redstar2000
19th February 2003, 20:25
"Jesus Plus Nothing! Undercover among America's secret theocrats" by Jeffrey Sharlet, Harpers Magazine, March 2003, pp.53-64
When you think rich guys secretly conspiring to turn the world towards "Christ" and away from communism, you think Opus Dei. Everybody does.
But it's not the whole story by any means. Writer Jeffrey Sharlet went undercover into "the Family", a hidden group that operates a number of public foundations in the same way the mafia operates a number of business enterprises...and is alledged to have over a dozen members of the U.S. Congress as associates.
"Regular prayer groups have met in the Pentagon and at the Department of Defense, and the Family has traditionally fostered strong ties with businessmen in the oil and aerospace industries." writes Sharlet.
"The Brazilian dictator General Costa e Silva, with Family support, was overseeing regular fellowship groups for Latin American leaders while, in Indonesia, General Suharto...was presiding over a group of 50 Indonesian legislators. During the Reagan administration the Family helped build friendships between the U.S. government and men such as Salvadoran general Carlos Eugenios Vides Casanova, convicted by a Florida jury of the torture of thousands, and Honduran general Gustavo Alvarez Martinez, himself and evangelical minister, who was linked to both the CIA and death squads..." Sharlet continues.
One of the theocratic principles of the Family: "We desire to see a leadership led by God--leaders of all levels of society who direct projects as they are led by the spirit."
The Family's leaders consider democracy "a manifestation of ungodly pride."
And as their younger recruits meet in a Washington, D.C. townhouse, they are told by their present leaders: "You guys are here to learn how to rule the world."
No one was laughing.
:cool:
When you think rich guys secretly conspiring to turn the world towards "Christ" and away from communism, you think Opus Dei. Everybody does.
But it's not the whole story by any means. Writer Jeffrey Sharlet went undercover into "the Family", a hidden group that operates a number of public foundations in the same way the mafia operates a number of business enterprises...and is alledged to have over a dozen members of the U.S. Congress as associates.
"Regular prayer groups have met in the Pentagon and at the Department of Defense, and the Family has traditionally fostered strong ties with businessmen in the oil and aerospace industries." writes Sharlet.
"The Brazilian dictator General Costa e Silva, with Family support, was overseeing regular fellowship groups for Latin American leaders while, in Indonesia, General Suharto...was presiding over a group of 50 Indonesian legislators. During the Reagan administration the Family helped build friendships between the U.S. government and men such as Salvadoran general Carlos Eugenios Vides Casanova, convicted by a Florida jury of the torture of thousands, and Honduran general Gustavo Alvarez Martinez, himself and evangelical minister, who was linked to both the CIA and death squads..." Sharlet continues.
One of the theocratic principles of the Family: "We desire to see a leadership led by God--leaders of all levels of society who direct projects as they are led by the spirit."
The Family's leaders consider democracy "a manifestation of ungodly pride."
And as their younger recruits meet in a Washington, D.C. townhouse, they are told by their present leaders: "You guys are here to learn how to rule the world."
No one was laughing.
:cool: