This glossary covers various terms including Dominionist spin and code words, terms created by opposition groups and scholars to describe Dominionism and related groups as well as general Christian theological terms for those that may not be familiar with them. The reader should be advised that many of the different groups and movements described here overlap, but are not necessarily synonymous.
- Activist Judges
- See Judicial Activism
- Antichrist
- Apocalypticism
- Apologetics
- The field of study concerned with the systematic defense of a position. Often refers to theological apologetics. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetic
- Armageddon
- A term mentioned briefly and only once in Revelation 16:16, though it is thought to be derived from the Hebrew words "Hill of Megiddo", the site of several ancient battles. Interpretations of Revelation varies among different groups, but most have in common the idea that Armageddon will be the final battle between Christ and Satan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armageddon
- Avengelical
- Pun on the word "evangelical"; used for wrathful, denunciatory, punitive and coercive religious views held by individuals or groups, particularly those which favor establishment of theocratic governing principles for society. See http://www.yuricareport.com/Religion/WhatFundamentalistNeedForTheirSalvation.html
- Babylon
- Backsliding
- Biblical Inerrancy
- The view that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is in every detail infallible and without error. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy
- Biblical Law
- Laws found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Interpretations about which laws are still in effect and by what means they are applicable vary between different groups. Many Christian groups believe Jesus brought a new covenant which supercedes the laws of the Hebrew Bible. Others believe that the Old Covenant between God and Israel was transferred to the Church. Dominionist groups often argue that secular laws are based on, or should be based on Biblical law. Note that Jewish interpretations often differ significantly with Christian interpretations due to Jewish belief in the Oral Law.
- Bible-believing Chrisitians
- Often used by the Christian Right to describe themselves, as opposed to liberal, moderate, "modernist" and Mainline Christians that, in their view, are not faithful in their interpretations of the Bible, or lack thereof.
- Born Again
- A spiritual rebirth in Evangelical or Pentecostal context. It denotes a intense conversion experience based on the third chapter of John. In becoming born again, one accepts and professes Jesus Christ as their "personal Lord and saviour". The term Born Again Movement has been used to describe an overlapping, though not identical movement of the Christian Right. Whereas the Christian Right denotes an intrinsically political movement, the Born Again Movement is not usually used to imply any kind of political involvment.
- Calvinism
- A form of Protestant Christian theology stressing that only a limited number of people are predestined to salvation. Within Calvinism, those who are predestined for salvation, or elect, are often referred to as "Sheep," whereas those who are predestined to be condemned as sinners are referred to as "Goats." Within Protestantism, Calvinism is largely considered to be opposed by the doctrine of Armenianism.
- Charismatic Christianity
- Christocrat
- Coined in current usage by Rev. Rod Parsley, a Christocrat is someone who shamelessly mixes religion and politics and wishes to abolish the wall separating church and state, changing our secular government into a theocracy. See Understanding the Christocrats
- Christian Reconstructionism
- One of the two major strains of dominionism, generally more common in postmillenialist circles. Based on the teachings of Dr. Rousas John Rushdoony. Teaches that theocracy must be established (including re-establishment of Old Testament law) in order to bring the Millenium of Christ to earth. The movement is Calvinist, Theonomist, Postmillenialist, Dominionist, and Presuppostitionalist. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Reconstructionism
- Christian Right
- Christianist
- Christian Supremacy
- Term used to describe a movement not necessarily identical with Dominionism that...
