http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2008/09/29/what-does-azusa-have-to-do-with-washington/ Secularism, religion, and the public sphere Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:29:19 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2008/09/29/what-does-azusa-have-to-do-with-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-4680 Randal Maurice Jelks Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:26:35 +0000 http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/?p=524#comment-4680 Dr. Stephens, I am wondering if the same would hold true if Senator Obama were a member of the Church of God in Christ, the largest black pentecostal body in the United States? What if Obama had belonged to another branch of black Pentecostalism, say the Apostolic tradition? Wouldn't the news media outlets have been even more critical of him than his relationship to Trinity UCC? What is troubling to me about Governor Palin is not her Pentecostalism; rather it is her inability to articulate a faith perspective that takes in account other beliefs and non. In my mind, it is not expression of her faith, but the articulation of the meaning of her faith on public policy. Obama seriously tried to outline a faith and public statement. Governor Palin seems to wear her faith around as a badge of social class resentments. Dr. Stephens,
I am wondering if the same would hold true if Senator Obama were a member of the Church of God in Christ, the largest black pentecostal body in the United States? What if Obama had belonged to another branch of black Pentecostalism, say the Apostolic tradition? Wouldn’t the news media outlets have been even more critical of him than his relationship to Trinity UCC? What is troubling to me about Governor Palin is not her Pentecostalism; rather it is her inability to articulate a faith perspective that takes in account other beliefs and non. In my mind, it is not expression of her faith, but the articulation of the meaning of her faith on public policy. Obama seriously tried to outline a faith and public statement. Governor Palin seems to wear her faith around as a badge of social class resentments.

]]> http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2008/09/29/what-does-azusa-have-to-do-with-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-4648 John Schmalzbauer Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:44:04 +0000 http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/?p=524#comment-4648 Interesting how most of the things that make Palin unpalatable to progressives are not distinctive to Pentecostalism, but can be found in evangelicalism as a whole. Randall Stephens is right to highlight the assimilation of Pentecostals into NAE-style conservative Protestantism. Creationism, end times beliefs, prayer and schools, and hawkish attitudes are not unique to Pentecostals. I wonder if Palin adds anything to the standard religious conservative package that is not there with non-Pentecostal politicians. I suspect that one new ingredient might be a merging of supernaturalism/prophecy with American nationalism, though even that can be found in other traditions. Interesting how most of the things that make Palin unpalatable to progressives are not distinctive to Pentecostalism, but can be found in evangelicalism as a whole. Randall Stephens is right to highlight the assimilation of Pentecostals into NAE-style conservative Protestantism. Creationism, end times beliefs, prayer and schools, and hawkish attitudes are not unique to Pentecostals. I wonder if Palin adds anything to the standard religious conservative package that is not there with non-Pentecostal politicians. I suspect that one new ingredient might be a merging of supernaturalism/prophecy with American nationalism, though even that can be found in other traditions.

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