Yesterday, for 6 and a half hours, I subjected not only myself to the entire broadcast of Texas Governor Rick Perry’s “The Response” tent revival in Houston, Texas – but my entire household, including pets. All parties looked at me pleading with their eyes that I move on to something different. I am sure a neighbor or two may have benefited from the broadcast as well. It was quite a Show.
A friend and fellow researcher was actually at The Response in person, Dr. Anthea Butler of the University of Pennsylvania, professor of theology, along with Sarah Posner – both of whom write for Religion Dispatches. Dr. Butler actually received her doctorate from studies – unlike the parade of “Dr.s” that graced that stage and endorsed this event. (EVERY one and his brother is an honorary “Dr.” in the world of Dominionist entertainment).
As I watched it live on God TV (and yes that really IS the name of the station) I live tweeted with Dr. Butler as she watched it in person. Made for a very interesting perspective on what was transpiring. I will share the highlights from our observations. Right Wing Watch did a great job of condensing the whole video performance.
Much has been written about it today, but what I am not seeing are reports about some of the more subtle details that took place, rather the focus is on how few people actually attended the event. Today’s estimates put the numbers around 22,000 people. Yes, the stadium holds 70+ thousand, but the fact that they had over 20 thousand in attendance is not a huge comfort to me or my fellow researchers.
You see, these attendees are devout! Kool-ade drinking devout. Every single one of them will cast their vote in 2012 and you can bet it will be for a Dominionist candidate. Not one of these folks will vote for a Mormon ar a Catholic even those who are running as Republicans. It just won’t happen. So that leaves an uncertain Perry, Palin, Bachmann field to choose from.
Why does this scare the hell out of me? Well, so many reasons really – not the least of which is the growing absurdity coming from the fringe Left trying to get support for their idea to run a Primary candidate against President Obama. As I just said, these zealots vote. Progressives – better at pontificating than voting. So as it stands, a second term for Obama is threatened already and the last thing we need are Civics-101-challenged disgruntled “lefties” trying to fracture a voter bloc that already can’t find the motivation to vote most of the time.
Here are some of the notable moments in Perry’s Altar Cult yesterday:
From the first utterance we were off in a Dominionist world of sounding the Shofars and calling all good Christians to action in a prayer and fast sort of way (there were food vendors there). The first to speak was Dr. James Dobson, former head of Focus on the Family before it ran amok financially – dwindling into a nearly non-existent entity – where once it reigned in this world. Then his wife Shirley, the Chair of the National Day of Prayer...well, she prayed of course. And the show was off and running!
They repeatedly laid out the 7 Mountains Mandate to “reclaim” – Family – Religion – Education – Government/Military – Arts & Entertainment/Sports – Media – (and their favorite lately) Education. The 7 Mountain agenda was repeated by the majority of their performers including Perry himself.
They voiced their alliance with Messianic Jews, those that accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. If the others don’t convert they will face the same fate as the rest of us who do not share the Dominionist theology. As I said in one tweet when John Hagee was speaking, a known anti-Semite and faux preacher from Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas that is heavily influential in the Republican Party – “They love, love LOVE Israel! Jews – not so much….”
We witnessed Perry’s Anointing! Yep they actually anointed their King David right there on the stage for the world to see. Sarah Palin went through this at her church years ago (As Queen Esther, though – not King David). As the emcee of the moment called for all in attendance to embrace their nearest pastor/preacher/leader, Perry returned to the stage and was embraced by top gun clergy as they called for a “Fresh Anointing”.
In addition to repeating the 7 Mountains goals of capturing and dominating those 7 secular areas of culture, they repeatedly referred to themselves as King Davids. King Solomons and Queen Esthers. Their references are not casual, but speak to the mindset that these Dominionist leaders have wherein rules apply to everyone else – just not to them. Take C Street for example, and notice that Sam Brownback was there in person – a regular ol’ C Street frat boy in the flesh.
This is significant. It goes hand-in-hand with their belief that they are “The Chosen” – “The Elect”. God has spoken directly to them (they claim) to lead their people out of the abyss of immorality and to “reclaim” America for the one true God. This of course is the whole “we were founded as a Christian Nation claim that they spew to all their Sheeples. They clearly know what is best for ALL of us! Just ask them!
They proudly stood in company with political strategists such as Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, while claiming that this was an “apolitical event”. The entire Show contained non-stop political rhetoric! But as Professor Butler pointed out, they do not have a care in the world about violating the separation of church and state laws as long as the courts are controlled by Dominionists.
