Keith Olbermann Hasn't Been to Church Lately
Keith Olbermann needs to go to church more often.
Last night, on “Countdown,” he asked if America was ready for a Vice-President who speaks in tongues, is preparing for the apocalyptic end times and rapture, believes you can pray gay away, and thinks God is interested in her public works programs (“I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that").
Wrinkling his brow, it is clear that Olbermann thinks that Gov. Sarah Palin and those who attend church with her are somehow a cuckoo, minority fringe.
In fact, evangelical Pentecostals are nearly 200 million strong. Palin grew up in an Assembly of God church, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. The Assemblies, with more than 283,413 churches, has approximately 57 million adherents worldwide. And in the United States, they vote overwhelming Republican, almost exclusively because of the issue of abortion.
Palin’s faith is her business. But like most evangelicals who do not recognize a wall of separation between Church and State, the intersection of Palin’s faith and our politics should be examined.
Like our current president, Gov. Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States was acting out “a task that is from God.” Ed Kalnins, the pastor of the Wasilla Assemblies of God church where Palin used to worship and still frequently attends, would agree. Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent invasion of Iraq are all part of a “world war” for the Christian faith.
“What you see in a terrorist — that’s called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what's going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. ... We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life.”
Pastor Kalnins, who claims God speaks to him and gives him direct “words of knowledge” (again, not unusual), has also preached that President Bush’s critics will be banished to hell (“I hate criticisms towards the President because it's like criticisms towards the pastor. It's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you”), and questioned whether people who voted for Democratic Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted into heaven (“I’m not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation”).
Depending on your viewpoint, the belief that God has called someone to do something (Kalnins has asserted that Palin’s election to Alaska’s governor’s mansion was the result of a “prophetic call” by another pastor at the church who prayed for her victory; Palin agrees) either endows them with unflinching courage and resolve or terrifying blindness and dogmatic zealotry.
We have seen this scenario with George W. Bush, a president who is not shy about his personal relationship with Jesus Christ and who believes with all his heart that the “war on terror” and many other aspects of his administration are direct charges from God.
My intent is not to try to turn this into another Obama/Rev. Wright polemic. Exactly the opposite, in fact. In the Obama case, Wright’s views were outside the norm. Sarah Palin’s views are not unique — where she works, they are unquestionably the norm.
Whether or not that's extreme, I leave to you.
Last night, on “Countdown,” he asked if America was ready for a Vice-President who speaks in tongues, is preparing for the apocalyptic end times and rapture, believes you can pray gay away, and thinks God is interested in her public works programs (“I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that").
Wrinkling his brow, it is clear that Olbermann thinks that Gov. Sarah Palin and those who attend church with her are somehow a cuckoo, minority fringe.
In fact, evangelical Pentecostals are nearly 200 million strong. Palin grew up in an Assembly of God church, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. The Assemblies, with more than 283,413 churches, has approximately 57 million adherents worldwide. And in the United States, they vote overwhelming Republican, almost exclusively because of the issue of abortion.
Palin’s faith is her business. But like most evangelicals who do not recognize a wall of separation between Church and State, the intersection of Palin’s faith and our politics should be examined.
Like our current president, Gov. Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States was acting out “a task that is from God.” Ed Kalnins, the pastor of the Wasilla Assemblies of God church where Palin used to worship and still frequently attends, would agree. Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent invasion of Iraq are all part of a “world war” for the Christian faith.
“What you see in a terrorist — that’s called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what's going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. ... We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life.”
Pastor Kalnins, who claims God speaks to him and gives him direct “words of knowledge” (again, not unusual), has also preached that President Bush’s critics will be banished to hell (“I hate criticisms towards the President because it's like criticisms towards the pastor. It's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you”), and questioned whether people who voted for Democratic Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted into heaven (“I’m not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation”).
Depending on your viewpoint, the belief that God has called someone to do something (Kalnins has asserted that Palin’s election to Alaska’s governor’s mansion was the result of a “prophetic call” by another pastor at the church who prayed for her victory; Palin agrees) either endows them with unflinching courage and resolve or terrifying blindness and dogmatic zealotry.
We have seen this scenario with George W. Bush, a president who is not shy about his personal relationship with Jesus Christ and who believes with all his heart that the “war on terror” and many other aspects of his administration are direct charges from God.
My intent is not to try to turn this into another Obama/Rev. Wright polemic. Exactly the opposite, in fact. In the Obama case, Wright’s views were outside the norm. Sarah Palin’s views are not unique — where she works, they are unquestionably the norm.
