The Christian Right, Dominionism, & Political Power

In May, Harper's Magazine ran two stories on the rising political power of the Christian right, entitled "Soldiers of Christ." Both articles are available online now and make for fascinating reading.

"Soldiers of Christ I: Inside America's Most Powerful Megachurch," by Jeff Sharlet, profiles New Life Church in Colorado Springs, which is led by "Pastor Ted" Haggard, a man who, according to the article, " talks to President George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday" and is president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

The second article--"Soldiers of Christ II: Feeling the Hate with the National Religious Broadcasters", by Chris Hedges--describes "the rising power of the evangelical political movement" in America and discusses Dominionism, which is

a call for Christian "dominion"” over the nation and, eventually, over the earth itself. Dominionists preach that Jesus has called them to build the kingdom of God in the here and now, whereas previously it was thought that we would have to wait for it. America becomes, in this militant biblicism, an agent of God, and all political and intellectual opponents of America's Christian leaders are viewed, quite simply, as agents of Satan. Under Christian dominion, America will no longer be a sinful and fallen nation but one in which the Ten Commandments form the basis of our legal system, Creationism and "Christian values"” form the basis of our educational system, and the media and the government proclaim the Good News to one and all. Aside from its proselytizing mandate, the federal government will be reduced to the protection of property rights and "homeland"” security. Some Dominionists (not all of whom accept the label, at least not publicly) would further require all citizens to pay "tithes"” to church organizations empowered by the government to run our social-welfare agencies, and a number of influential figures advocate the death penalty for a host of "“moral crimes,"” including apostasy, blasphemy, sodomy, and witchcraft. The only legitimate voices in this state will be Christian. All others will be silenced.

Needless to say, both of these Harper's articles are interesting and provocative. I recommend them both.