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Sarah Palin's Demon Haunted Churches - The Complete Edition
By Bruce Wilson Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 11:43:32 AM EST printable version print story
[ vote this story up on Digg ] Contained in this story :

--A new 8 minute video documentary, "Palin and the Holy Laughter Anointing"

--The 10 minute video documentary "Sarah Palin's Churches and The New Wave" (currently also titled as "Sarah Palin's Demon Haunted Churches").

--Documentation on the sources of video footage used in the documentary.

--A written summary of the surrounding story, to contextualize the video.

--Supplemental Documentation on the Third Wave movement.

topic: sarah palin

Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949.  This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord.  At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation.  The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.  

Along with her entire family, Sarah Palin was re-baptized at twelve at the Wasilla Assembly of God in Wasilla, Alaska and she attended the church from the time she was ten until 2002: over two and 1/2 decades. Sarah Palin's extensive pattern of association with the Wasilla Assembly of God has continued nearly up to the day she was picked by Senator John McCain as a vice-presidential running mate. Palin's dedication to the Wasilla church is indicated by a Saturday, September 7, 2008, McClatchy news service story detailing possibly improper use of state travel funds by Palin for a trip she made to Wasilla, Alaska to attend, on June 8, 2008, both a Wasilla Assembly of God "Masters Commission" graduation ceremony and also a multi-church Wasilla area event known as "One Lord Sunday." At the latter event, Palin and Alaska LT Governor Scott Parnell were publicly blessed, onstage before an estimated crowd of 6,000, through the "laying on of hands" by Wasilla Assembly of God's Head Pastor Ed Kalnins whose sermons espouse such theological concepts as the possession of geographic territories by demonic spirits and the inter-generational transmission of family "curses". Palin has also been blessed, or "anointed," by an African cleric, prominent in the Third Wave movement, who has repeatedly visited the Wasilla Assembly of God and claims to have effected positive, dramatic social change in a Kenyan town by driving out a "spirit of witchcraft."

The Wasilla Assembly of God church is deeply involved with both Third Wave activities and theology.  Their Master's Commission program is part of an three year post-high school international training program with studies in prophecy, intercessory prayer, Biblical exegesis, authority and leadership. The pastor, Ed Kalnins, and Masters Commission students have traveled to South Carolina to participate in a "prophetic conference" at Morningstar Ministries, one of the major ministries of the Third Wave movement. Becky Fischer was a pastor at Morningstar prior to being featured in the movie "Jesus Camp."  The head of prophecy at Morningstar, Steve Thompson, is currently scheduled to do a prophecy seminar at the Wasilla Assembly of God.  Other major leaders in the movement have also traveled to Wasilla to visit and speak at the church.

The Third Wave is a revival of the theology of the Latter Rain tent revivals of the 1950s and 1960s led by William Branham and others.  It is based on the idea that in the end times there will be an outpouring of supernatural powers on a group of Christians that will take authority over the existing church and the world.  The believing Christians of the world will be reorganized under the Fivefold Ministry and the church restructured under the authority of Prophets and Apostles and others anointed by God.  The young generation will form "Joel's Army" to rise up and battle evil and retake the earth for God.  

While segments of this belief system have been a part of Pentecostalism and charismatic beliefs for decades, the excesses of this movement were declared a heresy in 1949 by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, and again condemned through Resolution 16 in 2000.  The beliefs and manifestations of the movement include the use of 'strategic level spiritual warfare' to expel territorial demons from American and world cities.  Worship includes excessive charismatic manifestations such as hundreds of people falling, 'slain in the spirit,' and congregations laughing, jerking, and shrieking uncontrollably.

