Religious conviction is a delicate matter. Many of the greatest reformers this world has ever known, Christ, Moses, and Muhammad, not to mention more recent figures like Martin Luther King and Desmond Tutu, all heard God’s voice, pushing them along, affirming them, inspiring them, and lifting them up in moments of doubt and exhaustion. Religious conviction can be a beautiful thing, illuminating one’s path in a dark night of the soul, providing a sense of purpose and mission.
This type of religious conviction can also be a tricky, not to say terrifying, matter. Many who claim to hear God’s voice then move to speaking for God, with no pause to allow for a moment of humility. My own question about religious reformers who claim to hear the voice of God or speak for God is always fairly simple: how deep is your love, and whom do you serve? In other words, is your conviction rooted in love, and is it directed to the uplifting of all of God’s children, or does it uplift some at the expense of others? This is what causes me concern about some of what I heard from Governor Sarah Palin so far.
In the last few months we have seen agonizing “vetting” or even border-line inquisition dealing with the religious faith of Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. We have seen McCain struggle with whether he is a Baptist or Episcopalian. Fundamentally, I am and remain opposed to any type of a religious litmus test for a person running for political office. That is why I am not going to go in depth dealing with the divisive and deprecating comments of Sarah Palin’s former ministers have made about Muslims, converting Jews, questioning whether democrats can reach heaven, blasting those who criticize George Bush going to hell, or the need for “spiritual warfare” against those who disagree with them.
But while their personal faith need not concern us, a person’s actions and words are public matters. This is particularly the case for a person who stands a mere heartbeat away from the most powerful office on the planet, and has the power and responsibility to decide on matters of war and peace. These questions are not hypothetical or abstract. They are real, urgent, relevant, and appropriate. At that level, I do think it is imperative to take on the words and deeds of Sarah Palin. Many are paying attention to Palin’s Pentecostal background as part of the Assemblies of God. I am more interested in what has she said about arguably the most divisive issue of our day, the war in Iraq. Here she is, speaking for God:
Is that right? That the Iraq War is part of God’s plan? The God that we know does not look with favor with the death of up to a million of his children, both American and Iraqi. The God that we know does not look with fondness with taking the money that should be going as food into the wrinkled stomachs of God’s children, and providing healthcare for the tens of millions without access to it, and instead wasting it at a tune of hundreds of billions of dollars in a war that benefits only the military-industrial complex. Part of the problem of this “God’s plan” talk is that it effectively demonizes those around the world–and in this country–who have a profound objection to this war, its fuzzy logic, and the brutal and inefficient way in which it has been carried out. If the Iraq war is God’s plan, then whose plan are those of us who are opposed to this war following?
It is one thing to scrutinize the words of the religious advisors and mentors that a presidential/vice-presidential candidate has ever uttered. It is another to see that candidate, Sarah Palin in this case, speaking at the church where her minister, Ed Kalnins, casts the Iraq war as nothing short of a holy war: “I really think it is a holy war. It’s a war of gods. … When someone fights in the name of God, that becomes a holy war.” Have we not had enough of the “holy war” language, whether done by extremist Muslims or extremist Christians? Are we still in the age of Crusades and Jihads? May it be that we come to see religion be a force for good, instead of simply perpetuating the self-comforting myth that God is on our side, and only on our side. May we come to recognize that God is on humanity’s side. The struggle of Good and Evil is not the struggle of one portion of humanity against another portion, but a daily struggle that each of us are to conduct first and foremost inside our own hearts and souls. Without that bit of humility, religious conviction can so quickly turn to arrogance, and from arrogance to violence. And we have lived for far too long already in a world suffering from violence that we need not pour the fuel of religious conviction on that flame.
In her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Palin claimed that victory in Iraq “is within sight.” As one of those of us who watches the news from this troubled land every day with an aching heart and open eyes, I wonder if she is watching the same news as the rest of us, if she is living the same reality as the rest of us. In truth, it makes us wonder whether she is in fact hearing God’s voice, or if she is just hearing voices.
posted September 8, 2008 at 11:47 am
hey hey hey—people who hear God voice or voice(s) still can vote and make good choices–the only thing is that they need other godly people to vet those voices and etc to see if it is god or not!
posted September 8, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I am a Charismatic Christian, I have heard the voice of God, I have been used to heal the lame and to utter spiritual tongues. I have been empowered with spiritual knowledge and have seen miracles worked. I have never heard God tell me that War is Holy.
I am no better that any one else, I claim no great authority over anyone, yet I can say without a single doubt that war is not of Christ Jesus. He came as the Prince of Peace to bring peace to the hearts of Man. Any one who professes that God is calling us to bear arm against any one else in His Name is wrong.
For this reason, more than any other reason, I fear what will happen if John McCain is elected and dies in office. Even though I am a man of peace, I served my country in the Air Force during the Vietnam era. It was the most painful experience of my life because I feared the zealots of the time. Even more so today, I fear the return of the Religious Zealots to lead us into the paths of condemnation because of the desire to send us off to fight for the cause of Satan in the Name of the God of Peace.
