Why Maurice Vellacott and his Reconstructionist Theories Will Fail

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

With the introduction of Marci McDonald's book; The Armageddon Factor (1), we are now being given an opportunity to debate the enormous influence of the Religious Right on Canadian politics.

And one area that needs a great deal of debate, is the issue of Reconstructionism, which is being organized in the breezeway between Reform-Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott's office and the American 'Conservative movement*'.



C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Stephen Harper


In Lloyd MacKey's book, The Pilgrimage of Stephen Harper, he claims that Harper did not come to his "born-again" status from the need to be reborn to escape a lost life, but rather from the results of a cerebral journey.

C.S. Lewis dealt in absolutes, so as one of the theologians introduced to him by Preston Manning, Lewis would be the easiest for an analytical mind to grasp. Stephen Harper is a smart man, but he is not a wise man, and Lewis expressed Christian faith in the simplest of terms.

In fact, it has been those 'simple' terms that have had his critics state that among other things, his theories were "textually careless and theologically unreliable." (2)

Lewis is what is known as an 'apologist', which is described** in part as:

... a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views ... Apologists have based their defense of Christianity on historical evidence, philosophical arguments, scientific investigation, rhetorical persuasion and other disciplines.

Rather than being mythological, they try to make Christianity scientific, historical and absolute. For Lewis, it was all-or-nothing and half-heartedness was not to be tolerated. There was no middle ground. In that way he gave permission for religious intolerance, and most definitely intolerance toward anyone not seeking religion at all. To him they were simply "mad men" or "lunatics".

C.S. Lewis has come to be revered by Reconstructionists who want to transform the earth into the "kingdom of God", a necessary action before the second coming of Christ.

In Reconstructionism, the main thrust shifts from the salvaging of lost souls in a doomed society to the reconstruction of a Christian world. The significance of the Reconstructionist movement is not its numbers, but the power of its ideas and their surprisingly rapid acceptance. Many on the Christian Right are unaware that they hold Reconstructionist ideas. Because as a theology it is controversial, even among evangelicals, many who are consciously influenced by it avoid the label. This furtiveness is not, however, as significant as the potency of the ideology itself. Generally, Reconstructionism seeks to replace democracy with a theocratic elite that would govern by imposing their interpretation of "Biblical Law."

Reconstructionism would eliminate not only democracy but many of its manifestations, such as labor unions, civil rights laws, and public schools. Insufficiently Christian men would be denied citizenship, perhaps executed. So severe is this theocracy that it would extend capital punishment beyond such crimes as kidnapping, rape, and murder to include, among other things, blasphemy, heresy, adultery, and homosexuality. (3)

Wanting to replace democracy with a theocratic elite, sounds very Leo Strauss, though I suppose that's why neoconservativism and the Religious Right are such a great fit. When Stockwell Day was teaching at the Bentley Bible schools, in his social studies classes he warned students that democratic governments "represent the ultimate deification of man, which is the very essence of humanism and totally alien to God's word." (4)

Footnotes:

* "... your country [United States], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world" Stephen Harper 1997 to the Council for National Policy, the vanguard for the American Religous Right (5)

** Wikipedia

Sources:

1. The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada, By: Marci McDonald, Random House Canada, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-307-35646-8 3

2. C.S. Lewis and the Search for Rational Religion, By john Beversluis, Prometheus Books, 1985, ISBN 1-59102-531-1

3."Christian Reconstructionism: Theocratic Dominionism Gains Influence: Part 1 -- Overview and Roots," by Frederick Clarkson, March 1994, The Public Eye

4. Bentley, Alberta: Hellfire, Neo-Nazis and Stockwell Day:A two-part look inside the little town that nurtured a would-be prime minister - and some of the most notorious hate-mongers in Canada, By Gordon Laird, NOW Magazine, 2000

5. Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech, Canadian Press, December 14, 2005

Maurice Vellacott Goes "a Courting"

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

Maurice Vellacott is the Reform-Conservative MP for the riding of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, and one of the strongest social conservatives in Stephen Harper's caucus.

