Christian Identity
From Free net encyclopedia
Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated groups and churches with a racialized theology. Most of them promote a Euro-centric version of Christianity. Their key commonality is British Israelism theology, which teaches that white Europeans are the literal descendants of the Israelites through the ten tribes that were taken away into captivity by the armies of Assyria. Furthermore, the teaching holds that these (White European) Israelites are still God's Chosen People.
There is no single document that expresses the Christian Identity belief system. Adherents draw on arguments from linguistic, historical, archaeological and Biblical sources to support their beliefs. There are estimated to be about 350,000 adherents of these groups in the United States of America, Canada, as well as in the Commonwealth (former British Empire).
Christian Identity believers reject the beliefs of most modern orthodox Christian denominations, and claim that modern Christian Churches are teaching a heresy: the belief that God's promises to Israel (through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) have been expanded to create a spiritual people of "Israel," which constitutes the Christian "Church". In turn, most modern Christian denominations and organizations denounce Christian Identity theology as a heresy, and condemn the use of the Christian Bible as a basis for promoting anti-Semitism.
Contents |
Organization
Christian Identity does not have a national organizational or ecclesiastical structure. Rather, it is a grouping of churches throughout the world which follow a basic theology. Some of these churches can be as small as a dozen people, and some as large as the Aryan Nations church, which claims membership in the thousands. Some people classified in this group do not consider themselves "Christian" nor a part of any "church". Even so, they may recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, considering themselves "Israelite" or "Ephraimite". In some states, Christian Identity followers established or took over armed citizens' militias.
Ideology
Christian Identity asserts that people of Europe are God's servant people according to the promises that were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It further asserts that the early European tribes were really the ten lost tribes of Israel and therefore the rightful heirs to God's promises.
The argument goes that the lost tribes of Israel were taken into captivity and deported by Sargon, king of Assyria as punishment for failing to honour the terms of the first covenant, given by God to Moses. After the death of King Solomon, the Hebrew people experienced a civil war that resulted in two houses, the House of Israel, and the House of Judah. As punishment for their sinfulness, God warned both houses through Jeremiah, and the minor prophets that both houses would be punished for 2520 years ("seven times" or also known in the Bible as "the time of the gentiles"), by being divorced as a people from their God, and removed from the land of their forefathers. By extension, the theory goes, this would mean that the European tribes inherited God's first covenant, and subsequent punishments, and the "New Covenant" as well.
Christian Identity, through British Israelism, has formulated the belief that the historical House of Israel, which was captured by Sargon, did not stay long in the "City of the Medes", the Biblical destination of Sargon's deportation. Rather, the House of Israel became nomadic and became the source of the invading Celto-Germanic tribes that ravaged the Roman Empire and Rome itself. Much is made of similar linguistic similarities such as the Hebrew word for exile (Glh, or Gal) and Gaul, or "Issacsen" and "Saxons". In a similar way, some Identity believers claim the Biblical "tribe of Dan" became the tribe known as Danes, claiming that they left alleged clues scattered about Europe (such as river names like Danube, Dnieper, Dniester ) or that part of the Biblical "tribe of Judah", that was taken with the House of Israel in the Assyrian captivity, became known as the tribe of Jutes.
One of the most controversial beliefs held by Identity Christians is the belief that modern Jews are not the Biblical "House of Israel". Identity Christians go as far as to hold that modern Jews are not even the Biblical "house of Judah", but rather claim they are Edomites, descendants of Esau, that mixed with the House of Judah in Babylonian captivity, or are Khazars that adopted Judaism in 838 A.D. to avoid warring with Christian Europe, or the emerging power of Islam in the middle-east. This is known as the single-seedline version of Christian Identity. Other Identity Christians, known as dual-seedliners, believe that Jews were a result of Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden having sexual intercourse.
Some Identity Christians believe that a version of Christianity must have existed before Roman Christianity entered Europe. Proponents of this theology cite the existence of Celtic Christianity and its struggles with Roman Christianity as evidence, arguing that Celtic Christianity must have been a reflection of the native beliefs of many European tribes. On a related note, many Christian Identity churches display animosity towards the Catholic Church, referring to it as the Whore of Babylon.
