We’ve had some discussions about what label ought best to be applied to those segments of Christianity that are more about welding their brand of Christianity to the machinery of government than about trying to conduct their own lives as Jesus taught.
Llamajockey introduced me to the term Dominionism. According to the Wikipedia entry linked above:
Dominionism is a trend in Protestant Christian evangelicalism and fundamentalism, primarily though not exclusively in the United States, that seeks to establish specific political policies based on religious beliefs. It is most often used to describe politically active conservative Christians with a specific agenda.
Apparently the term has more currency than I thought. I saw it used over at Shakespeare’s Sister by poster Paul the Spud in his post about the new video game offering from mega-church pastor and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren.
The video game is described as follows:
Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission – both a religious mission and a military mission — to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state – especially moderate, mainstream Christians.
. . .
The game, slated for release by October 2006 in advance of the Christmas shopping rush, has been previewed at video game exhibitions, and reviewed by major newspapers and magazines. But until now, no fan or critic has pointed out the controversial game’s connection to Mr. Warren or his dominionist agenda.
On the other hand, the game apparently lets you switch sides and fight for the army of the AntiChrist. So, as a secular humanist, I might be obligated to check it out.
Hmmm. A related word is also needed then, for nations in which Catholicism is able to dictate laws, etc. Ireland’s policy on abortion, for example, comes to mind – and doesn’t Spain have something comparable?
This game makes me sick. Not just “Oh, I’m angry”, but physically ill. I have always disliked the “Left Behind” series (I did read the first book, but never picked up another) because it seemed to be a twisting of the Bible.
To make myself clear, I have no issue with violent games in general. I play Counter Strike almost daily. Sometimes I’m a Terrorist, sometimes a Counter-Terrorist. However, there really isn’t a “plot” to the game. It is much like paintball. One side has an objective, and the other has to stop it. Set a bomb, rescue hostages, get the VIP out, etc. Nothing about Islam, nothing about ideals. Just a game of “tag” that exercises your thinking and reaction time.
However, this game isn’t about gameplay, it HAS a plot and a story that projects a viewpoint that is outside the Bible completely.
I’m going to start rambling (or already have), so I’m stopping now unless I have something useful to say.
For screenshots and Quicktime video of the actual game, go to their own site here:
http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/the_games.htm
I’ve done a tiny bit more research, and found this clip on the game from ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1958823
One of the quotes is something like “If you kill someone, you loose a point, if you save someone, you get 2 points.”
Ok, so it doesn’t reward you for killing. It is now 99.99% repulsive now instead of 100%.
The idea that any person can “save” another like that is wrong. I tried, and I learned the hard way. I was/am excited about my faith, and I tried to get people I knew to church because I wanted them to find out about this thing that is so important to me. However, it doesn’t work like that. The involvement Christians have that can help (not cause) people to come to Christ is when they are *not* trying.
One of the few people I know of that is now a Christian through any involvement of mine told me once what I had to do with it. It wasn’t preaching to him. It was an observation of something I did when I didn’t even know I was being watched.
As for those I tried aggresively to get to Church, I’m sure I pushed them farther away.
Games or books like this have totally the wrong idea.
Both the KKK and the Civil rights movement marched from the chruches before they went about their missions.That’s the nature of religion. The culture defines the belief.
RE: Dominionism
Dominionism, The Other Autocratic Regime
http://beepbeepitsme.blogspot.com/2006/09/dominionism-other-autocratic-regime.html