In early 2008 an outbreak of those phenomena commenced at the palatial former ministry estate of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, recently bought up and restored by prominent Third Wave author and leader Rick Joyner's Morningstar Ministries. The (spiritual) "breakout" lasted for many weeks and was publicized in an extensive collection of video footage available on YouTube. Healing services in the Third Wave movement claim to heal the sick and injured through methods that in some cases can appear bizarre - including, as in recent cases involving Todd Bentley, the patient being head butted or kicked by the anointed healer. Recipients of such "spiritual" or miraculous healing make a wide range of astonishing claims - to have been cured of life-threatening illnesses, had joints repaired or replaced, been given gold teeth or gold fillings, regrown stunted limbs and even had deformed skeletal structures straightened and reshaped.  Worldwide mission efforts of the movement are built around the idea of combating witches, warlocks, and generational curses, which prevent churches from being able to take root.  

Thomas Muthee visited Wasilla Assembly of God and gave 10 consecutive sermons at the church, from October 11-16 2005. As both Palin and Wasilla AoG Head Pastor Ed Kalnins have attested, Thomas Muthee  'prayed over' Sarah Palin and entreated God to "make a way" prior to Palin's successful bid for the Alaska governorship. Muthee made a return visit to the Wasilla Assembly of God in late 2008. Thomas Muthee's Word of Faith Church is featured in the "Transformations" video which details an account on how Muthee drove "the spirit of witchcraft" out of Kiambu, Kenya, liberating the town from its territorial demonic possession and enabling a miraculous societal transformation.  The "Transformations" video set is used as an argument for social improvement  through spiritual instead of human means, and as the best method for fighting corruption, crime, drugs and even environmental degradation.

In the video, producer George Otis declares that after Thomas Muthee and his followers banished the "spirit of witchcraft" from the town, the crime rate in Kiambu dropped almost to zero, along with the rate of alcoholism, and according to Otis most of the residents of the town joined churches. The "Transformations" video has helped spark a network of 'Transformation' ministries and mission organizations and 'transformation' has become a buzz word for change based on supernatural instead of human efforts.

The Third Wave, also known as the New Apostolic Reformation, is a network of Apostles, many of them grouped around C. Peter Wagner, founder of the World Prayer Center.  This center, which was built in coordination with Ted Haggard and his New Life Church in Colorado Springs, was featured in an article by Jeff Sharlet in Harpers, May 2005, "Soldiers of Christ."  Sharlet was one of the first to write in the secular press about the World Prayer Center which is often referred to by those familiar with the Third Wave as the 'Pentagon for Spiritual Warfare.'  It features computer systems that store the data of communities around the world, mapping out unsaved peoples' groups and spiritual mapping information for spiritual warfare. Wagner has his own group of about 500 Apostles in his council and each of these Apostles has ministries under their authority, sometimes hundreds or thousands.  Recently various networks of Apostles came together to form the Revival Alliance.  Leaders of the Revival Alliance including Rick Joyner of Morningstar anointed Todd Bentley whose Lakeland Healing Revival has recently been a controversial topic in the Evangelical world.  

Wagner's top leaders often conduct spiritual warfare campaigns against the demons that block the acceptance of their brand of Christian belief, such as 'Operation Ice Castle' in the Himalayas in 1997.  Several of their top prophets and generals of intercession spent weeks in intensive prayer to "confront the Queen of Heaven."  This queen is considered by them to be one of the most powerful demons over the earth and is the Great Harlot of Mystery Babylon in Revelation. (The "Great Harlot [or 'whore'] of Mystery Babylon" theme also figures prominently in the sermons of Texas megachurch pastor and Christians United For Israel founder John Hagee, former endorser of John McCain's 2008 presidential bid.)  Wagner and his group also claim that the Queen of Heaven is Diana, the pagan god of the biblical book Ephesians and the god of Mary veneration in the Roman Catholic Church.  Following the 'Operation Ice Castle' prayer excursion which included planting a flag for Jesus on Mt. Everest, one of the lead prayer intercessors from the excursion, Ana Mendez, reported that there had been dramatic results including, "millions have come to faith in Asia... and other things happened which I believe are also connected...an earthquake had destroyed the basilica of Assisi, where the Pope had called a meeting of all world religions; a hurricane destroyed the infamous temple 'Baal-Christ' in Acapulco, Mexico;  the Princes Diana died... and Mother Theresa died in India, one of the most famous advocates of Mary as Co-Redeemer."

