Posted on 07/03/2005 2:07:41 AM PDT by Dan Evans
A year after suggesting possible secession from the United States, a group of Christians fed up with American laws they believe are at odds with the Bible is beginning to move to its target state of South Carolina.
ChristianExodus.org has attracted more than 700 members from across America since WND broke the news of its inception last May, and already a half-dozen families have picked up and transplanted to the Palmetto State.
"A year ago, no one had moved. It was just a project on the board," said Cory Burnell, a financial adviser who is president of ChristianExodus. "Now, it's actually happening. Whether it's a couple of years or 20 years, we're gonna get it done."
Calling the legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts the straw that broke the camel's back, the group was inspired to concentrate like-minded Christians in a single area to influence local laws, with secession a possibility. Recent Supreme Court decisions regarding the seizure of private property and the debate over the public display of the Ten Commandments have only served to strengthen the resolve of many.
"We, like other believers, as well as many other conservatives have seen the political situation in the United States dominated by liberals over the last 40 years, whether they were in power or not," says Mike Sawyer, who is looking to make the move. "The 'conservative Republican' party has let the people who have worked to get them elected down repeatedly. The latest 'filibuster disaster' regarding judicial nominees is a case in point. Basically, a handful of Republican senators decided to cave in to the liberals, again. We believe that this can only be turned around with a concentrated effort in one state."
But is splitting away from the U.S. a serious option?
"The thought of secession is a last resort strategy," Sawyer said. "We hope to work within the system as much as possible in order to restore a true constitutional government."
That sentiment is echoed by Frank Janoski, who moved his wife, Tammy, and their four children from Mohrsville, Pa., to South Carolina in February.
"I believe we can work with 'the system' if you will to effect the outcome of local elections and certainly the CE theory is to do this county by county," Janoski said, "but I do not discount the possibility that the federal government or the rest of the 'union' may not agree with our objectives or core politics. So secession may be a very real alternative – and is as I believe our constitutional right if things lead to that."
"I'm about as patriotic as anyone you'll ever meet," says Charles Lewis, who moved his family of four from the nation's capital for the opportunity to raise his children in a wholesome, Christian-friendly environment. "However, the secession option is firmly in the Constitution – it's the linchpin of the whole thing, [the] ultimate safety valve."
Nevertheless, Lewis' love for America remains clear.
"The USA is God's country, the greatest nation of modern times," he told WND. "We've fed the world, fought its wars, sent out more missionaries to spread the word of God than any other. Our Declaration and Constitution were divinely inspired."
ChristianExodus members are coordinating with the Constitution Party, the political party most closely aligned with the goals of Burnell's group. Those who make the move are expected to play an active role in local and state politics, with many looking to run for elected office.
Burnell says he's excited about the movement due to the sheer youth of those involved.
"Most of our leadership is in their twenties, thirties and forties," he said. "We're a project driven by young people. We're not going anywhere – except South Carolina."
Though ChristianExodus does not have any test for citizenship, it does post a statement of beliefs on its website. Burnell says Catholics, Mormons and even Jews are members, all looking to reestablish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles.
When news of the movement first came out last year, both ChristianExodus and WND received both positive and negative reaction, with critics saying:
"Talk about giving the 'left' a weapon from our weakness! These Christians are asking the state that started the Civil War to leave the U.S., and start a new country? With ideas like this, we won't need a devil." (Peter Ward)
"Those 'Christian secessionists' are just not thinking properly. Their heads are just as muddled as the rest of the citizens. They should be arrested for high treason against the USA. ... An independent 'Christian state' where the vast majority of the 'Christian' population is prayerless and continues to be addicted to TV entertainment is far from being the solution. (James Chai)
I wonder if the FR reaction would be so mild if a Muslim group made a similar announcement? ;)
I knew I was setting myself up for that locust link! Yes, that groups is indeed weird. There are groups dedicated to getting some women out. I wonder what they do when they finally meet a decent guy.
Sounds good but Alabama is just too hot. WV might fill the bill.
West Virginia is a beautiful state with beautiful people.
With the exception of Senators Kleagle and RocksInHisHead.
Why couldn't they convert a small state like Rhode Island from the democratic wasteland that it currently is - it seems that a few thousand there would give Republicans another electoral state in the otherwise total democratic northeast?
Nope. Cutting-n-running never works. Band together with your like ideas and work within the system to change things. Heck, the gay community has done a lot with (+/-) 1% of the population. Christians can be just as loud, you'd think!
(Or just plan your permanent escape to a self-sufficient cabin in the North Woods as I am doing, LOL!)
Lincoln was the first Republican president. It was his stated goal to keep the Union united, by force if necessary. It was. Do you suppose W wouldn't do likewise?
LOL
But the GOP wasn't created to keep the country together as you said.
The GOP was created in opposition to the practice of slavery, long BEFORE Lincoln was their Presidential nominee....
Let me guess, YOU would have let the Southern states go without a fight?
Believe me the whackjobs in South Carolina aren't going anywhere.
Okay, I'll stand corrected, then.
Let me guess, YOU would have let the Southern states go without a fight?
It would have likely been my position at the time that a state's ratification of the Constitution was a voluntary arrangement that could be negated at any time by a simple vote to de-ratify. The country was divided in many ways, not the least of which was the political divide that had those who believe in the US as a nation on one side, and those who believed in the US as a treaty organization on the other.
Let me guess...you would have spent Yankee blood to take Mississippi back?
So what would YOU have done?
If I believed that it was the RIGHT thing to do, I would have. I believe Washington would have too and Jefferson as well.
If you do the locust recipe, let me know how it is!
If you actually make it, you are braver than me! LOL!
The poor woman I saw was pretty bewildered. (Although very grateful to be out) she refered to that cult as "the Christian Taliban".
It's going to take a really special man to help her recover.
South Carolina has only 14 blue counties. Most of them are very rural. Conservative influx into these counties could make a huge difference in state government, which is where one would have to start.
I haven't been able to find any grasshoppers out in my yeard. We used to name the grasshoppers when I was little so it would feel weird eating George (little brown grasshoppers) or Ralph (little green grasshoppers). Actually, I did swallow, not chew, silkworms in Korea. They actually sell them in cans over there.
As far as that lady, she is indeed going to have a lot to go through. I wonder what her former husband will do. Osama has that licked though, every time he loses a wife, he just looks around for the nearest camel or donkey. Umm...I'll stop it there....
Hmmm.
I couldn't eat anything I had given a name to either.
I am sure the lady's former husband will simply look around at some of the teen-age daughters of the cult, pick out one he likes and then make a deal with her father.
VERY traditional.
Yeah, they will probably choose a teenage girl. I think though, that eventually even those will be in short supply. I can't imagine being raised to marry 80-year-old Uncle Vern. That's enough to drive some of the girls crazy.
It's enough to make some of the girls run.
Part of the program I saw described a pair of teen-agers, cousins I believe, who bolted when their turn came.
They were stopped by the police in Nevada I think.
BIG broo-ha-ha of what to do with them since they were under-age, and their families wanted them back.
Cannot recall what became of that.
bye!
It's enough to make all the girls run.
I think that some girls get returned and some don't. I don't keep up on the stats. They do have a bunch of those young boys who were expelled though, whom they are still wondering what to do do with. I believe they are placing some of them and training others.
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