Whether or not that's extreme, I leave to you.
posted by Brandon at 10:07 PM
10 Comments:
Absolutely, she's a religious fanatic!
Absolutely, it speaks to continuing racism in this country that so much press was given to out of context excerpts of Rev. Wright's sermons - and I still fail to see what was so so bad about them - and relatively little lip service is being paid to Palin's arguably extremist religious views.
I also find it humorous that in the most religious first-world country where an overwhelming majority of people identify as regular churchgoers if not evangelicals that Christians can still play the persecuted victims of some imaginary widespread liberal atheism and immorality. These churches always seem like they are on the defense - from what I don't know.
Brandon, you know how I feel about religion already. I completely understand the need for it individually - life is hard, religion is comforting and gives meaning - but religion on a group level seems to always be a disaster. I'm not sure if it is the particularly Christian mandate to convert or save people or if religion in general is doomed to create these exclusionary us/them categories. Regardless, I have no idea why anyone's religion has to play any explicit role in how they govern or why people think it's appropriate to advocate for their personal spiritual beliefs at the level of national policy. It's scary...
I am nowhere near an expert on the Middle East, although I have studied world history. But I do know that at least some of the hatred fanatical Muslims feel toward Christians stems directly from the Crusades. Aggression breeds accelerated aggression: every time the U.S. sticks its nose into the political/religious conflicts of that area, it's throwing gasoline on a fire. And every time our bombs wipe out a village full of women and children and we say, "Oops," it's throwing gasoline on a fire.
Why are you making talking points from Keith Olbermann? Didn't he just get demoted?
When I see Keith Olbermann, I know exactly what he is going to give - a predominantly, pro-
Democrat, anti-conservative, left leaning mantra. It is within his right to say these things, of course, but it has weakened the credibility of NBC.
Sarah Palin has a HISTORY of governing without interfering with the separation of church and state - despite her PERCEIVED personal views.
I know that you might counter my remarks with some quotes of hers, but I challenge you to find ANYTHING in her record as a governor and as a mayor for the last NINE years that confirms your supposition that her religious views violate the separation of church and state... these allegations didn't stick with Obama, and they are not going to stick on Palin...
And furthermore, why should I believe any of this when almost everything that has been leveled on Governor Palin systematically being rebuked?
I am hoping that this blog is not a part of the "left-wing blogosphere." But then again, that viewpoint may be "extreme."
From Newsweek.com:
Sliming Palin
False Internet claims and rumors fly about McCain's running mate.
Brooks Jackson, Jess Henig, Emi Kolawole, Joe Miller and Lori Robertson
FACTCHECK.ORG
Updated: 6:55 PM ET Sep 8, 2008
Summary:
We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or misleading.
Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn't cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.
She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.
She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She's been registered as a Republican since May 1982.
Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.
Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."
We'll be looking into other charges in an e-mail by a woman named Anne Kilkenny for a future story. For more explanation of the bullet points above, please read the Analysis.
Analysis
Since Republican presidential nominee John McCain tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, information about Palin's past has been zipping around the Internet. Several claims are not true, and other rumors are misleading.
No Cut for "Special Needs" Kids
It's not true, as widely reported in mass e-mails, Web postings and at least one mainstream news source, that Palin slashed the special education budget in Alaska by 62 percent. CNN's Soledad O'Brien made the claim on Sept. 4 in an interview with Nicolle Wallace, a senior adviser to the McCain campaign:
O'Brien, Sept. 4: One are that has gotten certainly people sending to me a lot of e-mails is the question about as governor what she did with the special needs budget, which I'm sure you're aware, she cut significantly, 62 percent I think is the number from when she came into office. As a woman who is now a mother to a special needs child, and I think she actually has a nephew which is autistic as well. How much of a problem is this going to be as she tries to navigate both sides of that issue?
Such a move might have made Palin look heartless or hypocritical in view of her convention-speech pledge to be an advocate for special needs children and their families. But in fact, she increased special needs funding so dramatically that a representative of local school boards described the jump as "historic."
According to an April 2008 article in Education Week, Palin signed legislation in March 2008 that would increase public school funding considerably, including special needs funding. It would increase spending on what Alaska calls "intensive needs" students (students with high-cost special requirements) from $26,900 per student in 2008 to $73,840 per student in 2011. That almost triples the per-student spending in three fiscal years. Palin's original proposal, according to the Anchorage Daily News, would have increased funds slightly more, giving intensive needs students a $77,740 allotment by 2011.
Education Week: A second part of the measure raises spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Unlike many other states, Alaska has relatively flush budget coffers, thanks to a rise in oil and gas revenues. Funding for schools will remain fairly level next year, however. Overall per-pupil funding across the state will rise by $100, to $5,480, in fiscal 2009. ...