They referred to the Great Commission in which God has commanded them to go and make converts of all peoples and nations. Their version of proselytizing is extreme and aggressive, we are seeing their methods as they use 3rd world countries as their own Petri dishes to test their plans.
Codespeak! The day was riddled with it. Here are just some of the terms they repeated:
Outpouring, Spiritual Mapping, Market Place ministries, Authority, beloved, Awakening, 3rd Wave, the mantle, transform, after your hearts, intercession, anointing, “fall away” – just to name a few. Where are we hearing this talk? Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann use them frequently.
Of course, no event like this would be complete without the performances of Lou Engle‘s entertainers from his travelling Road Show titled, “The Call”. (By the way, Palin spoke to Engle just before making her national debut on stage at the GOP Convention in 2008 by cell phone…just sayin’). Their focus is on abortion and they wail and cry out, tears rolling down their cheeks, as they point to this as evidence that America has gone to the Dark Side. (You could see them actually working themselves up emotionally waiting for their turn to take the mic.)
And yes, there was the requisite non-stop Christian rock music playing at varying decibel levels for the entire time. Most “songs” contained 6 to 8 (and often times 7) words that were repeated over and over and over and over….with a purposeful hypnotic rhythm playing that never stopped. This background of music and repeated refrains that ebbed and flowed throughout the entire performance was orchestrated and intentional – just like everything else they produce.
For those who actually watched any of this yesterday, what is important to understand is that this is their gig. They perform at events like this weekly and sometimes more often than that. Their crowds swell to 100,000 in some parts of the world and the United States. Hell, even their mega-church congregations range in the 10 – 20,000 range on a weekly basis! So while some are minimizing the numbers who attended “The Response” – let’s not get cocky.
The rocking, the waving of hands in the air, the outstretched palms are a trademark behavior of these audiences. (I have to tell you that a chill ran through me watching thousands in a trance with outstretched right arms in a salute that was all too reminiscent of the Nazi salute.) They are lured and lulled into this very hypnotically. Fear of damnation and lost salvation consume them mixed with an inflated sense of superior exceptionalism as “true” followers and believers in Jesus Christ. And that means apart from all of us who are “not the right kind of Christian” (meaning we can’t produce a born again birth certificate attesting to our status as one of the “saved”).
Those of us who research and follow this know that there are approximately 80 million followers in our country alone. Dominionists proudly tout that the number is 104 million. And not to beat a dead horse – but I have to repeat – THEY VOTE!
Oh! And before I forget, we will await the announcement that this anointed King David will be running for president of the United States…any moment now. Let the battle of “The Chosen” begin!
If ANY of these lunatics are elected, I am taking my family and I am leaving the USA. I am from Arizona, so I know all too well the trappings and shortcomings of living within a Republican dominated state. But it was not until now, when I saw this post, that I became actually afraid for my own life, and the life of my wife and daughter.
I am a Odinist, most would call me a Pagan at the least, I was raised in a Christian family. I have never given credence to the church of those before me, and followed my own path, as I understood was my Gods given right in the country I was born in. Now, here we have these zealots, and they are exactly that, screaming tenets that would be see both my wife and myself enslaved, tortured, and burned at the stake as heretics and TRAITORS TO OUR OWN COUNTRY.
These people endorse slavery, white supremacy, a unity of church and state, and gestapo like Old Testament tactics that should have every Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Zionist, Bhuddist, Daoist, ect. on HIGH ALERT because to these acolytes you are a PRIORITY TARGET. This is not a minimal concern people, TWO presidential candidates are Dominionists, and DEVOUT ones, they would see your homes, jobs, and VERY LIVES taken from you.
I have mentioned I will flee the country should one of these maniacs be elected, and that is true. I have to safeguard my legacy so people will know what happened in 2012, when the sane world was murdered and nailed to a flaming cross. BUT after I know my family is safe, I will return and FIGHT FOR WHAT IS MINE and I pray to all the Gods that you would do the same. These freaks want us to run away and give it all up, and we cannot allow that to happen.
PLEASE, watch these bastards, and hamstring them whenever, and wherever you can. Do you want to see the mass murdering of gay men and women in the streets of San Fransisco? Do you want to see Chinatown, NY in flames so high you can see the glow from Jersey? This would be the "Red Dawn" of our generation, and the sickest part about it is that we would not be invaded, BUT PURGED BY OUR OWN LEADERS.
