It is like when Sarah Palin was found guilty of ethics violations by a bi-partisan legislative committee and when the news was released stating that she was guilty- here was her response reported by the anchorage Daily News,

“She claims the report “vindicates” her. She said that the investigation found “no unlawful or unethical activity on my part.” Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.

See how even when presented with the facts they just click their heels and declare the opposite? This actually works for them with regularity – they just deny it even when it is hiding in plain sight.

Here is Os Hillman trying to back peddle and distance them from the word Dominion…

7 Mountains Executive Sales Meeting

How to Take Dominion

“An important understanding and distinction must be stated at this point. Dominion, or perhaps a better word to use is influence, is a result of our love and obedience to God, not a goal to be achieved.It is the fruit of our obedience. Otherwise we begin to use fleshly strategies to exploit and subjugate others to our way of thinking.

Jesus never sought to have dominion; rather, He encouraged others to love and obey God. It is better that we avoid the word dominion in our culture today due to the connotation that comes with this word of control and manipulation of others. It also reminds people of a flawed movement in the body of Christ called dominion theology that caused great harm to many.

On August 19th during a CNN Situation Room broadcast with Wolf Blitzer, Jack Cafferty attempted to tie Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry to dominionsim theology. He took their words out of context, yet the very word “dominionism brought out the worst in the secular media for fear that Christians want to rule the world.” ~ Os Hillman

This guy is a lead salesman for the 7 Mountains Mandate. His boss has been none other than The ‘Pope’ of Dominionism, C. Peter Wagner – who was an endorser of Rick Perry’s “The Repsonse”. He even wrote a book a few years back…what was that? I remember! Yes, it was “Dominion” –  How Kingdom Action Can Change the World”. That doesn’t sound very Dominionist. They preach the need to “take back the 7 mountains of culture” and yet they deny that they are in any way associated with the word dominion. Which means to “take control of, dominate, rule”. And no matter what they are trying to spin, that is precisely what they are after.

To establish their version of Christianity as the supreme religion in this battle they see themselves in against evil. And evil is all others who do not believe as they do. Pope Wagner also is the one who created the practice of Spiritual Mapping and casting our Demons. One of his special people, Alice Patterson of “Justice at the Gate lays claim such as the Democratic Party is demon filled saying,

“…that an evil structure could be connected to and empowered by a political party … One strong fallen angel cannot wreak havoc on an entire nation by himself. He needs a network of wicked forces to restrain the Church and to deceive the masses. I asked the “Lord, Father, what is the demonic structure behind the Democratic Party? ~ ” Alice Patterson

You might remember him from the Rachel Maddow Show where she brought up Perry’s connections to these Dominionists. Wagner also mentored among other notables, Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California, the same Dominionist that was invited to do the invocation for President Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony in 2009. And here is C Peter’s retraction and back peddling notice hot off the press.

If these aren’t Dominionists…who would be according to them?

They can run but they cannot hide! Finally attention is beginning to happen…and my tremendous thanks to Michele Goldberg for writing her article at the Daily Beast the other day about this. After Perry’s Tent Revival more has been written about it than normal and here is Jack Cafferty coming to the realization that Dominionism is real – no matter how Os and his co-horts try to spin it as something they are not. Watch this clip, please…

I have held firmly to the belief that we were going to be able to stop this religious extremism if only we could reach the majority of Americans who are moderates – whether Democrat or Republican; liberal or conservative…I believe most of us find this bible-based cult a real threat to our freedoms.

Here is one of their leaders, George Grant, a former assistant to D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries in Florida, explaining precisely what Os Hillman is trying to get you to not believe:

“Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ — to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest.

That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less…

Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land — of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.” From The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action by George Grant, published in 1987 by Dominion Press

By the way, the ReBiblican politicians who are fed money and votes from these Apostles and prophetics like Os & Co. claim that they have just been too busy to find solutions for unemployment – but they did make time to conceive, write and pass House Resolution #71 honoring the late – D. James Kennedy in January 2011. Oh! What was the name of that organization Kennedy started? Lemme think….hmmm…oh yeah! The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, Coral Ridge Ministries’ social action group.

Oops! I should clarify. What they really mean is that their “kind” of Christianity has the legal right to merge with government. Period. See, when they scream and cry about religious freedoms, just remember that this is probably not in your best interest because by their definition that excludes nearly 70% of all Americans including, but not limited to the following: mainstream Christians, Catholics, Mormons, Wiccans, Pagans, Atheists – all the same to them. Like Bryan Fischer of the hate group, the American Family Association said recently about American Muslims…they are allowed to assemble and worship as a “privilege” not a right afforded under that Constitution.

But then if you really want to feel the love, try being an African American gay news man! The outrageously hate-filled prejudice that culminated in CNN reporter, Don Lemon, being elbowed repeatedly and then ultimately shoved hard enough to knock him into a nearby golf cart in Iowa makes me literally sick to my stomach. Watch this short video clip as you see Lemon simply doing his job just like all the other news people that were sent to Iowa yesterday (August 12) to cover the Straw Poll.

Much has been written about Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus and his “pray away the gay” clinic that pockets 6 figures a year in federal tax dollars to reach out to homosexuals (men) and convince them that by golly they are actually really attracted to women and just don’t know it. It matters not that this whole approach of quackery has been debunked time and time again as complete nonsense. Brian Ross from ABC News did a special about the Bachmann & Associates ‘clinic’ and cited this fact from the American Psychological Association that,

“The controversial practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation was roundly discredited by the American Psychological Association in 2009 as ineffective and potentially harmful.”

The Bachmanns and those like them never let the facts get in the way of their mission to save all of us from ourselves. After all, as God’s Chosen, the rules don’t apply to them – just to the rest of us and on top of that, they are working to usurp the authority to change those rules and create them out of their scripture-twisted Political Dominionist faith.

If I sound angry it is because I am. Most days I take the ugliness with calm and cautious indifference, but it almost inflames me more to witness a display such as this happening to another. Don Lemon was physically discarded as though he was a non-human. There was no eye contact with him nor acknowledgement of any kind by Bachmann’s entourage. I am amazed they were able to bring themselves to have physical contact with a man that represents what they so openly despise.

Discrimination against homosexuals is not knew, especially from the increasingly religious republican field of politicians. It is a sad and pathetic dominant thread in their fabric of biblical worldview. Even as, one by one, the ones that scream loudest are outed for their own same-sex encounters and relationships, the hate continues. Cries of extreme paranoia that the gays are trying to take over the world with their “gay agenda” fuel legislation like the “Kill the Gays” legislation in Uganda that we read about this past year. And thanks in large part to American political Dominionists, it gained as much traction as it did.

Aside from the inhumanity of this political hate toward a whole segment of our population – it is frightening to read the writing on the wall of what the Bachmanns and Perrys would do if ever in power with a Congressional majority.

Michele needs to come to terms with her sister being a lesbian and Marcus needs to get counseling for behavior that is overtly consistent with the self-loathing that all too many homosexuals are taught to feel from societies pressures telling them that they are not “normal” and that this isn’t “right”. When those messages are mixed with scripture-twisted justifications for discrimination it leads to either a sense of self-repulse that send some so far to the anti-homosexual side of the pendulum that they can’t stop thinking and talking about it.

Operating a “pray away the gay” clinic is one manifestation of this, and as we saw in one of the most notorious cases, Ted Haggard would preach fire and brimstone against the sins of homosexuality and then rendezvous with his young hired male gay lover for a good ol’ romp. Other coping mechanisms we have seen evolve are the creation of punitive anti-gay laws trying to legislate it out of existence, maybe then it would go away.

Or the fear of gay marriage – that it will tear the fabric of the family unit in America and lead to “father/daughter marriage; bestiality weddings; legalized polygamy” and more! Rick Santorum spends so much time on that issue that it is even taking a back seat to his obsession over a woman’s right to her own uterus.

NO one is trying to pass laws telling churches that they have to recognize or perform same-sex marriages in their hallowed halls. No one. This is about legal rights at its core and emotional commitment that rivals the success of most heterosexual relationships.

For the love of God! Just imagine that if all the millions and millions of dollars spent by these phobic and haters was spent to help the poor and feed the hungry, we could wipe it out in America altogether – and that – is what Jesus would do!

What ever the underlying disconnect, living a lie all of one’s life leads to anger and targeting the very group that reminds the person of what they cannot reconcile from within. This is a real outgrowth of this dynamic.

As I watch this video my heart goes out to Don Lemon. But in a unwelcome way, I also feel sadness and compassion for the Bachmanns and those like the two prayer warriors that she had participating in this disgusting display, for as much as their hatred and behavior revolts me – as the “wrong kind of Christian” – I am convinced that Jesus Christ would never have treated one of God’s children with such revile and disdain.

In fact, I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that as like-minded as they are, Sarah Palin has more class than that! Okay, let’s just say that she is more stealth about this issue.

As walkaways, each of us brings our own horrifying memories to the table as we try to awaken the rest of you to the heinous world that Dominionism has planned for the rest of us.

Here is a comment left on my most recent post from a walkway giving a perspective of the reality that already exists in this country. You see, what we are all saying in or own unique voices is that this isn’t a science fiction story set to happen in the future…for many, this has been a reality their entire lives. And yes, right here in America.

“A Walkaway commented on Independence Needed Now More Than EVER – God’s Own Party?:

I tell people that I believe in the promise of America, but not the reality. I also ask them what is more patriotic – expecting better out of the nation in which I live, or blindly supporting the things it does. My comments usually sets those types to screaming, but maybe it’s time they get their comfortable lives and worldview shaken.

I’ve seen the beginning of the sort of America the dominionists seek, and it’s not pretty – and it’s the inverse of the America I want to believe in. I’ve seen how the poor and disabled will fare under their control. I’ve seen how minorities will be treated. In this area, they dominate, and the things they advocate and push are destroying the lives of innocent people all over the place – and then they condemn them for their perceived failures. (Yes, they even turn on their own who fall by the wayside.)

Regarding their “Patriotism”, I think they buy into the myth of the America that never does wrong. The fact is, this country has done a great many reprehensible things throughout its existence, and not just to the minorities that exist within the borders. For some peoples, this country has been no better than a monster. Many of the people in this country live in third-world conditions, right among those who have comfortable lives and prattle about the greatness of this country. It really grinds on those in that situation to see the wealth and comfort around them, and to not only be locked out from access to things like basic medical care, adequate and wholesome food, and even safe water, but also be told they deserve what they experience or vilified because of their ancestry and heritage.”

Only someone who has been raised in the indoctrination of Dominionist Theology can convey to you the realities of how this is already wreaking havoc in our country. Dominionists believe that is you are poor, indigent or in need that it is only because you have brought this upon yourself by turning your back on God. By not being born again and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour in the Dominionist definition of salvation. All your problems will be solved if you were only living ‘right’ by God.

This drivel is preached by the Dominionist leaders and their Sheeples who live without the want of food and shelter. Their smugness emanates from them revealing that they do not know the horrors of seeking the most basic survival needs. That because they are not saddled with these. issues, God must be shining His approval down on them – the chosen. And their lack of compassion takes it a step further as they swindle the last nickel from those in despair with promises of eternal life. After all, the more they give (they are told) the greater their chances of becoming citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven.

