Dominionism describes, in several distinct ways, a tendency among some conservative politically-active Christians, especially in the United States of America, to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action—aiming either at a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. The use and application of this terminology is a matter of controversy.
Origin and usage of the term
Although dominionism is used in several distinct ways, the origin of most usage can be traced back to a specific passage in the King James Version of the Bible:
And God blessed and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." —Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
Christians typically interpret this verse as meaning that God gave humankind responsibility over the Earth, but theologians do not all agree on the nature and extent of that "dominion".
Anthropocentrism
A longstanding usage of dominionism among social scientists and legal scholars describes a Biblical argument in favor of anthropocentrism, a favoring of the rights and interests of humans in relation to environmentalism and/or animal rights. This usage is not the primary focus of this article.
Dominion Theology
Dominion Theology is a grouping of theological systems with the common belief that society should be governed exclusively by the law of God as codified in the Bible, to the exclusion of secular law, a view also known as theonomy. The most prominent modern formulation of Dominion Theology is Christian Reconstructionism, founded by R. J. Rushdoony in the 1970s. Reconstructionists themselves use the word dominionism to refer to their belief that civil government should be controlled by Christians alone and conducted according to Biblical law. Social scientists have used the word "dominionism" to refer to adherence to Dominion Theology as well as to the influence in the broader Christian Right of ideas inspired by Dominion Theology. Although such influence (particularly of Reconstructionism) has been described by many authors, full adherents to Reconstructionism are few and marginalized among conservative Christians.
Dominionism as a broader movement
In the early 1990s, sociologist Sara Diamond and journalist Frederick Clarkson defined dominionism as a movement that, while including Dominion Theology and Reconstructionism as subsets, is much broader in scope, extending to much of the Christian Right. In his 1992 study of Dominion Theology and its influence on the Christian Right, Bruce Barron writes,
In the context of American evangelical efforts to penetrate and transform public life, the distinguishing mark of a dominionist is a commitment to defining and carrying out an approach to building society that is self-consciously defined as exclusively Christian , and dependent specifically on the work of Christians, rather than based on a broader consensus.
According to Diamond, the defining concept of dominionism is "that Christians alone are Biblically mandated to occupy all secular institutions until Christ returns". In 1989, Diamond declared that this concept "has become the central unifying ideology for the Christian Right" . In 1995, she called it "prevalent on the Christian Right." Journalist Chip Berlet added in 1998 that, although they represent different theological and political ideas, dominionists assert a Christian duty to take "control of a sinful secular society."
In 2005, Clarkson enumerated the following characteristics shared by all forms of dominionism:
1. Dominionists celebrate Christian nationalism, in that they believe that the United States once was, and should once again be, a Christian nation. In this way, they deny the Enlightenment roots of American democracy.
2. Dominionists promote religious supremacy, insofar as they generally do not respect the equality of other religions, or even other versions of Christianity.
3. Dominionists endorse theocratic visions, insofar as they believe that the Ten Commandments, or "biblical law," should be the foundation of American law, and that the U.S. Constitution should be seen as a vehicle for implementing Biblical principles.Other authors who stress the influence of Dominionist ideas on the Christian Right include Michelle Goldberg and Kevin Phillips
Essayist Katherine Yurica began using the term dominionism in her articles in 2004, beginning with "The Despoiling of America," (February 11, 2004), Yurica has been followed in this usage by authors including journalist Chris Hedges Marion Maddox, James Rudin, Sam Harris, and the group TheocracyWatch. This group of authors has applied the term to a broader spectrum of people than have Diamond, Clarkson, and Berlet.
Other terminology
Some authors have used the terms "Christianism" or "Christianist" in place of "dominionism." By alluding to the term "Islamist," this usage is intended to evoke the spectre of theocracy and even terrorism (citing, for example, the notorious bomber Eric Rudolph). Commentator Andrew Sullivan advocated "Christianist" as a label for the Christian Right in a 2006 column in Time .
Criticism
The Christian nation concept can be opposed by:
In the United States Senate, the Treaty of Tripoli stated in Article 11:
As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; ...
Supporters of the separation of church and state believe this article confirms that the government of the United States was specifically intended to be religiously neutral. Drafted by George Washington's administration with Thomas Jefferson's help, and ratified in 1797, they claim it becomes, with the Constitution, "the supreme Law of the Land" -- as Article VI-2. of the US Constitution says it must.