According to Marci McDonald, author of The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada, Vellacott's office is now the clearing house for Christian Right activity in the capital, thanks to his Reconstructionist legislative assistant; Timothy Bloedow.(1)

There was one error in McDonald's book though, about Vellacott's education. She stated that he received his doctorate in theology from a University in Chicago. However, Vellacott does not hold a doctorate in theology, despite what his website bio might suggest.

He does have a Bachelor's degree from Briercrest College - whose mission statement reads as follows: "Briercrest College and Seminary is a community of rigorous learning that calls students to seek the kingdom of God, to be shaped profoundly by the scriptures, and to be formed spiritually and intellectually for lives of service."

It is an accredited school and I'm sure their standards are exemplary.

However, his 'master's degree' (Master of Divinity from the Canadian Theological Seminary) is not. The CTS is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (Harper’s Church), but most of their degrees are obtained, again, through distance education. There is no thesis required, and it is only recognized as a stepping stone toward ministerial pursuits.

And his 'doctorate' degree (Doctor of Ministry from Trinity International University) was obtained from another evangelical Christian university that offers distance education. They are located in Deerfield, Illinois; but if the ‘Trinity’ makes you feel warm and fuzzy, because of the reputation of Trinity University, their website claims that they are NOT affiliated. However, they do list ‘The following online Ph.D. Programs in Religion focus on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems.....

This is not the same as the better recognized Doctor of Theology, which is an academic degree, rather than just a ministerial one. In fact, you can obtain a doctorate degree (i.e.: Doctor of Ministry) for your “life experience”; as well as off the Internet.

His education is not really the issue, though he should be more honest in his bio, nor are his religious beliefs. His riding consists of a large Mennonite population, and as Canadians they too deserve a voice. They voted for Vellacott because of his beliefs, not in spite of them.

However, since the majority of Canadians do not share such stringent, and dare I say, hypocritical views, he does not get to force them on the rest of us. I would prefer that Mr. Vellacott be up front and honest, and let us decide on issues that threaten to change the landscape of Canada.

As a Dominionist, he is committed to giving up our reputation for tolerance, without asking us if this is acceptable.

Alliance with Stockwell Day

During the leadership campaign of 2002, Maurice Vellacott aligned himself with Stockwell Day, against Stephen Harper and Grant Hill. Harper criticized Vellacott for mailing out endorsements for Day, through his constituency office, at public expense.

However, Harper and Hill both made more serious allegations of exploitation of religion and faith based issues, after a "secret" rally was held at Briercrest, Vellacott's Alma Mata.

Stockwell Day yesterday continued to seek support from evangelical Christians with a barely publicized campaign stop at Canada's largest Bible college, even as one of his opponents warned the Canadian Alliance leadership race risks being "perverted" by a single-interest group. Mr. Day held a campaign rally at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask., an event that attracted hundreds and was not included in the public itinerary posted on the candidate's Web site. He campaigned earlier in the day at the evangelical Victory Church in Moose Jaw, Sask.

Mr. Day lashed out at rivals Stephen Harper and Grant Hill for accusing him of aiming his campaign primarily at devout Christians and opponents of abortion. the latest chapter in a week-long controversy that began with complaints by Mr. Harper and Dr. Hill over the former party leader's campaign tactics. Last week, organizers for Mr. Harper went public with concerns that Mr. Day is appealing to a narrow base of religious groups -- including orthodox Jews, Pentecostals and anti-abortion Catholics -- in a bid to regain the leadership post he was forced to relinquish late last year.

The Campaign Life Coalition, an anti-abortion lobby group backing Mr. Day, was also censured by party officials for sending out 130,000 letters asking its supporters to donate money so the organization could buy memberships in bulk to help the candidate. Organizers for Dr. Hill and Mr. Harper complained successfully that the actions by Campaign Life violated party rules prohibiting groups from buying memberships.

The National Post has also learned Mr. Day's campaign director in Quebec, Eric Lanthier, recently appealed to evangelical Protestants in Quebec to buy 5,000 memberships. "The objective is 5,000 [membership] cards," Mr. Lanthier wrote in January on the Web site of the Association of Evangelical Protestant Churches, promoting Mr. Day as a candidate who has worked in "defence of Judeo-Christian values."