Mike Rose, senior pastor of Juneau Christian Center has a long relationship with Rodney Howard -Browne, credited with being the instigator of the outbreak of 'Holy Laughter' around the world, including the Toronto Airport Revival.

Church of the Rock, led by Senior Pastor David Pepper, has taken their youth to participate in 'The Call, Nashville.'  This event is held at various locations around the country under the leadership of Lou Engle, also featured in the movie "Jesus Camp." At these events youth are worked into a frenzy of anger and consternation at supposed national moral corruption.  Engle, who shuffles while he preaches in imitation of Jewish prayer, is featured toward the end of the "Jesus Camp" video documentary.

The Third Wave movement is cross-denomination and is not synonymous with any specific denomination, nor is it synonymous with Evangelical or Fundamentalist.  Although the movement emerged from Pentecostalism, it draws its support from a variety of denominations and religious streams.  They believe they are forming a post-denominational church to take the world for the end times.  To date, all of the writing and objections to this movement have emerged from other Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who believe the movement to be unbiblical.  Also, it is other conservative churches that refuse to embrace the 'outpouring of the Spirit' that are targets of much of the anger of the movement.

You can find more information on the Third Wave movement and additional links to the activities of Palin's churches on www.Talk2action.org in the following articles:


Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave, Part One

Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave, Part Two (with embedded video.)

The video is also posted here.

Documentation of the Video and Supporting Articles
Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave
Also posted as Palin's Demon Haunted Churches

Video Clips
(Note that all video clips are taken from original  sources or sources promoting and supporting the Third Wave/New Apostolic Reformation.)

Bishop Thomas Muthee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBvxWl7jXr0
Transformations I,  Trailer
George Otis, Sentinel Group

Morningstar Ministries clips including cellphone anointing, portal to Jesus
http://www.prophetic.tv/morningstar/
Holy Spirit Breakout Day # 1 and 2, Day #9, and Week #15
On Prophetic TV, Morningstar Ministries full Breakout series

Wasilla Master's Commission
http://www.mcwasillaalaska.com/
Main website with links to Master's Commission, Master's Commission videos and photos

Wasilla AoG bulletin graphics, Wasilla AoG sermons, Wasilla AoG videos
http://www.wasillaag.org/
Wasilla Assembly of God main site clips used:

Music repeated in video and sermon with chants of `Jesus, Jesus'
Wasilla AoG sermon by Pastor Todd Stafford, "In Desperate Times", January 15, 2007.  

Master's Commission Graduation Ceremony, June 8, 2008
Sarah Palin giving Master's Commission speech
Posted on the Wasilla AoG site on June 8, 2008

Anointing of Leaders from auxiliary site
http://app.razorplanet.com/acct/40149-8554/tmpl/index.php?s=gl&am p;nid=53521&preview=true
From Wasilla AoG links to site

Quote about demonic strongholds and generational curses
Ed Kalnins, sermon, September 26, 2004
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:gF16SYYnXC0J:www.wasillaag.n et/2004.html+Kalnins,Canaanite&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1& ;gl=us

Lou Engle, Rick Joyner from Underground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7sSZ7Ux3Hg
Underground by www.underthethreshold
Production of Brian Wages, Music/Art Director, Oakleaf Christian Fellowship

Photos at Our Hand at Youth Conference 2008
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile& amp;friendID=49580719
Photos posted on site of Wasilla AoG staff member, Buster Barlow

`One Lord Sunday'
http://gov.state.ak.us/large_photo.php?id=153
Event photos from Wasilla AoG posted on Alaska State Government website

____

Supplemental Documentation
(Hundreds of sources have been used in this research.  Following is list of websites of featured organizations and a selection of previously published articles and books used as sources.)