Carl Rose, the executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards, praised the changes in funding for rural schools and students with special needs as a "historic event," and said the finance overhaul would bring more stability to district budgets.
According to Eddy Jeans at the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, funding for special needs and intensive needs students has increased every year since Palin entered office, from a total of $203 million in 2006 to a projected $276 million in 2009.
Those who claim that Palin cut special needs funding by 62 percent are looking in the wrong place and misinterpreting what they find there. They point to an apparent drop in the Department of Education and Early Development budget for special schools. But the special schools budget, despite the similar name, isn't the special needs budget. "I don't even consider the special schools component [part of] our special needs funding," Jeans told FactCheck.org. "The special needs funding is provided through our public school funding formula. The special schools is simply a budget component where we have funding set aside for special projects," such as the Alaska School for the Deaf and the Alaska Military Youth Academy. A different budget component, the Foundation Program, governs special needs programs in the public school system.
And in any case, the decrease in funding for special schools is illusory. Palin moved the Alaska Military Youth Academy's ChalleNGe program, a residential military school program that teaches job and life skills to students under 20, out of the budget line for "special schools" and into its own line. This resulted in an apparent drop of more than $5 million in the special schools budget with no actual decrease in funding for the programs.
Not a Book Burner
One accusation claims then-Mayor Palin threatened to fire Wasilla's librarian for refusing to ban books from the town library. Some versions of the rumor come complete with a list of the books that Palin allegedly attempted to ban. Actually, Palin never asked that books be banned; no
books were actually banned; and many of the books on the list that Palin supposedly wanted to censor weren't even in print at the time, proving that the list is a fabrication. The librarian was fired, but was told only that Palin felt she didn't support her. She was re-hired the next
day. The librarian never claimed that Palin threatened outright to fire her for refusing to ban books.
It's true that Palin did raise the issue with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla's librarian, on at least two occasions, three in some versions. Emmons flatly stated her opposition each time. But, as the /Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/ (Wasilla's local paper) reported at the time, Palin
asked general questions about what Emmons would say if Palin requested that a book be banned. According to Emmons, Palin "was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can't be in the library." Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue, asking whether Emmons' position would change if residents were picketing the library. Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny,
who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, 'What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?' "
Palin characterized the exchange differently, initially volunteering the episode as an example of discussions with city employees about following her administration's agenda. Palin described her questions to Emmons as "rhetorical," noting that her questions "were asked in the context of
professionalism regarding the library policy that is in place in our city." Actually, true rhetorical questions have implied answers (e.g., "Who do you think you are?"), so Palin probably meant to describe her questions as hypothetical or theoretical. We can't read minds, so it is impossible for us to know whether or not Palin may actually have wanted to ban books from the library or whether she simply wanted to know how her new employees would respond to an instruction from their boss. It is worth noting that, in an update, the Frontiersman points out that no
book was ever banned from the library's shelves.
Palin initially requested Emmons' resignation, along with those of Wasilla's other department heads, in October 1996. Palin described the requests as a loyalty test and allowed all of them (except one, whose department she was eliminating) to retain their positions. But in January 1997, Palin fired Emmons, along with the police chief. According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons' firing, but said she didn't feel she had Emmons' support. The decision caused "a stir" in the small town, according to a newspaper account at the time. According to a widely circulated e-mail from Kilkenny, "city residents rallied to the
defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter."
As we've noted, Palin did not attempt to ban any library books. We don't know if Emmons' resistance to Palin's questions about possible censorship had anything to do with Emmons' firing. And we have no idea if the protests had any impact on Palin at all. There simply isn't any evidence that we can find either way. Palin did re-hire Emmons the following day, saying that she now felt she had the librarian's backing. Emmons continued to serve as librarian until August 1999, when the Chicago Tribune reports that she resigned.
So what about that list of books targeted for banning, which according to one widely e-mailed version was taken "from the official minutes of the Wasilla Library Board"? If it was, the library board should take up fortune telling. The list includes the first four Harry Potter books,
none of which had been published at the time of the Palin-Emmons conversations. The first wasn't published until 1998. In fact, the list is a simple cut-and-paste job, snatched (complete with typos and the occasional incorrect title) from the Florida Institute of Technology
library Web page, which presents the list as "Books banned at one time or another in the
United States."
Closet Secessionist?
Palin was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party – which calls for a vote on whether Alaska should secede from the union or remain a state – despite mistaken reports to the contrary. But her husband was a member for years, and she attended at least one party convention, as mayor of the town in which it was held.
