I highly recommend watching 'The Family' on Netflix

[lunatica]

It’s about the C Street Congresspeople, not a real family like you might think. It answered some serious questions that so many people have about the Evangelical support for Trump, the deliberate rollback on women’s rights in so many States, the persecution of the LGBTQ community worldwide and why the needs of children and the poor are ignored by Republicans.

I think it may have been relatively easy for me to understand the message because I’m basically an atheist so it’s easy for me to understand that people also use religious beliefs as a political and power tool to manipulate others and public opinion.

If I can boil it down to very few words this is what I got from it: the basic belief, the foundation of their thoughts and actions are that god ordains your position and condition in life. If you are poor it’s god’s Will as well as if you are rich and powerful. God puts you where he wants you. The C Street ‘family’ or ‘fellowship’, which isn’t just contained in that building, though it is used in the documentary to help understand the concept, think of themselves as the followers of Jesus who, in essence is a being who enforces god’s will by just about any action necessary. Every year they have ‘the’ Breakfast Prayer we all hear about to which every President since Eisenhower has been invited. There are no tickets to buy so you can attend. Attendance is by invitation only and off limits to the press. They invite people and leaders from all over the world as well as titans of industry, etc.

The kicker is that as soldiers for Jesus the failings of a person of power such as having any vice, sin or lifestyle aberration are of no importance because god has given that person the power to lead. God has put that person in power. This applies to all people who have power, be they government representatives or tyrannical dictators in other countries. The ‘family’ is there to make sure the people in power are given the space to do the things that god wills.

With that mandate as their foundational belief they also work to keep people poor, without healthcare, destitute and abandoned. It is god’s will that they are in the life conditions they are in. By their own logic if you do anything to help those people you are interfering with god’s plan.

This explains a lot doesn’t it? I hope everyone watches this documentary because as many generals and kings and tyrants know, if you know your enemy you can defeat him. Our side needs to know what this documentary teaches us.

[mr_lebowski]

1. So it's about the group Jeff Sharlet wrote about some time ago, until recently headed by Doug Coe

as he passed away a couple years back?

I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the heads-up.

'Jesus Plus Nothing' I think was Sharlet's original article title ... he also has a book.

[lunatica]

3. Yes. That's exactly it.

You will come away with a much greater understanding of things that have stumped us for so long.

[octoberlib]

45. There's some new stuff in the doc.

[Frustratedlady]

2. I always forget...is C Street or K Street where Grassley lives when in Congress session?

I was thinking C and K Street was where lobbyists work. Do I have it backwards? Wrong in other ways?

[lunatica]

5. K Street is for lobbyists and C Street is for Congressmen.

All the puzzle pieces fall into place if you watch the documentary.

[Frustratedlady]

7. Thanks. Will do.

[kimbutgar]

4. My Husband read the book years ago and whenever he saw Pence, Graham, Cuccinelli and the other

Christofascists in fat Donnie’s administration he brought up the family. We’ve watched the first two episodes. Interesting that Mark Stanford the cheater is a member and considering putting up a primary challenge to fat donnie. The family is protecting a guy who is not Christian or godly in any way in this presidency. I find the timing of this documentary very interesting,

[lunatica]

8. Watch all of it if you can

What has stumped everyone about the goings on by lawmakers, especially in Washington is the unspoken assumption that being a Christian means the same thing to all Christians. The documentary throws that concept out the window. It’s an eye opener. It clarifies and explains things that have been happening and stumping us for decades.

[lunatica]

21. Mark Stanford is featured in it

because he outed them when he went before the country to confess his sin of adultery. He talked about his friends in C Street helping him through his travails. This was against all the rules because Doug Coe had instilled into the followers that you never talk about C Street.

I think his desire to run for President will never come to fruition. Most likely they no longer support him. They do that with people who break the rules.

[arthritisR_US]

54. The only "Christian" I saw in that documentary

was the black guy in the last episode.

[lunatica]

55. So true!

And the rest of them did their best to stop him.

[arthritisR_US]

56. They sure did but his righteous indignation

was spot on.

[Moostache]

6. Read Sharlet's book few years back...

Been going on for decades but started consolidatimg more recently...dominionists by any other name, to me fundie hypocrite asshats.

[lunatica]

9. They justify their insane cruelty by claiming it's god's will

Which works out really nicely for them since they believe god favors them specifically to continue doing what they do. God gives them the power to do god’s will by giving them the power. A very convenient closed circle theory which benefits them personally.

[Blue_true]

32. That is how religion works.

Everything is god's will so don't question. A mass shooter kills 22 people, god's will, God will show us the way (of course the preachers will interpret since God only talks to them in mysterious ways).

[GentryDixon]

10. I started watching it a few weeks ago.

It was so disturbing, I turned it off. I will get back to it eventually, but not sure when. My sister told me I needed to at least watch the final episode. 😬

[lunatica]

12. I found it much more enlightening than disturbing.

If you value the truth over being being deluded you will be glad you watched it. This is only my opinion, of course, without any judgement attached to it. In my case if I understand my enemies, what motivates them, why they do what they do I see them as only people, not some force I can’t fight against. We do have the power to remove many of these people simply by voting them out of the power positions they’re in.

