Dominionism in American Politics – "Expanding the discussion behind the Headlines"
What IS Dominionism?
ShareWhat IS Dominionism? In a word – Theocracy. Think of this word as a big umbrella. Under the umbrella of Political Dominionism are numerous “franchises” or sects of radical Christian belief whose goal it is to take “dominion” over all things … Continue reading →
When I talk about not being anti-Christian, and in fact, that it is the exact opposite – I am truly defending mainstream Christianity…it is groups like this one that I am thinking of. The following is a powerful statement from a group of Christians that I am certain are viewed as “not the right kind of Christian”…
California Council of Churches IMPACT has made an alliance with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that works to guarantee freedom of religion for the men and women in our military.
CCCI has long supported the separation of church and state as an essential guarantee that we all may worship as we choose. We also believe our government and our defense system have one goal – preserving our Constitution. It cannot be the promoter of any religious view at all. If America adopts a dominant theology, how can any of us be free?
None of us can be ignorant of the “culture wars” that exist today that have already resulted in violence. The angry signs and presence of guns at “tea party” rallies is chilling to those of us who believe in mutual respect for one another, even in difference. The upsurge in numbers of open hate groups and acts of violence – even murder – of those with whom some disagree, is deeply worrisome.
Mikey w/Asner - a loyal MRFF advocate
Last Friday, April 30, I was asked to speak at an award ceremony for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in Albuquerque, NM. I was accepting an award for author Jeff Sharlet who wrote an amazing book on one facet of religious extremism in America, a group known as the “Fellowship” or “The Family”. He was unable to be present, and I was honored to receive the Thomas Jefferson First Amendment award from MRFF on his behalf. I was also honored to sit with the second recipient, actor Ed Asner, whose work for MRFF and many other civil rights issues is long and distinguished.
What I did not know is that even as I accepted the award and talked about CCC IMPACT, outside the building a man was being arrested for suspicious behavior. He had been cruising back and forth either looking for a way in or waiting for us to emerge. He was found to be armed.
MRFF has been very outspoken against religious proselytizing in and by our military. MRFF is strongly supportive of all faiths, including that of our diverse Christian member denominations, having the right of conscience without coercion inside the military. They oppose the presence, as sanctioned speakers, of those individuals who promulgate disrespect for religious diversity and especially those who preach hate toward another faith. To this end, they recently had gotten a prominent evangelist, whose radical anti-Muslim stance is well-known, dis-invited as the guest speaker for a national event at the Pentagon.
The eruption of hate email toward MRFF was shocking in its violence and threats against MRFF, its founder Mikey Weinstein and his family. The email all carry the assertion that “America is a Christian nation” and that MRFF’s work for religious freedom for all is the work of the devil, anti-Christian, or worse. The Weinstein family has had armed security for years, thanks to this vitriol. It was appalling to me that affirmation of religious freedom for ALL people would engender this kind of wrath.
A number of you have already responded to the upsurge in hate and disruption in our state and nation. You went to Town Hall meetings last summer, cooled the anger, and brought “holy manners” into the fray. You worked to have people listen to one another, respect one another’s fears, and help one another find some kind of understanding. You stilled much of those troubled waters, and for that we thank you more than we can say.
And is that not the work of faith as we believe it, live it, practice it?
Uncle Sam Says...
While the event in Albuquerque was unnerving, the idea that people can kill those with whom they disagree is deeply chilling. We at California Council of Churches and Church IMPACT work for justice for all people, and that includes people of faith with whom we do not agree. We have a powerful directive to be inclusive of all of God’s people, and the fearful specter of rising violence towards us, towards others in the Abrahamic faiths and all of the world’s great faiths or those who practice no faith – all of this violence and hostility is deeply worrisome.
America was founded on religious freedom as a core principle. That cannot come to an end or none of us shall be free. Freedom of religion is not ever made manifest from the barrel of a gun. Not in Albuquerque. Not in America. Not in the world.
We stand with Military Religious Freedom Foundation and all people of good will. We will not give up our work to see that all people, everywhere, may be kept whole to live their lives by the inner lights of their conscience. We can do no less.
I don't know exactly when people in this country stopped understanding the constitution and our history. I am almost 55 and got a good education in the public schools in California. Not only were we taught about seperation of church and state, but I had a jr. high teacher who taught us the reason we have wars is they are good for the economy. Imagine a teacher telling that truth in a school now. I know my parent's generation very closely guarded seperation of church and state, this is why they were cautious about JFK. Their thinking was that they really liked him, but they did not want the Catholic Church dictating national policy. They all knew seperation of church and state was one of the foundations of this country and my dad got his education in a one room school in Mississippi.
I think there are plenty of people and organizations out there who share these sentiments. Why, oh why won't the media pick up this side of the story? Why do they always run with the hostile and angry loud mouths? Even HuffPo disappoints in this.
As the author of this piece, I salute you for asking that question. When I got a really good Op Ed rejected by the San Francisco Chronicle, I asked why. The answer was that the fact it was signed by three progressive people of faith was not enough – it was "boring". If we don't spew venom, don't hate people, aren't outrageous, we're not interesting. I am routinely dumped from OpEd and even LTE sites because no matter what we send out, it's not 'sexy' in it's lack of disgusting rhetoric. YOU can help – demand that there be balance in each and every news outlet, and if anti-GLBT people are fomenting, they have to find and print something from people who believe in equality – or peace, justice, whatever – within other parts of the faith community. And remind secular progressives that the progressive faith community is not insane (as Bill Maher would have it) and has no interest in converting anyone. We embrace all people of justice, no exception. We have NO mental reservation that somehow you are less than we 'cause you don't believe in God. We search for the truth. We don't claim to have it.
