Sarah Palin: Evangelical or Pentacostal, and Why It Might Matter

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:05:06 PM EST
Tags: Sarah Palin (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Time Magazine reports on Gov. Sarah Palin's unclear religious views. Is she a Pentacostal or an Evangelical?

It is this Pentecostal association that most concerns and confuses the McCain campaign. As Minnery makes clear, millions of Evangelicals have accepted Palin because of her membership in a Bible church. But there is no denying that mainstream Evangelicals and Pentecostals, while political allies on many social issues, have historically had significant tensions over theological differences. The Evangelicals' swoon for Palin might fade if it turns out that she continues to hold fast to Pentecostal practices and beliefs.

More...

Why her views are unclear:

The fact is that Palin's most consistent religious home has been the Pentecostal church of her youth. Though her family left the Wasilla Assembly of God in 2002, just before she launched her campaign for lieutenant governor, Palin has continued to return. The now famous prayer to protect her from witchcraft took place during a visit in 2005, three years after Palin's official departure. She returned again as recently as June 2008, making reference to that earlier service and crediting the African pastor's prayer with leading her to gubernatorial victory. And when she works from the state capital, Palin attends the Juneau Christian Center, an Assemblies of God congregation.

The article next explains the Pentacostal faith. It's also gaining among Christians. As for well-known pentacostals:

Who are some famous Pentecostals? Some of the most prominent televangelists have been Pentecostal, including Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson and T.D. Jakes. John Ashcroft, the former U.S. Attorney General and Senator from Missouri, is a member of the Assemblies of God and is the first Pentecostal to have attained such high political office.

....Nearly 20% of American Pentecostals are Latino, and they make up a rapidly growing constituency in the U.S. that supported George W. Bush in 2004 but is shifting over in greater numbers behind Barack Obama this year. In addition, a handful of African-American Pentecostals hold high positions within the Democratic Party, including Joshua Dubois, Obama's religious outreach director, and Leah Daughtry, chief of staff at the Democratic National Committee.

Background here and here.

< Surviving the Bush Economy: An Open Thread | Palin Errs While Giving Expert Opinion >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Sarah Palin: Evangelical or Pentacostal, and Why It Might Matter | 25 comments (25 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

I attended a Pentecostal service once (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by robrecht on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:23:58 PM EST

It was really wild and kind of sad actually. I do not mean to be disrespectful of other peoples' faith, but it is really scary to think of Sarah Palin as Vice President.

: The next time Putin rears his head (none / 0) (#24)
by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 08:24:33 AM EST

she can be slain in the spirit so she can visit with God and get the answers from him. I'm sure you will be shocked to know that I was once engaged to a guy whose mother requested and was slain in the spirit by her pastor due to her son's desire to marry ME :) I'm told she laid on the floor for half and hour and her body bawled while I guess she had a meeting with Jesus or something. It worked. I did not marry into her family :)

Judean People's Front (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by jerry on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:07:28 AM EST

This thread, while interesting, just cannot be complete without a link to the Judean People's Front (NSFW language)

Splitters!

Pentecostals ARE Evangelicals. (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by rooge04 on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 05:03:58 AM EST

I'm not sure what her being Pentecostal proves. I grew up Evangelical and for a while, my parents went to a Pentecostal church. Most of them do not speak in tongues. It is a much livelier service than perhaps a white, Southern Baptist one. But the same can be said for the differences between a Anglo-heavy Baptist church and a predominantly African-American one.

This is misinformation. Pentecostals and Baptists and others are just different branches of the same tree. They are all included in the "evangelical" umbrella. Evangelical is NOT a denomination or branch unto itself. It's a descriptive term of several different denominations--they all have in common that part of their doctrine is to evangelize--tell others about Jesus.

Evangelicals are NOT a branch of Christianity, rather many protestant denominations are evangelical in nature.

What you aresaying is (none / 0) (#12)
by The Realist on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 06:15:37 AM EST

that Pentecostals can be evangelical, but not all evangelicals are Pentecostal. I agree. It must also be said that not all Baptists are evangelical.