Bishop Thomas Muthee

http://www.wofchurchke.org/
Word of Faith Church, Muthee's ministry in Kenya

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:3z9krIjeCUcJ:www.charismamag. com/display.php%3Fid%3D786+Thomas+Muthee+witch&hl=en&ct=c lnk&cd=5&gl=us
Charisma Magazine, January 2001, Strang Publishing

http://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0923/p15s1.html
Muthee's  story in Christian Science Monitor,
Also includes information on George Otis, Sentinel Group and Transformations videos

"C. Peter Wagner, head of Global Harvest Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colo., is in the vanguard of the movement. He defines three levels of spiritual warfare: "Ground-level" involves casting demons out of individuals; "occult-level warfare" involves more organized "powers of darkness" [They target here New Age thought, Tibetan Buddhism, Freemasonry, etc.]; and "strategic-level warfare" directly "confronts 'territorial spirits' assigned by Satan to coordinate activities over a geographical area."

Transformations Videos, George Otis, Sentinel Group

http://www.sentinelgroup.org/
Sentinel Group website

http://www.sentinelgroup.org/vsg2001.asp
Transformations video marketing

http://www.ijfm.org/PDFs_IJFM/15_4_PDFs/ijfm_15_4.pdf
George Otis article, Recognizing and Defeating the Powers of Darkness
International Journal of Frontier Missions, Vol. 15:4, Oct - Dec. 98
Pp 183 - 192

Morningstar Ministries

http://www.morningstarministries.org/
Morningstar Ministries website

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Group/Group.aspx?ID=10000296 27
Holy Spirit Breakout site with links

http://www.prophetic.tv/morningstar/
Holy Spirit Breakout links for all sessions

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Groups/1000012510/MorningSta r_Ministries/Councils
link to ministries including CSCL

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=10000125 10#CSCL
Link to Comenius School of Creative Learning

http://www.prophetic.tv/morningstar/index.php?p=2
Access to Holy Spirit Breakout videos

http://www.morningstarministries.org/PaymentGroup/Registration.as px?payment_group_id=1000000639
Worship and Warfare Conference, September 22 - 24, 2008

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Groups/1000017258/MorningSta r_Ministries/MSU.aspx
Morningstar University, Releasing a Supernatural Army to Transform the World

Lou Engle, The Call

http://www.louengle.com/
Lou Engle ministries site including The Call and Justice House of Prayer

http://www.thecall.com/
The Call

http://www.thecall.com/Groups/1000029166/TheCall/About/Advisory_T eam.aspx
The Call advisory board and promo video for upcoming event

http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com/
Jesus Camp, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Magnolia, 2007

New Apostolic Reformation
C. Peter Wagner, Global Harvest Ministries, World Prayer Center

http://jeffsharlet.com/articles/soldiers_of_christ.pdf
Soldiers of Christ, Harpers, May 2005

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/may/2.36.html
Prayer Warriors, Christianity Today, May 2003

http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=newapostolic
C. Peter Wagner's Global Harvest Ministry, ministry website archive
Summary of  book Churchquake explaining the purpose of New Apostolic Reformation
Wagner describes how he named the movement and how they will change the church.

"The majority of the new apostolic churches not only believe in the work of the Holy Spirit, but they also regularly invite Him to come into their midst to bring supernatural power. It is commonplace, therefore, to observe active ministries of healing, demonic deliverance, spiritual warfare, prophecy, falling in the Spirit, spiritual mapping, prophetic acts, fervent intercession and travail, and so on in new apostolic churches".

https://kidsinministry.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=93 Website for ministry of Becky Fischer, minister featured in the movie, Jesus Camp
Kids in Ministry International

http://www.generals.org/
Generals of Intercession, ministry of Cindy Jacobs
General Council of Assemblies of God

http://www.ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_endtime_revival.cfm

