America For Purchase

The dictionary defines cult as “a system of religious worship or ritual”; “devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle, etc.” According to this definition, any believer in any god is a member of a cult. In the popular media, a cult is typically defined as a religious sect whose members are “controlled” by a manipulative organization or individual. This kind of cult is usually portrayed as deceptive, requiring absolute loyalty from its followers.Religious cults add their own rules, rituals and ceremonies — their own works of righteousness to the finished work of Jesus on the cross. These organizations officially state that Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for salvation, but then they go on to say that their version of “works” must be added to the simplicity of His grace in order to warrant true salvation.

 

Simply, a cult is any religious group that deviates from the fundamental teachings of the historic, Bible-based, Christian faith as confirmed through the ancient ecumenical creeds. Generally, if a religious organization follows Jesus Christ, but denies or distorts essential Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the resurrection, or salvation by grace alone, that organization is considered a cult. They declare the Divine authority of the Bible, but they manipulate the scriptures to suit their own purposes.

 

The Religious Right whose does not follow the Christian doctrine.   That is why they are referred to as ‘religious’.  They have a specific agenda, to control government, to manipulate the masses and to dictate the free will of Americans.   They use many vices to accomplish their goals.  The main tool the Religious Right uses is fear.  These are the people who for the past three decades have raised millions and millions of dollars for their organizations by focusing on hot button issues such as homosexuality and abortion.  True Christians follow the example of Jesus and are more concerned with the injustices of poverty, violence and intolerance.

 

Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, David R Reagan, James Strang, Rod Parsley, Fred Phelps and others have hijacked what was once referred to as the Evangelical Movement.   These men on a mission worship a Golden Calf, greed, power, influence, control and manipulation.  Many Americans have been swallowed up in their multi-million dollar ad campaigns and pulpit fear-mongering.  These men believe they speak with authority from God, they expect their congregation and media listeners to blindly follow them without question of dissent, they believe they are infallible, they use fear to force many Americans into submission just as the Nazi’s did in decades past.

 

The tide, however, is shifting award from these egregious charlatans to a national and universal call to follow the example of Christ, to confront injustice, poverty and intolerance.  Educated men and women today are not falling for the cult tactics used by the Religious Right.  They have seen through the cult mentality of white men attempting to extort money and power from simple-minded people.

Seattle’s Jim Henderson, a former Pentecostal preacher and head of Off The Map (Offthemap.com), is trying guilt.

 

He recently sent a mass email urging his friends to support Obama because he has the character and bearing to be president, and because his election gives Christians the opportunity to transform historical wrong.

 

The enslavement of Africans contributed greatly to our nation’s wealth and has never been addressed directly and concretely by our leaders, Henderson wrote. Linking that lack of repentance to the country’s $13 trillion of debt, he told his friends that our current troubles are a matter of reaping what we’ve sown. He then cited the chance to elect Obama as an example of “God’s mercy – as a way through this historic dilemma and one that will do for our national character what reparations never could.”

 

He and his ilk won’t be convinced by Dobson’s scare tactics. They’re more likely to agree with a new bumper sticker popular in Colorado, where Focus on the Family is based.

It reads, “Focus on your own damn family.”

 

These same Religious Right leaders muddy the water making government the enemy, distorting the truth that America was founded on Christian principles and there is no separation of church and state.  This approach gives them a perceived right therefore to break the law as non-profit tax exempt groups which prohibits political agendas from these organizations, yet they continue to break the law.

 

The Rev. Barry Lynn, of Americans United said of the Religious Right when they continue to violate U.S. Law and IRS rules by preaching politics as tax-exempt organizations “They act like this is a massive act of civil disobedience, but this is not like sitting in at a lunch counter. This is trying to change the law to give certain conservative churches even more political clout.  This is a direct violation of U.S. Tax Law and is indicative of the Republican Party.  This also xemplifies that Religious Right Churches set the example to their congregations and to Americans that is it OKAY to violate the law.”

 

Rev Tim Ahrens, Senior Pastor at First Church in Columbus, Ohio is one of hundreds of churches in America now standing up against the radial Religious Right.  His website Faithfully Liberal outlines his churches views.

 

The Religious Left stands out in its support of values differing from the Religious Right.

The Constitution, Article VI, Section 3, states “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution, said, “An alliance or coalition between Government and religion cannot be too carefully guarded against.”

American presidents of little or no faith include Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln (though he could use biblical language to great effect), John Adams and George Washington. Yes, George Washington.

 

Washington did go to church, five or 10 times a year. But when people tried to box him into making a religious stand, he deftly evaded them. He gave moral advice to his adopted children, but, so far as we know, never urged religion on them.

 

Fight the Right has several suggestions on how to fight the Religious Right. 

Religious Right Watch posts several articles in its efforts to monitor the radical Religious Right Cult.

 

One final note regarding Proposition 8 in California. The rules of the Mormon, Catholic and Evangelical churches are now enshrined into civil law. Americans are all unofficial members of these religious institutions and captive to their narrow, sectarian rules. They have effectively hijacked the state and now govern our personal relationships and private lives whether we like it or not. I hope Americans are finally awakened to this existential threat and willing to fight back.

Share on Facebook Tags David R Reagan Fred Phelps James Dobson James Strang Jerry Falwell Jim Henderson John Hagee Pat Robertson Religious Right Rod Parsley Tim Ahrens

Filed under: Religious Right