Interesting connections between Huckabee and this Gothard guy. The religious right in the US seems to be getting a bit wild!
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5353979-mike-huckabee-religious-zealot Mike Huckabee, Religious Zealot BY Derek Bernardi Religion and government in the United States have never been as integrated and unified as they are today. With the Ten Commandments proudly displayed in government buildings, the fight against evolution in some of our public schools, and many politicians calling this country a “Christian Nation,” it seems the basic ideals of our government have never been so far removed from those of our nation’s founders. In the 1796 US treaty with Tripoli, George Washington wrote, “The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” Compare that to a quote from Mike Huckabee in which he stated, “I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that’s what we need to do – to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.” The Constitution currently does not use the word “God” once, nor so much as mentions any religion. In all fairness, however, Mike Huckabee may very well have been influenced by the dominionist and quasi-cult leader Bill Gothard. Dominionism is the belief that the only correct way to govern any nation is through Biblical law. Bill Gothard, for one, happens to agree. Often described as “fanatical,” perhaps his kindest criticism, Gothard is an evangelist who is the figurehead of several nationwide organizations which include a seminar-based ministry called the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), and the Character Training Institute (CTI). The IBLP itself includes a home-schooling operation, an unaccredited medical school that promotes faith healing, an unaccredited law school, and a Bible-based paramilitary boot camp called ALERT whose slogan is “Preparing generations to be followers of Christ.” The IBLP alone reported $28 million in revenue in 2006, and over $100 million in assets.Gothard seminars focus highly on the importance of God-given authority, namely parents, politicians, church leaders, and employers, and encourage all followers to comply with authority without question. He teaches that all women should be subservient to their husbands and fathers, divorce is absolutely unacceptable, married women may not work outside the home, dating is forbidden, mental illnesses are caused by personal irresponsibility, and that Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, “cause strange and destructive behavior in children.”Although legally independent, CTI is, for all intents and purposes, a “secular” frontgroup for Gothard’s IBLP. Gothard denies this, but the evidence against him is strong. For one thing, it has long been run by an IBLP board member. The “49 Character Qualities” that the program aims to teach are taken directly from Gothard with all biblical references removed. The CTI bookstore carries all of Gothard’s books, and even the symbol for both organizations is an identical eagle with a different acronym, just to name a few examples. However, Gothard’s far-reaching connections in the government, law enforcement, and the corporate world help him avoid any obstacles.CTI’s main program is called Character First! and it was first used at a corporation in Oklahoma City. The company CEO was so impressed that he purchased an old hotel in the city that would become CTI headquarters. Since that time, the list of seminar attendees has read like a Who’s Who of top corporations and government institutions, including the CEOs of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Costco, Tyson, and Aflac, as well as leaders from every branch of the armed forces, the US district attorney’s office, the US Bureau of Prisons, and numerous hospitals and schools districts. Many people believe that George W. Bush has attended a seminar as well. In several states, legislation has been independently passed requiring Character First! training in schools and prisons, effectively spreading Gothard’s message for him. Currently, there are 170 cities nationwide that claim to be “Character Cities,” including Compton, Cincinnati, Baton Rouge, Indianapolis, and Palm Beach, as well as 31 “Character Counties” and seven “Character States” (these are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina). There are also some 47 international Character Cities in a number of countries ranging from Mexico, to Romania, to the Philippines. Despite the program’s cheery name, Character First! has a dark side. A prime example is the use of so-called “prayer closets” where children who disobey their authorities are sent to pray by themselves in the dark. Many children have accused CTI employees of locking them in prayer closets and not allowing them to use the bathroom, forcing them to sit in their own urine for hours or even days at a time. Others have reported beatings with wooden paddles that have left welts and bruises. Most shockingly, the Colorado Church Shooter, not long before the shooting, had posted online that he had been driven over the edge by being raised in a Gothardite family.However, it is hard for one to make a strong argument against “Character.” That is the reason why this program has been allowed to spread so quickly. Without any background knowledge of Bill Gothard and CTI, legislators unknowingly pass his teachings into law.Unless the public is informed of the truth behind Character First!, there is no reason to believe its growth will wane. Keep this in mind if and when Mike Huckabee resumes his campaign for President in 2012. Himself a devout evangelist, attendee of Gothard seminars, and personal friend of Bill Gothard, it is only logical (and he has even basically said so himself) to assume that the United States would experience at least four years of fusion between church and state. At the very least, this is unconstitutional. Yet is has also inarguably done harm already. Blog: http://kenthink7.blogspot.com/index.html Blog: http://kencan7.blogspot.com/index.html _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
