Richiyaado

I may be wrong, but I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that there's a link between the Chalcedon Foundation (or at least someone connected with Christian Reconstructionism) and the Discovery Institute in Seattle. The DI is the principle force behind the ID movement. Does anyone know whether this is true?

ex-idaho

Personally I believe that the only way something like that could ever happen is through a declaration of martial law and a complete dismissal of Congress by the President. There for a while it looked like Bush was considering just that.

I also believe that if a theocracy were ever formed in this country the Union would disintegrate. While the Fundies like to tout the Xian nation bit, this country is far to diverse to stand for such leadership. The Xians may have a majority as far believers go but as a group non-Xians outnumber them big time.

If they ended up in soul control of the nation a coalition of non-Xians would form to overthrow them and a very bloody battle would ensue.

On another note I have thought since Bush was elected that he and his administration have been actively working to help fulfill thier view of Biblical prophecy. Ashcroft, Delay and the rest of the whacky GOP thumpers have siezed upon Bush as the chosen one to begin the apocolypse.

simian

What do you mean "used to"? Even the Walmart here is closed from 12 AM to 12 PM on Sundays. Otherwise it is open 24 hours a day. In fact, grocery stores and gas stations seem to be the only things open in Fargo on Sunday morning.

I have only been here about 3.5 years, so don't know all the rules (especially relating to acohol/other sin events, since I don't participate in them), but there seem to be a number of blue laws in effect.

Simian

Fiach

That would be the case assuming that the constitution remains intact protecting the electoral process, separation of church and state, and free speech.

I would assume that once Fundies acquired control of the three branches of government they would naturally take measures to consolidate power. They would use the fundamentalist Supreme Court to castrate the Constitution. They would pass lots of unconstitutional laws (approved by the Supreme Court) to abolish term limits for the President and Congress with no defined length of term and no need for elections.

People would have no opportunity to reject the fundy government in 2012, since the elections would be cancelled. Laws would then require all citizens to be fundamentalist Christians (convert, leave, or face execution.) Criticism of religion becomes blasphemy which according to Mosaic Law now the law of the land, would be a death penalty offence.

All military promotions would require swearing to be "born again Christian." All military officers not "born again" would be discharged under the Infidel Disqualification Code of Military Justice, similar to the Female Disqualification and Homosexual Disqualification Codes.

Result: A Christian Nation with a Christian Government not hampered by the Constitution, elections, or dissent, but governed by Mosaic Law. It would be easy to be a lawyer. All crimes carry the Death Penalty with rare exceptions such as running a stop sign.

My future would be to stay in Europe and cancel any and all US vacation plans.

Fiach

beoba

26) Because of nationwide teaching of creationism and other christian doctrines, children grow up to be undereducated and unemployed, and the economy basically goes belly up.

Toto

The link is Southern California conservative gazillionaire Howard Ahmanson. He's mentioned <a href="http://www.eskimo.com/~pierres/atlas/king_map.html" target="_blank">here</a> and profiled <a href="http://www.au.org/churchstate/cs7003.htm" target="_blank">here.</a>

From the latter:

In fairness, it should be noted that Ahmanson is no longer on the board of the Chalcedon Foundation, and has tried to distance himself from its more extreme views. But this may just be a political ploy.

Rusting Car Bumper

Canada would not save you. See the thread about two kids who were beat up in Canada because of the anti-religious slogans on their shirts.

DC

ex-preacher

Just to keep you up-to-date on paranoia from the other side:

Don Wildmon's rant today was on the frightening successes of the ho-mo-sexual (I'm trying to write it the way he pronouces it) agenda. He's really mad at Big Brothers, Big Sisters, New York Times and the state of California for giving in to the radical ho-mo-sexual lifestyle. Extreme conservatives are utterly disgusted with Bush, who has met with the Log Cabin Republicans and appointed open gays to office. Many of them are also ticked off at Ashcroft because the Justice Department had a gay day or something.

Their assessment: between the ho-mo-sexual lobby, Hillary Clinton, and the 9th circuit court, this country is no longer Christian.

He also predicts that in the near future, churches will be forced to hire gays and that the police will arrest ministers who preach against the ungodly ho-mo-sexual lifestyle.

[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: ex-preacher ]</p>

Toto

Praise the IPU!

But how do they deal with the fact that Hillary Clinton is a practicing Methodist?

ex-preacher

The same way they dealt with Bill being Southern Baptist. Ignore it. Actually it's even worse with Hillary because Wildmon is also a Methodist! Most of the mainline denominations are in the midst of major internal struggles between liberals and conservatives. The two most contentious issues: homosexuality and abortion. People like the Clintons are seen as traitors to their faith.