Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

[struggle4progress]

Nico Pitney and Sam Stein
September 2, 2008 12:17 PM

... Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said ...

... Pastor Kalnins has also preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven; charged that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq were part of a war "contending for your faith;" and said that Jesus "operated from that position of war mode" ...

During the 2004 election season, he praised President Bush's performance during a debate with Sen. John Kerry, then offered a not-so-subtle message about his personal candidate preferences. "I'm not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I'm sorry." Kalnins added: "If every Christian will vote righteously, it would be a landslide every time."

Months after hinting at possible damnation for Kerry supporters, Kalnins bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards the President," he said, "because it's like criticisms towards the pastor -- it's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you" ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

[C_U_L8R]

1. fruity tootie cookoo bananas

Someone turn the spotlight over this way

[undeterred]

2. Pastor Kalnins, let me assure you

that one of the very hottest places in hell has been reserved for you, and all of John Kerry's supporters will have an excellent, cool, and pleasant view from which to watch you burn to a crisp.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. No, he will be in one of the coldest places in Hell

Assuming you are familiar with Il Inferno by Dante, that is. I expect Kalnins will be placed in the Ninth Circle, Round 2. According to the Wikipedia entry for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante%27s_Inferno#Inferno">Divine Comedy:

The Ninth Circle is ringed by classical and Biblical giants. The giants are standing either on, or on a ledge above, the ninth circle of Hell, and are visible from the waist up at the ninth circle of the Malebolge. The giant Antaeus lowers Dante and Virgil into the pit that forms the ninth circle of Hell. (Canto XXXI) Traitors, distinguished from the "merely" fraudulent in that their acts involve betraying one in a special relationship to the betrayer, are frozen in a lake of ice known as Cocytus. Each group of traitors is encased in ice to a different depth, ranging from only the waist down to complete immersion.

...

Round 2: Antenora is named for Antenor of Troy, who according to medieval tradition betrayed his city to the Greeks. Traitors to political entities, such as party, city, or country, are located here. Count Ugolino pauses from gnawing on the head of his rival Archbishop Ruggieri to describe how Ruggieri imprisoned and starved him and his children. The souls here are immersed at almost the same level as those in Caïna (Round 1; the souls here are immersed up to their necks), except they are unable to bend their necks. (Cantos XXXII and XXXIII).

[Bill McBlueState]

4. Well, there goes the news cycle

We all know how the media respond when a major candidate has a controversial pastor. Probably won't hear about much besides Palin's pastor problem until October.