How are we seeing this translated into action right now, today, as we speak? Look at the reckless abandon the Republican politicians are employing – ready to throw America into a disastrous economic tailspin with the budget debates! Look at the demands for severe and crippling cuts to social programs that would cause untold suffering to the poor, disabled and elderly in America. Look at who the leaders are pushing for these devastating cuts! Who are they?

They are the ones who are comfortably perched on their sanctimonious pedestal who devoutly believe that they are the chosen and all those who will be adversely impacted by the elimination of these services simply need to free themselves from Satan’s grip and turn to Christ as a born again and work to build the Kingdom here on earth. Otherwise you are simply expendable and they cannot feel compassion because in their twisted minds – it is not they who are imposing this punishment on the “unchurched” – the “godless” – it is simply God’s Will.

A Nightmare that can be Avoided!

Here is a 2nd offering that was emailed to me by a walkaway who prefers to only be known as “Jubilant”. Jubilant was an assistant minister in an Assemblies of God church for 37 years until gaining the strength and knowledge to walkaway from this bible-based cult. It is a dream that Jubilant actually had and felt an urgency to share with me. It is powerful and it is frightening as it occurs in a Dominionist America post-2012 in a world created by the likes of a Perry, Bachmann, Palin, Pawlenty et al.

“A Woman Rides the Beast” by Jubilant

The Woman Rides the Beast - Rev 17

They woke me up this morning at 3:26 a.m. from the lumpy couch I was sleeping on long before my son would push the snooze button for a few more minutes of sleep. Hunger pains. But this time they were different. The noise from my stomach had their dog looking at me with those kind, gentle warm eyes dogs have. “Yes, my boy, I’m hungry” I said as I rubbed his head to let him know I was ok. “But I’m getting used to them.”

Today is the day that I pack my meager belongings and go to my daughter’s house to stay for a little while. I might as well get up and get ready to go. I don’t have much to pack; just an old toothbrush, a box of baking soda in place of toothpaste, a small plastic container of baby powder that substitutes for deodorant and a brush. As I pick up my underwear I see that I have to sew part of them back together again. The socks are still holding up even though the toes have been sewn so many times that they hurt my feet when I put my shoes on. My few articles of clothing have worn thin and faded but I’m not complaining. God promises to supply my need not what I want so I am content with what I have.

I let the water run in the sink until it gets cold and debate whether to grab a cracker to ease the hunger. No, that would be one less cracker my grandchildren will have to eat. I’ll wait for whatever breakfast I am offered. Even then I will only eat enough to stave off the pain because there is barely enough to go around.

My bible…where did I put it? Oh, yes, under the couch so no one will see it. I don’t want to anger them so I hide it and don’t talk about the book of Revelation, Daniel, Jeremiah and Isaiah anymore. I tried to warn them that the bible said this day was coming but they just laughed and thought amongst themselves that I was a little bit crazy.

Life is ok for my 6 children and their families in spite of the recession that started in 2008. They still have jobs and a roof over their heads but food has become expensive since the illegal immigrants working the farms were rounded up and deported. Americans were covered by minimum wage but when the Republicans took the Presidency and Congress that was even lowered to help businesses maintain and expand their profits. The unemployed were eager for any job, including the back breaking picking on a farm, because unemployment insurance was an entitlement and that was done away with, too. Now, food prices have skyrocketed and there is no longer a snack between meals or at bedtime. It’s hitting the grandchildren harder than the adults and it hurts to tell them they have to wait until the next meal.

I hate imposing on my family but I have no where else to live. My husband died and I could not afford the mortgage and bills on my $290.00 a month social security check. I barely had enough food to eat on that amount but when they privatized SS and Wall Street tanked again, that was wiped out. I didn’t tell my kids because they couldn’t have helped me financially. I stayed in my house even though the gas and electricity were turned off until the sheriff showed up at my door one day and forced me out due to foreclosure. Tearfully I had to call my kids and tell them I had no where to go and could I stay with them. SSI, Supplemental Security Income, was also done away with a long time ago.

I’m old and have heart disease and arthritis. Aspirin is my daily medication because I can not afford health insurance. Doctors have stopped taking Medicare patients because the government lowered their reimbursement payments. The healthcare that Obama passed was killed by the conservative Supreme Court as being unconstitutional, even though Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution says otherwise.

I never thought I would see this happen in America…a Dominionist Theocracy. There were many of us screaming from the housetops about the conservative religious right but were ignored by the mainstream media. Sarah Palin opened the doors to the vilest, racists American democracy kept under ground. She pandered to the white supremacists, militias and religious dominionists. She gave a bold voice to those politicians that believed the same way she did; America under the God of the bible and its Mosaic laws.

I used to wonder why the religious right has to live in the Old Testament and then realized that they have to in order to justify their wars. They’ve slowly over the years infiltrated the military with their dominionist, brain washed children that all wars are God’s wars to purge the world of non-Christians so Jesus can come back and rule for a thousand years. They are God’s warriors going on a crusade. But the worst thing in the military is that these people have now risen to the top ranks in each branch. They believe that they have to listen to God and not the President. When some prophet tells them God wants them to nuke a country, they will do it on their own without listening to their Commander in Chief. But, now they have a Commander in Chief who is just like them who believes in this purging. This is why they want the homosexuals out of the military. They proselytize their “right kind” of Christianity to the point of harassment and threats. They teach females that they are to give up their positions for men, get married and be subservient to their husbands. They must also have a “Quiverful” of children to keep a supply of God’s Warriors enlisting in the military in perpetual. They want a pure, Christian military.

I can’t think about these things anymore. I fear for my children and grandchildren. I warned them but they were all wrapped up in fear and anger. They blamed the democrats for the bailouts, the economy and unemployment when it all started under Bush. They also didn’t see that this was deliberately done to wipe out the middle class for the rich, powerful, right wing Domionists to control every bit of their lives. They were so busy with the Tea Party and their smokescreens that they voted themselves into this mess. Be careful what you wish for.

I took my bible out from under the couch. I need to read the sweet things of Jesus for a while.

My Christian faith always taught me that the end time’s one world religion would be the Catholic Church because it sits on seven hills or mountains. It really doesn’t. Rome does but the Vatican doesn’t sit on any hills or mountains but is across the river from them.

It also taught that America is not mentioned in the bible during the 7 year tribulation period or Armageddon. After careful study of the book of Revelation and other books of the bible, that is not true.

But then I heard about the religious rights 7 Mountain Mandate which calls for the take over of the nation under the false teaching of dominion.

Let’s see what Revelations 17 says.

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”

Revelations 17:3

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Revelations 17:5

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Revelations 17:18

The 7 Mountain Mandate is no coincidence. All this symbolism has meaning for us now that the bible-based cult of Dominionism has infested American politics. Whether you were raised in Christianity or not, it is now time that all Americans aquaint themselves with the lore of the Bible that these people are scripture-twisiting to fit a skewed version of the Christian faith to enable a Kingdom building agenda that will bring us all unwillingly to our knees before them.

Strong words? Yes. Stating the seriousness of this must be conveyed with clarity and directness. No time for subtleties, just take another look at the GOP contenders and their constant invocations of God and religious superiority – you will hear how they rationalize these destructive proposals.

We get mail from these folks that I am referring to. In fact, here is one from today…a Happy “Forth” from a Christian Patriot fan of ours at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that I am certain considers himself a true American. Oddly, my name is absent…’Leah’ must be too challenging for them to have created a derogatory term  for them.

On this day of remembrance, I take time to think about how hard people fought to gain our independence from religiously controlled government. I think about the loss of life and the heartache that brought to those family and friends who survived, but that they must’ve found a great sense of pride knowing that the battle for freedom such as the world has rarely  known actually set the United States apart.

I think about all of that and how tremendously fortunate I am to be an American and be afforded the life that we enjoy here in this country. That it is more a statement of how insulated we are from the possibility of having those freedoms taken away from us that many in this country do not have a clue as to what the definition of “theocracy” is, than it is an ignorance of language. That’s how fortunate we are. That those who clamor and make the most noise about tyranny and treason are often the ones who are the most critical and plotting in their unabashed lack of appreciation of how lucky we are.

I have lived overseas in my lifetime, and when I returned I did not have rose colored glasses on about where I had been or where I was returning. For me, there are many, many wonderful cultures and places in the world to visit, but this country is my home. Unlike those who either state that they are moving due to dissatisfaction; or those who tell others “to leave if you don’t like it” – I am here to stay.

One of those freedoms that this day represents is that if we see things that we are dissatisfied with in this country, we have the right and the opportunity to make changes. But one thought that I sincerely doubt ever lingered in the minds of those who laid down their lives for our freedoms was that we would become a country divided by those who feel that only they belong here and others are not allowed. As a nation of immigrants we are all “new” Americans and on the 4th of July we need to enjoy the community that is America, the one that has brought us all together.

But that pebble that we threw in the pond is growing into a boulder, our ripples are turning into a small craft warning…and the Dominionists are not happy…and THAT puts a smile on my face Happy 4th!

INSKEEP: Has the public reaction to your father’s murder been, in some ways, almost harder than the murder itself?

Ms. TASEER: Well, it was very tough, because this is my father, actual. To everybody else, it’s the governor and it’s the leader, but this is my father. And so to have seen 200 lawyers saying that this is right what happened and then to see a rally of 40,000 clerics take the streets in Karachi in support of the blasphemy laws and in support of what happened to my father, it made me sick. Because if you have your lawyers who are your supposed vanguards of justice taking these kinds of stands, then it means that your judicial system is a sham.

But the public reaction, I don’t think that it’s representative of the majority of Pakistanis, because, you know, these clerics, there were 40,000 of them that took to the streets, but in a city of 18 million. So I don’t think that it’s indicative of the Pakistani mindset.

INSKEEP: This is something that is often said about Pakistan, often said by Pakistanis, they would say to outsiders like me: I realize that terrible things are happening in this country and that there are extremists and that they are the loudest voices in this country, but that the great mass of people are moderate and tolerant, if only they could have a voice and if only they could have greater power. Is that true?

Ms. TASEER: Yeah, I definitely agree with that, and they do have a voice, and that’s called voting. These extremist parties or these religious parties, they lack legitimacy in Pakistan because they’d never managed to get more than 10 percent of the popular vote, but they have a disproportionate amount of street power. They’re loud. They’re well-armed. They’re well-funded. They’re well-organized, and they know how to make noise and grab the headlines. But the average Pakistani wants peace, and we are exhausted with this extremism and terrorism.

INSKEEP: You know, last year in Pakistan, we – in Lahore, actually, we sat down with a young lawyer, 25-year-old woman who spoke for many people who are better educated, more privileged in Pakistan in saying that she felt that a lot of people her age were hedging their bets. You know, you’re a Pakistani, but you see if you can get a visa or a passport to some other country to which you have a connection and maybe you’re not abandoning the country now, but you’re preparing yourself for that necessity. Are you?

Ms. TASEER: No. I feel a very strong sense of duty. I was educated abroad, and I certainly had the opportunity to have a nice comfortable life here and – or, you know, in Europe and get a job, and I don’t have to deal with the problems in Pakistan. I can live a happy life outside of there and just, you know, go back to visit and that’s it. But I think…

INSKEEP: But you were nodding your head when I was talking about people hedging their bets. It’s happening, isn’t it?

