Q: Does Dominionism ("Left Behind") have a following outside of America?

[DerekG]

Like many Christians, I've become very concerned about this death cult within the faith, especially when men like Bush and Delay appear to be two of its adherents.

Does dispensationalist theology have a following outside of this country? There are 1.5 billion Christians in the world: 20-40 million of these fanatics are quite enough.

[sam sarrha]

1. LOTS of people believe the books are Real and Gods Prophecy, my brother is

one of them.. i cant be around him at all he is so lost in despair and so angry at the Liberals for causing it all. for real, this is true and he is a Highly Educated person.. retired from an executive job

It is Bizare.. if you say anything to reason with him he thinks you are one of the Unfavored..

[Warpy]

2. Unfortunately, this hogwash has always been within the faith

at varying levels ever since Revelations was written.

Evangelicals are converting folks in the third world away from the Catholic church with their promise of Rapture as all the people we find wanting in various ways are left behind.

That this perversion of Christianity says they don't have a future at all seems to be lost on them. "Death cult" is just about right.

The mainstream churches need to address this corruption of their faith, and quickly. They've ignored it for far too long as it is.

[Ando]

4. Revelation

Interestingly, the rapture eschatology didn't really surface until the 1800's. It was a little girl who had a vision, I can't remember her name now. While there has always been debate as to the nature of Revelation, it was only accepted into the Canon as a historical book. The really interesting thing that most people don't know is that the modern end-times rapture eschatology arose at the same time as a number of other cults, including Mormonism and Jehovah's Witness. It is certainly something that needs to be dealt with quickly. It is in my mind the greatest heresy alive in the church today as it takes everything Christ accomplished at his first coming and wrongly places it at his second coming.

[On the Road]

3. I Would Distinguish Between Dispensationalism and Dominionism

Real dominionism is much smaller, and came from the Calvinist wing of the church (Rushdoony). Most dispensationalists are not even aware of Dominionsism, although they might nod at a lot of the Biblical quotations that Dominionists come out with.

Dispensationism itself is divided between Pentecostal (speaking in tongues) and non-Pentecostal. Both groups are strong in many third-world countries. Most Latin American countries have hundreds of dispensationalist churches. It's not big in Europe, but other Western countries like Canada and Australia have their contingents. A few Asian countries like Indonesia and I believe South Korea have a lot -- not so much in China or Japan.

It's definitely worldwide. But the movement is strongest and most visible in the US.

[GOPBasher]

5. These people are all about converting everyone.

It scares me to death. I wish more mainline churches -- Catholic, Anglican, more liberal Protestant churches -- start trying to counter it. Also, I'd like other religions trying to convert people, like Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Of course, there aren't many radical factions among those religions that think, Everyone MUST believe like we do. That's the belief that causes people to go around the world and try to convert everyone. So, I don't see people of more accepting religions doing that, for the very reason that they DON'T think everyone has to be their same faith. Only Islam and the more right wing Christianity believe that, so those are probably the only religions that will go around and try to convert people. That's scary to me. I love religious pluralism. I think the world is better off with everyone respecing everyone's religion, and no one thinking, We're the only righteous ones; every other faith is false and evil.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. Never met any Hassidic Jews, I see

While they don't try to convert, everyone who is not one of them is scum to them (although not entirely true of all) and beneath contempt.

They don't even believe that Reformed Judiaism followers are Jews... definate heirs to the Pharisees.


http://misnagdim.tripod.com/myths.html
has a FAQ anout them

Funny story. We took the kids and stayed in Lancaster PA for a week one summer. Being from Brooklyn, the Amish did not freak them out too much, as they see Hassidim every day.

On the way home, the little one slept, and woke a few blocks from home.

Stopped at a light, she saw some Hassidim on the street and said, "Daddy, look more Amish!"

"No, honey. They play for the other team."

[GOPBasher]

7. I wasn't aware of that.

I can add them to my list of intolerant people.

[InvisibleBallots]

8. the "Left Behind" people and the Dominionists are opposites

of each other, at least, opposite ends of the fundie fence. But whatever.