Interesting bit on a new movement in the religious right.
While I have no objection to evanvangelising, this group seems to be flirting with seizing countrol of the goverment to do that by force. It seems their primary aim is an actual theocracy.
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What is the New Apostolic Reformation? Seven Mountains Campaign?
Rachel Tabachnick
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/3/30/134253/237Later this week Harvard will host an event led Social Transformation by the Power of God featuring several leading apostles who travel the world promoting the Seven Mountains campaign for Christian dominion over society. Following is a brief (approximately 1000 word) description of the ideology and history of the New Apostolic Reformation movement to which these apostles belong, followed by links to additional resources.
Ideology
The New Apostolic Reformation can now be defined as a distinct movement with a unique ideology. The leaders of the movement, called apostles and prophets, claim that this is the most significant change in Protestantism since Martin Luther and the Reformation. The stated goal of the NAR is to eradicate denominations and form a unified church that will be victorious against evil in the end times. Like many American fundamentalists, the apostles teach that the events of the end times are imminent, but unlike fundamentalists, the apostles see this as a time of great victory for the church. Instead of escaping the earth (in the Rapture)* prior to the turmoil of the end times, they teach that believers will defeat evil by taking dominion, or control, over all sectors of society and government, resulting in mass conversions to their brand of Charismatic evangelicalism and a Christian utopia or "Kingdom" on earth. The Transformations movies, Transformation organizations worldwide, and the Seven Mountains campaign are promotional tools to market their methodology for taking Christian dominion over: arts; business; education; family; government; media; and religion. The apostles who lead in areas outside church are called Workplace or Marketplace Apostles.
The apostles teach that the obstacles to their envisioned Kingdom on earth are literal demonic beings who hold control over geographic territory and specific "people groups." They claim this demonic control is the reason why people of other religions refuse to become evangelized and that the demons are also the source of crime, corruption, illness, poverty, and sexuality. Purging of the demons results in mass evangelization and eradication of social ills, as claimed in the Transformations, media. The apostles teach that their followers are currently receiving an outpouring of supernatural powers to help them fight these demons through what they call Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare (SLSW).
These unique concepts and methodologies, previously unknown in the evangelical world, include spiritual mapping to identify and purge both demons and their human helpers, sometimes identified in training materials as witches and witchcraft. Another requirement of this utopian Kingdom on earth is the restructuring of all Charismatic evangelical believers under the authority of their network of apostles, the eradication or unification of denominations, and the total elimination of competing religions and philosophies.
Many of the evangelical "Reconciliation" programs popularized over the last decade are an outgrowth of the apostles' SLSW efforts to remove demons including "generational curses" which they claim obstruct evangelization of specific ethnicity groups. These activities have political significance not apparent to outsiders. For instance, Senator Sam Brownback worked extensively with leading apostles in pursuing an official apology from the U.S. Senate to Native Americans. However, the NAR advertised this Identificational Repentance and Reconciliation a SLSW method to remove demonic control over Native Americans, evangelize tribes, and curiously, as a required step in their spiritual warfare progress in criminalizing abortion.
History
A wave of charismatic religious fervor swept through the U.S. in the early 1900s resulting in Pentecostalism and the establishment of denominations emphasizing supernatural "gifts of the Holy Spirit," including speaking in tongues. A second wave swept through other Protestant denominations and Roman Catholicism beginning in the 1960s, resulting in pockets of Charismatic believers. Some remained in their respective churches while the remainder left to join other nondenominational Charismatics in what would become the largest single (and largely overlooked) block of Protestantism in the world - Independent Charismatics, or the "Third Wave." By the late 1980s, Independent Charismatics began to be organized under the leadership of self-appointed apostles and prophets who view the reorganization of the church as crucial to preparation for the end times.
C. Peter Wagner, a prolific author and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary for 30 years, became the primary force behind organizing one of the largest and most influential of apostolic and prophetic networks. He dubbed it the "New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR). Wagner and other NAR pioneers refined their unique Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare training and demon-hunting methods through the latter 1980s and 1990s. Due to Wagner's international reputation as an expert in "Church Growth" (his most famous pupil is Rick Warren) and Wagner's leadership role in the frantic rush by international missions to evangelize the world prior to the year 2000, these unusual techniques gained surprising widespread acceptance in some evangelical circles.
With the aid of Ted Haggard (later president of the National Association of Evangelicals), Wagner left Fuller Seminary and continued his networking from the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs. Wagner claimed that the NAR and a new era in church history began in 2001. He organized several hundred apostles with their own networks into the International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) which formed an inner circle of prophets (ACPE or Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders), demon deliverance experts (ISDM or International Society of Deliverance Ministries), faith-healers (IAHR or International Association of Healing Room Ministries), an international training network (Wagner Leadership Ins ute), and their own educational accreditation system (ACEA or Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability).
These apostles and their networks work in "Transformation" efforts around the world including promotion of the Seven Mountains campaign for Christian dominion. The Transformation en ies usually begin as prayer networks of pastors and individuals which are advertised as nonsectarian and emphasize charitable activities, often working with financially strapped municipalities. Today the NAR has "prayer warrior" networks under the authority of their apostles in all fifty states, some now organizing by precincts.
The movement has had a widespread impact, spreading ideology to other Charismatics inside Mainline Protestant denominations and Roman Catholicism, although non-Charismatic Roman Catholicism is viewed as controlled by a powerful demon named "The Queen of Heaven." The political potential of the movement is now being tapped by politicians including Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and others, as well as large numbers of local and state politicians. Over the last few years, the apostles have taken visible leadership roles in the Religious Right in the United States and numerous nations in Africa, Asia, and South America and claim Uganda as their greatest "Transformations" success story and prototype.
Charismatic protestant here.