Ms. TASEER: It’s definitely happening. There’s a huge brain drain in Pakistan. And it’s sad because our doctors, our lawyers, our teachers, our engineers, these people are all leaving the country to make better lives elsewhere. You know, they have one life. Why would they want to live in Pakistan? But, you know, I think that if you do that, you’re allowing these people to take over. So I think that ask Pakistanis it’s our duty to come back and to fight for Pakistan.

INSKEEP: So you’re not going anywhere?

Ms. TASEER: I’m not going anywhere. I’m very much in Pakistan, yes.
INSKEEP: Shehrbano Taseer, thanks very much.
Ms. TASEER: Thank you.

Here she is repeating this message that is SO important that it bears repeating again from an article in ColumnPK, whose tagline is “Pakistan’s largest current affairs portal”.

“She said that if it was not for the current government or the previous government appeasing terrorists, then these incidents would not have taken place.

Taseer said the rallies that took place after her father’s death made her see the ugly face of extremism in the country however the people who held those demonstrations were not a majority. “They are certainly loud, well armed and well funded but they are not a majority,” she said.

The late governor’s daughter said that she felt the media was also responsible for Salmaan Taseer’s assassination because it acted irresponsibly. She said the media gave undue space to “hot-headed right wingers, screaming bloody murder,” instead of starting a debate on the blasphemy laws.

“In a country that calls itself a democracy, the frontiers of expression have shrunk,” said Taseer commenting on the murders of the Punjab governor and the minister for minority affairs.”

I will tell you what this is reminding me of…America in chaos as it is happening now. Let’s examine the similarities that made me sit bolt upright when I heard this interview the other morning on NPR.

• 40,000 clerics protesting do not represent 18 million in population
• …”I realize that terrible things are happening in this country and that there are extremists and that they are the loudest voices in this country, but that the great mass of people are moderate and tolerant”…
• Question: “they could have a voice and if only they could have greater power. Is that true?”
• Answer: “they do have a voice, and that’s called voting.”
• “These extremist parties or these religious parties, they lack legitimacy in Pakistan because they’d never managed to get more than 10 percent of the popular vote, but they have a disproportionate amount of street power.”
• She said the media gave undue space to “hot-headed right wingers, screaming bloody murder,” instead of starting a debate on the blasphemy laws
• Taseer said the rallies that took place after her father’s death made her see the ugly face of extremism in the country however the people who held those demonstrations were not a majority. “They are certainly loud, well armed and well funded but they are not a majority,” she said.

I hope I am making my point and that you are understanding why I was jolted by the similarities. This is a Movement that we all need to take very seriously. I use the following one line statement to point out the distinction between Christians and Dominionists who I do not legitimately recognize as Christians.

All Christians are NOT Dominionists ~ but ~ All Dominionists CLAIM Christianity

I can do the same for the majority of Muslims in this world by saying that, “All Muslims are not Islamic Fundamentalists ~ but ~ All Islamic Fundamentalists Claim the Muslim faith”….

I am posting some of the best articles and posts written across the internet over the past couple of decades by scholars, journalists and researchers who do a stellar job of putting this all in perspective for those who are seeking answers to the questions above.

We must go beyond Wikipedia to get an accurate picture. Even though the contributors have expanded the definition over the months to incorporate the broad-base way in which I began using this term nearly 3 years ago – it is subject to a tug-and-pull by those who argue the “correctness” in defining Dominionism.

I have intentionally used it as an umbrella term for a radical Christian sect whose goal is to take “dominion” over all things secular and then spin this Nation into a Christian Nationalist country run by a theocratic government. Putting it VERY simply…

“Defined in its simplest form, Christian Dominionism is a political approach to Christian faith based on a literal interpretation of Genesis Chapter 1 verses 26 – 28 of the Christian Bible. Believers perceive themselves as the “chosen” or the “elect”, commanded by God to “subdue” the earth and “have dominion” over all living creatures.

The goal of Christian Dominionism in the United States is to abolish Separation of Church and State, establishing it as a distinctively Christian Nation based upon Old Testament Mosaic Law.

Dominionism is an umbrella term that harbors many divergent franchise groups claiming a foundation in Christianity.

You must be “born again” ~ accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour ~ and profess your personal relationship with Christ.” ~ Leah L Burton

Dominion = take over = ANY type of Christian who believes that their theology trumps anyone else’s and work to impose their brand of twisted Christianity on the rest of the world – period.

Simple? Yes. But it is understandable. This is a minority of those who call themselves Christian. To put it succinctly…

All Christians are NOT Dominionists ~ But ~ All Dominionists CLAIM Christianity

Here is one of the very BEST expanded definitions of Dominionism I have seen anywhere, by renowned Dominionist expert researcher/author and blogger at www.discernementministries.com as well as www.herescope.com. With her permission I am posting the captures of her Newsletter. If you find this difficult to read in this format you can always click on any one of the panels below to view her pdf that will allow you to enlarge the article.

Many, many thanks to Sarah Leslie for letting me post this entire article here for all of you to read. As I say, she is a renowned authority on Dominionism and her work has contributed to  those like myself getting involved in this fight against a Scripture-twisted co-opting of the Christian faith to use as a vehicle to take control over our lives and erode our freedoms falsely using the name of Jesus Christ.

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The following is an article posted at Newsvine.com in May 2009 by my fellow researcher, Alex Bird who writes as “dogemporer”:

Over the past few days, I’ve written articles for Wayang Party on the international involvement of Joel’s Army groups in the steeplejack of AWARE 1 and the actual agenda of the American-based “Christian Nationalist” group Focus on the Family 2. From the responses received here, it’s obvious that steeplejacking and the growth of “Christian Nationalism”–especially the Joel’s Army variety–is of such a national concern that even the Home Affairs Minister has issued a statement warning of the threat to the secular state 3.

In this particular article, I wish to present essentially a layman’s guide to the internal mythology of “Joel’s Army”–and how it tends to radically differ from mainstream Christianity or even evangelical Christianity.

A “Joel’s Army” mythological primer

Firstly, just to note–in this particular sense, I’m using the term “myth” in the way sociologists use it, not in the term that it’s used in common parlance. Basically, in social sciences, “mythology” and “myths” are used to refer to stories people tell to teach a certain cultural and spiritual path–there’s no value judgement made on this. (I note this, as an aside, because people in modern living faith systems sometimes get offended when sociologists refer to their religious or spiritual paths as “mythology” or “myths”.)

Anyways, much like other faith systems (including mainstream Christianity), “Joel’s Army” groups have their own faith system that is often at radical odds with mainstream Christianity.

One area where the Joel’s Army groups diverge from mainstream Christianity is with the common Christian story of the fall of man from grace–where Eve and Adam were tempted to eat the fruit despite God’s warning. Joel’s Army groups tend to teach that at this moment Satan was given dominion over the world 4–this becomes very important later, because it can be argued the whole general theme of Joel’s Army theology is dominion–literally a Biblical mandate to take over the world.

The Wagner-linked Joel’s Army groups, as well as some of the older Assemblies-linked “Joel’s Army” groups, go even further and promote concepts not noted in the Bible at all. Specifically, they rely on a very odd claim by William F. Branham 5–an early “Latter Rain” preacher (“Latter Rain” was a sort of proto-”Joel’s Army” movement popular in the 30s and 40s)–that claims that Eve made love to the Serpent and that Cain and his descendants were, literally, sons of the Devil.

Branham’s concept of interspecies and interplanar adultery–what he termed the “Serpent Seed” theology–ended up going in two different directions. One branch, promoted by racists (Branham was a known member of the Ku Klux Klan) became the racist theology known in the US as Christian Identity; the other branch–which held that people who opposed the “Latter Rain” and its agenda were the “sons of the Devil”–became what we know now as Joel’s Army or Elijah’s Army. (Interestingly, Branham himself may have well coined the “Elijah’s Army” branding–he promoted himself as a reincarination of the prophet Elijah. 6)

This isn’t the only area at variance with traditional Christian eschatology. In traditional Christian belief, Jesus’ death and resurrection ultimately defeated the devil. “Joel’s Army” churches have a decidedly neutered interpretation of this–usually they preach that Jesus was tortured in hell or wrestled the devil in hell for three days (the so-called “Harrowing of Hell”), and his death and resurrection only merely bought the keys for man to take back dominion–and it is “Joel’s Army”, acting as “regents for Christ”, who must reclaim the world and society for God. (Yes, you’re reading this right; essentially these groups promote Christ as being too weak to free humanity. Christians may be free to be utterly mortified at this.)

In “Joel’s Army” theology, the world is at perpetual war, with the “Army of God” at one end, the literal sons of the devil at the other, and most of humanity and humanity’s diverse societies seen as literal battlefield “territory” to be “named and claimed”. This is, in part, why there’s such a heavy emphasis on steeplejacking and taking over institutions (including other churches) from within–in their viewpoint (as I’ll note in the next few paragraphs), the people within aren’t really “Saved” and thus are seen as legitimate territory to “name and claim”. 7

In addition, the “Joel’s Army” groups tend to be neopentecostal (often labeled as “charismatic” in denominations that aren’t traditionally part of the pentecostal movement)–and these tend to have some rather unique claims regarding salvation, especially those close to traditionally neopentecostal denominations.

Most mainstream Christian churches either believe one is saved at baptism (the Baptists and a number of other “adult baptism” Protestant groups) or upon confession and formal dedication to the church including first Communion (Catholics, Anglicans, and most of the Christian denominations that practice infant baptism). Most Christian churches also tend to believe that once one has been saved, one retains that salvation short of really messing up (things like mortal sins like murder, etc. or outright conversion to another religion).

“Joel’s Army” groups, and neopente groups in general, are a little different. In these groups, you are not seen as truly saved unless one has had an additional “baptism in fire” or “baptism in the Holy Spirit”–and in these groups, the invariable sign of this is some form of supernatural manifestation. In pentecostal churches, this has traditionally been “speaking in tongues” (usually without someone translating what is being spoken, and usually noted as being a “heavenly language”); in the “charismatic” groups in “non-denominational” churches and steeplejacked churches, this tends to be in regards to other “divine gifts” (usually someone being a prophet or an “apostle”)–you hear a lot about something called the “fivefold ministry” 8, which is a term used for a specific division of “divine categories” of preachers and pastors in these groups.

Even in the mainstream churches that do accept “speaking in tongues” and divine gifts of the Spirit, the practice is a lot different. Typically “speaking in tongues” requires the tongue to be in an earthly language and translated to be accepted (for example, this is how it works in evangelical Methodist churches in the US); other divine gifts also have similar “testing of the fruits of the Spirit”. There is little or none of this testing in churches infected with Joel’s Army theology; in fact, people who attempt to do so are often accused of “denying the river” or of being possessed by the Devil and trying to “rob God’s blessing” 9.

In general, there is a huge emphasis (compared to mainstream Christian churches) of “signs and wonders”–up to and including claims that the “outbreaks of miracles” are proof that these groups are the only ones truly saved, and that only they have the “key” to thwarting the Devil and unlocking all the blessings that are rightfully theirs (as direct descendants of God via Adam). In Singapore itself, this imagery has even included references to the “red packets” traditionally given out at Lunar New Year’s 10.

