Frederick Clarkson
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Senior Research Analyst, Political Research Associates. Find my recent work @RDispatches, @PRAEyesRight, @Salon, and @MsMagazine @inthesetimesmag
Articles by Frederick Clarkson
The New Apostolic Reformation’s Religious Quest for World ‘Dominion’
Long ago Alexander the Great deployed religious myths to conquer much of the known world. Today, a different religious vision animates an intention to conquer the world. The late C. Peter Wagner, a thought leader and a top apostle in what came to be known as the New Apostolic Reformation, was unambiguous in a 2009 sermon about their vision for taking religious and political power in “all nations.” “Dominion has to do with control. Dominion has to do with rulership.
Challenging the Christian Right: Rifts & Strategies
This is the second in a series of webinars by Political Research Associates that highlight rifts and weaknesses on the Christian Right and discuss current and potential strategies in response. The kick-off event was a lively and groundbreaking discussion of how to break down the several strands of Christian nationalism and economics; the profound rift over false prophets in the New Apostolic Reformation; and the remarkable behind the scenes role of the authoritarian Catholic order, Opus Dei.
A Tribute to my Friend and Colleague, Chip Berlet
“Hi, It’s Chip Berlet!” said the voice on the old office phone I answered one day in 1984. I had no idea who that was. I also had no idea that my life was about to change slowly, subtly, over time, and that I was speaking to a man who would make important contributions to how we have come to think about anti-democratic movements, ideologies, and organizations in this country and internationally.
Rifts On The Christian Right & How They Can Inform Strategy
You are invited to the first of a series of webinars hosted by Political Research Associates (PRA) — in which we will identify some of the rifts on the Christian Right and discuss current and potential strategies in response. I can promise that it will be a lively and groundbreaking discussion of some of the most important anti-democratic political movements of our time.
The far-right Christians pushing Trump’s war — to bring on the apocalypse Original
On March 9, Donald Trump posted a nine-year old video on Truth Social that seemed to reveal his worsening political desperation. The video is a compilation of clips of charismatic Christian prophet Kim Clement, spliced together from 2007 appearances in California and Arizona. (Clement died in 2016.) The clear implication is that Clement was identifying Trump as God’s choice for president. Now some MAGA leaders may be taking the prophecy show on the road.
Meet the Top 24 Leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation in the U.S.
Given the threat to America’s democratic institutions and aspirations posed by the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), it’s alarming that the movement’s leading figures aren’t well or widely known. Many, particularly those involved in creating a revolution against established institutions, would probably like to keep it that way (even as some commentators dismiss any concern as alarmist).
Rifts on the Religious Right
Stock Photo Illustration (Credit: Belinda Fewings/Unsplash/https://tinyurl.com/5c8t7sax) Media coverage often paints the Christian Right as monolithic, usually under the rubric of Christian nationalism. But, in fact, the movement has always been varied and not always of one mind on essential matters. Profound differences exist on a wide range of issues—from the role of the U.S. in Gaza to Donald Trump and the Epstein files. But there are rifts that may not grab headlines yet remain important.
County Before Country
This story was originally published by Barn Raiser, your independent source for rural and small town news. Last September, Rev.
County Before Country
This story was originally published by Barn Raiser, your independent source for rural and small town news. Last September, Rev.
County Before Country
But Trewhella, an activist and leader on the Christian Right for four decades, took a much different direction. While he described the assassination as “horrific, incredibly evil,” he explicitly denounced Kirk and his legacy organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
County Before Country
But Trewhella, an activist and leader on the Christian Right for four decades, took a much different direction. While he described the assassination as “horrific, incredibly evil,” he explicitly denounced Kirk and his legacy organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
The Times Blithely Dismisses Concerns Over New Apostolic Reformation
Two days before Christmas, readers of the New York Times opinion page were treated to a spectacle of pooh-poohery over portrayals of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) as a significant and dangerous movement whose views have, wittingly or unwittingly, taken hold in wide swaths of American and global Christianity. According to Molly Worthen, the concerns that many of us in the media and the academy have raised are, at best, overblown.
VA chaplains in Massachusetts told not to mention slain nurse Alex Pretti Original
Reprinted with permission from Good Faith Media. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a veterans hospital in Minneapolis, was killed by officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol last month. He is being memorialized nationwide, but chaplains at Veterans Affairs facilities in Massachusetts have been barred from mentioning his name.
