Southern Poverty Law Center: 'Arming' for Armageddon- Militant Joel's Army Followers Seek Theocracy

[Kerrytravelers]

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=964



Here are some choice selections:

Joel's Army believers are hard-core Christian dominionists, meaning they believe that America, along with the rest of the world, should be governed by conservative Christians and a conservative Christian interpretation of biblical law. There is no room in their doctrine for democracy or pluralism.
Dominionism's original branch is Christian Reconstructionism, a grim, Calvinist call to theocracy that, as Reconstructionist writer Gary North describes, wants to "get busy in constructing a Bible-based social, political and religious order which finally denies the religious liberty of the enemies of God."



As this article went to press, Bentley's "Florida Outpouring" had been running for more than 100 days straight. Many attendees came in search of spontaneous physical healing and a desire to be part of a mystical community marked by dancing, shouting, gyrating, speaking in tongues and other forms of ecstatic release.

Snide jabs at traditional church services are fairly common at Bentley's revivals. In fact, what takes place onstage at the Florida Outpouring looks more like a pro wrestling extravaganza than church. On stage, Bentley and his team of pastors, yell, chant, and scream "Fire!" and "Bam!" while anointing followers.



Bentley, who claims to be a supernatural healer, is no less over the top, playing his biker-punk appearance and heavy metal theatrics to the hilt. On YouTube, where clips of his most dramatic healings have been condensed into a three-minute highlight reel, Bentley describes God ordering him to kick an elderly lady in the face: "I am thinking, 'God, why is the power of God not moving?' And He said, 'It is because you haven't kicked that women in the face.' And there was, like, this older lady worshipping right in front of the platform and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and the gift of faith came on me. He said, 'Kick her in the face … with your biker boot.' I inched closer and I went like this : Bam! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God."




I would suggest reading the entire article. This is frightening. I have never asked this before in a post, but I think in light of Palin's belief that God has called us to invade Iraq and to build a pipeline, I would ask that this get recommended so that others can see the connections.

Thank you-
kerrytravelers

[kath]

1. Thanks for posting this.

Also see the update on Palin's stealth dominionism that I just posted - dogemperor, from newsvine and DailyKos, is a "survivor" of a dominionist group, and has written very many informative posts about Dominionism.
This is something that Americans really need to become informed about. Now.

[Kerrytravelers]

3. You're welcome. A co-worker of Mr kt sent this to us. It is frighteneing.

And I think a lot of people are completly clueless to the Theocracy movement going on in this country.

I suppose they'll notice if it ever happens. That is, if they can turn of their tv long enough.

[atreides1]

2. A Nest of Vipers

What do you know a band of potential traitors to the US! I'll bet DHS isn't even looking in their direction because they're too busy making sure that people flying don't have an excess of shampoo and toothpaste in their carry-on baggage.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. The DHS is good at putting on a show, but it takes the SPLC to track this kind of danger.

Yes, I feel so much safer in George W. Bush's America. :eyes:

[glitch]

5. Interesting they assume they WON'T be raptured.

Thanks for posting, K & R. Scary people, indeed.

[Kerrytravelers]

18. Well, ASSuming is appropriate here. They are making an ASS out of themselves.

Worse than an ass, actually.

[kestrel91316]

6. Stealth Dominionist? Stealth Aryan Nations? Oy, the woman

seriously CANNOT get into office. She will off McCain herself to get in control

[Kerrytravelers]

12. I just to be sure I am clear in that there is no direct connection to Palin, rather I meant the

movement in general, with her political and religious beliefs. She is not a part of this group, but I don't see her minding them too much, either.

[mainegreen]

7. Christ's Soldiers, literally? Are they stupid?

Ah, yes, I see they actually are.

Nothing like scary, religious zealots with guns.

I loved the part where god told him to kick the old lady in the face. No need to lay hands, I lay my boot!

Mosh for Jesus kiddies!

[EFerrari]

9. Worse than stupid, dangerous. Black Water.

:shrug:

[Kerrytravelers]

15. Very dangerous.

[Kerrytravelers]

14. The violent undertones in that group is scary.

Even if they, as a group, don't take up arms, they will inspire others to do so on their own, such as the man who fired bullets in the Univeralist Unitarian chuch and had a bookcase full of Hannity, Coulter and O'Reiley.

[Subdivisions]

8. Nobody is going to force a theocracy on me unless they

introduce me directly to GOD himself, handshake included!

Show me!

[Kerrytravelers]

16. LOL! Exactly. Without that handshake, I'm not taking one step their direction!

And even then... not one step.

[RedEarth]

10. KR....

[Kerrytravelers]

17. Thanks.

[hootinholler]

11. Theocracy watch is another good resource on the rise of dominionism.

Here. It apparently goes back to a dude named Rushdooney, who was a Calvinist.

-Hoot

[Kerrytravelers]

19. Thank you for that link. Theocracy Watch is excellent. I think Thom Hartmann had someone on today

from their group.

[Shallah Kali]

37. Talk2Action is also very good in tracking what they are up to

http://www.talk2action.org

[hootinholler]

43. WOW! Seriously, thanks for that link!

I think I shall be opening an account there tonight.

