Here we go again. The Republican primaries are six months away, and already news stories are raising fears on the left about “crazy Christians.”
One piece connects Texas Gov. Rick Perry with a previously unknown Christian group called “The New Apostolic Reformation,” whose main objective is to “infiltrate government.” Another highlights whacko-sounding Christian influences on Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. A third cautions readers to be afraid, very afraid, of “dominionists.”
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The stories raise real concerns about the world views of two prospective Republican nominees. But their echo-chamber effect reignites old anxieties among liberals about evangelical Christians.
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This isn’t a defense of the religious beliefs of Bachmann or Perry, whatever they are. It’s a plea, given the acrimonious tone of our political discourse, for a certain amount of dispassionate care in the coverage of religion. Nearly 80 percent of Americans say they’re Christian. One-third of Americans call themselves “evangelical.” When millions of voters get lumped together and associated with the fringe views of a few, divisions will grow. Here, then, are some clarifying points.
Evangelicals generally do not want to take over the world. “Dominionism” is the paranoid mot du jour. In its broadest sense, the term describes a Christian’s obligation to be active in the world, including in politics and government. More narrowly, some view it as Christian nationalism. You could argue that the 19th- and early 20th-century reformers – abolitionists, suffragists and temperance activists, for example – were dominionists, says Molly Worthen, who teaches religious history at the University of Toronto.
Comments
Interesting
Submitted by 76United on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 4:46pm.
Maybe Bachman and Perry should join Obama's old Trinity Church. The left is cool with that.
extremist dominionists
Submitted by spepper on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 4:53pm.
Yes, extremist dominionists do exist, indeed-- they're called MUSLIMS.
Like a river
Submitted by catnamedjake on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 7:32pm.
So it sounds to me as if the opinion of this writer is that not only are evangelicals to be scorned and put aside, but now we are being accused of wanting to take over the world? What -the few crazy ones going on shooting sprees didn't get the desired result? (yes, snarky-- I know) I wish that folks would read the Bible a bit more. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. Daniel 2:21. Only God has dominion over the universe.
Miller's End Game?
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:11pm.
White evangelicals?
What about Black evangelicals? Do they vote Republican en masse too?
I wonder if Lisa Miller is only attempting to calm the Left's dispiriting libels in order to prevent the MSM and Obama regime driving more people to vote against Obama and Dems in 2012.
Persecutionists
Submitted by nkviking75 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:53pm.
Perhaps evangelicals should be wary of Persecutionists, liberals who use fear and a twisted version of the First Amendment to silence religious people they don't like.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Don't know what "dominionism"
Submitted by big.league.slider on Sat, 08/20/2011 - 2:22am.
Don't know what "dominionism" is.
But I do know what marxism is. And having a president that believes in it scares me.
Liberal Christianophobic bigots.
Submitted by H_Tuttle on Sat, 08/20/2011 - 10:35am.
Liberal Christianophobic bigots.