The Socio-Cultural World
Sociocultural Influences
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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
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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.
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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.
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Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation; . . .
 Matthew 12:25, Holy Bible, KJV
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Should we be globalists/world citizens or
nationalists/patriots?
◦ Being overtaken by an international, world
government
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Should we be socialist or capitalist?
◦ Moving toward a European-style Socialist state
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Should we have a large or small government?
◦ 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
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. . . 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.
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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
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In response to need or desirability:
 “Many think a solution that rises above any one nation
must be found.”
 Financial Times, Jan., 2009
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Reasons (Good solutions or just useful idiots?)
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Peace
Saving the environment
Equality
Regulation of business
Or is it just the enjoyment of money and power?
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As we become global, Americans should
expect –
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Loss of national sovereignty
Loss of prosperity
Erosion of freedom
Erosion of privacy
Enslavement to a lifetime of debt
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Council on Foreign Relations
◦ July 29, 1921
◦ Promotional arm of the ruling Elite in the U.S.A.:
politicians, academics, media, most Presidents &
Secretarys of State (Sometimes called America’s
Shadow Government)
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Original goal: to federate the Englishspeaking people of the world
Accused of desiring the overthrow of the
Constitution & American sovereignty
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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
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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
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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
What is sustainable development?
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. . . 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
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Traditional American
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Representative Republic
Free Enterprise Capitalism
Nationalism/patriotism
(Christianity)
Opposing
◦ Socialism (Progressivism)
 Communism
 Fascism (Nazism)
◦ Globalism
 Elitism
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Freedom from government oppression.
Freedom to speak, worship, and generally live
their lives without government interference.
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Currently generally known as Conservative/”Tea
Party”/(Republican more so than Democrat)
◦ Small government/low taxes
 Vs large government/high taxes
◦ Rule of Law/Constitution
 Vs. rule by those in power
◦ Personal freedom & responsibility
 Vs. government dependence
◦ Patriotism/nationalism
 Vs. globalism
◦ Government exists to serve the people
 vs. the people existing to serve the government
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Rule of Law – the Constitution
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(As opposed to rule by the powerful)
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One thing standing in the way of socialist
infiltration is the U.S. Constitution and the
freedoms or rights that it guarantees.
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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.”
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Amendment I: “. . . Or abridging the
freedom of speech or of the press.”
Attempts to control the internet
Overt expressions of desire to silence FOX
news and talk radio (e.g., Rush Limbaugh)
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
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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.
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What are the similarities?
◦ One leads to the other. Lenin said that the end goal of
socialism was communism.
◦ Progressive -> socialist -> communist
◦ All agree that people need to be ruled, and do not have
any rights other than what the government offers them.
This is oppression.
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What’s the difference?
◦ Progressive -> socialist -> communist
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Communists (Marxist) believe in government
ownership, not just regulation. Socialists believe
in government control.
Marxists believe in violent overthrow of
governments, Fabian & Gramscian socialists
believe in gradual takeover by infiltration.
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Tend to lead to totalitarian dictatorships
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Control the lives of their citizens:
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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.
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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
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“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism
because it is the merger of state and corporate
power.”
 Benito Mussolini
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This was the form of government in Nazi Germany
when Adolph Hitler was in power.
The “Third Way” currently being advocated by former
President Bill Clinton and former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair advocates an interlocking type of
cooperation between government and business
(nationally or internationally) that fits the definition
of fascism.
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Communism did not really get a foothold politically
until the early 20th Century
◦ (Marx & Engels did not publish the Communist Manifesto until
1848.)
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The United States spent much of the 20th Century
trying to stop the spread of Communism.
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Cuba/South America
Korean War
Vietnam War
Cold War
Ronald Reagan/Berlin Wall
And Nazism (National Socialism)
◦ WWII
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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
 Destabilization of the family
 Issues 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
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Four Socialist organizations in the U.S.
House of Representatives, including chairs
of 11 of the 20 committees. [Prior to the
fall 2010 elections]
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Progressive Democrats of America (6)
Congressional Progressive Caucus (74)
Congressional Black Caucus (43)
Democratic Socialists of America (?)
Feldman Module 11-2
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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.
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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.”
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“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,
.....
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Hard work + thrifty living = prosperity.
This created a prosperous middle
class.
Also rejection of the concept of
royalty/nobility.
