Dominion theology

Dominion theology (also known as dominionism) is a group of Christian political ideologies that seek to institute a nation governed by Christians based on their understandings of biblical law. Extents of rule and ways of achieving governing authority are varied. For example, dominion theology can include theonomy, but does not necessarily involve advocating Mosaic law as the basis of government. The label is applied primarily toward groups of Christians in the United States.

Prominent adherents of these ideologies are Calvinist Christian reconstructionism, Charismatic and Pentecostal Kingdom Now theology, New Apostolic Reformation, and perhaps others not identified. Most of the contemporary movements labeled dominion theology arose in the 1970s from religious movements asserting aspects of Christian nationalism.

Some have applied the term dominionist more broadly to the whole Christian right. This usage is controversial. Some members of these communities are concerned that this is a label being used to marginalize Christians from public discourse.

Etymology

Dominion theology is a reference to the King James Bible's rendering of Genesis 1:28, the passage in which God grants humanity "dominion" over the Earth.

And God blessed them, 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."

In the late 1980s, several prominent evangelical authors[1][2][3][4] used the phrase dominion theology (and other terms such as dominionism) to label a loose grouping of theological movements that made direct appeals to this passage in Genesis.[5] Christians typically interpret this passage as meaning that God gave mankind responsibility over the Earth, but one of the distinctive aspects of dominion theology is that it is interpreted as a mandate for Christian stewardship in civil affairs, no less than in other human matters.[6]

Types

Christian reconstructionism
Main article: Christian reconstructionism

An example of dominionism in reformed theology is Christian reconstructionism, which originated with the teachings of R. J. Rushdoony in the 1960s and 1970s.[7] Rushdoony's theology focuses on theonomy (the rule of the Law of God), a belief that all of society should be ordered according to the laws that governed the Israelites in the Old Testament. His system is strongly Calvinistic, emphasizing the sovereignty of God over human freedom and action, and denying the operation of charismatic gifts in the present day (cessationism); both of these aspects are in direct opposition to Kingdom Now Theology.

Full adherents to reconstructionism are few and marginalized among most Christians.[8][9][10] Dave Hunt,[1] Albert James Dager [2] Hal Lindsey,[3] and Thomas Ice[4] specifically criticize Christian reconstructionism from a Christian viewpoint, disagreeing on theological grounds with its theocratic elements as well as its Calvinism and postmillennialism. J. Ligon Duncan,[11] Sherman Isbell,[12] Vern Poythress,[13] Robert Godfrey,[14] and Sinclair Ferguson[15] analyze reconstructionism as conservative Calvinists, primarily giving a theological critique of its theocratic elements. Michael J. McVicar has noted that many leading Christian reconstructionists are also leading writers in paleolibertarian circles.[16]

Some social scientists have used the word dominionism to refer to adherence to Christian reconstructionism.[17][18][19]

Kingdom Now theology

Kingdom Now theology is a branch of dominion theology which has had a following within Pentecostalism. It attracted attention in the late 1980s.[20][21]

Kingdom Now theology states that although Satan has been in control of the world since the Fall, God is looking for people who will help him take back dominion. Those who yield themselves to the authority of God's apostles and prophets will take control of the kingdoms of this world, being defined as all social institutions, the "kingdom" of education, the "kingdom" of science, the "kingdom" of the arts, etc.[22] C. Peter Wagner, the founder of the New Apostolic Reformation, writes: "The practical theology that best builds a foundation under social transformation is dominion theology, sometimes called 'Kingdom Now'. Its history can be traced back through R. J. Rushdoony and Abraham Kuyper to John Calvin."[23]

Kingdom Now theology is influenced by the Latter Rain movement,[24] and critics have connected it to the New Apostolic Reformation,[25] "Spiritual Warfare Christianity,"[24] and Fivefold ministry thinking.[26]

Kingdom Now theology should not be confused with Kingdom theology, which is related to inaugurated eschatology.

