POLITICAL AMAZON: Christian Reconstructionism

Among the religious-right-watch-dog type of websites, much has been written about Christian Reconstructionism, with great emphasis on their more inflammatory and frankly frightening writings, and their apparent presence in the hate-filled, bigoted, and sometimes violent Christian Identity/militia/patriot movements. Christian Reconstructionist ideas and rhetoric has infiltrated so many different groups, including more mainstream Christian groups, that the possibility of a conspiracy has been raised by more than a few people.

Many Christian Reconstructionists, who would never be a part of either a conspiracy or these violence-prone movements, resent being lumped into a group that includes sociopathic nutballs.

I believe much confusion and bad feelings have arisen over the attempt to combine all people who call themselves "Christian Reconstructionists" into one group. It is my belief that, when talking about Christian Reconstructionists, must one speak of them in at least two groups, which I will call:
"Traditional Christian Reconstructionists," and
"Wannabe Christian Reconstructionists."

Traditional Christian Reconstructionists. The majority of those who I call "Traditional" Christian Reconstructionists spend a great deal of effort studying, learning, debating and thinking about the meaning and interpretation of the Bible, and its application to and implications for modern society. These traditional Christian Reconstructionists are usually very intelligent, scholarly, very articulate, often academically degreed, quiet and thoughtful, and very serious about their religious belief system. For the majority of the Traditional Christian Reconstructionists, if they have active plans to take over America, these plans aren't based on recruiting gun nuts from a tent revival meeting.

(There may be some Traditional Christian Reconstructionists, however, who, in their greed for power, are not above using some of the more inflammatory Christian Reconstructionist beliefs to manipulate the ranks of the second group, the Wannabes. This is, I believe, a possibility that should be of the greatest concern.)

Wannabe Christian Reconstructionists. You'll find "Wannabe" Christian Reconstructionists in the militia, jural-society, patriot and Christian Identity movements. Many of these people who call themselves "Christian Reconstructionists" spend very little time studying and debating the fine points of biblical interpretation, and may not even have much knowledge about Christian Reconstructionism. Rather, the Wannabes have latched on to Christian Reconstructionism because of a few Christian Reconstructionist quotes and ideas about which they have read or heard. These quotes, the Wannabes believe, give a biblical endorsement of their own bigoted, hate- and resentment-based beliefs. The Wannabes believe that, in Christian Reconstructionism, they finally have found a religion that justifies and, indeed, promotes their own hate, bigotry, anger, and violence.

Angry, resentful people have always sought religious justification for their violent words and actions. And avaristic political manipulators have always used the anger and resentment in people to advance their own causes. Therefore, if the manipulators can get their angry, resentful followers to believe that their hateful and violent actions are endorsed by God, so much the better.

The most heinous acts in humanity's history, including the Holocaust, have been committed in the name of religion, and were the result of skillful political manipulators using a group of angry, resentful people to do violent acts in the name of God, in an attempt to take or maintain dominion over another group of people.

It is clear that Christian Reconstructionist ideas appeal to a broad assortment of angry, bigoted, and sometimes violent extremists. A review of Christian Identity-, patriot- and militia-oriented websites will turn up many who espouse what they believe to be "Christian Reconstructionism," using catchy phrases they've read from Christian Reconstructionist authors, or who parrot what they have heard is "God's law." These Wannabes use Christian Reconstructionism or "God's law" as a justification for their hatred, as endorsement of violence, and as a means to fulfill their desire to be part of a new group that they dream will overturn society and rule the world.

And make no mistake about it; any group that says it wants to impose Old Testament law on society is going to be advocating some pretty nasty, violent things. The Old Testament is NOT for sissies. Therefore, some of the Christian Reconstructionist ideas and writings, and those awful quotes, will scare the bejesus out of you.

(Those quotes, the Traditional Christian Reconstructionists will often tell you, are taken out of context, and don't mean what they read to mean. However, just as often, when you pin them down on it, they will exactly echo the belief they just denied. I do not understand this mind process, but they are quite sincere when they do it, and usually quite irritated if you don't "get it." This radio interview with a prominent Christian Reconstructionist is a great example of this process: IFAS Radio Interview With Gary DeMar.)

In my mind, some of the Christian Reconstructionist writings are pretty horrifying, and the Wannabes use of it as justification for their own evil is just as bad.