Iconoclastic Biblical fundamentalism
Interpreting the Book of Genesis, some Pre-Adamite Christian Identity followers assert that Adam and Eve were preceded by other, lesser races, identified as "the beasts of the field" (Gen. 1:25). Eve was seduced by the snake (Satan) and gave birth to two seed lines: Cain, the direct descendant of Satan and Eve, and Abel, who was of good Aryan stock through Adam. Cain then became the progenitor of the Jews in his subsequent matings with the non-Adamic races. This is referred to as the dual-seedline doctrine (the other races are considered by dual-seedliners to be descended from animals and are often referred to as "mud-people"). There are other interpretations within Christian Identity, such as single-seedline doctrine, the main belief of which is that all the races are descended from Adam and Eve, but that only whites are the chosen of God. Some believe that the Jews used to be the chosen of God and then "lost" God's choice when they failed to accept Christ, some believe they never were the chosen.
Christian Identity adherents believe the Jews are predisposed to carry on a conspiracy against the Adamic seed line and today have achieved almost complete control of the earth. (Kaplan, Radical Religion in America) As a general rule, Christian Identity followers tend to have ultra-conservative opinions about the role of women, abortion, homosexuality, and usually assert that the account of the Earth's creation in Genesis is literally true, although there are exceptions to this rule. A minority of Christian Identity followers do not believe that the Jews are literally the children of Satan, and claim to acknowledge that there are "good men of Edom", instead saying that this doctrine should be understood as a metaphor to display how evil most Jews are.
In addition to their racialist views Christian Identity adherants distinguish themselves from mainstream Protestant Fundamentalism in various areas of theology. Most Christian Identity adherants follow the Mosiac law of the Old Testament [e.g. dietary restrictions, the 7th day Sabbath, certain annual festivals such as Passover.] It is also common place for adherants to follow the Sacred Name Movement and insist on using the original hebrew names for referring to God and Jesus Christ. Some Christian Identity writers critize modern Bible editions aswell as the Jews for the removal of original Hebrew name of God in the Bible. Although their adherance to Old Testament Mosiac law may make them appear as being "Jewish"; they claim that the Jewish interpretation of the law has been corrupted through the Jews' Talmud. Unlike many Protestant Fundamentalists, Christian Identity adherants reject the notion of end-times Rapture; instead believing that they must persevere through Armageddon which they interpret as being a race-war. Unlike Protestant Fundamentalism [not to mention mainstream Christianity in general] Christian Identity adherants tend to reject the doctrine of the trinity, instead favoring the Modalist view of the Godhead.
Justifying violence
A relatively new tenet gaining popularity among some radical Christian Identity believers justifies the use of violence if it is perpetrated in order to punish violators of God's law, as found in the Bible and interpreted by Christian Identity ministers and adherents. This includes killing interracial couples, abortionists, prostitutes and homosexuals, burning pornography stores, and robbing banks and perpetrating frauds to undermine the usury system. Christian Identity adherents engaging in such behavior are referred to as Phineas Priests or members of the Phineas Priesthood. This is an appealing concept to some followers, who believe they are being persecuted by an alleged Jewish-controlled U.S. government and society and/or are eagerly preparing for Armageddon, when Jesus will return and Jews, non-Whites and other non-Christians will be killed. However, some CI churches teach that they must be patient until the "real holocaust" arrives, and in the meantime, not commit acts of violence.
The end of the world and armageddon
Christian Identity believes in the inevitability of the end of the world (or the end of the world as we know it) and the Second Coming of Christ. These End Times events are seen as part of a cleansing process that is needed before Christ's kingdom can be established on earth. During this time, Jews and their allies will attempt to destroy the white race using any means available. The result will be a violent and bloody millennial struggle, which will be a race war. The white Christian Identity believers see themselves as God's agents battling what they see as the forces of evil: Jews and non-Whites.
The view of what Armageddon will be varies among Christian Identity believers. All contend there will be a race war in which millions will die; many believe that the United Nations, backed by Jewish representatives of the anti-Christ, will take over the country and promote a New World Order. One Christian Identity interpretation is that white Christians have been chosen to watch for signs of the impending war in order to warn others. They are to then physically struggle with the forces of evil against sin and other violations of God's law (e.g., miscegenation and internationalism); many will perish, and some will be forced to wear the Mark of the Beast to participate in business and commerce. After the final battle is ended and God's kingdom is established on earth, only then will the Aryan people be recognized as the one and true Israel.
