Dominionism
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{{bronze}}'''Dominionism''' is a political and [[religion|religious]] [[philosophy]] that seeks to make the [[United States]] government a [[Christian]] [[theocracy]]<ref>In this case "Christian" usually means extreme [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]].</ref>. (Most Dominionists try to avoid using this name. Regardless, it is usually applied to any Christian movement with these explicit or implicit goals.) | {{bronze}}'''Dominionism''' is a political and [[religion|religious]] [[philosophy]] that seeks to make the [[United States]] government a [[Christian]] [[theocracy]]<ref>In this case "Christian" usually means extreme [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]].</ref>. (Most Dominionists try to avoid using this name. Regardless, it is usually applied to any Christian movement with these explicit or implicit goals.) | ||
| − | Dominionists believe that '' | + | Dominionists believe that the ''civil'' laws laid down by the [[Old Testament]] (as distinct from the moral laws such as the [[Ten Commandments]]) should be enforced by reforming the U.S. legal system along [[Theocracy|theocratic]] lines, which would entail a substantial increase in the use of [[capital punishment]]. They also believe that that [[Slavery in the Bible|biblical injunctions regarding slavery]] should be followed<ref>"[http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm Dominionism]". ReligiousTolerance.org. May 18, 2005.</ref><ref>Enyart, Bob. "[http://www.theologyonline.com/DEATH.HTML God and the Death Penalty]". TheologyOnline.com.</ref>. |
Its ideologies are promoted by authors such as [[Gary North]] and [[WallBuilders|David Barton]]. | Its ideologies are promoted by authors such as [[Gary North]] and [[WallBuilders|David Barton]]. | ||
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{{Main|Millennialism}} | {{Main|Millennialism}} | ||
| − | Dominionism is often connected with the theological position known as [[Millennialism#Postmillennialism|postmillennialism]], which envisions a period of one thousand years prior to the eventual Second | + | Dominionism is often connected with the theological position known as [[Millennialism#Postmillennialism|postmillennialism]], which envisions a period of one thousand years prior to the eventual Second Coming of Christ during which the "Kingdom of God" will gradually gain ground against the forces that oppose it. For that reason, these "hard dominionists" usually work towards a general Christianization of society in the belief that this will help bring about the "Kingdom of God" and (after a thousand more years) the Second Coming. |
| − | In this, they differ from the [[Millennialism#Posttribulational (historic) premillennialism|premillennialists]], who believe that the Second | + | In this, they differ from the [[Millennialism#Posttribulational (historic) premillennialism|premillennialists]], who believe that the Second Coming itself will mark the beginning of the millennium and that Jesus will do all the dirty-work; thus, they tend to focus more on the conversion of individuals than of society as such. |
Dominionists believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. As such, they believe that God "gave man dominion over the earth." Since these folks think Jesus will come again, that he will take the righteous to heaven and that he will destroy the non-believers, this allows them to pollute the earth, destroy eco-systems and generally not give a shit about the fate of Earth. When God has your back and will take you to Heaven, why care about the state of the planet? | Dominionists believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. As such, they believe that God "gave man dominion over the earth." Since these folks think Jesus will come again, that he will take the righteous to heaven and that he will destroy the non-believers, this allows them to pollute the earth, destroy eco-systems and generally not give a shit about the fate of Earth. When God has your back and will take you to Heaven, why care about the state of the planet? | ||
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| + | ===Orthodoxy=== | ||
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| + | Dominionism cannot be regarded merely as a hyper-literal take on Christianity; its main tenet has been opposed by Christians right from the get-go. | ||
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| + | The precepts of the Mosaic Law have traditionally been divided into three categories by Christian theologians: the moral law (''e.g.'', the [[Ten Commandments]]), the civil law (the "constitution" of ancient Israel), and the ceremonial law (''e.g.'', the proscriptions against eating pork). | ||
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| + | Also traditionally, it has been held that both the ceremonial and civil laws were nullified with the coming of Jesus. At the Council of Jerusalem, described in [[RationalWiki:Annotated Bible/Acts#Acts 15:1|Acts 15]], it was determined that only certain moral precepts of the law applied to gentile Christians; Paul of Tarsus wrote extensively against "legalism," or the idea that Christians had to follow the whole Mosaic Law, saying that the whole point of the law was to lead the Jews to Jesus, and this purpose being fulfilled, the law was not in effect any longer. This position was later hammered out in detail, with the position being taken that the ceremonial law was "deadly" (could not be practiced at all) and the civil law "dead" (did not need to be practiced). St. Thomas Aquinas said: | ||
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| + | {{cquote|For if a sovereign were to order these judicial precepts to be observed in his kingdom, he would not sin: unless perchance they were observed, or ordered to be observed, as though they derived their binding force through being institutions of the Old Law: for it would be a deadly sin to intend to observe them thus.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0023/_P7C.HTM ''Summa Theologica'' FS Q104 A3 BP1]</ref>}} | ||
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| + | But, as might be observed, the Dominionists have little argument for reinstituting the Mosaic civil law besides, "It's in the Bible!" | ||
== Dominionism in fiction == | == Dominionism in fiction == | ||
Revision as of 17:01, 4 November 2010
Dominionism is a political and religious philosophy that seeks to make the United States government a Christian theocracy[1]. (Most Dominionists try to avoid using this name. Regardless, it is usually applied to any Christian movement with these explicit or implicit goals.)
