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Christian Identity: The Aryan American Bloodline Religion
The Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nations, and many ultra-right-wing racist "religious" organizations adhere to a doctrine called Christian Identity. Christian Identity is not a denomination, but a loosely organized movement embracing a range of beliefs. Its foundation is the theory that Anglo-Saxons (and Aryans, in most cases) are the true descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, and are the chosen people of God. Christian Identity is a bloodline religion: a belief system irrevocably tied to race. As such it lends itself to the violence, racism, and anti-Semitism of its more militant practitioners, and its growth and links to domestic terrorism warrant a better understanding of the movement. This survey of the Christian Identity Movement traces its development and beliefs, from its origins to its modern manifestations. It examines the doctrines and visions of the future of Identity communities and organizations in America. The initial chapter explores British Israelism, forerunner of most bloodline Identity groups; the oral traditions behind the movement are reviewed in the second. The third chapter outlines the American Israel, Israel Identity and bloodline Identity movements, including major figures and groups. The following chapters provide an introduction to Christian Identity itself, its general religious tenets, and post-Creation beliefs upon which much of the theory is based. Subsequent chapters describe militant bloodline and Identity groups, and individual militant Identity leaders. The final chapter explores the "Third American Revolution" predicted by these groups, a forthcoming war based on race and religion.
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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May 10, 2024
AN EXCELLENT, DETAILED, AND WELL-RESEARCHED SUMMARY
Chester L. Quarles (1944-2013) taught criminal justice at the University of Mississippi. He wrote in the Preface to this 2004 book, “Christian Identity is the militant religion of the Ku Klux Klan; the Aryan Nations; Posse Comitatus; the Covenant, Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA)… the racist Skinheads; and many other right-wing, racist, religious militias scattered across the United States… The inherent belief of Christian Identity groups is in a bloodline, or racial religion. Active politically, bloodline Identity adherents are scattered throughout the United States. Many scholars of religion and terrorism argue that the Identity movement constitutes one of the greatest domestic threats to our national security; thus, from a scholarly and a social perspective, it is a movement warranting serous investigation.” (Pg. 1)
He continues, “My primary purpose is to describe one of the most fascinating religious, social and political movements in America… The faith-based doctrines of true believers in bloodline Identity are on a collision course with the federal, state, and local governments of our land. These people are looking forward to the conflicts of the Antinomian Revolution described in the Book of Revelation… I have been able to interact with members of the Christian Identity movement, have heard them speak at public forums, and have been able to talk with them in various informal settings. I also shared the dinner table with many Klansman, former Klansmen, and bloodline Identity adherents… I found, on a person-to-person basis, these individuals to be open and hospitable, warm and friendly, and often receptive to private scrutiny… I explored beliefs and motivations … I asked why they would devote their lives to this cause, instead of spending their free time in recreational outlets… It was in this context that I learned about the ‘True Believer.’” (Pg. 4-5)
He observes, “While some of these historical and theological belief systems are kind and gentle, the seedliner approach of about one-third of all Christian Identity adherents is quite harsh. Seedliners generally believe that ‘race, not grace,’ determines whether a person inherits eternal life. No matter the religious interpretation, however, all of these groups believe in racial preference and the racial distinctions of the Israelites, whom they believe to be white, Aryan, and Anglo-Saxon.” (Pg. 8)
He explains, “The primary issue in all bloodline Identity organizations---whether they be British Israel, Anglo-Israel, American Israel, or Christian Identity---is the present location of the ten dispersed and lost tribes of Israel. Were they assimilated into the Assyrian population after the first diaspora? The Bible never specifically answers this question… There is no clear-cut scriptural evidence of the historical or contemporary location of the dispersed tribes… It appears that the Assyrian rulers hoped to assimilate the Israelites with the native populations in these areas to tame them and prevent future revolt. However, British Israelites and other bloodline Identity groups believe many Israelites escaped and migrated until they ultimately reached the lands of Eastern Europe and of the British Isles.” (Pg. 19-20)
