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Sarah Palin witchcraft blessing video
Thursday, 25 September 2008
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A grainy YouTube video surfaced today showing Sarah Palin being blessed in church by a pastor praying for her protection from "witchcraft".
The video shows Republican candidate Ms Palin standing before Kenyan bishop Thomas Muthee at the front of the Wasilla Assembly of God church, in Alaska, holding her hands open as he asked Jesus Christ to keep her safe from "every form of witchcraft".
"Come on, talk to God about this woman. We declare, save her from Satan," Muthee said as two attendants placed their hands on Palin's shoulders. "Make her way my God. Bring finances her way even for the campaign in the name of Jesus. ... Use her to turn this nation the other way around."
Ms Palin filed campaign papers a few months later, in October 2005, and was elected governor the next year.
Ms Palin does not say anything on the video and keeps her head bowed throughout the blessing. She was baptised at the church but stopped attending regularly in 2002.
A spokesman for the McCain campaign declined to comment. A person who answered the phone at the Wasilla church confirmed the video was from May 2005 but declined further comment.
Ms Palin was baptised Roman Catholic as a baby.
Click below to watch the video
Pentecostals are conservative in their reading of the Bible. Unlike most other Christians — including most evangelicals — Pentecostals believe in "baptism in the Holy Spirit." That can manifest itself through speaking in tongues, modern-day prophesy and faith healing, which includes the laying on of hands.
Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, has said Palin attends different churches and does not consider herself Pentecostal.
On a visit to the church in June 2008, Palin spoke fondly of the Kenyan pastor and told a group of young missionaries that Muthee's prayers had helped her to become governor.
"Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me, and you know how he speaks and he's so bold," she said. "And he was praying 'Lord make a way, Lord make a way' ... He said, 'Lord make a way and let her do this next step.' And that's exactly what happened."
The Rev. Zipporah Ndiritu, who studied under Muthee in the Kiambu, Kenya-based Word of Faith Church, said the bishop is revered among evangelicals there. In a phone interview from Mombasa, Kenya, she said church doctrine focuses on ridding the world of demons — and witches.
"Even in the days of Jesus Christ, according to the Bible there were witches who were manifesting through demonic forces," she said. "You can seek from the Lord, and if you find demonic forces you cast them out."
Ndiritu said she did not know Palin.
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Claiming "witchcraft" smacks of the denunciations of the Stalin era of the old USSR. Point at anyone who may happen to disagree with you, call them a witch - job done. The Communists, however, invented an entire lexicon of words to justify their brutality.
I have had experience of so-called Christians who treat belief like some kind of theological pick-n-mix; they uphold the commandments and doctrine that happen to be "on their side" and conveniently ignore the rest. I have been on the receiving end of false accusations by "Christians" who merely saw a scapegoat for their distorted faith. Never mind "Judge not lest ye be judged" or any teachings against Anger, Jealousy, Greed, Covetousness or Lust; to them these are just inconvenient obstacles to be hurdled.
Posted by Steve | 16.10.08, 00:43 GMT
Did Palin's pastor shout "God Damn America"?
I guess he's not so bad then!
Posted by RRT-MD | 28.09.08, 17:36 GMT
You get people claiming to be Christian all over the world doing horrible things like murder in the name of God. These people are totally wrong according to the bible, the book they claim to uphold. The bible says Matthew chapter 7 verse 16
You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?
Things like this have happened throughout history. Saul who later was converted on the Damascus road and became Paul, actually thought he was following God, when he imprisoned and killed Christians. The Crusaders thought they were doing God's will when they butchered all round them. This was what happened in the Spanish Inquisition too. Likewise the Protestant UVF assassinated innocent people for 'God and Ulster'. How can people claim to be Christian, yet they deliberately ignore and disobey Jesus's teaching to love you neighbour as yourself.
Posted by T.J.McClean | 28.09.08, 15:30 GMT
People who claim they are Christian are indeed killing others (often children)
because they are claimed to be "demon possessed". Not just in Africa, but
even in the UK. I suggest that you check it out - a Web search will show you
plenty of evidence.