VA Chaplains in Massachusetts Told Not to Mention Slain Nurse Alex Pretti
Stock Photo Illustration (Credit: Darth Stabro/Wiki Commons/https://tinyurl.com/yx64tn4e) Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a veterans hospital in Minneapolis, was killed by officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol last month. He is being memorialized nationwide, but chaplains at Veterans Affairs facilities in Massachusetts have been barred from mentioning his name.
The NAR Vows to Stage the Largest-Ever Gathering of Christian Women
Last year on Yom Kippur, leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation staged an all-day rally in support of Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency called A Million Women. As was the case with the Million Man March and so many other “Million”-themed marches, far fewer than a million actually attended in person, but it was simulcast all over the country and the world.
Did religion motivate assassination of Minnesota lawmaker? Original
5:00 Commentary The media has overlooked Vance Boelter’s connection to the New Apostolic Reformation in his alleged targeting of public officials In June, the assassinations of Melissa Hortman, the speaker emerita of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband Mark Hortman, and the attempted murder of Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter Hope, shocked the nation.
Did Religion Motivate Assassination of Minnesota Lawmaker?
In June, the assassinations of Melissa Hortman, the speaker emerita of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband Mark Hortman, and the attempted murder of Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter Hope, shocked the nation.
Praying for God to Snuff Out Judges in the Name of Revival
When the events of January 6th roared into US history, many in the crowds that stormed the Capitol that day hoisted an unusual flag like it was the Jolly Roger. While the Appeal to Heaven flag, a green pine tree on a field of white, was originally used during the American Revolution, in recent years it’s been repurposed as the de facto battle flag of the neo-Charismatic movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation.
Will Pope Leo XIV Revive the US Catholic Church's Legacy of Support for Migrant Farmworkers and Organized Labor?
Written by Frederick Clarkson, Barn Raiser This story was originally published by Barn Raiser, your independent source for rural and small town news. Monsignor George Higgins was a fixture of American Catholicism in the mid- 20th century. He taught at Catholic University and served on the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Will Leo XIV Be the Labor Pope?
There has been an explosion of media coverage of what the new pope may mean for global Catholicism. But there was little reporting about the meaning of his papal name, until he explained it to cardinals on May 10. Like his predecessors, Pope Leo XIV has reasons for his papal name. The late Pope Francis, for example, was honoring the widely venerated Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order.
Le sionisme chrétien en croisade
Le 12 octobre 2024, des dizaines de milliers de personnes se sont rassemblées devant le Capitole, à Washington, pour participer à une marche baptisée «Un million de femmes» par ses organisateurs. L’évènement avait été organisé par un petit groupe de dirigeants de la Nouvelle réforme apostolique (NRA), un mouvement de la droite chrétienne, dynamique et en croissance rapide, qui endoctrine des centaines de millions de personnes à travers le monde, dont des dizaines de millions aux États-Unis.
The New Face Of Christian Zionism
Above photo: President Donald Trump is prayed over by Paula White-Cain (left shoulder) and other religious leaders. The official White House X account posted this photo on Feb. 8, along with the text: “As the Bible says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ And in that end, I hope my greatest legacy when it’s all finished, will be known as a peacemaker and a unifier.” —President Donald J. Trump Photo credit: @WhiteHouse on X.
The New Face of Christian Zionism
On October 12, 2024, tens of thousands of people thronged outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., for what organizers called the “A Million Women” rally. The event was staged by a clutch of leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a dynamic and fast-growing Christian Right movement that has influenced hundreds of millions of people around the world, including tens of millions in the United States.
Will the Next DNC Chair Get Serious About Competing for Rural Votes?
Much has been made of the problem the Democrats have in messaging. Why were the things they do to help rural folks and working-class voters not better known and appreciated at the ballot box on Election Day last November? You would think that as part of his re-election campaign last year ex-Sen.
Pete Hegseth’s War on Religious Freedom and the Constitution
Written by Frederick Clarkson, Barn Raiser This is a tale about Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, whose story has become part of the backstory of the politics and culture of our time. Hegseth is not only a proponent of Christian Nationalism, as it is commonly understood as the fusion of government with conservative Christian values, but an advocate for a revolutionary theocratic vision for the overthrow of the Constitution of the United States.
Pete Hegseth supports a Christian Nationalist form of government
Almost as remarkable as Hegseth’s views is the fact that none of this came up during his confirmation hearing. The religious identities of presidential nominees for high office and judgeships have become something of a third rail that Senators dare not touch, despite the potential consequences for the foundations of constitutional democracy.
