Dominionism101

A good place to start is the dark_christian wiki. I found several good references by starting there.

I looked, and they don't have an entry on AoG.

Wow, that's awkward.

AoG is listed here, under "Pentecostal, Holiness and Charismatic".

The Wikipedia article on AoG has some history of the denomination, although a lot of the red flags in the article are more implication by association than explicitly stated (partly because putting anything explicitly critical of the dominionists in Wikipedia articles often results in a delete/revert war). Some points to note, though: The current chairman, Paul/David Yonggi Cho, who is also head of the Yoido Full Gospel Church (note the connection in the article to Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International, aka FGBMFI, of which much has been said both here in and in the wiki). Yonggi Cho is one of the key players behind the current wave of dominionism and has heavily influenced AoG in a number of ways.

One thing that isn't documented there per se but is implied if you look under the right rocks and click on the right links is that AoG indirectly influences a wide range of other "nondenominational" neopentecostal churches covertly through a whole host of front organizations starting with FGBMFI and branching out to literally thousands of orgs that don't advertise their AoG/FGBMFI connections. Notable examples of those are Campus Crusade for Christ, Chi Alpha, Maranatha/Every Nation/Morning Star (which I have had personal experience with), Institute for Religion and Democracy (IRD), and numerous others.

Among other things, AoG and nominally unaffiliated (but usually fellow traveler) orgs rely heavily on the "cell church" model to maintain very tight control over their membership. Some churches use this more than others, but in extreme cases it includes daily (or even more frequent) confessions to one's cell leader (which are far more invasive than a Catholic confessional would ever dream of being, and are also very pointedly NOT kept confidential and are often exploited to shame members into compliance) as well as mandatory cell-leader approval for virtually every life decision from which jobs are acceptable to where one can live and even whom one can date and/or marry. This is often downplayed or even flat out denied outside the church, and usually only comes into play for newcomers after it is clear that they have formed an attachment to the church and can be manipulated.

One thing worth noting that doesn't appear in the Wikipedia articles is that coercive dominionist churches fit Stephen Hassan's BITE model, which is a widely recognized and respected metric of coercive/abusive cult behavior, and of particularl note, tend to cause the personality types of their membership to converge on a single desired type, which many psychologists consider a sign of an *extremely* unhealthy environment.

There's a *lot* more to cover there, but that's some of the more critical stuff ..

I got to the A/G information by way of the links on dominionism.

I should know more about this, given that my parents are AoG fundies.

But this might help:
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/index.cfm

I found this if it's of any help. It mentions AoG quite often, and many of the groups members/frontmen are members of AoG. You could also try Googling them, see what comes up?

Hobby Lobby has a number of known connections to neopentecostal heavy hitters, as do Chick-Fil-A and a number of other dominionist parallel-economy businesses. A lot of them are connected through FGBMFI.

One particular one to look closely at is Amway/Quixtar/Alticor, which has especially intimate ties with FGBMFI to the extent that it's probably an AoG/neopente front more than it's an actual business. Amway is fairly well known for its aggressively coercive management style and its fairly strict isolation between uplines, as well as for obtaining a significant amount of its revenue from its own members through required purchases of internal promotional materials ..

Re: Not a lot, but maybe useful:

I myself would be interested in this article for my own research, kthx :D

Apropos of nothing, is that a picture of tiny monkeys in your icon?

Seeing as I have apparently been one of the few people on the planet doing active research on this *LOL*, I can point you to a number of resources.

A definitive book resource on this is Sara Diamond's "Spiritual Warfare", which details the Assemblies' efforts to steeplejack the Republican Party (among others).

Assemblies (and "daughter denominations" of the Assemblies like International Foursquare) have been involved in politics for a very long time; I've been writing a lot in my DailyKos diary and here on the subject, and especially yesterday and today's post (to be posted around 5pm EST) will focus on an Assemblies reference Bible.

