Secret Fundamentalism

[Joanne98]

Jeff Sharlet: The Family

The secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, HarperCollins e-books, copyright 2008, Kindle edition

Part One

The FAMILY, by Jeff Sharlet, sounds rather like the tile to a book about the Mafia. And in a way this book is about a religious fundamentalist mafia. The problem is that the very people who should read this book and be warned probably won’t be bothered to take the time. The Genealogy of American Protestant Fundamentalism goes back to the early history of this country, and further back to England and Europe, Lutherans and the wars among the Christians, Catholics and Protestants. Sharlet explores the early history and traces where the “Experimental” Fundamentalists breaks away from the traveling preachers or revival preachers – the Evangelical brand that is closely identified with the American Frontier.

Missionaries are part of many religions. The need to convert others, to save others, to offer salvation to the world, the heathen world has been a driving force behind the colonization of the globe by European Nations – oh that and the allure of Gold and other high values commodities. Set this concept of Missionary aside and think of the one very special class in need of salvation. Then set this aside and think of an even more exclusive class, the ruling class and even despot dictators.

The goal of the Secret Fundamentalist cult is to turn the US into a Theocracy followed by the whole world. Just a simply little goal – and as usual with cultist only the supreme leader is able to speak directly with their God. Democracy is messy. This Fundamentalist cult has a history of seeking the powerful politically and corporate leaders. Their idea of creating Christ’s heaven on earth is using the existing power structure.

Jeff Sharlet takes us from his first encounter with the Family and then backward in time to the roots of this Dominionist religion. If you were raised in one of the many American Christian Fundamentalists sects you will no doubt be familiar with much of the religion-speak. But forget about the Jesus of the New Testament and his beatitudes, of caring for those less fortunate than ourselves. The very wealthy corporatists aren’t interested in welfare and social security. Their version of God smiles on the rulers and leaders. The reason people are poor it is God’s will and it is the fault of the poor, they have been bad and are evil. The gilded era of America is when the missionaries to the top tier of the wealthiest began their form of American Fundamentalism. These missionaries are not interested in spreading democracy. The reign of Jesus on earth will not be through democracy in the view of the founders of this brand of Christians.

The problem is that this Dominion over the world brand of fundamentalist has a vision of their perfect world. There are several different versions of God’s Kingdom on earth according to the different evangelical fundamentalist sects, each has their own path to their perfect world. Free will or choice doesn’t enter into their perfect world. Independent women, or women’s view equal human rights to those of men isn’t part of the perfect world of the Dominionist’s world view. Women can and have been used a soldiers to further the goals of these Secret Fundamentalists

Continued>>>
http://imaginationpluspolitics.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/secret-fundamentalism-a-book-review/

[lazarus]

1. That's a good book

frightening, but good. These people have left mainstream Christianity far behind. It's Free Market Jesus!

[Joe Bacon]

2. Their real god is Ayn Rand

And their real Jesus is John Galt
Their real Holy Ghost is the Invisible Hand
And their real Bible is Atlas Shrugged.

They aren't Christians. They are members of the Cougar Cult who worship a selfish, narcissistic drug addict.

[Joanne98]

3. They're heretics too.

[trotsky]

4. By engaging in the "They aren't Christians" (i.e., "No true Scotsman") fallacy...

you are engaging in the exact same behavior they do.

A Christian is a person who claims they are one. They may be despicable, ruthless people, but they are Christians in the way they think Christians should be. Blame the bible for being so contradictory that people can pretty much be a Christian and embrace just about any position they want.

[lazarus]

5. exactly

that's why I framed it that they had left "mainstream" Christianity behind. They're still Christian, they're just a very weird flavour of Christian.

Of course, I think it's all weird, so....

[Zen Democrat]

6. I think people living lives in total conflict with the Sermon on the Mount ....

are either wolves in sheeps clothing, or they are ignorant. In either case, I don't think they are Christians just because they claim to be.

[trotsky]

9. So, you follow every single line of the Sermon on the Mount?

I mean, if you didn't, that would be a bit hypocritical, right?

[Zen Democrat]

11. Did I claim to be a Christian?

[trotsky]

12. Irrelevant to the point.

Do "real Christians" follow every line in the sermon?

