Dramatic distortion of the meaning of religious freedom
by Pat Perriello | Apr. 12, 2016
Religious freedom seems to be the new rallying cry for the political and religious right. A couple of disturbing articles -- in The Washington Post and on PoliticalResearch.org -- take a look at what is being called dominionism and which is at the core of the Ted Cruz campaign for president.
Among the ideas embraced in this understanding is the notion that the United States was founded as a Christian nation but has since fallen away from those ideals. Christianity must be restored, and that means like-minded Christians need to take control of, or dominate, the seven mountains of culture. Those mountains include government, religion, media, family, business, education, arts and entertainment. This dominant Christian force then needs to institute Old Testament biblical law and punishments.
The articles point out that Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, is a traveling evangelist who has promoted such theology. When the younger Cruz speaks of religious freedom on the campaign trail, this is what he is talking about.
We are also seeing signs of this movement at the state level. Religious freedom laws are being passed. A total of 19 states have some form of the law, and new laws are being passed relative to the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/dramatic-distortion-meaning-religious-freedom