Keven Smith screened it at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. I guess it’s the anti-Atlas Shrugged only with a believable story, one that — you know — could actually happen in light of past events some of you might recall. Considering Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry have both been linked to Dominionism, a radical sect of right wing extremist Christians, this film seems a little tame to me.
[I]t really does seem the proponents emphasize Christians dominating all seven areas of culture in order to dictate, not on involving ourselves in order to influence.
These kinds of strong-willed leaders as we’ve seen in the New Apostolic Reformation have me concerned about whether this is really more about self-will to power than about God’s empowerment. […]
[T]he pseudo-military “marching orders” emphasis in Seven Mountains make me wonder if it is more about “reversing the moral slide” (a direct quote from one of the advocates in the videos) and creating conformity through “spiritual” or “christianized” control over social structures, than about genuine transformation of human hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit.
I have to wonder whether part of what drives this movement is that they don’t want the reality of a culturally pluralistic world. Seems they would actually prefer to impose a monolithic “biblical” culture where Christians do not remain marginalized. And I have to wonder if there is true belief in the doctrine of free will here, or if it just that some proponents don’t like it when non-Christians express it through their own cultural mandates.
At the same time, there is much use of “super spiritual” language, about doing this for God and having strategies to rout The Enemy. I was once involved in this approach, but now have severe concerns about it.
That’s a critique by a conservative Christian of the so-called “Seven Mountains” movement. Here is a more concise description from Kyle Mantyla of People for the American Way:
As we have explained before, Seven Mountains dominionism seeks to place Christians in control over the seven forces that shape and control our culture: (1) Business; (2) Government; (3) Media; (4) Arts and Entertainment; (5) Education; (6) Family; and (7) Religion. The reason for this, as Lance Wallnau, the leading advocate for Seven Mountains theology, explained is that Jesus “doesn’t come back until He’s accomplished the dominion of nations.” And the way “dominion of nations” is accomplished is by having Christians gain control of these “seven mountains” in order to install a “virtual theocracy” overseen by “true apostles” who will fight Satan and his Antichrist agenda.
Frankly, I’d love to see a film depicting the rise to power of a modern day politician involved in the Seven Mountains’ movement, but then again, maybe in a few months someone will produce a documentary on that very subject. In any event, I wish Kevin Smith good luck with “Red State” when his film is is generally released hopefully sometime before the end of the year.
Rick Perry is their candidate. Could happen next year.
That looks seriously spooky. And far too close to real.
I’ve not noticed that Christians are marginalized. Apparently, not being able to dominate and proselytize everyone else is being marginalized. Strange that.
Seems a little daft to me. Seriously. I fear the next rendition of Rumsfeld and Cheney and and the NeoConns much more. Or what if the political banking nexus continues to collapse? Do you think the current power brokers in both parties are just going to let their empires collapse? Heck no. They’ll debase your currency to survive, and I’d suspect they’ll go all Hugo on anyone who tries to take their power away.
I see the problem here as authoritarianism, not confined to a small handful of horror film radicals as this film depicts. Although, Sharia Law is not to different to what this film depicts… While maybe some sect like this is dreaming out some psycho-plan like this, this film seems comparatively paranoid to the reality of sharia law…
I guess you’re also referencing Waco?? Let’s face it: even Waco was a total f-up on the governments’ part. Had the authorities not been looking to be BATF super action heroes, they could have arrested that idiot on the streets during a shopping trip to town instead of looking for the grand-stand assault / arrest that burned the fortress down to the ground.
Flexing power was their goal, and it killed a bunch of kids… and that sort of thing feeds the fire of the paranoid who then get all worried they authorities will do the same to them… (Wonder where they get such ideas?)
Having seen the authoritarian reaction against any unauthorized protests / gatherings first hand during the G-7 here in Pittsburgh… those are the people you should fear. (the city is still paying off law suits for its gross violations… that so many voters / people / politicians / police authorities still justify as perfectly legit actions.)