Rendering Unto Caesar: The Invasive Plant of Dominionism

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

A little while back a military officer, who I will call Colonel Arselock, paid a visit to our local test facility. He asked me if I "believe in Christ." This is not the typical kind of question we get from military visitors. A more frequent reaction is one of chagrin and a demand to know to whom we report. Colonel Arselock was a different kind of bird. I figured he was probably one of those dominionists we hear so much about.

The good Colonel was not very forthcoming when one of our students asked why he was interested in my personal belief system. He claimed that his reasons for asking were not important. There was no need to keep him in the dark about my attitude toward Christianity, so I explained my perspectives as best I could. Since my views did not mesh with the colonel's childhood indoctrination he rejected them out of hand. This kind of reaction is typical, expected, even somewhat encouraging. The denial phase is an important aspect of acceptance. Had the man affirmed my perspective I would have seen his case as hopeless. A false presentation of agreement does not bode well for eventual transcendence.

I told Colonel Arselock that I could not consider myself to be a follower of Jesus. I gave him the standard spiel about how the followers of Jesus had been persecuted by the orthodox because they preferred to follow Jesus rather than conform to orthodoxy. Given such vicious and ruthless attacks against the followers of Jesus, it would be difficult to find any still around from whom to learn. Orthodoxy did not interest me because it is a distasteful business with far more victims than beneficiaries. The orthodox kowtow to the image of Jesus. I respect the man too much to treat him that way. Besides, one cannot achieve beatitude by merely kowtowing to those who already have. It gets in the way more than it helps.

What do you know about Dominionism in the US military? Does it cause concern for you, or are you comfortable with it?

Links: Huffington Post on facts about Dominionism. Huffington Post on concern over religious proselytizing at the Air Force Academy.

Comments

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you didn't just give that response because he mind-controlled you into saying it?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I cannot imagine a Dominionist even considering crafting an argument against orthodoxy.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

I like how that's how you ruled it out, not the impossibility of mind control.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

lol

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Oh. When did it become Caesarday Tuesday again...

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

In California, that happened a little over eight hours ago.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Time flies in Rome!

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

That sounds like an experiment in fly velocity determination.

[404.livejournal.com]

Is that like Caturday, except less understandable?

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

'Less understandable' would imply 'somewhat understandable'.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

Dominionism is not orthodox, otherwise Caesar would be a Dominonist. Caesar is most certainly not a Dominonist.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

So, the Dominionists reject the Trinity?

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

No, Dominionist reject the Magisterium and have at best a confused reading of 2000 years of orthodox theology on eschatology and have serious differences on the understanding of soteriology.

[fornikate.livejournal.com]

no, we don't want a personality test

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Do you mean that Dominionists favor a personality test?

[fornikate.livejournal.com]

no, i mean that like scientologists, most of your posts are the bait and switch.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

I first heard about Dominionism in the military from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. (http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/) If it is as widespread as they say it is, then it is cause for concern. Of course, I'm worried about the rise of evangelicalism in U.S. society in general. Its rise in the military is likely just one effect of it.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

That is Mikey Weinstein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_L._Weinstein)'s organization. His personal story of religious harrasment in the military is pretty severe.

One of the areas where evangelical interference is most disconcerting is that of education. At least one of the school boards in the SF Bay area was taken over by fundamentalist activists. Teachers and parents did not appreciate their meddling. There is also interference with textbook content. There is a campaign of religious indoctrination in after-school programs called "Good News Clubs."

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I first heard about it here on LJ, on dark_christian, a comm sunfell started years ago. She experienced religious persecution by Dommies in the service.

The Air Force Academy especially is worrisome in its saturation with Dominionists. They're training the next gen.

[root-fu.livejournal.com]

Its irrelevent.

They're not doing anything other demographics are not.

If people run around labeling others "bigots" for not agreeing with them on gay marriage, abortion & other issues & refuse to be respectful, tolerant or open minded in regard to the views of others..

They shouldn't complain if they receive the same treatment.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

There is a vast difference between the hazing experienced by victims of religious fundamentalists and being labelled a bigot. When you speak of being "open minded" to the views of others, I suppose you mean that people should agree that it is okay to bully children into committing suicide.

[root-fu.livejournal.com]

If scientists like Richard Dawkins choose to be intolerant and bigotted against the religious beliefs of others, they should not be surprised if kneejerk reactionism in the form of dominionism arises in response & atheists & others receive the same intolerance and prejudice they themselves are guilty of fostering.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Is this some sort of ARG?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

If by that you mean an American Religious Group, yes. It is also a group of exclusionist political activism.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Alternate Reality Game.