- Covenant Theology
- Crisis Pregnancy Center
- Defective Elites
- Deliverance Ministry
- The teaching that the ills of the world are the literal responsibility of the actions of demons in opposition to the good works of God. Particular emphais is placed on a belief that the activities of evil spirits are the cause of many physical, psychological, or emotional maladies that people experience. Is highly controversial outside the dominionist community and has been termed spiritually abusive by several experts in abusive groups. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance_ministry
- Dispensationalism
- Dominionism
- A term used by some social scientists and critics to describe a trend in Protestant Christian evangelicalism and fundamentalism that encourages political participation in civic society by Christians through appeals to their religious beliefs. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism
- Dominion Theology
- A teaching in certain fundamentalist and pentecostal sects that teaches that the "saved" must take dominion over the earth for God. In variants linked to "deliverance ministry", the "spiritual warfare" movement, and word-faith theology it is explicitly taught that God lost dominion over the earth due to the Fall of Man and that the "saved" must gain dominion back in all things; this variant is often termed "Kingdom Now Theology" (see below). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_Theology
- Elect
- End Times
- The end times are a time of tribulation that will precede the Second Coming of the Messiah. Many believe this time is already upon us. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_Times
- Dispensationalism
- Evangelical
- The term has come to mean a number of different things, however it is increasingly being used to describe Protestants that are theologically conservative but are not Fundamentalists. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelicalism
- Evangelist
- Family
- Fundamentalism
- Properly, Fundamentalism is a strictly Protestant Christian movement that believes in Biblical inerrency, the virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Christ, and the authenticity of his miracles. Fundamentalist theology began coalescing in the late 19th Century, but the term "fundamentalist" has come to be used for extreme conservative movements within any religious tradition. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Christianity and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalism
- Gatekeepers
- Generational Curses
- Gifts of the (Holy) Spirit
- Glossolalia
- Gog and Magog
- Greenwashing
- Harvest
- Health and Wealth Gospel
- See Name-it-and-claim-it Theology
- Heavenly Deception
- Hell House
- Haunted houses put on by churches and by individuals during Halloween which, in stead of having the spectacles one normally associates with haunted houses, hellfire sermons are preached. Often used as a form of stealth evangelism.
- Heritage
- Holiness Standards
- Homosexual Agenda
- IRD / Institute on Religion and Democracy
- One of the so called "renewal" groups advocating literal interpretations of the Bible and far right social and political views, to destroy mainstream Protestant Christianity in America. Operating from within mainline Protestant denominations "renewal" groups work to sow dissension via wedge issues such as gay marriage, incite schisms, and so break apart mainstream and liberal denominations and neutralize them as an effective force in American politics. - Source: Talk To Action
- Imprecatory Prayer / Toxic Prayer
- Prayer in which one asks for bad things to befall a certain person. Sometimes certain individuals call for imprecatory prayer upon government leaders whose decisions and actions they oppose, such as so called "activist judges".
- Intelligent design (ID)
- Intelligent design (ID) is the concept that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute, say that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the origin of life. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design
- In the Truth
- Joel's Army
- See Spiritual Warfare/Spiritual Warfare Movements
- Judicial Activism
- Justice
- Kingdom Now Theology
- One of the two major strains of dominionism, more common in premillenial and especially pentecostal and "Charismatic" neopentecostal groups. Teaches that members are essentially part of an end-times "overcomer" army to reclaim the planet for God before Armageddon. Is very closely connected with name-it-and-claim-it theology, the "spiritual warfare" movement, and deliverance ministry movements (and in fact it can be argued that all of these movements are in fact variants of "Kingdom Now Theology"). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Now_theology See also http://www.apologeticsindex.org/l04.html
- Latter Rain / Manifest Sons of God
- Liberty
- Lukewarm
- Derogatory term for moderate and/or Mainline Christians because they are neither "hot" nor "cold", IE: they are not extremist. Derived from Revelation 3:16.
- Mainline denominations
- Militia_movement
- justify
- Millenium
- The period in Evangelical eschatology after both the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ. This is a thousand-year historical period during which Christ is supposed to reign physically upon the earth, ending when Satan is released back into the world.
- Name-it-and-claim-it Theology
- The teaching that if you are faithful enough, God will give you your heart's desires vis-a-vis material goods. Often used to justify keeping the poor poor, and to reaffirm the faithful qualities of wealth megachurch pastors. See http://www.apologeticsindex.org/139-prosperity-teaching See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_Wealth_Gospel
- Nebuchadnezzar
- Oneness
- Oppression
- Pentecostalism
- Postmellennialism
- Poe's Law
- "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing." See Poe's Law
- Presuppositionalism
- Progressive Creationism
- The most common form of Old Earth creationism today. It accepts that species have changed or evolved and also believes that the process has been continuously guided by God, with various ideas as to how the process operates. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Creationism
- Prosperity Teaching / Prosperity Gospel
- See Name-it-and-claim-it Theology
- Quiverfull
- Quiverfull is a Christian view on contraception and relatively recent movement among conservative evangelical Protestant Christian couples, chiefly in the United States, who believe children should be eagerly accepted as blessings from God. The movement eschews all forms of contraception, including natural family planning and sterilization. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiverfull
- Rapture
- A doctrine in Evangelical eschatology, particularly within the Premillenialist and Dispensationalist traditions, which states that Christ will call forward the body of the church to Heaven. According to believers, the actual physical bodies of believers will be removed. Among believers of the Rapture there are three significant groups: Those who believe the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation (Pre-Trib), those who believe the Rapture will occur halfway through the Tribulation (Pre-Wrath, or less frequently Mid-Trib), and those who believe the Rapture will occur after the Tribulation (Post-Trib). Among these, Pre-Trib believers are the most prevalent, or at least the most vocal, with many media presentations of the Rapture (such as the Left Behind series or film A Thief in the Night) advocating Pre-Trib Rapture.