Vellacott's Attacks on the Judiciary

Maurice Vellacott has always been a vocal critic of Canada's court system. In 2006, he sought out a CBC reporter and accused Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of claiming "God-like" powers. Citing a speech McLachlin had made to a New Zealand conference, he charged her with comparing the process of applying unwritten constitutional principles to acquiring prophetic gifts. "Suddenly there's some mystical kind of power that comes over them, by which everything that they've ever decreed is not to be questioned." (1)

McLachlin pointed out that she had never said anything like that, and Vellacott was forced to apologize, but it was empty given that he would later suggest that the Supreme Court was assuming the role of a secular priesthood. This made the appointment of Reconstructionist Timothy Bloedow, as his legislative assistant, a perfect match. Bloedow has called for the dismantling of all federal institutions, including the courts, and from his own website: ChristianGovernment.ca

Judeo-Christian political theory is unique in its hostility to totalitarianism. Christian government, and Christian government alone, is anti-tyrannical. God has designated multiple governments for a just and functioning social order: civil government, church government, family government and self-government. Such division of authority and diffusion of power mitigates against political centralism and tyranny. With the rise in the influence of Humanism in Canada and the West, this division of authority is disappearing.

Even most Christians today don’t appreciate these facts and, therefore, they aren’t prepared to support and promote Christian government. Hopefully they will change their position before totalitarian Humanism or Islam take over and it’s too late.

"Even most Christians today don't appreciate these facts"? Bloedow doesn't see a Canada with religious tolerance, not even tolerance for "most Christians".

Sources:

1. The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada, By: Marci McDonald, Random House Canada, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-307-35646-8 3

2. Day slips into Bible college for Rally, By S. Alberts, National Post, February 13, 2002

Spanking and Dominionism, From Kelly Block to James Dobson

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

In October of 2009, Reform-Conservative Member of Parliament, Kelly Block, sent out a tax-payer funded flyer to her constituents that asked the question, "Are Parents Criminals?” The intent of this was to drum up support for her opposition to a senate bill that would see parents charged for inflicting corporal punishment on their children.

According to the Star Pheonix:

“The Liberal dominated Senate already voted to approve this terrible idea last year,” the mailout says. “(The bill) is designed to make moms and dads into criminals for using the traditional punishment of spanking to teach their kids right from wrong.”

Block did not return multiple interview requests seeking comment.

What Block was referring to was Liberal senator Céline Hervieux-Payette's, Bill S-209. Believing as many do that spanking or any form of corporal punishment can encourage violent behaviour, the senator felt a need to introduce consequences.

She includes the following video on her site:

While section 43 of the criminal code, prohibited spanking, it did not allow for criminal charges to be laid against the person inflicting the harm.

Kelly Block was not the only member of the Religious Right to be upset.

Charles' McVety's Family Action Coalition, suggested that "... section 43 of the criminal code [is] to be rescinded. That section allows parents to use "reasonable force" to correct behaviors of their (not the state's) children. If that allowance for spanking was rescinded then any parent who reasonably spanks a child could face criminal charges of assault."

REAL Women of Canada had already presented their views on their website:

The arrogant political left, which looks contemptuously down on those who disagree with its supposedly enlightened views, is attempting to revive the spanking issue. Apparently the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada on the subject, handed down a year ago, was only a stopgap in the onward journey to ban the spanking of children in Canada. (2)

I'm not sure what 'arrogance' has to do with wanting to protect children, but spanking has come to mean something more to the Christian nationalist movement.

James Dobson, Dominionism or Destruction

James Dobson is the Founder of Focus on the Family and a leading member of the American Religious Right movement. He provided 1.6 million dollars to help set up the Canadian Focus on the Family group, founded by Stephen Harper's deputy chief of staff, Darrel Reid.

He has written extensively on the issue of spanking, and though he is a child psychologist, it's never from a scientific argument, only Biblical.