The terms "dominionist" and "dominionism" are rarely used for self-description, and their usage has been attacked from several quarters. Journalist Anthony Williams charged that its purpose is "to smear the Republican Party as the party of domestic Theocracy, facts be damned." Journalist Stanley Kurtz labeled it "conspiratorial nonsense," "political paranoia," and "guilt by association," and decried Hedges' "vague characterizations" that allow him to "paint a highly questionable picture of a virtually faceless and nameless 'Dominionist' Christian mass." Kurtz also complained about a perceived link between average Christian evangelicals and extremism such as Christian Reconstructionism:
The notion that conservative Christians want to reinstitute slavery and rule by genocide is not just crazy, it's downright dangerous. The most disturbing part of the Harper's cover story (the one by Chris Hedges) was the attempt to link Christian conservatives with Hitler and fascism. Once we acknowledge the similarity between conservative Christians and fascists, Hedges appears to suggest, we can confront Christian evil by setting aside 'the old polite rules of democracy.' So wild conspiracy theories and visions of genocide are really excuses for the Left to disregard the rules of democracy and defeat conservative Christians — by any means necessary.
Other criticism has focused on the proper use of the term. Berlet wrote that "some critics of the Christian Right have stretched the term dominionism past its breaking point," and argued that, rather than labeling conservatives as extremists, it would be better to "talk to these people" and "engage them." Sara Diamond wrote that "iberals' writing about the Christian Right's take-over plans has generally taken the form of conspiracy theory," and argued that instead one should "analyze the subtle ways" that ideas like Dominionism "take hold within movements and why."
Influences on the Christian Right
Abraham Kuyper and the "cultural mandate"
A common view among evangelical Christians is that the granting of "dominion" in Genesis 1:28 includes a "cultural mandate" to influence all aspects of the world with Christian principles. Contrary to the theocratic vision of Dominion Theology, this view calls for Christians simply to "honor God as they promote truth and mercy and apply scriptural principles to the affairs of life." As formulated by the Dutch Reformed theologian (called the father of Neo-Calvinism) and prime minister Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), the "cultural mandate" view teaches that all human endeavor, whether ostensibly sacred or secular, is part of building God's kingdom. Kuyper energetically applied Christian principles to the secular problems of his day, seeing his efforts as extending "common grace" to all people. However, Kuyper firmly rejected the idea that "dominion" could be taken to mean domination of Christians over others. Kuyper was a founding father of the Christian Democratic movement, which remains an important political influence in parts of Europe and Latin America and elsewhere.
Francis Schaeffer
The work of Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) provided an important underpinning for the rise of the modern Religious Right. Schaeffer, a follower of Kuyper's system of Neo-Cal
Amazon.com: All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and ...
Amazon.com: All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular Culture (Turning Point Christian Worldview) (9780891075387): Kenneth A. Myers, Marvin Olasky: Books
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes - Kenneth A. Myers, Marvin ...
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular Culture Kenneth A. Myers, Marvin Olasky (Series Editor) Price: $17.99 (Trade Paperback)
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes
Woodgreen Presbyterian Church ... All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular Culture
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes BP | Kenneth Myers ...
This influential work has helped many Christians consider and interact thoughtfully with popular culture. After examining the strengths and weaknesses of pop culture, the book ...
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes @ www.booksonthepath.com
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes skillfully analyzes American popular culture, tracing its development and describing its influence. This is an unabridged reading by Jeff ...
Powell's Books - All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians ...
Where did popular culture come from? Why is it the way it is? How does it influence Americans in general and Christians in particular? Ken Myers provides fascinating answers to ...
Kenneth A. Myers: All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes (audio book ...
Audiobook (CD/Download MP3), Author: Kenneth A. Myers, Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Length: 6.8 Hrs. | Where did popular culture come from? Why is it the way it is? How does it ...
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular ...
Buy All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular Culture by Myers, Kenneth and Olasky, Marvin (Editor) - Parable.com. Where did popular culture come from?
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes ...
A fine and much-needed look at pop culture and the Church This is one terrific book. Ken Myers delves deeply into popular culture. He does a great job of grounding his research and ...
All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians and Popular ...
Ken Myers argues that pop culture’s quest for diversion, novelty, and instant gratification prevents Americans from asking questions about our true origin and destiny and the ...