Quick talking points on Dominionism

[crispini]

There has been a lot posted on this board about Sarah Palin's far right wing church membership, but it hasn't gotten out into the mainstream much yet. These articles are long and well researched, but I think we need just a Cliff's Notes version, suitable for a quick email forward or cut and paste anywhere. Folks, this woman's religious beliefs are lunacy. Let's get the word out.

If anyone would like to add some more points on Dominionism -- I'm sure there's a lot more out there, I have only scratched the surface -- please come up with a one-sentence, easy-to-remember talking point with a link. I'll update the original as we add things.

Thanks!

What Is Dominionism?

Much has been made of Sarah Palin's religious faith, but did you know that she is actually a member of a far right wing church with extreme views, known as Dominionism? (1)

Dominionists believe that America must come under "God's dominion," with a code of laws drawn from (their literalist interpretation of) the Bible, and that any laws, no matter how enshrined in the Constitution, must be abolished if they contradict "Scriptural law."

In other words, they're the Christian Taliban or Iranian mullahs...not as a rhetorical insult, but literally.

Some of their views include:
1. They are in favor of war in the Middle East because they think it will bring about Armageddon. (2)
2. All forms of birth control, including the pill, should be outlawed. (3)
3. If you're not a born-again Christian, you're an "illegal alien" in America. (4)

Sarah Palin's views are not mainstream by any means. Do you want this woman a heartbeat away from the red button?

FOOTNOTES

(1) Palin's church is an Assemblies of God Church closely connected with Pastor John Hagee of "Christians United for Israel" and the militant group Joels Army. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/163234/559/495/579213
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=964
(2) http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/4/21/114619/878
(3) http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/2/81737/65743
(4) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/28/81940/6308/874/377460

Updated to include good points from thread.

[Lars39]

1. K&R

[ColbertWatcher]

2. k+r n/t

[seabeyond]

3. i didnt want to get into this. got into it 2004, with the christian school kids were in

and the area that i live in. but it is a scary org and i do believe this woman is in this, and it alone should disqualify her. also i can see how aip and dominion and wrapped together

[ITsec]

4. #1 is very true...

Sorry for this taking more than just one sentence.

My sister in Washington state is heavily involved with this crap. I've had long heated conversations with her and her husband. I've been to their church a couple of times, and it scares the holy beegeesus out of me.

The way they see it, Jesus can't come back to establish his global dictatorship until Armageddon happens. They pray daily for Jesus to return, and establish his "kingdom", and actually look forward to and pray for WW3 to occur quickly.

They are a dangerous group, imho. I'm amazed they haven't been looked into as a terrorist organization. But since the Republican party is heavily seeded with Dominionists and Christian Reconstructionists, I doubt that would ever happen. You'll find the majority of them holding local and state offices... mayors, state congress, and governers. (sound familiar?) All waiting for marching orders from above.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm

http://www.theocracywatch.org/dominionism.htm

[kestrel91316]

12. They (Joel's Army) are on the list of hate groups ot the Southern

Poverty Law Center's website.

[regnaD kciN]

5. To be a bit briefer (and more exact)...

...Dominionists believe that America must come under "God's dominion," with a code of laws drawn from (their literalist interpretation of) the Bible, and that any laws, no matter how enshrined in the Constitution, must be abolished if they contradict "Scriptural law."

In other words, they're the Christian Taliban or Iranian mullahs...not as a rhetorical insult, but literally. :scared:

[crispini]

6. Thank you!

Best summary yet! Added to OP.

[On the Road]

7. "Dominionism" is a Lot More Specific

It is the belief that the country should be run by Biblical principles, especially those outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. There are different varieties, but all of them mean overturning the US system of democracy.

If Palin is a Dominionist, she doesn't believe in the Constitution. That has to be made very, very clear.

A lot of Christians, including fundamentalists and Pentecostals, do support the constitution and democratic principles. It takes a lot of thoughtfulness and hands-on experience in a diverse environment to be able to reconcile those worlds. Some of our founding fathers did that. But Palin's isolation from the US mainstream and her inexperience make it unlikely she has done anything like this.

[vaberella]

8. To me these are the people who killed men and women at the stake for witchcraft.

To imagine our country in the hands of the likes of them puts the greatest amount of fear in my soul and this is topped by the fact this women says these things, thinks these things, and strongly believes these things to be true and should be followed with the biggest (most sincere) looking smile.

I think that's where I find it that more disturbing. Our bodies are not our own, our thoughts are not our own they belong to this non-entity who lives down to their and then instigating that view with the biggest smile of doing the right thing on their face.

She disturbs me and I find her disgusting. I'm not into horror movies and she is truly the scaries kind.

[gblady]

9. thank you for this....

to me, this is the scariest thing about Palin.....
it is the point I am talking up most to my friends...
it represents her ideological framework...her basic philosophy

the scandals and lies are bad enough...
yet if this is the driving force behind her mindset
it's truly horrifying.

[Breeze54]

10. Instead on nitpicking topics.... McCain and Palin are EXTREME RIGHT WINGERS should cover it all!

Palin and McCain are extreme right wingers and although the Dems have made bad decisions too,
and leaned right on a lot of issues, we need to save the country from the extreme right wing

NOW... in November!

McCain is an extreme right winger on ALL issues!

Palin is an extreme right winger on ALL issues!

PERIOD!!

[windoe]

11. Dominionist groups should be declared terrorist groups

Along with Christian warriors who aim to dismantle the Constitution. How are these groups not domestic security threats?

[kestrel91316]

14. Ashcroft was Assemblies of God and in all likelihood

a Dominionist. When the foxes are in charge of the henhouse, not much "watching" of the defensive sort gets done.

John McCain and this nation are in grave danger if he gets elected. I am dead serious.

[cliffordu]

13. K&R

[crazylikafox]

15. excellent thread. thanks.