Conversely, it’s also taught that it is very easy to lose salvation, to “backslide”, to even lose one’s blessing if it is not aggressively “named and claimed”. This leads to things like 40-day “fasting and prayer marathons” (where they don’t eat for 40 days in fasting that is more severe than Puasa/Ramadhan fasting) where people pray for wealth or healing, the “prophetic conferences”–and massive calls for censorship of anything that could be opposed to their theology, because the mere act of being exposed to such things can lead to “demonic oppression”–essentially remaining not-rich and in strife–or even frank possession by the devil. (This, incidentially, may be why AWARE itself was targeted–not only is LGBT tolerance considered controlled by demons, but feminism in and of itself is promoted as being controlled by “Jezebel spirits”.) The term for this is “deliverance ministry”, and in practice tends to lead to people being isolated from all info sources other than that led by the church 11.

It’s not only what you do that may mess things up as well. Even “saved” people can be “demonically oppressed” due to the actions of their ancestors up to seven generations back, according to their theology–there’s even a term for it called “generational curses”. (Those of you who have respect for the ancestors are free to be rightfully horrified.) This has led to literal purges of pre-Christian cultural references en masse in some countries (sub-Saharan Africa in particular as well as in Guatemala 12).

This has led to another thing at wide variance to mainstream Christianity–the practice of Joel’s Army exorcisms 13. Most Christian churches do not conduct the rite of exorcism, or tend to have only specific people trained in the rite who have also had psychological training to be able to differentiate mental illness from potential “spiritual illness”; Catholic priests trained in the Rite of Exorcism are essentially to a one licensed psychologists in their countries. “Joel’s Army” groups conduct it all the time, and for such perceived things as being a feminist (and thus being possessed by “Jezebel spirits”) or a child being “willful” or someone being depressed; this has led to suicides and worse in the US and elsewhere 14.

The demon-haunted world of Joel’s Army also directly leads to their “mandate from God” to steeplejack everything.

In Joel’s Army theology (unlike mainstream Christianity, which typically teaches–even in its evangelical variants–that the kingdom of God is not one of this world) it’s taught that businesses and countries and entire cultures, just like people, can gain and lose God’s blessing depending on how strictly they follow the “battle plan”–and that just like people, businesses and countries and cultures can be literally possessed by Satan en masse. (In the States, it’s popularly promoted by Joel’s Army groups that Moslems as a whole are possessed; this, despite large populations of moderate Moslems in Singapore and Malaysia.)

In order to secure not only their own “blessing” but “blessings for their nation”, Joel’s Army groups feel they must take over all institutions, essentially “exorcise” them, and “name and claim” them for God–converting everything to a Joel’s Army owned-and-operated tool for theocracy that, taken to its ultimate extent, forces non-NAR people–including Christians not part of steeplejacked churches–to submit or die. (And yes, they have stated rather blatantly internally this is the intent.) There are even specific seminars on this subject–the “Transformation” conferences (of which a branch is held in Singapore sponsored by LOVE Singapore) promote a particular branding of this strategy called the “Seven Mountains Strategy” 15 that goes into rather graphic detail on how not only governments but NGOs, schools, entertainment industries, the military, and all pillars of society must be taken over as “strongholds from the enemy”.

Other uniquely “Joel’s Army” theologies

The evidence of “Joel’s Army” and “Christian Identity” groups being “brothers” shows up in other ways as well that don’t show up in any other group claiming to be Christian.

“Joel’s Army” groups have been documented promoting the “Phinehas Priesthood” (named after a famous Israeli priest who impaled a man and his Midianite lover in the temple, led a bloody revolution, and went on to almost cause fully a fourth of the tribes in Israel to be slaughtered over a misunderstanding over building a second temple) as an example of the levels of dedication needed to take over the world 16; there’s a Christian Identity group in the US that has used the same name as a call for extermination of interracial couples (and has occasionally committed pro-racist domestic terrorism here in the US) 17.

In addition, the endtime theology of these groups is so variant that it deserves a special mention.

Most mainstream Christian groups tend to fall in one of three categories regarding their concept of the end of the world: postmillenial (meaning that Jesus reigns for 1000 years and then the end of the world comes), premillenial (meaning that Jesus “raptures up” the Faithful, seven years of literal hell on earth breaks out in what is called the Tribulation, and then evil is defeated and Jesus reigns for 1000 years) or amillenial (in which the millenial reign is seen as rather irrelevant and the important thing is “doing what Jesus would do”). Typically most Protestant groups trend towards postmillenial or amillenial thought, with evangelical groups trending towards either being postmillenial or premillenial.

The denominations that spawned “Joel’s Army” (the Assemblies of God and Foursquare) started out as premillenial–and some of the unique quirks in their versions of premillenial theology come from a particular reference bible called the Scofield Reference Bible 18. Premillenial theology, more often termed premillenial dispensationalism, is actually pretty young as a theology (dating back to John Darby in the 1820s and with what would become the Brethren), and Scofield’s version even younger than that (1907 at its earliest). Much of Scofield’s version did become the basis for the theology promoted in “Assemblies linked” groups like Campus Crusade and FGBMFI, and later on Youth With A Mission.

The Wagner line started out as postmillenial–with a unique twist, based on a version of Latter Rain theology called “Manifest Sons of God”, that claimed that in essence the church was the “corporate Christ” and that the millenial reign could not begin until everything was “named and claimed”.19

There’s been quite a lot of cross-fertilisation, and now the dominant theology can’t really be said to be premillenial or postmillenial–more of “quasi-premillenial” theology that goes something like this 20:

a) Satan has dominion over most of the world, so “strongholds” and in particular spiritually powerful areas known as “gates” have to be secured, purged of Satanic influence, and converted to “Godly strongholds” to secure blessings for those peoples in the area. (Of note: Singapore has been mentioned as a “gate” in Wagner’s “Joel’s Army” groups 21.)

b) Areas “named and claimed” will be sites of great miracles and “outpourings” which will cause people to convert en masse, adding foot soldiers to “Elijah’s Army”. It’s taught that until a critical mass of people are converted (“every nation”, and/or 144,000 Jewish people, and/or 1/3rd of the human population total–there’s a huge emphasis on “second billion” (as in “second billion Christians”) in some Joel’s Army circles) Jesus cannot return–hence there’s the whole “regents and holding army for Christ” thing going on.

c) Rapture happens, two people convert post-Rapture and are martyred in Jerusalem (where every Jewish person in the world has been herded by the Russians–this is one of the Scofield weirdnesses that was originally a reference to Tsarist progroms) and this causes a massive revival about three and a half years into the
Tribulation

d) At the end of the Tribulation, all the Raptured along with General Jesus descend from Heaven and join the convertees, who all proceed to slaughter the rest of humanity, consign them to Hell, and are granted a “new heaven and new earth” as reward.

Amazingly enough, this very scenario has been laid out for public view in a book series. Tim LaHaye, who has not only written several books on this particular endtime scenario but has co-published (along with Jerry Jenkins) what amounts to Joel’s Army fanfiction (the “Left Behind” series). It’s a wildly popular series among the Joel’s Army set in the US, and a writer called “Slacktivist” has been conducting a read-through including notes on the rather bizarre theology promoted therein (at least from a mainstream Christian viewpoint) 22.

Scofield’s contributions bear special note. Among other things, Scofield is directly responsible for claims that Russia and Iran will go to the Final War with the US and Israel; this was used to frighteningly good effect by early Joel’s Army groups who promoted themselves as “anti-Communist” (and now are being promoted as “anti-Islamist” as well, though being arguably as dangerous). This has led to some very interesting conspiracy theory, including claims that the United Nations is run by the Russians or is otherwise secretly a Soviet plot. In addition, Scofield’s view of how the world will end can literally be described as a sort of “Hopscotch with the Bible”–hopping to one verse, then another, then another, often in separate testaments much less books or chapters, and typically taking verses wildly out of context 23. (This has often led to even evangelical Christians wondering just where they’re getting this stuff.)

In addition, Joel’s Army groups also have a heavy emphasis on “divine revelation” completely outside of the Bible altogether–they put as much stock in utterances of “prophets” and “apostles” (as long as their utterances fall under the general “party line” of the Joel’s Army group in question) as the Bible itself, and if the “prophecy” is justified at all it’s often in terms of other “prophecies” or a Bible verse taken out of context. (There’s an amazing amount of examples of this “in action” over at the main Joel’s Army site online, “Elijah’s List” 24.)

All in all, Joel’s Army groups can legitimately be said to be about as divorced from mainstream Christianity–or even mainstream, non-NAR evangelical Christianity–as, say, the Unification Church or other “Bible-based” groups. (Many Biblical scholars at the least state they should be essentially treated as a third denominational grouping separate from Catholicism/Orthodoxy and Protestantism; some have more recently argued that these groups should be considered a religion wholly separate from historical Christianity 25.)

You will find a complete listing of all of her footnotes to this article by going to Newsvine where this article was first published.

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There are many, many knowledgeable researchers, writers, teachers, ex-Dominionist theologians and more who have written about the dangers of this extremism and it is impossible to list them all here – but I will provide links to some of the most notable articles that are well wroth taking the time to read.

• The Despoiling of America by Katherine Yurica – Yurica Report.com
• Dominionism & the Rise of Christian Imperialism by Sarah Leslie
• A Collection of Articles by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp
• A Collection of Contributors at Theocracy Watch.org

I will add more over time…but this should sufficiently overwhelm any first time reader of Christian Dominionism in American politics. Stay with me! We need everyone to become aware of this extremism. It is our own homegrown version of what the Muslim world has dealt with for years when they are all lumped in with the Islamic extremists.

Mainline Christians are no more Dominionists than all Muslims are Muslim extremists.

I hope you will all take the time to read every word of this posting even though it is quite long. This is so important for all of us to understand, Christians and non-Christians alike. Conservatives and liberals. ALL Americans! And please…once you have read this, pass it on to as many people as you possibly can! We can stop this theocratic runaway train from becoming a train wreck that changes our country and the world forever!

Those who have followed my posts over the years have become familiar with this, but it bears repeating for the benefit of those who are new to this bible-based cult. Yet, even those of us now familiar with this cult’s existence must be updated with examples from their own lips to our ears. I thank the ongoing work of Kyle over at Right Wing Watch who has a collection of damning videos where these Dominionists state, without shame, their absolute intent to gain political leadership and force biblical law across the land.

This first one is Mike Huckabee, former preacher, governor and presidential candidate – now wealthy FOX entertainer. Although let me warn that even though the pundits have turned their backs on him after he announced that God apparently asked him to step down for the 2012 run for president – I fully expect him to buddy up as a vice presidential candidate with the likes of Tim Pawlenty.

Either way, like Palin, Huckabee is not to be ignored because of his Dominionist ties. Whether either of them held public office again, it is crucial that we understand them in the context of this cult and its influence on American politics.

Okay…how many of you think that this isn’t spelling out what I have been warning about? Can it be ANY clearer? They truly believe that God “gave” them this country and by God – they are going to force the rest of us to our knees! Am I exaggerating? Listen to the leaders in the Movement that 99% of us have never even heard of before, let alone know exist!

