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Christian terrorism is terrorism carried out in the name of furthering Christian goals or teachings. Another widely used term is Christian extremism. Examples include James Charles Kopp's shooting of abortion provider Dr. Barnett Slepian. Most mainstream Christians consider these acts to be egregious violations of the religion's ethics, and regularly condemn all acts of terrorism including those perpetrated by self-professed Christian terrorists. The violent Christian Identity movement, for instance, is regarded as a highly un-Christian organization by most non-members (Barkun 1994).

History

Often the activities of Christian terrorists correspond to pre-existing ethnic or social conflicts—for example, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, which has root causes traceable as far back as the Norman invasion of Ireland. Still others have more in common with Nazi ideology than with religious ideology, and work primarily with racist ideals, such as white supremacy (see, for example, the Christian Identity movement). As clarification, Evangelical Christians, however, are often incorrectly associated with this group as "Far Right Christians."

Examples of terrorist attacks

• 1940s - Terrorist organization Christian Identity is formed on the West Coast of the United States. Followers believe Armageddon will take place as a race war between Aryans, the "pure" people, against Jews, Muslims, and non-whites.
• 1969-2001 - over 3000 people are killed in Ireland and the United Kingdom as a result of bombings and other violent acts between the predominently Roman Catholic Irish nationalists on one side, and the predominantly Protestant Unionists and secular British Crown forces on the other. More than 1800 of those killed in "The Troubles" are civilians, many the victims of sectarian attacks.
• 1983 - Posse Comitatus militia member Gordon Kahl kills two Federal marshals in North Dakota. Three others are wounded.
• July 27, 1996 - Christian Identity terrorist Eric Robert Rudolph bombs Centennial Olympic Park. Kills 1, wounds 111.
• January 16, 1997 - Christian Identity terrorist Eric Robert Rudolph bombs a gay nightclub.
• October 2, 2004 - Christian terrorist group kills 44 Hindus, wounds 118 in Northeast India.

Christian terrorism in the United States

In the United States, arson, firebombing and vandalism of abortion clinics, along with harassment of clinic employees and patrons have been cited as examples of terror tactics employed by anti-abortion extremists. Occasionally the perpetrators have been self-proclaimed Christians.

Eric Rudolph, for example, engaged in terrorist activities closely associated with Christian terrorism, such as the targeting of abortion clinics and the bombing of a gay nightclub; also, Rudolph had been suspected to be associated with the Christian Identity organization. While Rudolph has himself denied such associations, writing that he "prefers Nietzsche to the Bible", he has clearly said "I was born a Catholic, and with forgiveness I hope to die one."

Many abortion opponents attempt to blame these acts of violence on individuals who have little regard for human life and groups which they view as separate from the pro-life movement or any "true" Christian denomination.

Christian groups with terrorist cells

• Christian Identity movement
• Freedomites (also Svobodniki or Sons of Freedom, Canada, 1902-present)
• Army of God right wing terrorist group

Christian nationalist groups with terrorist cells

• Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) (Nagaland), including:
  • The National Liberation Front of Tripura
• God's Army (a rebel faction of the Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar)

References

1. Morrison, Blake (2005). "Special report: Eric Rudolph writes home". Nation. USA Today. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
2. Wyatt, Kristen (2005). "Eric Rudolph, proud killer". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
3. Robinson, B.A. (2004). "Violence At U.S. Abortion Clinics". Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved 2006-06-23.

• Barkun, Michael. 1994. Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement, revised. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press.
• Juergensmeyer, Mark. 2000. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Berkeley: University of California.
• Mason, Carol. 2002. Killing for Life: The Apocalyptic Narrative of Pro-Life Politics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

See also

• Antisemitism
• Religious terrorism
• Christian patriot
• Islamic terrorism
• Zionist political violence
• Neoconservatism

• Christianity-related controversies
• Terrorism
• Religiously motivated violence in the United States