Truth or Consequences
The last post I put up here and on Bring It On regarding Dominionism generated a number of comments. Specifically, the figure of 35 million Dominionists was challenged. What I wanted to convey was that 35 million people are Dominion influenced, and most of them are quite fervent about their beliefs. People who are swayed to that degree are functioning as Dominionists, whether they accept the title or not.Let's take a little quiz, shall we?
True or False:
1) A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Especially when espoused by scientists and universities.
2) People are poor because they have not been "born again".
3) Wealth is a sign that one is following the will of God.
4) Mental illness is a sign that the mind has been devoured by Satan.
5) Drug and alcohol addictions can only be cured by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.
6) Believing in "the truth" means knowing anyone who believes differently is wrong and condemned to hell for eternity.
7) True believers have divine authority to subvert, by any means, the government in order to create a theocracy based on "the truth".
Did you answer true to any of these? Did you answer true to most, or all of them? Congratulations, and welcome to the 35 Million Club!
My, THAT was fun. Anybody up for another?
True of False:
The Bible says:
1) But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge;
2) Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
3) For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out.
4) Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate
5) Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
6) For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
7) He said, "Watch out that you don't get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying,' I am he,' and,'The time is at hand.' Therefore don't follow them.
Did you answer true to any of these? Did you answer true to all of them? Congratulations, and welcome to the Rest of the Christian World. (Here's your answer key: 2 Peter 1:5, Proverbs 17:5, Timothy 6:7, Proverbs 31:8, Psalms 82:3, Isaiah 9:16, Luke 21:8)
You see, the chief problem here is that God is no longer in the discussion. When you claim to KNOW all, and all others are damned, you tend to get a little sloppy about the details. There's a power mindset that is inherently against the integrity of faith. God isn't about taking over countries or changing political landscapes. God is not going to pat you on the head for subverting a nation and creating more poor, needy and afflicted people while cementing power for yourself. God is all about honesty, humility, and self sacrifice.
God is not about HERE!
Sure, this is the arena where you get an opportunity for self discovery. But face it, people, God has zero interest in the American political landscape. He will, however, examine your motives fairly closely. Did you help the poor like he asked? Did you speak up for the afflicted? Did you give your wealth or hoard it? If you gave, did you pick and choose who would receive it, or did you care for all the needy, even the distasteful ones. (We are all sinners to God. He doesn't cherry pick the "good" sinners.) Did you use your words wisely, or did you use them to control, coerce or manipulate less intelligent people? Do you teach that the very people God entrusted into our care are, for whatever reason, not our responsibility?
The religious right of twenty-first century America is anti-American, inherently violent, and a cruel, tyrannical, punitive, force of death and destruction. In its mindset, adult human lives do not matter because the human condition itself is inherently evil resulting in eternal and everlasting punishment in hell unless its members are redeemed in a prescribed manner by the fundamentalist God/man/savior, Jesus Christ. Moreover, with an embarrassingly adolescent flamboyance, Dominionists shamelessly rape, pillage, and desecrate the earth because in the first place, their Bible has given them authority over all things human and in the second place, their “imminent” apocalyptic rapture, transporting them from the human “veil of tears” to live happily ever after in heaven, entitles them to do so. Meanwhile, we the unredeemed, the unbelievers, the poor, the feminists, the gay and lesbian, the disabled, the homeless, the mentally ill, the addicted, and those who are conscientiously following divergent spiritual paths of their choice, are suffering in the wake of Christian fundamentalism’s devastation of the economy, the earth, and the human race. But this is what we deserve for not becoming born-again devotees of their Jesus. And we deserve even worse—to burn in hell for all of eternity. Hence, we are expendable, inconsequential, and a force to be conquered, broken, imprisoned, or killed. -- Carolyn Baker
Strong words? Some might think so, but this woman grew up in a Christian fundamentalist family. Where I come from , that entitles her to speak. What she has to say is downright frightening.