This lovely panel includes the Board members of The Oak Initiative and consist of the President of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins; Apostle/Prophet Rick Joyner and two of their mutual admiration society, Frank Turek who has made millions teaching sales techniques from corporations to Dominionist church leaders; and finally, Mr. Tuff guy there is the disgraced former general Jerry Boykin whose hatred for Muslims even made George Bush, Jr. take two steps back from him…and that takes some doing.

Their use of the term “300″ is not by accident. None of what they do is by accident or coincidence. It is thought out, funded and sold with a venom that would rival the most successful private enterprises. My trusted researcher, Alex has this to share about their discussion of “300″:

It would appear that–of all things–Rick Joyner is ripping off a
certain movie based on a Frank Miller comic (“300″) that in turn is
based on an old movie called “The 300 Spartans”, which in turn is a
VERY loose fictionalisation of the Battle of Thermopylae

For those unfamiliar with the Battle of Thermopylae–in essence, it
involved 300 Spartans (legendarily) doing a final stand against what
amounted to the entire Persian army of king Xerxes (around 200,000
men–some legendary sources place the number as high as two
million)–and fighting them off long enough for the Spartans to rally
the rest of the city-states of ancient Greece whilst the “300
warriors” died in combat whilst buying time.

Of note, what isn’t mentioned here:

a) Let’s just say the Spartans–particularly as depicted in the movie
and comic, much less in real life–did a number of things that even
NARasites would frown on, like abandoning babies with birth defects or
who were otherwise “imperfect” to die (this is actually depicted in
the movie “300″, with a hideously deformed hunchback eventually
defecting to the side of the Persians as a double agent).

b) Of particular note re Rick Joyner’s documented history of borrowing
concepts from the racist right (including the adoption of the term
“Phineas Priesthood” from the Christian Identity tome “Vigilantes of
Christendom” to denote pro-NAR domestic terrorism)–a specific term
from the Battle of Thermopylae (“Molon labe”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molon_labe) has had quite a bit of
popularity in “Christian patriot” militias and militia-aligned “second
amendment” circles for some years, even predating the release of the
film “300″ (“Molon labe”, literally translated, means “Come and get
them”, and more loosely/idiomatically means something akin to “You can
have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands,
motherfucker”–it was a direct response to the Persian army asking the
Spartan home guard to drop their weapons).  At least one
pro-right-wing site even acknowedges the use of “Molon labe” as a
specific dogwhistle in this regard dating to the 1990s
(http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0602/0602sigs.htm).

c) This is actually part of a fairly long history of “pop culture
appropriation” of “warrior images”, starting with Rambo (in the 80s)
and more recently with two Mel Gibson movies (“The Patriot” and
especially “Braveheart”), with NARasites being cast in the roles of
the minutemen (in “The Patriot”) and of William Wallace’s army (in
“Braveheart”).

By the way some of you may remember Boykin from a recent speaking engagement where he shared the stage at a Colorado Springs, Colorado Christian school stage with Ms. Palin/Queen Esther herself. Talk about “pallin” around with extremists! This guy is beyond dangerous, and is a prime example of why we at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation are so concerned about the proselytizing and conversion forced on our Armed Forces personnel by the likes of Boykin.

Playing war with real weapons in the name of religion puts us all at risk.

I will share more clips from the Right Wing Watch collection as well as many other videos that we gather as these people build their Movement and aggressively work to dominate America.

One of the reasons that this is such a boon for the work I do is not only do they have a broad and enormous readership – but they are well respected by moderate thinkers on both sides of the aisle. They have also listened to me over the years warn about this rise of political Dominionists with Sarah Palin as the Poster Gal, and rather than dismissing me (as so many have done) they have not only listened but taken it seriously.

Look no further than today’s article by PoliticusUSA author Sarah Jones on Michelle Bachmann to see how this is finally reaching the level of concern that will hopefully spawn a national debate and awareness. Here is a clip from that article, but please click the link to read in full…

Michelle Bachmann isn’t Stupid, she’s dangerous!

by Sarah Jones

“What madness is this? While Bachmann’s extremist ideology has been tempered in the House by being one of many, it’s absolutely unconscionable to think of our country being led by someone who holds these beliefs.

And yet any critics are called secularists, when in fact, Bachmann’s religion views even other Christian religions as the anti-Christ. As someone who believes firmly in the separation of church and state (and I need no better examples of the necessity of this belief than Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Scott Walker, and George W Bush), I think the time has come to challenge the language used about critics of the far right.

It’s not just atheists who have trouble with extremism; people of many faiths find religious extremism dangerous, especially when coupled with the power of government. For this reason, we need to shift the discussion about the importance of secular government back into the mainstream.

We shouldn’t allow this to be framed as a liberal issue, when it is in fact a critical issue facing our democracy that impacts all Americans. So long as we allow our ideology to separate self-labeled rationalists from all religious faith, we give power to the extremists lurking in the background with their moderate robes and wide smiles.

To this end, we need to take back the far right’s linguistic capture of the word “secular”. Secular does not necessarily imply lack of faith, but it does suggest that our government is not concerned with religion. To be for secular government should not imply that one is an “enemy of God”, and yet that is the narrative of the far right, which when lobbed at us tempts us to bite into the self-defeating fruit of a seeming extremism reaction that then allows secularism to be viewed as an extreme position held by atheists only, instead of the mainstream belief that it is.

Americans don’t wish to be governed by a religious extremist of any brand. The question is, will they see the wolf in sheep’s clothing before it’s too late? If 2010 is any indication of the general public’s awareness of this violent threat to democracy, I’m not comforted.

Jones is SPOT ON! We need an awakening, and then we need people to speak up and demand that these self-branded “social conservatives” start answering truthful questions instead of hiding under the skirts of the former secular Republican Party that was overrun and infested with this sect of Dominionism in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

These aren’t Christians – they are a bible-based cult. Period. We have seen other smaller versions of this such as Jim Jones People Temple followers. Few know that the Peoples Temple was a granddaughter church to the Assemblies of God and the New Apostolic Reformation Movement that Jim Jones was raised in;

-that Sarah Palin was raised in and still attends

- that Tim Pawlenty is a congregational member of

- and Michelle Bachmann was recruited into at a very young age

- and Scott Walker

- and Mike Huckabee

- and Jim Miller (an obscure GOP presidential hopeful)

- and Rick Perry

- and a HOST of other names who are currently IN elected positions across America and in Congress and many more who are aiming to get there.

As Sarah Jones points out in her article, Bachmann is not stupid – she IS dangerous – as are all of these radical theocrats. We need to stop dismissing them with a roll of the eyes and wave of the hand and make damn sure that we do not have a repeat of the 2010 voter turnout or we WILL be staring down the barrel of a Dominionist government.

We must take back the definitions that the radical religious right has co-opted over the past few decades and start calling this what it is. The media doesn’t have the backbone to do it, so we must take it upon ourselves to redirect this conversation for them. They will then follow…they always do.

First – STOP calling it “social conservatism”. Call it what it IS! Religious politics – and even more specifically Christian Dominionist politics. That is a very narrow group and they are a minority. Why are we letting them redefine our language and turn this into a Movement that will exclude all who are not like them – including mainline Christians as well as all other faith and non-faith citizens in the United States?

I will beat this horse repeatedly in my posts because words DO have power, and we need to re-claim their meanings. I will let you all know when to look for my Sunday posts at politicususa.com.

This is what I am talking about when I try to make it perfectly clear that there is a distinction between mainline Christians and those who write this kind of vitriol. These people belong to a sect of Christianity. Most Chiristians are mainline Christians and are as abhorred by this cult as any one else.

All Christians are NOT Dominionists ~ BUT ~ All Dominionists CLAIM Christianity

Not only is it difficult for non-Christians to make this distinction, mainline Christians mistakenly rise to defend Dominionists having no idea that these extremists are not adherents to the teachings of Christ accepted by mainline Christianity.

In fact, Dominionists have scripture-twisted selected portions of the Old and New Testaments beyond recognition and what is the result? People like the author of this email are the resultant products of this bible-based cult.

They are full of hate, intolerance, exceptionalism and an arrogant sanctimonious sense of being selectively chosen by God. What happens when people are convinced that their views are the ONLY way is that they look down on those who are not members of their “club”. This all sets a VERY dangerous stage where a minority of extremists, who have already gotten a foothold and control the Republican Party, can influence legislation and impose their version of religion on the rest of us.

If you think I am over-exaggerating this, you need to look closer at the crop of potential candidates (including Sarah Palin) who are announcing their interest in being the GOP nominee. Among those who are decidedly in the Dominionist camp are Pawlenty, Bachmann, Newt, Perry, Palin, Huckabee (who will be back as a VP candidate most likely for T-Paw), Jim Miller and the list goes on. Some you have heard of and many most have not.

The author of this email is one of the millions of Sheeples in America that blindly follow and support these Dominionist candidates. So while the “experts” and the pundits make a lot of noise about who is or is not electable, remember that these minions are indoctrinated. They really and truly believe in their version of Christian supremacy.

AND….THEY VOTE!

Today’s thoughts revolve around countering the Dominionist conservative perspective that justifies outrageous defense spending at the expense of proposing catastrophic social services cuts that protect our most vulnerable in America.

LET’S TALK ABOUT WAR

By Howard Bess

At every level of governmental organization, our nation is talking about budgets.

Budgets are revealing of the values of our nation.  Budgets are just as much moral statements as the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount.  The language that is used may be different, but the essence is plain for the reader, who reads with thoughtful consideration.

Dwight Eisenhower was the first candidate for U.S. President for whom I voted.  I believed he was not just a war hero but also a man of high moral integrity.  While history has shown him to have his flaws, I remember him for two things.  He proposed and initiated the building of the interstate highway system.  I have driven the interstate highways from California to Maine and from Florida to Washington.  As I have driven this magnificent system, I recalled Eisenhower and his grand dream.

The second thing for which I remember Eisenhower is his comments about war weaponry.  Many people remember his comment about the dangers of the American military/industrial complex.  America built the highway but did not listen at all to his warning about the partnership between American industry and American military.

His more important statement about military weaponry is longer, harder to remember, but equally ignored.  “Every gun that is made, every warship that is launched, every rocket fired, in the final sense, is a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.”

I had respect for General Eisenhower as a war leader in World War II, but that was an exercise in destruction.  Dead Americans on the beaches of Normandy were his nightmare.  The building of the interstate highway system was an exercise in building in which Eisenhower must have found great satisfaction.  The great sadness of his life must be an America that has not listened to his warnings about the cost of weapons that robs every vulnerable American citizen.

The budgets that continue to feed an American military monstrosity are moral documents that fail every test of decency and moral sensitivity.

In the discussions about our federal budget, few people are willing to attack the military portion of the budget.  With attitudes that would please Ayn Rand, legislators are willing to cut appropriations for health care, education, the arts and public television, while leaving intact military expenditures.

Americans have become obsessed with the nation’s military strength.  Just as the alcoholic is addicted to alcohol and the drug addict is addicted to his drug of choice, Americans are addicted to military spending.  Here in Alaska we cannot imagine life without Elmendorf Air Force Base, Fort Richardson, and Eielson Air Force Base.  They are billed as being essential for American defense.  In truth, second only to oil, military spending is one of the economic driving forces of the Alaskan economy.  Alaskans love military spending because it benefits the Alaska economy.

