Sarah Palin -- You're no Aimee Semple McPherson

Sarah Palin is the much beloved/maligned woman running for Vice President of the United States. She's running as a populist and as a maverick -- an outsider you might say. She's born again, having spent her growing up years as a Pentecostal (something I know a bit about, having been one myself). She doesn't make much of the distinctive Pentecostal doctrines, but she seems to buy into much of the perspective.

Aimee Semple McPherson was an earlier Pentecostal Maverick. The founder of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, even found time to discuss politics with Huey Long. Aimee was a pioneer in many ways, and innovative and smart.

Matt Sutton, author of an important study of Aimee, focusing on her politics, has penned a "Tale of Two Mavericks." It is a comparison and contrast of these two women, and his analysis leads him to the conclusion: "Sarah Palin is no Aimee Semple McPherson." I'll let you check out the piece, posted about a week ago, and let you think about what he has to say.

H/T to: Religion in American History.