- Top Features:
- War Room
- Glenn Greenwald
- Broadsheet
- Joan Walsh
- Camille Paglia
- Since You Asked
- Follow Salon:
Read other letters about this article
Heard ya the first two times Rupert LOL! Just kidding.
I've been to about 5 AoG meetings (to please a boss at the time who insisted I check it out). I have to say, there were parts of the service that were inspirational, and the music at this particular assembly was very good. But when the speaking in tongues thing broke out I started to get a little freaked. I was amazed however at the ability of some of these "speakers"; I listened carefully for say, a repetition of a phrase which would betray a practiced gibberish rant, and could hardly detect one. "Speakers" however, were clearly a chosen few and picked ahead of time though the premise was that they broke out into ancient language upon feeling inspiration. At this particular church they also did the "Laying of Hands" where the preacher and elders surrounded a parishoner and after listening to his particular problem, would relieve him of his malady by the preacher laying his hand on sufferer's head while saying a prayer to exorcise his demons. The sinner would invariably fall backwards onto the floor (the Elders were there for the sole purpose of catching him) writhing and convulsing-really sometimes quite pitifully- and then would rise and victoriously pronounce himself cured. I did notice that it was the same "sinners" every week with garden-variety ailments-alchoholism, cheating....
I met once with the minister- a charicature of Pentacostal intolerance and insecurity dressed in expensive clothing and obviously doing quite well. I recall another spooky episode where during the service, he said something about how he knew who was tything and exactly how much. And though I don't recall the specific threat attached, it really scared me.
I know that no particular assembly necessarily represents an entire Denomination, Maybe Palin's is/was quite different, but I would not be comfortable with such people holding power in such a large and diverse country.
