The Idea of Rebirth in Dominionism and Abraham Kuyper's Neo-Calvinism: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This article explores the notion of “born-again” (palingenesis) in relation to “Christian fascism” found in far-right Christian movements. This research is urgent given the rising polarization between Christians' political left and right, which is drifting away from the ecumenical unity envisioned by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Through comparative qualitative content analysis, doctrinal analysis, and historical-theological study, this paper examines far-right Christian use of palingenesis to determine whether it emerged from Abraham Kuyper's work or developed later in the work of Dominionists like R.J. Rushdoony and Douglas Wilson. The existing literature tends to overlook a pivotal doctrinal shift: the subtraction of Common Grace transforms Kuyperian palingenesis from an inclusive, cosmic vision into an exclusionary, state-level 'fascist minimum.' The literature also lacks a direct engagement with the “Moscow Model” (Douglas Wilson) and the relevant contemporary political landscape through a strictly comparative content analysis of the term palingenesis itself. Thus, this study suggests six main distinctions between far-right Christian movements and Kuyper through in-depth comparison.