The Largest Oil Spill in Wisconsin History Happened Three Days Before Approval of Line 5 Reroute
It resulted in 69,000 gallons of crude oil spilling onto the ground in Jefferson County, the largest oil spill in Wisconsin history. Yet the public was not informed of the size of the spill until a month later, on December 13. Under Wisconsin law, entities that cause environmental contamination are responsible for reporting and remediating the damage.
The Dark Horse ‘Stop the Steal’ Scenario: NAR Leaders Sought ‘Trojan Horse’ in Election Offices Filled with ‘Christian Patriots’
Over the past 24 hours you’ve likely heard stories about election workers facing pressure to support conspiracy theories, receiving bomb threats, or being intimidated by self-appointed monitors. These things have happened as political and religious leaders have long predicted violence this election season. This includes threats of violence from leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) which have loomed over the 2024 election since the last presidential election.
A Second Trump Administration Threatens Longstanding USDA Conservation and Insurance Programs
Today, the 60 acres of CRP land on Eich’s grandparents’ property is fully in nature’s hands. Trees hug the shaded riverbank and large bushes provide a protective buffer between the river and active farmland. The land requires little maintenance and bears little evidence that it was once used as farmland. In addition to the environmental benefits, the land gives Eich’s grandfather a place to hunt.
Packed with Threats of Political Violence, Media Largely Ignore the NAR’s ‘Million Women’ Rally in DC
On October 12th one of the most remarkable political statements of any religious leader in this or any election season was broadcast live from an all-day rally of tens of thousands of people on the Washington Mall. The event, called A Million Women, was staged by some of the leading apostles and prophets in the New Apostolic Reformation.
Water Protectors Use Novel Legal Tactic to Challenge the Dakota Access Pipeline
The cases grind on. Prosecutors have charged more than 800 people with crimes during the 11 months between the establishment of the first encampment, Sacred Stone, in April 2016, and the eviction of Oceti Sakowin Camp in February 2017. Some have had their charges reduced or dismissed. Others have been jailed as felons. North Dakota is still seeking to get the U.S. government to pay for the $38 million the state expended on police forces.
The Christian Right’s playbook to elect Donald Trump in November
For the past half century, the Christian Right has been mastering the tools of electoral democracy in order to erode and end it. The methods and the players have evolved over time, but the goal of societal dominion has not. Today, leaders of the Christian Right have amassed considerable political power in many parts of the country and in the Republican Party. Paradoxically, they have been remarkably open about their political strategy.
The Christian Right’s Playbook to Elect Donald Trump in November
Written by Frederick Clarkson, Barn Raiser For the past half century, the Christian Right has been mastering the tools of electoral democracy in order to erode and end it. The methods and the players have evolved over time, but the goal of societal dominion has not. Today, leaders of the Christian Right have amassed considerable political power in many parts of the country and in the Republican Party. Paradoxically, they have been remarkably open about their political strategy.
The Christian Right’s Playbook to Elect Donald Trump in November
Paradoxically, they have been remarkably open about their political strategy. This is the story of one key strategic initiative and how to counter it.
Why Are Rural Americans Voting for Republicans?
Several recent books have tried to decode the Democrats’ dilemma by looking at what makes rural and white working-class voters tick. Some have been good; others not so good.
A Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation
The story of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) lives at the epicenter of the intersection of politics and religion in the US—and reporting about it is as essential as it is challenging. The story of NAR is happening in the context of tectonic changes in global Christianity. It’s seldom reported that Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity is the second largest sector of global and American Christianity, after Roman Catholicism. It’s also the only major growth sector.
Where’s Wallnau? A NAR Apostle Takes Aim at Swing Counties in ‘The Battle for the Mountain of Government’
Just as they prophesied Trump’s victory and collaborated in the 2020 attempted coup, the Trump wing of the New Apostolic Reformation is on the offensive once again, waging a campaign in counties they think will swing the 2024 presidential election. The campaign has two main elements.
Taking Aim at Religion Itself, Apostles Prime Networks For Real-World Violence
It is more than paradoxical that an ostensibly Christian university leader would say, “We are here to put a knife to the throat of religion.” But that’s what Apostle Greg Hood, the founder of Kingdom University in Franklin, Tennessee believes so heartily he emblazoned it on a KU t-shirt. This is not a hoax. In fact, the bloody tee epitomizes the paradoxes of the New Apostolic Reformation—a movement that says it means to bust out of the “demonic prison” of religion, knives out.
