Extremist Christians Aim to Create Armed Militias Against "Godless" Federal Government

[BrklynLiberal]

Sound familiar?????? It would seem that the Extremist Fundies are not limited to only Islam, or the Middle East...

This is REALLY SCARY!!!!

Christian Reconstructionists believe civil government should be reformed according to the dictates of biblical law. Some advocate for followers to take up arms.

Herb Titus, a lawyer for the far-right Gun Owners of America, is jubilant over last week’s Supreme Court decision in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago, finding that state and local regulation of gun ownership must comport with the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

The decision has also pleased the National Rifle Association, which sees it as ammunition for challenging gun control laws across the country. But for Titus, who thinks the NRA “compromises” on gun rights, the Second Amendment isn’t solely about “firepower,” he says. “You have to see it in its spiritual and providential perspective.”

That perspective is about far more than hunting and self-defense. For Titus, the Court’s 2008 recognition of an individual right to bear arms, and its application of that principle to the states in the McDonald case, are crucial steps toward arming Americans against their own government. Titus cites the “totalitarian threat” posed by “Obamacare” and “what Sarah Palin said about death panels.” People need to be armed, he said, “because ultimately it may come to the point where it’s a life and death situation.”

<snip>

If this sounds like standard-issue Tea Party fodder, it’s because the Tea Party movement emerges out of the confluence of different strands of the far right, including Christian Reconstructionism. Titus has long been a player at the intersection of Christian Reconstructionism, the standard religious right, and other far-right groups in which the Tea Party finds its roots. He was a speaker at the Reconstructionist American Vision’s annual “Worldview Conference” in 2009, has been a member of the Council for National Policy, and is a longtime homeschooling advocate from a Reconstructionist perspective. In 1996 he was the running mate of conservative icon (and Christian Reconstructionist) Howard Phillips for the far-right US Taxpayers Party (now called the Constitution Party) whose platform included the restoration of “American jurisprudence to its biblical premises” and, notably, opposition to every gun law in the United States.

<snip>

Likewise, Titus, in his interview with RD, referred to this notion of legitimate civil uprising or resistance resting on the support of “lesser magistrates.” This concept derives from Calvin but is a concept central to Reconstructionism—that Christians are obligated to obey civil authority because it is delegated by God; they can only resist one civil authority when in submission to another one. Put in secular terms, this dovetails with their longstanding support for “states’ rights” and their desire to see organized militias that can be called up by state governors (who are “lesser magistrates”) for the defense of a state against what they claim is the tyrannical overreach of the federal government.

With the receptivity of the Tea Party Movement to arguments against supposed excessive federal power, Christian Reconstructionist-inspired militias could find new converts. Pratt said that when he speaks about his militia idea at Tea Party rallies, “it’s very well-received.” It may be “a new idea in the details,” he added, “but it certainly resonates instantly with them.”

more at...
http://www.alternet.org/story/147453/extremist_christians_aim_to_create_armed_militias_against_%22godless%22_federal_government

[louis-t]

1. repugs sure love killing people.

[niyad]

2. fundies are pretty much the same all over-- I have been saying this for years--

take a look at the dominionists, the army of god, etc., etc. read the tracts of the religious reich. we have far more to worry about from our home-grown fundies than from others.

[Dogtown]

9. Amen, niyad!

:hi:

[RadiationTherapy]

3. It is the natural progression of all religions who find unbelievers to be infidels.

How can a group who believes they have the path to 'heaven' be governed by hell-bound, amoral heretics? It cannot be.

[fascisthunter]

4. round em up and shut them down... we don't need christian jihadists

I said it before and I will say it again, religious extremists everywhere share the same mindset.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. I have also been saying that for years.....

Extremist fundamentalism is the same dangerous and horrific philosophy,n o matter where it originates...Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any other religion/faith/belief system/philosophy you can name.


Anyone who believes that THEIR way is the only right way...has to be WRONG!!!

[Kalyke]

27. That includes overly zealous atheists, too, btw. eom

[immoderate]

35. Tell that to those atheist militia groups.

Those atheist night riders are such a nuisance.

--imm

[Kalyke]

45. Give 'em time.

They are already divisive and rude.

That's the way all extremists work: my way or the highway.

[immoderate]

46. Got any examples? Lynchings or torture will qualify.

How about shooting doctors, or bombings? Divisive? :rofl: And look at me -- I'm being rude!

--imm

[Initech]

5. It can happen here. Repeat: it can happen here.

I'm of course talking about a religious extremist takeover of our government. It's not something to take sitting down.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Yes!

"When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in an American flag and carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis

[havocmom]

23. yep. They pretty much have the Air Force, and seem to be strong in Army

Go NAVY!

[Initech]

34. I have a couple of really good friends who are ex-army.

They have talked serious shit about the religious element in it. One of my friends hates the tea party, especially Palin.