If you look into it more carefully, you fill find that those so-called evangelical
Christian sects seem to regard the pentateuch more highly than the gospels;
I have no idea whether you would regard them as Christian, but they certainly
claim to be.
And, no, I am NOT stating that all evangelical Christian sects are like that;
some are very worthy Christians, as you say. They may even be the
majority, and it is just the extremist minority that gets the publicity. The
Wesleys were evangelical Christians, after all, and there is no way that
the Methodists can be regarded as extreme!
I am sorry for misspelling your name - that was finger trouble,
Posted by An African native of European descent | 27.09.08, 14:11 GMT
To An African native of European descent.
What exactly are you trying to say? Are you saying real Christians in Africa of UK are responsible for killing people because they think they are demon possessed?
If people take the Bible literally then they would follow the teachings of Jesus, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and your neighbour as yourself'. and 'Thou shalt not kill.' Jesus certainly believed that some people were demon possessed. He cast out demons on a number of occasions. He most certainly did not kill anyone or advocate such an evil practice.
Your previous comments refer to 'so-called evangelical Christian sects are little more than the old
animistic ('pagan') religions resurfacing under the guise of Christianity.' Rather a sweeping statement given the fact that evangelical churches in Africa are moving mountains in the battle against Aids and Poverty and providing schools and education introducing good farming techniques.
Posted by T.J.McClean | 27.09.08, 08:46 GMT
T.J. Mclean needs to read the news (and the bible) more carefully. People
are accused of witchcraft and killed, even today in the UK. Those people take
the bible literally, especially the pentateuch. I am referring particularly to
Exodus 22:18, of course.
Note that my previous comment was talking about those churches, and not
the beliefs (if any) of Palin herself. If she weren't being prevented from being
interviewed, I am sure she would be asked whether she believes that some
people are witches or not.
Posted by An African native of European descent | 26.09.08, 22:03 GMT
The point is that this woman could some day have the power to launch nuclear missiles. Mc Cain has a 1 in 4 chance of not seeing through his first term if elected due to his age and health problems. Sarah Palin has no international political experience, belives she needs protected from witchcraft and doesn't belive in dinosaurs. The excuse " God made me do it " if she attacks a country that just so happens doesn't agree with her religious beliefs is CRAZY. It's time people started looking at the bigger picture.
Posted by Tom | 26.09.08, 06:48 GMT
This personal religious experience sheds no light on her ablity or inability to govern, but it does show that she must be somewhat ernest.
Posted by Stuart | 26.09.08, 04:27 GMT
IT IS RATHER FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT Ms PALIN MIGHT BECOME VICE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.
Posted by SAM | 25.09.08, 23:16 GMT
Calm down Peter, I respect Mrs Palin's faith too. I just saw the article as another attempt by biased elements in the the media, who obviously support Mr Obama, to make her look stupid. I certainly do not believe that she is so and I certainly do not support the hysterical bigoted viewpoint of 'An African native of European descent.' I would further urge you to reconsider your decision not to vote again. If you do not vote how exactly do you think democratic change will come about?
Posted by T.J.McClean | 25.09.08, 18:52 GMT
Many or most traditional sub-Saharan African religions held that premature
deaths were due to witchcraft, and that is why chiefs used 'witch finders' (or
'witch smellers') to find scapegoats for everything that went wrong.
Those so-called evangelical Christian sects are little more than the old
animistic ('pagan') religions resurfacing under the guise of Christianity.
They never fully died out, and I can personally witness that they were active
in Kenya in 1970 (which is when I was last there).
God help us all.
Posted by An African native of European descent | 25.09.08, 17:04 GMT
So what??.. At least she's a christian and I respect her faith. We have numerious convicted bombers & murderers in our government??.. No one seems to bat an eyelid. Saying that, I'll never vote again in Northern Ireland. Talk about a totally currupt gravy train.. but thats another story!
Posted by Peter | 25.09.08, 16:46 GMT
So what?
Posted by T.J.McClean | 25.09.08, 15:19 GMT