Cracks on the road to Christian Dominion: Is the shadowy “City Elders” group collapsing? Original
When Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., looked out over his audience at the Tulsa Marriott on an evening in early November, he might have thought he was seeing the future of America. Hern was the headline speaker at the annual fundraising banquet for City Elders, a Tulsa-based Christian right group with national ambitions.
Cracks on the road to Christian Dominion: Is the shadowy "City Elders" group collapsing?
Single mother evicted, left to pay for damages after police search home for suspect who wasn’t there STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) – A single mother of two young girls has been left homeless after the Oklahoma home she was living in was at the center of a …
It’s Not the Name It’s the Theocratic Vision - THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION’S PR PROBLEM
The rifts in the New Apostolic Reformation that emerged last year have erupted into a full-blown identity crisis. This is a crisis born, in part, of the movement’s desire to project a benign Christian image to distract from public scrutiny of its profoundly theocratic vision and anti-democratic politics.
‘Joel’s Army’ Is Already Here: The Obscure 20th Century Religious Movement That Profoundly Influences The Right’s Cosmic Battle
Anyone who’s been paying attention to the rhetoric of the religious and political Right has heard it: the sound of a critical moment in a bad horror movie. It’s the moment when we learn that the demons are us—which is to say everyone who hasn’t been vetted as the right kind of Christian. On further study, we learn that we will be subject to God’s wrath by an army of believers in these, the End Times.
"Unfriending" America: The Christian right is coming for the enemies of God — like you and me
"You've got a friend in Pennsylvania!" was the theme of the state's ad campaign to promote tourism in the 1980s. That was a veiled historical reference to the Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers, the liberal Christian sect to which William Penn, for whom Pennsylvania is named, belonged.
The Spirit of January 6th: The Theology of This Seldom Discussed Movement Animates the Growing Threat to U.S. Democracy
Lance Wallnau, a prominent Apostle/Prophet in the Neo-Charismatic New Apostolic Reformation, had an unusual Easter message this year. Rather than a traditional message of hope and eternal life, he issued an imprecatory prayer and a dark prophecy.
‘Exporting Garbage to the Nations’: Conservative Christian Rifts Spreading Like Cracked Glass
The conservative Christian base of the Republican Party has never been as monolithic as it sometimes seems. This has recently been on vivid display in Pennsylvania, where rifts among conservative evangelical Christians are spreading like cracked glass. New cracks appeared before and since the election in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which is located in the south central part of the state, on the Maryland border.
Taking a powerful stand against the theocratic coalitions arrayed against democracy in our time
Young Jefferson around the time he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Its long past time for everyone to the left of the Christian Right to find a response to their powerful and successful movement, based on shared values and not name calling. Finding our values. Finding our voice. This is where powerful political expressions and powerful political movements begin. It is how they are sustained. There is a deep well spring of such values that may surprise some.
Celebrating Religious Freedom Day By Taking Back the Revolutionary Meaning of ‘Religious Freedom’
Religious freedom has been at the center of American history since the founding. (And by the founding, I mean of the United States of America, not including the roughly century-and-a-half of colonial era.) There’s a story of religious freedom in the U.S. that isn’t widely or well understood—and is fiercely contested by the Christian Right.
Towards Religious Freedom Day, 2023
Young Jefferson at around the time he Statute for Religious Freedom The Religious Freedom Day Group here at Daily Kos annually commemorates the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786, which historians recognize was the forerunner to the approach taken by the Framers of the Constitution and the First Amendment regarding the right relationship between the citizen, religion, and government.
Call it ‘Christian Globalism’: A Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation, Part III
This is the final installment of a three-part series. Read Part I: Christian Right Denialism is More Dangerous Than Ever: A Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation & Part II: When it Comes to Societal Dominion, the Details Matter Since this is a church service (worship, prayer, teaching, Scripture, reports) we ask that no media or press be on the call. Nothing shared on the World Prayer Network is ever to be reported in the media. We ask that all persons respect that.
Dominionism Rising in Pennsylvania
Apostle Abby Abildness interviews State Senator Doug Mastriano This week's issue of The New Yorker magazine, features as report by Eliza Griswold on “How Election Subversion Went Mainstream in Pennsylvania.” Then, Editor David Remnick interviewed Griswold, on an important, but under reported dimension of this: “How Christian Nationalism Has Taken Hold in Pennsylvania” (Scroll down to find this interview and the full transcript of New Yorker Radio Hour November 4, 2022.
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