However, instead of trying to assign blame or decide who is wrong or right, I believe it is far more important to answer this question: what is it about these Christian Reconstructionist ideas that make them not only attractive to Politico-Christian demagogues and their followers, but also makes them so eagerly embraced by the most violent, sociopathic, bigoted hate-mongerers? And what is it about these racist, angry groups that draws Christian Reconstructionists? Because, in some instances (such as Gary North's association with the Christian Identity/patriot movement), it is a two-way street.

This question must be addressed because, clearly, when you:

A. Take the idea that it is God's will that the true believers take dominion over the nonbelievers, and reconstruct society in their idea of God's image, by violence if necessary...

B. And you put it together with angry, resentful, bigots who have access to lots of guns, and who hate the government...

C. You've got the potential for a disaster of epic proportions.

Does Oklahoma City ring a bell?

To attempt to figure out what draws the nutballs to Christian Reconstructionism, first one has to ask, what is Christian Reconstructionism? I can tell you that any attempt to define what Christian Reconstructionists believe will be met with a lengthy and protracted debate, with the Traditionals disagreeing, both with you and between themselves--at great length and mind-numbing detail--over the finer points of the interpretation of the Bible and how it applies to Christian Reconstructionism.

With that said, I will offer a basic definition of Christian Reconstructionism (as I understand it), and limited background of what I have termed "Traditional" Christian Reconstructionism. I won't even begin to define the "Wannabe" Christian Reconstructionism because it usually goes something like "God-Hates-Jews-and-Fags-and-Niggers-Rushdoony-Says-So-and-Let's-Buy-Some-Guns-To-Do-God's-Will."

In a nutshell, Christian Reconstructionists believe that it is their role and right to establish the kingdom of God on earth. They plan to do this by imposing their interpretation of Mosaic (Old Testament) Law (or "God's law") as a basis upon which all societies of the world will base their laws. Every aspect of society and human life will be ruled according to Old Testament law. It is only after the kingdom of God has been on earth 1000 years (a millennium), or so the Reconstructionists believe, that Christ will return and unite with all of the "true believers" (the Christian Reconstructionists, of course).

This millennium belief is based on the idea of "dispensationalism," which actually goes back to the 1800s to a movement that was first called "Plymouth Brethren." The Plymouth Brethren originally started in England/Ireland, but spread to the United States.

It is the dispensationalists' belief that history is made up of several periods (or dispensations); the last period will be the one before the millennium, which will then be followed by the coming of the "Kingdom of God." Dispensationalists take a literal, prophetic interpretation of the Book of Revelation, including the occurrence of a physical Armageddon, tribulation and union of all "true believers" with God.

Among the dispensationalists, if you are a "premillennialist," you believe that Christ will return to the earth before the "true believers" have ruled 1000 years. Christ will return to "rapture" away the true believers and resurrect the dead saints.

If you are a "postmilllennialist," you believe that Christ won't return until the "true believers" have reigned for 1000 years.

Christian Reconstructionists are postmillennialists who believe that Christ won't return until the "true believers" have taken control over all areas of society throughout the world. To do this, a doctrine based on their own interpretation of Mosaic law must be incorporated in every phase of society and human life.

Some prominent Christian Reconstructionists are R.J. Rushdoony (considered the "father of Christian Reconstructionism), his son-in-law, Gary North, Gary DeMar, David Chilton and Jay Grimstead.

Other terms used in association with Christian Reconstructionism are "theonomy" (application of "God's Law" to all spheres of life) and "dominion theology" ("true believers" establishing dominion over nonbelievers in a society reconstructed according to God's Law).

Christian Reconstructionists are Calvinists. Calvinists believe that everything that has and will happen has been pre-ordained by God. In other words, anything that humans do will have no impact on the outcome because it's already preordained. Human will has zero effect on what will happen, according to Calvinists. This kind of goes in direct conflict with the Politico-Christian Right's use of the religious masses to do their bidding in the voting booth. I mean, what's the point if it's already pre-ordained and already a done deal?

This may be one reason why there has never really been a successful, longlasting association between Traditional Christian Reconstructionists and the Politico-Christian Right. The Poilitico-Christian Right is largely comprised of evangelicals, fundamentalists, pentecostals, and other sects that strongly believe that a person freely chooses between God and Satan. They also put a lot of emphasis on praying to God for what they want, zealously recruiting others to their religion, and, most importantly, working actively to perform "God's will." Luckily for the Politico-Christian Right followers, the Politico-Christian Right demagogues know exactly what is "God's will," and what the followers have to do to implement it (hint: it usually involves sending money, voting, sending money, calling congressional representatives, sending money, convincing other people to send money, sending money, etc.)