[Zen Democrat]

15. No. But I do discern a difference between those making a sincere attempt at humanistic principals,

and the moneychangers in the Temple. I have relatives who are up to their eyeballs in fundamentalism, and I can't detect a kind heart among them. Just because they holler for Jesus and are smug in their piousness doesn't make them Christian, or spiritual, or even Bible-readers. It makes them a bunch of jerks who regularly show their asses.

I see where you're coming from, but I simply don't think a declaration of being anything makes you that thing. Not even a Christian.

[trotsky]

16. Ahh, now you're qualifying.

Your complaint about the fundies in the OP was that they didn't follow the Sermon on the Mount. Now you admit that even "real" Christians might not do that.

I look at it like this: unless we can read minds, we have to take someone at their word. They are who they say they are, unless something about their belief directly contradicts a KNOWN and AGREED UPON characteristic of the thing they say they are.

(See, that "known and agreed upon" part with Christianity is the tricky part. Christians themselves can't even agree - witness the hundreds of different churches, sects, cults, and divisions over the past 2000 years.)

[Stuckinthebush]

13. Trotsky is absolutely correct

To claim that they aren't real Christians is akin to putting our heads in the sand. The word "Christian" means what the believer wants it to mean. If you ask any Christian what the bedrock of their belief is, then they would all say that Jesus is the son of God. From that point forward their views may depart but the underlying belief of Jesus as a savior is the key.

The fundamentalists have taken over the word Christian so that it means something very scary to many non Christians. These fundamentalists truly envision a war between good and evil being waged daily. You are either with them or with the devil. There is no middle ground and no questioning their beliefs. They see the non-fundamentalist Christians as lost and in as much need of saving as the non Christians.

This war mentality makes them always on alert and always planning for control. Control of school boards, control of local government, control of state governments, control of news, and control of the federal government. Since it is a war then all is fair. They are fighting for Jesus. Moderate and liberal Christians may poo-poo their influence as being non Christian but that doesn't lessen their quest to win the spiritual war.

I had a recent interaction with a college acquaintance on Facebook that highlights their mentality. He had put up a post that simply said, "Jesus is the Foundation and the Chief Cornerstone of the US. He is our only Hope." I am accustomed to his religious posts and usually don't say a word because he is entitled to his opinion. This time I simply said, "Well what would such a country look like?" Then I discussed the beauty of our multifaceted nation and how the majority doesn't really want a Christian theocracy. A mutual friend chimed in with some thoughtful replies about diversity. Then his response was "Jesus is sinless. He suffered and died for our sins. He is the only way to heaven!"

His response was so off the topic that it made me ponder his mental state. He is not interested in debating or discussing what a theocracy looks like or the benefits of a multi-cultural and multi-philosophical nation. He is programed to defend Jesus. My other friend wrote him back and tried again to infuse the conversation with a thoughtful discussion of diversity to no avail. Finally one of his friends whom I don't know wrote, "Hang tough! Stay strong for Jesus!"

And there it is. The mentality. It is a war. They are fighting everyone and everything that challenges their notion of Christianity. They are the true Christians and it is their duty to turn this nation into a "god fearing" paradise.

It's a war folks. We can either realize that we are in it or watch as they take over. I'm actually very very frightened of what they may do.

[Enthusiast]

14. The bible is THE perfect owners

manual for the evil greedy manipulative fascists. Because one can always find a passage to support their position.

[sui generis]

18. Most people who spout off about Ayn Rand only know what they've been spoon fed

Find another devil - this one is so . . . passe. And misappropriated here.

In fact I'd go so far as to say that people who need named devils aren't very far from that protestant mafia themselves - we should have more enlightened arguments, I think.

I'd describe fundies as people who feel empowered to force you to agree with their worldview - and ultimately they're authoritarias. Crime itself is meaningless when compared to the crime of defying authority - in whatever form - a bible, a holy man, a self-proclaimed authority.

[av8rdave]

7. Thanks...just downloaded the book

Looks like a very disturbing but interesting read.

[Joanne98]

8. I'm reading it right now. It's shocking and packed full of useful tibits..

We never knew.

[av8rdave]

10. So am I.

I know several people who would think of this as a good thing. Scary.

[Name removed]

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