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“The more I read, hear and research, the more I am
willing to believe this financial crisis which was
mostly birthed in the Clinton administration and
continued by the George W. Bush administration, was
possibly orchestrated in order to destroy the Middle
class and implement radical, extreme socialism; . . “
Brannon Howse
Christian Worldview Network
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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
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Source: Barna Polls in 1995, 2000 and 2005 Respondents: self-described Christians
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Biblical worldview
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Beliefs about truth:
yes
no
9%
91%
◦ Absolute moral truth exists
34%
◦ The Bible is accurate
50%
◦ Truth is discovered only through logic, reason,
and experience
54%
◦ The Bible, the Koran (Qu’ran), and the Book of
Mormon are different versions
of the same truth
44%
66%
50%
46%
56%
yes
no
God is the all-knowing, all
powerful creator who still rules
70%
30%
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The Holy Spirit is only a symbol
40%
60%
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Jesus lived a sinless life
40%
60%
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Satan is real
27%
73%
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Demons are real
67%
33%
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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
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(Compromising) - secularization
Generally apostate – questions doctrine
Ambiguous idea of truth (postmodern)
Universal salvation
Social justice gospel
Open to pagan (non-Christian) practices
◦ Yoga
◦ Meditation (contemplative prayer)
◦ Walking the labyrinth
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“at the close of 2008, few Americans perceive
that religion is thriving in U.S. society, and a
relatively small majority believe that religion
is relevant to solving today’s problems. They
also believe the overall influence of religion is
declining.”
2008 Gallup Poll
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New Age/Humanism/Cosmic
Humanism
◦ One-world Spirituality
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Liberation Theology/Social Justice
(Marxist)
◦ Socialism/Communism (atheist)
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Islam (Chrislam)?
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New Age “Cafeteria” Religion
◦ Based on personal experience
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Cosmic Humanism
◦ God is in everything. (Pantheism)
◦ We are all gods.
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Wicca is popular; reincarnation is popular;
meditation and occult practices are popular
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Oprah Winfrey (and many others)– many
paths to God; spirituality is about feeling, not
belief
◦ Marianne Williamson – A Course in Miracles
 LSD gave a whole generation a spiritual experience
 Helen Schucman in 1965, wrote this course.
 She believed that she was channeling “Jesus”. However,
her “Jesus” contradicted the historical one of the Bible.
 He said there was no sin, no need of a savior, salvation
comes from yourself, and Jesus was just a man.
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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
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It is Marxist, Communist tactics and doctrine
masquerading as (Catholic) Christianity.
It has a history among liberal Catholic
theologians, and was practiced extensively in
South America by Jesuit priests in the 1970s
and 1980s.
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Basically, it advocates redistribution of
income.
◦ How is this different from charity?
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It also advocates Christian cooperation in the
overthrow of governments to obtain social
justice for the poor and oppressed.
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What is currently happening?
◦ Rev. Jim Wallis claims to be a spiritual advisor to the
President. He has had relationships with the
communist Committee in Solidarity with the People
of El Salvador and has rallied support for the
communist Nicaraguan regime. He is calling for
“social justice” in America.
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It has more recently become popular among
socialist-leaning, protestant evangelicals.
Tony Campolo (The Red-Letter Christians)
says that “Christians should engage in efforts
to change the political and economic
structures of our society because these
structures do not adequately address the
needs of the poor and the oppressed.”
◦ 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.
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Islam is a politico-religious system.
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.
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The ideologies (not people) of Christianity and Islam
cannot peacefully coexist. – What is Chrislam?
While Christians are told only to share their faith to
make converts, Muslims are permitted to persecute and
even kill unbelievers who refuse to convert.
Muslims are currently persecuting Christians, Jews, and
others around the world.
Iranian leaders believe they must destroy Israel and the
United States so that the Mahdi (the Muslim messiah) or
the 12th Imam will return to convert the whole world to
Islam (the caliphate).
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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.
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Christian Prophecy
◦ Belief that the Second Coming of Christ will be soon
 The nation of Israel has been restored.
 There appears to be a one-world government on the horizon.
◦ Doctrine of the Rapture
 Belief that Jesus will remove his true followers from the Earth
prior to a 7-year period of time called the “tribulation” during
which the world is ruled by a world dictator and terrible
judgment takes place.
◦ The belief that Jesus is returning to rescue Israel and set
up His kingdom there, and that the United States will
surely be judged if we are not her ally.
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The 12th Imam or the Mahdi will come and
convert the whole world to Islam. He will
bring Isa (Jesus) with him to assist him in
doing this. The unbelievers will be killed.
There are a number of interesting parallels
between Christian and Islamic prophecies.
However, they are mirror-image such that the
Muslim Mahdi tends to fit the Christian
description of the anti-Christ.