Another reason that the Traditional Christian Reconstructionists have never joined up with the Politico-Christian Right is because the Traditional Christian Reconstructionists are too damned smart to be a pawn for the Politico-Christian Right demagogues. And the Politico-Christian Right demagogues are too suspicious of anybody they cannot manipulate.

In addition, many of the Traditional Christian Reconstructionists would cringe to be associated with the likes of the ranting and raving Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells. Even the passionate nature of a pentecostal service would be a big stretch for most Traditional Christian Reconstructionists.

Most importantly, the idea of dominion theology is that the true believers take dominion over the nonbelievers. Indeed, the true believers are not even supposed to associate with the nonbelievers. Since Christian Reconstructionists believe they are the true believers, they really can't associate with the other Christian sects. They can take dominion over them, however.

So, while some of the Christian Reconstructionist beliefs, such as Calvinism, may not be acceptable to the more mainstream Christian believers, and the militia/patriot/Identity nutballs, there are some concepts which they seem to like... A LOT.

So what is it about Christian Reconstructionism that attracts nutballs?

It must be understood that there is a certain kind of person who, if looking for righteous justification for their own beliefs or actions, will pull one concept out of a 500-concept doctrine, and then claim that the entire doctrine legitimizes their belief.

With that said.....Christian Reconstructionists have written a lot of stuff that is very concerning. And when Francis Schaeffer wrote "A Christian Manifesto" in 1981 (which popularly launched the idea of true believers taking dominion over secular society) did he really have to end it by calling Christians to use civil disobedience to restore biblical morality?

Schaeffer's Manifesto launched a generation of fired-up Christian Reconstructionists, and other Christian dominion theology believers (such as Randall Terry, who called Schaeffer a major influence in his life). With Schaeffer's Manifesto call for civil disobedience, it was forever made a cornerstone in the pillar of righteous and holy justification for the militia, patriot and jural society movements. It gave holy endorsement of telling the government to take a hike.

And then there is the whole "dominion" concept. This is one area where Christian Reconstructionists and the Politico-Christian Right see eye to eye (in concept; not in the pesky details, such as who would be the "true believers"?). The ranks and files of the Politico-Christian Right virtually ring with the zealous call to "make America a Christian nation" and to "take America back for Christ." The idea of having a religious litmus test for American citizenship, or the right to vote, or the right to BREATHE, is becoming more and more mainstream in the Politico-Christian Right rhetoric. The rank-and-filers like that idea: Christians ruling America, just by the virtue of them being Christian. And if the rank-and-files like it, and respond to this type of rhetoric by sending in money, then you better believe that the Politico-Christian Right manipulators, like Pat Robertson and Paul Weyrich, are going to use that type of rhetoric.

The dominion concept also appeals to the disenfranchised losers. These archetypal militia/patriot/Christian Identity followers, who could never be leaders in a success-oriented society, readily embrace the idea of "true believers" taking dominion over others. You don't have to have a job. You don't have to have graduated from high school. All you have to do to be in charge is to be a "true believer." Hell, that sounds easy enough. These losers, ironically, would be very surprised to find out that dominion theologists are quite choosy about who they consider to be a "true believer" and qualified to participate in leading their new "God's law" society. The chances are, losers who avaristically change their belief system at the drop of a hat would not quite fit the bill.

So Schaeffer's Manifesto's dominion-theology and civil-disobedience-in-God's-name ideas are concepts that would be attractive to an assortment of zealous Christians and disenfranchised losers. But I think the Christian Reconstructionism ideas and concepts that attract the most radical, and violence-prone nutballs are contained in the writings of the more mainstream, well-known Christian Reconstructionists.

R.J. Rushdoony, the founder of Chalcedon, and considered to be the "father of Christian Reconstructionism," was born in 1916. He himself is the son of Armenian immigrants, so some of the Christian Reconstructionist ideas about how immigrants should be treated hold special irony. In addition, the genocide suffered by the Armenians at the hands of the Turks you would think would make Rushdoony just a tad more sensitive to issues like racism and bigotry, and perhaps more careful about what he writes.

Chalcedon, founded in the 1960s, can be considered a Christian Reconstructionism "think tank."

In 1973 Rushdoony published The Institutes of Biblical Law in which he outlined his ideas for a modern, Old-Testament-law based theocracy. As I stated before, the Old Testament is not for sissies. There is murder, mayhem, rape, bigamy, incest, patricide, matricide...you name the heinous crime, it's in the Old Testament. And often it is done in the name of God, or at God's direction. Therefore, a logical person would expect Old Testament law to be pretty rough going. And they would not be disappointed.

