American Vision
American Vision is a nonprofit organization in the United States, founded in 1978 by Steve Schiffman. As a Christian ministry, it calls for "equipping and empowering Christians to restore America’s biblical foundation." Due to the groups opposition to homosexuality, it is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Gary DeMar has been the organization's president since 1984.
The group has published over 175 books, DVDs, CDs, and MP3s. The group also publishes a daily newsletter and podcast and is active in the creation science movement.
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[edit] Views
[edit] Abortion
President Gary DeMar has written that "The Bible attributes self-consciousness to preborn babies." American Vision is opposed to abortion.[1][Third-party source needed]
[edit] Church and State
The group maintains that the First Amendment's demand that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" means that Congress may not establish a state religion. The group maintains that the First Amendment does not prohibit members of Congress from making laws that are in submission to the Bible. Lawmakers must always submit their decisions to God, making laws in accordance with the Bible.[citation needed]
[edit] Advocacy
Demar has said that not all homosexuals would be executed under a “reconstructed government", but that he did believe that the occasional execution of “sodomites” would serve society well because “the law that requires the death penalty for homosexual acts effectively drives the perversion of homosexuality underground, back into the closet.” He also said a “long-term goal” should be “the execution of abortionists and their parents.” Islam is another enemy, he said in August 2010, “The long-term goal of Islam is the abolition of our constitutional freedoms.”[2][3]
[edit] Controversy
The Southern Poverty Law Center declared the American Vision an anti-gay group. According to author Evelyn Schlatter, these groups have "continued to pump out demonizing propaganda aimed at homosexuals and other sexual minorities." [3]
[edit] See also
- Christian Reconstructionism
- Dominionism and Dominion Theology
- List of organizations designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups
- Neo-Calvinism
- Theonomy
[edit] References
- ^ DeMar, Gary. "A Modern Crime from the Bible". American Vision Blog. http://americanvision.org/3829/a-modern-crime-from-the-bible/. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Waddington, Lynda (23 November 2010). "Groups that Helped Oust Iowa Judges Earn 'Hate Group' Designation; SPLC Adds American Family Association, Family Research Council to List". Iowa Independent. http://iowaindependent.com/47947/groups-that-helped-oust-iowa-judges-earn-hate-group-designation. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ a b Schlatter, Evelyn. "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda | Southern Poverty Law Center". Splcenter.org. http://splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
[edit] External links
- American Vision official site