Never heard of this; no doubt it exists, and with 7 billion people on earth has its proponents, converts and true believers. Certainly enough (1) to get the Boutons of the world to scream: "SEE, I TOLD YOU!!!!". Or, for that matter, to get Harvard to hold a seminar - certainly plays to some on the left's penchant for bigotry toward Christians and Christianity.
How long until we have presidential candidates signing pleas from these guys?
Here is there website, fwiw.
Global Spheres
Ironically, after doing the Google search, there was a page and a half of links of people who fear this group before I found their ACTUAL website. Anyway, not surprisingly, not only is the movement not huge, but it isn't even what it is espoused as being.
One paragraph from the site:
A theocracy. The usual meaning of theocracy is that a nation is run by authorized representatives of the church or its functional religious equivalent. Everyone I know in NAR would absolutely reject this idea, thinking back to Constantine’s failed experiment or some of the oppressive Islamic governments today. The way to achieve dominion is not to become “America’s Taliban,” but rather to have kingdom-minded people in every one of the Seven Mountains: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Business so that they can use their influence to create an environment in which the blessings and prosperity of the Kingdom of God can permeate all areas of society.
"How long until we have presidential candidates signing pleas from these guys"
Jimmy Ricky is already heavily endorsed, in bed with NAR freakos. They were a huge presence at this "pray for rain" August meeting.
Yeah, I get the feeling that the group itself is fairly small.
lol bigotry
Theocracy is medium upkeep and gives us +2 experience points. I say let's do this.
Case in point. Apparently.
A reference I simply don't get. Am I too old?
Yes, kinda
It's from the popular game Civilization. Religion and governments are mashed together, and picking various types (theocracy, dictatorship, democracy) gives bonuses and penalties to your civilization. Fun game.
You have no case in point and would rather prop up a strawman to help you play a victim card.
Apparently.
Are you seriously arguing that, and I'm quoting myself here: "Some on the left" do not, " have a penchant for bigotry against Christians and Christianity"? I don't consider myself a victim at all - but the strawman in this thread is obviously the one set up by myriad news sources (the OP being the most pertinent) discussing this apostolic movement which 1) isn't very large and 2) doesn't actually propose to do what the media is claiming it is doing.
The very definition of "Straw Man".
Ironically, however, since it is getting so much play in the media; it will probably grow, and, no doubt, an "American Taliban" will be spawned. I'm sure the idea does appeal to a few.
strawman on strawman action.
I think there is some bias on the left against Christians and Christianity.
Just as sure as I am that Christians in this country overplay the results and instances of that bias.
Fox news types looove to play the victim card when it suits them, and just as quickly criticise others for doing so.
I am equally convinced that the right has a bias against anybody who isn't "as Christian" as they are that is far stronger than any anti-Christian sentiment on the left. The evangelicals are certainly making everybody fall all overthemselves to prove how "Christian" they are.
Do any Democratic groups of any size have "no religious" or "secular" pledges similar to what is being asked of the GOP candidates?
A Republican must be a specific type of Christian to win nomination? Or are there factions (evangelical Christians) within the Republican party which will only support a certain type of Christian? I'm pretty sure NOW is not supporting any Democrat who is pro life. I'm pretty sure labor unions won't support a Democrat who favors a right to work environment.I think there is some bias on the left against Christians and Christianity.
Just as sure as I am that Christians in this country overplay the results and instances of that bias.
Fox news types looove to play the victim card when it suits them, and just as quickly criticise others for doing so.
I am equally convinced that the right has a bias against anybody who isn't "as Christian" as they are that is far stronger than any anti-Christian sentiment on the left. The evangelicals are certainly making everybody fall all overthemselves to prove how "Christian" they are.
Do any Democratic groups of any size have "no religious" or "secular" pledges similar to what is being asked of the GOP candidates?
I think I missed your point.
I was under the impression that Republicans didn't like cultists, so my answer would be yes.
Not really being snarky either. I am pretty sure the GOP would not nominate a Catholic, either.
It would seem the evangelical protestants, to me, pretty much have a lock on the nominating process that would effectively bar certain types of Christians from the nomination.
If Romney actually get the nomination, I take it all back. I think the evangelicals are going to hold their noses and close ranks though, so I may very well have to eat that particular crow.
Yeah. They will. God knows they're not actually going to nominate that black guy.
Uncle Ruckus?
The "problem with "Christians" " is that they want to, to small or large degree, the "establishment of Christian religion" as the official religion of govt at all levels, more or less a Christian theocracy, which is exactly what the wisdom of FFs excluded by establishment clause. iow, these types of "Christians" are truly anti-American/Cons utional.
Here's an example of the intimidation/litmus test that "Christians" impose on American society, in this case, the UCA-corrupted American Cancer Society
Is Atheist Money Too Controversial for the American Cancer Society
I'll say this clearly, right up front: The American Cancer Society did not explicitly reject a massive donation offer from a non-theistic organization on the basis of it being a non-theistic organization.
That was not the stated reason given for rejecting a matching offer of $250,000 from the Foundation Beyond Belief and the Todd Stiefel Foundation to sponsor a national team in the upcoming Relay for Life. (An offer that, as a matching offer, was likely to bring in a total of half a million dollars for the American Cancer Society.)
It's just difficult to reach any other conclusion. In the place of clear explanations, there has been an ongoing series of evasions, imprecisions, conflicting answers, moved goalposts, apathy, and even hostility.
Here's the deal.
(ELLIPSIS ALERT!) ...
http://www.alternet.org/belief/15268...paign=alternet
You're comparing Cain to Uncle Ruckus?
The "Bradley effect" may be what happens to Cain, among white Repug voters.
iow, poll as being ready to vote for da bruvva so as to hide their racism, but always vote for a whitey.
Racist.
Uncle Ruckus?
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