Dominionists believe that the civil laws laid down by the Old Testament (as distinct from the moral laws such as the Ten Commandments) should be enforced by reforming the U.S. legal system along theocratic lines, which would entail a substantial increase in the use of capital punishment. They also believe that that biblical injunctions regarding slavery should be followed[2][3].
Its ideologies are promoted by authors such as Gary North and David Barton.
Contents |
Origin of the term
The term "Dominionism" comes from Genesis 1:26 of the King James Version of the Bible, which reads:And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.In every other verse of the King James Version where the word "dominion" occurs, the word either refers to God's dominion over the world and all of its people; or to the dominion of a king over his kingdom, as in Psalms 72 ("The reign of a righteous king"). This is the only time when the word is applied to all men.
Unfortunately, this misinterpretation of the original text that may have altered world history for the worse. The original word is more accurately translated as "stewardship." This may explain why English-speaking countries are more likely to be polluting colonialists than non-English-speaking Christian nations.
One explanation for this error is that King James I -- a Scottish king who was trying to solidify power after being crowned England's new king -- wanted his translation of the Bible to re-enforce his divine right to rule as he saw fit.
Dominionist theology
Dominionism is often connected with the theological position known as postmillennialism, which envisions a period of one thousand years prior to the eventual Second Coming of Christ during which the "Kingdom of God" will gradually gain ground against the forces that oppose it. For that reason, these "hard dominionists" usually work towards a general Christianization of society in the belief that this will help bring about the "Kingdom of God" and (after a thousand more years) the Second Coming.
In this, they differ from the premillennialists, who believe that the Second Coming itself will mark the beginning of the millennium and that Jesus will do all the dirty-work; thus, they tend to focus more on the conversion of individuals than of society as such.
Dominionists believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. As such, they believe that God "gave man dominion over the earth." Since these folks think Jesus will come again, that he will take the righteous to heaven and that he will destroy the non-believers, this allows them to pollute the earth, destroy eco-systems and generally not give a shit about the fate of Earth. When God has your back and will take you to Heaven, why care about the state of the planet?
Orthodoxy
Dominionism cannot be regarded merely as a hyper-literal take on Christianity; its main tenet has been opposed by Christians right from the get-go.
The precepts of the Mosaic Law have traditionally been divided into three categories by Christian theologians: the moral law (e.g., the Ten Commandments), the civil law (the "constitution" of ancient Israel), and the ceremonial law (e.g., the proscriptions against eating pork).
Also traditionally, it has been held that both the ceremonial and civil laws were nullified with the coming of Jesus. At the Council of Jerusalem, described in Acts 15, it was determined that only certain moral precepts of the law applied to gentile Christians; Paul of Tarsus wrote extensively against "legalism," or the idea that Christians had to follow the whole Mosaic Law, saying that the whole point of the law was to lead the Jews to Jesus, and this purpose being fulfilled, the law was not in effect any longer. This position was later hammered out in detail, with the position being taken that the ceremonial law was "deadly" (could not be practiced at all) and the civil law "dead" (did not need to be practiced). St. Thomas Aquinas said:
“”For if a sovereign were to order these judicial precepts to be observed in his kingdom, he would not sin: unless perchance they were observed, or ordered to be observed, as though they derived their binding force through being institutions of the Old Law: for it would be a deadly sin to intend to observe them thus.[4]
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But, as might be observed, the Dominionists have little argument for reinstituting the Mosaic civil law besides, "It's in the Bible!"
Dominionism in fiction
The "Republic of Gilead" in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale represented one scenario of a Dominionist takeover in the United States after an environmental disaster drastically reduced the reproductive capacity of the population. Another example of Dominionism is 'If this goes on...' by Robert A. Heinlein, where an evangelical preacher named Nehemiah Scudder takes control of the Executive Branch of the United States Government, and imposes fundamentalist law over the country.
A threat to freedom?
Many people argue about the subject of personal freedom in a theocracy, but the dominionists themselves see no lack of freedom as they believe following the bible is freedom. As a result, a group of teachers and intellectuals from Cornell University created Theocracy Watch to combat the dominionism movement.
See also
- Actions which demand the death penalty in the Old Testament
- Positive Christianity
- Christofascism, which may or may not be the same thing as this.
- God hates shrimp
- Joel's Army
- Millennialism
- Slavery in the Bible
- Spiritual warfare
Footnotes
- ↑ In this case "Christian" usually means extreme fundamentalist Protestant.
- ↑ "Dominionism". ReligiousTolerance.org. May 18, 2005.
- ↑ Enyart, Bob. "God and the Death Penalty". TheologyOnline.com.
- ↑ Summa Theologica FS Q104 A3 BP1
External links
- Citizens for the Ten Commandments, a website advocating Dominionism or something very much like it.
- [1], here a list of video made by Theocracy Watch.