[GentryDixon]

14. I'm sure I'll go back to it.

I'll try to remember to get back with you after I do. Luckily, I am long retired, so have time.

I got an annual Audible subscription during the Jul sale so have listened to Rick Wilson "Everything Trump Touches Dies", & am now listening to Philip Roth, "The Plot Against America". Next up is David Grann, "Killers of the Flower Moon".

There is so much out there. Besides Netflix, I have a subscription to MHZChoice, which is all foreign series & films (my favorite).

[lunatica]

16. I'm retired too!

I know what you mean about reading and watching everything you want. I saw the documentary in one afternoon and evening. It’s a limited series.

Love your reading and watching list!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. Me too. Thought it was creepy. It didn't seem real. But

unfortunately it is.

[mercuryblues]

26. I felt the same way when I read the book

I was so sickened by their shit, I would have to put it down for a few days. Small doses. let it absorb. What we see today, after reading the book, makes sense.

I consider "The Family" the founders of Gilead.

[lunatica]

29. I think your Gilead comparison is absolutely cogent!

It gives me the shivers.

[suegeo]

36. Their exclusion of women is not natural.

The family is a sausage fest. They believe women only exist to love men. FFS, women are smarter than men. What a waste to exclude us!

[lunatica]

42. They don't exclude women entirely, but they

do marginalize them as subservient to men and also as examples of their twisted ideas of family values which they’re always spouting about. Their beliefs are a big reason why so many of them remain married after such terrible scandals that would normally end in divorce. They will excuse and overlook the sins and imperfections because it’s god’s will that they do so.

Twisted thinking that some women believe in also.

[napi21]

11. If they really believed that, why did they haye Obama? Doesn't God pput ems in power

too? I think that story is BS; their way of explaining their support for the Lier In Chief!

[lunatica]

13. If they're already as deluded as the documentary depicts

why not believe that Obama is put there just to test them? All Democrats try to lift the common man out of poverty and create true equality which, in itself has to be against god’s will to make people poor. They believe anything that benefits the poor is against god’s will. They just need to fight that. They’ve waged that ‘godly’ war against all progressive and liberal activity, especially in government for decades.

Do you really think rational and logical thinking is what they do? Their entire premise is based on what Doug Coe tells them to believe.

Religion is enforced by keeping people in the dark. By making them accept dogma and fantasy as truth. By not allowing people to question god or god’s will. Just follow blindly and you can be convinced of anything.

[UTUSN]

15. K&R

[lunatica]

25. Thanks!

[BannonsLiver]

17. I couldn't get into it

Might go for another try.

[lunatica]

18. It does start out very slow

but it seems pretty necessary in order to build the story so it can be understood. It’s important to understand the history, and the way indoctrination is used and the development of how a simple start has become such a worldwide power center. When you finish watching it you’ll understand the reason for the slow start, and you’ll appreciate the need for it.

[BannonsLiver]

19. Yeah, I'll give it another look based on your rec

I think having been around evangelical nutters all my life (I’m from Tom Coburn’s state) there wasn’t much of a wow factor with me at least in the first ep.

[lunatica]

20. Then in your case

it might just solidify your conclusions about them a bit more which will prove that you do know what it is.

There are quite a few explorations of how they work in other countries and with leaders who are dictators to further their agenda of doing Jesus’ work of enforcing god’s will. All the examples are of things us longtimers remember, only it adds another level of understanding.

[JonLP24]

37. First episode was more of a dramatization

The rest were more like documentary.

[madinmaryland]

22. I just finished it last night. Very interesting.

It is scary that a very right wing branch of Christianity is running this country.

[lunatica]

23. It is scary

But at least we understand it better. That’s more important because then we can figure out what and why they do what they do. The fact that they’ve kept their ‘fellowship’ a secret has been their biggest asset. Doug Coe was everywhere for decades and yet managed to keep it invisible in plain sight. Very clever.

[mercuryblues]

27. If I remember correctly

the Family is behind the National Prayer Breakfast.

[lunatica]

28. Yes. They are the ones who put it on.

All the Presidents since Eisenhower have attended. At first he was not sure because of the Constitutional separation of church and state, but at the time the USSR was our enemy and they were against any religion so Eisenhower figured the USA with its freedom of religion could stand against the Communists. So he attended the Prayer Breakfast.

This is also in the documentary.

[WiffenPoof]

57. Another Interesting Change...

... during this same time period was adding the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[VarryOn]

30. Netflix has some really thought-provoking documentaries for progressives...

I havent see 'The Family' but will soon.

Ones I can think of right now include:

'The Great Hack'...Cambridge Analytica scandal. Be warned: It'll piss you off.
'Before the Flood'...climate change
'13th'...link between racism and criminal justice in context of 13th amendment (abolished slavery)
'Reel Injun'...damage caused by Hollywood's depiction of Native Americans throughout film history
'Miss Representation'...struggles of women in everyday life
'Get Me Roger Stone'
'El Che'...follows the life of Che Guevara


There are more. Just cant remember them all.

