You know that there are a lot of Biblical literalists in the Christian Right, right? And that's one of the shibboleths they use to reassure themselves they they are the Christians and the rest of us aren't, so that we are going to Hell. Presumably in a handbasket. But do you know where else those thoughts take them?
One of those places is "Christian" Dominionism, which is closely related to Christian Reconstructionism, Theocracy, and Theonomy, all variations on the doctrine that Christians have a right, a duty, and a God-given destiny (from Genesis 1:28) to rule on this Earth.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
and over all non-Christians, which they interpret as all non-Dominionist Christians.
All of which is so pleasing to the Dominionists that they have, in their own teaching, sold their souls for it, and count the price cheap.
In particular, included in most versions is the duty to persecute or in some cases even kill off "sinners" and "unbelievers" of various kinds, including non-Christians, other kinds of Christian, atheistic "Darwinist" Secular Humanists, gays, abortion doctors, feminists, minorities, immigrants, Socialists, and anybody else that comes handy and gets uppity. Other than rich Republicans, and under special dispensation, Israel, which will self-immolate, along with the Muslim countries, when they initiate Armageddon and with it the Rapture.
Here is the original offer of the Devil's bargain, from actual Christianity, which they, of course, take no account of.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
Matthew 4, New International Version
If you challenge them on this teaching, they will tell you that you don't understand its real meaning, that it doesn't apply to them, and that the Devil can quote scripture for his purposes. (At least that's what they told me.)
So, for example, you can see this theme in Pat Robertson's Regent University and on his Christian Broadcasting Network, in his call to assassinate Hugo Chavez. Or even his rant that the recent Hate Crimes Bill will be a noose around Christians' necks.
You think I'm exaggerating? Read what they say themselves. Wikipedia has a decent summary with lots of good links, and there are plenty of other sites.
Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less... Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land -- of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.
(From The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action by George Grant, published in 1987 by Dominion Press)
Much of this theology comes from R. J. Rushdoony, the founder of Christian Reconstructionism and a major influence on all of the Christian Right, even those who disagree with the specifics of Reconstructionism. For example, the following, from Rushdoony, is part of what the Christian Right thinks they mean by calling Obama a Socialist.
When man's sinful will is the only source of the law, as it is for humanism, then the law becomes legalized robbery, which is, after all, the simplest and best definition of socialism.
* Law & Liberty, pps. 91-2
And here is a site that puts Rushdoony and Robertson quotations side by side.
Rushdoony:
It is very necessary therefore to recognize that the urge to dominion is God-given and is basic to the nature of man. An aspect of this dominion is property...The Scripture, however, places property in the hands of the family, not the state. It gives property to man as an aspect of his dominion, as a part of his godly subduing of the earth.
Robertson:
"....God's intention was that His world be governed and subdued by those who themselves were governed by God.
There is much more at The Yurica Report, a site that strenuously opposes the Dominionist agenda, among other things.
But it isn't at all just those few. You will recognize some of the following, but probably not all. Check some of them out. Unless you have been paying close attention, it's worse than you thought.
Today's poll is all pie, scrumptious pie, because I couldn't think of a sensible question about this pernicious nonsense.