[havocmom]

37. Remember those 'praryer cards', early after the invasion of peaceful Iraq?

bush malAdministration had the troops supplied with cards they could fill out and return, if they wanted to promise to pray for the pResident. Always wondered just how that information (names of those who would commit to praying for a chicken hawk frat brat) got used. I do have some theories.

[Initech]

38. Boy did that one piss me off.

[KansDem]

6. "What would Jesus pack?"

I suspect he'd go with a classic, like the S&W .357 Model 28 "Highway Patrolman"



Not too big, not too small, not too ostentatious, not too bland: just right for the "Prince of Peace" and his followers.

[caboose]

17. I've had one exactly like that for 43 years. Well almost exactly, mine has less wear on

the blueing. (and I still have the original box too like the one in the picture!)

[EstimatedProphet]

21. I've got a Taurus clone of that - Model 66

Slightly longer barrel. I like how it shoots.

[KansDem]

24. I bought one in the late 1970s...still have it.

6.5 inch barrel...with the blue box, too!

Used to belong to the police range and took it out there on weekends for practice.

Not so much anymore...

on edit: I believe the Model 28 isn't made anymore.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, when the Rupture comes, I want their guns.

That is all.

[fascisthunter]

14. they'd be in more responsible hands

[Javaman]

18. Why do they even need guns if they are going to be raptured?

That still baffles me.

[Javaman]

19. Why do they even need guns if they are going to be raptured?

That still baffles me.

[MineralMan]

22. I'm not exactly sure, either.

When the rupture comes, their guns will be pretty useless, I'd think. They could have sent that money to Pat Robberson instead. Maybe they won't get ruptured after all. Boy, will they be pissed when they find out that not sending their gun money to Robberson kept them from being ruptured.

[Javaman]

26. Huh, Maybe they are a backup in case they don't get raptured...

They will be really angry thus prompting them to go on a shooting rampage. Being stuck down here with all us sinners and all. LOL

Strange way to hedge a bet.

[MineralMan]

31. That sounds pretty scary, actually. But it makes sense.

What?!? I didn't get ruptured? My idiot neighbor got ruptured, and he didn't even support our cause. You die! You all die!

A perfectly credible scenario, I think.

[Touchdown]

8. They must have whiplash to change their minds so fast.

Under George Bush, it was "America! Love it or leave it! God Bless the troops and Our Commander in Chief!"

Now, it's "The Government, and that Kenyan Socialist who stole freedom!" :eyes:

[Bitwit1234]

10. I don't think REALLY RELIGIOUS people in this country

are going to go along with that. Another hate filled violent action """SHOT""" DOWN.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. I guess one has to be very precise in one's definition of "religious"

Some of the most ostensibly religious "observant" people I know, are the most hateful, intolerant, selfish people I have ever met.

Oh..and aside from the "tenets" of their own beliefs, they are totally ignorant.

[patrice]

15. Sarah Palin was put in office in AK by SECESSIONISTS.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson

[Erose999]

16. I wish the X-tian militants well in their efforts to take up arms against the federal gov't

They should be aware though, that it didn't work out too well for the last group that tried...

[EstimatedProphet]

20. What part of "Render unto Caesar" do these people not get?

If they want to follow Christ, then they need to actually follow Christ, not try to force everyone else to follow Christ on their behalf.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. Well said

[old mark]

28. Time for me to get some more rifle practice to get ready for the "revolution". nt

[Ganja Ninja]

30. I almost wish they would start shooting so we wouldn't have to listen

to their whining.

[old mark]

36. Hard to decide which would be worse....nt

[ladywnch]

29. the flying spaghetti monster wants YOU! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

32. The one and only true religion

[DCBob]

33. budding terrorists..

lets hope someone is watching these lunatics very closely.

[Shallah Kali]

39. Read more on these and other extremist Christians at TheocracyWatch.org

http://www.TheocracyWatch.org

I also reccomend http://Talk2Action.org & http://RightWingWatch.org

The views many of these people espouse differing little from extremists in Islam. The only difference is that our local fundamentalists are not willing to physically fight to force their theocracy upon the rest of America so far thankfully. Instead most are focused on politically taking over everything from school boards to getting one of their own nominated as a vice-presidential candidate or with the help of their local Rep raising money for christian punk rockers to evanglize public schools http://minnesotaindependent.com/49742/with-bachmanns-help-you-can-run-raises-funds-to-bring-christ-into-public-schools

[Heywood J]

40. I have one word to say to this:

Slavery.

It's found and advocated in the Bible, and I have no reason to believe they wouldn't institute it if this should ever come to pass. They'd salivate at the chance to have a private, disposable labor force that could be killed or abused at their whim. Hell, a number of them feel they were hard done by when the slaves owned by their ancestors were freed. Who wants to bet they wouldn't have enjoyed using nuclear weapons to enslave other nations or force them into conversion?

