• Is Promise Keepers really just a non-political movement of men concerned about modern society?
  No. On the other hand, the Promise Keepers are not nearly as political as the Christian Coalition, but the close links between PK and other authoritarian and politically pro-active groups should be cause for concern. Despite a public image which they insist is "non-political," and denials of affiliations with politically-active religious groups, one writer has labeled them as "the ideological boot-camp for the religious right." A close look at literature given out at mass events such as the Stand in the Gap rally in Washington, DC, reveals extensive advertising for groups like Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and others. These groups are heavily involved in political issues such as abortion, family planning, Internet censorship, school prayer, anti-gay initiatives, and government endorsement and funding of private religious institutions. When Bill McCartney says that he wants to "take back the nation for Christ," he means much more than a personal religious revival. Raleigh Washington, organizer of the Stand in the Gap rally, plainly states that "there is no way the group can restrict itself when it comes to public policy. We are producing leaders in this organization. They will enter the public sphere." (Dallas Observer, Nov. 14, 1996) One significant goal of Promise Keepers seems to be funneling people into these other groups.

• The Promise Keepers movement represents an extreme, charismatic-evangelical theology.
  Promise Keepers grew out of the "Latter Rain Movement," which embraces extreme, even bizarre and cult-like religious practices-- speaking in tongues, direct revelation, and the authoritarian "Shepherding-Discipleship" tradition which teaches a dangerous, manipulative "leader-follower" relationship. Theologically, this group's roots are apocalyptic, concerning Armageddon and raising "Joel's Army" to combat transgressors and sinners, and prepare the way for a "Kingdom" at the end of the world. This sect follows the theology of "Dominionism," which teaches that Christians are commanded by god to occupy and govern all institutions in anticipation of the "final days" and the Second Coming. "Bible Law" must govern the person, families, neighborhoods, communities and governmental institutions; there is no separating of state and church; the police powers of the government are harnessed to ensure that Bible law is enforced. Reconstructionist members of the Promise Keepers call for a judicial system and government based literally upon Old Testament Bible law, and proscribes the penalty of death for a wide range of offenses including adultery, "witchcraft," blasphemy or disobedience to parents. It is no accident that these doctrines are never mentioned in Promise Keeper literature intended for their rank-and-file members. "Freedom of religion" is non-existent under a society guided by these theological principles.

• Promise Keepers is a male-centered movement with a homophobic agenda.
  Despite lip service about "being worthy of women," PK'ers are exhorted to "take back" governance of the heterosexual, nuclear family. "Women, keep silent in the churches; men are heads of the household, as Christ is the head of the church", paraphrasing St. Paul. Promise Keepers defines a "godly man" as one who obeys the church and is involved in a monogamous, heterosexual relationship. What about gays and lesbians? Single moms? Divorcees? Are they "godly"? It's true that some women do want men to become more involved in domestic relationships. But not all women opt for that; presuming that all or even most women want the male-dominated marital situation in a nuclear family which PK leaders say they do is arrogant and presumptive. And the record concerning blacks is highly problematic. The Promise Keepers seem to distinguish between what they term "reconciliation" and true equality. Black men are "godly" only if they fit into the PK heterosexual template. What about those who don’t fit the PK theological mold? According to one Reconstructionist, the penalty for homosexuality should be the death sentence. What other penalties and social disadvantages would this organization advocate for the "ungodly"?

• Is this a manipulative movement?
  Just as PK literature, with its abundance of sports metaphors and catchy slogans rendering it difficult for participants to understand its precise meaning, so is the role of the PK movement itself. Men in the Promise Keepers movement are given a steady stream of literature and teachings, most of which are based on emotionally evocative, but vague slogans. PK "huddles" or local groups, reinforce the group's doctrines through peer pressure -- not rational persuasion and discourse-- where men are probed by other participants and compelled to "confess" and reveal highly personal, even confidential facts about their life. PK events use of literally hours of verbal pounding, repetitive use of content-void slogans (with a sports vocabulary), group reinforcement, heightened states of emotional excitement bordering on the hysterical (accounting for the "waves" of joyous weeping, crying, public praying and other emotive outbursts) and more. These are classic cult techniques for wearing down resistance and emotionally "programming" the audience- the same techniques that most people would associate with groups like the "Moonies". Promise Keepers plays on all sides of men's emotions and upbringing. It exploits doubts about being "worthy" but then caters to a fantasy of "taking charge" and being "head of household." Any dispassionate examination of twentieth century political and social movements would suggest caution about any group that bases so much on emotional outburst, outpourings and sloganeering.

• Promise Keepers is a threat to one of the most important pillars of contemporary civil society -- the survival of secular institutions, and the preservation of state-church separation.
  In a diverse, pluralistic America founded upon the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, Promise Keepers represents a backlash against the rights of women, gays and other segments of society who don't conform to fundamentalist dictates and stereotypes. We consider Promise Keepers as just another ploy to promote a fundamentalist social and political agenda, and to create a cultural environment wherein one must pass their religious litmus tests in order to be considered a citizen, a patriot, or even just a decent human being. The Promise Keepers threaten the cherished principles of First Amendment based state-church separation, and the constitutional liberties of Atheists, nonbelievers, and minority religious groups -- male or female, gay or straight.

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