Christian Identity adherents believe that God will use what they believe is the Chosen Race as his weapons to battle the forces of evil. Christian Identity followers believe they are among those chosen by God to wage this battle during Armageddon and they will be the last line of defense for the white race and Christian America. To prepare for these events, they engage in survivalist and paramilitary training, storing foodstuffs and supplies, and caching weapons and ammunition. They often reside on compounds located in remote areas.
Origin
Christian Identity developed out of British Israelism, a Protestant religious movement popular in the Victorian era of British history. It asserted that the Anglo-Saxons were the original descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. However, this form of the belief contained little or no anti-Semitism, its followers instead holding that Jews made up a minority of the tribes of Israel, with the British and other European races making up the remainder. However, this tradition's popularity in the United Kingdom has been interpreted as seeking to justify imperialism in the Victorian period.
Wesley Swift is considered the single most significant figure in the early years of the Christian Identity movement in the United States, developing and expanding its racialised theology. He popularized it in the right-wing by "combining British-Israelism, a demonic anti-Semitism, and political extremism." (Barkun 1994:60–61)
Swift founded his own church in California in the mid 1940s where he could preach this ideology. In addition, he had a daily radio broadcast in California during the 1950s and 60s, through which he was able to proclaim his ideology to a large audience. With Swift's efforts, the message of his church spread, leading to the creation of similar churches throughout the country. In 1957, the name of his church was changed to The Church of Jesus Christ Christian, which is used today by Aryan Nations (AN) churches.
One of Swift's associates, William Potter Gale, was far more militant than Swift and brought a new element to Christian Identity churches. He became a leading figure in the anti-tax and paramilitary movements of the 1970s and 80s. There are numerous Christian Identity churches that preach similar messages and some espouse more violent rhetoric than others, but all hold fast to the belief that Aryans are God's chosen race.
Herbert W. Armstrong is described by some of his critics, as well as supporters of Christian Identity, as being in favour of Christian Identity, due to his belief in a modified form of British Israelism, and the fact that during his lifetime, he propounded observances favoured by many Christian Identity groups, such as the observance of the Sabbath and Biblical festivals. The Worldwide Church of God which Herbert W. Armstrong founded did not subscribe to the anti-Semitism so commonly held in the Christian or Israel Identity groups but instead adhered to the traditional beliefs of British Israelism. Those beliefs held that the Jews were descendants of the Tribe of Judah whereas the Anglo-Saxons, Celts, Danish etc. where descendants of the remaining Ten Tribes of Israel formerly known as the Northern Kingdom.
Groups
Christian Identity groups include the Aryan Nations; Church of Jesus Christ Christian; Confederate Hammerskins; Jubilee; LaPorte Church of Christ; Kingdom Identity Ministries; and White Separatist Banner. Some members of the Westboro Baptist Church adhere to most, if not all, of the tenets of the movement. Christian Identity is a major unifying theology for a number of diverse groups on the extreme right. It is a belief system that provides its members with a religious basis for racism and an ideology that condones violence against non-Aryans. This doctrine allows believers to fuse religion with hate, conspiracy theories and an apocalyptic vision of the future.
Aryan Nations
The Aryan Nations (AN) is a group that adheres to the Christian Identity belief system. The group espouses dislike towards Jews, blacks and other minorities, as well as the United States federal government. The original ultimate goal of the AN is to forcibly take five northwestern states - Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and Montana - from the United States government in order to establish an Aryan homeland. This particular ideology is known throughout the White power movement as the Northwest Territorial Imperative. The AN was headquartered at Hayden Lake from the late 1970s until February 2001. Its annual World Congress attracted a number of different factions from the far right wing. The World Congress was a sort of round table to discuss Racialist issues. Since the main Aryan Nations compound in Idaho was dismantled, there have been several struggles over control of the movement that are as yet unresolved.
The Order
Robert Jay Mathews formed a clandestine cell in part from members of Aryan Nations called The Order which committed a number of violent crimes, including murder. Their mission was to bring about a race war. While the group had a number of Christian Identity adherents, Mathews himself followed Odinism, as did several other Order members. Dennis McGiffen, who also had ties to the AN, formed a cell called The New Order, based on Mathews' group. The members were arrested before they could follow through on their plans to try to start a race war. Chevie Kehoe, who was convicted of three homicides, conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property had also spent some time at the AN compound. Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man accused of the August 10, 1999, shooting at the Jewish Community Center as well as the shooting death of a Filipino American US Postal Service carrier in Los Angeles, California, also spent some time at the AN compound working as a security guard.