Wanton power lust is not moral. 51% is not a mandate; neither are the current administration approval ratings.
Tell you what. Hit this link, and type in the word POOR in the search box. Uh huh. Now that, my friends, is a moral mandate.
posted by Jet @ 10:06 AM
8 Comments:
Nice post Jet and thanks for the visit. I was feeling a bit flamed by that "atrandom" character. Rereading his comment made me feel better as it was so full of holes that his ideas spilled all over his keyboard. It was nice to see your comment after my reply, reminded me to come on over to your location and see what was new.
I particularly liked your question 4 in the second quiz. Also, the suggestion to do a search on poor. My favorite - Job 20:10:
"His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth."
Now I suppose the W, Rove and Co (who claim to speak for God and have god on their side) can suggest that their 400 dollar tax break a while back was indeed giving back to the poor. Trouble is, when you can't cover your rent even dispite your working three jobs (and having the W joke about it), 400 bux, while it might be considered "seeking the favore of the poor," it isn't going to constitute "giving back," particularly since they were lining their own pockets in the meanwhile.
Well, actually, the poorest did not receive anything back, since they would have received the maximum refund during the year and not been eligible. If they have enough deductions, nothing comes out of their checks except medicare and ss. The various programs cut to fund the tax break affected the poor far more than any other class. Basically, what happened was that rest of us got a little cash, which we were expected to go and SPEND, and the poor lost resources they count on to scrape by. What a farce.
Great post, Jet. Great responses everybody. I love this subject (obviously). Joseph (OK Dem) and I blogged on this very subject at the Balance of Power blog against a couple of right wingers and a libertarian in our weekly point / counterpoint post. VERY interesting read.
God bless you for your post, although I would say this, the Klan loves to quote anti-semitic Jews who they think have special moral authority to condemn their co-religionists.
"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
This post made me go away for a bit and think about it. It echoes what I believe to be the case, and what I've observed in certain people. Oh, and the kids at Calvin College (a Christian liberal arts college) who vehemently protested G.W. speaking at their commencement ceremony (nice homework there, Rove)for the simple reason that God is not a Republican or Democrat and has no business being used for political purposes.... they have my undying respect.
As people become aware of this schism I'm hopeful several things will begin to happen. First, that the secrecy will be harder to maintain about Dominionism. Hundreds, then thousands of people searching for information will begin to shed light on this movement. Secondly, Christian Republicans will distance themselves from these extremists, both spiritually and publicly. Third, that the money chain will come to light. I hope there's a talented young journalist out there who can make their name on this one. They'd be doing this country a real service.
We are going to Saint you, well that is if the Christian up-right allow women saints still...
Awesome post, I am probably going to hell for all that I have done, but I want to wish the GOP and all the people that are going to heaven with them, a great eternity. Thanks for damning me to hell with my liberal ignorance. You are truly greater than I could ever become...
Sounds foolish doesn't it?
Right wingers read on:
This is probably going to piss you off but listen anyway. God does not give a crap about your little party. Whatever it is that you are trying accomplish is as small as a grain of sand compared to all the beaches in the world. God is a busy dude and does not have time to worry about your little issue. God does very important things, like making this little sphere spin around this big sphere at 670,000 miles per hour in such a manner as to create a reasonable place for you to park your H2's. Sure he cares about YOU, but thats about it. Theres a little thing people refer to as the devine plan. Where God has already thought all this through rewinded it played it back, approved it. Now you're here.
Live it and leave God out of it, he still loves me too...
You've given us much to think about, Jet. The scary list of Dominionist beliefs is very troubling and should make everyone take notice. We need to expose these people for who they truly are, and where they place their faith.
I beleive that God is not up there directing the excruciating minutiae of our daily lives. He gave us his Book of instructions, and it's our job to live within those guidelines as best we can. No one person has been given the right to judge and condemn to hell any other person.
Words of wisdom passed down from a friend's mother: "You have to try really hard to end up in Hell."
There but for the Grace of God...
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