Judging By Her Theology Sarah Palin is Disobeying the Bible
(Frank Schaeffer co-authored with Linda Trump)
Sarah Palin will never again run for political office if, that is, she really believes the born-again fundamentalist views about women that her church promotes.
Premise: Sarah Palin is a self-proclaimed, far-right conservative, Christian fundamentalist, which connotes a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Problem: She cherry-picks to make her message more palatable to the public and ducks the subservient role of women her church believes in.
Too bad the media who interview Sarah Palin don't know their Bibles and the fundamentalist theology Palin says she lives by. If they did, Palin would have to answer the following questions based on the fact that according to her own church's beliefs, she shouldn't even be in politics.
So here is a freebie for you biblically-ignorant media types.
Armed with these questions you can give Palin a choice: be true to the Bible "as it's interpreted by many of your own right wing born-again base" or get out of politics.
Start out with easy, biographical fluff-questions. Ask her who has had the greatest influence in her life. If she says Jesus, or the Bible, great!
Ask Palin about her religion and long-standing faith. Ask her if she believes that the Bible is the sovereign authority in her life. She will answer that she follows "God's will" in her life.
Ask her if she is a "subject of God's Rule of Law" based on Scripture. Ask her she if she believes that God's Word is the only solid base upon which to build our lives. If she can't answer or gives you a blank stare, ask her to summarize her personal faith and wait for a response.
The Bible and Women
If she still can't do that, ask her if she believes what her church says on its website. She'll say yes, of course she does, because her husband, her family, her minister and the entire congregation will be watching. So far so good. If you want to quote her own statement of faith she signed on to joining her church here it is:
Ask Palin about the Role of Women in her own church.
Then ask her what the Bible says (thus Jesus "says") about how women who believe in God's word are to shape their relationships with their husbands and other men through "God's divine model of womanhood."
Here it is, in case she doesn't remember: Biblical mandate of...
"The Law of Submission"
As it says in her Bible: "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. ...He is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. -- For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake."
and...
"Let a woman learn in quietness with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; but to be in quietness." 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
Ask her what the Bible says about women being "help-mates" to their "covenanted men." She might not know what covenanted means, so find a way to work in the definition: "Those who have a covenant with or who have made a direct promise of faithfulness to God and strict adherence to His word in all things."
Ask her if she believes those same principles apply more broadly in the civil realm. If she doesn't understand that, ask her if she believes that God's Law applies "to every aspect of life, including politics?"
What does the Bible say about women in politics?
If she can't answer or doesn't know, ask her what the Bible says about women holding political office? Ask her if she thinks a woman would be over-stepping the boundaries of His Word if she holds public office?
If she hedges on that, ask her how many women in her church vote. If they do, ask her if they vote differently from their husbands? What does the Bible say about women casting their vote in the church, Sarah? Answer: According to the Bible wives are to be silent and ask their husbands for guidance and instruction!
Ask her why women in her own political party, as believers, formally asked her to step down from the vice presidential nomination? Ask her to explain what reasons they gave.
Ask her if they felt she was going against God's law, the Law of Submission, by accepting the nomination? Ask her why she accepted it in the first place as a godly woman who must "submit" to men in all things?
Ask her if her husband is also a fundamentalist Christian.
Ask her then, if he is, if, by his active administrative role, she assumed a biblically-commanded "subservient position" as Governor of Alaska as well, thereby explaining his role behind the scenes?
Ask her if she was fulfilling her wifely, "God-ordained" role as a helper-leader during her short time as Governor of Alaska?
Ask her if the Bible says that women have "the right to modify and direct her husband's opinion," if he considered her worthy and competent to guide him.
Ask her what the one thing is that would disgrace all womanhood, according to her own church's fundamentalist take on the Bible? Arlen Specter kind of touched on that when he told Michelle Bachmann to "Act like a lady!" in the midst of a political discussion. He said that because she kept interrupting him. Interrupting him - a man!
ANSWER: Michelle didn't follow the program: "....with modesty, humility, and reverence she may so do; and he ought to hearken unto her, as the husband of the Shunammite did..." (2 Kings 4:23-24).
Ask Palin if the word "husband' in the Bible means only that, by definition, or does it equate to all "Men" in general, including brothers, husbands and sons when it comes to the authority of men over women
Ok, she won't get that either. Try again with, "Sarah, given Biblical mandates according to your own brand of fundamentalist theology about the role of women in the church and thereby in the national arena, would this country be better off if women had not fought for their rights to be equal to those given to men?"
Still a blank stare?
Ok......Sarah, according to the Bible, should we take the Constitution literally when it says, "All MEN are created equal?" or "One MAN, one vote?"
Ask her if the Bible says that women have the right to immerse themselves in the mire of political strife, whether or not her husband or far right conservative males deems her worthy? She won't understand that question and will stare, begin to smirk, shake her head, flip her hair, rub her knees and start to get ticked...
Linda Trump is a former educator in the Texas and Virginia public school systems and freelance writer at Open Salon.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Patience With God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)
Premise: Sarah Palin is a self-proclaimed, far-right conservative, Christian fundamentalist, which connotes a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Problem: She cherry-picks to make her message more palatable to the public and ducks the subservient role of women her church believes in.
