I agree that Dominionism has gained quite a foothold in the Anglican communion.  Unlike Domionist theology, true Anglican theology is a living thing, growing and evolving over time.  This is necessary for a living church.  But it's frightening.  It's often easier to put your faith in a set of precepts rather than in a living, creative God. 

The harder-core often cite the ordination of the first woman priest as the watershed event when the Episcopal Church turned its back on God.  Then came the ordination of Bishop Robinson.  Given the rights of Episcopalians to choose their own bishops and priests, these should have been side issues at most.  But this culture is very afraid of homosexuals and women in power.

Of course Dominionists want to make Anglicanism more like Mother Rome.  It's much safer to have authorities make decisions for you.

So fear is the real enemy.  It's the lifeblood of Dominionism and most of what is wrong with the left.

As for making more babies, that strategy works very well.  Why do you think the Pope is so opposed to birth control? 

 

by mkerby on Thu Aug 17, 2006 at 11:27:46 AM EST

and the Episcopal Church MUST revive our prophetic voices to give the Episcopal Church a renewed sense of it's own imperative value.  In March The Interfaith Alliance of New York's capital district will be producing a conference on the Religious RIght.  The name for the conference is Recovering Our Voice.  We're hoping to include some of the main page writers from talk2action.  I have to get a more definitive sense of what the workshops topics will be before I decide who the workshop leaders and keynote speakers will be.  One thing about the workshops is established.  They will include topics about building the strength and a public platform for the work of social justice in the face of destructive forces.  I'm in the enviable position of being a layman instead of a religious professional  I can't be fired.

by tikkun on Tue Aug 22, 2006 at 09:50:57 AM EST

I left the Episcopal church because of the hard turn towards fundamentalism and dominionism.

My wife have had a history of abuse from the Episcopal Church, including

1. Being thrown out of a parish because we're Native Americans
   
2. Both of us experiencing mental, spiritual, and even PHYSICAL abuse from the clergy.  I once was even thrown against a wall while having my health/life threatened by a priest.  The whole time he was ranting about submitting to his authority.  I still don't know what I did wrong! My wife was regularly belittled and treated as a nobody/lowlife in SEVERAL parishes.
   
3. Being told by the local Bishop, Howe, that he does not plan, nor will he ever plan on having a ministry to Native Americans- although there are tens of thousands of us in Florida, many of whom need ministry.  He also rejected my looking into ordination, because I cannot go the "regular route" due to health and financial issues.
   
4. Being lied to by the clergy.  I came to the realization that the clergy of the parish I used to attend had been lying to us about their goals and beliefs.
   
5. Being insulted by church members when the hard turn occured.  Suddenly I was no longer a human being because I rejected "intelligent design" and creationism.  At the same time, a man I USED to consider one of my best friends let loose with his real opinion on homosexuals- he advocated MURDERING them (aka stoning them as recommended by the Old Testament).

Part of this can be attributed to the county in which we live- Polk County, Florida- known to many academics and others as Bigot Central, USA.  The rest has more to do with the sorts of people attracted to today's priesthood.

I'm not surprised at the trend towards the Roman church.  It fits right in with the changes I've seen.

Do you want to know what is the cause of all of this?  TOP DOWN HEIRARCHIAL THINKING. The greed for power.

We can only take so much- we're gone, and very unlikely to ever return.  I mailed a letter to the outgoing and incoming Presiding Bishops about the treatment we received at the hands of the Episcopal church.  The outgoing PB just referred me back to Howe- SOURCE OF PART OF THE PROBLEM.  We've also mailed Howe (in the past), and he ignored us.  We will see if the new PB pays any attention or not.  I don't expect it.  

by ArchaeoBob on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 11:23:25 AM EST