The Harper government and evangelical capitalism

[Oscar]

The Harper government and evangelical capitalism

[ http://rabble.ca/news/2015/02/harper-go ... capitalism ]

By Joyce Nelson | February 6, 2015

EXCERPT:

In her 2010 book, The Armageddon Factor, Marci McDonald warned about the "theo-cons" (Stephen Harper's word), who view "science and environmentalism as hostile to the Bible."

Regarding the church that Harper has belonged to for nearly three decades -- the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church -- McDonald noted that its "adherents believe that the Bible is ‘inerrant' and the Second Coming is 'imminent'."

That would place Harper's church squarely in the Evangelical tradition called dominionism, those who believe in the so-called "dominion mandate" spelled out in Genesis 1:28: "And God blessed them [Adam and Eve], 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."

Many (although not all) dominionists take that passage as a divine trump card against any thoughts about environmental protection or regulation.

In taking the Bible literally and as "inerrant" (rather than as metaphorical or symbolic truth), most dominionists also believe that the Earth is a mere 6,000 years old, and that the "end times" are not only "imminent" but welcome, because the Faithful will be "raptured" to Heaven before the Battle of Armageddon takes place in the Middle East. The handy Rapture Index at raptureready.com helps them determine just how "imminent" those end times are.

Now some Canadians are wondering: Does the Prime Minister's Office check the Rapture Index regularly? Does Harper?

In other words, just how much has the separation of Church and State been blurred in Canada?

[Oscar]

BELOW . . . . Three articles by Dale Dewar in response to article in PURE(?) POLITICS E-newsletter of February 8, 2015:
The Harper government and evangelical capitalism
[ tp://rabble.ca/news/2015/02/harper-gove ... capitalism ]
By Joyce Nelson | February 6, 2015
We think of right-wing evangelical religion as an influence in American politics, but, unrecognized by the public and mostly unreported, it is a powerful influence on the Conservative caucus. That would explain the destruction of environmental policies and those omnibus bills.
When it comes to religion, most 21st century Canadians are a tolerant lot, with a "live and let live" mentality. We tend to not particularly care about other Canadians' religious beliefs, or lack of religious beliefs, and we expect a similar tolerance in return. [ . . . [

- - - - -

1) DEWAR: Harper - the Born Again Christian
[ http://imdoc-daledewar.blogspot.ca/2012 ... stian.html ]
by Dale Dewar Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a Christian - not a nominal Christian - not a Catholic Christian, United Church or Anglican Christian, but a born-again Associated-Gospel Billy-Graham-preacher-type Christian! The difference is very important. Christians in general don't believe or act as though they believe that they are intrinsically entitled. [ . . . ]


2) DEWAR: Christians and Zionism
[ http://imdoc-daledewar.blogspot.ca/2012 ... chive.html ]
by Dale Dewar Monday, 15 October 2012
In response to supporters and detractors, Harper and Israel really needs another post - which is now.
Zionism is based on the covenant between God and Abraham, largely quoted in Genesis 15:18 which reads "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land....'" and again in Genesis 17:8, "I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding...." [ . . . ]


3) DEWAR: Christian leadership and Harper
[ http://imdoc-daledewar.blogspot.ca/2012 ... arper.html ]
by Dale Dewar, Tuesday, 6 November 2012
I need to close these chapters on "the Harper as Christian Zionist threat" to environmental safety, non-violent conflict resolution and a just world.
But it is essential that we recognize what a threat religious fundamentalism can be in a leadership position. As one reader pointed out to me, Christian Missionary Alliance people believe that they can do anything that they like to the earth and the environment because God gave them dominion over it. [ . . . ]