I agree that many writings similar to those of Ms. Sholes should come from the Christian Establishment . Their silence in the face of extremism is more than disturbing. It speaks volumes about even moderates. wishing for the imposition of a theocracy. I thank Ms. Sholes for so succinctly speaking out in favor of our constitutional Separation of Church and State.
Other people are trying to write – the media won't print what we say. I've emailed Rachel Maddow, especially when she has asked the same question – where are the moderate or progressive faith people? Even SHE won't answer me. We;; – in CA anyway, we are equal in number to the conservatives (Pew Research findings) but we're not nearly so inflammatory, so we don't command interest. Please YOU speak up and demand "equal time" so to speak, that you want to know about all the progressives in the disparate faith communities who are saying things that are different from the conservatives. Any time you see "the Christian community thinks…" and it's conservative, know it's a lie and call it out. We need your help, too.
The frustration is overwhelming and so often the message about these false prophets and blasphemous frauds is met with dismissal. We have a nation full of "info-tainment" – NOT news. And you are so right about having to present as whacked out as the other side to draw attention…but to remain credible we can't sink to that kind of lunacy and grandstanding. So we push on. We push on and use what America responds to best…celebrity. Soon I will be in a position to share more with everyone, but for now it suffices to say that there is more than one way to skin a rat.
Our time is coming, like a perfect storm brewing, and it is simply a matter of making all of this extremism resonate on a personal and individual level. We not only are equal to, but greater than the new incarnated version of neocon. Moderate conservatives are turning away from the ugliness festering in the Republican/Tea Party…creating a growing number who reject the fanaticism. Where we fall short is in stepping up to the plate and not just articulating our frustrations and positions, but turning that frustration into action…even if that is supporting those of us like you Libby, who are 24/7 activists struggling to stay alive while relentlessly staying on task with our goal of stopping this madness.
Thank you!!! for all that you do!
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I don't know exactly when people in this country stopped understanding the constitution and our history. I am almost 55 and got a good education in the public schools in California. Not only were we taught about seperation of church and state, but I had a jr. high teacher who taught us the reason we have wars is they are good for the economy. Imagine a teacher telling that truth in a school now. I know my parent's generation very closely guarded seperation of church and state, this is why they were cautious about JFK. Their thinking was that they really liked him, but they did not want the Catholic Church dictating national policy. They all knew seperation of church and state was one of the foundations of this country and my dad got his education in a one room school in Mississippi.
Bravo! As an atheist, it's good to hear that some Christians would like to let me stay that way.
As another atheist – I second that emotion!
I think there are plenty of people and organizations out there who share these sentiments. Why, oh why won't the media pick up this side of the story? Why do they always run with the hostile and angry loud mouths? Even HuffPo disappoints in this.
As the author of this piece, I salute you for asking that question. When I got a really good Op Ed rejected by the San Francisco Chronicle, I asked why. The answer was that the fact it was signed by three progressive people of faith was not enough – it was "boring". If we don't spew venom, don't hate people, aren't outrageous, we're not interesting. I am routinely dumped from OpEd and even LTE sites because no matter what we send out, it's not 'sexy' in it's lack of disgusting rhetoric. YOU can help – demand that there be balance in each and every news outlet, and if anti-GLBT people are fomenting, they have to find and print something from people who believe in equality – or peace, justice, whatever – within other parts of the faith community. And remind secular progressives that the progressive faith community is not insane (as Bill Maher would have it) and has no interest in converting anyone. We embrace all people of justice, no exception. We have NO mental reservation that somehow you are less than we 'cause you don't believe in God. We search for the truth. We don't claim to have it.
What an eloquent statement of truth!
Fantastic! I have been waiting for such a statement from representatives of mainstream Christianity.
This makes me so proud to be a progressive, to be an American!
Thank you for sharing this with us It gives me hope.
I agree that many writings similar to those of Ms. Sholes should come from the Christian Establishment . Their silence in the face of extremism is more than disturbing. It speaks volumes about even moderates. wishing for the imposition of a theocracy. I thank Ms. Sholes for so succinctly speaking out in favor of our constitutional Separation of Church and State.
Other people are trying to write – the media won't print what we say. I've emailed Rachel Maddow, especially when she has asked the same question – where are the moderate or progressive faith people? Even SHE won't answer me. We;; – in CA anyway, we are equal in number to the conservatives (Pew Research findings) but we're not nearly so inflammatory, so we don't command interest. Please YOU speak up and demand "equal time" so to speak, that you want to know about all the progressives in the disparate faith communities who are saying things that are different from the conservatives. Any time you see "the Christian community thinks…" and it's conservative, know it's a lie and call it out. We need your help, too.
The frustration is overwhelming and so often the message about these false prophets and blasphemous frauds is met with dismissal. We have a nation full of "info-tainment" – NOT news. And you are so right about having to present as whacked out as the other side to draw attention…but to remain credible we can't sink to that kind of lunacy and grandstanding. So we push on. We push on and use what America responds to best…celebrity. Soon I will be in a position to share more with everyone, but for now it suffices to say that there is more than one way to skin a rat.
Our time is coming, like a perfect storm brewing, and it is simply a matter of making all of this extremism resonate on a personal and individual level. We not only are equal to, but greater than the new incarnated version of neocon. Moderate conservatives are turning away from the ugliness festering in the Republican/Tea Party…creating a growing number who reject the fanaticism. Where we fall short is in stepping up to the plate and not just articulating our frustrations and positions, but turning that frustration into action…even if that is supporting those of us like you Libby, who are 24/7 activists struggling to stay alive while relentlessly staying on task with our goal of stopping this madness.
Thank you!!! for all that you do!