John Dean on the Rise of the Dminionist Judges.....(Christian Nationalism)

[RedEarth]

If more Americans would read works like Michelle Goldberg's Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, the longevity of our democracy, as we know it, would be more assured. I say this because the more people who understand the thinking and agenda of the growing forces of "Christian nationalism," the less likely it will be that these forces will succeed. Not many people want to go where Christian nationalists want to take the country.

Michelle Goldberg, a journalist who writes for Salon, defines Christian nationalism as the "Christian worldview" that envisions Christianity governing "every aspect of public and private life, and that all -- government, science, history, culture, and relationships -- must be understood according to the dictates of scripture." Christian nationalists have "biblically correct positions on every issue, from gay marriage to income tax rates."

These believers are also known as dominionists. Dominionism is a theology drawn from God's instruction to Adam in Genesis (1:26-27) to take dominion over the animate and inanimate world. As Goldberg explains, "dominionism is derived from a theocratic sect called Christian Reconstructionism, which advocates replacing American civil law with Old Testament biblical law."

In this column, I'll first share, by way of background, a few of many facts from Goldberg's work, which I have either quoted or paraphrased, including information she provided to me during a conversation about her book. Then I'll address what she reports is the underlying strategy of the Christian nationalists: to use the courts, state and federal, to implement their agenda.

Some General -- and Disturbing -- Information about Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalists are a small but highly influential minority. They certainly do not represent a majority of Americans, or even a majority of evangelicals. Rather, when chatting, Goldberg compared them to neoconservatives, who are a small minority of conservatives, but a highly (if not a disproportionately) influential one. By way of further comparison, she explained that Christian nationalists operate and proselytize in ways not unlike those American Communists once used. (Based on my own research, I agree with her analogy.)

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/dean/20060825.html

[bryant69]

1. Dominionism is pretty damn scary

And I don't think it's going away either.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[stepnw1f]

2. kick (nt)

[SutaUvaca]

3. Their troops are being readied indeed.

One of my nephews, home-schooled, recently graduated from a strict Christian college - pre-law. JD will be next. HIs stated goal is to become a alwyer who defends Christians who might be prosecuted (by secular forces) for their "activism." Here's a young man who might well end up preparing for a role on the federal bench. To him, Jesus is lord over all matters. Eventually, over what the rest of us eat and read and where we live and what job is okay.

Dominionists are determined and scary people I do believe.

[nealhughes]

4. What is most frightening is how the philosophy is seeping down into

mainstream conservative Protestant denominations by the plethora of books and talk shows that create talking points for those who aren't necessarily hard core, i.e., Rushdooonyites, per se, but accept and promote a lot of the rheotric without really knowing its background. "It's in the Bible!" is enough for them. One could justify anything at all using that hodgepodge of Greek/Hebrew/Amaraic writings spread out over who know how many centuries until codified...

[chill_wind]

5. kick nt