5 Facts About Dominionism

By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

(RNS) In recent weeks, an arcane and scary-sounding religious term has crept into the lexicon of the 2012 campaign, tripping from the tongue of everyone from MSNBC broadcaster Rachel Maddow to conservative Christian leader Ralph Reed.

Depending on whom you ask, "Dominionism" either signifies a Christian plot for world domination, or the latest liberal bugaboo.

Here are five facts about Dominionism to help you decide for yourself:

What is "Dominionism"?

The term "Dominionism" was popularized in the 1990s by scholars and journalists, who applied it to conservative Christians seeking political power. It derives from the Book of Genesis, in which God tells Adam and Eve to have "dominion" over the Earth and its animals. "Dominionism" generally describes the belief that Christians are biblically mandated to control all earthly institutions until the second coming of Jesus.

Experts identify two main schools of Dominionism: Christian Reconstructionists, who believe biblical law, including stoning as punishment for adultery and other transgressions, should replace secular law; and the New Apostolic Reformation, which advocates for Christians to "reclaim the seven mountains of culture": government, religion, media, family, business, education, and arts and entertainment.

Who are "Dominionists"?

Very few Christians identify themselves as "Dominionists." But experts say the New Apostolic Reformation has gained traction among charismatic Christians and Pentecostals under the influence of C. Peter Wagner, a church-growth guru and prolific author. Prominent "apostles" in the NAR include Lou Engle, co-founder of TheCall assemblies and Mike Bickle, director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo.

Where are Dominionists?

Experts say the New Apostolic Reformation has chapters of "prayer warriors" in all 50 states and in foreign countries where Pentecostalism and charismatic Christianity are popular. Membership numbers are difficult to ascertain, however, since adherents are not required to officially join any church, seminary or ministry.

Some experts say Dominionism is more a school of thought than a social group. Its influence can be seen in textbooks that portray the Founding Fathers as devout evangelicals, in an anti-gay bill in Uganda and in the home-schooling movement, they say. Evangelical experts, however, say they see no evidence of Dominionist thought among conservative Christian elites.

When did Dominionism arise?

Christian Reconstructionism is the brainchild of the R.J. Rushdoony, a Calvinist theologian who died in 2001, leaving behind several dense tomes and a small band of followers. The New Apostolic Reformation traces its roots to several Pentecostal movements that proliferated in the second half of the 20th century.

Why are people talking about Dominionism now?

The topic has bobbed up almost every four years since evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson, who has espoused Dominionist ideas, ran for president in 1988. During the 2008 election, for instance, a video surfaced of a pastor active in the New Apostolic Reformation praying over Sarah Palin, raising questions about her involvement with the group.

In August, several pastors affiliated with NAR helped organize and delivered speeches at Texas Gov. Rick Perry's prayer rally in Houston. Perry is expected to need strong support from conservative Christians in his run for the presidency, as is Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who has expressed admiration for writers accused of espousing Dominionist ideas.

Many conservative Christians dismiss the attention on Dominionism as liberal fearmongering. They wish to participate in American culture, they say, not dominate it.

Comments

[wcgfairfield]

07:02 AM on 10/09/2011

Getting mixed up in the politics of this world, as is suggested by Dominionism, is contrary to Scripture. Christians should pay attention to John 18:36... Jesus clearly referenced that (1) His kingdom IS NOT of this world, and (2) His servants DO NOT fight or participate in an aggressive manner because of that. This is how Christians can and will end up losing their salvation.

[agentklf]

01:53 PM on 09/28/2011

The Religious Right do NOT want a state-sponsored church, as they are sometimes accused of advocating. But what they DO want is probably a lot worse.

What many want is for Biblical Law (primarily Leviticus) to be legislated into the US penal code. That means, for example, that anyone that doesn't profess Evangelical Christianity as his or her religion would be executed. The same punishment would apply to gays, working on the "sabbath," adultery, disobedient children, gluttony, and many other offenses.

Don't be fooled when they say they don't want a state church, because that's just a cover for what they really do want.

[JDS485]

02:00 AM on 10/30/2011

Biblical Law? Execution for not being an evangelical christian, gay, work on the sabbath, gluttony? Are you serious? or are you confusing Evangelical Christians with another religion? There's a doctrine called the doctrine of Balaam Jezebel and the Nicolaitans.

Theres not much about what the teachings of the Nicolaitans are in the bible, but two things can be certain, God hated it and it developed within the church of God. The Name of Balaam means "conqueror of people and nations." Oddly enough Nicolai also means the same thing.

So the doctrine that God Hates had something to do with trampling over people using the Name of God. The Nicolaitans went contrary to God's call to Love with all your heart. Dominionism MIGHT be what you're saying. a doctrine of practicing literal Old testament Biblical Law or "Christian Shari'a Law" as someone else put it..

But What true dominion calls for is the transcendence of Gods Gospel of Love, permeating through ALL aspects of Life not just "church"... I don't know where this concept of Christians wanting to kill others for their sins came from, when the atonement for death was provided by Jesus Christ. And his blood was sufficient. Killing in the name of God is something that God hates. Anyone who believes in the contrary are not followers of Christ.

