New light on the dangers of Millenialism to our Military - some good reading

[Blue_In_AK]

Phil Munger at Progressive Alaska has an excellent piece with some great links up at his site here: http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-light-on-dangers-of-millennialism.html Also read The Mudflats, God's Own Party, and Immoral Minority links at the bottom of Phil's post. Immoral Minority loads slow, so be patient. There's some really interesting information here.

A young Army Major's masters thesis is making the rounds. Some believe his essay presages the persecution of Christans by the anti-Christ Obama. Others see in his thinking a message that goes beyond the dangers of Christian millennialism and touches upon the perils our country encounters by endorsing or cursing any fundamentalism, without rationally engaging the issues through clear thinking.

Maj. Brian L. Stuckert, U.S. Army, submitted and defended a masters thesis in May 2008, titled Strategic Implications of American Millennialism (pdf). It has begun making the rounds this month, being taken up by a wide array of people discussing, damning or defending it.

Maj. Stuckert 's abstract begins:

Since the beginning of the Republic, various forms of millennial religious doctrines, of which dispensational pre-millennialism is the most recent, have shaped U.S. national security strategy. As the dominant form of millennialism in the U.S. evolves, it drives changes in U.S. security policy and subsequent commitment of the instruments of national power. Millennial ideas contribute to a common American understanding of international relations that guide our thinking irrespective of individual religious or political affiliation. Millennialism has great explanatory value, significant policy implications, and creates potential vulnerabilities that adversaries may exploit.

His conclusions and recommendations are prefaced with a well-known quote by Lt. Gen William Boykin, from 2003:

“The enemy is a spiritual enemy. It’s called the principality of darkness. We, ladies and gentlemen, are in a spiritual battle, not a physical battle. Oh, we’ve got soldiers fighting on the battlefields, we’ve got sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen out there fighting against a physical enemy. But the battle this nation is in is a spiritual battle, it’s a battle for our soul. And the enemy is a guy called Satan – Satan wants to destroy this nation. He wants to destroy us as a nation and he wants to destroy us as a Christian army.”

Maj. Stuckert then goes on:

<snip - lots more>

Some scary stuff...

[msongs]

1. my USAF friend tells me horr0r stories about jesus promoters at work nt

[Blue_In_AK]

2. One's spiritual beliefs should be a private matter.

Even Jesus said that when you pray, you should go into a closet instead of standing on the corner making a big show of it like the Pharisees. What part of that don't these so-called "Christians" get?

It pisses me off, because I like Jesus myself, but these people who claim to be his followers are just flat embarrassing. I wish he'd drop down here and kick their asses.

[Hestia]

3. Yeah, sure, the enemy is "some guy" named satan, just like on South Park

[RandomThoughts]

4. Good post, I have thought on this topic alot, mostly after seeing people do the same as there enemy

While ignoring the teachings they claim they follow, then backing that up with saying that is why they do it.



I think the spiritual battle is the battle we all fight against our imperfect nature.

We all have original sin, and often we let that part take over, because it is far easier to fight other peoples 'sins' with judgement and even sometimes hatred or violence then our own failings.


I don't think separating the teachings of God from a persons views and actions is a good thing. Although I think people that think they can know all of the mind of God, and claim to do his work, should not be in power. Since they can do what ever they think is right with the defense of a claim of divine authority.


Try to rationally argue a point with someone that says their position is backed by divine authority? You will not be able to sway them, because their claim is to bolster their moral argument, what if there position is not God's position?

Again, I think Lincoln got it right when he said he hoped his actions were on God side, not that he would make the claim that God was on his side.

Bolstering ones argument by claiming things by imperfect interpretations, seems to be more for people to be able to do what ever they want without having to face the contradictions or wrongness of some of those actions.

I think people should check their hearts and minds. God gave us those things for a reason, and if you can't think and argue the position on those things God gave you, why would it make sense that he would want you to do something against those thoughts and feelings?