BushCo. Manipulates Evangelical/Pentecostal Vote: End Times, Iraq, Iran

[CorpGovActivist]

If you overlay a map of evangelical and Pentecostal voter concentrations with an Electoral College map, the chest-thumping about Iran makes a lot more sense. (See map at end of this post, for example.)

These denominations share a few key beliefs:

1. No matter what, Biblical Israel must be protected.

2. The moment America abandons Israel as an ally, we are doomed.

3. The Euphrates River plays a critical role in Armageddon. (The waters are supposed to dry up as a sign of end times, leading some groups to point to modern dam projects in Turkey and Syria as harbingers of the four horsemen.)

4. Iran and Russia are symbolized in Revelation and Old Testament prophecies as being aligned in the final battle.

Type in the keywords "Iran," "Pentecostal," and "Revelation" in any search engine, and you can find the various end times interpretations: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=revelation+iran+pentecostal

Ditto with Russia: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=revelation+russia+pentecostal

Ditto with the Euphrates River: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=revelation+euphrates+pentecostal

In fact, it's almost impossible to discuss the Euphrates River anymore without various prophecies tied into it cropping up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates_river

So, with or without an actual outbreak of hostilities with Iran before the 2008 general election, the GOP machine is playing to this segment of the electorate.

The map:



Best,

- Dave

[Gman]

1. Kenedy County, Texas??

Just above the southern tip of Texas in red.

2000 population 414. The red means there's from 25 - 85 Pentecostals there. I wonder if this includes coyotes, rattlesnakes and deer?

But I agree with your post that the end timers are driving a lot of the foreign policy now. That is what makes it the most scary.

[CorpGovActivist]

5. Convenient Access to Rattlesnakes!

:rofl:

- Dave

[BushOut06]

2. Pentecostalism is a CULT

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

Characteristics of a cult (I've highlighted the ones that fit Pentecostalism perfectly):

* The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

*‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

‪* Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

*‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

*‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

*‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

*‪ The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

*‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

*‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

*‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

*‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

*‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

*‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

*‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

‪* The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

I had a relative who was a member of a Pentecostal church, and decided to leave the church. For quite awhile, she was subjected to vicious harassment from church members, telling her that she was going to burn in hell if she didn't come back.

[CorpGovActivist]

8. Cult-Like, For Sure...

... and the summer church camps are - scary.

- Dave

[TwilightGardener]

3. The reason Rudy is still on top, despite abortion and gays, is because

evangelicals are really, really hoping for an epic battle with Islam, and Rudy simply seems the most out-front on this. The original Neocons, who tended to be Jewish, have really tapped deep into Bible-belt sensibilities to manipulate the gullible born-agains into installing Chimpy and supporting his wars (he speaks their code)--constant references to freedom and patriotism and democracy, constant flag-waving and threats of Sharia law and terror--it paid off. GWB was not selected by accident--he was crucial to bringing this bloc into the neocon fold. They were all played like a flute, and the funny thing is, the evangelical voters seem to have no idea of the true contempt this neocon administration really has for them--they were a means to an end. Good post, didn't know about the Iran/Russia thing.

[CorpGovActivist]

4. I Grew up in a Pentecostal Church, and the Iran Hostage Crisis...

... and Lebanon conflict was the big thing the tent revivalists were pushing then.

Thank goodness my siblings and I were "de-programmed" after each service. My mom would always talk to us about the sermon, and tell us: "Today the preacher said A, B, C, D, and E. I personally believe A and E. You'll have to figure out for yourselves what you believe as you grow older."

The animal symbols in Revelation (e.g., the eagle, the bear, the lion) are also often associated with various nations (e.g., the bear with Russia/former U.S.S.R.).

- Dave

[TwilightGardener]

6. Those symbols you mention make me see how handy the Bible is when promoting a certain world-view--

evangelicals and fundies see everything through that prism, and sometimes there is a confluence of events that make Biblical prophecies even more convincing, like Muslim-extremist terrorism and the strife in the Middle East right now. It just feeds and rewards their beliefs, and then it becomes a self-perpetuating thing--"let's bomb Iran pre-emptively to protect Israel and the US" would turn into Muslim anger and unintended regional instability, which would further feed into the prophecies, for example. A rational person might see Iran's quest for nukes as a way to gain more respect and influence, or as a means of protection, especially since it has some nukey neighbors--but to the fundie Christian and the neocons, it's all about Israel. Now, Ahmadinejad MIGHT be crazy enough to try to take out Israel with nukes, but a burgeoning young population like Iran's probably doesn't want to die under MAD. They probably just want jobs, peace, a good economy, opportunities--but that doesn't confirm Biblical beliefs, so...who cares? Gotta reinforce the scary, evil foreign "otherness" about them.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Some of the More Eloquent Tent Revivalists...

... can send a chill up your spine, drawing parallels between the symbolism of Revelation and the national symbols of key players on the world stage.

Even the most rational, intelligent, well-informed listener can walk away thinking, "Wow, there sure are a lot of coincidences."

Mutually-assured destruction doesn't matter to fanatics who see themselves going to Heaven for their righteous role in the end times - funny how that works for just about any major world religion, huh?

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

9. In Pulpits Today...

... charlatans everywhere are winding up the evangelicals with this week's headlines.

- Dave

[wuushew]

10. I don't see how this map dovetails with needed 2008 swing states

It appears areas that are insane on the map will most likely continue a historical pattern of voting Republican.

[CorpGovActivist]

11. Ohio, Carolinas, Virginias, Kentucky...

... all are flippable.

- Dave