Response to Resolution 16, Adopted by General Presbyter, August 11, 2000

Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Mapping

-C. Peter Wagner, Confronting the Powers (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1996)

-C. Peter Wagner, Confronting the Queen of Heaven ( Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wagner Publication, 1998, 2001

-C, Peter Wagner, editor, Praying Through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window (Seattle, WA, YWAM Publishing, 1994)

-Cindy Jacobs, Possessing the Gates of the Enemy:  A Training Manual for Militant Intercession (Grand Rapids, MI Chosen Publishers, , 1994)

-Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds (Arrow Publishers, Division of Frangipane, Inc., 1996)

-Steve Thompson, You May All Prophecy (Shippensburg, PA , Destiny Image Publishers, , 2003)

-Rick Joyner, The Final Quest (, New Kensington, PA ,Whitaker House, 1997)

-Rick Joyner, The Torch and the Sword (Charlotte NC, Morningstar Publications and Ministries, 2006)

http://www.lausanne.org/nairobi-2000/overview.html
Deliver Us From Evil Consultation
The Lausanne Movement, Consultation on Spiritual Warfare

http://www.lausanne.org/nairobi-2000/documents.html
documents from Deliver Us from Evil,Lausanne Consultation

http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1997i/Hart.html
The Gospel and Spiritual Warfare:  A Review of Peter Wagner's "Confronting the Powers"Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Spring 1997 -- Volume 10:18

http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2008-0710-20070 6/holvast.pdf
Spiritual Mapping:  The Turbulent Career of a Contested American Missionary Paradigm, 1989 - 2005
De Turbulente Carriere van een Omstreden Americkaans Zendingsparadigma, 1989 - 2005
Rene Holvast
Universeit Utrecht
Doctoral Thesis , July 11, 1008

http://books.google.com/books?id=ulsXtyX7JY4C&dq=occult-level +warfare&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
Discerning the Spirit(s): A Pentecostal-charismatic Contribution to Christian Theology of Religions
By Amos Yong
Published by Continuum International Publishing Group, 2000
ISBN 1841271330, 9781841271330
392 pages

http://books.google.com/books?id=rixQ7tW0ZBQC&dq=%22covering+ theology%22&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
Spiritual Warfare: A Struggle for Truth
By Russell Sharrock
Published by Lulu.com, 2007
ISBN 184753094X, 9781847530943
408 pages

http://blogs.salon.com/0003494/stories/2004/10/31/christianitySpi ritualWarfareAndSatanicPanic.html
Bartholomew's Notes on Religion
Compilation of articles on Spiritual Warfare and Satanic Panic

Master's Commission and Curriculum

http://www.mcin.org/modules.php?name=MC_Info

http://www.transformingmelbourne.org/au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122:the-ana-mendez-story&catid=54:testimonies&Itemid=74 Master's Commission International

http://icitc.org/
France Frangipane, In Christ Image Training materials

http://app.razorplanet.com/acct/40149-8554/tmpl/index.php?s=au&am p;nid=3731&news_id=759&null=0
Frangipane teaching notes on Wasilla site

http://frangipane.org/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pag ename=FaithHighway/Globals/DisplayTextMessage&PROJECTPATH=100 00/1000/728&sermonid=textsermon_1218730599145&customerTyp eLabel=Weekly&sermontitle=Elijah,%20Jehu,%20and%20the%20War%2 0Against%20Jezebel
Frances Frangipane Articles
We must stop living for comfort as long as her harlotries and witchcrafts are so many in our land. We must refuse to settle for a false peace based on compromise and fear, especially when the Spirit of God is calling for war!