Too bad the media who interview Sarah Palin don't know their Bibles and the fundamentalist theology Palin says she lives by. If they did, Palin would have to answer the following questions based on the fact that according to her own church's beliefs, she shouldn't even be in politics.
So here is a freebie for you biblically-ignorant media types.
Armed with these questions you can give Palin a choice: be true to the Bible "as it's interpreted by many of your own right wing born-again base" or get out of politics.
Start out with easy, biographical fluff-questions. Ask her who has had the greatest influence in her life. If she says Jesus, or the Bible, great!
Ask Palin about her religion and long-standing faith. Ask her if she believes that the Bible is the sovereign authority in her life. She will answer that she follows "God's will" in her life.
Ask her if she is a "subject of God's Rule of Law" based on Scripture. Ask her she if she believes that God's Word is the only solid base upon which to build our lives. If she can't answer or gives you a blank stare, ask her to summarize her personal faith and wait for a response.
The Bible and Women
If she still can't do that, ask her if she believes what her church says on its website. She'll say yes, of course she does, because her husband, her family, her minister and the entire congregation will be watching. So far so good. If you want to quote her own statement of faith she signed on to joining her church here it is:
By God's grace everything in the life of this church will revolve around the reality of Jesus Christ - who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. In the words of the early Church "He is Lord" and will be recognized as such in this church with an absolute allegiance that lifts Him above all others in our hearts, in our homes, and in our congregation. It is His commands that we will obey, His warnings that we will heed, and His promises that we will hold. In every endeavor we will rely upon His power, cherish His presence, and honor His name. We will, in sum, love Him. (John 14:6)
Ask Palin about the Role of Women in her own church.
Then ask her what the Bible says (thus Jesus "says") about how women who believe in God's word are to shape their relationships with their husbands and other men through "God's divine model of womanhood."
Here it is, in case she doesn't remember: Biblical mandate of...
"The Law of Submission"
As it says in her Bible: "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. ...He is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. -- For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake."
and...
"Let a woman learn in quietness with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; but to be in quietness." 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
Ask her what the Bible says about women being "help-mates" to their "covenanted men." She might not know what covenanted means, so find a way to work in the definition: "Those who have a covenant with or who have made a direct promise of faithfulness to God and strict adherence to His word in all things."
Ask her if she believes those same principles apply more broadly in the civil realm. If she doesn't understand that, ask her if she believes that God's Law applies "to every aspect of life, including politics?"
What does the Bible say about women in politics?
If she can't answer or doesn't know, ask her what the Bible says about women holding political office? Ask her if she thinks a woman would be over-stepping the boundaries of His Word if she holds public office?
If she hedges on that, ask her how many women in her church vote. If they do, ask her if they vote differently from their husbands? What does the Bible say about women casting their vote in the church, Sarah? Answer: According to the Bible wives are to be silent and ask their husbands for guidance and instruction!
Ask her why women in her own political party, as believers, formally asked her to step down from the vice presidential nomination? Ask her to explain what reasons they gave.
Ask her if they felt she was going against God's law, the Law of Submission, by accepting the nomination? Ask her why she accepted it in the first place as a godly woman who must "submit" to men in all things?
Ask her if her husband is also a fundamentalist Christian.
Ask her then, if he is, if, by his active administrative role, she assumed a biblically-commanded "subservient position" as Governor of Alaska as well, thereby explaining his role behind the scenes?
Ask her if she was fulfilling her wifely, "God-ordained" role as a helper-leader during her short time as Governor of Alaska?
Ask her if the Bible says that women have "the right to modify and direct her husband's opinion," if he considered her worthy and competent to guide him.
Ask her what the one thing is that would disgrace all womanhood, according to her own church's fundamentalist take on the Bible? Arlen Specter kind of touched on that when he told Michelle Bachmann to "Act like a lady!" in the midst of a political discussion. He said that because she kept interrupting him. Interrupting him - a man!
ANSWER: Michelle didn't follow the program: "....with modesty, humility, and reverence she may so do; and he ought to hearken unto her, as the husband of the Shunammite did..." (2 Kings 4:23-24).
Ask Palin if the word "husband' in the Bible means only that, by definition, or does it equate to all "Men" in general, including brothers, husbands and sons when it comes to the authority of men over women
Ok, she won't get that either. Try again with, "Sarah, given Biblical mandates according to your own brand of fundamentalist theology about the role of women in the church and thereby in the national arena, would this country be better off if women had not fought for their rights to be equal to those given to men?"
Still a blank stare?
Ok......Sarah, according to the Bible, should we take the Constitution literally when it says, "All MEN are created equal?" or "One MAN, one vote?"
Ask her if the Bible says that women have the right to immerse themselves in the mire of political strife, whether or not her husband or far right conservative males deems her worthy? She won't understand that question and will stare, begin to smirk, shake her head, flip her hair, rub her knees and start to get ticked...
Linda Trump is a former educator in the Texas and Virginia public school systems and freelance writer at Open Salon.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Patience With God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)
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libbyliberalnyc
Fay Paxton
Bob Eckstein
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femme forte aka candace
Salon.com
Comments
Rated
Rated.
