I was surprised to hear that there is an American organization with an openly stated goal of Christianizing America. Some of the things they advocate include the death penalty for homosexuals, death penalty for proselytizers promoting a different faith and the death penalty for some juvenile delinquents. What is even more surprising is they held a 4 day conference for supporters of the movement.

I believe so strongly in our democracy that this event was nothing but a waste of time/money. They will never fulfill their goals and (instead) will drive the peaceful christians away.

Christians need to speak out AGAINST this group. They are as ridiculous as Fred Phelps. I feel wrong for giving them this thread but I was suprised to see that they get support from many Americans.

AlterNet: Christian Reconstructionists Are Trying to Take Dominion in America -- and They Have Powerful Friends

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With that said, I think it needs to be pointed out that there are crazy people with all types of religious and non religious affiliations. I hope that people don't go stereotyping all Christians or others due to things like this.

After reading the article:
I'm inclined to believe that part of it is biased. I see some claims about the organization in question but with few specific examples backing such claims. Plus, the language seems a little biased. Now these claims may be true but I'm skeptical about some of them.

Ex.
1. What is bad about believing that the nation has moral confusion? It seems to me that even liberals agree that many things going on in American government and society are wrong.

2. They believe that there is a bias in the education system. There are many people (religious and non religious) who would agree with that.

Most of the language seems to be claims by the author that these people are preparing for some kind of hostile takeover and I am inclined to believe that isn't true. I do think that they have a particular political agenda that they are trying to push but I don't think that they are hostile or as dangerous (even if in some cases they were to get what they wanted) as the author makes them out to be.

I need to point out as well, though, that I did notice things that they do that I do disagree with and will fight them on. (An example being some of the things they want the death penalty for.) I am inclined to believe that some of what the author says is true but some is biased hogwash.

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Serious Quotes:


Funny But True Quotes
Those who argue for complete secularism are funny. They see what government does and then argue that we don't need it to start with prayer.

Even as a Christian i have no fear. These people's plan wont work and it's not worth getting worked up over. They are trying to bring back Christendom when it fell years ago.

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"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
-John Calvin

Well that was a very disturbing read.
It said the group, American Vision, is based in Powder Springs, GA. I used to live right outside there (I have grandparents still living in Powder Springs), but I've never even heard of these guys. Maybe I was just going to the wrong churches...

Needless to say, I condemn the notion of forcing religion on anyone or executing people for stupid reasons.

But there are many on this Forum who do just that (ie stereotype) with Muslims.

Well, shame one them...

I think they said publicly what many think privately. I have heard things like that come out of people before.

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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

There is a such thing as the religious left. There is the Christian Alliance for Progress and The Center for Progressive Christianity. I'm not sure how much, if any, these organizations are speaking out. Organizations for the religious left popped up after the 2004 election to combat the religious right. Part of the problem, IMO, is you are not going to hear many christians on the left make a big deal about their christianity for a couple of reasons: 1) Their faith is a personal decision and they keep it personal and 2) So many people on the left will automatically tune someone out as soon as they hear, "I'm a christian" because the name has been dragged through the mud.

The left does not view christianity as an asset when it could be with shifting the focus away from homosexuality and abortion and instead focusing on feeding and helping the needy and poor - talk about teachings instead of sins. The religious left needs to call the religious right out, but they won't because the non-religious left would rather not talk about religion, except to put it down, which leaves the religious left without encouragement and support.

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Good points.
I no longer believe Christians need to speak out against this organization.
In thinking how strong democracy is, there is no way that this group could succeed.
For the most part, Christians are well-meaning. The few who do rage, like a certain clan out of Kansas, end up shaming themselves.

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I disagree. We have many members on this Forum who routinely call for moderate Muslims to speak out against the actions of the militant minority; why then should the same not be expected of their Christian counterparts?

By all means the moderates need to speak out against the crazies who are hi-jacking their religion, otherwise how will the world ever know that not all religious people are extremeists?

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

I agree that moderates should generally speak out prominent groups that attempt to grossly misuse their name.

However, I don't think it would be fair to assume that anyone who doesn't speak out against a particular teaching must therefore agree with it.
People should be responsible for declaring what they believe, not listing off everything that they don't believe; that would take forever.

In other words, other Christian groups should, for the sake of clarification, distance themselves from these extremist doctrines. But, if they are remiss in doing that (either through apathy or ignorance), that would not justify our attributing these doctrines to those groups merely because they haven't directly denied them.

I disagree Dillentte.. If a christian group does not clearly state what they believe.. and its an unknown sect.... then assume anything. I tend to do that atleast.. after getting some christian pamphlets suggesting catholics worship the pope who is in fact satan/.. i have a tendency to look at all unknown christian groups with skepticism.. as cults even..

and i agree that Muslims should declare themselves seperate from radical islam.. but it appears they dont because it appears that many dont even believe radical islam exists.. and attribute it to conspiracies.. and many just have to much pride to admit another muslim is wrong... sooner to blame on the jews and americans then anyone else..

these people sound like they want to live in iran..

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www.myspace.com/crusade7

I prefer not to presume that anyone is guilty of radical or extremist beliefs until they themselves give some indication of such beliefs.
Innocent until proven guilty, as it were.

I think those people represent moderates on the right.

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004