Slated for elimination from the federal budget is funding for Alaska’s Denali Commission.  What does the Denali Commission do?  It builds water and waste systems for the native villages that dot our vast state.  It builds health clinics and provides basic dental care for the benefit of the residents of those same villages.

And the words of Eisenhower ring in my ears.

As we examine military spending, the great folly is not military spending, it is war itself.  War is about killing human beings.  The winner of wars is the nation that is willing to kill people beyond the tolerance of its foe.  As obscene as military spending by America might be, it is nothing compared to the loss of life that accompanies every war.

Our current war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of over 6,000 Americans.  An additional 40,000 have been wounded.  Those who will suffer psychological problems for the remainder of their lives are added to the human toll.  The casualties of allies and enemies far exceed the losses suffered by Americans.  While President Obama has promised withdrawal of American troops, the killing and the injuries to life will continue.

When we talk of the human costs of war, the conversation takes a different turn.  If our legislative bodies voted on the military budget in terms of life, rather than dollars, would the vote be altered?  Voting 300 billion dollars for the Afghanistan War is acceptable.  Would voting another 3,000 dead Americans and another 10,000 wounded Americans clarify the vote?

Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners Magazine, has recently pointed out that the issue of the human cost of war does not move the power brokers of America.  Since the draft was set aside in favor of an all volunteer military, middle and upper class Americans have almost disappeared from the enlisted ranks of the U.S. military.  Americans who are doing the dying are from the ranks of America’s minorities and poor.

As we examine war and its costs, its unacceptability becomes even more dramatic.  The true costs of war are being hidden in an unassailable federal budget.  We are deluded if we think budgets are not moral statements.

THE END

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska.

 

For the love of ‘god’, can’t we just enjoy this time of year that marks the secular realities of a new year on the horizon and the joy of having longer days as well as a varietal of religious celebrations? Why is it that as humans we tend to want everyone to see, like and believe things the exact same way that we do or they are wrong and must be coerced into our way of looking at things? Because, here is the reality – no matter how successful some Movements are at neutralizing “critical thinking” there is a whole world full of people who love freedom of thought – and the freedom to choose.

Which brings me to Pastor Bess’ newsletter below. He cites only 4 different theological takes on Christianity and how they differ in their beliefs and perspectives. He hits on the basics of these without going into the inherent dangers of some of these foundations like women’s rights, marriage, and foreign relations. BUT – his summation is what I am getting at. He says that, “It is the fool who thinks he/she is the one who has gotten it right”. Precisely!

THEOLOGY MAY BE GOOD OR BAD BUT NEVER CORRECT

By Howard Bess

Like it or not, we are all theologians. Every person who thinks about values to which they subscribe and honor is theologizing. Some theologies are good; some theologies are bad; but no one’s theology is entirely correct.

The theology of many people is well-thought out; but more than likely the masses of our theologies are not well-thought out. I was privileged to study under world class theologians. We studied Lutheran theology; we studied the theology of John Calvin, and, since I studied in a Methodist seminary, we studied the theology of John Wesley. We studied all three in the context of historic and classic Roman Catholic theology.

I enjoyed the passionate arguing of theology that took place every day on our campus. I came to seminary as a Calvinist. I left a Wesleyan. I have been tweaking my theological understanding ever since.

Allow me to review some theology 101. Roman Catholics theologians, of course, dominated the theological world from the fourth century C.E., until the Protestant Reformation in the 16^th century C.E.  There were certainly some significant non-Catholic theologians during the era of Roman Catholic dominance, but Catholic thinking was not seriously challenged. And for good reason. The Catholic Church produced a steady stream of brilliant thinkers.

Augustine of Hippo (late 4^th century and early 5^th century) and Thomas Aquinas (13^th century) are without question two giants of Christian history. Their influence on Western thought is a given. For example, Augustine gave Christian churches their just war theories and Aquinas was the greatest of all natural theologians. Their trail of influence crosses the path of every Christian. With longevity and great theologians, the Roman Catholic Church became and is the keeper of Christian church tradition. Even to this day, though Catholic theologians may make great use of the Bible materials and are certainly schooled in logic, when their theological formulations are made, the traditions of their Church Fathers trump all other perspectives. Tradition reigns supreme in Roman Catholic theology.

When Martin Luther in 16^th century Germany challenged the Catholic Church and their traditions, he did so by insisting that the Bible, not the Roman Pope nor the long held traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, were to have the final word in the theology of Christianity. The final word and authority for all matters of faith and practice was to be found in the Bible. Focusing on Paul’s letter to the Romans, Luther insisted that salvation was by faith and by faith alone. Luther’s insistence on the Bible as ultimate authority dominated his thinking. He translated the entire Bible into the language of the people. He wrote voluminous commentary on the Bible and its meaning. He wrote hymns for the people that enabled them to sing their faith.

Luther, a Roman Catholic priest, married and insisted that celibacy was contrary both to the Bible and nature. In America, Luther’s influence on Christianity reaches far, far beyond the churches that carry his name. In reality, every church in America that claims the Bible as authority in all matters of faith and practice owe a great debt to Martin Luther.

John Calvin was a French contemporary of Martin Luther. He came to believe that God had called him to reform the Christian Church. Calvin had been trained as a lawyer. He left the Catholic Church. He made his way to Geneva, Switzerland and found fertile soil for his thinking. Like Luther, he insisted that the Bible was central to the understanding of Christian Faith.  However, he brought a different perspective. Drawing from his legal background, he brought reason and order to the theological task. He prized order and brought the Old Testament teachings about covenants to his writings. He wrote and rewrote his Institutes. For Luther, Bible authority trumped Catholic tradition. For Calvin, reason was to be used to check undo Bible authority and to put Catholic tradition in perspective.

Calvin dominated Geneva, and his teachings came to dominate the Netherlands and Scotland. Presbyterians and all Reformed churches continue to look to Calvin for their thinking and Calvinism is a dominant theology for many Baptists.

John Wesley was an Episcopal priest, who was bent on becoming a truly holy man. In 1738 he experienced a personal conversion while worshiping at Aldersgate Church. He became a traveling Evangelist, but still considered himself an Anglican. He brought yet another perspective to theologizing. He appreciated the traditions of the Roman Church, prized the Bible of Luther’s thinking, and honored the reason and logic of Calvin. However, his personal experience with God overshadowed the influence of Roman, Lutheran, and Reformed churches. His confession was simple. “I cannot believe that which is contrary to my experience.”

Wesley’s message found many converts in the British Isles, but they caught fire on the American frontier. Methodism is his heritage, and all American Pentecostals trace their roots to John Wesley.

There you have it. Four perspectives. Great theologies, all well intended. Has anyone gotten it entirely correct? I doubt it. Is anyone entirely wrong? I don’t think so. Are there good theologies? Yes, I believe so. Are their bad theologies? I am certain.

It is the fool who thinks he/she is the one who has gotten it right.

THE END

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska.

Which version?

There are as many versions of Christianity as there are “inerrant” versions of the bible and not a single soul who walked with Jesus contributed one pen stroke to them. This steadfast need by many world religions to force their theology on others never ends and all it does is cause division, oppression and conflict. Which brings me to very disturbing and ongoing situation on the United States Air Force Academy grounds. I will link you to articles that describe the despicable endorsement of a bible-based cult of Christian Dominionists organized as “Cadets for Christ” and overseen by Don and Anna Warwick. (Don’t bother going to their site, they removed it. All these cult leaders enjoy operating under the dark of night, as it were).

The Warrick’s have managed to perform their rituals all under the protective embrace of like-minded officers who are in charge of providing professional guidance to their cadets who like themselves have taken an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution – not a variant of the Christian Bible. The story of what is happening to the Baas family as a result of the continuation of the Cadets for Christ cult activity on and around the USAFA grounds is nothing short of anti-Christian!

Since when did the message change from ‘by your kind acts and good deeds they will follow’ – to – ‘if they don’t sign up, then brainwash them and tell them that their family and friends no longer exist’? This is just one of the heinous messages fed to these unwitting converts. It has shattered the Baas family as they are still now alienated from a relationship with their daughter who is referred to in the cult as “Sheep Lauren”.

There are three men that work for all of us at that Academy whose job it is to defend our constitution, yet by their very actions (and inaction) are sending a clear signal that their loyalties truly lie with their religious beliefs and the rest of us be damned. (Unless we follow their version of Christianity). They recently made it clear that they are supportive of the Warrick’s with that whole ‘action/inaction’ positioning. Ed Brayton from Science Blogs wrote:

[...] Last week, Jean Baas was contacted by the Air Force Academy’s head chaplain, Col. Robert Bruno, who informed her that the Academy had received thirty-five letters in support of Cadets for Christ, but only nine opposing the ministry. The nine letters opposing the ministry were not solicited, but presumably just sent by people who had read about what Cadets for Christ had done to the Baas family. Most of the thirty-five in support of the ministry, on the other hand, were solicited by Don Warrick in an October 31 email, which began: “The Wing Chaplain at the Air Force Academy and our Board thought it would be helpful if we had on file at the Chaplain’s office letters from present and past cadets, parents, board members, and other friends of Cadets for Christ.”

Apparently, approximately 30 letters is evidence that this is really not a problem at all.

So I have a favor to ask. Would as many of you as possible please write to these three un-wisemen and share your thoughts about the sanctioning of a religious cult to not only exist but flourish on a military base where the message is that they are budding “Soldiers for Christ” in a Holy War. These 3 men are:

USAFA head chaplain Col. Robert Bruno at robert.bruno@usafa.edu,

chaplain Lt. Col. Dan Brantingham at james.brantingham@usafa.edu,

and, just for good measure, the big man on campus…

USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould at mike.gould@usafa.edu

This is an opportunity for us to stand up against religious extremism in our military and prevent other parents and loved ones from ever enduring the pure hell that these Christian Dominionists have subjected the Baas family and so many others to. Let’s make sure that other families do not have to spend their holiday efforts writing and pleading for the soul of their daughter like this letter to Gould from the Baas family.

Please take a few moments to write to these military decision-makers. We are all doing just that. Mikey Weinstein received a response from Brantingham – asking him to remove his email and to never write directly to him again. They clearly don’t want to hear from us…which means we must make special effort to voice our concerns.

Have a great holiday! I will be disappearing for a couple more weeks as the publisher’s deadline looms near. I will be posting with more frequency once this book is out to the publisher. I really appreciate your patience.

We have an estimated 230,000,000 registered voters in these United States of America. Two Hundred and Thirty MILLION eligible voters! And how many turned out, you might ask? A whopping 41 to 42% – approximately 90,000,000. So while we read all about how impressive this turnout is I ask myself…why are we proud of this? That less than HALF of Americans cannot take the time to vote? They can’t be bothered – or they just don’t care – or they don’t “get involved” in politics – or they couldn’t find a friggin’ stamp!