The party's chair originally told reporters that Palin had been a member, but the official later retracted that statement. Chairwoman Lynette Clark told the New York Times that false information had been given to her by another member of the party after she first told the Times and others that Palin joined the AIP in 1994. Clark issued an apology on the AIP Web site.
The director of Alaska's Division of Elections, Gail Fenumiai, confirms that Palin registered to vote in the state for the first time in May 1982 as a Republican and hasn't changed her party affiliation since. She also told FactCheck.org that Palin's husband, Todd, was registered with AIP from October 1995 to July 2000, and again from September 2000 until July 2002. (He has since been registered as undeclared.) However, the AIP says Todd Palin "never participated in any party activities aside from attending a convention in Wasilla at one time."
There is still some dispute as to whether Sarah Palin also attended the AIP's 1994 convention, held in Wasilla. Clark and another AIP official told ABC News' Jake Tapper that both Palins were there. Palin was elected mayor of Wasilla two years later. The McCain campaign says Sarah Palin went to the 2000 AIP convention, also held in Wasilla, "as a courtesy since she was mayor." As governor, Palin sent a video message to the 2008 convention, which is available on YouTube, and the AIP says she attended in 2006 when she was campaigning.
Didn't Endorse Pat Buchanan
Claims that Palin endorsed conservative Republican Pat Buchanan for president in the 2000 campaign are false. She worked for conservative Republican Steve Forbes.
The incorrect reports stem from an Associated Press story on July 17, 1999, that said Palin was "among those sporting Buchanan buttons" at a lunch for Buchanan attended by about 85 people, during a swing he took through Fairbanks and Wasilla. Buchanan didn't help matters when he told a reporter for the liberal publication The Nation on Aug. 29: "I'm pretty sure she's a Buchananite." But in fact, she wasn't.
Soon after The AP story appeared, Palin wrote in a letter to the editor of the Anchorage Daily News that she had merely worn a Buchanan button as a courtesy to her visitor and was not endorsing him. The letter, published July 26, 1999, said:
Palin, July 26, 1999: As mayor of Wasilla, I am proud to welcome all presidential candidates to our city. This is true regardless of their party, or the latest odds of their winning. When presidential candidates visit our community, I am always happy to meet them. I'll even put on their button when handed one as a polite gesture of respect.
Though no reporter interviewed me for the Associated Press article on the recent visit by a presidential candidate (Metro, July 17), the article may have left your readers with the perception that I am endorsing this candidate, as opposed to welcoming his visit to Wasilla. As mayor, I will welcome all the candidates in Wasilla.
Palin actually worked for Forbes. Less than a month after being spotted wearing the "courtesy" button for Buchanan, she was named to the state leadership committee of the Forbes effort. The Associated Press reported on Aug. 7, 1999:
The Associated Press, Aug. 7 1999: State Sen. Mike Miller of Fairbanks will head the Alaska campaign chairman for Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes, campaign officials said. Joining the Fairbanks Republican on the leadership committee will be Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin, and former state GOP chairman Pete Hallgren, who will serve as co-chairs.
Still, after nine years, the truth has yet to catch up completely.
No Creationism in Schools
On Aug. 29, the Boston Globe reported that Palin was open to teaching creationism in public schools. That's true. She supports teaching creationism alongside evolution, though she has not actively pursued such a policy as governor.
In an Oct. 25, 2006, debate, when asked about teaching alternatives to evolution, Palin replied:
Palin, Oct. 25, 2006: Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject – creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides.
A couple of days later, Palin amended that statement in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, saying:
Palin, Oct. 2006: I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum.
After her election, Palin let the matter drop. The Associated Press reported Sept 3: "Palin's children attend public schools and Palin has made no push to have creationism taught in them. ... It reflects a hands-off attitude toward mixing government and religion by most Alaskans." The article was headlined, "Palin has not pushed creation science as governor." It was written by Dan Joling, who reports from Anchorage and has covered Alaska for 30 years.
That E-mail Author
Switching gears: Almost 100 readers have written to ask us if the many claims made about Palin in an e-mail written by someone named Anne Kilkenny are true. We can tell you that Kilkenny is a real person. (She was quoted by the Chicago Tribune, as we said above.) According to the New York Times, she's a Democrat. According to Kilkenny herself, Palin "has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship."
We're still analyzing Kilkenny's claims, and we will be posting something on this soon.
Republished with permission from factcheck.org.
Correction: In our original story, we incorrectly said that a few of the claims we examine here were included in the e-mail by Kilkenny. Only one of the claims – about the librarian's firing – was similar to an item in that e-mail. We regret the error.