2012 is coming, what will it be America? Freedom or the Iron Fist of Dominionism? EVERYONE MUST VOTE!! Say I'm paranoid, call me a crazy pagan, but with people like these in power, I'm certain WWIII is assured and the world, along with all of "us" will burn.
Sally,
Yes!
My 47 year lifetime experiences within the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox church combined with sharing my wife’s Native American Indian culture have led me to a few conclusions: Mainstream first world Christians are mislead to honor self, indifference, and fear while abdicating love, peace, and truth. Most religious leaders in these “developed” countries adhere to the principles of a Greed-Power-Money triune god. A prime example, “new world America” has always been a covert theocracy where church is state perpetuating an ever increasing war; poor vs. poor.
Peace,
Anthony
WORD IS GETTING OUT!!!! Take a look at this little article talking about the story Rachel Maddow did this past Wednesday. It has 34 PAGES OF COMMENTS!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/11/rachel-maddow-rick-perry-_n_924262.html
I’ll post a link to this site later but I don’t seem to be able to log in from work.
Nice mention with link to this blog on talk2action.org : http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/8/12/18559/…
I saw it. It was pretty good. Of course I don’t think it went far enough. I don’t think I heard the word “theocracy” mentioned. They did mentiona NAR, New Apostolic Reformation, and Seven Mountains Mandate, but in my opinion they did not stress strongly enough how literal these goals are and how agressively they are being pursued. If I recall correctly they may have also called it a Christian Cult at one point. It was really a rather reserved story although it did talk about it in no uncertain terms. But no sense of urgency as if this was obscure but not something so out of the ordinary. Maybe this story was just one to lead into others? Test the waters so to speak?
It is rather odd that Rachel Maddow spent so much time and energy and was so energetic about covering the House on C street and “the Family” and yet when talking about the NAR she seemed less energetic. Is it possible that she doesn’t see the two things a connected?
But also the Huffington Post, the Texas Observer, and some other outlets have had articles in recent days. I would say that this may turn out to be a great time for a book to come out that deals with all of this!
It may be that this issue is starting to get some grow some legs, and get some traction. We can only hope so!
Leah, did you see Rachel Maddow last night? (Wed, 8/10.) She shared some recent reporting from the Texas Observer about Perry's event and the fact that many of the sponsors are NARs, including a review of the 7 mountains. The Observer reporter was interviewed in a 2nd segment.
This might be a great opportunity to reach out to her & her staff and share your work. Seems like eyes are being opened to the reality that this isn't about traditional religious beliefs!!!!
Good luck and thanks for your work. I'm a first-time commenter, but I've really appreciated your valuable contributions!
I will find her show from last night and watch it. Thank you…I have reached out to her before without result, but as you say, it certainly appears that people are beginning to connect the dots – and it couldn't happen too soon! My book will be released on the 29th of this month and that will open more opportunity to attract the attention of the media. I will be writing a post later today about the book release.
Also, HuffPo has featured Maddow's coverage, so links are there. Sadly, they dismiss it as sounding like the "Da Vinci Code." Sigh. (The Texas Observer article about Perry is by reporter Forrest Wilder, http://www.texasobserver.org. It's a great indie pub, former home of Molly Ivins, among others.)
Looking forward to your book!
Also, HuffPo has featured Maddow's coverage, so links are there. Sadly, they dismiss it as sounding like the "Da Vinci Code." Sigh. (The Texas Observer article about Perry is by reporter Forrest Wilder, http://www.texasobserver.org. It's a great indie pub, former home of Molly Ivins, among others.)
Looking forward to your book!
Good article Leah. Let's hope it wakes people up to this menace from within. The "Response" sounds like the Nazi monster rallies at Nuremburg, complete with mind-numbing music!
As I said elsewhere here, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of our SECULAR Republic against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I have done so in close personal ground combat. I will do so again if and when these brain-washed morons try to force their beliefs on the rest of us.
F. J. Taylor, USMC (Ret)
I too watched the Response via livestream online, and I found its content unsettling. The anti-abortion rhetoric and the constant references to the U.S. as a "Christian nation" were bad enough, but what I found the most unsettling is the constant refrain that humans can't solve today's problems and need God to do so. If that isn't a call to dominionism, I don't know what is.
