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Christian terrorism is religious terrorism by Christian sects or individuals, the motivation for which is typically rooted in an idiosyncratic interpretation of the Bible and other tenets of faith. They often draw upon Old Testament scripture to justify violent political activities.

History

British journalist and politician Ian Gilmour has cited the historical case of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572, a beginning of Roman Catholic mob violence directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants), as an instance of religious terrorism on par with modern day terrorism, and goes on to write, "That massacre, said Pope Gregory XIII, gave him more pleasure than fifty Battles of Lepanto, and he commissioned Vasari to paint frescoes of it in the Vatican". It is estimated that 2,000 to possibly 25,000 Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed by Catholic mobs, and it has been called "the worst of the century's religious massacres". The massacre led to the start of the "fourth war" of the French Wars of Religion, which was marked by many other massacres and assassinations by both sides. Peter Steinfels has cited the historical case of the Gunpowder Plot, when Guy Fawkes and other Catholic revolutionaries attempted to overthrow the Protestant establishment of England by blowing up the Houses of Parliament, as a notable case of religious terrorism.

Religious scholar Philip Jenkins studied the Quran and the Bible in the light of the September 11 attacks and accusation that the former incites violence. He found that "the Bible contains far more verses praising or urging bloodshed than does the Quran."

By country

Canada

The Sons of Freedom, a sect of Doukhobor anarchists, have protested nude, blown up power pylons, railroad bridges, and set fire to homes, often targeting their own property.

India

The National Liberation Front of Tripura, a rebel group operating in Tripura, North-East India classified by the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism as one of the ten most active terrorist groups in the world, has been accused of forcefully converting people to Christianity. The state government reports that the Baptist Church of Tripura supplies arms and gives financial support to the NLFT. The Church is also reported to encourage the NLFT to murder Hindus, particularly infants. NLFT has also declared a ban against Hindus celebrating Durga Puja and other Hindu festivals.

The insurgency in Nagaland was led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and continues today with its faction NSCN - Isaac Muivah which explicitly calls for a "Nagalim for Christ."

In Assam, an extremest group named Manmasi National Christian Army (MNCA) with around 15 members from the Hmar ethnic group, have placed bloodstained crosses in Hindu temples and forced Hindus to convert at gunpoint.

Lebanon

In September 1982, Lebanese Phalangist militia groups and members of the South Lebanon Army, in the presence of the Israel Defense Forces, massacred Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. The militias were populated predominately by Maronite Christians, and were responding to the assassination of Bachir Gemayel. A British photographer present during the incident said that "People who committed the acts of murder that I saw that day were wearing crucifixions and were calling themselves Christians." According to the BBC, the massacre was "a three-day orgy of rape and slaughter that left hundreds, possibly thousands, of innocent civilians dead in what is considered the bloodiest single incident of the Arab-Israeli conflict", and Noam Chomsky has described it as terrorism. On December 16, 1982, it was declared an act of genocide by the United Nations General Assembly.

Northern Ireland

The Guardian newspaper attributed the murder of Martin O'Hagan, a former inmate of the Maze prison and a fearless reporter on crime and the paramilitaries, to the revival of religious fundamentalism.

The Orange Volunteers are a group infamous for carrying out simultaneous terrorist attacks on Catholic churches.

Romania

Orthodox Church movements in Romania, such as the Iron Guard and Lăncieri, which have been characterized by Yad Vashem and Stanley G. Payne as anti-semitic and fascist, respectively, were responsible for involvement in the Bucharest pogrom, and political murders during the 1930s.

Russia

A number of Russian political and paramilitary groups combine racism, nationalism, and Russian Orthodox beliefs. Russian National Unity, a far right ultra-nationalist political party and paramilitary organization, advocates an increased role for the Russian Orthodox Church according to its manifesto. It has been accused of murders, and several terrorist attacks including the bombing of the US Consulate in Ekaterinburg.

Uganda

The Lord's Resistance Army, a cult guerrilla army engaged in an armed rebellion against the Ugandan government, has been accused of using child soldiers and committing numerous crimes against humanity; including massacres, abductions, mutilation, torture, rape, porters and sex slaves. It is led by Joseph Kony, who proclaims himself the spokesperson of God and a spirit medium, primarily of the Christian Holy Spirit which the Acholi believe can represent itself in many manifestations. LRA fighters wear rosary beads and recite passages from the Bible before battle.

United States

Beginning after the Civil War, the Protestant-led, white supremacist Ku Klux Klan members in the Southern United States engaged in arson, beatings, cross burning, destruction of property, lynching, murder, rape, tar-and-feathering, and whipping against African Americans, Jews, Catholics and other social or ethnic minorities.

