Reclaiming America for Christ

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Just as the Anna Nicole Smith circus ends in Fort Lauderdale, another one begins.... The Crusader:Quote:It's February, and 900 of America's staunchest Christianfundamentalists have gathered in Fort Lauderdale to look back onwhat they accomplished in last year's election -- and to plan what'snext. As they assemble in the vast sanctuary of Coral RidgePresbyterian, with all fifty state flags dangling from the rafters,three stadium-size video screens flash the name of the conference:RECLAIMING AMERICA FOR CHRIST. These are the evangelical activistsbehind the nation's most effective political machine -- one thatbrought more than 4 million new Christian voters to the polls lastNovember, sending George W. Bush back to the White House andthirty-two new pro-lifers to Congress. But despite theirunprecedented power, fundamentalists still see themselves as apersecuted minority, waging a holy war against the godless forcesof secularism. To rouse themselves, they kick off the festivitieswith "Soldiers of the Cross, Arise," the bloodthirstiest tune inall of Christendom: "Seize your armor, gird it on/Now the battlewill be won/Soon, your enemies all slain/Crowns of glory you shall gain."Quote:Meet the Dominionists -- biblical literalists who believe Godhas called them to take over the U.S. government. As the far-rightwing of the evangelical movement, Dominionists are pressing anagenda that makes Newt Gingrich's Contract With America look likethe Communist Manifesto. They want to rewrite schoolbooks toreflect a Christian version of American history, pack the nation'scourts with judges who follow Old Testament law, post the TenCommandments in every courthouse and make it a felony for gay mento have sex and women to have abortions. In Florida, when thecourts ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed, it was theDominionists who organized round-the-clock protests and issued afiery call for Gov. Jeb Bush to defy the law and take Schiavo intostate custody. Their ultimate goal is to plant the seeds of a"faith-based" government that will endure far longer than Bush'spresidency -- all the way until Jesus comes back....Quote:The godfather of the Dominionists is D. James Kennedy...."Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost,"Kennedy says. "As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godlydominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, ourgovernment, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, ourentertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- inshort, over every aspect and institution of human society."...Quote:Bush sought his blessing before running for president -- and continues to consult top Dominionists on mattersof federal policy....Quote:Activist judges, of course, are precisely what the Dominionistswant. Their model is Roy Moore, the former Alabama chief justicewho installed a 5,300-pound granite memorial to the TenCommandments, complete with an open Bible carved in its top, in thestate judicial building. At Reclaiming America, Roy's Rock sits outfront, fresh off a tour of twenty-one states, perched on theflag-festooned flatbed of a diesel truck, a potent symbol of the"faith-based" justice the Dominionists are bent on imposing.Activists at the conference pose for photographs beside the rockand have circulated a petition urging President Bush to appointMoore -- who once penned an opinion calling for the state toexecute "practicing homosexuals" -- to the U.S. Supreme Court....Quote:It helps that Dominionists have a direct line to the WhiteHouse: The Rev. Richard Land, top lobbyist for the16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, enjoys a weeklyconference call with top Bush advisers including Karl Rove. "We'vegot the Holy Spirit's wind at our backs!" Land declares in anarm-waving, red-faced speech. He takes particular aim at the threatposed by John Lennon, denouncing "Imagine" as a "secular anthem"that envisions a future of "clone plantations, child sacrifice,legalized polygamy and hard-core porn."...Quote:The Dominionists are also stepping up efforts to turn publicschools into forums for evangelism. In a landmark case, theAlliance Defense Fund is suing a California school district thatthreatened to dismiss a born-again teacher who was evangelizingfifth-graders. In the conference's opening ceremony, theDominionists recite an oath they dream of hearing in everyclassroom: "I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to theSavior for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risenand coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe."Quote:Cass urges conference-goers to stack school boards withDominionists. "The most humble Christian is more qualified foroffice than the best-educated pagan," says Cass, an anti-abortionactivist who led a takeover of his school district's board in SanDiego. "We built quite a little grass-roots machine out there. Nowit's my burden to multiply that success all across America."...As you can see, religious fascists have a direct line into the White House. I'm not sure how these conservative Christians differ from the conservative Wahabi Sunni that run Saudi Arabia. Same mind set, different prophet.If you believe in democracy in America, then realize that these folks are a bigger threat than the radical fundamentalist Muslims with bombs.