Highlights you will be interested in:

"Dominionism As A Coercive Religious Group" series:
Part 1 (compares practices with most tests of coerciveness used by exit counselors)
Part 2 (direct comparison of beliefs in Assemblies churches re demonisation, "spiritual warfare", etc. with beliefs in Scientology)
Part 3 (more comparison, this time between Scientology and the "Joel's Army" movement within the Assemblies of God)

History of the Assemblies of God and political movements:
A History of Dominion/Kingdom Now/Restoration Theology (details involvement of Assemblies of God in multiple early dominionist movements and FGBMFI activity in particular)
The Most Influential Dominionist You Never Heard Of (notes history of Paul Yonggi Cho in Assemblies of God, including birth of cell churches and origination of coercive tactics (largely cribbed from Soka Gakkai and, as noted in a source below, also the Moonies); of note, I am survivor of first Assemblies church in North America where Cho tried to foment a "revival")
Rios Montt, Paul Yonggi Cho, and the strange history of dominionist juntas (original article detailing FGBMFI and Assemblies aiding and abbetting of genocidal regime of Efrain Rios Montt, responsible for the deaths of 200,000 Ki'che Maya people)
Guatemala: a case history of dominionist hell (partner to the above; details the history of dominionism in Guatemala)
On appropriate and inappropriate forms of protest against dominionism (notes involvement of Assemblies congregation in the "Joel's Army" group depicted in the movie "Jesus Camp")

"Cell Churches and Hijacks" series:
Part 1 (details history of cell-church movement within Assemblies and its initial use in "steeplejacking" mainstream Christian denominations; of note, this will need an eventual update because of new info found (possibly also included in Sara Diamond's "Spiritual Warfare") indicating the geneaology of Assemblies "cell churches" goes all the way to Paul Yonggi Cho himself via an Assemblies congregation in Argentina to the "Fort Lauderdale Five"; details the personality-change findings Bruce noted above)
Part 2 (notes not only evidence that Assemblies may have steeplejacked SBC, but also notes the heavy involvement of the Assemblies in the steeplejack of the Republican Party)

More in the next post.

Thanks for this (I haven't read the rest yet). I did mention some of this to my friend, and she said that AG declared Joel's Army, Latter Rain Theology, and something similar (Kingdom Now?) as heretical. So, she was claiming that that had nothing to do with AG, and that the splinter churches were evil.

OK, the thing is, *officially* they may have, but this stuff is *very* much promoted unofficially under those names--and *officially* under names like the "Third Wave", "Kansas City Prophets", "Brownsville Revival", and so on.

In fact, the Assemblies has declared the last a "genuine move of the Holy Spirit" despite its extensive links to "Latter Rain" stuff.

I've been kind of curious as to whether that's a "before/after" thing or a "public face/private face" thing, given the fairly radical nature of Yonggi Cho's approach to leadership of the AoG. My recollection is that they were quite serious about Latter Rain, Kingdom Now, and other neopentecostal theologies being pretty thoroughly heretical before Yonggi Cho took over, and a lot of the objection to neopente theology sort of went away, but I may be misunderstanding the chronology or dynamics somewhat ..

part 2 of resource material

Involuntary exorcisms and/or spiritual abuse in the Assemblies:
(See also "Dominionism's Parallel Economy" series below and the "Dominionism as a coercive religious group" series above)

Why the subject of dominionism is...personal to me (my own survivor story)
Deliverance, involuntary exorcisms, and abuse (details on the extreme abuse inherent in Assemblies "deliverance" services, which occasionally have caused mental breakdowns)
The exorcist (description by Skipp Porteous, leader of the now-defunct Walk Away and Institute for First Amendment Studies groups, detailing Assemblies exorcisms; "Walk Away" was first notable forum for ex-Assemblies and ex-dominionist-church members)
Interview with exit counselor Rick Ross (Rick Ross has dealt with a number of ex-Assemblies members, and has knowledge of more than a few frank psychotic breaks resulting from Assemblies involuntary exorcisms)

Also, see stories from the Ex-Pentecostals forum.

