A disturbing look at the theological roots of Senator Ted Cruz: Christian Dominionism

[highplainsdem]

From Morgan Guyton's Huffington Post blog - ran across this thanks to a HuffPo tweet:

https://twitter.com/HuffingtonPost/status/385244014544715776

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/morgan-guyton/the-theology-of-governmen_b_4020537.html

On the eve of our government shutdown, I wanted to do some research into the theological roots of Senator Ted Cruz, the standard-bearer of the Tea Party Republicans behind the shutdown. I'm interested in understanding what account of Christianity creates the "no compromise" crusade that the Tea Party has become known for. It turns out that Ted's father, Rafael Cruz, is a pastor with Texas charismatic ministry Purifying Fire International who has been campaigning against Obamacare the last several months. He has a distinct theological vision for what America is supposed to look like: Christian dominionism.

-snip-

The theological ethos of Rafael Cruz's vision is in Christian dominionism; he talks about preaching a "message of dominion" that all Christians have received an "anointing as kings." I watched a sermon he preached on August 26, 2012 at the New Beginnings megachurch in Irving, Texas, led by Christian Zionist charismatic pastor Larry Huch. Huch incidentally had a very interesting prophecy to share when he introduced Cruz to preach:

We've been doing this series here that God laid on my heart: Getting to the top and staying there. A message for us as individuals, the kingdom of God, but also for America. It's not enough to get there. We need to stay there. It's not a coincidence that in a few weeks, we go into what's called in the Bible Rosh Hashanad [sic]... It will be the beginning of the spiritual year 2012. The number 12 means divine government. That God will begin to rule and reign. Not Wall Street, not Washington, God's people and His kingdom will begin to rule and reign. I know that's why God got Rafael's son elected, Ted Cruz the next senator.

But here's the exciting thing... The rabbinical teaching is... that in a few weeks begins that year 2012 and that this will begin what we call the end-time transfer of wealth. And that when these Gentiles begin to receive this blessing, they will never go back financially through the valley again. They will grow and grow and grow. It's said this way: that God is looking at the church and everyone in it and deciding in the next three and a half years who will be his bankers. And the ones that say here I am Lord, you can trust me, we will become so blessed that we will usher in the coming of the messiah.

-snip-

So to pull all this logic together, God anoints priests to work in the church directly and kings to go out into the marketplace to conquer, plunder, and bring back the spoils to the church. The reason governmental regulation has to disappear from the marketplace is to make it completely available to the plunder of Christian "kings" who will accomplish the "end time transfer of wealth." Then "God's bankers" will usher in the "coming of the messiah." The government is being shut down so that God's bankers can bring Jesus back.

-snip-

[Jim Warren]

1. Teahadist

Another mullah just after the moolah.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

6. Lol, good one!

[malaise]

12. DUzy

[hootinholler]

15. Ahem

Then please post it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023747598

[malaise]

17. Yes indeed

[NightWatcher]

2. Freaky!!! I was reading this 20 mins ago

Rabid violent religious fundamentalist seeks to overthrow elected government...

File under: things that make you go hmmm

[defacto7]

3. As crazy as it sounds

Dominionism is the strong and widespread ideology of millions. If you have never personally been exposed to it you can't imagine how much people believe, hope, fantasize and get a religious high from the idea. It's like dismissing yourself from reality and feeling your are part of something bigger and better than the facts. And you can't question it either or you spoil your magical inclusion in it.

It is crazy.

[DLnyc]

4. scary shit!

[Cha]

5. Hells Bells.. another religious fanatic who happens to be burrowed

in the US government. Scary shit.

[kestrel91316]

7. I TOLD YOU SO. I had him pegged as a Dominionist the second I heard what

crap tended to come out of his mouth.

People, they are making their move now with this shutdown. They intend to overthrow the government. This is their moment. They have everything in place.

I thought we had more time.

ETA: They tried with Palin first. That didn't work (yes, she's a Dominionist). So now they want to run Cruz, another Dominionist, for PRESIDENT. But they will not wait until 2016 to make their move. They intend to destabilize the US now and start a civil war and they move Cruz into place as the great savior in a phony, rigged 2016 election.

God, I sound so paranoid. But these people terrify me. Most Americans have no clue what we are in for if they get control of everything.

[hootinholler]

16. Calm down

Yes you do sound paranoid. This sort of shit is going on all the time and is connected at very high levels. Is dominionism a problem? Yes!

Will they take over the government by force? Highly improbable.

Have you read "The Family" by Jeff Shartlett? If you had you would understand that those guys aren't going to let these guys fuck up their gravy train.

[kestrel91316]

23. I'm calmed down, lol. I just had a panicky moment there.

But we MUST NOT underestimate these people. They do not wish us well.

[avaistheone1]

8. That is some of the most bizarre so called religious stuff I have ever heard.

It makes me

[cleanhippie]

19. The most bizzare? Really? Ever heard the story about a guy coming back to life after being killed?

Three days later he rose from the dead!

THAT is bizarre.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Totally bizarre.

[cleanhippie]

24. Most religious beliefs are bizarre.

None are supported by reality.

[JDPriestly]

9. Sounded to me like the Cruz family and friends are caught up in the whole Revelations hysteria

about the second coming.

