Christian Economics, the John Birch Society, and Christian Reconstructionism
Chip Berlet printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Mar 05, 2007 at 05:24:26 PM EST
Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates (author info)
In his 1991 article, “Christian Economics: The Social Conditions for Wealth” Australian Ian Hodge, wrote about his view that the fall of Rome was tied to religion: “Whereas Rome was hostile to productive labor, Christianity positively encouraged human endeavor” (p. 20). Those noble productive Christians today apparently do a mind meld of doctrinaire Calvinism with economic Darwinism. Beam me up! I’m trapped on a planet influenced by the John Birch Society and Christian Reconstructionism.

How can I make this absurd claim?  Read on.

Hodge’s article appeared in the December 1981 issue of The Counsel of Chalcedon, a publication of the Chalcedon Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Georgia, which is an early proponent of Dominionist and Christian Reconstructionist ideas. Reconstuctionist Dr. Joseph C. Moorecraft, III was the minister of the church, and Reconstuctionists Gary DeMar and Greg Bahnsen were affiliated with the magazine.

Hodge is described in 1991 as the “Executive Director of The Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Studies,” in Engadine, New South Wales, Australia, and publisher of a newsletter <