The media is quickly moving to learn more about Gov. Sarah Palin. Now, the video below has emerged that gives a glimpse into her belief in the convergence of politics and divine prophesy. In a speech only a couple of months ago, Palin speaks at the Wasilla Assembly of God where she refers the Iraq war as part of God’s plan. For his part, Pastor Ed Kalnins is a controversial figure who has referred to political adversaries as presumptively damned and claims political allies as divinely blessed. Various policies on drilling etc are not just a plan from the GOP but GOD.
Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin tells the faithful to “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. . . 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 will remain many of George Bush’s past suggestions that he has spoken to God on the question.
Palin routinely invokes God’s plan on issues like oil rights and drilling. I will confess to be a critic of the intermingling of God and politics by both Democrats and Republicans, here.
For a recent posting, click here.
“Look what happens, I go away for a few days and the neo-cons pull a stunt that even I don’t believe.”
That’s the way God planned it.
CroMagnum @1:10, nope, you’re wrong again, Palin did not make a declarative statement that our leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task from God, rather the “task from God” part is part of a clause, so let’s just be honest here, and free your mind of your presuppositions and take a fair look at the grammaratical context a bit closer:
” …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.”…
Gino,
This is a conundrum for believers. You have stated the problem accurately. It’s just that believers have many answers and qualifications to the tripartate nature of god. A really interesting book on this very issue is: God’s Problem, How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question–Why We Suffer by Bart Ehrman.
I don’t claim to be religious, and I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about theology. But, if you believe that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, as most Christians do, then nothing that happens is outside of God’s knowledge or control; thus, everything that happens is according to God’s will and his plans.
I dunno. Maybe Mespo’s quote book can clear this up.
Thnaks to all. I am raring to go after my sabbatical.
If this war and 9/11 were God’s will, then what the heck is sin?
Welcome back Mespo. Wow! Ask a busy person to do something, and it might get done.
I second JT’s emotion Mespo! And I do think 9/ll has to count under these terms. It also counts in that the hijackers were also doing exactly what god commanded.
JT:
I am hopelessly tied up with about 65 litigation files and a kid playing varsity FB. Lest you think lawyers aren’t appreciated I have been roped into filming the games, mastering the website, and my wife is team liason with the boosters. Funny how you are loved when available. You must know what I mean with all those new charges anxiously awaiting your interpretation of Palsgraf and maybe International Volkswagen plus your duties to the munchkins at home. Good to be back!
You have been missed Mespo. Welcome Back and don’t leave again without agreement of the regulars on this blog. I was about to file on behalf of the group for alienation of blogfection.
Look what happens, I go away for a few days and the neo-cons pull a stunt that even I don’t believe. Palin, preacher of chastity and rearer of promiscuity, is a dream come true for any Obama supporter. I predict an quick resignation from the ticket and Mitt Romney to ride in to save the day!
Query, if the war is God’s plan must not the events of 9-11 likewise be in God’s plan to follow the logic of the faithful?
CroMM,
Sorry I misunderstood what you meant. I still disagree with you that Palin should teach Sunday School or head the PTA. I hate to think of the PTA lead by anyone who advocates creationism in the schools. I’d hate to see a Sunday School teacher passing on the lack of understanding of knowledgeable Biblical scholarship and some really ignorant/counterproductive social teachings that she advocates.
Jill
1, September 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm
CroMM,
I disagree with holding disdain for people who teach Sunday School or direct PTA meetings.
I wasn’t vocalizing disdain for these people Jill. Some of them are my best friends.
I was merely pointing out that that’s where Palin belongs, and NOT leading the entire Nation.
Those things are fine, however they in now way prepare someone to lead the most powerful nuclear armed nation in the world.
CroMM,
I agree that Palin very much mixes church and state, She’s a strong advocate of teaching creationism in the public schools and you can’t get more mixed up than that.
I disagree with holding disdain for people who teach Sunday School or direct PTA meetings. These are obviously not glamour jobs, but people who hold them may be quite intelligent/competent or they may be idiots. This is true of the most high powered jobs in our society, (see Bush, Ken Lay etc.). Class and job position cannot measure anyone’s worth or abilities.
Cindy
1, September 3, 2008 at 9:43 am
If any thing it’s yet another example that Palin is highly sensitive to the church/state line that should not be crossed.
Yes, thats why as Governor shes delivering religious speeches to her church mingling concepts of government with religious matters.
Publically praying for the war to be “from God” after knowing it was built on a lie and was handled miserably, not only is she mixing church and state, she’s also none too bright at it. That’d be like praying for the trainwreck you just survived to “be from God”.
Shes a child. An intellecutal INFANT.
She belongs teaching Sunday School and directing PTA meetings. She belongs no where near anyplace where she gets to make decisions that impact real peoples lives.
Gino,
That’s just not true. Conservative religious believers of many faiths do believe exactly that (but not all). Even more liberal believers think that much of what happens on earth, to include which team wins a sporting event, has the invisible hand of god behind it. But there are people who believe in god, and I don’t just mean diests, who do not think everything is part of god’s plans.
As I mentioned above. Even some very conservative evangelical believers do disconnect god from the military. Those are people who do not believe the war was an expression of god’s will. I have heard believers pray for every soldier and civilian killed or injured in this war be they Iraqi or American. These positions are quite different from Palin’s.
Cindy
Cindy
1, September 3, 2008 at 9:43 am
Yep, Patty, she made a point of *not* saying Iraq is a task from God (or that it’s not),
No Cindy, you are wrong.
Here is her in here prayer, declaring the war a “task from God”.
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.
You guys do know that, to people who believe in God, *everything* that happens is a part of God’s plan. Considering that, it is not so controversial that a believer would say the war is God’s plan.
‘Suddenly we’re supposed to believe we want as our representative of the free world someone who is inarticulate, low intelligence and no one likes. I think we’ve seen that act for the last eight years. Thanks, but no thanks.’
****
rcampbell – my sentiments as well. Karl’s ‘Faded Glory’ is so two-term ago – been there, done that…
I now realize, since listening to the video, that her personal stake in asking for prayers was due to the expectation of having her 19 year old son deployed to Iraq, as well – this month, I believe
With a conlaw prof as our host, we should all recall that the SOLE duty of the VP is set out in Art I, Sec. 3: The VP is the “President of the Senate,” but with no vote except in case of ties.
That is the only constitutional duty, and almost anyone should be able to carry it out capably, although Nelson Rockefeller was once able to screw it up.
If you watched HBO’s John Adams, please note that the VP does not vote to break ties on treaties, which require 2-3ds vote for ratification. As McCulloogh wrote in his book, Adams did not vote on the Jay Treaty, which passed by 20 to 10.