Why Sarah Palin's Speech Will Not Win Over All Evangelicals

New Republic ^ | 9/4/08 | Alan Wolfe

[Dutchgirl]

very liberal women who go to church

I received a call from a friend of mine (calls herself a Republican- but voted for Perot) who had been thinking of voting Obama but saw Palin last night and had her socks knocked off. She's voting McCain (entirely personality and not conviction driven.)

She called me to tell me that Sarah Palin reminded her of me. I thanked her and was truly humbled by the comparison.

[ViLaLuz]

Evangelicals are now more concerned about the environment and social justice? I don’t think so. Maybe the quasi-evangelical, Rick Warren/consensus driven, emergent version of Christianity.

I like what I see in Sarah Palin, if it is indeed for real. But unfortunatley, she’s not the one running for president.

[Raycpa]

should do their best to insure social justice in this world.

Did you miss the part about her being a friend to parents of special need children?

[bmwcyle]

Alan Wolfe = Useful Idiot

[JLS]

Wow:

1. Despite his claims, this guy apparently studies NOTHING. He presents imagined evangelicals WITH NO DATA. This type of article is called wishful thinking.

2. Apparently while wishfully thinking, he missed the line about parents with handicapped children having a friend in Washington after she gets there.

[Just another Joe]

So for a point by point rebuttal

1. - Evangelicals are becoming increasingly persuaded that Christians are under an injunction to preserve and protect the natural environment bequeathed to us by God.
Evangelicals are under an injunction to be good stewards, NOT necessarily to preserve and protect. Sometimes those go hand in hand, sometimes they do not.

2. - Palin's speech, secondly, was too partisan to be easily swallowed by younger, post-partisan, evangelicals.
Governor Palin's speech was a speech to a partisan crowd. What did you expect, praise for Obomba?

3. - Finally, and most importantly, Palin did not speak to the powerful sense emerging among evangelicals that all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world. On the contrary, Palin mocked Obama's service as a community organizer, an odd thing to do given that so many community organizers are inspired by their religious convictions.
If the author doesn't get that she was returning fire about "experience" then the author just doesn't get politics. This could be the case as they are an atheist, teaching at a Catholic school, studying evangelical Protestants. (Hmmmmmm)

[Jemian]

Actually, conservatives/evangelicals give more time and money to charities than do the meager liberals.

Nobama, “I am my brother’s keeper.”
Me, “Your brother lives in a cardboard box.”

[madprof98]

I have no religious convictions of my own.

Goes without saying.

[brytlea]

I guess because he’s not a Christian he doesn’t really get it, even tho he talks to them. Jesus never told us to take someone else’s money (tax dollars) and use them to do good. He told US TO DO IT OURSELVES. And most Christians I know do that. They donate to their churches and missions and volunteer their time.

susie

[italianquaker]

Her life does

[hsalaw]

But I have been taken aback by how many evangelicals to whom I have spoken who think deeply about the obligations we human beings have toward each other, take seriously a command to lead lives of good purpose, and resist having their faith corrupted by the temptations of money and power.

How can any of this POSSIBLY be a surprise to anyone? This guy sounds like he's surprised that evangelicals are Christians.

[Trailerpark Badass]

I was bowled over by the parents of a quadriplegic child to whom they had clearly devoted their lives; I do not think I have the same level of devotion within me

Wow, thanks for that admission. I can now ignore anything, including this tortured bit of "logic," produced by your feckless soul.

[Corin Stormhands]

I have no religious convictions of my own.

I read no further.

[vox_freedom]

I could react by saying, "unbelievable," but that wouldn't be truthful.

Just what is this guy doing at a "Catholic" university?
Sowing what he reaps...

[livius]

LOL! The guy doesn’t understand Catholics, either ... but of course, he does teach at Boston College, so I guess that’s understandable.

[trisham]

Palin's speech, secondly, was too partisan to be easily swallowed by younger, post-partisan, evangelicals. These are people who disagree with Barack Obama's position on abortion but respect him as a Christian.

***********************

This is news to me.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“I teach at a Catholic university. I study and write about evangelical Protestants. I have no religious convictions of my own. “

Someone who teaches about things he has no experience with? And why would anyone give any weight to his opinion?

[longtermmemmory]

This is the Mr. Walis soujourner left wing faux christian politicization effort going down the tubes.

Moral relativism and christianity are not compatable.

This is why the DNC was dominated by homosexuals and the RNC is not.

[VOA]

If Palin said one word about how to make this world a fairer place
or indicated at any point how to realize the common good,
I did not hear it.

I guess he had his fingers in his ears about Palin emptying some
of the excess funds of the Alaskan treasury and returning it
to the citizens of Alaska.

If getting back money the state took and didn't even need...
now that's social justice and making the world a better place!!!

[DungeonMaster]

I teach at a Catholic university. I study and write about evangelical Protestants.

Keep studying!