I wrote a blog post about Paul Weyrich and his strategy to create separate social institutions for the religious and political right called “Are You Living in a Separate Reality” Public school and universities were hotbeds of liberal thought, so homeschooling and private Christian colleges would indoctrinate students in conservative thought. If science pointed towards evolution rather than creationism, just create your own science institutes (CRI anyone?) and publish your own academic journals.
Weyrich through his Heritage Foundation set a goal of imposing Domininionist Christianity on America. They declared a culture war and started brainwashing entire generations of children to be their culture warriors. Mainstream and progressive Christians are only now beginning to understand the dangers these Dominionist Christians present.
In 2001, Weyrich disciple Eric Heubeck, wrote an essay detailing how to accomplish the goals of the Domininist. The essay was entitled “The Integration of Theory and Practice: A Program for the New Traditionalist Movement.” It was originally written for the Free Congress Foundation, now known as American Opportunity. In the essay, Heubeck lays out a Machiavellian plan to destroy the religious and political left and replace it with Christian Dominionism.
Presenting a front of “Conservative values” and Christian morals” Heubreck advocates the use of lies and disinformation. Heubreck says, “This essay is based on the belief that the truth of an idea is not the primary reason for its acceptance. Far more important is the energy and dedication of the idea’s promoters-in other words, the individuals composing a social or political movement.” Heubreck after studying sociology, psychology, and successful propaganda methodology, has learned that it isn’t what is said but how it is said that convinces people to believe. He continues by saying, “We will be results-oriented rather than good intentions-oriented. Making a good-faith effort and being ideologically sound will be less important than advancing the goals of the movement.” In other words, The ends justify the means. The values the New Traditionalist, as Heubreck calls the movement, preach Conservative and Christian values but certainly don’t practice them.. For Weyrich and Heubreck it isn’t about Conservative or Christian character, it’s about winning!
Heubreck continues, “We need more people with fire in the belly, and we need a message that attracts those kinds of people. . . We must reframe this struggle as a moral struggle, as a transcendent struggle, as a struggle between good and evil. And we must be prepared to explain why this is so. We must provide the evidence needed to prove this using images and simple terms.” Weyrich and Heubreck understand that to capture the American people, a black and white message must be proclaimed. There are only Good, holy, pure Christian Conservatives and Evil, unholy, impure, demonically inspired Liberals. They use the same propaganda techniques used in war to create caricatures of their Liberal opponents.
I often listen to “Conservative” broadcasters such as Rush Limbaugh, Dave Daubmire, and Mark Taylor. They present wildly unfounded accusations against Liberals, crazy conspiracy theories, and propagandistic caricatures in a loud, vigorous, boisterous manner. People believe and trust Limbaugh, Daubmire and Taylor because they are entertaining rather than factual. Watch ten minutes of Fox News histrionics and even you might be convinced that Obama was born in Kenya. Say it loudly, in an entertaining way, over and over and people believe it.
“We will maintain a constant barrage of criticism against the Left. We will attack the very legitimacy of the Left. We will not give them a moment’s rest.” Heubreck says. This is why Fox News on a slow news day went apoplectic over Obama’s tan suit. It doesn’t matter if the criticism is real or even relevant. It just must be a criticism. The rubes eat up the constant barrage of insults offered as political discourse and drink deeply of the Kool-Aid.
Heubreck also says “It is a basic fact that an us-versus-them, insider-versus-outsider mentality is a very strong motivation in human life. For better or for worse, this has to be recognized and taken advantage of for the good of the movement. Moreover, the New Traditionalists must be interested in learning about sociology, social psychology, and the dynamics of social change. We must study examples of dissident and counter-cultural groups that succeeded in ascending to dominance–we must learn from them.” In their “Culture War” they intend to divide rather than unify. If you are wondering how we got to such a divided country, look no further than Christian Dominionist wanting to seize power and using worldly propaganda methodology.
Heubreck also advocates for creating a power structure that is to be feared. “We must be feared, so that they will think twice before opening their mouths” If this sounds a bit like a totalitarian regime, congratulations and claim your prize. Christian Dominionist want to impose a theocracy and live out the dystopian nightmare of A Handmaid’s Tale. Everyone will be forced to live according to their interpretation of the Bible.
Katheryn Yurica, of Theocracy watch, sums up Heubreck’s essay this way:
I have paraphrased the four immoral principles of the Dominionist movement as the following:
1) Falsehoods are not only acceptable; they are a necessity. The corollary is: The masses will accept any lie if it is spoken with vigor, energy and dedication.
2) It is necessary to be cast under the cloak of “goodness” whereas all opponents and their ideas must be cast as “evil.”
3) Complete destruction of every opponent must be accomplished through unrelenting personal attacks.
4) The creation of the appearance of overwhelming power and brutality is necessary in order to destroy the will of opponents to launch opposition of any kind.
Mainstream and Progressive Christians sat quietly on the sidelines because they believed the “Christian” veneer put on by these “New Traditionalist.” The mask is off. In just 19 years of provoking an “us vs. them” mentality, the religious right has been so corrupted by racism, homophobia, and sexism, that if Jesus showed up today, they’d crucify him again.
How do you combat this kind of all out propaganda warfare? You must commit to Truth. You must commit to the person of Jesus. The Bible is full of ambiguity and contradiction. It makes a lousy science book and wasn’t intended to provide you with answers. It was intended to be used as a tool to connect with God. You must find a church group that isn’t looking to indoctrinate you with pre-determined answers but will train you to ask questions to aid your search for Jesus.
In Matthew chapter 4, Satan tempts Jesus. The final temptation was for power. “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:8-10) Dominionist have forgotten this passage. They have decided to seek power and worldly tactics to accomplish it. Progressive Christians must live Christ’s life and fight this kind of propaganda by living Christ-like lives. Jesus never compromise his faith and we must not compromise ours. We must be willing to be belittled, persecuted, and even crucified if that is the cost of a following Jesus.
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