Assemblies churches directly participating in smear campaigns against critics:

Breaking News: Frank Simon and AFA (illegally) endorse Anne Northup (details history of AFA-KY head and Assemblies deacon Frank Simon, as well as the active aiding and abbetting of Simon's church (the same one I'm an escapee from) in gross religious harassment of critics; I also have additional info on this mentioning the church by name available upon private request)

More after the cut.

part 3 of resource material

Ongoing "Dominionism's Parallel Economy" series:
This series is meant to be a look at the entire "parallel economy" set up by dominionist groups, particularly the Assemblies of God and other large neopentecostal dominionist groups. The construction of a "parallel economy" in and of itself is generally thought to be a danger sign, especially if the purpose is to isolate members from the outside world (see Hassan's BITE Model and the essay Spiritual Responsibility for more info).

Part 1: the dominionist business directory (notes "Shepherd's Pages" and similar "Christian business directories" commonly promoted in Assemblies circles)
Part 2: Dominionism's corporate sponsors (notes the heavy involvement of AmWay and Hobby Lobby in particular with the Assemblies as well as political groups--Hobby Lobby and AmWay have not only been used to fund dominionism but actively promote it, Hobby Lobby funds specific missionary efforts of the Assemblies, and AmWay explicitly is used in several major uplines to recruit members to Assemblies churches; of note, the same AmWay IBOs links to promotion of Assemblies theology are also the same IBOs linked to coercive tactics to such a degree that they are considered coercive groups in and of themselves)
Part 3: Dominionism at the doctor's office (Assemblies-promoted groups pushing for dominionist medical associations and alternate licensing boards for pediatricians in particular; focuses on Woodcreek Pediatrics in Puyallup, WA which is now being sued for religious discrimination and which operates as a de facto Assemblies frontgroup)
Part 4: Dominionist social services (focuses on dominionist alternatives to mental health care, including "Bible boot camps" and "theophostic counseling"; the latter is heavily promoted in Assemblies circles as an alternative to conventional psychiatry)
Part 5: Dominionist broadcast history (notes invention of televangelism as we know it by Assemblies of God; notes political electioneering of Assemblies (later International Foursquare) televangelist Aimee Semple McPherson and other Assemblies televangelists)
Part 6: Modern dominionist broadcasting (focuses on modern dominionist TV networks, including TBN (which is run by Assemblies preachers and is still heavily Assemblies and "Assemblies daughter" dominated) and the dominionist DSS network Sky Angel)
Part 7: Dominionist radio (discussion of dominionist radio programs, including more than a few Assemblies "name it and claim it" preachers)

part 4 of resource material

"Dominionism's Parallel Economy" series (continued):

Part 8: Dominionism and the Scofield Reference Bible (details how major parts of Assemblies theology originated not from earlier movements but from very specific sections in Scofield's bible, including claims that Russia would be home of Antichrist)
Part 9: Dominionist Bible translations (notes how NIV translation was done by Assemblies and other dominionist churches as a specifically dominionist-friendly modern-language version, details explicit translation skewing and mistranslation and its use by Assemblies churches to promote "Joel's Army" and "spiritual warfare" theology)
Part 10: The "Joel's Army" Reference Bible (part 1 of 2-part review of Assemblies of God official reference bible; details explicit skewage towards more abusive parts of Assemblies theology and promotion of dominionism)
(To be posted today) Part 11: The "Joel's Army" Reference Bible, continued (to detail explicit promotion of dominionism and political agenda in official Assemblies reference bible)
(to be posted in next few days) Part 12 (and possibly a part 13): Dominionist fanfiction (to detail Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye's use of dominionist bible versions to promote armageddon theology and--in LaHaye's case--to explicitly fanfic "Joel's Army" theology as taught in the Assemblies)
(to be posted) Section on promotion of neopentecostal theology in "Life of Faith" series
(to be posted) Section on "missionary manuals" used by dominionists, focusing on "Alpha Course" used by Assemblies churches in recruiting
(planned) Section on dominionist alternatives to Scouting, including Royal Rangers and Missionettes--more below
(planned) Section on Assemblies "Hell Houses"

Other relevant posts tying in to "Dominionism's Parallel Economy" series:

