Feldman 14 3 THE SOCIOCULTURAL WORLD Sociocultural Influences

Feldman 14. 3 THE SOCIO-CULTURAL WORLD

Sociocultural Influences Culture Behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a group of people that are passed on from generation to generation Ethnocentrism — tendency to favor one’s own group over other groups

Cultural Worldview Elements of the non-material culture (ideas, beliefs, values, etc. ) are generally held together by an integrated and coherent worldview, which is a comprehensive but basic idea of how the world works and/or ought to work. To the extent that this worldview is shared among the members of the culture, the worldview and the culture remain stable with low levels of change.

Socialization into a Culture Children are taught the ways and ideas of their culture, and this provides a backdrop for their development However, an inconsistent or multiple culture is more difficult to learn and often creates doubt and confusion.

America is a “Kingdom Divided” Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; . . . Matthew 12: 25, Holy Bible, KJV

What are the major points of division? Should we be globalists/world citizens or nationalists/patriots? Should we be socialist or capitalist? Being overtaken by an international, world government Moving toward a European-style Socialist state Should we have a large or small government?

The New World Order What Is Globalism? . . . The belief that events in one country cannot be separated from another and that the world is moving toward a form of government and economics that transcends traditional nation-states. A small but powerful group of internationalists have been working for decades to bring various aspects of our society under one, universal system. Kirby Anderson Worldviewtimes. com

What is elitism? . . . The belief that a small and certain group of people are, in fact, better equipped to rule the world than are others and that the rest of the people are best governed by the elite. A group of about 300 families control most of the world’s wealth. Some are apparently convinced that it is their right and duty to rule the world.

Who are the power elite? Extremely wealthy international bankers from all around the world, with a larger concentration in Europe and the U. S. European royalty, heads of state, & other extremely rich and/or powerful people. Backed on the next level by heads of corporations & universities; powerful politicians, etc. And who are not? The rest of us

How about the U. S. ? As we become global, Americans should expect – Loss of national sovereignty Loss of prosperity Erosion of freedom Erosion of privacy Enslavement to a lifetime of debt

New World Order: Proponents Council on Foreign Relations July 29, 1921 Promotional arm of the ruling Elite in the U. S. A. : politicians, academics, media, most Presidents & Secretaries of State (Sometimes called America’s Shadow Government) Original goal: to federate the English-speaking people of the world Accused of desiring the overthrow of the Constitution & American sovereignty

New World Order: Proponents Bilderberg Group (The Alliance) Formed 1954, Holland 100 elite picked by Lord Victor Rothschild & Lawrence Rockefeller Initial purpose: Create the European Union Current purpose: microchip world population by 2017 35 member steering committee Annual meetings, surrounded by armed guards

New World Order: Proponents Club of Rome Established 1965/1968, Bellagio, Italy 75 members, 25 countries Connected to Round Table & NATO Goal: to be a forum to discuss future world system; main concern, world population 1973 – organized the world into 10 regions 1976 – agenda, redistribution of wealth Concern: world population control; Council on environmental action – aggressive sterilization, abortion, contraception

New World Order: Proponents Trilateral Commission Formed 1972 Offshoot of CFR, Bilderberg Rockefeller instrumental (Jimmy Carter, Zbignieu Brzezinski) Called for management of America’s future (take over key policy positions), community of nations, world government (socialist) Meets annually, closed to media Reported to reject the idea of constitutional democracy

And, of course, the UN. What is sustainable development? . . . Development that will not erode the world’s resources over time to the point that they cannot be replenished. . A plan to eliminate as much as 85% of the world’s population . . . Outlined in United Nations Agenda 21

What were the founders of the United States seeking freedom from and freedom to do? Freedom from government oppression. Freedom to speak, worship, and generally live their lives without government interference.

