Is Palin’s Pentecostalism Problematic?

Sarah Palin describes herself as a non-denominational Christian, but her background is Pentecostal. As the this article explains, she has identified with the Pentecostal movement since she was little, when after being baptized Catholic as a baby, her parents soon started attending a Pentecostal church. She now attends “Wasilla Bible Church.”

I admit, overall I like Palin. From a small-town myself, she is someone I can really relate to. However, I would love to know more about her views on religion, specifically her views on Catholicism. Generally, I have known Pentecostals who are open to the Catholic Church, because they place such emphasis on expressions of piety, and they have known Catholics whom they consider “spirit-filled.” On the other hand, if Palin is an end-times speculating opponent of the Catholic Church like John Hagee, then I will be disappointed. I suspect if she were as such, we would know it by now, but does anybody know?

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6 Responses to “Is Palin’s Pentecostalism Problematic?”

  1. Nana Ruth Says:
    September 5, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Now that I know Ms. Palin was baptized Catholic, I’m going to pray even harder for her!!

    There was a very outspoken Alaskan Catholic couple on The Journey Home a while back. I wonder what they think of her?

    Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be paying attention.

  2. Timothy ODonnell Says:
    September 6, 2008 at 1:22 am

    Here is a bit more information on the subject from Irenaeus:

    http://catholidoxy.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-palin-catholic.html

  3. Pete Jones Says:
    September 6, 2008 at 11:43 am

    You’re right on. Couldn’t have said it better myself. -Pete

  4. Anastasia Says:
    September 6, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    I spent a summer in alaska as a missionary so I guess I’ll chime in :)

    pentecostalism seems to be pretty pervasive among Alaskan christians–even denominations not generally associated with it. It was a little hard to tell whether you were in a baptist church or an assembly of god church sometimes. I even heard people call themselves bapticostal once or twice. That said, it was a pretty tame pentecostalism most of the time, just a flavor. There were folks who took a hard line for or against speaking in tongues, on the other hand, which was perhaps the most divisive issue among protestants in the region. How to accommodate native culture was probably second.

    There were catholics as well–Roman catholicism and russian orthodoxy appeal to the native population for their emphasis on tradition and ritual. On the other hand, pentecostalism also appeals for its emphasis on spiritual warfare.

    In fact, I think that was the common denominator among all Alaskan christians we encountered: a fundamental belief in the reality of warring spiritual powers, good and evil, with human beings caught somewhere in the crossfire. At root, that seems like a pentecostal influence but, like I said, it also springs from native culture, which reads the world in animistic terms.

    Alaska is fascinating.

  5. dymphna Says:
    September 8, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    Folks, every president and vice prez we’ve ever had was some version of Protestant. JFK doesn’t count because he was a Catholic in name only at least until the last few months of his life.

  6. John 6:54 Says:
    September 8, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    Palin & End Times who cares
    Obama & Abortion - I CARE!

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