I don't want to get into the reasons this child of secular Jews, with no interest in patriarchal religions ended up in a Christian homeschooling group. I've talked about it elsewhere. It happened, and oh, it was my own personal Twilight Zone episode.
And yeah, mine was the only car in the parking lot at our enrichment classes without an anti-abortion bumper sticker. But that was only the beginning. From "creation science" (there is a whole segment of the homeschool/Christian school industry that caters to this market ) to full quiver families to those who practiced "courtship" instead of dating, it was a whole new - and damn scary - world.
But without a doubt, the most horrifying aspect, for me, was the embracing, by many of the group, of "Providential history".
Providential history - what is it? Well, it says, in essence, that "America" (meaning the U.S.A.) is unique and special because like Israel in the days of the "Old Testament", God has picked it out and laid His Hand on it/us for a unique mission. And "mission" is the correct word here.
From Thy Kingdom Come:
You cannot understand history without understanding Divine Providence. The whole of history can be looked at from a Biblical philosophy, because there is an overall purpose that unifies all the specific events of history. From a humanistic standpoint, there is no purpose in history and hence no unifying theme that ties the events of history together. Many modern educators deny the Providential view of history and would have us believe that their promotion of one of several “secular” views of history is simply the recounting of brute facts.
and :
During the Revolutionary War, God performed many miracles on behalf of the American army, for God desired to see America win its struggle for freedom, become a nation, and fulfill its divine purposes.
Congress sought legal redress to be reconciled with England for fourteen months even after the war had begun. It was not until December 1775, when King George rejected the colonists’ petitions and declared them all rebels and enemies, that they realized their lives, liberty, and property were no longer protected by the English government. Why the king and Parliament would treat the petitions of their own colonies in such a stupid way is incomprehensible. It can only be compared to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart so that God’s purposes might be fulfilled.
During the Civil War, the Confederate Army’s phenomenal success in almost every major battle induced Abraham Lincoln to seek God for the reasons why. He called for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer throughout the North on April 30, 1863. Interestingly, within two days, one of the most crucial Providential events of the entire war occurred: General Stonewall Jackson, who had never lost a battle, was Providentially removed from the scene. Shortly after this, on May 10, 1863, Jackson died. Had God not removed him, the outcome of the war may have been different. God had removed the stigma of slavery from this nation, and Providence now turned to a new objective: to preserve the union of the United States as one whole people
And it just goes on....and on....
Modern day Israel, by the way, is America's special responsibility. God will get very, very angry at us if we don't support Likud's policies. And there is no population crisis. Christopher Columbus was a godly man on a Mission (that word again!) who came to bring light to the heathens, and did a damn good job.
America has been blessed, and they can tell because the nation has managed to colonize (in a neo-colonial way) most of the world, and if running an empire isn't proof that God loves you best, what is? (they never address the whole Roman thing....)
Yes, this is really what they believe. Yes, they are out there, voting Republican, infiltrating your school boards, library boards, and state general assemblies. They almost never get held accountable for any of their revisionist nonsense or their incredibly bad theology. NPR's uncharacteristic action in calling one of their gurus on the carpet is an encouraging sign. For those who like horror tales, google "Providential history of America" and follow the links....