Traditional American Perspective Currently generally known as Conservative/”Tea Party”/(Republican more so than Democrat) Small government/low taxes Rule of Law/Constitution Vs. government dependence Patriotism/nationalism Vs. rule by those in power Personal freedom & responsibility Vs large government/high taxes Vs. globalism Government exists to serve the people vs. the people existing to serve the government

Preservation of Freedom Rule of Law – the Constitution (As opposed to rule by the powerful) One thing standing in the way of socialist takeover is the U. S. Constitution and the freedoms or rights that it guarantees.

What freedoms are we worried about? Bill of Rights – Amendment I to the U. S. Constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. ”

What freedoms are we worried about? Amendment I: press. ” “. . . Or abridging the freedom of speech or of the Attempts to control the internet (Obama has given control of the internet to the UN. ) Overt expressions of desire to silence FOX news and talk radio (e. g. , Rush Limbaugh)

What freedoms are we worried about? Amendment II: . . . “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ” Issues of legislating gun control have surfaced for several decades, and some laws have been enacted. People are buying up guns and ammunition. The underlying assumption of this right is that it is difficult to control an armed populace.

Limitation & Division of Powers between the Federal and State Governments Amendment X: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people. ”

Sovereignty Bills Worldnet Daily, Feb. 24, 2009 “ The State of Oklahoma hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States. ” Sovereignty bills had been passed or introduced in 33 states by August 2009.

Socialism Government regulation of private enterprise Government provision of services to citizens (entitlement)/government control of those services Big government/ high taxes Redistribution of wealth (social justice)/few opportunities

Assumptions of Socialism Government has the right to control the people. Rule of the people by the powerful rather than rule of law/constitution is acceptable. People exist to serve the government. People need little personal responsibility or freedom and (in fact) are not capable of handling it.

Communism/Socialism What are the similarities? One leads to the other. Lenin said that the end goal of socialism was communism. Progressive All -> socialist -> communist agree that people need to be ruled, and do not have any rights other than what the government offers them. This is oppression.

Communist/Socialist Governments Tend to lead to totalitarian dictatorships Control the lives of their citizens: Jobs & income: no competition, prescribed by government Housing: no private property, government rental Clothing: government stores, storehouses, possible uniforms Travel: restricted, often not allowed outside country Religion: official, state-sanctioned & regulated Speech: no right to criticize the government Healthcare (life and death): no choice of care etc.

Communist/Socialist Governments Generally imprison those who openly disagree with them (political dissenters) Have track records of murdering their own citizens, sometimes into the millions Tend to have poor economies because there is no incentive to work hard where income is redistributed

Historical Relation to America Communism did not really get a foothold politically until the early 20 th Century (Marx & Engels did not publish the Communist Manifesto until 1848. ) The United States spent much of the 20 th Century trying to stop the spread of Communism. Cuba/South America Korean War Vietnam War Cold War Ronald Reagan/Berlin Wall And Nazism (National Socialism) WWII

What is infiltration? Working to get people of your worldview/political philosophy into key positions in government, media, education, and business Using these institutions to indoctrinate the remainder of the citizens into agreeing to your rule Tactics: control of information, creation of dependency upon the government through giveaways and promises; creation of crises and fear causing people to give power to the government in exchange for protection; creation of discontent among some groups These are tactics of Fabian or Gramscian Socialists

Sociocultural Influences Tactics to Destroy a Culture Destabilization Issues of the family with Religion Censorship of information in education Bias and withholding of information in the media Emphasis on social rights rather than responsibilities Rapid and uncontrolled immigration

Just how socialist has the government become? Four Socialist organizations in the U. S. House of Representatives, including chairs of 11 of the 20 committees. [Prior to the fall 2010 elections] Progressive Democrats of America (6) Congressional Progressive Caucus (74) Congressional Black Caucus (43) Democratic Socialists of America (? )

Culture & Religion FELDMAN MODULE 11 -2

Religion & Culture Religion can be the chief influence of a culture – Islam Religion can be a unifying force for cultural morality. Religion can be ignored in a culture – The “state church” of Denmark is Lutheranism. Differing religious views within a culture can be a cause for conflict.

