Dominion Theology is growing in influence among American Christians. More and more of the Christian Right's agenda is founded upon the arguments and principles espoused by Christian Reconstructionism. Is it, however, mere alarmism to keep arguing that the Christian Right is becoming too fascist and too dominionist?

Revolution says:

For those who think this sounds too alarmist, consider anti-abortion activist Nellie Gray at the recent anti-abortion March for Life in Washington (which received a telephone message of support from Bush). She was quoted in the New York Times calling for Nuremberg-style trials of “feminist abortionists” -- doctors who provide abortions. And note that the actual Nuremberg trials, of former Nazi war criminals and mass murderers, resulted in executions.

You may be thinking, “Okay, so these guys are seriously lunatics, but there’s no way they could gain enough influence or power to actually carry this out.” But consider how many of its leaders or open proponents are well-connected to the Bush administration. Leaders who espouse Dominionist doctrines include former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and a likely candidate for governor, Roy Moore, who installed a 5,200-pound engraved granite monument of the Ten Commandments in the judicial building of the state capital. There is the “Left Behind” author Tim LaHaye, whose wife heads up the Christian Fascist group Concerned Women for America.

Pat Robertson, a powerful televangelist with a strong influence in the Republican Party, who is frequently asked to serve as a “religious commentator” by mainstream channels like CNN. D. James Kennedy, who hosts a yearly “Reclaiming America for Christ” conference that brings together nearly every major Christian fascist leader and many powerful Republican Party leaders (this year’s conference will feature Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee). Dominionist Jack Hayford gave the benediction at George W. Bush’s first presidential inauguration.

Just how likely is it that a fascist Christian theocracy could be established in America? Any such talk necessarily sounds alarmist and paranoid; the chances are probably pretty small, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of people who would sincerely like it to happen — and far too many who are at least sympathetic to such goals. Even if they cannot accomplish those goals, they can certainly cause a lot of trouble and problems in their quest.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to keep pointing out the extremist beliefs, to criticize the extremists for what they say, and to highlight the connections between extremists and more “mainstream” Christian conservatives. Don’t let them hide in obscurity; instead, keep the light of publicity shining brightly on them. The more this is done, the lower the chances of their success will be — and the less need for alarmism there will be.

 

Christian Right & Christian Nationalism:

• Religious Right News
• Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany, and Christian Nationalism
• Christian Anti-Semitism, Persecution of Jews
• Religious Intolerance & Bigotry
• Christianism & Christian Nationalism
• Christian Identity, White Supremacy, Christian Supremacy
• Confederate Southern Nationalism & Christianity
• Religion in America

 

Christian Nationalism & Dominion Theology:

• Dominionism & Dominion Theology
• Christian Reconstructionism
• Leading Christian Reconstructionists
• Reconstructionism & Christian Right: Common Goals, Beliefs

 

Christian Right Issues & Agenda:

• Religious Privilege
• Christian Privilege
• Christian Supremacy