I grew up in a small town in West Texas and, i dare say, most of the Baptists i grew up around would frown upon being classified as evangelical.Most were of the opinion that Assemblies of God churches were pretty far out there. However, i grew up Methodist and thought Baptist were pretty far out there. For some evangelicals to think Assemblies of God and Pentecostals are extreme, reveals just how out there Sarah Palin's beliefs might be.


: Exactly. (none / 0) (#14)
by rooge04 on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 07:42:45 AM EST

It depends on the individual church. I grew up Baptist. Decidedly evangelical in nature. It depends on the church, the doctrine they follow etc.

I really dislike (5.00 / 4) (#13)
by indy in sc on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 07:33:05 AM EST

the religious intolerance that some on the left are so willing to openly engage in. I think it is important, when a candidate professes a faith, to understand that faith and how it may shape him or her and his or her decision making process. That is fair game. But calling it nuts absent a real understanding of it is just as wrong as those who are intolerant of people who are different from them in non-religious ways.

My husband belongs to a Pentecostal church--he is not nuts (last I checked--that is an evolving assessment) ;). Anyway, he and his whole church are voting Obama. When I visit his church, it is admittedly a very different experience from my Catholic church, but I find the people very loving and very accepting of me even though they probably believe I'm headed for Hades because I'm Catholic.

so, you think that (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by cpinva on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 08:44:01 AM EST

being blessed against witches is perfectly reasonable?

interestingly, i'm catholic as well, even survived catholic school (i have the scars on my knuckles to prove it! :)), i don't recall being warned about being wary of the witches in our midst. in fact, they were all kind of embarassed about that whole, medieval, burning at the stake thing.


The Catholic church (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by indy in sc on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:15:12 AM EST

believes in exorcisms of people possessed by the devil. A lot of people think that's nuts.

I've been married to my husband now for 4 years (yesterday!) and have been together with him for a total of 10 and never have I ever heard anyone at his church mention the word "witch." I think that's one of the things that is church specific and not denomination specific.

I don't know any person of faith who is in lock-step with everything their faith or specific church teaches. For example, I'm Catholic and pro-gay marriage. That's why I think it's important to understand how an individual politician's faith affects (or doesn't affect) his or her policy positions or method of governing.


: All superstitions.... (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by kdog on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 10:32:12 AM EST

are nuts. Some are just nuttier than others.

100% agree. (none / 0) (#18)
by liminal on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:25:00 AM EST

Agree with caveat (none / 0) (#22)
by denise k on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:21:00 PM EST

I grew up Presbyterian and I still hold a lot, maybe even most of the beliefs that I was raised with, but I don't go to church. I do not believe that church is necessary to religion -- or salvation. I say that only to explain where I am coming from.

There is a difference between intolerance of religious beliefs and resisting people who want to "save" you. I, for one, do not want anyone to save me or bring me any closer to God than I already am. I am perfectly happy to let others speak in tongues or to believe in witches, but when those same people who are so certain of their beliefs start evangelizing to me I see it as their trying to foist their beliefs onto me and I am offended. I perceive that as a lack of tolerance and respect for MY beliefs. I think what you see as intolerance may often actually be this reaction.


I'm sorry (none / 0) (#25)
by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 08:28:31 AM EST

On Pentacostal issues I'm doomed to fail miserably. I like science too much, I can't help it, it was the analytical orientation I was born with. I have brushed up against some Pentacostals in my lifetime and those people are NUTS :)


I can't believe that now we're into religions... (1.00 / 1) (#5)
by Yotin on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:56:37 PM EST

Did anyone say that it shouldn't matter whether Obama is Muslim or Christian? And is there anything about Palin that couldn't possibly be turned upside down to denigrate her? And if she's so stupid and bad that the Obama bots (hope not all of us Dems) would like to make of her, why is she the most popular and successful governor in the US? And if you're giving too much weight to her Couric interview, try replaying Obama's early interviews and see if you don't find him misinformed and often misspoke.

