“Dominionism” is a term used to describe the belief that government should be based on Christian principles, but it is controversial and mainly used by critics. It includes ideas such as preferring Christianity and society being based on Christian thought. Some argue it could lead to discrimination and violence against non-Christians, while others claim it is a term created to cause fear. There is no self-declared dominionist movement, and the definition varies depending on its use.
“Dominionism” is a term used by some people to describe the idea that some Christians believe that government should be done by Christians and should be based on Christian principles. This term is used almost exclusively by other people, especially critics, to describe this view, rather than being used by Christians who hold this view. The term is based on a biblical passage from Genesis, which says that God gave mankind dominion over “all the earth” and “every living thing.” The use of this term has been controversial, with some people arguing that it is used to mischaracterize certain Christian viewpoints.
There are several ideas that fall under the heading of dominionism and are said to be held mainly by conservative Christians, who could also be described as members of the Christian right. The precise definition of “dominionism” can vary, because those who are said to be dominionists typically do not use the term, so some ideas may be included or excluded from the definition, depending on its use and purpose. Some examples of what might be considered dominionism include the following:
1. Government should be based on Christian principles.
2. The laws of the land should reflect the Christian heritage of the nation, particularly when the term is used in reference to the United States.
3. The government should prefer Christianity to other religions.
4. Complete separation of church and state is anti-religious.
5. Society should be based on Christian thought and philosophy.
For many Americans, applying these or any other Christian principles would run counter to the idea that the separation of church and state matters. A strict expression of dominionism would appear to discriminate against non-Christians – or, in some cases, even people of certain Christian sects. Some fear that the practice of dominionism will lead to the creation of a theocratic state. Others argue that extreme dominionism would result in violence and oppression against non-Christians.
Many Christians and even some political analysts, however, argue that “dominionism” is a term created by opponents of Christianity simply to cause fear among non-Christians. They claim that ideas attributed to dominionists exasperate certain Christian or religious viewpoints or take them to extremes. For example, some people argue that a preference for Christian political candidates does not mean that only Christians should be allowed to hold government office. Likewise, they argue that most Christians would advocate freedom of religion for people of all faiths. Such differences of opinion and the fact that there is no self-declared dominionist movement are among the reasons why the use of this term has been controversial.
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