I don't think anyone is denying Palin's right to her faith. The concern is how she may govern based on her beliefs. If she's going to insist that certain policies are in accordance with "God's path" in order to influence others, that's intellectually dishonest and exploitive.
This is an assumption, and an unfair one at that. There really is no evidence that she has made policy decisions based on what her spiritual beliefs (other than being anti-abortion and supporting pro-life stuff). In fact, some of the stuff we're hearing about her governance is downright unchristian -- showing vindictiveness, being ruthless, being fiscally irresponsible etc. This argument is a strawman. I don't want Sarah Palin in the white house, but I equally detest to be found standing with people who ridicule her because of her Christian beliefs.
No, and Palin may not be too, let's hear her answer the questions about it though. Because like any religion you have your moderates and your radicals.....if Palin is moderate...no big deal but if she is fringe...and it effects her ability to govern than it is a major deal. You are always welcome friend ! Sort of my point...........unless he is lunatic fringe....like Wright seems to be...then it would be a problem.... Which is why I want Palin questioned about it as hard as Obama was....let's find out what she believes....if her handlers will let her answer of course. DD
From the quoted article: [rquoter]Her campaign says she doesn't mix her faith with government business. But Palin did ask her audience to pray for $30 billion natural gas pipeline she is on a mission to build in Alaska. In the video Palin says, "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas pipeline built. So pray for that ... I can do my job there in developing my natural resources. But all of that doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's heart is not good with God."[/rquoter] There's reason to think that she would invoke the will of God in order to influence the public and policy makers. That's not a good thing. You and some others may think she's being un-Christrian, but there certainly isn't a consensus on that. Many Christians will buy into it. As I said, it's exploitive and dangerous.
I know: she seems almost exactly like pre-2000 Bush. Likable, fiesty, over-confident, a little snide with enemies or detractors, ultra-conservative, etc. She's probably a lot better with a gun, though. I'll never forget the photo of Bush shooting the Texas state bird by mistake, where he's holding it up, grinning, apparently assuming that the dead mockingbird is a dove (?). (I cannot find it on the internet, but it was in the Houston Chronicole in the 1990's.)
I pray for healing for individuals, for guidance in decision making, for money to help people pay bills, for help with job interviews, and I believe that God helps me. When you've seen faith healings and even been healed, it's easy to believe that God does things for individuals. I've even been known to pray for sporting events, but I admit that I doubt God cares about homeruns, touchdowns, or three-pointers (but He did bless Hakeem and make him the greatest shot-blocker of all time). The funny thing is that even though Pentecostals believe in a very involved God, most don't believe in the kind of predestination espoused by Lutherans and many Baptists. They're much less likely to leave things to God than die-hard Calvinists.
cool. I've prayed for others to be healed, so I think I can get that. I could call that seeking strength from faith and being bolstered by that faith, at some general level. In my personal case, I just try not to presume God has the time to listen in that moment, but that a faith itself may be what helps. And it's an interesting point you make about predestination. If Pentecostals don't believe in pre-determined, unavoidable end-times, for instance, I have just found more common ground with them/y'all. (Except that I do believe the Earth will burn to a cinder once our sun goes red giant a few billion years from now... hmmm...)
I love how, in any thread based on Christianity, things pretty much idle along ...until MadMax arrives and knocks it out of the park. Respeck.
