ought to wonder why it is that other nations of opposing religious traditions who seek the same god’s favor in explicitly opposite requests receive his grace at times. Are the believers of Alaska less valuable?


Sarah Palin’s preacher, Pastor Kalnins, it seems wouldn’t think so. He has preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven; charged that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq were part of a war "contending for your faith;" and said that Jesus "operated from that position of war mode."

It is impossible to determine how much Wasilla Assembly of God has shaped Palin's thinking. She was baptized there at the age of 12 and attended the church for most of her adult life. When Palin was inaugurated as governor, the founding pastor of the church delivered the invocation. In 2002, Palin moved her family to a nondenominational church, but she continues to worship at a related Assembly of God church in Juneau.

Moreover, she "has maintained a friendship with Wasilla Assembly of God and has attended various conferences and special meetings here," Kalnins' office said in a statement. "As for her personal beliefs," the statement added, "Governor Palin is well able to speak for herself on those issues."

Clearly, however, Palin views the church as the source of an important, if sometimes politically explosive, message. "Having grown up here, and having little kids grow up here also, this is such a special, special place," she told the congregation in June. "What comes from this church I think has great destiny."

And if the political storm over Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright is any indication, Palin may face some political fallout over the more controversial teachings of Wasilla Assembly of God.

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Comments on

Sarah Palin & the Wasilla Assembly of God 1 of 2

27 Comments | Add Comment
  • She is scary!

    The thought that this woman could be a heartbeat away from being the most powerful person in the world! To call her a hillbilly would be an insult to hillbillies.

    Tell me... if it's "Gods will" to have a pipeline built
    and to have a war in EYEraq why is praying needed? Won't the all powerful God get it done?

    And who are all these news agencies who call her office to see 'what's going on in Alaska?"


    Unreal...

    By 6anon6 1223392411 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • This woman is a fundamentalist religious

    wacko, as fucked-up as the Taliban.

    By Absofsteel 1221054758 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • You should pay ...

    You should pay closer attention to what HER pastor actually says!

    You'll be in for a treat!

    By outragious007 [Affiliate User] 1220791755 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • ByeBYe CrescentBay.

    ByeBYe CrescentBay.

    By outragious007 [Affiliate User] 1220791720 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • You were correct ...

    You were correct the first time.

    What 'judgement' leads on to believe in the Bible? No judgement at all, just 'faith' which is the opposite of judgement.

    By gmfutube [Affiliate User] 1220788022 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Spelling is minor, ...

    Spelling is minor, lack or reasoning and knowledge is another story.

    By gmfutube [Affiliate User] 1220787883 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Do you have any ...

    Do you have any clue how the Oil industry has 'managed' resources wherever they go?

    Do a search on the dissapearance of the Louisian coastline and tell me how well that was managed - about at good as the mess after katrina - that was caused by the R**e of the land since the 1950s by the oil companies.

    Who makes the profit off of "our" resources?
    How well have humans 'managed' things so far?

    By gmfutube [Affiliate User] 1220787852 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Bombing innocent ...

    Bombing innocent people is following the example of Jesus?

    You people are so F**king scary it is unreal.

    wth is an "Islamofacists"?

    "terrorists" who are they? You do know that those fighting for freedom in Ireland for 600 yrs were called terrorists by the English & later US, don't you? In case you missed it, both groups were 'christian'.

    By gmfutube [Affiliate User] 1220787587 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • There is a world of ...

    There is a world of difference between the US civil war and the current 'war' with Iraqi 'insurgents'.

    By foreverthefuture [Affiliate User] 1220778763 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Influence is one ...

    Influence is one thing, our president saying he talks to God is quite another. As is Sarah Palin saying a new pipeline in AK or the GWOT (global war on terror) is God's will. These are the things that keep me awake at night-the slippery slope that has brought us things like the Crusades, the Inquisitions and other sad chapters of human history. I'd like to coexist in peace w/all my fellow beings, and this is not the way to achieve that end, IMHO.

    By scooticus [Affiliate User] 1220776924 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Guess LIncoln at ...

    Guess LIncoln at Gettysburg should have
    dropped " this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom " or the 2nd
    Inaugural Addresses" Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue.."
    You are correct that the first priority
    of the bill of rights is to protect Religion
    from the Government not the government from
    the influence of religion..

    By sharndan [Affiliate User] 1220774922 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Nice try, sharndan. ...

