The Roman Catholic Church Was the First Dominionist Denomination

[MineralMan]

of Christianity. More and more people are recognizing dominionism as a danger to America's system of government. Modern day findamentalist Christian dominionists seek to establish the "Dominion of God" as a political system. They're working hard to subvert our current secular system of government and install a Bible-based system of laws.

But, there's nothing new in that. The Roman Catholic Church sought to do that long ago. It actually succeeded in many places at putting the church above political rulers. In the long run, that effort did not succeed, but it was certainly intended to succeed. Religion tends to want to rule over secular political systems. Islam is another example, with fundamental Islamic clergy exerting its strength in many places around the world. In Turkey, for example, the secular state is close to being replaced by an Islamic state, after many years of preserving that secular status.

Fighting dominionism is a key need for those who believe that church and state need a real wall between them. It's a constant battle, really, since religionists always believe they can rule better than democratic forms of government. We must always be aware of attempts to install religious rule.

[Girard442]

1. What people who want to compromise separation of church and state don't get...

...is that the Roman Catholic Church has been putting it's finger into the pies of governments for a long, long time and they are really good at it. Breaking down the wall will principally benefit the RCC; the Evangelicals will get left in the dust.

[MineralMan]

2. I think the Roman Catholic Church's time for that has passed.

Its influence on political realities has faded greatly. Personally, I think the RCC is doomed by it's own ponderous patriarchal hierarchy and its general and egregious corruption. That does not mean, however, that those who are currently working toward a dominionist goal are not succeeding. The religious right has steadily put people into powerful government positions.

In the Trump administration, that progress has been accelerated. While Donald Trump, in his childish way, may not realize it, others are taking advantage of his massive ignorance and probably dementia to install dominionists wherever possible.

I wish this were discussed more and pointed out more.

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. No way.

The RCC depends on the Evangelicals because they don't have that kind of clout anymore. What the Catholics don't seem to realize is once the secularists are out of the way, the Evangelicals will turn on them the first chance they get.

[MineralMan]

8. You are absolutely right.

The Religious Right has long opposed the Roman Catholic Church. It aligns it self with them right now over the LGBTQ, abortion, and contraception issues. However, much of conservative protestantism considers the Roman Catholic Church to be the virtual Antichrist, really.

There has been enmity toward the RCC from Baptists and Pentecostalists from the get-go. They would turn on the RCC the moment they got their way on the issues they have in common.

[Act_of_Reparation]

9. My grandfather said people used to throw rocks at him and his siblings when they walked to school.

They called them "catlickers".

When my mother was a kid, grampa wouldn't let her wear orange. I mean, shit. How Irish can you get?

[MineralMan]

10. The prejudice against Catholics

was toned down when the Christian Right launched its anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ campaigns. Since the Catholic Church agreed with them on those issues, fundamentalists stopped attacking Roman Catholicism openly to focus on their ugly common goals. Since then, the Christian Right has also adopted the RCC's objections to contraception, too.

However, the deep-seated distrust of everything Catholic has not gone away among conservative Protestants. It is just not being expressed right now, in the name of common cause.

That distrust is still there, however, and will re-emerge, the minute those goals are met or when it becomes clear that they will never be met. The Christian Right's current support for Judaism and Israel is equally temporary, and for similar reasons. Rabid hatred for Islam among the Christian Right has led it to make common cause with Israel on Middle East issues. But, the antisemitism is still there, simmering under the surface.

Fundamentalists are also pragmatists when it comes to their goals. They will align with anyone on a particular issue, but retain their disdain and hatred despite their apparent agreement on a particular issue.

[TwistOneUp]

3. Waaay back in 1796

When the grand Mufti of Libya requested that George Washington visit him, Washington did not refuse. He was asked by the Mufti if, "America is a Christian country?"

Washington replied, "... the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. ..".

See here

The fundagelicals or dominionists, whichever you prefer, have been trying this bullshit for over 220 years. They won't stop until laws are passed prohibiting proselytizing, and then they'll spend all their time and money trying to overturn the anti-proselytizing law(s).

[MineralMan]

6. Yes. We mustn't forget that.

[Igel]

11. That phrase was in a treaty.

Nobody can say exactly where it came from, because it's lacking, apparently, in the Arabic fair copy.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. I am a recovering Catholic for ALL the reasons......

Mineral Man pointed out. It is a Church that refuses to change and function in the 21st century.

I did not leave the Church, the Church LEFT me.

[MineralMan]

5. And these days, a lot of people are leaving the RCC

over the child sexual abuse scandal. That number is likely to grow, given new revelations that are appearing all too frequently.