Dominionist mindsets: a prelude (details explicit demonisation of non-dominionists and especially critics of dominionism in Assemblies churches; includes discussion of promotion of domestic terrorism (and celebration of domestic terrorists) by some Assemblies churches)
Dominionist ordination mills: a prelude (details complete and utter lack of accountability in Assemblies churches, also details how dissent is stifled, details how no formal seminary training is required in Assemblies churches; notes on history of Jim Jones' People's Temple as an Assemblies congregation in its beginnings and Jim Jones' early history as an Assemblies travelling preacher (yes, very few people know this); important in relation to "Christian Embassy" controversy below)

part 5 of resource material

Other noteworthy posts on Assemblies:

Bruce Wilson's ongoing series on the Christian Embassy scandal (Bruce Wilson is producing an ongoing series in cooperation with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in regards to dominionist infiltration of the Armed Forces (a great deal will be coming out in regards to this in the next few months) focusing on Campus Crusade for Christ frontgroup Christian Embassy; Campus Crusade, as noted below, is effectively a frontgroup of the Assemblies of God and known to be particularly abusive; part 11 of "Dominionist parallel economy" series will detail Campus Crusade links to Assemblies)
These scouts pledge to church, family, God: NOT America (discussion of Assemblies "Christian alternative" to Scouting, Royal Rangers, and notes how Assemblies church protested at the side of notorious hatemonger Fred Phelps against a school Gay/Straight Student Alliance)
"Annointing" Senators' Seats In The Name Of Higher Law (notes attempt of Assemblies pastor to "name and claim" the entire Senate by essentially hexing them in the name of Christ to vote for Samuel Alito's confirmation)
Senate "annointer" curses WV mine families (notes on links of the "Senate Annointer" with Assemblies, also notes how he literally cursed Sago, WV mine tragedy victims in the name of Christ for stating "It makes you wonder if there's a God out there at all" (initial reports had said only one miner had died, in fact, sadly, only one miner survived))

Still more in the next post (seriously, I can spam the group all fucking day with this stuff :D--and yes, people are more than welcome to add this to the Wiki)

part 6 of resource material

Notes on Assemblies-linked groups:

Assemblies front-groups in general:

And now, a request for help (an initial attempt to list Assemblies frontgroups--is in need of updating, because (among other things) Campus Crusade of Christ and *its* family of frontgroups need to be added as well as the various frontgroups of Hillsong Assemblies of God, the Alpha Course (from a steeplejacked CoE group), etc.)

Seven Project:

Discussion on promotion of "Seven Project" in public schools ("Seven Project" is an Assemblies frontgroup promoting itself as an anti-drug program but in fact operating as a recruitment front, particularly in the "Seven After 7" talks; it takes great pains to hide the fact it is a youth ministry of the Assemblies of God and is now the target of a lawsuit)

Ron Luce/BattleCry/Teen Mania Ministries:

An in-depth look at connections between Ron Luce and Assemblies of God (Ron Luce has promoted some nasty, nasty stuff, as you'll see below)
Dominionists and recruitment of youth (a good summary of many available posts on Talk2Action on Ron Luce's group, among other dominionist groups targeting kids; includes links to exposes of BattleCry rallies held by Teen Mania as well as a religious harassment manual published by the group)

Bill Gothard:

Developing Dominionist Cities (an expose on a frontgroup Bill Gothard promotes in public schools; as noted below, Bill Gothard is a dominionist with close links to the Assemblies)
Details on Gothard's promotion of religious abuse and in particular Gothard's promotion in the Assemblies (Gothard has run, among other things, an abusive "Bible reform school" ultimately shut down by the state of Indiana)
Promotion of frank spiritual abuse by Gothard with details of Gothard's running of a literal paramilitary training camp for "Joel's Army" (no, I am not making this up)

More in the next post focusing on the great-grandaddies of all Assemblies fronts.

part 6 of resource material

Notes on Assemblies-linked groups (continued):

Youth With A Mission:

(See also link on general frontgroups)

