Fundie Follies: Ideas Do Have Consequences
The latest Fundievangelical™ drama-rama concerns a report prepared by the US Army's School of Advanced Military Studies. The original article is here: U.S. Army major: Lose your evangelical beliefs. Here's a bonus download: the original report, Alternative linky.
So what has gotten the panties of these Fundies™ all twisted in a bunch?
"As a result of millennarian influences on our culture, most Americans think as absolutists," Maj. Brian L. Stuckert wrote in his 2008 course requirement at the school for military officers.
"A proclivity for clear differentiations between good, evil, right, and wrong do not always serve us well in foreign relations or security policy," he said. "Policy makers must strive to honestly confront their own cognitive filters and the prejudices associated with various international organizations and actors vis-à-vis pre-millennialism.
Oh that's right: ideas have consequences, and they're trying to see how this Fundievangelicalism™ just might affect military recruits, commanding officers, and what implications it has for policy in general. Remember, these folks vote, and they are just as entitled to write their Congress Critters as any other US citizen. As such, the politicians just might respond, especially if their voices are the loudest (or percieved that way).
He warns against the Christian beliefs espoused by many that the end times will involve Israel as God's chosen nation, a final 1,000-year conflict between good and evil and an ultimate victory for God.
"The inevitability of millennial peace through redemptive violence and an exceptional role for America have been and continue to be powerful themes running throughout the security and foreign policies of the U.S.," Stuckert wrote. "Official U.S. government policy expresses these themes in a number of ways from the national seal that reads Novus Ordo Seclorum -- the New Order for the Ages -- or the nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile known as the Peacekeeper.
"As demonstrated by American history, millennialism has predisposed us toward stark absolutes, overly simplified dichotomies and a preference for revolutionary or cataclysmic change as opposed to gradual processes," he said. "In other words, American strategists tend to rely too much on broad generalizations, often incorrectly cast in terms of 'good' and 'evil.'"
Is there anything factually wrong here? These Fundies™ fawn over Israel far more than most American Jews. Even as far back as Washington's Farewell Address, Washington warned against this very thing: becoming overly fond of, and putting too much trust in, foreign countries. He warned that US interests, not those of other nations, should come first.
Others were more blunt in their assessments of Stuckert's work. Blogger John McTernan, for example, called it "the most dangerous document to believers that I have ever read in my entire life."
"After reading this document, it is easy to see the next step would be to eliminate our Constitutional rights and herd us into concentration camps," he said.
"Pessimism and paranoia are two possible results of pre-millennial influence. This can lead to inaccurate assessments on the part of military leaders and planners".
I think he just proved the latter, don't you?
As far as pessimism goes, we've already seen that in action when Ronald Reagan appointed a Fundie™ to high office: James G. Watt. This whacko once said that Jesus was coming soon, so why bother with conservation? If your world view is that these are the "End Times", then why bother planning for a future that will never come? Why worry about getting wiped out by nukes tomorrow if Jesus is coming next week?
But McTernan was blunt in his objections: "Right now the world's big problems are both the hard left reprobates who are in charge of all Western nations including the United States and the Muslims who follow Islam. The problem is not Bible believing Christians. We are the solution to this sin cursed world, that will only be cured at the glorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Once again, he proves the very point he would dispute. Do you think that anyone with a mind set like this would ever entertain the notion that maybe -- just maybe -- he might be mistaken?
Stuckert suggested the U.S. "incorporate additional considerations into policy formulation and evaluation to assist ourselves in the identification of defects, diminished objectivity or unwarranted biases."
This was the whole point of this exercise: ideas do have consequences. The very fact that these Fundies™ are getting so damned upset over this proves it. If the ideas of these "BibleBelievingChristians™" are of no consequence, then so, too, are the ideas of those who just might disagree. If these Fundies™ truly believe in the bullshit they espouse, then why are they so afraid someone just might put those ideas under a microscope?
"Dispensationalism" is another uniquely American heresy. It is not something you will find in the theologies of the major churches. It was invented in the late 19th century by another whacko named Scofield: an American heretic. Once again, we see Fundievangelicals™ failing to take seriously the "Word" these guys claim a unique allegiance to:
37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24 : 37 -- 44
See? Even Jesus says that he doesn't know when he's coming back, and all he can do is warn that it will happen without any advance warning, and could happen at any time. What would Jesus think of turning Scripture™ into a parlor game of guessing when the Second Coming is going to occur?
Then again, since when have Fundievangelicals™ ever actually followed the Bible?