So, in short, It is completely IMPOSSIBLE to be a Christian if one is a Conservative. The Herodian Chief Priests and my ancestors the Romans, were farther to the Right than, than are the "Crazies" as Bush senior called the people who were the mainstay of his son's administration.
Those among what they call the "Christian Right" are neither. There is nothing in Jesus' life that was conservative. In his several losses of temper it was always against what Passed fro Big Business back then; the scattering of the Money changers in the temple? They were an early example of Goldman Saks, Bank of America, and Fifth Third Bank and the like of them.
In his encounters with Women of the Street; prostitutes, loose women, etc. he showed the utmost respect, unlike even many who call themselves Liberals today.
He hated Avarice and while he loved and respected the Ladies of the Evening, he always let them go on with peace and Liberality, Including the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's well who was living with a man to which she was not married and had gone through 5 husbands. To her he DID EVEN NOT say, "Go and sin no more," or go back to your first husband or get an annulment.
He easily forgave all those who dealt in fleshly violations and spoke kindly to them all. But to the greedy he was harsh and angry. He held sensuousness as a natural thing, he held Greed Avarice as the worst kind of evil. Here in our present nation people, even those who call themselves Christian condemn fleshly intimacy and reward Greed. Sexual exploration is part of growing, it is human and normal. Greed is a part of the shrinking of the soul as is envy, and is the lowest form of endeavor.
It has no place in reality.
Religion was invented when the first fool met the first charlatan.
We disagree at one point in that I think Thoth is absolutely right. The bible only likes women who are kept in their place. It has serve as a club to beat women and keep them submissive rather than giving them their human right to think for themselves. The Southern Baptists made this part of their policy. Though apparently only the Taliban is evil for using some old book to subjugate and condemn.
Does religion have a place in politics? As long as those who are religious feel that others must follow their religious laws, the answer is no. Those who like theocracies are welcome to move to the Middle East and let me know how well these work. The societies over there with the best record of human rights are the most secular (Tunisia, Turkey). This isn't coincidence.
"Anyone else remember Phyllis Schlaffley? Hillary Clinton was condemned for working while Chelsea was young yet these same people applaud Sarah for seeking the office of theV.P. while having a mentally disabled infant, whom she uses as a prop and drags all over the country like a football under her arm."
Phyllis Schlafly is alive and well. Her signature is full front and center on the far-right's "Mandate to Save America" with the national anthem playing in the background...
http://mandatetosaveamerica.com/
The fundamentalists did not support Sarah's acceptance of the vp nomination based on her/their fundamentalist interpretation of Biblical Law and the role of women. Some of them in her own political party asked her directly and formally to rescind her acceptance.
That same stance may very well be one of the reasons (besides money) that she left her elected position as governor...
The Torah is a Hebrew Holy Book
Therefore, anyone who follows The Torah ala Old Testament must logically be considered Jewish, not a Christian.
Just sayin'
Turning the U. S. into a Theocracy is their goal according to this particular site, which sounds delusional and unrealistic to me. Think Oath-Keepers....
http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/
"Make no mistake, their stated purpose is to impose, with force if necessary, a theocracy and eliminate all modern scientific theory and social philosophy. This means entire scientific fields and research would be banned, restricted, or curtailed. All civil law as we know it today would be replaced by Biblical Law based mainly on the most brutal sections of the Old Testament. Even many Christian churches would be banned for their lack of "Christian correctness."
James Dobson bent over backward in order to praise and support Sarah Palin. Many fundamentalist Christians have allowed her to be the exception to their rules because she supports their other causes.
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4262.html
http://hooray2u.com/sarah-palin-loves-kids-.html
They are strongly criticized by evangelical fundamentalists as 'damaging more souls than they save' with their 'unbiblical' teachings:
"Focus On The Family, in its zeal to promote righteous living, exacerbates the struggles of being a believer by presenting an unreal and sometimes unbiblical ideal of what it is to be a Christian."
http://www.elroy.net/ehr/focus.html
As far as Sarah (and a great deal of other supposed Christians) goes, I don't think they ever worry about their own behavior. It's all those non-christians and other christians that are running head-long toward hell.
Here's the crux from Thomas Paine's: "Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe."
Part of my 'being all over this' is from experience. For the most part, however, Googling is one of my favorite sports. ;)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/27/dobson.steps.down/index.html
I urge her children to face the truth. She may be their mother but that doesn't mean they have to be corrupted as well. I loved my father on some level but had neither respect nor real liking for him. He was probablay the biggest jerk I've ever known. So yes, sometimes we can love our parents to a degree, yet still be without respect for them. Respect, as most forget, is earned, anyway.
The big, fund-raising tease is that her gawkers truly believe she'll make and win a presidential run.
But, hey, she's the perfect billboard for money raking.
Not to mention that her 'empathy' gene is lacking as evidenced by her 8 minute State of the Facebook Address.
Selecting her because she was his 'soul mate' should have been the electorate's first clue. She absolutely will not run for any political office because she cannot take the msm. I predict, however, that she will start using religion again to guilt her waning supporters back in to her fold. Watch.