ABSTRACT
Dominionism comes in “hard” and “soft” varieties, with the “hard” or theocratic dominionists emerging from a religious trend that arose in the 1970s. The terms “theocrat” and “theocracy,” are openly embraced by few. They are terms used by outside observers to understand a complex, dynamic, and historic trend. Pieces of dominionism spill out in the day-to-day words and activities of our nation’s leaders all the time. Dominionism is therefore a broad political tendency— consisting of both hard and soft branches— organized through religiously based social movements that seek power primarily through the electoral system. Dominionists work in coalitions with other religious and secular groups that primarily are active inside the Republican Party. The sudden rise of a Christian Right agenda in many states and the federal government has taken many by surprise. It may be tempting to see Roy Moore as an exception, but his rise is reviving old coalitions.