Satan wins when he can get ethnic differences to clash. Just as he has done for centuries. Catholics against Islam, Protestants against Catholics, Buddhists against Catholics, Islamic against Christians and Jews. When will it end? Only God knows but I will have no part of it.
While there are many causes to justify military intervention, God is not one of them. We are more justified in defending the rights and lives of Darfur than the invading of Iraq. And as evil as Hussein was, he allowed Mother Teresa to set up a mission in Iraq. Now as we destroyed Iraq, persecution of Christians has begun in Iraq where it was not before.
As an instrument of God’s power and Grace, I implore you not tread with caution when using God’s Word to justify your actions. Did Jesus not say to love our enemies? That Love was like pouring heaping coal upon their heads? Show them the mercy of Jesus and they will confounded.
posted September 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Gov. Palin is just a smoke screen – a diversion – to get the focus off John McCain, whom America thinks is boring, old, and pretty much in line with what George Bush has been doing during his 2 terms in office.
It was a savvy move on one hand in that because she is so charismatic, because she is so down-to-earth, and because she is so pro-life, and because she is so outwardly religious, the religious right have suddenly stood up and gotten active again in the conversation (remember they sat down when Huckabee bowed out).
But the GOP’s strategy may actually backfire, as while they will certainly garner the religious right’s votes, a lot of mainstream, undecided America may just find Gov. Palin’s politics a bit too “out there” and “extreme.” She’s big on guns, she wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, she thinks raped women should not be allowed to get legal abortions, she thinks it’s okay for the government to ban library books that they deem “objectionable,” she wants creationism taught in public schools alongside evolution, and she’s a member of a charismatic church, which by its definition includes such fringe elements of Christianity as speaking in tongues, healing, and anointing, not to mention lots of dancing and running around the room during worship. I’m not saying any of that stuff is wrong, but just that many Americans will not understand it and they will wonder if she’s really all that stable.
Add to that the scandal she’s currently involved in, and her performance at the GOP where many feel she crossed the line by denigrating Obama’s public service record and taking on a tone of mockery and contempt, and that she also has been caught in a few lies (like the one about the “Bridge to Nowhere”)… I don’t know if in the long run she will actually help her party.
But again, everyone acts like it’s Obama v. Palin – and that right there tells you that at least part of the GOP strategy is working.
posted September 8, 2008 at 1:48 pm
You nailed it, Warren. Palin is a diversion. It is working, and may indeed work on 11/4. Sarah is indeed a rock star right now. She’s more popular than both presidential candidates. She’s obviously a tough, brave woman of integrity. It will be interesting to see how she does toe-to-toe with Joe Biden in their debate, and how she does once her handlers lift the media cone of silence and actually let her answer questions, and there are plenty, in a debate and in interviews, where she has to think on her feet and won’t have a teleprompter. I am troubled by the McCain campaign’s cynicism in picking someone who is younger and less experienced than Obama, when his youth and lack of experience was one of the main reasons why they said Obama isn’t ready to lead. It also troubles me that Palin has gone to ground for three weeks to prepare for the campaign. What does she need to learn, and will three weeks be enough? What are the McCain people afraid she would say if the media were given access to her?
I hope–hope–that before long the “bloom will come off the rose” and enough people will tire of only liking Palin for her chutzpa and charm and realize, first, that if they vote for McCain/Palin they are truly voting for John McCain for president and ask themselves if that’s what they really want, and secondly, demand more of the person who would be “a heartbeat away from the presidency” than good looks and clever quips.
posted September 8, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I wrote something similar in response to another posting, so sorry for repeating myself, but I was talking to some friends about this over the weekend, and wonder what others think: If people are not excited about John McCain (I am not), but really like Sarah and her social conservatism (I do) and think that a few more years of governing experience would give her time to develop her other views, experience, and governing philosophy so that she would be qualified to run for President (I think she could be in 4 years), shouldn’t they choose *not* vote for John McCain? Whichever candidate wins this time around is not going to be able to fix the economy quickly enough to win a second term; if it’s McCain, Sarah will share the blame. So I’d rather let this one go to Obama, and have Sarah as President for two terms 2012-2020. Perhaps a bad choice of metaphor, but — lose the battle, win the war.
posted September 8, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The religious person adopts a belief, and then try to find facts that reinforce that belief. That is exactly the thought process of a G. Bush. In his conviction, his mind ignored all the facts that should have him think and pause.
His conviction was so strong, because he credited his thoughts not to his own brain, but to voices, and specifically the voice of God.
This is a delusional thought process. It leads to very biased and totally unadapted response to events, because the events are never perceived for what they are.
They become contextualized to the bias of the faith.
Aids is to punish gays, the Iraq war if for God.
Gas pipes are God’s plan …
It is all very very sad. Religious America is utterly backwards in its psychology. It hasn’t been able to reinterpret faith in the context of everything else. It is utterly petrified of trying to explain and examine it’s though process.
