Last night some of us endured the torturous experience of the second episode of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” We watched as Bristol and Sarah shot skeet and bludgeoned fish. We heard Bristol speak to her mother in a disrespectful way when she said: “Mom, take your prom hair back home.” In the previous episode we heard Piper calling her mother “Sarah.” We saw Willow openly defy her mother, allowing her boyfriend to come upstairs in direct contravention of instructions from Sarah. No consequences resulted from this direct act of rebellion. Now in this second episode we have seen her oldest daughter, Bristol, demonstrate a total lack of respect. Track is never around to be disrespectful, but his absence makes it clear that he wants no part of his mother. Trig is too young to be disrespectful. Thus as beautiful as the scenery is in Alaska, the scenery from within the Palin home is repugnant. If this level of disdain is captured when the cameras are rolling, we can imagine the reality when a national television crew is not watching. If Palin’s own children have no respect for her, why would anyone else?

We have now seen two hours of Sarah Palin’s Alaska. It is clear that we are being manipulated to believe that Palin lives in this fantasy world of dog sledding, skeet shooting, bear watching, four wheeling, mountain climbing, and white water rafting. Unquestionably Sarah Palin is new to virtually all of these activities. What is particularly offensive is the attempt to characterize these episodes as “typical” of her life, or that the time she spends with her children is representative of the real world. We know that quite the opposite is true. She has spent more time away from Alaska and her children in the last two years, than devoting herself to those things she claims to love, Alaska and family. One aspect of Palin’s typical life in Alaska is noticeably missing. There has been no mention of church or religion. The image of Sarah Palin’s religious life is something both Sarah and TLC may realize could cause viewers to turn off their televisions and never watch again. The reality is that Sarah Palin’s Alaska, and her view of life, are very much influenced by her religious views. It’s a “God Thing.”

Most of us have seen the You Tube videos of Palin praying that the War in Iraq was a “task from God.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ypVSYoEKA. The video of the witch hunter laying his hands on Sarah, and praying in the “Name of Jesus,” mentioning witchcraft while his hands are on Sarah’s shoulders was even more disturbing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwkb9_zB2Pg&feature=related. In Sarah Palin’s REAL Alaska, religion is much more a part of her life than dog sledding, 4-wheeling, mountain climbing or white water rafting. Sarah Palin’s REAL Alaska is much more about her religious beliefs than about the incredible beauty and adventure of the Alaskan wilderness.

Sarah Palin was baptized at Wasilla Assembly of God. She attended the church there for over two and a half decades. http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/13/1538/09770/. Given the teachings of Palin’s churches, it appears that Sarah Palin may hold apocalyptic end-time beliefs. Certainly Steve Schmidt confirmed that Palin believed she was part of God’ Plan when she was tapped to be McCain’s V.P. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/07/60minutes/main6067628.shtml. She speaks to God, and writes letters to herself from God, in the first person. She says the Holy Spirit whispers to her. https://malialitman.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/the-rnc-is-now-officially-the-religious-national-committee/. Palin’s churches are closely associated with a movement called the Third Wave or New Apostolic conservative Christians. The activities of this movement have been condemned as heresy by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, to which two of Palin’s churches belonged. Some Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian groups have been outspoken in the condemnation of the Third Wave. http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/13/1538/09770. John Hagee is one of the most vocal leaders of the Third Wave. If you aren’t fearful yet, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeaybfpgGLo .

Hagee believes :

“God sent a hunter – Hitler was a hunter” and suggested the divinely appointed mission was to drive Europe’s Jews to Palestine because that was, according to Hagee, “God’s top priority”. http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/13/1538/09770/.

If there is any lingering doubt about whether Palin is influenced by the likes of Hagee, consider her statement that:

” I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon, because that population of Israel is, is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead. And I don’t think that the Obama administration has any right to tell Israel that the Jewish settlements cannot expand.”

http://my.firedoglake.com/edwardteller/2010/06/07/sarah-palin-and-helen-thomas-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/

Much of Palin’s religious life can’t be confirmed by videos. However just a few You Tube videos provide a dramatic glimpse into her attitudes about the role of religion in her public life:

1) Paul Riley, the original founder of Palin’s church crying over Palin and explaining that this is a “God Thing.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chrXJJ3KfTA.

2) Palin explains her beliefs and that “God has it under control.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sppIUROLies.

3) Pastor Muthee, the witch hunter, prays over Sarah Palin, laying hands on her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ccmRuCpFjY.

4) Sarah herself being introduced at church to speak as a political leader, asking congregants to pray for things like a gas pipeline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vPYbRB7k.

5) Sarah speaks about Pastor Muthee, the witch hunter, and prays “Lord make a way.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k84m2orSOaM.

The importance of the “Third Wave” in Sarah Palin’s Alaska is frightening. We have known for two years about those radical, extreme, and frightening views, but we must never forget.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/sarah-palins-churches-and_b_124611.html. Palin is often remembered by the joke she told the night she was introduced at the Republican Convention regarding the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom. What is much more revealing is the probable source of that joke. John Hagee, the “spiritual advisor” who endorsed McCain, and who made anti-Semitic statements, and called the Catholic Church the “great whore,” wrote a book, What Every Man Wants in a Woman. In his book he tells this joke:

“Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling

Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/palin-steals-hockey-mom-j_b_123784.html.

Objective analysis of anyone’s religious views might arguably be irrelevant to their ability to govern effectively. However in Palin’s view, religion and government are intricately intertwined. Religion and politics are synonymous in Sarah Palin’s Alaska. Before she resigned as Governor, she issued this proclamation:

• WHEREAS, since the earliest days of our democracy, Americans have turned to the Bible for divine guidance, comfort, and encouragement.

• WHEREAS, the Bible has profoundly influenced art, literature, music, and codes of law.

• WHEREAS, the Bible has motivated many to acts of compassion, humanity, and charity.

• WHEREAS, the Bible continues to provide motivation, inspiration, hope, and comfort for countless Alaskans.

• WHEREAS, the National Bible Association reminds Alaskans and people of all faiths of the Bible’s unique place in American life.

• NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim November 18-25, 2007, as:Bible Week in Alaska, and encourage interested citizens to participate in this observance.Source: Alaska Governor’s; http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Sarah_Palin_Principles_+_Values.htm#Religion

Thus in Sarah Palin’s Alaska, there is no separation of church and state. In her short time as Governor she directed her constituents to worship as directed by the Bible. It is a “God Thing.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chrXJJ3KfTA. If she should rise to the White House, maybe she could just name God as her VP and we could all rest easy.