Possibly one of the most abusive Assemblies frontgroups known, also heavily involved in politics:
Rick Ross Institute info on YWAM
Discussion of YWAM links with Assemblies pastor Benny Hinn
Description of spiritual abuse in YWAM (from conservative Christian viewpoint, contains extensive links)
YWAM involvement in ABC movie (a YWAM frontgroup was involved in the making of the book "Path to 9/11", which (among other things) accused Bill Clinton of allowing Osama bin Laden to escape)

Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International:

(Also see links to "A History of Dominion/Kingdom Now/Restoration Theology" as well as info on Gen. Efrain Rios Montt above)

Associations with Yoido Full Gospel Church (Paul Yonggi Cho's own church, the largest megachurch in the world with an estimated three-quarters of a million members and effectively operating as the Assemblies of God in South Korea)
How I walked away (Austin Miles, walkaway from the Assemblies, details initial recruitment in FGBMFI as well as steeplejacking activity; of note, Miles was formerly associated with Jim Bakker's PTL Club)
The "Fivefold Ministry" and Spiritual Abuse: A Pentecostal's Perspective (notes from a walkaway from the Assemblies and FGBMFI who is still involved in non-dominionist charismatic movements; gives particularly damning evidence that FGBMFI is in fact an Assemblies recruitment front)
Ohio, Blackwell, and the Christian Right: Part II (Fredrick Carlson's expose of Kenneth Blackwell's links to neopente dominionist groups, including the "Assemblies daughter" World Harvest Church in Columbus, OH; of note, the FGBMFI gets prominent mention as does Campus Crusade)
FGBMFI links to "Prayer Breakfast" (article also notes explicit electioneering and FGBMFI involvement in similar affairs in other states)
Discussion of an FGBMFI "Prayer breakfast" in Oregon (of note, more explicit electioneering and a Moslem imam was explicitly excluded from what was falsely advertised as an ecumenical affair)

More in the next post.

part 7 of resource material

Assemblies-linked groups (continued):

Campus Crusade for Christ and infiltration of military:
(Also see upcoming post in "Dominionism's parallel economy" series: this is basically a preview)

Campus Crusade is a group that has had close connections with the Assemblies, including Campus Crusade referring "convertees" directly to Assemblies of God congregations; in fact, Assemblies and Campus Crusade groups cross=promote extensively and engage in partnerships to such an extent that Campus Crusade and the Assemblies of God essentially operate as co-recruitment fronts for each other (and some researchers even go so far as to consider Campus Crusade a de facto Assemblies frontgroup in practice; a sign pointing strongly at "Assemblies frontgroup" is the active interviews and promotion of Campus Crusade's founder in Assemblies magazine "Pentecostal Evangel", normally something reserved only for active Assemblies members). Christian Embassy has also been promoting a fullscale steeplejacking of both the military and law enforcement--something which you all will be hearing much more about in the coming months.

As for Boykin...well, Katherine Yurica probably has done the definitive report on the wholescale targeting and invasion of the Armed Forces by the Assemblies. Among other fun things, Boykin literally invoked "Serpent Seed" theology (the concept of the "Saved" "sons of God" and the "Serpent Seed" "sons of Satan") in regards to the Perpetual War on Terror, apparently thinks Bush has divine right of kings (not uncommon, alas; many neopentes think that Shrub is "God's appointed president" and the idea is actively promoted in Assemblies churches)...oh, and both Boykin and an Assemblies soldier-preacher are linked to the heart of torture scandals at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo (in fact, the Assemblies preacher--Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan, who was director of the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center at Abu Ghraib and who was apparently also an Assemblies chaplain candidate lauded as the pride and joy of his congregation--refused to testify in court)

If that weren't enough, Assemblies churches were among the top promoters of Bush as the "unitary executive" in GOTV campaigns--partly because they see him as one of their own (for very good reason). In one particularly infamous case, a church supported Bush and several specific ballot initiatives so vehemently that the Post Office refused to deliver their mail using the "tax-exempt organisation" rate.

Re: part 7 of resource material

You're pretty awesome.

Dogemperor: Thanks for all this. It'll take me awhile to read through it, and I'll be sending this to my friend. You're awesome!