[lunatica]

31. You're right. Netflix has found there's a niche for educational documentaries.

They do try to include something of interest for different segments of the population. I also like their wide range of Hitler and Holocaust historical documentaries. There is a lot of information there!

[kcr]

44. Going to look for these

I appreciate it because I wish Netflix would recommend more docs like these for me. I like to watch docs, and none of these popped up on my list. My Netflix tends to rec the same things over and over.

[defacto7]

33. It's an ancient ploy to control the masses that goes back thousands of years.

.. because it works. Too bad so many don't know history well enough to see it repeated over and over and finally put a stop to it.

[Duppers]

34. K & R

Great OP, great thread. You've piqued my interest and I'm going to be sure to watch.

Thanks!! 🙏

[lunatica]

35. That's good!

You’re welcome. It will explain a lot about what’s going on.

[Efilroft Sul]

38. My Democratic Congressman was cited as a Family associate.

Mike Doyle. This stinks, because he's done effective work in my district.

I haven't read Sharlett's book, but whatever happened to his friend that brought him into Ivanwald but later left the house?

[lunatica]

40. The documentary doesn't cover what happened to his friend

after he left.

I don’t doubt that many members do effective work in their districts. The men who are examined in the documentary are mostly the well known ones we all know about because of their very strange ideas. And some who have been embroiled in scandals that to our dismay didn’t end their careers.

I tried to write my OP in as few words as possible in order not to lose the interest of those who were nice enough to read through it and yet have it make sense and be informative so DUers would look at the documentary so I left out a lot of what is in there.

[Takket]

39. i just finished it.......

started a thread about it last week when i was only two episodes in.....

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212370753

it is very telling in the scene where the author of the book about The Family recounts living in a home run by The Family. All the boys/young men (i.e. recruits) are sitting together and discussing Jesus-related things when one of the elders walks in. and one thing he asks one of the young men is "if you come home one day, and tell me our raped three little girls, will I think less of you?"

"Of course" (or something to the effect) The young man said "I'd be a horrible person."

"No... I would not... because you are CHOSEN"

and this is how power and Jesus are intertwined which you touched on........ the progression look like this:

You hold power (I.e. elected office) > You are there because Jesus wants you to be (CHOSEN) > Your sins DO NOT MATTER because Jesus has CHOSEN YOU for power > If Jesus did not want you to sin, then you wouldn't sin. > So if you SIN but are CHOSEN, then WHAT RIGHT do I (I mere imperfect vessel) have to question JESUS? Answer: NONE.

and we joke a lot on here, I've seen the pictures of "supply side Jesus" and Jesus sporting assault weapons as our way to calling out GOP hypocrisy of religion........... but to The Family, THAT IS JESUS. Jesus does not love the sheep, he loves the wolf, because with the wolf comes power and with power, Jesus word can be spread.

and for years i've been on here watching drumpf and evangelicals and saying "I don't get it. Evangelicals are supposed to be religious but all they seem to care about is political power to justify their hate/racism." Now that i've seen The Family, I GET IT. and it is important to know that The Family is its own group, they are NOT evangelicals, but the pricipales are the same.

[lunatica]

41. Yes!

Thanks for writing this more detailed description of the belief dynamics of the Fellowship/Family. I tried to describe it in as few words as possible describing what I think is the bare bones essence of the message. I summarized my own interpretation in a narrow way but you have fleshed out the story much more which is good. I do appreciate the distinction you make about they not being Evangelicals but still acting a lot like them. This is true.

[Greybnk48]

43. Thanks for posting.

I had just bought Sharlet's book, but started the series instead. I've only watched the first episode and it's chilling to me to see the grip these religiously insane people have had, and continue to have, on our government!

Is this what Scooter Libby meant when he made that cryptic comment about how they were all "connected at the roots?"

[Roland99]

46. Interesting that Mark Sanford is considering primarying Twitler

He still trying to get back into C Street?

[lunatica]

48. I suspect he was sidelined by C Street for 'outing' them

I’ve seen him as a guest on some talk shows but he’s responding to questions in away that makes people laugh at him. He seems rudderless, floundering. Like he doesn’t have clear ideas.

But I haven’t been paying attention so I may be wrong. He mostly just bores me.

[Roland99]

47. Didn't realize the link between Torshin and C Street

Incestuous, in a way, across two countries with similar #FakeChristian #FamilyValues bs exhibited by all parties.

[Maru Kitteh]

49. I will do this. Thank you.

[kairos12]

50. Currently watching it.

It looks like a Jim Jones cult where the kool aid doesn't kill you, but turns you into a power accumulating zombie.

[shanti]

51. It's on my list

just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[lunatica]

52. You won't regret it

In my case it has transformed my understanding of what’s really going on. In my case I always believed that knowledge is power. But the power comes when the you know the truth. All of it.

Doug Coe’s tactic of keeping the ‘Family’ invisible in plain sight was brilliant in the most nefarious way. It managed to keep our side puzzled about their motivations and methodology.

[lunatica]

53. .