Under Old Testament (Mosaic) law, there is a wide variety of sins that warrant execution. These sins include murder, rape, homosexuality, adultery, incest, witchcraft, blasphemy, a woman getting married without an intact hymen, and unmanageable juvenile delinquents. In Rushdoony's Old-Testament-law based society, there would be no need for prisons. Crimes would be of a nature that either the perpetrator could compensate their victim for the crime; or, if the crime was of a nature that compensation was not possible, and fit the criteria for Old Testament law, the perpetrator would be executed.

It is from The Institutes of Biblical Law (IOBL) that many of the most concerning Christian Reconstructionist quotes originate and, I believe, where the Wannabes get their righteous and holy justification for their own racist and violence-prone beliefs. Some of the quotes can be read as racist, justifying slavery, discounting the harm African-Americans' ancestors suffered when sold into slavery and brought in chains to America, promoting segregation and, most importantly, justifying imposing one's own belief system on others, by force if necessary. And there would be no need for a federal government to provide education, collect taxes, provide welfare services, or emergency relief services; there would be only local governments.

Well, it is easy to see why the patriot/militia/jural society movements, with their loathing and distrust of the federal government, and their bid to form their own local governments, would like this kind of rhetoric just fine.

It's also easy to see why the Christian Identity racists would be drawn to writings from a prominent religious leader which they believe advocate slavery, segregation, and using force to put these ideas into action.

In addition to Rushdoony's IOBL, subsequently other prominent Christian Reconstructionists have been quite vocal about their beliefs and what they advocate as methods for installing a theocracy in America. Some of these methods include, by stealth, taking over the public and private school systems in order to raise a generation of Christian-Reconstructionist-indoctrinated citizens who will, as adults, then turn America into a theocracy based on Old Testament law. Some of the prominent Christian Reconstruction authors quite openly advocate militant activism in forcing one's religious beliefs on others.

Some of the Christian Reconstructionist writers have authored books that are aimed more for mainstream consumption, such as Gary North who wrote a book targeting school children in which he urges them to agitate to bring biblical morality to school teachings, and to monitor their teachers and if the teachers step out of line in any way to work to get the teacher and school in trouble, instead of trying to resolve it in a more reasonable way.

In addition, Gary North did much to fan the flames of the Y2K hysteria, playing on the fears of the fringe groups he now courts. For an extensive list of links about North's Y2K irresponsibility, visit Gary North and Y2K.

In addition, Christian Reconstructionism has been very active in authoring books for the homeschooling movement. This, of course, fits in directly with their plans for having Old Testament law define education in America, and for raising a generation of indoctrinated children who, as adults, will do the Christian Reconstructionists' bidding.

However, it is the Coalition on Revival that has caused the most concern amongst people who monitor the Politico-Christian Right. For a more detailed discussion of COR, from different viewpoints, check out the Christian Reconstructionism Links page and, in particular, the Biblical Discernment Ministries pages on Christian Reconstructionism.

The Coalition on Revival (COR) was formed in the 1980s by prominent Christian Reconstructionist, Jay Grimstead, after conferring with Frances Schaeffer (the author of the Manifesto) and Tim LaHaye (Politico-Christian Right manipulator and demagogue). COR established the National Coordinating Council in 1990, which consists of 50 members, and COR has 112 leaders. Some of these leaders are prominent in other Politico-Christian Right groups, most of which were founded by Paul Weyrich and his associates in the 1970s in a bid to establish many conservative, benign-sounding "think tanks" which actually would serve as propaganda mills and PACs. (For a complete discussion of the Weyrich groups, including an organizational chart showing you connections between groups and people, visit PROSOCS.)

COR's Manifesto was signed by COR's steering committee, in which they make a covenant with God to establish a theocracy in place of democracy.

COR's publications are rife with militant rhetoric, such as, when discussing the formation of prayer groups, couching it in terms of "to raise up Gideon's army." In addition, some of the members of the Steering Committee, such as Dennis Peacock, are quite militant in their approach to taking dominion and forming a theocracy. Grimstead himself, on a tape from February 1987, said, "We are to make Bible-obeying disciples of anybody that gets in our way."

In addition, COR's agenda is politically oriented, and their Manifesto indicates that "a consistent Biblical world view should be the standard for the American life." Many of their leaders come out of the shepherding movement and, indeed, Grimstead advocates the use of authoritarian, control-oriented shepherding techniques ("Pastors should study shepherding techniques and COR theological materials for 18 months...," Church & State Magazine, Oct. 1991). COR's rhetoric also includes calling Christians to action.

