Dominionism

Considering Christians' repeated attempts (and sometimes successes) at criminalizing sodomy/adultery, censoring indecent/obscene speech, trying to undo the sexual revolution, depriving those they consider sinful or immoral of civil rights, trying to enact discrimination against those of other faiths or lifestyles... The low blow of condemning Christianity for such things sort of pales in comparison.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.

Guys. Don't attack the person. If you've got a problem with habitual practices among the religious community, explain why and what you think the religious community should do to change. I'm as staunch an atheist as anybody, but as long as a religious group doesn't do or promote this kinda bullshit, I'm cool.

Joyflower, a simple defence of "that's not the kind of church I support and here's why" will do. If you feel that true and good Christians wouldn't support dominionism, don't feel threatened or act defensive by people's attacks on Dominionist Christianity.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.

As in... releasing Israelite slaves after six years of work? Or do you mean just what Jesus taught, 'cause thats more specific.

Laws are made to be broken. You're next, thermodynamics.

@joy: I'm not insulting you beliefs, what I am doing is discribing the bible in a logical ways "a book of tribal law, tribal origian stories, semi historical accouts, and political essays. Now on the bit of "god protectig people" I say it was all numbers (angle, trajectory, ect) and chance. But that's off topic. Now back to dominionism, is it really right to trust a group of people that say the bible is the perfect law when the bible condones slavery, killing of unruly children by stoning, killing of rape victims, selling of daughters, and I can go on for hours but I think you get where I'm going (those rules are immoral).

Untitled Power Rangers Story

Executives are different from people who own slaves but I mean a mix of Old and New Testament.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:09:41 PM by joyflower

the problem is, who's interpretation?

I assure you my interpretation of Jesus and Yours are probably not the same.

And for them to choose which parts to include in the mix they must interprate it. Why not just skip using the book(s)? Whether or not they're immoral or moral they'll pick the parts which suit their own purposes.

Laws are made to be broken. You're next, thermodynamics.

Indeed. In the end we're all using secular-based morality, more or less, it's just that we often don't talk about it in those terms. Communication is important.

Democracy is the process in which we determine the government that we deserve

I have to be honest: Dominionism scares the crap out of me. I'm a single woman, an outspoken liberal, and a Neopagan. I probably wouldn't last a week under a Dominionist regime.

Joyflower, I know you associate Christianity, even very conservative Christianity, with integrity, compassion, continence, and overall moral rectitude, but the Dominionists as a movement don't subscribe to the unto-the-least-of-these-thy-brethren, blessed-are-the-humble style of Christianity. They're more into the fire and brimstone, stone the queers, Burn the Witch!, women-must-submit-to-their-husbands style. Have you ever read The Handmaids Tale? That's not far off from what they have in mind. Although they might let you read, as long as it was approved literature.

edited 23rd Sep '11 11:41:22 AM by Karalora

The wives must sumbit to your husband is not the same thing as allowing husabands to abuse their wives.It says that husbands should love their wives.And it says when your married a spouse's body belongs to the other spouse.Scripture tells husbands also to be faithful to their wives and to act as protectors plus as leaders of the household.I think biblical scripture is telling men is that they should take resposiblity as a husband or/and father and act like you got moral sense and treat you wife like she is a queen.

Ok,I think some conservatives are Fire And Brimstone types but its rarer than they appear plus they tend to get on the news which makes a better story.Or you live in a more conservative area of the states.

Also the Burn the Witch! thing is a little out of date and its more disaprove of people who are into paganism.I think this Dominionism is going to become what those who support Shira Law is to Muslims.Though funny thing is that people always tell us not to be worried about Shira Law and stop brothering Muslims with it but have fun exploiting the issue of Dominionism with Christians playing it up for all its worth.Also some Christians would only want some influence because of what they see as the moral decay in politics.

edited 23rd Sep '11 11:55:14 AM by joyflower

^

Some people might tell you that there's nothing wrong with Sharia Law..