Am I angry about this? You bet I am! This is NO joke! What is it going to take to get people to understand that the deficiencies and corruption in politics is of our own making? We not only lost the House of Representatives…we turned over numerous democrat seats to the GOP in state legislatures and governor’s mansions. This has enormous consequence for all of us over the next decade until the next census is taken. Why? In a word, “gerrymandering”, a practice that should not be allowed. The majority party can use this tool to skew and redraw voting districts to make it virtually impossible for the other party’s candidate to succeed in future elections. Simply put – it’s cheating. And both sides play this game.

To do nothing is to not only SUPPORT this dysfunction – but it perpetuates it.

1 in 10 voters in America are Tea Party Conservatives. That is a minority. But almost half of the voters that turned out on November 2nd were those who consider themselves Tea Party members versus Republicans… even though 100% percent of the Tea Party voters voted for – yep, you guessed it! REPUBLICANS! So 10% of Americans who voted influenced nearly half the entire vote. This is not a comment by the people through the power of the vote. Voters did not speak for the whole because most of us didn’t even bother to show up.

So enough about the numbers. Here is where we are. We are now at the starting gate of the 2012 presidential elections and that will pass us in the blink of an eye and we had better be prepared for the conservative carnival that is about to come our way. And believe me, I am no big fan of either Party! But we can no longer afford the luxury of partisan politics. This is about freedoms. Freedom vs. Theocracy. I am going to repeat this so many times in my posts that you may grow tired of hearing it…but it is a crucial distinction.

Look, I didn’t “brand” the Republican Party with extremism. The Republican Party was “steeplejacked” in the 1980s and 1990s and lost many of its’ members to the “independent” category of registered voters. The Libertarian Party began blending in the same batter as the now morphed Christian centered Republicans who have allowed themselves to now be even further defined by the emergence of a powerful Corporate sponsored group touting themselves as “grass roots” – the Tea Party. Grass roots, indeed!

What a mess!

“God wants us to be. Lest anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the state, our Founding Fathers, they were believers.” ~ Sarah Palin”]

[...

This is not alarmist, nor tinfoil hat, nor hyperbolic. This is real. And if I hear one more person tell me that Palin is not relevant…

Our sorry excuse for news media is making Palin, making the Tea Party and taking angry, uninformed, fearful and paranoid Americans and giving them the mike. We no longer have news…we have infotainment. So watch how this plays out over the next 2 years. NO one is irrelevant right now, let’s get that on the table, take it seriously and not smugly dismiss a single one of them. Even as horrifying as the thought is of a Palin-type as president don’t be distracted by her face, screeching voice and “mama grizzly” act. Like I said – this is gonna be a carnival. Look at who are warming up in the other tents – equally ass frightening. Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Mike Pence, Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindahl, John Thune, Jim DeMint, Mitt Romney…and last but not least Sarah Palin.

There are, of course, more who aspire to get the secret “nucular” codes but these are leading the pack. And everyone of the candidates mentioned above believe that there is no such thing as separation of church & state.

While Americans watch the battle taking place in conservative politics as to who will or won’t endorse who…and who is or is not a republican…don’t for a minute think that translates into a “gimme” for the democrats. The clear and irresponsible complacency that resulted in a dismal turnout by registered democrats will not just lose us the House of Representatives next time – but the White House as well. And since we know from clear reported numbers as to who actually DOES vote in this country – again I say…don’t even tell me that Palin is irrelevant.

It is only fitting on this day before the midterm election here in America that we are reminded of the fights and suffering that happened in our very recent pasts giving women the power to VOTE.

This was barely 100 years ago. There are people still living that were alive when women first got the right to vote. My point? We must honor this privilege…not treat it as a nuisance, or dismiss it as useless. This story of Alice Paul and the extraordinary women who fought by her side is a chilling reminder of how important our votes are – each of us – men and women. It is also a chilling reminder of how fear turns to violence. These women were locked up and brutally beaten, tortured and detained for demanding equal rights as citizens of the United States if America.

Alice Paul 1912

“In 1912, Alice Paul and two friends, Lucy Burns and Crystal Eastman, headed to Washington, D.C. to organize for suffrage. With little funding but in true Pankhurst style, Paul and Burns organized a publicity event to gain maximum national attention; an elaborate and massive parade by women to march up Pennsylvania Avenue and coincide with Woodrow Wilson’s presidential inauguration. The parade began on March 3, 1913, with the beautiful lawyer, activist, and socialite Inez Milholland, leading the procession, dressed in Greek robes and astride a white horse. The scene turned ugly, however, when scores of male onlookers attacked the suffragists, first with insults and obscenities, and then with physical violence, while the police stood by and watched. The following day, Alice’s group of suffragists made headlines across the nation and suffrage became a popular topic of discussion among politicians and the general public alike.”

[...] The arrested suffragists were sent to Occoquan Workhouse, a prison in Virginia. Paul and her compatriots followed the English suffragette model and demanded to be treated as political prisoners and staged hunger strikes. Their demands were met with brutality as suffragists, including frail, older women, were beaten, pushed and thrown into cold,  unsanitary, and rat-infested cells.  Arrests continued and conditions at the prison deteriorated.  For staging hunger strikes, Paul and several other suffragists were forcibly fed in a tortuous method.  Prison officials removed Paul to a sanitarium in hopes of getting her declared insane.  When news of the prison conditions and hunger strikes became known, the press, some politicians, and the public began demanding the women’s release; sympathy for the prisoners brought many to support the cause of women’s suffrage.”

[...] Alice Paul died on July 9, 1977, in Moorestown, New Jersey, just a few miles from her birthplace and family home of Paulsdale. Her life demonstrates that one person can make a difference. Her legacy lives on, bearing witness to the significance of her life and inspiring others who struggle for social justice.~ Alice Paul Institute

History does repeat itself. That is as certain as death and taxes. But are we going to learn from this? In less than 100 years we have already forgotten the atrocities that occurred right here on our own soil and out of self-preservation, we choose to believe that we are protected from that ever happening again. Think again. These women were brutalized for speaking up for equality – equality for women. Their bravery, mental and physical torture brought about the right to VOTE for women August 26th, 1920. Alice Paul went on to fight for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment that continues to fall short of the votes of 38 states in America needed to ratify it and pass it as an Amendment guaranteeing EQUAL RIGHTS TO WOMEN.

Really? Still?

We are still being told to shut our mouths. We are still threatened and condescended to. There are token republican women allowed to rise up, but if you will notice, they are as misogynistic as the men who find it appropriate to man-handle women and then tell the woman she must do the apologizing. Just as misogynistic as the republicans leaders who refuse to step forward and denounce the violence that is cropping up – one story at a time – across America.

There are no “Mama Grizzlies” in this pack. They give lip service to women’s rights and then trounce all over them. Phyillis Schlafly is one of the “Mama Grizzly Club” and that women made a career out of fighting against the ERA while making a wealthy living on the road telling women to stay home and take care of their children, all the while abandoning hers. Gosh…who does that remind me of? Someone who touts herself as just one of the common folk – while requiring private jet service, 5 digit/5 star hotel accommodations, will suck the LIFE out of a campaign in her demand for outrageous speaking fees…oh yeah, 2012 republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

We must all remember -men and women – that unless we exercise our right to vote and pay attention to what is going on around us, all these horrifically hard fought battle by Americans only 2 generations ago will be for dishonored. That the rhetoric out there that is lighting a match to hate and intolerance in this country and can only be stopped by our perseverance to stay involved. VOTE!

When you have a possible next Speaker of the House (Boehner-(R) Ohio) feeling comfortable and justified in endorsing a U.S. Congressional candidate who sports a Nazi uniform (Iott-(R) Ohio) for his entertainment and defends the Nazis as just protecting their country…something is amiss here! Boehener bailed on Iott – NOT because he felt it was wrong to endorse this frightening excuse for a candidate OF ANY PARTY in America…but because the press got a hold of it and brought light to it. He had already donated $7,000 to Iott’s campaign through his own PAC. Boehner’s people simply slough this off as just Boehner campaigning for republicans across Ohio. Like we don’t expect our elected officials of any Party to use discretion?

When Mitch McConnell (R), Senate MINORITY Leader, comes out and unabashedly states that his primary reason for existing as a U.S. Senator for the next 2 years until the 2012 presidential elections is to…Asked what that “job” was, McConnell explained that “the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Yep…that is his primary agenda – over the needs of the American people to address jobs, the deficit, outsourcing of jobs, war and out-of-control military spending and too many other serious issues to name here. In the words of Edmund Burke….

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men [& women] to do nothing.”

I am writing this as a follow up to yesterday’s post, “Rand Paul’s Goons Know ~ “Curbing is NOT an Accident!” This post garnered a lot of responses and numerous questions. I started to answer them in the comments section and to direct emails but thought it best that I answer them here to reach more people.

First let me say, I have never been one to have suffered an event – physically – that has ever made me feel like the victim of something prior to this attack. Through the years I have spoken with and advocated for victims of domestic violence and rape. I watched them as they felt shame as though the attack on them was something they provoked or “asked” for.

When this occurred I must admit that I had a minuscule sense of what that is like for these people. I felt almost embarrassed as though it was my fault for not paying more attention, or for not fighting back, or for not getting a better description of who my 2 attackers were. Instead I tried to compensate and remained hidden. I remember at one point my neighbors’ daughter stopped by because she was in town and wanted to say hello…and I hid. Why?

(no longer available)

Here are some more details about this attack. It happened in Seattle, about 4 blocks from the hotel I was staying in. I was walking with a group of friends at night back to my hotel after being at a gathering where I had discussed the outcome of the 2008 presidential election and a self-published book I had written as a rant titled, “TheoPalinism: The Face of Failed Extremism” which is now out of circulation. (As a product of a rant, it screamed for the help of a professional editor so I no longer have it available. I may post it in the future as an eBook).

I wrote it in 3 weeks in response to the announcement of Sarah Palin as the VP nominee to the McCain ticket. I knew in that moment I had 2 choices. 1) turn off all media, do not read a single periodical and stay away from others who follow politics and current events, and continue with the writing of my book that was fun and humorous titled, “Splintering the Plywood Ceiling: A Woman Carpenter’s View from the Inside” (a far more satisfying book to write than my current project); or – 2) clear EVERYTHING off my desk and address just how far we had finally slid off the rails in America with the courtship of Church & State unfolding before us. Clearly, I chose the latter.

Over the years I have had my share of hate and threats from bullies. When I worked as a lobbyist in Alaska on family issues such as child support, custody, welfare reform, domestic violence, and child abandonment/abuse/neglect. Some of these, as you might well imagine, were lightening rods for emotional argument. And back then (the 80s & 90s) as today, it drew the angry and hateful ones out of the bushes. I was threatened, they even called to tell me what my daughter was wearing on the pre-school playground, my home was broken into and files and computer stolen (they did take time to spread my lingerie around as an added bonus) all without a sense of consequence even though during that time my father was the head of the Alaska State Troopers. It is worthy to note that the ground zero for these folks even then was – surprise! – the Mat-Su Valley and Wasilla Area. (And I know there are sane people that live there as well, I have long time friends there…but you know who your neighbors are better than the rest of us).

This is how brazen and ignorant they are. And I use ignorant in the literal sense of the word, which means “to ignore”. These people have been convinced that they are entitled to take care of things, that they are the guardians of liberty and freedom – by force if met with disagreement. Therefore they do not have to be held to the same standards as the rest of us misguided citizens, those of us who actually understand that we live in a civil society that is guided under the rule of law.

