Proving Geocentrism, lobbying for Apocalypse
Bruce Wilson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Sat Feb 17, 2007 at 01:14:21 AM EST
A front page Daily Kos post yesterday concerned the now infamous "Chisum memo" ( pictures of the memo, below at the botton of this post ) that was recently distributed at the Texas State legislature and several other state legislatures around the United States and referenced a website which claims that 1) evolution is a hoax, 2) the Earth does not rotate and it at the center of the universe. Where do such beliefs come from ? For context on "Geocentrism", please see: Copernicus Was Wrong : Reconstructionism & "The Flat Earth Temptation" for an in depth treatment of beliefs, held by influential leaders on the Christian right, that reject the Copernican model of the solar system and hold that the Earth does not rotate and is at the center of the Universe.
A common view in American mainstream political thought and among American progressives, holds that many leaders of the US Christian right who profess to hold beliefs about "Geocentrism", Creationism, or the coming end of the world, are putting on an act. This view is easier to accept in the case of Christian right leaders who makes lots and lots of money. That makes it easy to view them as scammers. What if many who would appear to be scammers are not ? What if making lots of money is simply a component of their theological views ? What if Geocentrists and Premillenial Dispensationalists really believe ? Well, let's start with the easy, happier part of this: The Geocentrists really do believe that Galileo and Copernicus were wrong. They spend huge amounts of apparently unpaid time discussing, and bickering over religious and technical minutia, with other geocentrists, about their pre-Copernican views. In fact, some geocentrists hold that Einstein's Theory Of Relativity supports a geocentric ( or "geostationary" ) model. They really believe this. It's not an act or a joke. They believe that the entire known universe revolves around the Earth once every 24 hours, and they have mathematical proof. This is not an act, they really believe it. In the case of the Geocentrists, it's notable enough that seminal figures on the Christian right such as RJ Rushdoony, and at least one current major leader at the Chalcedon Foundation, reject the Copernican system. ( see my link at the top of this post ) It's worth knowing, too, that Tom Willis --the man who led the 1999 revision of the Kansas State school curriculum on science-- was a "Young Earth" creationist and a geocentrist. Willis was, one might say, 'credentialed'.

Geocentrism is, in relative terms, the happy Janus face of the Christian right's rejection of objective, science based approaches to public policy. The angry, fearful, vengeful face of that rejection is to be found in "Christian Zionism", and specically in the recent work of influential Texas Megachurch pastor John Hagee, who has formed a political lobby to advance his "Apocalypse Based" foreign policy agenda, that of fomenting a catastrophic world war, and it is possible, even, that President George W. Bush shares Hagee's lust for apocalyptic destruction. That's no laughing matter. Like the Geocentrists, John Hagee, along with numerous Christian right religious leaders and millions of Americans --including many who serve in the US Armed Forces-- really do believe that the end-times are immanent, and some believe they must personally work to bring about catastrophic global war in order to usher in the end-times, the Rapture, and the Second Coming It's no joke. This, they believe. Really. Texas pastor John Hagee believes it so strongly he's formed a major new national lobbying group for the Apocalypse, for apocalyptic war. Hagee has formed a national Christian right lobbying group, with chapters in all 50 US states, to exert pressure on US politicians for the sort of maximally aggressive US foreign policy approaches --including a preemptive joint US/Israeli attack on Irah-- that Hagee thinks is necessary to bring on the Tribulation, the Rapture, the Apocalypse, the battle of Armageddon, and the return of Jesus Christ. So, while the memo - below - may seem funny, in the wider context.... Well, suffice it to say - I'll be writing on the "Apocalypse Lobby" very soon. Please stay tuned.




Display:

Bruce, as you uncover and clarify what could be the most important story NOT being written about, it is up to all of your readers to sound the alarm and help to raise this story above the progressive blogosphere.

To understand that Christocratic, geocentric, apocalyse desiring megalomaniacs have indisputable influence on our foreign policy; that their activism and political threats are most likely THE  basis behind the current buildup to World War III, is to grasp the seriousness of the current situation.

 To see them as fringe is to empower them.

This IS a story.  This is THE story. Thank you Bruce.  Let us all learn from you and act now! 



by Darwin on Sat Feb 17, 2007 at 07:28:27 PM EST

I realize that the religious right has serious science deficiency syndrome but it does inspire awe that they are actually using the Kabbalah to disprove 21st century science.  I laughed for a few minutes before returning to a state of utter incredulity and horror.  Perhaps this is just stupid enough to get Republicans with minds to finally step up to the plate and put this movement in their midst down before it causes further embarrassement to the party.

I have to wonder if McCain is craven enough to speak in favor of this nonsense in order to get the Republican "base" to support him.  

by tikkun on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 11:06:49 PM EST



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