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• Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:05 AM

  Basic Theology

  "[pray] that our leaders, that our national leaders, are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God." She [Gov. Palin] added: "That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for -- that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

  ...

  But as her testimony at the Wasilla Assembly of God demonstrates, she is motivated by the idea that godly forces are locked in spiritual warfare with satanic forces.

  The testimony is quoted above, and it in no way theologically or rhetorically supports your conclusion. In fact, the kindest method to describe your statement is as a gross distortion of fact. Otherwise known as lying.

  It's clear that what Palin is saying is that we need to pray that we are on the correct course, that God would approve of the plan, not that God DOES approve of the plan.

  It's subjunctive mood, which while many may not understand the linguist term, they understand the meaning. It indicates a command, hypothesis, purpose, doubt, or supposition. You don't say, "I wish I was President" because you are not President, proper English says, "I wish I were President." That's subjunctive mood.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjunctive_mood

  It's obvious that Palin is saying we need to pray that we are on the correct path, and not stating that God states we are on the correct path.

  —Xanthro Read Xanthro's other letters
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