    Nice try, sharndan. I was referencing later writings by the founders, specifically Thomas Jefferson. He expressed fear that if the govt. gave $ to churches for their social work (can you say faith-based programs?) it would corrupt the churches. This is, in theory if not practice, a secular govt. that guarantees freedom to worship as one chooses. Enjoy that freedom and the right to vote, but keep personal faith and running our nation separate.

    By scooticus [Affiliate User] 1220773487 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Oh sure, just like ...

    Oh sure, just like the Nazi Holocaust still would have happened if the "New Testament" never existed.

    I see no reason to ban Mein Kampf, but it sure would help if you could ban the STUPIDITY that leads readers of Mein Kampf to BECOME Neo-Nazis!

    By minorityop [Affiliate User] 1220770179 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • You're the ...

    You're the cherry-picker, you typical Bible-illiterate Bible critic! Pauline Christianity teaches AGAINST the Law of Moses!

    Get an education before you pretend to criticize something you don't know anything about!

    By minorityop [Affiliate User] 1220770037 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • let he who is ...

    let he who is without sin cast the first stone. that doesn't sound like insanity to you does it? It sounds like love to me.

    By coletrain33 [Affiliate User] 1220769951 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • So if I read the ...

    So if I read the API(AIP?)'s Mission Statement, it will say, "We are organized to deceive the American public about clean alternatives and rake in billions in profits for the corporate world! We're an outrage!"?

    By minorityop [Affiliate User] 1220769930 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Yepp! If we ...

    Yepp!

    If we banned books, we would also need to shut down youtube! With all the ring-wing nuts posting here... We would also need to ban 90 % of the GOP smear campaign literature, because they mislead and corrupt the American public!

    But we're willing to take a chance, because we believe in the constitutional principle of freedom of speech!

    Thank God!

    By outragious007 [Affiliate User] 1220764167 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Simple! Find out ...

    Simple!

    Find out about the API! It's the lobbying arm of the oil and gas industry, designed to deceive the American public about clean alternatives and rake in billions in profits for the corporate world!

    It's an outrage!

    By outragious007 [Affiliate User] 1220763952 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I pray to God that ...

    I pray to God that day will never come!

    By outragious007 [Affiliate User] 1220763857 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • being such a good ...

    being such a good christian,will she now take her pregnant unmarried daughter outside to be stoned to death,or is she just another insane bible? cherrypicker

    By jarvsie [Affiliate User] 1220753986 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I do not agree with ...

    I do not agree with you in principle, but your comment IS NOT SPAM! Whoever marked as such is a simple-minded fool. Please, have your say!

    I do hear what your saying...given the premise that Christianity is the "truth," then all Palin is asking for here is that the war is God's will.

    I get it. But, please, you should understand that, for those of us who do not agree with your metaphysical worldview, Palin's words here are VERY disconcerting.

    Can you at least acknowledge that?

    By dfarmer1584 [Affiliate User] 1220752265 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • "You don't want ...

    "You don't want books banned from public libraries? So Mein Kampf and The Joy of Sex should be made available, right?"

    Of course! Would you seriously ban these books?

    Listen, friend, reading Mein Kampf does not make one a Nazi. Banning Mein Kampf DOES!

    By dfarmer1584 [Affiliate User] 1220750723 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • "Great...another ...

    "Great...another wacko theocrat."

    Redundant ;-)

    By bushputz [Affiliate User] 1220746691 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • No, sensfaninohio, ...

    No, sensfaninohio, but I *can* read the text. I can also read how the text has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. I'm certainly not going to take your word over any of that.

    What "show"? The spectacle you make in your poorly thought out comments?

    Btw, you really hammer home your points when you use multiple question marks and exclamation marks. Very, very effective.

    By PrepeiNaSasPw [Affiliate User] 1220745103 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • minorityop Is this ...

    minorityop Is this your answer for everything? You are one-dimensional if that "dumb-ass lib" saying is the only argument you have. Sarah Palin and John McCain are merely extensions of Bush's Neoconism. It's so plain to see!

    By Yankhadenough [Affiliate User] 1220744339 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • PrepeiNaSasPw There ...

    PrepeiNaSasPw There are so many students who do not get Civics lessons in school anymore. Richard Dreyfuss is advocating to put it back!

    By Yankhadenough [Affiliate User] 1220744171 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Oh and so now you ...

    Oh and so now you are also a mind reader? You can tell what the Founding Fathers meant when they said "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"?? So you can commune with the dead, eh? Wow ... I need a lawyer like you the next time I stub my toe on a sidewalk and need to sue someone for $20-mil. And BTW ... if the show fits ... you're still a moron!

    By sensfaninohio [Affiliate User] 1220733946 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
27 Comments | Add Comment