Changes

Now, they feel shut out, and feel the need to re-assert their presence as religious people with a valid perspective in the democratic political process and the institutions of the culture.

Now, they feel shut out, and feel the need to re-assert their presence as religious people with a valid perspective in the democratic political process and the institutions of the culture.

Few, however, articulate a position that could be called theocratic.  However, there is a branch of dominion theology called "Christian Reconstructionism" which teaches that the Levitical Law, including its harsh penalties, remains binding on Christians today; adherents would argue for a theocracy.  This view is rejected by most who otherwise hold to dominion theology.

Few, however, articulate a position that could be called theocratic.  However, there is a branch of dominion theology called "Christian Reconstructionism" which teaches that the Levitical Law, including its harsh penalties, remains binding on Christians today; adherents would argue for a theocracy.

Another variation of dominion theology is "Kingdom Now" (also called "Latter Rain", "Joel's Army", and "Seven Mountain Mandate").  This branch has a large following within [[Pentecostal]] and [[Charismatic]] branches of Christianity, and teaches that in order for God's Kingdom to be established on Earth, Christians must take possession of seven "mountains" which influence society.<ref>As defined by Charismatic author C. Peter Wagner, the "mountains" -- also called spheres of influence, realms, and many other terms -- are Religion, Government, Business, Education, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Family.</ref> Evangelicals, although agreeing that Christians should influence all aspects of society, disagree that this must be done in order for Jesus to return to Earth.

Another variation of dominion theology is "Kingdom Now" (also called "Latter Rain", "Joel's Army", and "Seven Mountain Mandate").  This branch has a large following within [[Pentecostal]] and [[Charismatic]] branches of Christianity, and teaches that in order for God's Kingdom to be established on Earth, Christians must take possession of seven "mountains" which influence society.<ref>As defined by Charismatic author C. Peter Wagner, the "mountains" -- also called spheres of influence, realms, and many other terms -- are Religion, Government, Business, Education, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Family.</ref>

Critics argue the claim that the United States is a Christian nation is of questionable historic validity (often pointing out the deism of various founding fathers), is ethnocentric, and reduces secularists and members of other religions (such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism) to second-class status.

Critics argue the claim that the United States is a Christian nation is of questionable historic validity (often pointing out the deism of various founding fathers) , is ethnocentric, and reduces secularists and members of other religions (such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism) to second-class status. Religious historians, like Nathan Hatch, Mark Noll and others, also suggest that modern fundamentalists are nostalgic for a time that never really existed as they imagine it: a time in the indefinite past, before the turbulent sixties, when wholesomeness, and sanity, and harmony prevailed under a benevolent religion much as they conceive their own to be.

Religious historians, like Nathan Hatch, Mark Noll and others, also suggest that modern fundamentalists are nostalgic for a time that never really existed as they imagine it: a time in the indefinite past, before the turbulent sixties, when wholesomeness, and sanity, and harmony prevailed under a benevolent religion much as they conceive their own to be.

Christian Reconstructionist theology's belief that the penalties of the Levitical law remain binding upon Christians under the New Covenant is controversial, and generally rejected by most who would otherwise hold to dominion theology.  Likewise, the teaching that dominion must take place for Jesus to return to Earth is generally rejected within Evangelical circles, even among those who agree that Christians should seek to influence all aspects of society.

 

Dominionist or Christian Reconstructionist theology's belief that the penalties of the Levitical law remain binding upon Christians under the New Covenant is controversial among many conservative Evangelicals.

The Christian Research Institute, a noted conservative Evangelical apologetics ministry, takes the Dominionists to task for what it sees as a misunderstanding of the Bible.

The Christian Research Institute, a noted conservative Evangelical apologetics ministry, takes the Dominionists to task for what it sees as a misunderstanding of the Bible.