But to be frank I hate Dominionism just as much, meaning if either system took over this country, I'd start voting from the rooftops.

Explain this "Moral Decay" in politics. You act as if non-christians don't want honest politicians. Nobody likes a dishonest politician, frigging newsflash. You don't have to be a Christian to be honest, and not all Christians are honest.

edited 23rd Sep '11 12:12:35 PM by Barkey

Barkely, didn't you get the memo, being religious means you're immune to the moral decay that is secularisation

Dutch Lesbian

My overall point is that just because you think a nation run according to the Bible as you interpret it would be a swell place to live, doesn't mean:

1) That everyone would agree.

2) That all people who identify as Christians interpret the Bible the same way that you do.

3) That a nation run according to the Bible as the Dominionists interpret it would be a swell place to live for you or me.

I mean, these people flat-out deny the validity of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially the First Amendment. They would outlaw my religion and probably make it a capital offense.

Also this. When people say we need more honesty, integrity, etc. in politics, I am behind that 100%. When they say we need more "Christian values" in politics—even if to them, "Christian values" is synonymous with honesty, integrity, etc.—it makes me cringe. Because the implicit assumption is that non-Christians are dishonest by definition.

edited 23rd Sep '11 12:26:00 PM by Karalora

I find the idea of needing more Christians in politics even more bizarre given that non-Christians in US politics are the minority.

^

This. Some would seem to imply that somehow secular Americans are winning, which is wrong by some stretch.

I can see where they're coming from, though. I imagine that a Christian would more likely than not hold the Bible in higher esteem than the Constitution, particularly as a source of laws.

Then again, I imagine that an aspect of the dominionist agenda would be to make "unconstitutional" and "un-American" synonymous with "un-Christian".

edited 23rd Sep '11 12:53:11 PM by TheGloomer

Somehow the Tea Party, which has a number of fanatical christians in it, manage to revere both as if one was endorsed by the other.

Okay I admit a lot of Christian politicians aren't any better but I do think that there should at least be a moral standard for our politicians.

I think the more accurate terms I want more moral politicians and I know that being a Christian doesn't make you more moral.But that I won't prevent me from voting conservatively.

Are you proposing that they should be held to a higher standard than everyone else? They're only human.

I don't know, I guess I'm just kinda cynical about it.

edited 23rd Sep '11 12:55:26 PM by TheGloomer

But I wouldn't be happy that they were taking bribes or spent our money to hide that he had an affair behind his spouse's back or abused his spouse.We know they are human but Christian or not you want politicians who are not going to act like a Hollywood Celebrity although I don't really see the difference between being a celebrity and a politician except one helps in the way our government runs.

Its true I do hold the Bible over the constitution but I would never try to get rid of the constitution because its a good framework for how our country is run.I would appoint some non-Christians into my cabinet as long they were conservative if I was ever president but I never want to run for the position of leader of the country.

edited 23rd Sep '11 1:11:20 PM by joyflower

Joy, maybe you should point out "dominionists" that you think are in the right direction, so we can look at them on a case by case basis?

Joyflower why would the non-christians have to be conservative?

Dutch Lesbian

Hey,a lot of Christians and non-Christians have conservative policies and stances on things plus don't alot of poltical leaders have members who are at least in agreement about policies and stances.

Tomu@I only live in California and it would be the wrong place to see any crazy Dominionists out there but the news and the internet can always be my trusty guide.

I find most [[strikethrough:jesusfreaks]] fundamentalist christains are conservative. And conservativeism holds us back. To quote Gordon Ramsay "Change or die" granted he's talking about how restaurants need to change they way he operate or die (read close) but I think the analogy to restaurants and government stands firm.

edited 23rd Sep '11 1:49:36 PM by vanthebaron

Untitled Power Rangers Story

Funny how that's the same talking point conservatives are using. The country is "in decline" and needs Right-leaning policy to set it straight. And a Dominionist-dominated government would certainly be a change... so yeah, that notion goes both ways.