Basic Definitions
Apr. 19th, 2017 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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anti_theocracyThis post will provide definitions for core terms. It will be updated as needed, and a more comprehensive glossary with shorter definitions will be coming soon.
What is a Theocracy?
A theocracy is a form of government in which religion is the centrally controlling element. Much like Democracy comes form the Greek ‘demos’ (common) and ‘kratos’ (rule), theocracy comes from the Greek ‘theos’ (god) and ‘kratos’ (rule). In real-world terms, it means that the church and state are one and the same, and that the laws and doctrines of a single religion (or single form of religion) form the law of the land. A contemporary example is Iran, whose legal and political structure reflect the religious beliefs and ethics of Islam, specifically Shi’a Islam. In the west, there has been a movement among the rightward spectrum of Christianity to create a theocratic state. This is particularly the case in the United States, where a broad coalition of evangelical, fundamentalist, and other Christian groups are loosely united in their purpose of imposing Biblical ethics and morality on what they perceive as a fallen, godless nation.
What is Dominionism?
Dominionism is a style or trend of Christian practice and ideology. It centers on the idea that God has commanded Christians to take control or ‘dominion’ over all of governance and culture. Typically this is informed by the belief that the entire world must be made into a Christian society in order for Christ to return and initiate the End Times. Terms that also connote dominionist theology include ‘Kingdom theology,’ ‘advancing the Kingdom of God,’ and similar phrases, often used by public figures to signal to the dominionist community wthout using the term ‘dominion’ or ‘dominionism.’
What is Reconstruction?
Reconstruction, or Christian Reconstruction, is a theology originally espoused by R.J. Rushdoony, a Calvinist theologian,which teaches that the imperative of the Christian is to bring the whole of life into submission to God and Biblical law. It is also one of the origins of dominionist theology, above. Rushdoony held that all law was essentially ‘religion,’ so any form of law, or ‘law order’ that was not biblical was anti-Christian. He advocated for instatement of old-testament religious law as the law of the land, including death penalties for adultery, apostasy, and a list of other biblically defined sins, and the use of slavery instead of prisons. A slightly (not very) tempered version of this Reconstruction theology is carried on by Rushdoony’s Chalcedon Foundation, and by his many followers. See the full entry on Reconstruction HERE.
See Who’s Who in the Religious Right (soon to be posted) for more.
What is a Theocracy?
A theocracy is a form of government in which religion is the centrally controlling element. Much like Democracy comes form the Greek ‘demos’ (common) and ‘kratos’ (rule), theocracy comes from the Greek ‘theos’ (god) and ‘kratos’ (rule). In real-world terms, it means that the church and state are one and the same, and that the laws and doctrines of a single religion (or single form of religion) form the law of the land. A contemporary example is Iran, whose legal and political structure reflect the religious beliefs and ethics of Islam, specifically Shi’a Islam. In the west, there has been a movement among the rightward spectrum of Christianity to create a theocratic state. This is particularly the case in the United States, where a broad coalition of evangelical, fundamentalist, and other Christian groups are loosely united in their purpose of imposing Biblical ethics and morality on what they perceive as a fallen, godless nation.
What is Dominionism?
Dominionism is a style or trend of Christian practice and ideology. It centers on the idea that God has commanded Christians to take control or ‘dominion’ over all of governance and culture. Typically this is informed by the belief that the entire world must be made into a Christian society in order for Christ to return and initiate the End Times. Terms that also connote dominionist theology include ‘Kingdom theology,’ ‘advancing the Kingdom of God,’ and similar phrases, often used by public figures to signal to the dominionist community wthout using the term ‘dominion’ or ‘dominionism.’
What is Reconstruction?
Reconstruction, or Christian Reconstruction, is a theology originally espoused by R.J. Rushdoony, a Calvinist theologian,which teaches that the imperative of the Christian is to bring the whole of life into submission to God and Biblical law. It is also one of the origins of dominionist theology, above. Rushdoony held that all law was essentially ‘religion,’ so any form of law, or ‘law order’ that was not biblical was anti-Christian. He advocated for instatement of old-testament religious law as the law of the land, including death penalties for adultery, apostasy, and a list of other biblically defined sins, and the use of slavery instead of prisons. A slightly (not very) tempered version of this Reconstruction theology is carried on by Rushdoony’s Chalcedon Foundation, and by his many followers. See the full entry on Reconstruction HERE.
See Who’s Who in the Religious Right (soon to be posted) for more.