[Vision2020] More ADN: Palin blessing echoed extreme strategy

[Saundra Lund]

http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/567096.html

Palin blessing echoed extreme strategy
ALAN BORAAS
COMMENT
(10/25/08 00:19:42) 

Most who watched the YouTube clip of Rev. Thomas Muthee's "laying on of
hands" ritual protecting Gov. Sarah Palin from witches at least raised an
eyebrow. Witchcraft is considered hocus pocus by many Americans but has a
distinct cultural context in Kenya and other parts of Central Africa where
Muthee is from.

In pre-colonial central Africa witches were a metaphor of instability, so to
be accused of witchcraft meant the individual was somehow threatening to the
social order. African witchcraft took on a similar meaning after
missionaries arrived. In rural areas today social progressives are sometimes
labeled witches and their accusers are often fundamentalists who hold to
traditional tribal practices and reject progressive gender roles and
acceptance of modernity. Witchcraft is taken quite seriously; in May of this
year 11 people were burned as witches in rural Kenya. One of those killed
was a teacher who represented the influence of modernity to villages.

Just why a church in Wasilla, Alaska, would adopt the language of witchcraft
to express their belief in a battle of good versus evil is not clear. But
even more revealing was Rev. Muthee's summary of the principles of what has
come to be called Christian Nationalism, which preceded his "laying on of
hands" ritual. 

Extreme Christian Nationalists not only believe that the United States was
founded as a Christian nation but that its institutions should be run
entirely by fundamentalist or evangelical Christians. They believe they have
a mandate to purge our institutions of "humanists" who believe that humans
are in control of their own destiny, progressive Christians and
non-Christians. They believe there are seven areas of society that must be
controlled, the so-called Seven Mountains Strategy: church, family,
education, government and law, media, arts and entertainment and business. 

Muthee echoed this Christian Nationalist strategy in his Palin blessing
sermon, where he stated, "When we talk about transformation of a society, a
community, it's where we see God's Kingdom infiltrate ... seven areas in our
society." Muthee went on to describe his version of the Seven Mountains
Strategy and when he got to politics he was praying for Gov. Palin. 

About 40 percent of the U.S. population describe themselves as
fundamentalist or evangelical but not all subscribe to Christian
Nationalism. Michelle Goldberg estimates about 10 percent to 15 percent of
the U.S. adult population are Christian Nationalists. They are
overwhelmingly white and Republican and make up a significant part of the
"base" of the party. A number of notable spokesmen of the conservative
religious right are associated with Christian Nationalist beliefs, among
them Franklin Graham (but not his father Billy), Pat Robertson and Douglas
Coe.

Christian Nationalism is a form of American exceptionalism -- the idea that
Americans are unique because of our heritage. Christian exceptionalism dates
back to Puritan leader John Winthrop. Normally exceptionalism is recognized
as the unique founding of the United States built on immigrant pluralism and
based on Enlightenment ideals. But Winthrop promoted a different type of
exceptionalism. In his "shining city on the hill" sermon Winthrop rejected
the equality of religious pluralism and affirmed instead that the United
States is a Christian nation built on Christian, not Enlightenment,
principles and was to be ruled by Christians. 

Winthrop's Puritans also used witchcraft as a means of social control. Many
of the Salem "witches" were women breaking from the established gender
roles, starting farms of their own and otherwise acting independently. Those
17th century agents of modernity were burned at the stake for their actions,
similar to what is happening in Kenya today.

It is therefore remarkably interesting that Gov. Palin used the term
exceptionalism in her debate with Sen. Biden and quoted Winthrop's "shining
city on the hill" metaphor as the model for America in the world. (She
actually referenced the source as Ronald Reagan, who used the phrase in his
last speech as president. Reagan correctly cited Winthrop.)

Nothing she did as governor suggests Sarah Palin would conduct witch hunts
or give voice to seditious Christian Nationalists were she to reach the Oval
Office. On the other hand, quoting the father of Christian Nationalism and
directly participating in a religious rite protecting her from witchcraft
that espoused the Seven Mountains Strategy is a reason to ask questions. The
real problem is that no national candidate has been so shielded from the
press and scripted (and, it turns out, clothed) as Sarah Palin so it's hard
to know what she believes. 

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Alan Boraas is a professor of anthropology at Kenai Peninsula College.