[Vision2020] Christ Church and freedom of religion

[Andreas Schou]

> Some of the points made about the perfect world that this church would
> like to create frighten me.  Because my theology differs on some really
> major points with theirs, I would expect to be treated unkindly in this
> new society.  On the other hand, the members of the church appear to
> hold the idea of Free Will in high regard and are reasonably horrified
> at the idea of a forced conversion to their faith.  Which calms my fears
> somewhat.

Let me address this issue. Christ Church subscribes to the most
inflexible sort of Calvinism: they believe that no human effort
whatsoever can cause a person to be saved. They also believe, quite
strictly, in predestination. They do not believe in any sort of free
will whatsoever. What they are asserting is the impossibility of
conversion without, quite literally, direct divine intervention, and
their unwillingness to commit God Himself to snatching up everyone
under their (theoretical) rule into the Elect.

What the Church can compel people to do is behave in an outward manner
that conforms with Christian (which, in Doug's case, is synonymous
with "Old Testament law") standards.  This is unacceptable for reasons
that should be obvious.

To answer a question you asked further down -- the assumption of the
question is correct. Christ Church has not been particularly effective
in transforming theory into practice. But I'd read the SPLC report's
"Taliban on the Palouse" before thinking that they're totally a bunch
of regional cranks.

-- ACS