During the twentieth century, members of extremist groups such as the Army of God began executing attacks against abortion clinics and doctors across the United States. A number of terrorist attacks, were accused of being carried out by individuals and groups with ties to the Christian Identity and Christian Patriot movements; including the Lambs of Christ. A group called Concerned Christians were deported from Israel on suspicion of planning to attack holy sites in Jerusalem at the end of 1999, believing that their deaths would "lead them to heaven." The motive for anti-abortionist Scott Roeder murdering Wichita doctor George Tiller on May 31, 2009 was religious.

Hutaree was a Christian militia group based in Adrian, Michigan. In 2010, after an FBI agent infiltrated the group, nine of its members were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of seditious conspiracy to use of improvised explosive devices, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Timothy McVeigh said that he adhered to "core" Catholic beliefs, but also described himself as an agnostic.

Motivation, ideology and theology

Christian views on abortion have been cited by Christian individuals and groups that are responsible for threats, assault, murder, and bombings against abortion clinics and doctors across the United States and Canada.

Christian Identity is a loosely affiliated global group of churches and individuals devoted to a racialized theology that asserts North European whites are the direct descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, God's chosen people. It has been associated with groups such as the Aryan Nations, Aryan Republican Army, Army of God, Phineas Priesthood, and The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord. It has been cited as an influence in a number of terrorist attacks around the world, including the 2002 Soweto bombings.

Alternative views

This section may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. Please help to create a more balanced presentation. Discuss and resolve this issue before removing this message. (January 2011)

Daniel Keeran, a graduate from Lipscomb University and psychotherapist, offers a different understanding of Christian terrorism. He believes true discipleship calls Christians to embrace the terrifying reality of turning the other cheek, loving thy enemies, voluntary poverty and radical Christian pacifism. It is a terrorism that calls for the believer to die to save his enemy rather than die to kill his enemy (see Christian martyrs).

See also

• Christianism
• Christianity and violence
• Hate groups
• Islamic terrorism
• Religious war
• Sikh extremism

