I was reading Mr. Texas by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Lawrence Wright, and while this blog isn’t a book review, it is how I first heard the term - Dominionism. Wright's book has been described as a combination of Mr. Smith goes to Washington and a "love letter to the Lone Star State," but I would also add that the novel has an element of Texas political fanfiction. One of the driving influences in Wright’s book (and in real life) is the conservative evangelical movement in politics. This is why “Dominion Theology” is discussed in the book, and of course, my question was, "What is Dominionism?" The answer is never simple to questions like this, and one question usually leads to many more, but I will try and step back and give you a “big picture" answer on this and offer my opinion on why it is important.
Where does it come from?
Dominion Theology, or Dominionism, is one of several major movements within Christian Reconstructionism, and it falls somewhere in the middle regarding its alignment with Old Testament biblical law.
Dominionism is the belief that Christians should govern over political, cultural, and societal aspects of life, basing laws and governance on Biblical principles. The term itself comes from a passage in the bible in the book of Genesis, verse 1:28, which states:
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (King James Version).
Who started it?
Although the Bible has been around for thousands of years, these movements gained significant momentum in the 1960s in the United States.
The Christian Reconstructionism movement was founded by Rousas John Rushdoony; however, the term "Dominion Theology" did not start to gain widespread usage until the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in Christian evangelical and conservative circles through the writings and teachings of Gary North and other proponents like David Chilton. They teach, and their followers believe, that Christians are called to take dominion over various aspects of society as a mandate from the Bible, particularly from the Book of Genesis, where God gives humans dominion over the earth.
What are all of the major movements, and what do they believe?
Here is a list of the major movements of Christian Reconstructionism from most conservative to “least."
- Christian Reconstructionism - Founded by R.J. Rushdoony, this movement advocates for applying strict Old Testament laws to modern society, including capital punishment for offenses like blasphemy and adultery. It also calls for abolishing public schools and establishing a theonomic government.
- Theonomy - Closely related to Christian Reconstructionism, theonomy emphasizes the moral and judicial laws of the Old Testament as binding on contemporary societies. It focuses on philosophical and ethical justifications for applying biblical law.
- Dominion Theology (The New Apostolic Reformation) - This movement seeks influence in key societal areas associated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and the Seven Mountains Mandate (see below). It emphasizes modern-day apostles and prophets who claim new revelations.
- Kingdom Now Theology - This theology asserts that Christians should bring God’s kingdom to earth before Christ’s return. It draws inspiration from the charismatic movement and emphasizes spiritual authority and miracles.
- Transformationalism (aka The Seven Mountains Mandate) teaches that Christians should control seven societal domains: religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, and business. It’s a central tenet of contemporary Dominion Theology.
- Christian Nationalists - Advocates for integrating Christian values into public policies and governance, believing the U.S. should reflect its "Christian foundations" within a secular framework.
So why is it important?
One fact that is abundantly clear is that all of these movements DO NOT believe in a clear separation of church and state. Now, if you went through the public schools in Texas like I did (and I’m guessing even most private schools) you were taught pretty early on that one of the big principles that our government centers on is a list of rights or freedoms and one of those freedoms is the separation of church and state. This principle is enshrined in our First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Additionally, Article VI of the Constitution includes a prohibition against religious tests for public office, stating, "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
What evidence do Dominionists cite to support their claim that America was meant to have a Christianity-based government?
To put it bluntly, Dominionists cherry-pick a few out-of-context quotes from some of our founders and hold those up whole-hearted endorsements. A complete look at each founder's works and writings overwhelmingly shows their support for the separation of church and state. For example, George Washington said in his farewell address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.'"
While his speech does indeed stress the importance of religion and morality, it is crucial to understand that he viewed these as essential to social and political well-being, not as a call for a theocratic state. His entire speech emphasizes the utility of religion and morality for civic virtue and national prosperity but not for the dominance of any particular religion in government.
And when examined further, George Washington’s other writings often reflected his commitment to religious freedom and neutrality.
How clear were our country’s founders and the US Constitution on the separation of church and state?
The Founders made it very clear that there should be a separation of church and state to avoid the religious conflicts, persecutions, and wars that had plagued Europe for centuries. They witnessed the devastation caused by events such as the Thirty Years' War and the English Civil Wars, which led to the dangers of intertwining religion with governance. Our founders wanted to escape the European state churches and knew that attempting to regulate how its citizens worshiped (or didn't worship) was a recipe for disaster.
By establishing a separation of church and state, the framers sought to ensure religious freedom and prevent the dominance of any single religious group over government affairs and the people of America.
How to spot Dominion Theology and What to watch out for
Those advocating for a government more closely aligned with their interpretation of Biblical law know that the separation of Church and State is a freedom Americans won’t just give away. Their solution is to paint these policies and laws with language that “seems” innocuous, but the purpose is to distract from its true nature. Some of the common phrases used in the promotion of these policies are Natural Law, Universal Truths, Timeless or Traditional principles, Moral and Ethical foundations, and Cultural Renewal. Of course, this is just a small list, but you can see how wrapping up a “wholesome” idea in vague language could lead away from a core American value that our country's founders felt strongly about.
Conclusion and Back to the book...
The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are living documents designed to adapt to the evolving needs of society while upholding fundamental principles. This adaptability is evident in the amendment process, allowing for changes and interpretations that reflect contemporary issues. But, these documents also anchor themselves to specific principles like the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom and prohibits the establishment of a state religion, ensuring that the government remains neutral in religious matters.
How much religion you want in your government is a personal choice, and it's something you can advocate for or petition your elected officials about; However, the beliefs and principles on which this country was founded, including the separation of church and state and the guarantee of religious freedom, are not negotiable.
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Yes, we are a long way from the first paragraph and the book, Mr. Texas, but I warned you that this wasn't a book review! That said I do recommend Mr. Texas and all of Lawrence Wright's books. I will provide links below. One of his books I especially recommend is God Save Texas.
The Founding Fathers and the Place of Religion in America
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