General History

http://books.google.com/books?id=QYpD4CEqgrUC&dq=george+warno ck+latter+rain&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
Spirit of the Last Days: Pentecostal Eschatology in Conversation with Jürgen Moltmann
By Peter Althouse
Published by Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003
ISBN 0826466850, 9780826466853

http://books.google.com/books?id=syUupeVJOz4C&dq=george+warno ck+latter+rain&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
Encyclopedia of evangelicalism
By Randall Herbert Balmer
Published by Westminster John Knox Press, 2002
ISBN 0664224091, 9780664224097
654 pages
Assemblies of God and Pentecostal Holiness Church expelled Latter Rain leaders from the Church




Display:
The video is fantastic, and I think you've really done a great job in explaining who these groups are, and how they're connected, in a way that the average person who's not familiar with them will get.

by Chris Rodda on Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 12:09:11 PM EST

Good work Bruce. I particularly liked the Southern Poverty Law Center story about Bentley kicking the elderly women  in the face with his biker boots to touch her for God.  I haven't tried that form of pastoral ministry as of yet!

by wilkyjr on Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 02:52:50 PM EST

Glad to see others writing on it, finally--this is pretty much the exact movement I am a walkaway from, and I can state it's been going on in the Assemblies in some form or another almost continuously since the 30's at least (despite official condemnations when there's too much press in apologetics circles, it is astonishingly rare for churches to ever be booted out for promoting this, many of the Assemblies churches that are the foremost promoters (including some of the largest Assemblies churches in the US) are promoted extensively in Assemblies official magazines, and typically the movements tend to be tolerated under redone names between official CYA condemnations--"Joshua Generation" and "Gideon's Army" and "Elijah's Army" tend to be much more common names for "Joel's Army" now).

And no, I don't take very much stock in the Assemblies' supposed official condemnation of "Joel's Army", seeing as the actual originator of "Third Wave" theology, Paul Yonggi Cho, ran the denomination's World Council for most of the 1990s and is still very much the "man behind the curtain" with Assemblies "third wave" outbreaks.  (And yes, this would specifically include the church I am a walkaway from--which promoted "Brownsville" craziness a goodly twenty years before Brownsville--and which also includes the "Third Wave" outbreak at Wasilla A/G.)

And unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely that "Ground Zero" of the "Third Wave" is going to ever be eliminated from the Assemblies--they'd have to literally excommunicate pretty much the entire church body membership in South Korea, as Cho's monstrous megachurch (with a claimed 800,000+ members and multiple satellite congregations throughout the country, as well as some in Korean expatriate communities in other countries) effectively is the Assemblies of God in that country.  And Cho's been pretty much pulling this stuff since at least the 1960's, with the earliest attempts outside of South Korea being the church I am a walkaway from and an influential Assemblies megachurch in Argentina usually regarded as one of the earliest documented churches (besides Cho's) promoting abusive "discipling and shepherding" movements.

I can also safely state this is a CYA measure, seeing as the Assemblies has officially endorsed "Third Wave" stuff as a "genuine move of the Spirit" in past (and it doesn't get more official than endorsement by Thomas Trask, general superintendent of the denomination; this again points to the specific "Joel's Army" branding being officially "condemned" whilst its core "God Warrior" theology is tolerated by other names).

As has been usual, most of the activity has tended to be concentrated in frontgroups--FGBMFI as well as an Assemblies "teen ministry" called Youth Alive active in most Assemblies churches.

by dogemperor on Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 03:50:45 PM EST


I recommended Bruce and Ruth's work today on WWRL, a New York radio station. It is the most penetrating reporting on Palin I've seen so far. I think we need to devote just as much energy to researching and reporting on Third Wave/Joel's Army theology as we have on Reconstructionism.

by Max Blumenthal on Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 07:40:51 PM EST

Considering how convinced these people are that they are literally struggling with demonic powers, I'm surprised that the name of Rick Joyner's ministry hasn't sent alarm bells ringing in some of their heads. The morning star (Venus) is traditionally equated with Lucifer.

by gkruz on Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 11:05:04 AM EST

on one page! All we need is Mr. Clarkson to comment! Really great job, Bruce. I'm getting everyone I can to DIGG this story because it's so important to get the word out.