And for that reason it’s doomed to failure.
posted September 8, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Here’s the catch, Sally: Where would Palin get the experience she lacks? Four more years as governor of Alaska? I’m not a fan of either McCain or Palin, though I meant the good things I said about her in my previous comment, and four years of a McCain administration is something I don’t like to envision, but if you want Palin to get president-prep experience, four years in Washington as McCain’s veep would be a much better training ground than four years in Alaska. Forgive me, but what you say sounds very cynical to me. Besides, it’s quite premature to predict a one-term presidency for Obama were he to win in November. And if McCain wins, and his health holds up, I would bet a great deal of money he would run for a second term in ’12.
posted September 8, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Yes, four more years as governor of Alaksa – with a more prominent voice and, possibly, a more prominent role, especially with respect to energy policy (her greatest substantive strength) – would set up very well as a presidential candidate. I agree that four years as VP would be better training, but as you said McCain would likely run again if he wins. So, for those of us who would like Palin as President, that leaves either running against Obama (as the incumbent) in 2012 or running from VP position in 2020 after 16 straight years of a Republican presidency. Given those scenarios, I think the chances of winning in 2012 are much much better. I understand it’s cynical, but I wouldn’t have voted for McCain without her, and I certainly don’t want his victory be the reason that she misses her moment.
posted September 8, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Just curious, Sally, but what is it about Gov. Palin that makes you so excited about her, and would lead you to the… well… I guess there’s no other word than *presumptive* idea that she would be an excellent 2 term president? I’m not trying to be a jerk – and I’m not being sarcastic. I’d just really like to hear from someone who is high on this person just what is the attraction. Any insight into your thinking process would be helpful for me in understanding this phenomenon.
posted September 8, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I guess I was unclear/too brief: I don’t presume that she would be an excellent 2 term president, and I don’t think that she is ready now. As I said in my first post, I like her social conservatism, but I think she needs more time “to develop her other views, experience and governing philosophy.” It’s possible that she wouldn’t develop, or would not develop in a way that I think is suited to a President, but I think she’s an innately talented politician with a real sense of purpose, an ability to connect with people, a spine of steel, and the potential to grow (mature) into someone who can articulate and act upon a set of principles that stem from religious beliefs (with which I agree) but which are bounded (as they should be) by democratic constitutional limitations (e.g., as evidenced by the legislation re benefits to same-sex partners). There are things I have read about her that I don’t like (including how she reportedly treats those who disagree with her) – and I thought she was overly viscious in her speech – but I think she has tremendous potential, and that four years would allow us to see whether that develops into the Presidential pick that I can imagine being excited about — and that I would want for two terms. As for the current election, I can’t bring myself to vote for either.
posted September 8, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Thanks for the elucidation, Sally. I really wasn’t trying to put you, personally, on the spot but rather just trying to see this whole thing through someone else’s eyes – specifically someone who sees something “different” in Palin.
I actually disagree with you there. I’ve dug around on the Internet and read story after story, and found clips of some of her speeches and read about 50 articles about her behavior and policy since becoming Governor, and I see in her just another politician. She appears to change positions on issues when it becomes politically expedient, has said contradictory things at different times that makes one question what her real positions are, and has openly lied (or shall I say “emphasized the good” and “deemphasized the bad”) on a number of occasions about her tenure as Governor so far. For example, in her RNC speech she patted herself on the back about rejecting the “bridge to nowhere” project, but conveniently left out a couple of important details. First, she was gung-ho about the project initially, and only abandoned it when it became politically unpopular. And second, she did not return the money earmarked for this project – she used it for other items. And, as you say, her “vicious” speech the other night didn’t give me a very good impression of her, especially since she’s trying to stand on the moral high ground in matters of faith and religion.
Maybe you’re right, and this country certainly needs young, fresh leaders who can step out from under their party’s umbrellas and deal with real issues that affect real people. And I certainly think it’s time we had a woman president. But all the evidence I’ve gathered so far makes me think that Gov. Palin is just a pretender – just another ruthless, grasping politician who will sell anything in order to gain office.
posted September 9, 2008 at 10:06 pm
These are critical and sensitive questions well posed. Reading this I am reminded of Bob Dylan’s critique of those who use and abuse the “God on our side” motif. Professor Safi has penetrated Palin’s veil of “religiology” — religious discourse twisted into political pretzels — and has gently reminded us to look for the genuine faith — or at least ask what kind of distorted faith is this that Palin professes. Omid Safi’s contribution sounds the clarion call for the true faith of “feed my sheep.” The societies that Jesus and Muhammad advocated promoted economic, social and political equality. Whatever “religiologies” are being advanced to justify the barbarism of the wars in Iraq and Palestine — whether “right” or not — should not in any way be even remotely confused with the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad. Suggested reading: John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, “The Last Week” (2006). Read especially the final chapter comparing America to Rome and Babylon.
posted September 11, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I think you’re misinterpreting what she said. The word “that” in the middle of the quote makes all the difference. There’s a big difference between “they are doing God’s will” and “pray that they are doing God’s will.”
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