In many ways, Dominionism is more a political phenomenon than a theological one. It cuts across Christian denominations, from stern, austere sects to the signs-and-wonders culture of modern megachurches. Think of it like political Islamism, which shapes the activism of a number of antagonistic fundamentalist movements, from Sunni Wahabis in the Arab world to Shiite fundamentalists in Iran.
Dominionism derives from a small fringe sect called Christian Reconstructionism, founded by a Calvinist theologian named R. J. Rushdoony in the 1960s. Christian Reconstructionism openly advocates replacing American law with the strictures of the Old Testament, replete with the death penalty for homosexuality, abortion, and even apostasy. The appeal of Christian Reconstructionism is, obviously, limited, and mainstream Christian right figures like Ralph Reed have denounced it.
Yeah, pause, rewind. We're talking about people so far down the religious whacko scale of Christianity that Ralph Reed thinks they're nuts.
For believers in Dominionism, rule by non-Christians is a sort of sacrilege—which explains, in part, the theological fury that has accompanied the election of our last two Democratic presidents. “Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ—to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness,” wrote George Grant, the former executive director of Coral Ridge Ministries, which has since changed its name to Truth in Action Ministries. “But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice ... It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time ... World conquest.”
Dominionism is not just theocracy, but total and complete control of all aspects of social behavior by Christians...and particular Christian individuals who are "worthy". It combines the worst aspects of theological domination of the state and crony capitalism into the worst sort of neo-conservative Divine Right of Kings. And of course, Michele Bachmann is right at the top of the movement.
One could go on and on listing the Dominionist influences on Bachmann’s thinking. She often cites Francis Schaeffer, the godfather of the anti-abortion movement, who held seminars on Rushdoony’s work and helped disseminate his ideas to a larger evangelical audience. John Eidsmoe, an Oral Roberts University professor who, she’s said, “had a great influence on me,” is a Christian Reconstructionist. She often praises the Christian nationalist historian David Barton, who is intimately associated with the Christian Reconstructionist movement; an article about slavery on the website of his organization, Wallbuilders, defends the institution’s biblical basis, with extensive citations of Rushdoony. (“God's laws concerning slavery provided parameters for treatment of slaves, which were for the benefit of all involved,” it says.)
Yeah, think about that statement. Slavery was cool because true Christians treated their slaves well. Hey look, that brings us right back to Divine Right of Kings and serfs. Basically Dominionism says "If God wanted you to be rich and powerful, He would make you so in order to take over the country. If you have wealth and power, God gave it to you because you're the best suited in order to exert its influence." Dig?
Oh, but Governor Goodhair's deep into this mess as well, if not even more than Bachmann.
According to Wilder, members of the New Apostolic Reformation see Perry as their vehicle to claim the “mountain” of government. Some have told Perry that Texas is a “prophet state,” destined, with his leadership, to bring America back to God. The movement was deeply involved in The Response, the massive prayer rally that Perry hosted in Houston earlier this month. “Eight members of The Response ‘leadership team’ are affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation movement,” wrote Wilder. “The long list of The Response’s official endorses—posted on the event’s website—reads like a Who’s Who of the apostolic-prophetic crowd, including movement founder C. Peter Wagner.”
Yeah, terrified yet? I know I often refer to Bachmann and Perry as entertaining nutjobs, but these two in particular would be the end of America's religious freedom as we know it. They are outright threats to America and must be treated as such. And by treated as such, I mean spread the word to as many people as possible. Behind the folksy humor and the charisma is a dangerous movement that means to take over every aspect of the country and control it through theocratic means.
These folks? Yeah, they really are the American Taliban.
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