Her popularity is waning in Alaska also. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by JThomas on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:15:32 AM EST

Obama was never like Palin in an interview.
Please refrain from referring to voters who support the democratic nominee as bots, ok?


: Er, typo (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by lambert on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:38:43 AM EST

that would be "Democratic" nominee. With a capital D. Just saying.

: I said misinformed and misspoke... (1.00 / 1) (#17)
by Yotin on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:19:43 AM EST

and the bots term (also Obama nation, etc.) came from Obama websites and blogs.
you can take away ten or points from her in Alaska and that makes her still the most popular and successful governor in the nation.
you're are just so completely in the tank with Obama that you fail to see any positive or light in anything other than Obama. He could do no wrong... much like Bush with the right wing conservatives.
Who is going to keep Obama honest from his side?
Oh, oh, are we headed that same way again... tsk, tsk

well (none / 0) (#19)
by connecticut yankee on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:37:07 AM EST

There are some dangerous permutations of extreme christian faith so I think it makes sense to be a little wary.

In fact one of the parties that the alaskan AIP meets with is a theocratic party. They all get together in a convention with the neo-confederates to talk about leaving the union or whatever they do.

Given that Palin doesnt really answer questions about this subject (or much of anything), I am a little concerned.


: cy brings up the point why religion matters in (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by of1000Kings on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 01:24:26 PM EST

this case...
there are some very powerful right winger extremists that are evangelical (Hagee, Falwell, Strang, Robertson) and these people would love for America to make a preemptive strike on Iran...
why? because they believe that a war with the Persian power will bring the second coming of Jesus Christ...
Is this really what we want our leaders basing their foreign policy decisions on?
If you ask me, these people are terrorists (these people being the extremists, not just christians or evangelicals as a whole) considering they want to bring about the end of our country as we know it...they're no different than the Islamo-fascists that we're fighting so hard...
Now, I'm not sure whether Palin absolutely holds this same belief, but it doesn't make me feel good that the terrorist right backs Palin so much...
Also, the extreme right already had Palin nominated in their minds for the 2012 republican candidacy...so her nomination as the VP candidacy is very peculiar in this regard...
anyone have any numbers on how much funding the McCain camp has received from the extremist right (televangelists) on the whole, and maybe more specifically since Palin was the nominee...

Yep (none / 0) (#1)
by scarshapedstar on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:20:05 PM EST

She "speaks in tongues" with a straight face, and things stand to get worse. (Funny, I can do a pretty decent glossolalia myself, and I'm no believer...)

I wouldn't be surprised if the next Republican veep nominee tries to bolster the stock market by proclaiming that they threw some chicken bones and they landed in a particularly auspicious manner.

is (none / 0) (#3)
by cpinva on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:44:50 PM EST

"batsh*t crazy" a religious pursuasion?

actually, i think she'd fit right in with the spanish inquistion, the whole "witch" thing and all.

Thanks for linking to this (none / 0) (#4)
by jerry on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:54:48 PM EST

It's interesting to me, not just because of Sarah Palin, but I never realized there was such a split between Pentecostals and Evangelicals. I would have assumed they were pretty much the same thing. I guess my ignorance is not that unusual, given that Time felt the need to explain to their (godless?) readers as well.

: Still not clear from article what the differences (none / 0) (#7)
by jerry on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:04:14 AM EST

are between Evangelicals and Pentecostals that make this a big issue.

Being Jewish... (none / 0) (#6)
by white n az on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:57:31 PM EST

I think that they're both friggin' nuts and thus, can't really see the difference.

It does seem that the most effective and disgraced fleecers have been the Pentecostals.

As a self described Agnostic Humanist (none / 0) (#20)
by CoralGables on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 10:21:00 AM EST

it matters not a lick to me whether someone is Evangelical, Pentecostal or anything else. Just don't try to make legislation based on your own beliefs. If you want to have a little fun seeing what religion an online quiz determines you to be, you can take it HERE

The website didn't try and convert me, so I assume it's safe for everyone and they ask for no info.