Update, Sept. 9: We have revised this section dealing with accusations
that Palin wanted to ban books from Wasilla's library to include more
detail about what transpired at the time.
Sources
Sutton, Anne. "Governor signs revamped education package into law." Anchorage Daily News, 28 Mar. 2008.
Holland, Megan. "Intensive needs funding examined." Anchorage Daily News, 12 Jan. 2008.
Cavanagh, Sean. "Alaska Legislators Overhaul Funding." Education Week, 29 Apr. 2008.
Hawkins, John. "This Is The Sarah Palin Bikini Shot You Are Looking For And, No, It's Not Real." Right Wing News, 2 Sept. 2008.
Godel, Addison. "elizabeth - american flag bikini rifle." Posted on flickr Web site, accessed 8 Sept. 2008.
Joling, Dan. "Palin has not pushed creation science as governor." The Associated Press, 3 Sept. 2008.
Hayes, Christopher. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite." The Nation "Capitolism" Web site, 29 Aug. 2008.
Palin, Sarah. "Letters from the People." Anchorage Daily News. 26 July 1999; 5B.
The Associated Press: "Forbes sets Alaska leadership team," 7 Aug 1999.
Kizzia, Tom. "'Creation science' enters the race." Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2006.
Paulson, Michael. "Sarah Palin on faith, life and creation." The Boston Globe, 29 Aug. 2008.
Tapper, Jake. "Another AIP Official Says Palin Was at 1994 Convention." ABCNews.com, 2 Sept. 2008.
Tapper, Jake. "Members of 'Fringe' Alaskan Independence Party Incorrectly Say Palin Was a Member in 90s." ABCNews.Com, 1Sept. 2008.
Komarnitsky, S.J. "Wasilla Keeps Librarian, But Police Chief Is Out." 1 February 1997. The Anchorage Daily News, 8 Sept. 2008.
Stuart, Paul. "FROM THE ARCHIVE: Palin: Library Censorship Inquiries 'Rhetorical'." 18 December 1996. Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8 Sept. 2008.
White, Rindi. "Palin Asked City Librarian Whether She'd Ban Books." 7 September 2008. The Chicago Tribune, 8 Sept. 2008.
Talking points from Keith Olbermann? You may want to reread the post a bit more carefully. I basically told Olbermann he didn't know what he was talking about.
I made sure to keep my tone very neutral here. I didn't judge one way or the other. It may surprise you to know that both my grandfather and father were Assemblies of God ministers...
I notice that you didn't really stick to the script here POD. This post wasn't about her qualifications, it was about her religious affiliations. Some may say that seeing the Iraq war as a holy calling and a holy war, being fought on behalf of heaven might be a bit...problematic to her separation of church and state.
Oh, ok, I'll bite. I don't want this to turn into another qualifications discussion--that was for past and possibly future posts--but I notice that in the long list of rebuked charges (most of which were debunked more than a week ago) you didn't mention the ones that have been proven to be falsehoods and half-truths: Bridge to Nowhere or E-bay jet anyone? Too bad she loves to whip her conservative crowds into a frenzy with these very items!
And if you can't "believe" direct quotes, well, that explains a lot...
I don’t see any of the charges, especially the one that are a least half true, being a problem for Palin. As for the religious fanatic, you leave out one clear distinction, one pastor hates America and one loves it.
Palin asking Alaskan church workers to pray for a $30 Billion pipeline because "God's will has to get done" sounds a whole lot like muddying that infinitely debated line of separation between church and state.
I'm all for letting your personal moral and religious beliefs influence your political outlook and stance on things. But when someone starts telling me that things like war and gas pipelines are the will of God (inferring that if you disagree with said person you are going against God) the red lights go off and the alarm bells start ringing...
Robyn, the simple answer is that most religious people see a higher power/God at work in the world and believe that that higher power has laid down a set of rules for human beings to live by. They would rather err on the side of their fellow human beings than that higher power. But they often err entirely by assuming that God wanted them to bully everyone into submission in the first place, rather than live their own lives in accordance with that religious code and leave the rest to God.
Chris, I never said the charges are not something Palin can’t surmount, but they do speak to her credibility and a (purportedly deeply religious) woman’s desire to spin the truth to her advantage. On a purely political level, they stand in direct opposition to her proclamation of being a earmark slashing maverick.
Hate. Love. No matter. You can love a thing and still be wrong. And don’t tell me that you haven’t heard some of the same things Wright has said preached from the pulpit of your white church.
Post a Comment
<< Home