Generation Joshua
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 12:59:22 AM EST
We have already seen in several posts and diaries here at Talk to Action that the religious right is intensely interested in getting young people involved with their political goals as early as they can. One such effort is called Generation Joshua.
Unlike other efforts which seem to be more about general cultural or religious indoctrination, this effort is explicitly political. Given our constitutional commitment to religious freedom and political pluralism, one would think such direct agitations for Christian nationalism would be more cleverly hidden, but this is not the case as you can see from the excerpt below:

Generation Joshua is designed for Christian youth between the ages of 11 and 19 who want to become a force in the civic and political arenas. Our goal is to ignite a vision in young people to help America return to her Judeo-Christian foundations. We provide students with hands-on opportunities to implement that vision.

In America today, battles are being waged over many issues--from judicial activism to attacks on traditional marriage to the moral disintegration of our society. In the midst of the battles, we can lose sight of where our nation has come from, and these pressing concerns could crush our hope for America's future.

John Winthrop, then governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote in 1630 concerning New England and America: "We shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." He warned that "if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world."

Generation Joshua wants America to be a perpetual city on a hill. We seek to inspire every one of our members with the kind of faith that sees beyond our present circumstances to what America can become--if each one of us consistently impacts our sphere of influence for Christ and for His glory. [   ]

To give young people a vision for taking America back to its Judeo-Christian foundations, Generation Joshua offers an online civics curriculum. Teens will not only learn how government works, they will also learn how it should work if the original intent of the Constitution is followed. [   ]

Generation Joshua trains the newest generation of young people to be effective leaders today in order to change governmental policies tomorrow. Encouraging people of faith to vote is an important part of that goal. In 2004, the number of Christian voters increased dramatically, and the results could be seen across the nation as more men and women of faith were elected into office. But there is still more to do. Just a small increase in Christian voters could make a big difference in the outcome of any election. Generation Joshua encourages its members to register new voters, especially Christian voters, because voting is a vital part of every Christian's civic responsibility. Christians have a duty to rebuild the walls of American politics that were originally constructed on the foundation of biblical values and self-government. [   ]

The rewards for achieving the three levels in the program include scholarships to Patrick Henry College, certificates of achievement, and for the top five national winners, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Generation Joshua's Student Action Teams, fully funded by HSLDA's federal political action committee, provide young people the opportunity to turn their knowledge into action by volunteering in political races on behalf of conservative candidates. In the fall of 2002, seven teams of high school and college aged students worked on federal House and Senate races across America, phone banking, literature dropping, and campaigning. Of those seven races, six were victorious. In 2004, fourteen teams of youth were involved in nine races across the nation. Eight were victorious. It is evident that dedicated young people can positively impact the political world and learn how to run for office someday; the Student Action Teams are the vehicles that help tomorrow's leaders elect the leaders of today. [   ]

GenJ Clubs help maximize opportunities for Generation Joshua members at the local level. [   ]

Imagine hundreds of clubs of Christian youth across the nation, praying for America, and then putting their faith and vision into action. If there are enough Christian youth being salt and light in their local communities, America cannot help but be changed for the better.




Display:
effort at getting teens involved in the Christian political process is the Virtue Magazine written by High School students.

by Carlos on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 01:03:47 AM EST

This teen political effort lost its major races in the most recent election cycle, thankfully. Yet these "Rebelutionaries" are clearly in it for the long haul, and nowhere in this relentlessly upbeat post is there mention made of the fact that even conservative Republican Alabamians rejected this narrow Dominionist slate of candidates:

http://www.therebelution.com/2006/06/alabama-recap-rebelution-wor ks.html

by zentrumspartei on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 04:02:52 AM EST

zentrumspartei for this "rebelutionary" link. Indeed, quite a vivid and disturbing example of what is happening with a segment of our young people in this country.

by Carlos on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 11:16:59 AM EST
Parent


Last Friday, Dr. Walter Shurden of Mercer University's Center for Baptist Studies delivered the annual address to the Religious Liberty Council of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.  The address/luncheon was an event held in conjunction with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's General Assembly.  I was there.

In his powerful address, Dr. Shurden mentioned Generation Joshua.  Mainstream Baptist covered the speech and linked to a full transcript of the address (Shurden cites Michelle Goldberg).

by Big Daddy Weave on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 03:11:05 PM EST


Wasn't he the genocidal maniac who slaughtered his way thru the 'Holy' Land?


Abu Ghraib: Hell House of the Religious Right II
by sendtoscott on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 08:14:18 PM EST

When it's all said and done, these bright young people will have a degree that is worthless from an unaccredited school.  Their parents will be out significant tuition.  The young people will be adept at ringing doorbells, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls and begging for money.  Put that on a resume along with their expertise in creation science, knowledge of Michael Farris' twisted (re)Con Law and what are they qualified for?  

Talk about used up and thrown away!  Very, very sad.  

by Brainbelle on Fri Jun 30, 2006 at 02:57:31 PM EST


I wrote an article about GJ on my site - http://www.god-space.net/article.php?story=20060527030324730 - and, I am in the firm belief that the 90th district rep is in this camp his kids going to a local Christian school and he himself on the Board of Directors. My then future wife took a kid out of this school when she was required to sign a pledge litmus test. If you don't think this can happen where you live, think again. William

by williambrandes on Sun Jul 02, 2006 at 03:41:26 PM EST


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