But within the New Apostolic Reformation, such designations are routinely stigmatized -- C. Peter Wagner and other NAR leaders have written entire books castigating the "religious spirit", which they characterize as the spirit of denominational Christianity - depicted as obsessed with empty form, with ritual and protocol but which, they claim, has been drained of the spirit that moved in Jesus and the original apostles and enabled them to perform miracles.

So, many NAR followers do not present themselves as Protestant or even, for that matter, "Christian". They sometimes call themselves "followers of Jesus".

Think of how a such a movement could confound such surveys as Pew's - especially Pew's questions regarding affiliation.

Looking into the ~1/5 group that Pew designates at "non-affiliated", the "nones", it turns out that 30% are "absolutely certain" that God or a universal spirit exists - another 38% are "somewhat certain" that God exists.

21% pray daily and another 20% pray weekly or monthly. 14% say religion is "very important" in their lives, and another 19% say it's "somewhat" important. 18% think of themselves as a "religious person", while 37% consider themselves "spiritual but not religious". 49% profess to having had a religious or mystical experience in their lives.  

Even among the "nones", 5% attend religious services weekly or more often, and 22% attend them monthly or yearly. 10% of the "nones" are actively "looking for a religion that is right for them".  

24% think abortion should be illegal in all cases and 20% are opposed to same-sex marriage. 26% see themselves as "Republican/Republican leaning" and 20% consider themselves conservative. 23% of respondents voted Republican in 2008. A whopping 50% want fewer government services.

So, at least 20% of the "nones" would be, in my estimation, properly placed in the "religious right".

While 27% of the "nones" believe that the impact of religion on society is increasing, another 26% view the impact as decreasing and believe that's a bad thing. My guess is that the 20% of "nones" in the religious right would tend to be in the latter group.

So, while media and popular coverage of the Pew survey tended to claim it was clear evidence of declining religiosity, with some even misrepresenting the survey to the extent of claiming that the "nones" were simply "losing their religion", the real picture is quite different - the majority of the "nones" do indeed have religious or mystical beliefs, and a solid minority of them are solidly conservative.  

Indeed, about 20% of the "nones", about 4% of Americans overall, appear to be in the unaffiliated religious right.

by Bruce Wilson on Tue Oct 23, 2012 at 11:04:17 AM EST
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I tried doing research on some dominionists who were involved in an organization I was involved with for a year or two.  In spite of the wealth and high status of the individual, their connections were well hidden, and usually had to come from statements from people that knew them... like saying that they came from an Assemblies-related (sometimes non-denominational "independent Baptist") church.  The higher in power they are in this society, the more the secrecy is enforced.

Even then, secrecy is a very old trait among dominionists.  33-30 years ago, we knew and were taught not to broadcast our intentions towards others... that we'd been taught that the only reason to be friends with "the world" (non-dominionists) was for conversion.  Period.  That extended to many different aspects of being a member of their cult.

When I hung out with the "College" students at their ersatz school, I was strictly charged to the point of almost a death threat to not reveal who was teaching their "ministry students" how to invade other churches, or even that they were being so trained.  I was also very strictly charged to not discuss some of the things that happened or being taught in that "School"...  and from what a walkaway ex-student has told me, it's gotten worse there.  They now try to hide their affiliation, and their theology and belief system states that denominations are evil, because if they aren't dominionist (Assemblies of God usually), they're in opposition to what they think is "Christianity" (their version of religion).

The last I heard, being "non-denominational" was official, even publicly admitted doctrine.  Not being associated even with a church is a natural extension of their policies.

It's just like their claim to be not a denomination.  Well, since they're a cult - or association of cults, they are right in a sense, but not in the way they mean.

So, in a sense, what is being reported does connect with what we know about them.


by ArchaeoBob on Tue Oct 23, 2012 at 11:12:30 AM EST
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Many conservative Christian groups use the term as roughly synonymous with heresy, or dangerous religious competitor.  Psychologists tend to look at cults from the standpoint of coercive forms of persuasion, undue influence, and such. For our purposes, this kind of approach is most helpful because it allows us to distinguish between a sect and a cult, and note that not all cults are religious -- there are also business, political and psychotherapy cults.  Cults are defined far more by what they do, than what they believe.

TTA guest contributor Steve Hassan takes this approach, and he has a vast collection of relevant resources on his web site .

by Frederick Clarkson on Mon Oct 22, 2012 at 02:36:20 PM EST
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