by trog69 on Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 11:59:34 AM EST
Might as well join the chorus with a tip o' the hat to Bruce's fine work here.... and also to your smart activism in getting people do Digg the story. This is exactly the way that internet activism works best.

by Frederick Clarkson on Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 03:38:21 PM EST
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Cindy Jacobs--the new leader of the NAR
You may remember that Lou Engle has made moves of late to position himself as the new power in the religious right.  He's a member of the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders, a group......
By Christian Dem in NC (1 comment)
James F. Linzey Espouses anti-Semitic, White Racialist Conspiracy Theory
James F. Linzey is a prominent, active duty chaplain in the United States military. Linzey has stated that he was the command chaplain for the Operation Iraqi Freedom troop mobilization prior to the US......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
White Supremacist named as Holocaust Museum Shooter
An 89 year old, vehemently antiSemitic  Ron Paul supporter has been named by police as the gunman who opened fire in the Holocaust Museum shortly after noon today: Gunman, guard shot at Holocaust museum......
By CynthiaGee (0 comments)
From Focus On The Family to La Familia Michoacana
I didn't think my work on the religous right would converge with what I'm doing on the narcoguerra in Mexico...but here it is: the Faith-Based Cartel. ......
By julydogs (1 comment)
A Pagan Among the Mainstream Churches in Boise
The participation by an "out" Pagan in the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force proves that some religions will accept and welcome help from all quarters, in recognition that we are all human.  The glaring......
By Chiawana (0 comments)
Clarkson on CounterSpin
Hear me discuss the Tiller assasination this week on the nationally syndicated radio program CounterSpin, the progressive media criticism show produced by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR).  You can also listen via Mp3......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Liberty Counsel tries to SLAPP Americans United
In what can charitably be described as an act of desperation, Liberty Counsel is asking the IRS to investigate Americans United's tax-exempt status.  This comes only days after AU asked the IRS to investigate......
By Christian Dem in NC (0 comments)
Strange how things bring the nutcases out
I read today that Westboro Baptist staged a protest at a vigil held for Dr. Tiller in Wichita.   I'm not surprised, but what did surprise me was that they had 20 people there......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
Southern Baptists may be abandoning public schools
Via OneNewsNow, I discovered a story by former Southern Baptist Convention president Morris Chapman that appears to call for SBC churches to begin setting up Christian schools. I now wonder if our focus in......
By Christian Dem in NC (0 comments)
Footnote about Ammerman / Palin / Wagner Linkage
Colonel "Jim" Ammerman was listed as being an apostle in C. Peter Wagner's International Coalition of Apostles [see ICA prospectus] from the organization's inception in 2001 through to December 2008. The ICA is one......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
The Singapore Struggle, after AWARE
An introductory post on steeplejacking in Singapore after the attempted takeover of a woman's NGO and a summary of recent updates. ......
By Sniper (2 comments)
What Does Bobby Jindal Really Want to Do To Louisiana Higher Education?
In recent weeks, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has stood back and watched while both the Louisiana House and Senate wrestled with his original budget proposal to cut $219 million from Louisiana public higher education.......
By ulyankee (3 comments)
Yank Dominionists are considering taking over....New Zealand?????
No, it's not a plot for a bad sci-fi movie, it's.... "The Three Greatest Issues Facing the Men of New Zealand" ....and the first wave of the "invasion" has already hit the island, just......
By CynthiaGee (1 comment)
The AWARE steeplejackers and their deep connections to Joel's Army and American dominionists
Thanks to a few Singaporean friends (who shall remain anonymous), I had become aware of a disturbing development--an attempted hijack of a major women's NGO. Through those same folks and Fred Clarkson's post on......
By dogemperor (0 comments)
Common Enemies: LGBT, Abortion Share Foes
