Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement

by Michael Barkun

According to Michael Barkun, many white supremacist groups of the radical right, such as the Aryan Nations, the Order, the Posse Comitatus, and elements of the Ku Klux Klan, are deeply committed to the distinctive but little-recognized religious position known as Christian Identity. In Religion and the Racist Right, Barkun provides the first sustained exploration of the ideological and organizational development of the Christian Identity movement.
Describing its origins in a small but vigorous movement in Victorian England called British-Israelism, Barkun traces the fascinating history of Christian Identity as it traveled from England to America and developed into a virulently anti-Semitic theology based on a vision of the world on the verge of an apocalyptic struggle between good and evil. According to the tenets of Christian Identity, this struggle will take the form of a race war in which Aryans, the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, will battle against Jews, the descendants of the Devil.
Barkun argues that since the 1970s, Identity doctrine has become the single most important religious position on the racist right, despite its small size and lack of public prominence. He demonstrates that it is currently a force behind much right-wing political activity and was conspicuous within the circles of David Duke supporters.
Based on a systematic reading of Identity literature, much of it rare and obscure, and the correspondence of Identity figures, Religion and the Racist Right enables us to understand Christian Identity's history and the role it plays in the ideology of the most violence-prone segments of the extreme right.

Genres: Religion, Politics, History, Nonfiction, American History, Christianity, American

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ian Divertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Identity? This informs so much of the New Right it should be required reading for those interested in our current political situation. Nixon and Reagan would have been fully aware of this group as they had tremendous influence on California politics during the 30's, 40's, and 50's. That some scions of the New England Establishment would have also been informed by these beliefs is not out of the question as it got to the Pacific Northwest by entering the US in New England in the 1870's and 1880's and then traveled across the northern tier of the US and Canada and once hitting Vancouver BC took a left and ended up in LA by the early 30's. Uncle Henry Ford probably knew some of these people too. The Turner Diaries, the Oklahoma City bombing, and even the ANP (American Nazi Party), along with the KKK are also associated with Christian Identity. The KKK are only sort of junior associates though, that should scare you, ---I hope. Aren't the Koch's from up there where these guys originated from? Hmmm?

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, dense, and repetitive, I’m torn about this book. On the one hand, Dr. Barkun carefully charted the history and ideology of the Christian Identity Movement to show how that group justifies its racist ideology. On the other hand, the book repeatedly covers the same topics, adding length without any new information, while lacking necessary background at the beginning and rushing through the third section on Christian Identity’s place within the modern white separatist movement. There’s a lot of good information here, and it definitely added a new dimension to my understanding of racist ideology, but I’m not convinced reading the whole book was worth the time and effort. The preface and conclusion, through, are an exceptional overview and summary of the book’s major points, and I think reading those two sections would be a sufficient alternative for most people interested in this subject. Quasi-recommended.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry, academic history of the transformation of eccentric 19th Century British-Israelism into the virulently racist and anti-Semitic "Christian Identity" doctrine practiced by many neo-Nazis today. Barkun's comparative analysis of CI with other millenialist Christian theologies is where the book is most interesting. Other than that, it was a bit of a slog. It is extremely repetitive and actually seems like Barkun may have compiled the chapters from different journal papers. I do have to give it three stars though for the wealth of data from the mouths of racists themselves that Barkun has compiled concerning their religious beliefs, if only as recognition of the patience it must have taken to go through what amounts to a mountain of garbage. The wealth of source material written by insane, religious racists that he had to go through to compile this makes me feel very bad for him. I hope this book got him tenure, if he didn't have it already.

[Jessica Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent a long time reading this book. Essentially, it's an academic examination of the history of the Christian Identity Movement. It's amazing how such a fascinating subject can be turned into something so dry! However, it was for this very reason that I continued reading the book. I value the research that went into this book. The biggest fault with the book was that it was repetitive. Apart from that, it's a worthwhile read if you're determined and you have stamina.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched and written- most people (myself included) will be more interested in the last third of the book which deals with the US incarnation of Christian Identity and its relation to groups like the CSA and the Order rather than its British Israelite origins.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has insightful research on ideological leaders of the identity movement and it rigorously catalogues their beliefs and history. It falls flat on explaining the contexts and why Christian identity has proved such a lasting appeal for extremists, particularly in the US and especially on the west coast. Southern California and later the PNW are noted fertile ground for millenarians and Pentecostals and cults without interrogating why. This is a useful read for students of the religious right but of limited value for a general reader trying to understand questions of why, how, and so what.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive and focused treatment of the origins of the Christian Identity movement, and it's quite readable. I think this book could have benefited from maintaining a stronger conversation with American historical context, especially our history of settler colonialism (and what has come with that: genocide, slavery, heteropatriarchal hegemony, etc). But! The book does what it sets out to do, and I'm grateful for it as a reference book.

[Owen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If it were possible to give it zero stars, I would. It is an apologetic work for the Ashkenazi Zionists, and if you disagree with anything they say (Zionists) or do (Zionists), you are a racist and anti-Semitic. All races or religions can be proud of who they are unless you are White, especially if you are White and Christian (apparently, the "Ahkenazis" are not White Eastern Europeans; they are a special kind of Semitic group)—the typical Zionist tune.

[Patrick Bair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the survey of racism in the modern day right wing I'd hoped, but more an encyclopedic history of the birth and philosophy of a fairly small segment of that group, the Christian Identity movement. Only for the truly interested.

[Jean Reist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb scolarship

This book offers a roll through history, examining ideologies, and events, that shape movements of distinct radical, religious
thought and actions.

It is most fascinating but terrifying to examine the dehumanizing intent of such extremes.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for Master's program

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

How is it possible to make such an inherently interesting topic (the religious foundations of hate groups) and make it SO BLOODLESS? I read a LOT of boring/academic books, but I honestly couldn't get through this one.