[USAFree1]

03:07 PM on 09/20/2011

I wonder if the author bothered to read 'The Family' by Jeff Sharlet?

[Aerin Gael]

12:11 AM on 09/16/2011

Keep your god out of my Government.

The First Amendment of the Constitution. I would defend it to the death.

[galanos1]

06:32 PM on 09/13/2011

The method of our Holy Church is Love; it differs from the method of Law. The Church observes everything with tolerance and provides to help everyone, even those that have crucially sinned and have repented and have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

[ebony zerr]

10:27 PM on 09/11/2011

If you want to find out about dominionists, read THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER by Kevin Reeves, available through Lighthouse Trails Publishers 866-976-3910. It exposes the NAR, River movement, Word of Faith movement, Toronto Blessing, International House of Prayer, Rick Warren/Purpose-Driven Life, Randy Clark, Rodney Howard-Brown, Toronto Airport Vinyard Church, Willow Creek, Bill Hybels, Latter Rain, Vinyard movement, River Revival movement, Brownsville Revival, Pennsacola Outpouring, Kansas City Prophets and many others.

[agentklf]

09:33 PM on 09/10/2011

It's about time someone started reporting on the influence of Dominionism among evangelicals and pentecostals.

[DianneinCA]

02:02 PM on 09/08/2011

"They wish to participate in American culture, they say, not dominate it."

I say BS. The evangelicals are not open enough to participate in any part of American culture they can not try to dominate and turn to their ideology. They can not even chance having their children attend secular schools for fear they may pick up progressive ideas. Evangelicals want to dominate. The up side is that the evangelical movement is not growing, for all the noise they make. They are their own worst enemies in that when people hear what they believe they are repulsed by the callous, uncaring and unchristian like tenets. It is a shrinking minority, and rightfully so. They sure know how to play victims though.

[ebony zerr]

10:30 PM on 09/11/2011

All Christians are not Dominionists; only some are, and some don't even know dominionism exists. I can't warn you enough about Rick Warren and his purpose driven philosophy which has ruined some wonderful and decent churches.

[alterego55]

07:29 PM on 09/13/2011

Not to mention his organization lied through its teeth about how tickets were going to be issued when it hosted the Obama/McCain non-debate. I still have the email they sent me.

[arjuna3guna]

12:34 AM on 09/08/2011

The wall between church and state was upheld when the supreme court decided that public schools could no longer teach religion. I think that was in the 1940s or 1950s. Great PBS documentary on it the other day.

Why does this article make me think of PIZZA.

[WilmaJune]

06:59 AM on 09/08/2011

Prayer in school stopped in 1962. The son of the woman who caused it grew up to become a Pastor.

[SDLee]

05:21 PM on 09/07/2011

I coined the phrase "Christian Sharia Law" to describe the motives and tendencies of these fanatics.

[Michael Legnon]

05:01 PM on 09/07/2011

Paraphrasing....IMAGINE there's no heaven, no hell below us....nothing to kill or die for...no religion, too. IMAGINE ALL PEOPLE LIVING LIFE IN PEACE.

[JDS485]

02:09 AM on 10/30/2011

Imagining a world where no one is jealous, envious, greedy, hungry for power, covetous, etc... If there's nothing to kill or die for, trust that there will be eventually. Having No God/No religion will leave a vacuum that anyone one who's hungry enough will try to fill. Most likely with a deep desire to have others to worship them. The whole world has had a taste of "God". Getting rid of God, Heaven, Hell, Religion isn't going to change anything.. Supply and demand, scarcity. They will desire it so bad that they are willing to put a mere human in God's place just to have something to worship.

[Allan H Clark]

04:37 PM on 09/07/2011

Reconstructionists themselves use the term dominionism to describe their beliefs:

"Reconstructionists are dominionists, not pietists. We hold that to limit God’s authority over all of life is to deny His sovereignty. We believe Christ is Lord over all things. We believe we are called like the first Adam and mainly in the strength of the second Adam, our Lord, to exercise dominion in His name throughout the earth."

"http://forerunner.com/puritan/PS.Recon_Manifesto.html"

Dominionism is not just a name foisted on the Reconstructionists by the liberal media. It is a term that they recognize as self-descriptive.

[SDLee]

05:22 PM on 09/07/2011

Thanks for providing a description of the amazing superstitions that inhabit your mind.

[SDLee]

02:51 PM on 09/07/2011

Why the strong censorship of words like "superstition," and "unchristian." Knock it off huffpo editors and let the people speak.

[SDLee]

02:38 PM on 09/07/2011

Christian Sharia Law is the turn of phrase I originated to associate most vividly the behavior and goals of these good people.

[SDLee]

02:36 PM on 09/07/2011

This is a mass psychosis not unlike the Islamic frenzies that periodically break out . Becuse it is motivated by fear and loathing it is inherently unchristian in character. In fact, it is rank superstition.