He continues, “British Israelism is also characterized by the belief that the United Kingdom is the nation the Holy Scriptures promised to be raised as restored Israel… both British Israelism and Christian Identity followers believe the Scriptures refer to a new land, a new Israel and a new Jerusalem. British Israelites have a firm conviction that this location is in the British Isles; Christian Identity advocates believe the new Israel is in the United States. The lost tribes are all white, according to British Israelism, because have only existed since the divided monarchy, when Judah became a nation that was separate and distinct from Israel… an emphasis on race becomes preeminent in this belief system and [it] becomes philosophical rather than scripturally demonstrated… The racial identity of a believer becomes extremely important to a bloodline Identity adherent.” (Pg. 22-23) He adds, “Its followers believe that the covenants made with Israel will be fulfilled by Identity followers in England and North America (both Canada and the United States).” (Pg. 27)
He recounts, “British Israelites believe the prophet Jeremiah took Zedekiah’s daughters as his wards. Then, according to Irish folklore and British Israelism, Jeremiah fled to Egypt … After Jeremiah migrated to Egypt, the Scriptures are silent concerning his whereabouts… British Israelites believe Jeremiah, his secretary Baruch, and the two daughters of Zedekiah departed Egypt, then traveled first to Spain and later to Ireland around 580 B.C… The legend of Jeremiah to Ireland is often repeated.” (Pg. 38-39)
He notes, “Some of the British Israel viewpoints are induced by what if not reported in the Holy Bible. For example, in the life of Jesus Christ, there is a period of approximately 18 years for which there are no biblical accounts… Since Jesus and John the Baptist were first cousins, detractors say John would know him had he grown up in Palestine… [this] implied an extended separation between the two men… The folk traditions of Glastonbury claim that Jesus spent these years in their islands.” (Pg. 43-44) Later, he adds, “British Israel asserts that Joseph of Arimathea is buried in the St. John the Baptist Church in Glastonbury, though his bones… are missing from the stone sarcophagus.” (Pg. 48)
He summarizes, “Identity adherents believe that the Lost Tribes of Israel traveled to Europe, then Ireland, Scotland, England, and finally on to America. The lost tribes are all white, because—according to Identity---Jews have only existed since Judah was a country… Identity theology purports … that Jesus Christ was a white Aryan, as well… British Israelism, American Israelism, and other bloodline Identity adherents began their search for the New Jerusalem prophesied in the ancient old and new covenant manuscripts. British Israel accepts… that Great Britain is the Promised Land. However… American Israel followers believe that the United States of America is the recipient of the ‘New Covenant,’ and is the New Promised Land.” (Pg. 51)
He recounts, “seedliner attitudes toward race-mixing, which many of these groups refer to as mongrelization. Identity … normally call themselves separatists. These separatists usually use the Bible to justify their position… bloodline Identity interprets the word ‘adultery’ as a sexual relationship with a person of another race… I bring up these issues to demonstrate to the reader how many standard Bible definitions are useless in this bloodline Identity study.” (Pg. 68-69)
He says of the ‘two seeds’ doctrine, “To prove their point of view, seedline adherents jump around all over the Bible. Referring to Revelation 2:12 [‘those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a Synagogue of Satan’] … Black people and those of other races are explained away as being members of a pre-white or pre-Adamite race… the Bible is only a history of the white race, and there was a pre-existent race referred to in the Bible… in Genesis 6 [the ‘Nephilim’ or ‘Giants’]…” (Pg. 80-81)
He observes, “Except in the case of [Wesley] Swift’s congregation, most early Identity congregations can be characterized as small, isolated, and remote. A former Klansman, Swift used daily radio broadcasts to market his theological viewpoint through sermons and speeches. While he promoted Identity to a larger number of interested observers and believers, he was only the first to do so. Many other preachers and pastors also have contributed. Often, however, these ministers do not agree with each other on key doctrinal issues.” (Pg. 93)
He points out, “Bloodline Identity followers believe there are many mysteries, secrets, and codes in the Bible…. Identity claims that these mysteries are only to be revealed to God’s people towards the end of time. These codes… state that the former tribes of Israel are now white, Anglo-Saxon men and women in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South America, Rhodesia, and Great Britain. The Caucasians of these nations are the inheritors of the Covenant and are in the direct lineage line of the dispersed tribes of Israel.” (Pg. 126)
He continues, “Bloodline Identity groups also emphasize the Old Testament more so than does the average Christian. Identity beliefs depend on Old Testament rather than New Testament themes. Some Identity adherents also accept the warlike concepts of the ancient Israelites, rather than the loving, gentle Savior who wants us to turn from our sins. There is nothing tender about seedline Identity.” (Pg. 128)
He concludes, “The radical right wing and bloodline Identity will unfailingly support our government and our military when others prey on Americans. In fact, they will help the government, if they can. However, when the war against international terrorists is no longer an issue, domestic right-wing patriots, Christian militias, and bloodline Identity will still exist… The anger of bloodline Identity is focused on many of our domestic policies, our tax base, and the over-control of secular humanists manipulative bureaucrats, and governmental criminals. All is not well. Groups like this may go underground for a season, but they don’t go away.” (Pg. 182)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone seriously studying these movements.