Here is just one of a number of critiques of those who confuse Christianity with the religion of Revelations. As the author of this article suggests, many serious, well educated Bible scholars think that Revelations really shouldn't have been included in the New Testament at all.

This is from the CNN religion blog.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/31/four-big-myths-about-the-book-of-revelation/

I understand there is another new book called Forgered by Ehrman that questions Revelations and other books of the Bible that may not be what fundamentalists claim.

(CNN) - A frail man sits in chains inside a dank, cold prison cell. He has escaped death before but now realizes that his execution is drawing near.

“I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come,” the man –the Apostle Paul - says in the Bible's 2 Timothy. “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

The passage is one of the most dramatic scenes in the New Testament. Paul, the most prolific New Testament author, is saying goodbye from a Roman prison cell before being beheaded. His goodbye veers from loneliness to defiance and, finally, to joy.

There’s one just one problem - Paul didn’t write those words. In fact, virtually half the New Testament was written by impostors taking on the names of apostles like Paul. At least according to Bart D. Ehrman, a renowned biblical scholar, who makes the charges in his new book “Forged.”

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/13/half-of-new-testament-forged-bible-scholar-says/

If you are having to deal with fundamentalists and their crazy ideas, this and other books on the history of religion and the Bible might be very helpful to you. It's really good to know the true history of myths and imaginings and to be able to explain to others just what the scholarship on these issues is.

Another book is "Sins of the Scriptures" by Episcopal Bishop Spong.

http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Scripture-Exposing-Bibles-Reveal/dp/0060778407

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shelby_Spong

A lot of the crazy talk is just that -- crazy talk. Unfortunately it has taken over the Christian Church nowadays. Makes these churches unpleasant places to visit. It's very disappointing.

[Enthusiast]

14. Just excellent, JD!

Incredible.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. That's why he and Palin are so close; she has ties to the same. n/t

[Berlum]

11. + 1,000

[Enthusiast]

13. What could be better!

A greedier America. Yay!

[eppur_se_muova]

18. Oh crap ... more whirly-eyed fundies burrowed into the gov't like bot fly larvae ... nt

Last edited Sat Oct 5, 2013, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

[whttevrr]

20. Reminds me of Rick Perry and the New Apostolic Reformation.

Scary Shit:

http://whateverworks4you.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-is-wrong-with-rick-perry.html

What is wrong with Rick Perry?
1.) Rick Perry's "new" apostolic church movement is more formally known as the 'New Apostolic Reformation' founded by Charles Peter Wagner (born 1930). As Mr. Wagner is still alive, and this reformation is considerably less then a century old, it is a considerably new movement.

And of course they look to bring about the rapture. Now, I am not a religious scholar. However, I am pretty sure revelations was predisposed to be occurring in an unknown time frame. Also, man can not bring it about. Man can not predict it. And, anyone saying otherwise, is a heretic.

So, perhaps it might be dangerous to have someone as "The Commander In Chief" who believes him and his can bring about the end of the world as a means to bring "The Rapture". These guys are willing to destroy us all in order to bring Jesus back.

That's scary.

2.) uhmmm... see # 1.) That shit is scary enough to preclude any other need to say what is wrong with Rick Perry.

[KamaAina]

22. Rosh Hashanad? Rabbinical teaching?

So he's not only Canadian but Jewish? There goes his campaign.

[blkmusclmachine]

25. The gay people get it first.

[longship]

26. I see a bit of prosperity gospel there, too.

Of course, many of us know all about the prosperity gospel, "give to me and Jesus will give to you!" It is, above all, a narrative of charlatans.

People like Jimmy Bakker, now out of federal prison and hawking healthful bread and supplements on so-called Christian television (still fleecing the flock).

Then there's one of my favorites, Robert Tilton, whose tongue speaking became iconic as he promised both riches in heaven and on earth if people just have him more money, preferably much more money, I'd imagine. He went to jail, too.

Then , there are those who have never gone to jail. Like this pair. I give you Paul and Janice Crouch, founders of Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN):


What a lovely (and stylish) couple they are. Here's one of their 13 mansions:


They're in a bit of trouble now, being sued by their Grandkid's and there are all sorts of allegations being flung around. We'll see how God rules on this. But isn't it great that God has blessed them with those 13 mansions?

There's also the faith healer scam with Bennie Hinn, Peter Popoff (yup! Back in action after being exposed as a fraud on Johnny Carson by James Randi), and oh so many others who take advantage of the sick and elderly.

One could go on and on about religious scams. But if one believes that there are no tests in reality, this is the result. One can literally get rich making shit up. All one needs are a few gospel verses.

I'll close with the immortal words of Robert Tilton (before he went to jail). Don't worry, it's very short:

[whathehell]

27. Oh, yes, that Dominionist thing is very scary, very extreme...Even RW Fundies like Ralph Reed

disavow it.

[nickcolemanmn]

28. TPAW HAS PULLED THIS PITIFUL BS FOR YEARS

Glad HuffPo noticed but this heresy -- God will make us rich -- has been around for years, and ex- MN Gov Tim Pawlenty was one of its biggest purveyors:
http://www.nickcolemanmn.com/?p=1270
Of course, it WORKED for TPAW! He now has a $2M a year job shining boots on Wall Street

[riverwalker]

29. hey Nick, welcome to DU! n/t

[gopiscrap]

30. welcome to DU