Dominionism and the Christian right

In the late 1980s, sociologist Sara Diamond[27][28] began writing about the intersection of dominion theology with the political activists of the Christian right. Diamond argued that "the primary importance of the [Christian reconstructionist] ideology is its role as a catalyst for what is loosely called 'dominion theology'". According to Diamond, "Largely through the impact of Rushdoony's and North's writings, the concept that Christians are Biblically mandated to 'occupy' all secular institutions has become the central unifying ideology for the Christian Right"[27]:138 (emphasis in original) in the United States.

While acknowledging the small number of actual adherents, authors such as Diamond and Frederick Clarkson have argued that postmillennial Christian reconstructionism played a major role in pushing the primarily premillennial Christian right to adopt a more aggressive dominionist stance.[29]

Misztal and Shupe concur that "Reconstructionists have many more sympathizers who fall somewhere within the dominionist framework, but who are not card-carrying members".[30] According to Diamond, "Reconstructionism is the most intellectually grounded, though esoteric, brand of dominion theology".[29]

Journalist Frederick Clarkson[31][32] 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 the United States.

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.[33]

In 1995, Diamond called the influence of dominion theology "prevalent on the Christian Right".[34]

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".[35]

In 2005, Clarkson enumerated the following characteristics shared by all forms of dominionism:[36]

  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.[36]

Essayist Katherine Yurica began using the term dominionism in her articles in 2004, beginning with "The Despoiling of America" (February 11, 2004),[37][38][39] Authors who also use the term dominionism in the broader sense include journalist Chris Hedges [40][41][42] Marion Maddox,[43] James Rudin,[44] Michelle Goldberg,[45][46] Kevin Phillips,[47] Sam Harris,[48] Ryan Lizza,[49] Frank Schaeffer,[50] and the group TheocracyWatch.[51] Some authors have applied the term to a broader spectrum of people than have Diamond, Clarkson, and Berlet.

Sarah Posner in Salon argues that there are various "iterations of dominionism that call on Christians to enter ... government, law, media and so forth ... so that they are controlled by Christians". According to Posner, "Christian right figures promoted dominionism ... and the GOP courted ... religious leaders for the votes of their followers". She added: "If people really understood dominionism, they’d worry about it between election cycles."[52]

Michelle Goldberg notes[53] that George Grant wrote in his 1987 book The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action:

Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ—to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. ... But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. ... Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land—of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.

A spectrum of dominionism

Writers including Chip Berlet[54] and Frederick Clarkson[36] distinguish between what they term "hard" and "soft" dominionism. Such commentators define "soft" dominionism as the belief that "America is a Christian nation" and opposition to separation of church and state, while "hard" dominionism refers to dominion theology and Christian reconstructionism.

Michelle Goldberg uses the terms Christian nationalism and dominionism for the former view.[45] According to Goldberg:

In many ways, Dominionism is more a political phenomenon than a theological one. It cuts across Christian denominations, from stern, austere sects to the signs-and-wonders culture of modern megachurches. Think of it like political Islamism, which shapes the activism of a number of antagonistic fundamentalist movements, from Sunni Wahabis in the Arab world to Shiite fundamentalists in Iran.[55]

Berlet and Clarkson have agreed that "[s]oft Dominionists are Christian nationalists".[54] Unlike "dominionism", the phrase "Christian nation" occurs commonly in the writings of leaders of the Christian right. Proponents of this idea (such as David Barton and D. James Kennedy) argue that the Founding Fathers of the United States were overwhelmingly Christian, that founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are based on Christian principles, and that a Christian character is fundamental to American culture.[56][57][58] They cite, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court's comment in 1892 that "this [the United States] is a Christian nation",[59] after citing numerous historical and legal arguments in support of that statement.[60]

Kennedy characterized his perspective on Christian political involvement as more akin to participatory democracy than to dominionism. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, Kennedy was asked whether he wanted all public office holders to be Christians. Kennedy answered, "We have people who are secular and humanist and unbelievers who are constantly supporting in every way possible other people who share those views. And I don't object to that. That's their privilege. And I think that Christians should be allowed the same privilege to vote for people whom they believe share their views about life and government. And that's all I'm talking about."[61]