Was anyone paying close attention to the musical performances at the beginning of the rally? I distinctly recall a light-haired woman saying that those who are free in Jesus are free indeed — and then adding, "we pledge allegiance to the lamb, the true source of liberty and justice for all." Was this a coded way of saying that Christianity rather than the state has ultimate authority? Yikes.
http://republic-of-gilead.blogspot.com/2011/08/re…
Oh, yes, Ahab,
I"ve heard Perry say it — he loves his country more than anything else, except for his god. God first, country second. That would mean that the apostles and prophets…well, we can only guess. I do not want to KNOW.
I am a bit surprised that so far, no mainstream media has even hinted at the concept of theocracy. I don't understand why mainstream media shys away from doing stories on the 7 Mountains/Pillars Mandate since that is something that these organizations are public about. I think it would be perfectly valid for any mainstream media person to question a candidate about this kind of thing. It would be a great story to explain a few of the dog whistle political phrases and then show politicians using those phrases. This would of course lead naturally to questioning a candidate about their choice of words, how aware they are of what is going in around them, etc.
Leah, good article as always! I think a good article showing the anointing and explaining the significance of that would be great as well!
I doubt that the Seven Mountains Dominionists (aka New Apostolic Reformation) see Rick Perry as a King David. It is more likely that they see him as a King Cyrus, since the person who anointed him on September 28, 2009 said to Perry that he had prayed before his congregation “Lord Jesus I bring to you today Gov. Perry. I am just bringing you his hand and I pray Lord that he will grasp ahold of it. For if he does you will use him mightily.” Perry took ahold of it and the Texas and personal prophesies brought by those anointing him.
"This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."' (Isaiah 45:1-3, NIV throughout).
In his book, "The Heart of the Treasure Bringers, Robert Fraser of the International House of Prayer puts as a header to the above verses: "God will release untold wealth, the Cyrus anointing."
For several years Dominionist pastors have been preaching about "The Great Wealth Transfer" which will be transferred from the wicked – everyone who is not of their "faith" – to the righteous – everyone who is of their "faith." Given the financial habits of televangelists and their kind in the Christian Right, and given that ministers in the Christian Right decided that they too believed in the Seven Mountains Dominionism once they heard of the "Great Wealth Transfer," I doubt that much of the money will get to any Christian missions. There is a sucker born every minute!
Interesting. Here is the response from Alex, my researcher on your comment:
A little tidbit of information – I clearly remember the teaching about wealth transfer back when I was Pentecostal… I think Harold Hill even wrote about it and said something on the line of that "non-believers will be like the banks for believers".
(I used to read his trash when I was Pentecostal.)
I believe that they think they will confiscate everyone else's wealth – and don't seem to recognize the pure greed behind this thinking.
Interesting line: "non-believers will be like banks for the believers" makes the believers out to be the bank robbers!
Yes, they are out to confiscate everyone else's wealth, with the leaders out to confiscate the wealth of the faithful.
Not only that, but using the greed they build in their followers to make them even more desirous of theocracy.
The whole idea is based upon their thinking that "God blesses the good with good things and punishes the wicked/sinner with poverty and suffering", so based upon that thinking, to them obviously the wicked (non-believers in their eyes, etc.) are stealing the prosperity from the "good" people, i.e., them.
So, in their eyes (and I've actually heard or read this), they think it's an act of justice to take money or destroy the lives of "non-believers".
I have copied your insightful analysis on Juan Cole's blog Informed Comment, on his entry about Perry and the NAR. I hope the knowledgeable people at this site go over there to help educate the antiwar crowd about the sheer immensity of the danger that an apostle president get his (or her) hands on America's military machine.
The dangers of this event and the people who attend/support it cannot be stressed enough. This is a dangerous precedent to set. We will have our own X-tian jihad soon, larger and better funded than the few who perpetrate the terror now.
Noam Chomsky says we have to vote for Obama even though he is not a great choice because the other option is complete disaster. No one has come forward anyway and Obama has a lot of support on the right because he is on the right.
Sorry Celia – he's not "right" at all. Most of that interpretation comes from "trolls" who WANT to split liberals and make people think that Obama has sold out. I do intense policy research on the things coming from this administration, and even with the Dominionists holding large sway in the House, he has managed to protect essential programs and policies that liberals and progressives want. Be careful to whom you listen about that. I'm glad Chomsky said that – but it's not a "hold your nose and vote" issue – it IS a clear division between democracy and theocracy, good policies that affirm human beings and those that create elites. Not a hard choice at ALL.
