Sarah Palin's Religion

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's personal narrative has energized the Evangelical/Religious Right base of the party. Baptized Roman Catholic and raised Assemblies of God, she now occasionally attends Juneau Christian Center—a church with Pentecostal origins, but which goes by a non-denominational label. She and her family have affiliated with a hometown nondenominational Bible church, the Wassila Bible Church.

Her surprise selection by John McCain seems to be, by consensus, a bow toward born again Christians, who make up some 40% of the population. Pentecostals and Charismatics make up almost half of all born again Christians.

Knowledgeable commentators have judged the churches in which she has been recently active as “post-denominational." Post-denominational Christianity blends Evangelical and Pentecostal (Charismatic) ways of faith and worship in independent congregations, which are without denominational ties.

In my estimation Ms. Palin’s candidacy brings religion once again to the forefront of this election. We will learn more about her beliefs, as those beliefs potentially affect public policy. From the outset, regarding sexual education, it’s clear she echoes the Republican National Convention’s platform plank of “abstinence only” with a hostility toward “family planning.”

The culture wars continue and issues such as sexual education, abortion, gay marriage will divert attention from more substantive issues of national defense/international relations and the economy.

That’s too bad, but that’s why the Republican hierarchy settled upon her.

Her candidacy returns religion to the forefront of this year's presidential campaign.

A Civil Forum

Last night John McCain and Barack Obama each had an hour to answer the same questions posed by Rick Warren, pastor of the mega Saddleback Church in Southern California. This forum was the first dual appearance of the two presidential candidates to take place in the 2008 Presidential contest.

Mr. Warren emphasized that this was intended to be a civil forum, that is, a discussion conducted in a respectful and fair way.

It also had a decidedly religious and ethical emphasis, with character highlighted.

In my estimation the contrast between the two candidates was remarkable: Mr. Obama's thoughtful and nuanced answers directed to the host; Mr McCain's answers brief but often fortified by a personal anecdote from his storied past spoken to the audience/camera. In terms of getting the message out to the Evangelical audience in the Saddleback church as well as the country, Mr. McCain was effective.

What I found most salient was the nature of the forum itself: Evangelical, yes, but more, the new Evangelicalism Rick Warren represents, what he calls not "pro-life" rather "whole life," meaning a broader outlook than just abortion and gay marriage and narrowly American. In the Evangelical mix, an important component of the electorate, Mr. Warren co-opted Evangelical high ground with his world perspective and and emphasis on civility. In the culture wars of recent decades civility has been hijacked. Whether this tempers the Evangelical tone, remains to be seen; however Mr. Warren has positioned himself and outlook against an old guard.

As the face to face campaign began, it is noteworthy that it began in a Church, with an emphasis on civility.