. . . Like Perry, Scott, Bachmann, Palin, et al, who deny and deride the findings of science, preferring instead to take cues from the Bible. (n.b.: Despite being one of the most vehement anti-science Luddites when it comes to Evolution and Global Warming, it is fascinating to note that when Texas Governor Rick Perry underwent back surgery last month -- a spinal fusion and nerve decompression -- his doctors employed an experimental injection of his own stem cells -- a therapy that is not FDA-approved. Seems like shades of "Get the government out of my life . . . but keep your hands off my Social Security!")
We're going to be hearing/reading/seeing a lot of Governor Perry in the days and weeks ahead -- or until his "flavor-of-the-week" status takes a nosedive.
As head-scratching and disconcerting as all this neo-luddism may be, it takes a back seat to the far, far more dangerous political theology known as "Dominionism."
Dominionism: This refers to a theocratic strain of Christian fundamentalist theology which holds that certain Christians -- like Perry or Bachmann -- have a God-given right to rule all earthly institutions until the Second Coming of Jesus. Transmuted from pulpit to political platform, Dominionism is, in the words of writer Michelle Goldberg, ". . . more of a political phenomenon than a theological one." According to George Grant, an evangelical educator who used to an assistant to the late D. James Kennedy at Ft. Lauderdale's mammoth Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church ("Truth in Action Ministries"),"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have dominion in civil stru ctures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice . . . it is dominion we are after. Not just equal time . . . World Conquest."
Dominionism derives from a small fringe sect called Christian Reconstructionism, founded in the 1960s by a Calvinist theologian named R.J. Rushdoony. Christian Reconstruction, according to journalist Goldberg, ". . . openly advocates replacing American law with the strictures of the Old Testament, replete with the death penalty for homosexuality, abortion, and even apostasy." Dominionism takes its name from the Biblical Book of Genesis (1:26-27) where God tells Adam to assume "dominion" over the animate and inanimate world. (Commenting on the key word v'yirdu -- either "exercise dominion" or "dominate"-- the great medievalist Rashi writes, "[If he is] meritorious, he has dominion over the beasts and cattle. [If he is] not meritorious [then] he becomes subjugated to them and the beast has dominion over him." According to Rushdoony, Francis Schaeffer (one of Rushdoony's chief disciples, and the godfather of the anti-abortion movement) and the Rev. Pat Robertson, "only those who are saved via baptism can claim again the rights given to Adam." And not just any Christian who might be baptized mind you, but only those who are baptized by the right sort of Christians . . . whoever they may be.
These people -- the ones who are divinely commanded to dominate government and scale the heights of what they term the "Seven Mountains" of society (family, religion, arts and entertainment, media, government, education and business) until the Second Coming -- include, among others, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and Rick Scott.
The emergence of Luddites and Dominionists in our political process is one that requires steadfast attention. They -- like the mega-wealthy -- may not be within our ken; may be far, from the reality of our daily lives; may even seem so incredibly outrà © as to be harmless -- but they are not. Yes, Luddites and Dominionists -- like the very rich -- are different from you and me. But just as the very rich are already exercising an ever-increasing and frightening influence over the nation's policies and politics (see my July 31 article, The U S of ALEC) so too are the Luddites and Dominionists -- many of whom, I am truly sorry to report, are being funded by the mega-wealthy.
America is fast reaching a dangerous crossroads; one in which we will choose a direction for our future; one in which we will choose whether to talk with, to listen to or to turn a deaf ear on, those who are very, very different from you and me.
To all the Luddites and Dominionists amongst us, I end this piece by giving you a verifiable quote from Ernest Hemingway's Men Without Women:
"Would you please, please, please, please, please, please, please stop talking . . .?"
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