Interface of Faith & Culture George Barna – “Every person’s central choices in life are driven by their worldview, and everyone’s worldview is greatly influenced by their spiritual inclinations. Their social and political preferences are closely tied to their spiritual beliefs and practices. ”

Christianity is The Foundational Religion of The United States “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, . . .

Christian Apostasy Started around 1900 with questioning of the infallibility/inerrancy of the Holy Bible. Denial of Biblical beliefs; truth and authority of the Holy Bible (Apostasy) Mentality of salvation by good works Universal salvation of all faiths and those with no faith The idea of many equal paths to God – universal religion Liberation theology

Who among Christians Has a Biblical Worldview? Biblical worldview Beliefs about truth: yes no 9% 91% Absolute moral truth exists 34% 66% The Bible is accurate 50% Truth is discovered only through logic, reason, and experience 54% 46% The Bible, the Koran (Qu’ran), and the Book of Mormon are different versions of the same truth 44% 56%

What Do “Christians” Really Believe? yes God is the all-knowing, all powerful creator who still rules The Holy Spirit is only a symbol 70% 40% Jesus lived a sinless life 40% Satan is real 27% Demons are real 67%

What Do “Christians” Believe about how to get to Heaven? Only 30% believed that salvation comes through correct beliefs. 50% believed in salvation (getting to heaven) on the basis of good works. (Only 28% believed you cannot get to heaven by good works. ) 50+% believed some non-believers can get to heaven (42% included atheists) 75% believed people are not born sinful, but neutral

With What Competing Ideologies are people trying to merge traditional Christianity? New Age/Humanism/Cosmic Humanism One-world Liberation Spirituality Theology/Social Justice (Marxist) Socialism/Communism Islam (Chrislam)? (atheist)

How about the New Spirituality? New Age “Cafeteria” Religion Based Cosmic Humanism God on personal experience is in everything. (Pantheism) We are all gods. Wicca is popular; reincarnation is popular; meditation and occult practices are popular

One-World Spirituality: Do we really all need to be on the same page? Evolutionary humanism (Man will spiritually evolve on into godhood. ) Hindu pantheism (God is in everything. ) Occultism Practice, experiences, channeling “ascended masters” Socialism/social justice Environmentalism (nature worship) Coming Alien Invasion (U. N. , Vatican) Goal: Unified world

What is liberation theology? Redistribution of income, known as “social justice. ” Together they want the U. S. government to further tax America’s rich and give the confiscated proceeds to the poor. They do not seem to realize what when you do this, most of the money ends up in the pockets of highly paid government administrators (about 75%), or in the case of foreign aid, the Swiss bank accounts of dictators. Columnist Thomas Sowell insists that we could raise every poor person in the U. S. out of poverty in one week while reducing the program budget by 75% simply by getting rid of the government bureaucracy.

And How About the Muslims? The Muslim goal is world domination. To achieve this they are using population, immigration, and terrorism. Their agenda is the U. S. is to become a mainstream (the dominant) religion, become numerous enough to elect a mayor of a large city, and eventually a president (2024). They also want many countries, including the U. S. to become Sharia compliant. This would cost us our freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and women’s rights.

Why you don’t want to be Sharia compliant? Islam orders/commands: 1. . Jihad (war) against the infidels (unbelievers). 2. . . Apostates to be killed. 3. . death for critics of Muhammad, the Qu’ran, & Sharia. 4. . . Fornicators to be whipped and adulterers to be stoned to death. 5. . Homosexuals must be executed. 6. . Highway robbers should be crucified or mutilated. 7. . Male & female thieves must have a hand cut off. 8. . An injured plaintiff may extract an eye for an eye. 9. . . Husbands may hit their wives, even if they merely fear highhandedness 10. Drinkers and gamblers should be whipped.

Do All Religions Lead to God? Not according to each other. Religion Buddhism God Buddha Means of Valid or True Salvation Religions self-reliance Only Buddhism (none) Hinduism thousands reincarnation karma; reincarnation Judaism Yaweh works/law Only Judaism Islam Allah five pillars Only Islam Christianity Trinity (Jesus) grace/faith Only Christianity