by Pam Chamberlain [On The Issues Magazine] When I was in college, a group of radical women dressed as witches ran around major U.S. cities doing zap actions, placing hexes on male-dominated institutions like......
By On The Issues Magazine (0 comments)
Florida Theocrats at it again.
There are two news articles in today's Ledger that are of concern. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090424/NEWS/904259979/1003/NEW S00?Title=Jesus-License-Plate-Could-Come The new license plates come up for a vote this year. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090423/NEWS/904235098/1005/NEW S02?Title=Bill-Would-Strengthen-Voucher-Program This bill, also possibly up for a......
By ArchaeoBob (4 comments)
Is Humanism Arrogant?
Much to the dismay of theocratic Christians, humanists claim that ethics can be understood without resorting to the supernatural or alleged divine authority from religious texts.  Christian theocrats say this is hubris. ......
By TMurray (8 comments)
Terry Schaivo back in the news
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090330/NEWS/903305040/1003/NEW S00?Title=Schiavo-Anniversary-Mass-Planned Another move by the religious right- rather than letting Terry go (after an autopsy PROVED that she had severe and irreversible brain damage), they're dragging her up again. ......
By ArchaeoBob (5 comments)
no ark no temple
how can you build a new temple in jerusalem if there is no ark of the covanent to put in it? book of jerimiah states that the ark will not be reconstructed. what does......
By keyknow (5 comments)
WND.com Cashes In on "Birther" Conspiracy Theories
WorldNetDaily has been spinning ridiculous yarns about Barack Obama since last year's presidential campaign, particularly about the idea that he's a foreign-born usurper to the Oval Office. Now you can own a peice of......
By Scoutstr295 (0 comments)
Did you know NC's constitution bars atheists from holding office?
When I found out that an Arkansas state rep is trying to repeal a provision in his state constitution that bars atheists from holding office, I remembered that, sadly, North Carolina's constitution has a......
By Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
AP helping religious right again--this time in Arkansas
I'm starting to wonder if the American Family Association has a moleat the Associated Press. That's the only plausible explanation for an AP story about a possible referendum about removing constitutional restrictions on atheists......
By Christian Dem in NC (1 comment)
Creationists' new angle--it's in the name of academic freedom
(cross-posted at dKos) Looks like the creationist crowd is trying a new tack to try and get a toe in the evolution debate. Apparently shutting out discussion of creation amounts to a denial of......
By Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
Religious right threatens lawsuit over provision of stimulus bill
cross-posted at dKos The American Center for Law and Justice is threatening a lawsuit over the stimulus package. At issue? A provision that it claims may force colleges receiving funds to renovate their facilities......
By Christian Dem in NC (3 comments)
Fundies raising stink about prospective gay appointment
cross-posted at dKosI had a funny feeling the religious right would find something about Obama to get worked up about, and wouldn't you know, it looks like they have.  Apparently the prospect of Obama--horrors!--appointing......
By Christian Dem in NC (1 comment)
The Churches may need Redefining
       John Aravosis www.americablog.com/ has reported that Archbishop Rino Fisichella is commenting on the arrogance of newly elected President Obama as someone who is opening the door to abortion and thus the......
By tangodaddy (1 comment)
Blackwater: Guns for Hire or Trojan Horsemen?
The Los Angeles Times reports this morning that  Blackwater security may be forced out of Iraq: "Blackwater Worldwide,the security firm that allegedly used excessive force to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq, will soon be......
By CynthiaGee (0 comments)
If Abortion is Murder what do you do with the Killers?
This is a video I found today of a guy who interviewed pro-life activists at an anti-abortion rally. The interviewer asked the question, "What do you do with all of the women who commit......
By inlikeflint (0 comments)
Boston Globe Notes Warren's Hitler Cites, Misses "Africa Problem"
As a new Boston Globe article, "Effort to surmount polarizing debates backfires on pastor", by Michael Paulson, noticed, "The Huffington Post, noting that Warren has cited the success Hitler, Lenin and Mao had at......
By Bruce Wilson (4 comments)

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