COR's goal is to apply Christian beliefs, as they interpret them, to 17 "Spheres" of life and ministry. These Spheres include law, education, business, political action, government, science and technology, psychology and counseling, medicine, and the arts.

It may be of interest to note that one of the signers of the COR Manifesto was Donald "Mr. Boycott" Wildmon, of the America Family Association, who has done much to change what it is that Americans are allowed to see in the form of entertainment.

COR's members are from both Christian Reconstructionist and other Christian sects. It is reported that 25% of the initial Steering Committee and 50% of the Editorial Committee are dominionists. Therefore, it is not surprising that COR's documents embrace dominion theology.

According to the Biblical Discernment Ministries:

"When a pastor is asked to join a local COR Steering Committee and sign the Manifesto, he is expected to 'be enthusiastically committed to accomplishing the 12 goals for Reformation in their country.' Some of these goals are:

A pastor forms a discipleship chain so he produces an army of 100-plus mighty warriors within his church; active members praying an hour a day; establish a Social Impact Committee within the church.
Replace anti-biblical legislation in the country with righteous, sane, biblically-oriented legislation.
Replace anti-biblical elected officials with biblically oriented candidates."

There is some doubt as to how active COR is currently, other than as serving as a vehicle for distribution of Grimstead's writings. However, the machinery is in place, and they are quite clear about their goals and the way they wish to accomplish them.

Perhaps the most important thing COR has accomplished is exposing a wide variety of mainstream Christian leaders, through their outreach, to Christian Reconstructionist beliefs, including dominion theology, which is presented in a militant, politically-based, take-action-oriented way.

I believe it is this exposure, through the Coalition on Revival, to a militant, action-oriented dominion theology, and other Christian Reconstructionist beliefs, which has both helped to, both subtly and overtly, influence mainstream Christian leaders, and to attract fringe groups like Christian Identity and the militia/patriot/jural-society followers.

I think it is also necessary to realize the importance of the alignment of Paul Weyrich with the Christian Reconstructionists in the homeschooling movement. Weyrich is an extremely powerful force on the ultraconservative right, and he has a vast and comprehensive machine in place to effect his goals. Weyrich is pro-guns, anti-gays, anti-choice, anti-feminist, anti-liberals, anti-Clinton, anti-this, anti-that, anti-anything-that-will-inflame-his-gullible-followers, and he has a history of associating with WWII Nazis, convicted of war crimes. Weyrich was very instrumental in the formation of the Politico-Christian Right. Weyrich and his Free Congress Foundation were also involved in the Iran-Contra-Cocaine-Arms scandal, the murderous Pinochet regime, the RENAMO terrorist movement, and other international episodes of murder and torture of innocent citizens. For a thorough discussion of the Free Congress Foundation's nefarious history, visit The Secrets Behind the Free Congress Foundation.

Weyrich's pro-gun stance, and his pandering to the extremist militia/patriot folks with his inflammatory rhetoric, cannot be discounted in this context.

Weyrich has the power, and the political and financial machinery in place to implement just about any belief or goal he chooses. Should he choose to adopt some of the more frightening Christian Reconstructionist ideas, it would be very, very difficult to stop him.

Therefore, this issue of Christian Reconstructionists infiltrating the homeschooling movement, and Weyrich's association with them and the homeschooling movement, should be something that is made common knowledge so that close attention can be paid to what these homeschooled children are being indoctrinated with, and so that Weyrich's influence and actions can be monitored.

Wealthy Christian Reconstructionists have joined with more mainstream Politico-Christian Right groups to effect tremendous change in the political environment. For instance, in California, backed by wealthy Christian Reconstructionists and effected by brilliant radical Christian strategists, the extremist religious right has taken control of the GOP state party platform. (For further information on this, visit God's Vice-Regents , Christian Reconstrucitonist Sugar-Daddy, Howard Ahmanson, Jr., and Project Tocsin.) They immediately implemented a single-issue litmus-test anti-abortion policy. How this has had impact on California politics is that the state GOP will not support--financially or otherwise--any GOP candidate who is outwardly pro-choice. In addition, they will work actively against a pro-choice GOP candidate. Another way this takeover of the state GOP party platform has impacted California politics is that the state GOP will not support the appointment or election of a judge who in any way has a history of supporting pro-choice. Again, they will also work against the appointment or election of a judge who has in any way been supportive of a woman's right to control the outcome of a pregnancy.