Criticism of the usage of the term dominionism

Those labelled dominionists rarely use the terms dominionist and dominionism for self-description, and some people have attacked the use of such words.[5] Journalist and conservative commentator Stanley Kurtz, writing for the National Review, labeled it "conspiratorial nonsense", "political paranoia", and "guilt by association",[62] and decried Hedges' "vague characterizations" that allow him to "paint a highly questionable picture of a virtually faceless and nameless 'Dominionist' Christian mass".[63] 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.[62]

Joe Carter of First Things writes:

[T]here is no "school of thought" known as "dominionism." The term was coined in the 1980s by Diamond and is never used outside liberal blogs and websites. No reputable scholars use the term for it is a meaningless neologism that Diamond concocted for her dissertation.[64]

Diamond has denied that she coined the broader sense of the term dominionism,[65] which appears in her dissertation and in Roads to Dominion solely to describe dominion theology. Nevertheless, Diamond did originate the idea that dominion theology is the "central unifying ideology for the Christian Right".[27]:138

Jeremy Pierce of First Things coined the word dominionismist to describe those who promote the idea that there is a dominionist conspiracy, writing:

It strikes me as irresponsible to lump [Rushdoony] together with Francis Schaeffer and those influenced by him, especially given Schaeffer's many recorded instances of resisting exactly the kinds of views Rushdoony developed. Indeed, it strikes me as an error of the magnitude of some of Rushdoony's own historical nonsense to consider there to be such a view called Dominionism [sic] that Rushdoony, Schaeffer, James Dobson, and all the other people in the list somehow share and that it seeks to get Christians and only Christians into all the influential positions in secular society.[66]

Lisa Miller of Newsweek writes that "'dominionism' is the paranoid mot du jour" and that "certain journalists use 'dominionist' the way some folks on Fox News use the word sharia. Its strangeness scares people. Without history or context, the word creates a siege mentality in which 'we' need to guard against 'them'."[67] Ross Douthat of The New York Times noted that "many of the people that writers like Diamond and others describe as 'dominionists' would disavow the label, many definitions of dominionism conflate several very different Christian political theologies, and there's a lively debate about whether the term is even useful at all."[68]