South African groups
Some white South Africans, mostly Afrikaners, practise a form of Christianity which is similar to Christian Identity, usually asserting that the Boer nation are God's chosen people and that God gave the Afrikaners dominion over South Africa and its people. They share similar views about race, the Jews, the role of women, and many other issues. Their lifestyle is often similar to that of Christian Identity groups elsewhere, as they frequently live in remote areas and stock foodstuffs and other supplies, believing that a race war is imminent. These groups have been accused of involvement in terrorist activity, including a string of bomb attacks in 2002 [1].
Christian Identity in South Africa (it is often called "Israel Identity") has a longer history than elsewhere, and due to the apartheid era, during which South African leaders made frequent use of religion to justify their ideals, may be said to have gained greater societal acceptance among certain sectors of the population than in other nations. Ideas similar to the Christian Identity belief have continued to survive in certain areas, and some South African commentators blame this on the high crime rate in South Africa and increased unemployment among Whites, especially Afrikaners, since the ANC took power. [2]
Some members of these follow the teachings of Siener van Rensburg, an Afrikaner prophet who lived during the Second Boer War and predicted, amongst other things, the death of Koos de la Rey. [3] An example of his prophecies can be found here.
Opposition by neo-Nazis
Most Neo-Nazis reject Christian Identity because they see Christianity as a religion based on the Hebrew bible and since they reject all things seen as influenced by Jews, they reject Christianity. They believe that modern Jews and the Biblical Israelites are related genealogically.
The CSCS
A group in Tennessee [4] called the Christian Separatist Church Society also opposes many CI doctrines - most notably the celebration of Biblical festivals and the fact that many CIs keep Saturday as the Sabbath, which is seen by this group as a "Jewish practice". They also allege that pastors such as Pete Peters have been dabbling in anti-racism, and publish an "Antichrist Watch" in which CI sects whose doctrines displease the group are named and shamed.
The CSCS's leader, V.S. Herrell has translated his own version of the New Testament, the Anointed Standard Translation [5], into English, alleging that other versions of the Bible are corrupted and "written by Jews". This sect does not enjoy good relationships with mainstream Christianity (which it accuses Christian Identity of becoming), or with other White Nationalist organisations.
They hold to a preterist doctrine which claims that Biblical prophecies such as those included in the book of Revelation were fulfilled in 70 AD, rather than being yet to be fulfilled, as is often claimed by many Christians. They also claim that Noah's Flood happened locally, rather than around the whole world, and dispute the idea that evolution did not happen.
Like other CI sects, the group has been accused of being a cult. They follow the dual-seedline theory of CI and are virulently anti-Semitic and racist, also believing that only members of the CSCS will be saved.
However, after the death of Richard Butler, the CSCS published a [6] tribute to him, despite the obvious differences between the two sects.
There are members of the group in Australia and Slovakia [7].
See also
External links
- Articles on the Christian Identity movement
- SPLC list of known christian identity 'churches' in the US
- Study presented to FBI by CESNUR
- CARM.org Website
- UVA Religious Movements Website
Favorable to Christian Identity beliefs
- Church of the Sons of YHVH
- Covenant People's Ministry
- Kingdom Identity Ministries
- Church of True Israel
- Scriptures For America
- First Century Christian Ministries
- Aryan Nations website - Aryan Nations faction led by August Kreis III
- Aryan Nations website - Aryan Nations faction led by Jonathan Williams
References
- Michael Barkun Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill NC (1994), ISBN 0807844519
- W.L. Ingram, God and Race: British-Israelism and Christian Identity, P. 119 - 126 in T. Miller, Ed., America's Alternative Religions, SUNY Press, Albany NY, 1995
- Jeffrey Kaplan, Radical Religion in America, Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1997, p. 47-48)
- Charles H. Roberts, Race over Grace: The Racialist Religion of the Christian Identity Movement, Omaha, Nebraska: iUniverse Press, 2003, ISBN 0595281974