References

1. B. Hoffman, "Inside Terrorism", Columbia University Press, 1999, p. 105–120.
2. Ian Gilmour, Andrew Gilmour (1988). "Terrorism review". Journal of Palestine Studies. 17 (2). University of California Press: 136. doi:10.1525/jps.1988.17.3.00p0024k.
3. Peter Steinfels (2005-11-05). "A Day to Think About a Case of Faith-Based Terrorism". New York Times.
4. http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/rizkhan/2010/03/201032584118951469.html
5. "Taming the Spirit Wrestlers". Time Magazine. 1966-02-11.
6. "The MIPT terrorism annual 2004" (PDF). National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. 2004.
7. ^ "Constitution of National Liberation Front Of Tripura". South Asia Terrorism Portal.
8. ^ "National Liberation Front of Tripura, India". South Asia Terrorism Portal.
9. ^ Bhaumik, Subhir (April 18, 2000). "'Church backing Tripura rebels'". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
10. Tripura Society's Website, Independent, and Authentic Information & Views About Tripura
11. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/nagaland/terrorist_outfits/Nscn_im.htm
12. Christianity threat looms over Bhuvan Pahar Assam Times - June 23, 2009
13. ^ Sorenson, David (2010). Global security watch—Lebanon: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 24. ISBN 9780313365782. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
14. ^ Asser, Martin (September 14, 2002). "Sabra and Shatila 20 years on". BBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
15. Fisk, Robert. "Sabra and Shatila". Countercurrents. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
16. ^ BBC News (June 17, 2001). transcript "Panorama: "The Accused"". Retrieved January 17, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
17. Shahid, Leila (2010). "Testimonies - The Sabra and Shatila Massacres: Eye-Witness Reports" (PDF). palestine-studies.org. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
18. Gambill, Gary C. (October 2001). "Damascus Co-opts the Phalange". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 3 (10). Retrieved January 18, 2011.
19. Chomsky, Noam (1984). "Terror in South Lebanon". Journal of Palestine Studies: 175. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
20. United Nations (December 16, 1982). "General Assembly Resolution 37/123". Retrieved January 17, 2011.
21. Susan McKay (2001-11-17). "Faith, hate and murder". London: The Guardian.
22. Claire Mitchell (2006). Religion, Identity and Politics in Northern Ireland. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 51. ISBN 0754641554.
23. Paul Tinichigiu (2004-01). "Sami Fiul (interview)". The Central Europe Center for Research and Documentation. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. Radu Ioanid (2004). "The Sacralised Politics of the Romanian Iron Guard". Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions. 5 (3): 419–453(35). doi:10.1080/1469076042000312203.
25. Leon Volovici. Nationalist Ideology and Antisemitism. p. 98. ISBN 0080410243. citing N. Cainic, Ortodoxie şi etnocraţie, pp. 162–4
26. "Roots of Romanian Antisemitism: The League of National Christian Defense and Iron Guard Antisemitism" (PDF). Background and precursors to the Holocaust. Yad Vashem – The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority: p. 24. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help)
27. Payne, Stanley G. (1995). A History of Fascism 1914–1945. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press (pp. 277–289) ISBN 0-299-14874-2
28. ^ Alexander Verkhovsky. "Ultra-nationalists in Russia at the beginning of the year 2000". Institute of Governmental Affairs. University of California, Davis.
29. "UCSJ Action Alert". Union of councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union.
30. "Bases of the social conception of Russian National Unity (RNU)". Russian National Unity.
31. Xan Rice (2007-10-20). "Background: the Lord's Resistance Army". London: The Guardian.
32. ^ Ruddy Doom and Koen Vlassenroot (1999). "Kony's message: A new Koine? The Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda". African Affairs. 98 (390). Oxford Journals / Royal African Society: 5–36.
33. "Ugandan rebels raid Sudanese villages". BBC News. 2002-04-08. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
34. K. Ward (2001). "The Armies of the Lord: Christianity, Rebels and the State in Northern Uganda, 1986–1999". Journal of Religion in Africa. 31 (2).
35. Marc Lacey (2002-08-04). "Uganda's Terror Crackdown Multiplies the Suffering". New York Times.
36. "In pictures: Ugandan rebels come home". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-01-02. One of the differences on the LRA pips is a white bible inside a heart
37. David Blair (2005-08-03). "I killed so many I lost count, says boy, 11". The Telegraph.
38. Matthew Green (2008-02-08). "Africa's Most Wanted". Financial Times.
39. Christina Lamb (2008-03-02). "The Wizard of the Nile: The Hunt for Africa's Most Wanted by Matthew Green". London: The Times.
40. Marc Lacey (2005-04-18). "Atrocity Victims in Uganda Choose to Forgive". New York Times.
41. Frederick Clarkson (2002-12-02). "Kopp Lays Groundwork to Justify Murdering Abortion Provider Slepian". National Organization for Women.
42. Laurie Goodstein and Pierre Thomas (1995-01-17). "Clinic Killings Follow Years of Antiabortion Violence". Washington Post.
43. "'Army Of God' Anthrax Threats". CBS News. 2001-11-09.
44. Bruce Hoffman (1998). Inside Terrorism. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231114680.
45. "Apocalyptic Christians detained in Israel for alleged violence plot". CNN. 1999-01-03.
46. "Cult members deported from Israel". BBC News. 1999-01-09. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
47. "George Tiller's killer has no regrets, doesn't ask for forgiveness". Houston Belief. 1999-02-09. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
48. "US 'Christian militants' charged after FBI raids " BBC, March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
49. Patrick Cole, "A Look Back in TIME: Interview with Timothy McVeigh," March 30, 1996. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
50. Julian Borger,"McVeigh faces day of reckoning: Special report: Timothy McVeigh,", The Guardian Online, June 11, 2001. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
51. Mark S. Hamm (2001). In Bad Company: America's Terrorist Underground. Northeastern. ISBN 1555534929.
52. James Alfred Aho (1995). The Politics of Righteousness: Idaho Christian Patriotism. University of Washington Press. p. 86. ISBN 029597494X.
53. Alan Cooperman (2003-06-02). "Is Terrorism Tied To Christian Sect?". Washington Post.
54. Martin Schönteich and Henri Boshoff (2003). 'Volk' Faith and Fatherland: The Security Threat Posed by the White Right. Pretoria, South Africa, Institute for Security Studies. ISBN 1919913300.
55. Keeran, Daniel M. (2009). Christian Terrorism: lay down your life.... take up your cross. CreateSpace. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Bibliography

• Mason, Carol. 2002. Killing for Life: The Apocalyptic Narrative of Pro-Life Politics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
• Zeskind, Leonard. 1987. The ‘Christian Identity’ Movement, . Atlanta, Georgia: Center for Democratic Renewal/Division of Church and Society, National Council of Churches.

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from January 2011
• Christian terrorism
• Anti-abortion violence in the United States
• Religiously motivated violence in the United States
• Christianity-related controversies
• Christianity and violence