“In 2008, we changed the guard,” Lowery said in the ad airing on black radio stations. “This year, we must guard the change.”
The Rev. Calvin McKinney, general secretary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, and a New Jersey pastor, said the DNC has worked with state leaders of his denomination to try to avert political disaster.
“There is, as far as we can see, an apparent movement afoot to stop the Obama agenda,” said McKinney. “It has caused us to take a higher level of interest in this midterm election to secure the kind of congressional support he’s going to need to advance his agenda.”
The Rev. Boise Kimber, a Connecticut pastor and a board member of the National Baptist Convention, USA, said he and other black clergy were already building bridges between churches and Democratic candidates even before the DNC came calling.
hmmm….looks like the democrats mix Christianity and politics too! why don't you show same level of concern.? the dems have been doing it for years. they use churches as a way to get their message out and encourage voting. you seem to have a double-standard.
The Democrats do not want to "take over the world for Christ", and with the exception of the steeplejacked individuals (and the fools), don't believe in forcing their religion on others.
It can be demonstrated that the Tea Party is full of those types, along with the Republican party.
i'm sure when they are "preaching" to churchgoers, they leave the impression that this is the Christian thing to do! what's the difference? maybe Leah and other "tolerant" people could save themselves a lot of angst and pass a law that requires all Christians to wear a cross sewn on their clothing. that way they wouldn't have to risk being exposed to one. this is the kind of vibe she is sending out with this article. that is scarier to me then anything she is afraid of!!
Interesting…I am the scary one while you propose "Nazi-esque" brandings. Please…
Preaching to churchgoers? Say WHAT? (Laugh!) Talk about projection!!!
I've never seen anyone like Leah preach to churchgoers. It's always the other way around… and the preaching is vicious, nasty, and threatening. At the least it's abusive and disrespectful.
BTW… she's never preached at me (nor have any of the others), and I'm a churchgoer and a Christian (but I'd bet you won't accept that). They've only spoken healing and peace to me. It is people who talk like you do who have preached… and caused harm. My wife and I have spent many many hours undoing the sort of damage people who talk like you have done to innocent people. I've personally seen literally hundreds of people driven from Christ by the Religious Right.
Yet the preachers think they're doing good.
Please note that there is a world of difference between educating people on issues and promoting candidates in the pulpit. No one would beef if it were just education. Everyone will beef if even the NBC USA starts endorsing Dems. Churches are exactly like all non-profit organizations – they can discuss til the cows come home what they value, how policies do or do not uphold those values. Progressives all do it as well. There is, however, a Bright Line – thou may NOT endorse partisan issues or engage in advocacy with more than 5% of your revenues before you have to have a c-4 to do that. Churches in the liberal/progressive arena are VERY careful not to cross that line. The Right? Not at all careful. Big difference.
This is terrifying, to say the least! These people plan to take over our country, our government, and our way of life. It will be Nazis on steroids. I'm praying to my God, the God of acceptance and love, that these people never get anyone elected higher than Bachmann, who is doing plenty of damage in Congress. The true Christians, and the non-believers who love this country had best stand together and vote against this insanity!
Besides terrifying me, their actions also break my heart. I've spent many hours listening to people and talking with them… the victims of those types. They turn people off to Christ, and it's understandable. (How can they be blamed? I know people who turned atheist because of the abuse, and I think the Creator understands!)
The really horrible thing is that they've been doing this sort of things for years… generations even. Their techniques were already well developed when I belonged (hence the damage I experienced), and they've refined them since then. Then they have the gall to connect their "stuff" to Christ!
Sally, you are absolutely right that we all need to stand together to protect the first amendment rights for all of us. A new project call Hail Columbia has been started for just this purpose. Although the project is targeted mostly toward Pagans, I feel that if we can all agree to disagree, and come together to for the common cause of protecting first amendment rights for every person, we can present a united front to let our government know that most of us in this country do not agree with the NAR's vision for this country.
Blessed Be
Yes!
My 47 year lifetime experiences within the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox church combined with sharing my wife’s Native American Indian culture have led me to a few conclusions. Mainstream first world Christians are mislead to honor self, indifference, and fear while abdicating love, peace, and truth. Most religious leaders in these “developed” countries adhere to the principles of a Greed-Power-Money triune god. A prime example, “new world America” has always been a covert theocracy where church is state perpetuating an ever increasing war; poor vs. poor.
