“There aren’t that many of them”…
I had a dear friend over for dinner last night. Time has done its typical relentless march and before we knew it, a year had passed since we last got together. In our effort to catch up on what was happening in each others lives, as you might well imagine the topic of my research and writing came up (and stayed up) for a fair portion of the evening.
It started out with Palin and what my opinion is as to why she resigned; then on to the GOP and what does it matter seeing as how they lost by a landslide; then my friend said, “I don’t have time to follow all this, and there aren’t that many of them anyway!” How disheartening… So where was I going to begin without turning our evening into a lecture series? It is a tough one. But I had no choice.
One of the biggest problems for us, and a positive for the extremists, is our disbelief and overwhelm. They rely on us essentially ignoring the information and activities right in front of us for a variety of reasons; 1) we really don’t want to hear about it because it is too disturbing; 2) if we were to pay attention to it – just what are we supposed to DO with this information? 3) our lives are so busy we don’t have time to pay attention to all this nonsense – and as she said – there aren’t that many of them anyway.
I hear her! As I sit here writing today, it is perfect outside, 70s, sunny and I can think of a hundred other things I would rather be doing than having to write about these extremists. And granted, my devotion to informing others about these fanatics requires considerably more time than is necessary for the rest of us to be modestly informed and stay aware. I am really not expecting everyone to become an activist. I am hoping that people will at minimum recognize the face of Dominionism when it is right in front of them and not dismiss it.
For example, this friend of mine has a main business partner that she works along side everyday that is a born-again, evangelical extremists and attends services faithfully at a local dominionist church. She avoids conversations with him but doesn’t recognize that he is exactly the type of ‘c’hristian that belongs to these indoctrinated congregations.
I explained to her that he is the embodiment of what I am talking about. I have met and spent time with her business partner so I am not making a generalized statement based on stereo-types.
She was raised catholic and remembers a conversation not long ago where he had never heard of “lent” and chalked it up to “oh, those Catholics”. I pointed out that this is typical. Often times these born-agains have a myopic view of the Bible as taught to them from repeated specific versus – over and over again – without understanding context, NOR having any other concept of how their beliefs fit into a world view of Christianity or (god forbid) other religious ideologies!
It is a faith of rhetoric and rote memorization. That is an equation for dangerous blind followers and total immersion. What does this produce? People like her partner who can’t defend his beliefs other than pointing to the (revised Zondervan Publishing version, NIV) Bible and saying “it’s all in there”, yet lacking the knowledge of what that really even means. In a word? Brainwashing!
Their own movement places the numbers at approximately 30-35% of the population and growing. They go on to proudly claim that the leadership in their movement – who are the only ones truly in “the know” – consist of about 3-5% of THAT population, but they aim to emulate the “jihadists” and grow that to 10% where they will cause a “tipping point” and create a Christian State. Okey-dokey!
Which brought me to the next point in our conversation last night, which is that many in the congregations aren’t even aware of the fine points of the End Times/Apocalyptic agenda pursued by the leadership/salesmen…yet they are equally as responsible in their contributions and complicity. The Sheeples…
The population of the United States currently stands at 304 million people. So when we do the math – they claim a following of any where between 91 – 106 million. Our numbers are far more conservative and have placed their Sheeple numbers between 50 – 80 million. Either way, this is a substantial number of people who subscribe to this “faith”!
“There aren’t that many of them” will echo in my head for the rest of the afternoon while I mow my lawn and wonder what can I do differently? What can WE do differently? It is not enough to reach one person at a time…
I gave her a signed copy of “TheoPalinism – The Face of Failed Extremism” as she was leaving…and she readily accepted and looks forward to reading it. It does carry an introductory message to this craziness and I wish I could afford to mail it out randomly and get it in as many hands as possible…but with that idea off the table I am open to others! I am ALL ears my friends…please share your thoughts.
Tags: 35%, 7 Mountains, America, Bible, biblical law, born again, Christian, Christians, End Times, evangelical, extremism, God, jihadists, Lance Wallnau, Loren Cunningham, Political Dominionism, religious, separation of church and state, TheoPalinism
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 am
I know I am not alone…I have all of you who are actively paying attention and contributing – thank you! And the handful of researchers and writers who have dedicated their lives right now to getting this information out there. In fact, let's honour some of them:
Alex Bird (dogemporer), Bruce E. Wilson (talk2action, etc.), Sarah Daimond (Spiritual Warfare), Katherine Yurica (The Yurica Report), Mikey Weinstein (Military Religious Freedom Foundation), George E. Lowe (It Can Happen Here), Frank Schaeffer (Crazy for God), Chris Hedges, Michelle Goldberg, Max Blumenthal, Reverend Barry Lynn (Amercians United for the Separation of Church & State), Jeff Sharlet (The Family), Richard Collins (End Hereditary Religion), Chris Rodda (Research Director MRRF), Rachel Tabachnick (talk2action), Joan Bokaer (Theocracy Watch – Cornell University), and others that I apologize for overlooking at this writing.