Other criticism has focused on the proper use of the term. Berlet wrote that "just because some critics of the Christian Right have stretched the term dominionism past its breaking point does not mean we should abandon the term",[69] and argued that, rather than labeling conservatives as extremists, it would be better to "talk to these people" and "engage them".[70] Sara Diamond wrote that "[l]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".[34] Authors Robert Gagnon and Edith Humphrey argued strongly against the use of the term in reference to US presidential candidate Ted Cruz in a 2016 op-ed for Christianity Today.[71]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Hunt, Dave 1988. Whatever Happened to Heaven? Harvest House.
  2. Dager, Albert James. 1990. Vengeance is Ours: The Church in Dominion Sword Publishers; The World Christian Movement Sword Publishers.
  3. Lindsey, Hal 1990. The Road to Holocaust, Bantam
  4. Ice, Thomas, and H. Wayne House 1988. Dominion Theology: Blessing or Curse?, Multnomah Pub (ISBN 0-88070-261-3)
  5. McVicar, Michael J. (2013). "'Let them have Dominion:' 'Dominion Theology' and the Construction of Religious Extremism in the US Media". Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. 25 (1): 120–145. doi:10.3138/jrpc.25.1.120.
  6. Vlas, Natalia; Vasile Borari (26 July 2013). Religion and Politics in the 21st Century: Global and Local Reflections. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-4438-5076-6. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  7. "5 Facts About Dominionism". 1 September 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2017 – via Huff Post.
  8. Martin, William (1996). With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America. New York: Broadway Books.
  9. Diamond, Sara (1998). Not by Politics Alone: The Enduring Influence of the Christian Right. New York: Guilford Press. p. 213.
  10. Ortiz, Chris (2007). "Gary North on D. James Kennedy". Chalcedon Blog. Chalcedon Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  11. Duncan, J. Ligon 2003. "The Westminster Confession of Faith: A Theonomic Document? Archived November 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine", 13 August 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  12. Isbell, Sherman 1997. "The Divine Law of Political Israel Expired: Part II Archived 2007-03-17 at the Wayback Machine and Part III Archived 2007-03-21 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  13. Poythress, Vern S. 1991. The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses. Brentwood TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishers Inc.
  14. Godfrey, W. Robert 1990, "Calvin and Theonomy," in Theonomy: A Reformed Critique, William S. Barker and W. Robert Godfrey eds., 299–312, (Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1990).
  15. Ferguson, Sinclair 1990. "An Assembly of Theonomists?" in Theonomy: A Reformed Critique, William S. Barker and W. Robert Godfrey eds., 315–349, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Academie Books, 1990.
  16. McVicar, Michael J (Fall 2007), "The Libertarian Theocrats: The Long, Strange History of RJ Rushdoony and Christian Reconstructionism", Public Eye, 22 (3), archived from the original on 23 August 2013, retrieved 24 August 2013
  17. Barron, Bruce A. (1992). Heaven on earth?: the social & political agendas of dominion theology. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. ISBN 0-310-53611-1.
  18. Davis, Derek H.; Hankins, Barry (2003). New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America. Baylor University Press.
  19. Davidson, Carl; Harris, Jerry (2006). "Globalisation, theocracy and the new fascism: the US Right's rise to power" (PDF). Race & Class. 47 (3): 47–67. doi:10.1177/0306396806061086.
  20. Anderson, Gordon (Summer 1990). "Kingdom now theology : a look at its roots and branches". Paraclete. 24 (3): 1–12.
  21. Griffin, William A (Spring 1988). "Kingdom Now : New Hope or New Heresy". Eastern Journal of Practical Theology. 2: 6–36.
  22. "An Examination of Kingdom Theology". Apologetics Index. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  23. Wagner, C. Peter (2008). Dominion!: How Kingdom Action Can Change the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Chosen Books. p. 59. ISBN 0-8007-9435-4.
  24. Steinkamp, Orrel (November–December 2003). "The "Script" Underlying Spiritual Warfare Christianity". The Plumbline. 8 (4). Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  25. West, Marsha (25 May 2010). "Damnable Heresies Invading the Church". Conservative Crusader. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  26. Bowman, Robert M. (Fall 1987). "The Faulty Foundation of the Five-Fold Ministry". Christian Research Journal: 31. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  27. Diamond, Sara (1989). Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right. Boston: South End Press.
  28. Diamond, Sara (1995). Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States. New York: Guilford Press. p. 246. ISBN 0-89862-864-4.
  29. Diamond, Sara (February 1995). "Dominion Theology". Z Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  30. Bruce Barron and Anson Shupe, 1992, "Reasons for the Growing Popularity of Christian Reconstructionism: The Determination to Attain Dominion", in Bronislaw Misztal and Anson D. Shupe, eds. Religion and politics in comparative perspective: revival of religious fundamentalism in East and West. Westport, Conn: Praeger, p.85.
  31. Clarkson, Frederick (March–June 1994). "Christian Reconstructionism: Theocratic Dominionism Gains Influence". The Public Eye. Political Research Associates. 8 (1 & 2).