- Religious Liberty
- The freedom to believe and practice any religion without interference by goverment and other official institutions. The Religious Right is trying to redefine the term to mean the freedom for their specific religion to mix readily with government and official institutions. The reason for the redefinition is that the rolling back of privledges that Protestant Christianity has often historically enjoyed within official institutions (such as institutionalized prayer in public schools) has been viewed as a rolling back of freedoms or rights by the Religious Right. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion
- Religious Right
- Renewal Group
- Saved
- See
- Shepherding
- A movement utilizing accountability partners in the style of AA. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherding_Movement
- Spiritual Warfare / Spiritual Warfare Movements
- Movements which largely began in pentecostal churches embracing dominion theology which have since spread to other dominionist churches (such as the Southern Baptist Convention) that explicitly preach that the "saved" are in a state of warfare against all things "worldly" or not of the church. Explicitly connected with word-faith and deliverance ministry movements. In some cases, members of these movements refer to themselves as "Godly Warriors" or as "Joel's Army". See http://www.apologeticsindex.org/w00.html#warfare Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_warfare
- Stealth Evangelism / Bait-and-switch evangelism
- A tactic of recruitment into dominionist groups--particularly pentecostal dominionist groups--in which persons are invited to some form of get-together (often a dinner, social club, or assembly) under false pretences. Once the persons are in attendance, and often after either money has been paid or doors have been closed (and the persons prevented from leaving), the persons holding the seminar begin a call to conversion to dominionism. Some variants specifically engage in gaining trust of persons individually and then beginning a religious hard-sell. Public schools have been targeted for these assemblies, often sold to the schools as "character assemblies" or antidrug talks and without revealing religious affiliation. Several attempts aimed at teens have been targets of lawsuits. Technique that is notably used by coercive religious groups in general; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switch
- Steeplejacking
- Term for the process by which theocratic Christians take over mainstream churches from within, with the express intent of eliminating progressive voices. The process is primarily encouraged by the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Term seems to be originated by Sheldon Culver, et al, in the book Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right Is Hijacking Mainstream Religion, ISBN:097719728X.
- Theocracy
- The term commonly used to describe a form of government in which a religion or faith plays the dominant role. Properly speaking, it refers to a form of government in which the organs of the religious sphere replace or dominate the organs of the political sphere. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy
- Theonomy
- See Christian Reconstructionism
- Tongues
- Tribulation
- Triggering
- TULIP
A mnemonic acronym used to ennumerate Calvinist theology. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_points_of_Calvinism
- Values Voter
- Witness
- Word of Faith
- The Word of Faith movement or word-faith theology developed in the latter half of the 20th century in mainly Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. Its beginnings trace back to an early twentieth century evangelical pastor and author E.W. Kenyon (1867-1948), who preached that God would award financial and other gifts if the faithful would ask. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith
- World Prayer Center
- Worldly
- Young Earth Creationism
- A religious doctrine which teaches that the Earth and life on Earth were created by a direct action of God a relatively short time ago. It is generally held by those Christians and Jews who believe that the ancient Hebrew text of Genesis is an accurate account of historical events, and that evidence for the accuracy of a strictly factual interpretation of the text should be evident in the world today. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Earth_creationism
To Do Items
Thanks to Dogemperor for the following:
Here's websites that have various lexicons that can be used in the Dark Christianity glossary (including previous efforts for Dark Christianity "lexicons of dominionism"):
http://www.rthoughtsrfree.org/tcnglossary.htm
http://www.livejournal.com/community/dark_christian/64392.html
http://p212.ezboard.com/fexpentecostalforumsfrm7.showMessage?topicID=969.topic
http://www.religiousrightwatch.com/glossary/glossary.htm
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2005/11/21/8343/7366
These could be gleaned and inserted here for ease of lookup of a specific term, with appropriate citations, of course. For now, though, they are listed as additional references.