Peace,
Anthony
And rich/white oppressing the poor/minorities.
People think this country has a history of "Freedom of Religion". The problem is, it's only white religions that are really free (and African/Asian ones a little less free). For Native American beliefs, it's an entirely different story.
For those who don't know: It was against the law for most (especially in the Eastern US) Native Americans to practice their religion until 1980 – 31 years ago. It was against the law for my people to just EXIST in most of Georgia (our homeland) until 1979/1980, when the laws were taken off the books. The Trail of Tears laws was also finally taken off the books at the same time – and some of my people were threatened with "One way bus tickets to Oklahoma" if they embarrassed the state of Georgia in ANY way.
A few more tidbits – the last train car load of Creek Indians was shipped from Florida to Oklahoma AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR. You've read about the way Jews were shipped – locked in box cars with no facilities or anything? That's how it was described to me by the descendant of someone who escaped one of those cars. I know an ancient who was being pursued by Florida bounty hunters until after he'd served in WWII – a decorated battle veteran (they stopped pursuing Native Americans because of our exemplary service during the war).
There was a discussion in the newspaper about the eugenics movement in North Carolina. Well, it's almost an unknown fact, but a large portion of Native American women were sterilized in the 60's and 70's by the Indian Health Service. I don't remember the exact figures (I have the research articles about it), but it was something like between a quarter and half of Native American women were sterilized.
So the treatment of Native Americans isn't ancient history – and I could relate things that have happened in the last few decades that are horrific.
The mainstream churches and the pre-Dominionist churches lead the fight against us. I can say from the things I've heard/read, that the more conservative (and/or fundamentalist) a church is, the worse they were in their persecution and hatred.
Talking about dominionists and voting… many of the voting stations in this county (state?) are in churches. Some are careful to keep their religious views out of sight, but I have heard that in several voting stations located in Pentecostal (usually dominionist, especially in Florida) churches, there were banners against "Liberals" and other nasty things like that on the walls… high up and supposedly behind barriers/curtains, but clearly visible to voters who came in the door (especially offensive banners against the right to have an abortion). I heard several complaints about things like that – but we didn't hear about it until after the election had been decided. They also talk to people about "how bad the Democrats are" and push their agenda, in businesses, on the street, anywhere they can (not in the polling places, or at least I haven't heard of it taking place there YET). I became the master of "Not Interested!" before the last election, yet they would still try to talk to you.
Another nasty trick is groups of youth from the dominionist churches would go around and pull up and destroy campaign signs for Democrats and for liberal causes. In this county, I was aware of only ONE yard where a sign for the Democratic party remained in place… and it was surrounded by a big chain-link fence (I saw maybe three signs in the whole county). There were letters to the editor complaining about people destroying or defacing signs on private property, even in fenced yards (ONLY Democrats seem to have suffered this). This is the interesting part: a couple of groups of church youth (not advertised they were from churches, much less dominionist ones) were caught in the act in Florida… each group had destroyed over a thousand Democrat/liberal signs. One group even made the news. This sort of thing was reported by people I know from all over the state… and I suspect deliberately organized. Yet I don't remember an investigation or it being an issue during election day!
I think it's part of the reason why we don't do as well as we would have liked.
Walkaway,
I live in MN, and in our state, no one can push an agenda on a voting day at a polling place. You can't even wear
a shirt or top or button or ANYTHING that promotes your point of view at a polling place, or they will tell you to
go home, change your clothes, and come back. In my town people are really good about that – and I live in a town
of 12,000 with 17 churches! It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican – you get the same treatment.
I seen it happen to people in both parties. And in this state, churches are NOT polling places. It is a township hall,
or public school or some public building such as a community center. That goes along with the "no promoting your
view" rule. I feel lucky to live here after reading your post.
I wish it was more like that here. There are laws against political action within a certain distance of a polling station, but they still try to find ways around them (and get away with it).
At the polling place we've been going to for the last few years, it's like that (Methodist church), but other churches…
I am lucky to live in a city where my church-based polling place happens to be a liberal Episcopal Church. Beyond the city line or even in the in-city suburbs I suspect it can be as bad as Florida. (I live in Louisiana)
I'm glad you had the stomach to sit through it… I can't take more than a minute without having the screaming meemies (that's why I'll read research around it, and read transcripts, but refuse to watch or listen – and I even find transcripts sometimes too triggering). It brings back too much cr*p from the days I was Pentecostal… and while the memory of a good portion of those days were repressed for over 27 years and only came back two years ago, some of it I wish would STAY repressed (although it's good to remember how much they can control not only your mind but your very soul, your very being!!!).
