The Makings of a Theocracy in America? (The Family)

[LAGC]

I apologize if this has already been referenced elsewhere -- the article is a month old, but a chilling account none-the-less:

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/98841/DCs_invisible_army_for_Christ

What is the Family?
It’s the most well-connected religious organization that no one talks about. Formed in 1935 by an itinerant preacher, Norwegian immigrant Abraham Vereide, the Family has grown into “a veritable underground of Christ’s men all through government,” in the words of Family member and evangelical minister Charles Colson, the convicted Watergate conspirator. The Washington-based group counts many prominent politicians, mostly conservative Republicans, among its flock, and several members of Congress pay $600 a month to rent rooms in the group’s townhouse on C Street, near the U.S. Capitol. There are Family “prayer cells” in many federal agencies, including the Pentagon and the Justice Department. The Family tries to maintain a low profile (see below), but was thrust into the headlines in recent weeks when it emerged that three politicians embroiled in sex scandals—South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Nevada Sen. John Ensign, and former Mississippi Rep. Chip Pickering—are longtime members. Pickering, in fact, last week was accused in court papers of having trysts with his mistress in the C Street house.
..
..
What does the Family believe?
Its theology is vague, elastic, and focused on power. The basic precepts came to Vereide in a vision in 1935, according to the group’s literature. Living in Seattle, he came to believe that union organizing in the city was communist-inspired. Jesus appeared to him in the form of the president of U.S. Steel, who told him to gather “key men”—prominent businessmen and political leaders—to beat back the unions in His name. Vereide’s recruiting efforts spread eastward, and in 1941 he arrived in Washington, where he began cultivating friendships with powerful people and setting up prayer groups. By then, Vereide was convinced that conventional Christianity had it backwards: Instead of ministering to the down-and-out, Jesus wanted believers to tend to the “up-and-out”—members of America’s elite who lacked intimacy with Jesus. In Vereide’s worldview, free-market capitalism is divinely ordained, and unions and regulations are a form of blasphemy.
..
..
Is the Family a threat?
Few in Washington seem too worried. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has taken part in Family activities despite her liberal politics, and has called Coe “a genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God.” The first President Bush called Coe an “ambassador of faith.” Supporters also note that Family members helped convince President Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, and Menachem Begin to call for a worldwide day of prayer to usher in the Camp David Peace Accords. And members helped broker a 2001 peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Such successes, Family members say, demonstrate the group’s good intentions. “There’s nothing sinister here, no dark secrets,” says former Rep. Tony Hall of Ohio. “It’s the exact opposite of what Washington is about.”
..
..

Working diligently, slowly chipping away at the wall of separation between church and state... scary.

[defendandprotect]

1. Important subject we all have to pay attention to -- especially re Hillary . . .!!!

[RandomThoughts]

2. If what is said about the person that started that sect is true,

I think on it from this perspective. The effect of what he believed if it was told to some types of people.

Go up to certain types of people in a good position in life. Tell them they are there because they are better and special and chosen.

Tell them that they get to pick how God's blessings are dispersed because they are chosen, tell them they have power and it is from divine right.

Tell them that sin is really shame and as long as you keep it secret they can do whatever they want because they are special.

Think about it, tell someone that, what do you think they would do. How would they act if they liked the thought of believing it. It sure makes all those perks easy to rationalize. I know many did not believe it that way, and saw themselves as servants but not with higher value then other people, but some take it as entitlement leading to corruption by using any means for secret rule.



What basis does the guy use to make the claim that the guy from US Steel was Jesus. How did he know? You could say he recognized the voice of Jesus, but that would only count if he was one of Jesus' sheep. And you would think the voice should sound like the things Jesus said.

So how did he know?

Did the guy from US Steel say the same things as Jesus, is that how he knew? Did he say to feed and cloth the poor, to give your cloak if your coat was stolen, did he tell him to love thy neighbor as himself. What things did that guy say that made him think the US Steel guy was Jesus.

My guess is the US Steel thing, if it is not a Machiavellian lie, showed power. And the guy thought anything that has any power must be God.

Also that thing he saw told him to beat back unions and communism, at the same time Hitler was being told the same thing from his occult sources. Don't you people get it. Hitler put leftist and communist side by side with the gays and the immigrants and the Jews in the concentration camps. The methods used during those times by some groups were bad. And they thought they were special with a divine right also. They thought their group should decide. And they lost empathy for other groups or people of other thoughts. I disagree with Communism, but that does not mean I think the same type of government should be done under a different name, unregulated Capitalism, nor do I believe in all implementations of Capitalism or Communism. Economic systems are not the problem, they decide where money comes and goes, it isn't about money. If it is thought of in economic systems, I think it is about how society treats its people, and what modified systems do that best.

Both British and US interest allied with USSR to fight WW2, if they would have followed that guy from 'the family', and what he was told is most important they would have sided with Hitler.

Can you see what this is, it is no different then ancient Rome, it is not new. It is ideas of privilege and thirst for power for self gain over ideas of love for people even if they don't match the weakness of your biases. It is not new, and is seen in the programs the different groups support, and the results of those programs.




(To be fair, many people that might have visited that group or are even involved many not have believed in the view spoken of in many articles and in quotes from their leader. Some might not have thought that is what it is. It is not fair to stereotype, but if you just look at the actions and beliefs spoken of by the initial statements, it is no different then Jim Jones, or David Koresh, convince them they are like God, get them to do bad things, and get them to hurt themselves and other people.)


Also if anyone thinks I am just wrong I have no problem with that, I know I could be right, I could be wrong, that is also not important if people think and feel on it and make a decision based on what they think is right.