The principle of the separation of church and state more or less prevails, but a sizable minority is not happy with the idea...or the Constitution in general. They would prefer a theocracy, but a more hard-assed on than Iran.If you're evaluating a politician, see who his big supporters are, and thus, who he is beholden to. If you prefer democracy and non-theocracy, then don't vote for anyone who the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, or the Eagle Forum, for instance, support. That does not mean, "don't vote for conservatives" or "don't vote for Christians"; it just means, don't vote for the nutjobs, or for politicians obligated to the nutjobs.The evangelical right wingers hate McCain, which is a good sign, but he has unfortunately been pandering to them like crazy lately. It's not making them like him any better. It's just making him look stupid.

Sounds fine, but I thought you were talking about Hilary.

I thought you were going to say, "No, I said WOMAN."

No presidential term for me. My eccentric sexual lifestyle would turn some people off:grin:

Bill Clinton had a rather eccentric sex life, with multiple partners, while he was married, yet he was still very popular, even at the end of his second term.

But, I'm a woman. Sexually eccentric women are viewed as sluts in the public eye by men and women. If Condi Rice had been a video ho, as some in the record industry call them, she wouldn't have even made it to be a clerk at the Supreme Court.

If Condi Rice had been a video hoHa! I think she's a virgin.

I wouldn't be surprised if she was a virgin

It's interesting how militant fundamentalist religious belief and right-wing, fascistic politics go hand-in-hand. Not surprising though: in both cases it's the "I'm right, you're wrong, and we're going to fuck you up if you don't submit" belief that both groups share.Interestingly, over 50% of residents the South claims to be Evangelical Christians. 85% of the U.S. is populated by people who call themselves Christian.Fundamentalists of any religion would be the same (see the effects of fundamentalist Islam and Judaism in the Middle East), but the problem we have in this country is with right-wing evangelical fundamentalist Christians.For people who worship the "Prince of Peace", they sure were gung-ho to go to Iraq and start killing people -- for no good reason.

I think people who are certain they have all the answers often believe any end justifies the means of enforcing their view of how the world should be governed. But it is far from true to equate militant fundamentalism with fascist politics. Many examples of the latter have been driven by non-religious ideologies. Mussolini seems to have had little time for religion, and was probably not baptised. Hitler was not strongly religious. Both men were driven more by political doctrines (and in Hitler's case at least, personal obsessions), though both sought to use religion where is was expedient to do so. There doesn't seem to have been a religious basis to Pol Pot's regime; and many other examples could be found.

The straw man you are critiquing it the supposition that religious fundamentalism is necessary for fascism. I'm saying that religious fundamentalism is often a [i[subset[/i] of fascist thought.For an interesting fictional dystopian religious future in North America, read Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale.What is the difference between North Korea, where the head of state is for all intents and purposes a god, and a religious cult?There is a certain mindset common to true believers, whether their belief is in politics, unflawed leaders, or religion. I find very little difference when speaking to religious fundamentalists, true-believing American communists, and some people who think that George Bush is virtually infallible.

You used the term "hand-in-hand", which seems to imply a symmetric correspondence.Of course, if one defines religion as referring to anything seen as requiring obedience as above all else, then all fascist regimes and all personality cults are religious. However, that may be stretching the word rather too much. "Quasi-religious" would be a better term.

> requiring obedience as above all else

Bingo. But obedience isn't necessarily to a charismatic leader (the hallmark of a cult, as Christianity was 2000 years ago). Obedience to an ideology or a faith has the same effect.

> then all fascist regimes and all personality cults are religious

All personality cults and popular fundamentalist religions are fascist regimes.

> "Quasi-religious"

Quasi-fascist? Neo-fascist? Other than "cults", I can't think of a more fascist religion than Catholicism, at least in its current form. Liberation theology, all that progressive stuff from the 50's through the 80's, is a distant memory. Now the Catholic Church is like a government agency with barely checked power over its fundamentalists adherents, many of whom are certain that they see the image of the Virgin or her son in slices of burnt toast -- and it's a miracle.

Im in a good mood, I had a good weekend, I didnt do much, just hid at home and spent time with Julie, Im in far too good a mood to get into tthis but I shall mark it for later when Im pissed off and in a shitty mood. Ill comment on it then, Im not ready to be brought down just yet.

Run away, Chance!Stay happy!Use your powers for good!

Eh, Im down to normal again, maybe even a bit below normal as Im now in the riht mood to argue but feeling to lazy to actually type out anything that means anything instead of jsut saying "Fuck you!"were I to be driving right now and be cut off the most I could manage was a fuck you, not my normal creative string of confusion and thought provoking chain of insults. Id still pull over to fight if thats what they wanted understand, but I wouldnt be looking forward to it. Ill address this argument when Im in a shitty mood, but still have the energy to back up my opinion rather than just toss out "Fuck you" a few times as the entire platform for my feelings.