Here we are a quarter of a century later and I am back in the fray with these same like-minded extremists. But I had no choice other than to jump in the deep end, once again. When Palin was announced I knew instantly that it was to draw the religious vote, especially in light of the fact that McCain had alienated them in 2000 when he called the Religious Right the “agents of intolerance”. He didn’t choose her…he was handed her, and his body language showed every fiber of resentment toward her throughout the campaign. BUT…it worked…she drew them out alright! And as a bonus…she drew a carnival of extremists from every dark corner of our country, and then embarked on infusing them with an IV drip of never-ending fear and paranoia kool-aid.

I saw it coming like a storm in the distance. I was born in Alaska when it was still a territory and I am only 52. My father was active in the republican party back when it had some respect and integrity. (He no longer is). I watched the missionaries pour into Alaska from the early 60s on…some who were loving Mainline Christians with goodness in their hearts…and then those who were there for their own gains and agendas. I watched the tide of Christian Dominionism sweep over our state, gathering followers whose own faith was fragile enough to buy what they were selling. One of those was my mother when we lived out in Dillingham in 1962.

Why am I sharing all of this? It is because it speaks directly to why I HAD to write “TheoPalinism”. I – in an instant! saw the future repercussions of what was about to take place. That we now had a George Bush, Jr. candidate on steroids. Amplified inexperience, amplified low intellect, amplified myopic world view…and the most frightening amplified religious zealotry ready to take us into Armageddon – a Christian Dominionist!

So I wrote my rant in 3 weeks, paid for my own advertising through radio coast to coast and accepted every opportunity to promote my message. I made up business cards with the book cover and added, “Consider This is OUR Wake Up Call!” to it. On the night of my attack, emotions were indisputably at a high in this country. It was post-2008 election and I was unabashedly enjoying that I had titled my book subtitle, “The Face of Failed Extremism” sporting Palin’s mug on the cover and that I had released it on October 22nd, 2008 – certain that though things have now built to a frightening crescendo in this country, surely we were not that daft. And I was correct…this time.

In the process of sharing my message with others it brought me to a stop in Seattle where I discussed why I view Palin as not just a screeching voice of extremist ignorance, but that we need to take her seriously. It was a frustrating message in its infancy post-2008 and it continues to be a challenge to get progressives to take this seriously today. Even today I am met with scoffing and dismissals by those on the left, from friends to recognizable progressives such as Ron Reagan, Jr. only a year ago. He wouldn’t even pause long enough to discuss the book as he walked by a table I had paid for to set up and promote TheoPalinism during a hosted progressive radio personality forum. He gave me a dismissive gesture and declared, “I’m not even going to discuss Palin…she’s irrelevant!” I was jeered and hated by her supporters and followers and am baraged by hate mail and death threats each day.

This type of violence demonstrates how fanatical Palin’s fans were from the beginning, and that fanaticism has spread like a virus without an antidote. Clearly, someone(s) did not like me criticizing their Queen (Esther) and they made sure to let me know…in the dark of night and outnumbered. This is the character of these folks who are venomously angry over what they are being fed as attempts to “expunge Christianity from America”, to erode their rights, to take away their guns, to restrict their access to health care, to the fact that we have a black president, to whatever FOX and the Christian Dominionist/Corporatist salespeople convince them of.

To conclude this, I have been asked by several people what the outcome was, who these bullies were and so forth. I will tell you that I did call the Seattle Police Department and reported it. Hearing nothing, I called the Detective Division to ask to talk to someone there in light of some leads that I had about a violent Dominionist organization that is openly embraced by a local mega-church and known to engage in early 1900s’ style Eastern European-type attacks. Again…I heard nothing.

As I pointed out earlier, I was raised in law enforcement and I cannot think of one officer that I have known over the years that would not have responded to this. It does not speak well of the organization and dedication to serving the community as peace officers in Seattle does it? My father would have gotten up in the middle of the night in the driving snow to respond! I witnessed that.

Day After

Current

So the extent of my injuries were the fractured left cheek bone and dental work. In fact, I attended a “meet & greet” in Seattle at a local radio station KPTK a couple months afterwards where I spoke with progressive radio host Thom Hartmann and I gave a quick story to him about what happened because I noticed that he kept looking at my face, black eye and the broken tooth in my mouth…prompting I am certain many questions. Thank god for cosmetic dentists! I include the picture because it is worth a thousand words. It is painful for me to look at, and I am sure it is that way for many of you. But it seems that this point is made with more emphasis when we see the fruits of their acts. I am contrasting it with an image of today.

So this is where all this leaves me today. Still in constant pain in my face. My daughter made a comment recently that I am the one who looks serious. It is uncomfortable to smile…I will give her that…and I love to laugh. Even in the throws of all this insanity I always find humor in each day. You have to or it can ruin your outlook. I mean this seriously…I have spoken with researchers who have burnt out and allowed the dark side of all this to impact their health.

Seeing the video of what happened to Lauren Valle in Kentucky by the Rand Paul campaign worker brought back my experience and prompts me to ask…how many other incidences like mine – that were NOT caught on camera have occurred in these past 2 years? This is why I speak up about it now.

Where does this leave ALL of us? When law enforcement doesn’t respond. When the media doesn’t value this as a significant news story, and when they do pick it up (as in the Valle attack) her integrity as the victim is questioned and as happens far too often in rape cases…the victim is victimized again. We must demand to be heard. We must create our own awareness about this violence that is condoned by complicity and encouraged irresponsibly by public figures who “lead” this wave of fear and paranoia. “Don’t retreat – reload” are call to action words! Words have consequence! And when these words are used to incite violence they are a weapon. It is time we hold people responsible.

Thank you for all your warm comments. And to the several that have actually had the audacity to write me and call me a “tool of propaganda” for the liberal left…that this is just another attack on conservatives? Go away! Really…please…Just go away!

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Before I forget…tomorrow night we have a great line up for our God Discussion Radio Show over at www.goddiscussion.com where every other Thursday we discuss perspectives on religion – all perspectives. This coming show will be about extremism. We also have Bruce Wilson joining us to inform us about the Dominionist candidate for Lt. Governor in Hawaii and his associations. Chris Rodda will be sharing with us some news about a very important argument she is making against Glenn Beck being allowed to broadcast on the airwaves of the Armed Forces Network while dissing our president at the same time. And Deborah will interview me about this emerging story on violence.

Please join us! If you cannot, the show is podcast and available to listen. Details:

Time: Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m. PACIFIC (see time conversions below)

God Discussion on Blog Talk Radio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/god-discussion

How to Hear the Show Live and How to Join the Discussion.

When you visit the show page (linked immediately below this paragraph), nothing will happen until we go live.  As soon as the show starts, you’ll see an ON AIR button.  The show will play out of your computer speakers.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/god-discussion/2010/10/29/voting-for-the-wall

Call-In Number: (914) 338-0452

This was very upsetting for me to watch. I burst out an audible response when I saw it for the first time today and tears welled up in my eyes. Can you actually believe that this bully has the nerve to demand an apology from the victim of his abuse and then attempt to elicit sympathy for his bad back?? These people are truly unbelievable!

“As you can see from the footage…one or two people twisted my arms behind my back and took me down. I got into the [inaudible] position to protect myself and it was about two or three seconds after that that another person stomped on my head. I lay there for 20 seconds or so and then my partner Alex came and got me up and that’s the point at which there’s that media clip that is out of me speaking.” ~ Lauren Valle, victim of violence @ the hands (& feet) of Rand Paul supporters

According to Valle, several men surrounded her before Paul arrived at the event in Lexington last night.

“They surrounded me,” she said. “There were about five of them, they started motioning to each other, and they got behind me.” Valle says her partner, whom she identified as Alex, overheard the men threaten, “we’re here to do crowd control and we might have to take someone out.”

On the call, she provided certain details that were not caught on camera.

“Rand Paul’s car arrived, and as soon as it did, a couple of them stepped right in front of me and so I stepped off the curb to get around them, back out to the front, and at that point they started grabbing for me and I ran all the way around the car with them in pursuit, and the point at which they see the footage is after I’ve run all the way around the car and am in front of the car and that is when they take me down,” Valle said.

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Leah Burton - The next day

Leah Burton - 2 weeks later

So…why is this so personally disturbing to me? I too was made victim of “curbing”. Yep…that is what they call it. It is alarmingly in the lexicon of skinhead circles and practiced with such brutality that it makes these thugs look like amateurs…but this is the origin of the method. It has been featured in skinhead films like History X to television series such as “The Sopranos” where Mafia violence was romanticized. Here’s the thing…no matter HOW it is presented…violence is ugly.

These people who stomped on Ms. Valle are the same ones who run around decrying freedom and liberty. “Don’t Tread on ME!” they proclaim angrily! We want our freedom to pack our weapons and speak our minds…they holler! But…these rights and freedoms are clearly reserved only for those who hold their views, ascribe to their ideologies and adhere to their rules…otherwise you are the enemy.

I found out what it felt like to be the victim of the less skinhead version of curbing…right after I left a gathering where I had shared openly how dangerous Sarah Palin is because of her extreme religious world view. I had passed out my card to several who asked which had “TheoPalinism: The Face of Failed Extremism” on it along with “This is our WAKE UP CALL!” Unlike Ms. Valle, there were no cameras to capture what the cowards did to me…the evidence of my attack was clearly in the damage to my face, and the looks of shock and horror by my companions who were ahead of me on the crowded dark sidewalk. No, these people are cowards who travel in packs, just like dogs. They are tough and mighty then. They lack the ability to discuss their issues, they are angry and the only way they feel that they can calm their anger is to do harm to the perceived enemy.

What happened in Alaska less than 2 weeks ago to reporter Tony Hopfinger when he was cuffed by militia/security goons hired by Tea Party candidate Joe Miller who thinks he is so important that he even requires protection…is not unrelated to this mentality of use of force to push back against anyone who disagrees with them. This is a frightening trend and I don’t seeing it stopping. I can’t even count the number of death threats I have received in the 2 years that I have actively worked to preserve the separation of church & state and expose the bible-based cult of Christian Dominionists. And I cannot tell you how many of these self-identified “Christian Patriots” (their label – not mine) after threatening to do me harm quote from the Bible to me and sign off that they are praying for me.

It is reported that Lauren Valle suffered a concussion, fractures and bruising and that she may file a legal action against the campaign. I encourage her and Tony Hopfinger to do just that. This has to rise to greater visibility. They only distance themselves from the thuggery when they are caught. It is disengenuine and it will continue. Crooks and Liars.com has a very good article that speaks to all that I am saying here…please visit it.

After an MRI and examination it was determined that I was very lucky. I suffer to this day (nearly 2 years later) from constant pain in my left cheekbone…but, as my doctor said, the force from the impact and then the compression from the boot on my head could easily have resulted in pressure popping my eye out and a shattering of my cheekbone requiring a metal plate and surgery. So yes, I am lucky…in a sick and twisted way.

Unfortunately, I was attacked by cowards who ran after blurting out a profane remark that I will not repeat here, but it was their way of letting me know that this was no accident.