  32. Clarkson, Frederick (1997). Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. Monroe, Maine: Common Courage. ISBN 1-56751-088-4.
  33. Barron, Bruce A. (1992). Heaven on earth?: the social & political agendas of dominion theology. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. p. 14. ISBN 0-310-53611-1.
  34. Diamond, Sara. 1995. "Dominion Theology." Z Magazine, February 1995
  35. Chip Berlet, "Following the Threads," in Ansell, Amy E. Unraveling the Right: The New Conservatism in American Thought and Politics, pp. 24, Westview Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8133-3147-1
  36. Clarkson, Frederick (Winter 2005). "The Rise of Dominionism: Remaking America as a Christian Nation". The Public Eye. 19 (3). Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  37. Yurica, Katherine (11 February 2004). "The Despoiling of America". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007. Also published in Barry F. Seidman and Neil J. Murphy, ed. (2004). Toward a New Political Humanism. New York: Prometheus Books.
  38. Yurica, Katherine (January 19, 2005). "Why the Bible Commands You to Be a Liberal (And Vote for Democrats)". Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  39. Yurica, Katherine (23 May 2005). "Yurica Responds to Stanley Kurtz Attack". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  40. The Christian Right and the Rise of American Fascism By Chris Hedges, TheocracyWatch.
  41. Hedges, Chris (May 2005). "Feeling the hate with the National Religious Broadcasters". Harper's. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  42. Hedges, Chris, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, Free Press, 2006
  43. Maddox, Marion 2005. God under Howard: The Rise of the Religious Right in Australian Politics, Allen & Unwin.
  44. Rudin, James 2006. The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us, New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.
  45. Goldberg, Michelle 2006. Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-06094-2 (10). ISBN 978-0-393-06094-2 (13).
  46. Goldberg, Michelle 2011. "A Christian Plot for Domination?". The Daily Beast. Published 14 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  47. Phillips, Kevin 2006. American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century ISBN 0-670-03486-X
  48. Harris, Sam 2007. "God's dupes," Los Angeles Times, 15 March 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2007
  49. Lizza, Ryan 2011. "Leap of Faith". The New Yorker. Published 15 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  50. Frank Schaeffer, August 9, 2011, "Michele Bachmann Was Inspired By My Dad and His Christian Reconstructionist Friends – Here's Why That's Terrifying." Alternet. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  51. "The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party," TheocracyWatch, December 2005. Retrieved May 8, 2006.
  52. Sarah Posner, 2011, The Christian right's 'dominionist' strategy: The emergence of Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann as top presidential candidates is a story 30 years in the making" Salon, August 21,
  53. Michelle Goldberg, 2006, "Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism," Salon, May 12,
  54. Chip Berlet The Christian Right, Dominionism, and Theocracy: Part Two Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  55. Michelle Goldberg, "A Christian Plot for Domination?" The Daily Beast, August 14, 2011,
  56. Barton, David 1993. America's Godly Heritage. WallBuilder Press.
  57. Kennedy, D. James and Jim Nelson Black 1994. Character and Destiny: A Nation in Search of Its Soul. Zondervan Publishing.
  58. Kennedy, D. James and Jerry Newcombe 2003. What If America Were a Christian Nation Again? Thomas Nelson.
  59. Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U.S. 457, 12 S.Ct. 511, 36 L.Ed. 226, 29 February 1892
  60. "Christian Roots of America". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  61. "Closing the Gap Between Church and State". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  62. Stanley Kurtz (2005-05-02). "Dominionist Domination: The Left runs with a wild theory". National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  63. Stanley Kurtz (2005-04-28). "Scary Stuff". National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  64. Carter, Joe, 2011. A Journalism Lesson for the New Yorker. First Things. Published 10 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  65. Chip Berlet, 2011, "How We Coined the Term 'Dominionism'" Talk to Action, August 31,
  66. Pierce, Jeremy, 2011. Dominionismists. First Things. Published 14 August 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  67. Miller, Lisa, 2011. "'Dominionism' beliefs among conservative Christians overblown." Newsweek. Published 18 August 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  68. Douthat, Ross 2011. "The New Yorker and Francis Schaeffer." The New York Times. Published 29 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  69. Berlet, Chip, 2005. The Christian Right, Dominionism, and Theocracy Archived September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  70. Ellis Henican, "A spiritual olive branch for the far-right faithful" Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Newsday, May 1, 2005. Reposted at YuricaReport.com. Retrieved 23 September 2006
  71. "Stop Calling Ted Cruz a Dominionist". Retrieved 3 November 2017.

Bibliography

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