In his book, The Strong Willed Child he makes an extraordinary case to justify harsh discipline. In it he speaks of his small dog Siggie, who he claims to love very much, but when he was away for awhile, the dog had picked up some bad habits. And when he disobeyed him, Dobson retaliated. He describes the scene:

“At eleven o’clock that night, I told Siggie to go get into his bed, which is a permanent enclosure in the family room. For six years I had given him that order at the end of each day, and for six years Siggie had obeyed.

“On this occasion, however, he refused to budge. ...“I had seen this defiant mood before, and knew there was only one way to deal with it. The ONLY way to make Siggie obey is to threaten him with destruction. Nothing else works. I turned and went to my closet and got a small belt to help me ‘reason’ with Mr. Freud.”

“What developed next is impossible to describe. That tiny dog and I had the most vicious fight ever staged between man and beast. I fought him up one wall and down the other, with both of us scratching and clawing and growling and swinging the belt. I am embarrassed by the memory of the entire scene. Inch by inch I moved him toward the family room and his bed. As a final desperate maneuver, Siggie backed into the corner for one last snarling stand. I eventually got him to bed, only because I outweighed him 200 to 12!” (3)

What the good Mr. Dobson describes is animal cruelty and the fact the he outweighed him 200 to 12, makes the whole scene even more horrific. That man clearly should not own a pet.

He goes on from "destruction" being the only thing the dog understood, to the need to discipline children, and even uses capital letters:

"JUST AS SURELY AS A DOG WILL OCCASIONALLY CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF HIS LEADERS, SO WILL A LITTLE CHILD — ONLY MORE SO.” (3)

And he doesn't just say a child but "a little child ", like the little 12 pound dog. And after describing ways that children will challenge their parent's authority, he states:

“Perhaps this tendency toward self-will is the essence of ‘original sin’ which has infiltrated the human family. It certainly explains why I place such stress on the proper response to willful defiance during childhood, for that rebellion can plant the seeds of personal disaster.” (3)

Nothing clinical befitting his profession, but children and "original sin".

You do get some insight into the reasons for his disturbing behaviour from this bio:

Dobson's own family was a bit out of the ordinary. His father was a preacher who often told the story that he had tried to pray before he could even talk. His mother routinely beat their son with her shoes, her belt, and once, a 16-pound girdle. His parents somehow instilled so much guilt in young Dobson that he answered his father's fervent altar-call, weeping at the front of a crowded church service and crying out for God's forgiveness for all his sins, when he was three years old. "It makes no sense, but I know it happened," Dobson still says of being born again as a toddler.

This would certainly prove senator Céline Hervieux-Payette's belief that children learn what they see. However, the spanking issue may be more complex.

For those who have studied the Christian nationalist movement, which is also referred to as 'Dominionism', submissiveness is required to make it work.

In a politico-religious context, dominionism (also called subjectionism) is the tendency among some conservative politically-active Christians, especially in the United States, to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action. The goal is either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. (4)

Movement conservatives see the end result as a nation whose laws are based on the Old Testament. There can be no exception. And they are very clear in their understanding that fundamentalist Christians must assume control of all levels of government, beginning with school and municipal boards. It stems from Genesis, where God commissions man to exercise "dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

George Grant, one of their founders (and I will be writing a lot more on this) states:

"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less... Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land -- of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ." (5)

It's up to us to decide what kind of Canada we want for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. This is not a movement with any flexibility and it does not represent Canadian values. When Stephen Harper decided to exploit the religious right for political gain, I'm not sure if he understood just what that meant. He is a "born-again" Christian, but I believe he worships on the altar of capitalism. This is now out of his control, I'm afraid.

Sources:

1. MP favours spanking, Star Phoenix, October 5, 2009

2. ATTEMPT TO REVIVE SPANKING ISSUE, REAL Women of Canada, Jan/Feb 2005

3. The Strong Willed Child, By James Dobson, Living Books, 1992, ISBN-10: 0842359249

4. Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture, By Michael Frost, Hendrickson Publishers, ISBN 1565636708, Pg. 235

5. The Changing of the Guard, By George Grant, 1987, as quoted in "American Theocracy: Who is Trying to Turn America into a Theocracy?