We all come at this research from different backgrounds and experiences, but we are ALL dedicated to pushing forth. And all of you out there who read, repeat and learn are invaluable to us all! Thank you Lisa…I just finished my 4 hours of solitary thinking and re-invigorated myself for tomorrow. So now instead of hearing "there aren't that many of them" echo in my head, I can re-charge with "we are not alone" ramble around in there instead…
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 am
There is no "magical" way to stop them, Leah. My own life-long best friend and my sister-in-law have been taken in by this cult. It is unproductive to argue separation of Church and State (and also too late – if we are honest we ourselves, we can see that they have infiltrated our Government and Military in large numbers). I went to a seminar at Netroots Nation last week on this subject. What I learned is that on a personal level, we can use our own specific bible verses to counter them (since the bible is the only book they value at all). If we become angry, or cite Constitutional Law, they shut us out. Then they become MORE extreme and whine about Christian persecution. (continued in next post)
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
Ah geez…I didn't mean to make it sound like I am in any way defeated. I am not…just periodically frustrated, and I thank you for all the bolstering. They are indeed a brainwashed cult and that is one reason I decided early on that it is not them who I am targeting for an awakening – but US. ANd therein lies the moments of angst. That we are the cause of our own undoing many times. So it is the message to those of us who SHOULD be alarmed that I target, and will continiue to. Because you are right on with not being able to sway them.
And thank you for the appreciation. I truly do not share these frustrating experiences to elicit sympathy (though your compassion is very much welcomed), but rather to share that we all have these interactions, even as much of an activist as I am. These experiences only fuel my determination, not erode it.
As far as the skill of re-posting? Well, I will yield to your expertise on that. I am a neophyte when it comes to utilizing the "net" as efficiently as I should. But GREAT suggestions. Help?
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Leah I appreciate your dedication and courage. There are several bloggers who have insprired me to get my blog going again. Your ability to go forward even though a lot of people just will not get it and attention to detail and Gryphen's courage and heart at theimmoralminority.blogspot.com I posted today. I have long been wanting to tell my story and discuss the horrible prison conditions in this state. I am also interested in homelessness, civil rights and politics. So, thank you. I posted a part of the 50 page letter I wrote Palin which tells about my experiences with the health care in the prisons. http://frozenjustice.blogspot.com/
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Now THAT is inspiring! Good job! This is truly how we are going to 'touch' others and get this word out….thank you!
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
That is really great to know, thank you! I am not going anywhere…although there is a face-lift coming to my site that my web guru and I are working on. I am going to post a blog about it today…
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
excellent idea, there must be grants out there and I will have an assistant look further into that. thank you for your thoughts and suggestions…
August 24th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I understand your need for specifics. They are certain to inflate their numbers for effect, without a doubt. Our numbers are a combination of membership numbers in the various congregations, decline in mainstream churches and using that information to extrapolate as near an estimation of numbers as possible. We are working diligently on nailing down those figures to include in the 2nd book…and as soon as we can quote the figures with more specificity – I will happily post the results. thank you…
August 24th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Testimonials like yours propels me forward when I hit the temporary walls of frustration, and gives me a solid sense of making a difference. NOTHING is more valuable than that!
September 1st, 2009 at 4:03 am
The information I am, as you so appropriately coined, "releasing" is – the truth. Unrecognizable as it may be in many 'c'hristian congregations across America, "great men of God" do not profit on the backs of the desperate. They do not preach fear and paranoia. They remember that Jesus walked among us and helped the lowliest of those in need, whether they were "born again" or not. The time for establishing a cult has passed – it is in place.
And it is my mission to reveal the twisted interpretations of a peace-loving man (Jesus) by those who capitalize on the offerings of masses of non-questioning sheeples who turn everything over to these Phalse Prophets for the promise of a place in line before St. Peter…or as you say…a place to stand in before the Rapture.
And oh sir! I have unction! And I do not use Wesson or Olive Oil…(as Justice Clarence Thomas used in the anointing of former US Attorney General John Ashcroft). But I am well soothed in the eyes of God, for I am not afraid of the answer to the proverbial question – "What would Jesus Do?" And I reciprocate the act of prayer for you that you will call "your friend", Mr. Wallnau, out on his million dollar-a-year income-generating inspirational speakers tour to recognize the damage he is doing – all in the name of WHO?
Thank you for joining our discussion…Leah