-Hoot

[Shallah Kali]

44. You are very welcome! Information is power!

shallah

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Bam !! Kick it up a notch.

[Kerrytravelers]

20. With gusto! Thanks!

[pleah]

21. K&R I have never understood how people can let themselves be sucked into this shit.

:wow: I just keep seeing the Jim Jones pictures in my head.

[onethatcares]

23. their scared, broke, wondering what the hell to do and some

yahoo comes rolling down the pike telling them that if they give the last of their money and listen to him, they'll get saved and no longer have the problems they have now. The jim jones example is excellent.

[pleah]

27. Well, I have been in that kind of situation before and I never ever

considered joining a religious organization or a cult. Maybe I am an exception.:shrug:

[Kerrytravelers]

24. Me, either. I can understand religion. I'm personally not offended by religion, per say. But this...

... beyond the pale. It is not a religion, it is a pure brainwashing cult.

[pleah]

28. I have seen totally sane, intelligent people go totally stupid when they join a

religion. That's why I decided to stay away from any organized religion.

[Hubert Flottz]

22. I guess the "Deprogramming" failed.

Them "Jesus Freaks" want to turn the world into



The Hockey Mom is stirring the Kool-Aid in line one...

[Kerrytravelers]

25. Disturbing, but true.

Instead of people committing suicide literally, with this group, they are killing themselves figuratively by giving over themselves, body-mind-soul, to a man who is manipulating them for his own power.

[Hubert Flottz]

32. "manipulating them for his own power"

McSame as Jim Jones

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. Lucky for me I was born before Roe v. Wade

As such according to this cult leader I've not been personally invited to join his group. Whew, what a relief that is!

What really makes me angry about this man, and all the others like him out there, are how they exploit the emotionally and physically weak among us. And also how they get away with destroying those peoples lives.

[Kerrytravelers]

30. Looks like I'm invited to the party. I'll pass, but you can have my invite if you want!

:rofl:

[rasputin1952]

29. No theocracy has ever sone anything ofor the good of any nation, or the world.

The entire point of theocracy is that "they can never be wrong", as a deity could not be at fault, otherwise they coluld not be a deity.

FWIW...the people that belive what they read, are the ones who see only what they want to see. A prime exmple is Jesus saying, "there is a new Commandment, 'Love they brother as thyself'"...Odd how that is merely tossed aside, and the "eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" is all they can see. ANd they get that wrong as well! It is not an absolute, it is a LIMIT of what one may demand.

[Kerrytravelers]

31. You know I am with you 100%. It is really something how the words of one guy, just trying to do good

can be so twisted. The actual words of Jesus of Nazereth, whether one believes him to be the Son of God, a Phrophet or just a mortal who lived an outstanding life, were never hateful and vile. He was all about goodwill, love and kindness.

This kind of stuff just makes me so sad.

[Kerrytravelers]

33. I made a general connection in regards to the philosphy. I had no idea there was more to the story.

The following link was given to me by another DUer. I did not find it on my own. It is a Daily Kos article that makes some connections to Palin and the group in my OP and other such terrifying groups. Again, as these things go, it is buzzwords and connections. And, if even an once of it is completly true as currently being reported, I am terrified not only for America, but for the citizens of the world to have such a scary person in a position of such power.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/163234/559/495/579213

[kath]

34. Kerrytravelers, that diarist did a followup on that, with even more info about Palin's ties to the

dominionists. I started a thread on it today, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3922719

That diarist describes himself/herself as a "Survivor of coercive dominionist group, now doing my best to educate people on dominionism and hopefully inspiring folks on ways to take back our country and faith", and has several dozen diary entries all about dominionists and their tentacles. I'd like to read 'em all, but don't want to do it too late at night, because I suspect it would be nightmare-inducing. :scared:

[krispos42]

35. Holy shit

:wow:

[sasquatch]

36. That guy looks like the poster child for abortion

[TexasObserver]

38. Christian dominionists are dangerous.

As are any religious group who sets its sights on seizing government control.

[conscious evolution]

39. These dominionists are a scary bunch

Thanks for the links.This is one group people should keep an eye on.
They have been working for decades to infiltrate our goverment.Their first major move into the political arena came,imo,in the early eighties when they took over the southern babtist convention.With control of the convention they gained control over the baptist seminaries and have spent the time since churning out preachers that are thoroughly indoctrinated into the dominionist mindset.These preachers are then turned loose to do the same to their congregations.For the last 25+ years they have been poisoning the minds of the faithful.
Very scary if you ask me.

[Edweird]

40. Just another con artist emptying the bank accounts of the weak.

As far as him encouraging lunatics, well, crazy people commit violent acts without rhyme or reason. That's part of being crazy.

He is, in my estimation, merely a huckster.

[vssmith]

41. And here I thought Charles Manson was still in jail

[Old and In the Way]

42. Just taking the religious con game to the extreme.

It's people like this that prove that faith healing is a sham. Kicking an elderly woman in the face with his biker boot? My God says book and prosecute him for aggravated felony assault.

[kath]

45. Kick - because there's more and more interest here as to what Palin's churches are up to.