This is disgusting, and it disgusts me even more that one of their number came within a small margin of being (Vice)President.

[Shallah Kali]

41. article: Glenn Beck's History 'Expert' Endorses Biblical Slavery

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/7/12/94224/9568/Front_Page/Glenn_Beck_s_History_Expert_Endorses_Biblical_Slavery

or google cache if the site is down:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talk2action.org%2Fstory%2F2010%2F7%2F12%2F94224%2F9568%2FFront_Page%2FGlenn_Beck_s_History_Expert_Endorses_Biblical_Slavery

Judging by an article by Stephen McDowell, The Bible, Slavery, and America's Founders http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=120 , that's been on Barton's Wallbuilders web site since 2003, David Barton appears to be in favor of the institution of legalized Biblical slavery. As McDowell writes in his article,

God's laws concerning slavery provided parameters for treatment of slaves, which were for the benefit of all involved. God desires all men and nations to be liberated. This begins internally and will be manifested externally to the extent internal change occurs. The Biblical slave laws reflect God's redemptive desire, for men and nations.

McDowell then lists various types of slavery which can be legal according to scripture from the Old Testament books of Leviticus, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. According to McDowell, "pagans could be permanent slaves" and to bolster this position McDowell quotes theologian R.J. Rushdoony:

"since unbelievers are by nature slaves, they could be held as life-long slaves" 1 without piercing the ear to indicate their voluntary servitude (Lev. 25:44-46). This passage in Leviticus says that pagans could be permanent slaves and could be bequeathed to the children of the Hebrews."

Rushdoony, the founder of Christian Reconstructionism, was a virulent racist who wrote that Africans were lucky to become slaves in America, claimed the Holocaust death toll was wildly inflated, and maintained that the Sun orbits the Earth.

[Shallah Kali]

44. article: More From The Biblical Stoning & Legalized Slavery Movement

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/1/25/01345/0733

As Frederick Clarkson, in his landmark 1994 article on Christian Reconstructionism (otherwise known as Theonomy) at The Public Eye entitled Theocratic Dominionism Gains Influence, gives provides a list of of capital crimes under Christian Reconstructionism, or Theonomy, and some helpful context:

Epitomizing the Reconstructionist idea of Biblical "warfare" is the centrality of capital punishment under Biblical Law. Doctrinal leaders (notably Rushdoony, North, and Bahnsen) call for the death penalty for a wide range of crimes in addition to such contemporary capital crimes as rape, kidnapping, and murder. Death is also the punishment for apostasy (abandonment of the faith), heresy, blasphemy, witchcraft, astrology, adultery, "sodomy or homosexuality," incest, striking a parent, incorrigible juvenile delinquency, and, in the case of women, "unchastity before marriage."

According to Gary North, women who have abortions should be publicly executed, "along with those who advised them to abort their children." Rushdoony concludes: "God's government prevails, and His alternatives are clear-cut: either men and nations obey His laws, or God invokes the death penalty against them." Reconstructionists insist that "the death penalty is the maximum, not necessarily the mandatory penalty." However, such judgments may depend less on Biblical Principles than on which faction gains power in the theocratic republic. The potential for bloodthirsty episodes on the order of the Salem witchcraft trials or the Spanish Inquisition is inadvertently revealed by Reconstructionist theologian Rev. Ray Sutton, who claims that the Reconstructed Biblical theocracies would be "happy" places, to which people would flock because "capital punishment is one of the best evangelistic tools of a society."

The Biblically approved methods of execution include burning (at the stake for example), stoning, hanging, and "the sword." Gary North, the self-described economist of Reconstructionism, prefers stoning because, among other things, stones are cheap, plentiful, and convenient. Punishments for non-capital crimes generally involve whipping, restitution in the form of indentured servitude, or slavery. Prisons would likely be only temporary holding tanks, prior to imposition of the actual sentence.

[Heywood J]

47. That's just fucking scary.

I knew that some/many of them believed that crap, but to see it in writing is quite another thing. It's even worse when they justify that "since unbelievers are by nature slaves" claptrap.

At what point do we start officially classifying this stuff as an indicator of mental illness? Believing that a person should be allowed to enslave other human beings simply because they can or because their God told them (without actually having conversed with said God), then working to put these beliefs in action, doesn't bode well for sanity on the part of the person concerned.

[Kievan Rus]

42. The only thing that seperates U.S. fundies from Afghan/Iraqi fundies....

is eight thousand miles and the language they speak.

I'm not all that afraid of al-Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. I am most certainly afraid of the paranoid violent right...especially considering that my hometown of Pittsburgh has seen two fatal acts of violence (a paranoid, racist gun nut killing three Pittsburgh Police officers, and right-wing misogynist shooting up a gym full of women) committed by the violent right in the recent past.

[and-justice-for-all]

43. Sounds like a terrorist network to me...nt