EMERGING REVELATIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS ZEALOTRY AND TRUE BELIEF OF REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT SARAH PALIN  perhaps influencing her articles of faith (and campaign message) should be enough to ring alarm bells.

For starters, there's her associations with a heretical apocalypto sect with known connexions to the "Latter Rain" revivalist movement as has itself been declared heretical and anathema by the Assemblies of God since 1949, which was reinforced by Resolution 16 (A Return to Biblical Integrity) of the 48th General Assembly of the Assemblies of God in 2000:

WHEREAS, The first of the 16 Fundamental Truths asserts unequivocally that the Scriptures are the "infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct"; and

WHEREAS, The report of the Spiritual Life Committee in Minutes, Revised Constitution and Bylaws of The General Council of the Assemblies of God 1993 states:

We believe that God's Spirit never goes where His Word does not. . . . We have been lambasted by elements of the electronic church and charismatic renewal as being backslidden and non-Spirit led when we have not jumped on popular bandwagons of the day loaded with the meringue of personality and spiritual excess rather than the plain meat of God's Word. So be it! If criticism is the price we must pay for asking the question: "What saith the Lord in His written Word?"-then let us wear that criticism gladly as a sign of fidelity to Christ. and

WHEREAS, The current "river of God" includes many alleged manifestations of the Spirit which are extra-biblical. These extra-biblical manifestations have become a de facto evidence of a new level of spirituality and/or a new anointing. They are eclipsing in importance the biblical anointing called the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is witnessed by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance; and

WHEREAS, Latter Rain doctrines such as impartation, birthing, Joel's Army, and the five-fold ministries taught as offices with predictive prophecy are again being heard in the new revival; and

WHEREAS, As a result, ministers and churches are being divided and members are becoming confused about the authority of the Scripture; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this General Council reaffirm the decision of the General Council of 1949, as stated: We recognize a hunger on the part of God's people for a spiritual refreshing and manifestation of His Holy Spirit [and] That we set our hearts to seek for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit founded upon the clear teaching of the Word of God. Be it further

RESOLVED, That we disapprove of Latter Rain doctrines and practices such as "impartation," "birthing," "Joel's Army," and the "five-fold ministries" taught as "offices" with "predictive prophecy," and other extraneous teachings "which, being unfounded scripturally, serve only to break fellowship . . . and tend to confusion and division."

Which, in turn, was reinforced by the Position Paper "Endtime Revival--Spirit-Led and Spirit-Controlled," the which may be read in its entire here (and could be worth using for "swift-boating" Ms. Palin with on the theological front, what with her known friends among the Religiopolitical Right).

=============

AS IF MS. PALIN'S ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF LATTER RAIN WEREN'T AWFUL ENOUGH, a flyer in the church bulletin of her church in Wasilla, AK is promoting the Focus on the Family-affiliated "Love Won Out" pseudoministry which suggests that homosexuals and homosexuality can be "cured" by the thorough application of Christian Witness.

The which turns out being in the same boat as "aversion" and "reparative" psychotherapies which have been discredited by the American Psychiatric Association as having no credible basis in fact and serves only to further stigmatise homosexuals and homosexuality, as per the following position paper issued in 2000 (by way of Media Matters for America):

1. APA affirms its 1973 position that homosexuality per se is not a diagnosable mental disorder. Recent publicized efforts to repathologize homosexuality by claiming that it can be cured are often guided not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric research, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians. APA recommends that the APA respond quickly and appropriately as a scientific organization when claims that homosexuality is a curable illness are made by political or religious groups.

2. As a general principle, a therapist should not determine the goal of treatment either coercively or through subtle influence. Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or "repair" homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Furthermore, anecdotal reports of "cures" are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm. In the last four decades, "reparative" therapists have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure. Until there is such research available, APA recommends that ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum to first, do no harm.

3. The "reparative" therapy literature uses theories that make it difficult to formulate scientific selection criteria for their treatment modality. This literature not only ignores the impact of social stigma in motivating efforts to cure homosexuality; it is a literature that actively stigmatizes homosexuality as well. "Reparative" therapy literature also tends to overstate the treatment's accomplishments while neglecting any potential risks to patients. APA encourages and supports research in the NIMH and the academic research community to further determines "reparative" therapy's risks versus its benefits.

(As a matter of fact, several psychologists and psychiatrists who have identified themselves with "aversion/reparative therapy" programmes have been disciplined for the likes of Unprofessional Conduct, Causing Serious Emotional Harm in Clients, Abusing the Doctor-Client Relationship for Personal Gain and Abusing Client Trust and Confidence to Further Expose Clients to Harm or Dependency, among other charges as can lead to disciplinary action. Not to mention the unwitting likelihood of certain such being, perhaps, Addicted to Liquor.)

=============

AND TO SUGGEST THAT SARAH PALIN'S PRESENCE AS JOHN McCAIN'S VICE-PRESIDENT MAY ACTUALLY HELP SWAY WORKING-CLASS WOMEN INTO VOTING REPUBLICAN COME NOVEMBER may only be wishful thinking; read what the Los Angeles Times has to say on this Inconvenient Truth.

Not to mention suggesting that a blanket ban on abortion and contraception as is part of the McCain/Palin Presidential agenda would actually have "economic benefits" (cf. Romania under Nicolae Ceauçescu, in case you've forgotten Recent History).