(Ironically, this has had a negative effect on the GOP's success in California campaigns, as evidenced by the last two presidential elections, when large numbers of Republicans voted for Democratic candidates. However, despite the negative impact on the GOP's political success in California, the extremist religious right still commands the state GOP, and still has a single-issue, anti-abortion litmus test for its candidates.)

In addition, prominent Christian Reconstructionists are members of the Council on National Policy, a supersecret organization of far-right conservatives from business, political and religious walks of life, who meet to plan strategies to implement the far-right's agenda. The Christian Reconstructionist's input into this process should not be ignored.

Also, Christian Reconstructionists are involved in other political groups, as well, where they work to institute change.

Let's remind ourselves of what Christian Reconstructionists have voiced as their beliefs and goals:

First and foremost: they believe that their interpretation of "God's law" (Mosaic, or Old Testament law) should be the law upon which all of society's laws should be based.
Censorship, based on their interpretation of the bible.
Discrimination against women, races other than Caucasian, and homosexuals.
Limiting a woman's decision-making abilities about what happens to them and their bodies.
Limiting women/homosexuals/nonwhite races' rights to hold property.
Limiting women/homosexuals/nonwhite races' voting rights.
Killing homosexuals and their supporters.
Doing away with the Federal Reserve System and a centralized form of government.
Imposing "creationism" as a science to be taught in schools.
Making changes on the educational system that would limit access to education for those who are poor, and those who are not "true believers" or who otherwise are objectionable to Christian Reconstructionist standards.
Abolishing unions and current workplace safety standards.
Giving militias some of the same powers our police departments have.

It is important to note that those who call themselves "Christian Reconstructionists" range from those who take a more scholarly, certainly non-violent approach, to those who belong to extremist movements (including the racist, militia, Christian Identity, and jural society radical groups). The latter have used what they understand to be Christian Reconstructionism, based on a writings of Christian Reconstructionist leaders which they interpret as advocating racism and violence, as an excuse for their own racist, bigoted and violent beliefs and goals. The Christian Reconstructionists who are working to instill their version of Mosaic Law as the law of the land are very well networked. In addition, many of these Christian Reconstructionists deny, for political expediency, their affiliation with Christian Reconstructionism(John Whitehead, leader of The Rutherford Institute--which was the last legal group representing Paula Jones' failed suit against President Clinton-- is a good example).

Prominent Christian Reconstructionists have formed and participated in politically-oriented, action-based groups in which they interact with more mainstream Christian leaders. In groups such as the supersecretive Council on National Policy, they interact with other conservative leaders in forming plans to further far-right goals and plans. Another group, the Coalition on Revival, was actually formed by a prominent Christian Reconstructionist, and has issued a plan to install an Old-Testament-based theocracy, controlling 17 "spheres" of society and human life. For specific quotes from the Coalition on Revival's "Sphere (Christian World View) Documents," outlining their goals, go to COR: Sphere Documents.

In addition, many Christian leaders, through political association with Christian Reconstructionists, have now started espousing some of the more radical Christian Reconstructionists' beliefs. This effectively begins mainstreaming some of the more alarming Christian Reconstructionist ideas, such as taking dominion over secular society, and the execution of "practicing homosexuals."

Wealthy Christian Reconstructionists have joined with more mainstream religious-right groups to effect tremendous change in the political environment. Their takeover of the GOP party platform is a glaring example, by which they have radically changed the political environment in California.

In addition, there are movements in America (the homeschooling movement, for instance) which, by stealth, have been virtually taken over by Christian Reconstructionists. In this manner, the Christian Reconstructionists are able to implement their plans for instituting Mosaic Law by manipulating the goals and direction of a benign-sounding group, the members of which may not be aware of the agenda of those directing their movement.

Finally, it has to be noted that prominent Christian Reconstructionists, in advocating the implementation of Old Testament law to govern society, have advocated some pretty horrible consequences. This quote from Gary DeMar has continued to haunt me since the first time I read it:

The Bible doesn't say that homosexuals should be executed. What it says is this: If two men lie together like a man and a woman lie together, they are to be put to death.' " (IFAS link to interview)

(For more quotes from prominent Christian Reconstructionists, visit Quotes: Christian Reconstructionism. )

I urge you to visit the links page, and the quotes page, and then do your own research on Christian Reconstructionism and how it is being used to effect change in American society. No matter how it is done, or who does it, if the Christian Reconstructionists' idea of an Old-Testament-law based society comes to pass, we all are screwed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------