People need to not only know about the dangers of these types and what they stand for, they also need to become sensitized (or trained) to recognize it around them. I see the "Market Place Ministries" and their subversive attempts to take over everything around me on a daily basis (when I leave my home)… and people, while some may think I'm being paranoid – I examine my conscious and thinking, and fight against that possibility and yes, they're everywhere (at least in this area) and they are DANGEROUS. If you don't listen to Leah, or any of the people who have been a witness to these things – who WILL you listen to?
Believe me, people: you don't want your area to get like around here… where there are only a few safe areas (like our church, the INSIDE of our home*, my school in most places*, and that's about it), and the rest has a high likelihood of being harassed. Even major chain stores aren't safe from harassment and proselytizing – I lodged grievances with Sam's because their employees were proselytizing, and while the verbal harassment stopped, they're still wearing cross-flag pins (message: non-Dominionists not welcome in the US) and so on (and employee proselytizing happened in other stores over the years). Another favorite store tactic is the "sermon in a conversation" or "sermon in a prayer over food" (at a restaurant). If you drive in your car, unless you have working A/C and a loud radio, you may get a nice taste of street preaching (the usual hellfire and brimstone). THEY EVEN INVADE FUNERALS, as I've seen twice, my brother says he's seen several times, and others have reported. I've mentioned elsewhere (another blog concerning dominionism) about going in local businesses and being treated to "nice" sermons (such as how to take over major emergencies in order to try to convert people, or how horrible liberals and gays are and how they're destroying America – you know the spiel), and even non-religious gatherings (such as model airplane fly-ins) are used to proselytize and rant against the things they don't like (not officially SO FAR, but the dominionists do work the crowds).
We need to resist them at every turn. Their "Gospel" isn't Good News, they're proselytizing and NOT being "witnesses", and they're forcing dominionism on everyone around them. (Maybe you've read the scripture about resisting the devil and he will flee from you???)
*- we have at least four dominionists on our tiny street, and I've gone outside several times only to be treated to ranting about liberals, or proselytizing, or how taxes must be cut and "welfare" destroyed, or things like that. One HAS stopped talking to us because she found out I'd taught evolution (Got a really nasty 20 minute or longer rant because of that – she insisted I was teaching false religion in the science classroom), the roving evangelists even come around and we've had a few ignore our "No Trespassing" sign. We've even caught them literally sneaking on our property – supposedly to leave tracts on our car, but they weren't carrying tracts and their hands were oily.
*(#2)- my school had to ban the "missionaries" and jackleg preachers from most of our campus, and they're only allowed in a few areas. They were truly disruptive and interrupted classes, and even caused injury to people in the crowd who were only trying to get past them. Yet we find tracts, flyers where they don't belong, and they've vandalized posters in authorized-posting-only places.
This is very disturbing. It is all too easy to mock these people without understanding how insane they are and how powerful. Well written Leah
So glad you appreciate the message and take it seriously. I have to write with some humor in order to preserve my sanity, but I am pleased that the seriousness of this isn't lost.
I take this very seriously. This is the biggest threat we have, bigger than Islam
Indeed it is! This is the former Religious Right on steroids!
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext/ho…
does this bother you?
Dunno if it bothers anyone else – but it bothers me when ANY person or party intends to govern by whatever metaphysical belief they adhere to instead of the Constitution of this SECULAR Republic – the one which I swore to "uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic"and have done, in close personal ground combat — and which I will continue to uphold as long as I breathe.
Believe and worship as you will (in line with the Constitution and laws), but don't try to force your beliefs on me or anyone else.
F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret)
I agree – they are terribly powerful and dangerous. They are NOT, however, so entrenched they cannot be rebuffed politically. They are a small minority, and we are the majority. That said, if we just dismiss them as wackos, they will win. They may BE wackos, but without direct and focused push back, they make inroads. When ill-conceived notions such as "show the Dems you're angry and don't VOTE" we give the Dominionists power without achieving anything at all. The 2010 GOP/TP wins were quite broad – but very shallow. Whatever you do, the first line of pushback in reclaiming our nation is VOTING. The rest is loud, constant, present advocacy for what kinds of policies we want as a multi-faceted nation where all people are equal, not just the precious, born-again few.