Did Sarah Palin's church shape her public policy view?

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. 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."

Ed Kalnins, the senior pastor of Wasilla Assembly of God since 1999, offers a provocative and, for some, eyebrow-raising sketch of Palin's longtime spiritual home...Pastor Kalnins has also 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."

If the church had a political alignment, it would almost surely be conservative...Months after hinting at possible damnation for Kerry supporters, Kalnins bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards the President," he said, "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."

Much of his support for the current administration has come in the realm of foreign affairs. Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the invasion of Iraq were part of a "world war" over the Christian faith, one in which Jesus Christ had called upon believers to be willing to sacrifice their lives.

He preaches repeatedly about the "end times" or "last days," an apocalyptic prophesy held by a small but vocal group of Christian leaders. During his appearance with Palin in June, he declared, "I believe Alaska is one of the refuge states in the last days, and hundreds of thousands of people are going to come to the state to seek refuge and the church has to be ready to minister to them."

He also claims to have received direct "words of knowledge" from God, providing him information about past events in other people's lives. During one sermon, he described being paired with a complete stranger during a golf outing. "I said, I'm a minister from Alaska and I want you to know that your wife left you -- you know that your wife left you and that the Lord is gonna defend you in a very short time, and it wasn't your fault. And the man drops his clubs, he literally was about to tee off and he dropped his clubs, and he says, 'Who the blank are you?' And I says, 'well, I'm a minister.' He says, 'how do you know about my life? What do you know?' And I started giving him more of the word of knowledge to his life and he was freaked out."

As for Palin, her views on these topics is more opaque. In the wake of the controversy over Jeremiah Wright, a debate has raged about whether political figures should be held responsible for the comments of their religious guiders. Clearly, however, Kalnins, like many national conservative religious leaders, sees Alaska's governor as one of his own. "Gov. Sarah Palin is the real deal," he told his church this past summer. "You know, some people put on a show...but she's the real deal."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

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[GodHatesPortugal]

I certainly hope so since her church doesnt like jew-bankers and jew-wall-street...

AntiConformist911...you crack me up. You are so clichéd and robotic. The typical corporate-socialist creation, the ones thinking they are anti-establishment without realising they are playing in the hands of the establishment.

[SenorZorrozzz]

Lez

[J145h1]

God shouldn't be god if he favors a nation over another. God shouldn't be god if he favors another race over another. God shouldn't be god if he's sending troops over just to be killed in war.

[Zucca101]

Amazing. Simply amazing.

These people give Obama a pass for sitting for twenty years in the church of Reverent Wright who screamed things like 'God d*amn America!' and called for violence and radicalism...

But they bring up this with Palin?

Double your standard, double your fun >_>

[pokermon919]

You have freedom of religion, but pushing that religion onto others which is what is happening when it gets involved in politics that run the country where not everyone is Christian. Making laws and policies from religious views is no different than the thinking from the dark ages.

[neacumba]

I think Bishop Jakes needs to worry about his gay ass son sucking dick in the park down the street from where he pastors. Sarah is doing fine his son sucks dick.  Keep his ass off of Dr. Phil, and do some things at home

[6gording6]

Lol,it just so happens that where she lives is the place for refuge.Most of those who supposedly prophesy have been shown to be fakes.From the same churches,they prophesied Palin was gonna win the election.Nobody know the time or hour,could be in the next 1000 years for all we know.

[ZeAwakening]

As the Nazi slogan was; Gott mit uns!

[noonegaf]

gods gas line fing sick!