Posted on 05/02/2005 10:46:25 AM PDT by Bombardier
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"This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy." U.S. Representative Christopher Shays, R-CT, (New York Times, March 23, 2005)
Theocracy is derived from the two Greek words Qeo/j(Theos) meaning "God" and kra/tein (cratein) meaning "to rule." Theocracy is the civil rule of God, or the belief in government by divine guidance.
The powerful Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Tom DeLay (R-TX) embodies government by divine guidance:
He [God] is using me, all the time, everywhere, to stand up for a biblical worldview in everything that I do and everywhere I am. He is training me.
Tom DeLay represents an ultraconservative religious movement seeking to impose a narrow theological agenda on secular society. Chip Berlet and Margaret Quigley, senior analysts at Political Research Associates, have named this movement the theocratic right:
The predominantly Christian leadership envisions a religiously-based authoritarian society; therefore we prefer to describe this movement as the "theocratic right."
Television preacher Pat Robertson sent out a memo to his political organization in 1986 calling on his followers to "Rule the world for God." That call to arms sums up the goals of the theocratic right, and explains their Congressional leadership which suspends the basic rules of Democracy: all that matters is winning, because it is for God. The ends justify the means.
This web site explores the narrow theological agenda that the theocratic right is imposing on secular society. Twenty-five years ago it targeted the Republican Party as the vehicle through which it could advance its agenda. Today it has extraordinary power in the U.S. government, with two branches solidly in its pocket and the third, the judiciary, just a couple of retirements away.
(Excerpt) Read more at theocracywatch.org ...
How many times are they going to act like it's something new that large portions of the US are serious about religion. Always been that way.
I thought we came to power with Reagan. These guys seem to have forgotten that they've been out of power for the last 25 years.
Carolyn
More about this theory:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1395264/posts
And RFK, Jr. believes it, so it must be true! ("a plot to 'establish America as a Fascist theocracy' "):
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1395231/posts
This site is a letter perfect example of Moonbat projection. It is in fact the communists (aka DemocRATs) who want to force their religion on the country (secular humanism and worship of the state). They have succeeded to a large extent and now is time to turn back the tide.
Here's a take on the Harper's article by Stanley Kurtz for the National Review:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1395264/posts
There's probably a reasonable article somewhere on this subject, but this one isn't it. Moonbats is correct.
In 1988, the Pat Robertson folks tried to get inside the party leadership. It did not completely work and they died down slightly. There was a resurgence in Clinton's second term that seems to have only grown more since President Bush's presidency.
Undergirded with Darwinism as the "scientific proof" that their views are correct.
So pleased to see religious conviction is on the rise.
My only concern with the "religious right" is one of inclusiveness. (I know, I hate the word too) How do we please Evangelicals without alienating Catholics, Jews, Mormons and everyone else? Since there are some in each of those religions who believe everyone else is wrong to the point of damnation, is there any point of compromise?
I would like to know, specifically, what the RR (don't like the term but it is appropriately discriptive) actually wants to accomplish. It usually seems vaguely outlined.
Is that symbol available on a t-shirt?
Great insight. You are on my list of the 10 smartest FReepers.
Carolyn
I like your take on this.
For some of us, it's an end to things like pro-life issues, having the homosexual agenda shoved down our throats, having the schools indoctrinate our kids with values we abhor, having trouble finding things worth watching on TV not because of the program content, but because the advertising got too outrageous, having our children listen to songs about overt sex and abuse of females - having standards that allow people to raise healthy families.
We will all have our push button issues, but we have enough in common against the creeping moral relativism that is going to destroy the west that makes it a bridge to work on common causes, even though we have doctrinal differences.
"Looks to me like the tinfoil hat crowd is not just looking for black helicopters anymore....."
Oh the Humanity! Run for your lives! God's coming! And he's Mad!
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