Worries about Ashcroft's Pentecostalism
Jan. 16 -- With 24 million members and counting, Pentecostalism is now the fastest-growing religion in the United States.
It’s a branch of evangelical Christianity whose followers believe that God literally dwells in them through the Holy Spirit, giving them the gifts of prophecy, healing, and tongues — an unusual prayer language which they believe enables them to communicate with God directly.
“They believe His presence is right there within them and among them,” says religious scholar Edith Blumhoffer.
Pentecostals have been somewhat maligned in popular culture. They’ve often been depicted as “holy rollers,” and televangelists like Jim Bakker tainted the movement in the 1970s.
Can Ashcroft Separate His Faith?
What differentiates Pentecostals from other Protestants is their expressive, emotional form of worship. It’s also what makes some people most suspicious of the movement — all that emotion, coupled with an intense, literal reading of the Bible.
This has some has some critics worried that one of the nation’s most famous Pentecostal, attorney general nominee John Ashcroft, might not be able to separate his religious beliefs from his political duties.
And there’s no question about Ashcroft’s spiritual fervor. When he was a Missouri senator, he held early morning prayer meetings in his office, and he speaks quite openly about his faith.
Ashcroft’s critics say they fear he’ll use his position as attorney general to legislate his moral beliefs.
“I think John Ashcroft has a hard time separating church and state because of the impulse and the fervor of his religious commitment,” says the Rev. Weldon Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance.
Supporters Alleging Religious Bigotry
Longtime friend Don Argue defends Ashcroft, saying he has never imposed his religious beliefs on anyone
“Never in any perspective, personally or professionally, have I ever watched him try and impose his religious beliefs on anyone,” says Argue.
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