A comment posted by a reader on www.godsownparty.com/blog prompted me to answer by way of a post rather than with the "reply" button. Here is the question...
"Why is there a dominionist behind every bush? To me, there is more sensationalism here than facts. Identifying someone who happens to hold some of the same beliefs as dominionists is about the same as saying that someone who cares for the environment must be a member of "Earth First."
I did not respond directly in the reply box because I want my answer to be more widely read. We do NOT root our research in suspicions and paranoia. Nor do we over-generalize. When we expose Dominionist connections between people, organizations (religious or otherwise), politicians, corporations and so on...those connections are empirical.
I think this is a perfect time to reintroduce the meaning of Dominionism, an English word that is becoming part of a custody battle by theology academicians. In the contexts of our writings, the easiest way for me to define our use is to provide an excerpt from my book, "Close Call: the Face of Political Dominionism".
"It is time to define for you what a Dominionist is in general terms that make it very easy to wrap our minds around. There are those who have and will continue to argue with me about how I use this term in relation to academic application, but the proper usage of my coined term, Political Dominionism, refers to the following:
First, you have to be a “born again” evangelical who has accepted (through baptism) that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, AND you are fluent in glossolalia (or “speaking in tongues”) as a second language, topped off with a complete devotion, mixed with an abandonment of all reason.
Then, based on the Book of Genesis 1:26-28, (NIV/New International Version - preferred) you interpret those passages to mean that God is speaking directly to you only, His select chosen. And that as His select chosen you are to take “dominion” (aka control, dominate) over all living, breathing, crawling, slithering creatures that move on the earth.
The Political Dominionist Movement (PDM) organized in the 1970s, gained legs in the 1980s and really established itself as the true power behind what was once the 'politically secular Republican Party' (psRP) circa 1990. ~ Close Call
There are numerous ways of wording the definition of dominionism such as...
"Dominionism describes, in several distinct ways, a tendency among some conservative politically-active Christians, especially in the United States of America, to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action—aiming either at a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law." ~ Wikipedia
"Since Dominionists teach that the mission of the church goes beyond the spiritual transformation of individuals to a mandate to change society, they must change the laws of the land, elect Christians to office, and seek to take dominion over our world and bring it under the Mosaic Law. We see the influence of this thinking even in those who may know little about it: James Dobson, The Christian Coalition, Pat Robertson, Promise Keepers, Charles Colson, Operation Rescue, are but a few of the evidences that Dominionist thinking is beginning to dominate the evangelical world." ~ Alan Torres, The Biblicist
I could continue to provide a litany of definitions from numerous sources, but the summation of the current usage is as simple as:
...those who believe that the 'c'hristian version of God trumps any other Christian version, and it goes without speaking any other religion! That because this is fact in their worldview, they are charged with the "Great Commission" and pursue a conversion of peoples and institutions to a one world religion that is intolerant of other faiths, morals, and behaviors that do not derive directly from their dogmatic beliefs in extreme evangelicalism and conservative doctrines. ~ Leah Burton
We could argue ALL day about the definition of 'dominionism', and that is something many of us do quite well...pontificate and over-intellectualize semantics. Political Dominionism is a term that is going to become an umbrella for all the incarnations of extreme-Protestant-politically-religious activity and agenda. Why? Because in a single word from the English language...it sums up the intent behind the Movement.
"Dominion" means very plainly - "ruling power, authority, or control" ~ Encarta Dictionary
Dominion is public domain, a word from our language, and not the property of any one group or individual. It means "over all"...and that my friends is the homogeneous religious movement that we are fighting to prevent!
So my answer to the comment? Yes...and no...and...it depends...
At the risk of sounding like a parent giving a non-committal response, the only way for me to clarify that further is for you to keep reading. I promise we will address this in far greater detail as time goes on, and in irrefutable depiction for you in our upcoming book, "God's Own Party?: Caught in a Web" (c)2009