Chester L. Quarles (1944-2013) taught criminal justice at the University of Mississippi. He wrote in the Preface to this 2004 book, “Christian Identity is the militant religion of the Ku Klux Klan; the Aryan Nations; Posse Comitatus; the Covenant, Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA)… the racist Skinheads; and many other right-wing, racist, religious militias scattered across the United States… The inherent belief of Christian Identity groups is in a bloodline, or racial religion. Active politically, bloodline Identity adherents are scattered throughout the United States. Many scholars of religion and terrorism argue that the Identity movement constitutes one of the greatest domestic threats to our national security; thus, from a scholarly and a social perspective, it is a movement warranting serous investigation.” (Pg. 1)
He continues, “My primary purpose is to describe one of the most fascinating religious, social and political movements in America… The faith-based doctrines of true believers in bloodline Identity are on a collision course with the federal, state, and local governments of our land. These people are looking forward to the conflicts of the Antinomian Revolution described in the Book of Revelation… I have been able to interact with members of the Christian Identity movement, have heard them speak at public forums, and have been able to talk with them in various informal settings. I also shared the dinner table with many Klansman, former Klansmen, and bloodline Identity adherents… I found, on a person-to-person basis, these individuals to be open and hospitable, warm and friendly, and often receptive to private scrutiny… I explored beliefs and motivations … I asked why they would devote their lives to this cause, instead of spending their free time in recreational outlets… It was in this context that I learned about the ‘True Believer.’” (Pg. 4-5)
He observes, “While some of these historical and theological belief systems are kind and gentle, the seedliner approach of about one-third of all Christian Identity adherents is quite harsh. Seedliners generally believe that ‘race, not grace,’ determines whether a person inherits eternal life. No matter the religious interpretation, however, all of these groups believe in racial preference and the racial distinctions of the Israelites, whom they believe to be white, Aryan, and Anglo-Saxon.” (Pg. 8)
He explains, “The primary issue in all bloodline Identity organizations---whether they be British Israel, Anglo-Israel, American Israel, or Christian Identity---is the present location of the ten dispersed and lost tribes of Israel. Were they assimilated into the Assyrian population after the first diaspora? The Bible never specifically answers this question… There is no clear-cut scriptural evidence of the historical or contemporary location of the dispersed tribes… It appears that the Assyrian rulers hoped to assimilate the Israelites with the native populations in these areas to tame them and prevent future revolt. However, British Israelites and other bloodline Identity groups believe many Israelites escaped and migrated until they ultimately reached the lands of Eastern Europe and of the British Isles.” (Pg. 19-20)
He continues, “British Israelism is also characterized by the belief that the United Kingdom is the nation the Holy Scriptures promised to be raised as restored Israel… both British Israelism and Christian Identity followers believe the Scriptures refer to a new land, a new Israel and a new Jerusalem. British Israelites have a firm conviction that this location is in the British Isles; Christian Identity advocates believe the new Israel is in the United States. The lost tribes are all white, according to British Israelism, because have only existed since the divided monarchy, when Judah became a nation that was separate and distinct from Israel… an emphasis on race becomes preeminent in this belief system and [it] becomes philosophical rather than scripturally demonstrated… The racial identity of a believer becomes extremely important to a bloodline Identity adherent.” (Pg. 22-23) He adds, “Its followers believe that the covenants made with Israel will be fulfilled by Identity followers in England and North America (both Canada and the United States).” (Pg. 27)
He recounts, “British Israelites believe the prophet Jeremiah took Zedekiah’s daughters as his wards. Then, according to Irish folklore and British Israelism, Jeremiah fled to Egypt … After Jeremiah migrated to Egypt, the Scriptures are silent concerning his whereabouts… British Israelites believe Jeremiah, his secretary Baruch, and the two daughters of Zedekiah departed Egypt, then traveled first to Spain and later to Ireland around 580 B.C… The legend of Jeremiah to Ireland is often repeated.” (Pg. 38-39)
He notes, “Some of the British Israel viewpoints are induced by what if not reported in the Holy Bible. For example, in the life of Jesus Christ, there is a period of approximately 18 years for which there are no biblical accounts… Since Jesus and John the Baptist were first cousins, detractors say John would know him had he grown up in Palestine… [this] implied an extended separation between the two men… The folk traditions of Glastonbury claim that Jesus spent these years in their islands.” (Pg. 43-44) Later, he adds, “British Israel asserts that Joseph of Arimathea is buried in the St. John the Baptist Church in Glastonbury, though his bones… are missing from the stone sarcophagus.” (Pg. 48)
He summarizes, “Identity adherents believe that the Lost Tribes of Israel traveled to Europe, then Ireland, Scotland, England, and finally on to America. The lost tribes are all white, because—according to Identity---Jews have only existed since Judah was a country… Identity theology purports … that Jesus Christ was a white Aryan, as well… British Israelism, American Israelism, and other bloodline Identity adherents began their search for the New Jerusalem prophesied in the ancient old and new covenant manuscripts. British Israel accepts… that Great Britain is the Promised Land. However… American Israel followers believe that the United States of America is the recipient of the ‘New Covenant,’ and is the New Promised Land.” (Pg. 51)
He recounts, “seedliner attitudes toward race-mixing, which many of these groups refer to as mongrelization. Identity … normally call themselves separatists. These separatists usually use the Bible to justify their position… bloodline Identity interprets the word ‘adultery’ as a sexual relationship with a person of another race… I bring up these issues to demonstrate to the reader how many standard Bible definitions are useless in this bloodline Identity study.” (Pg. 68-69)
He says of the ‘two seeds’ doctrine, “To prove their point of view, seedline adherents jump around all over the Bible. Referring to Revelation 2:12 [‘those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a Synagogue of Satan’] … Black people and those of other races are explained away as being members of a pre-white or pre-Adamite race… the Bible is only a history of the white race, and there was a pre-existent race referred to in the Bible… in Genesis 6 [the ‘Nephilim’ or ‘Giants’]…” (Pg. 80-81)
He observes, “Except in the case of [Wesley] Swift’s congregation, most early Identity congregations can be characterized as small, isolated, and remote. A former Klansman, Swift used daily radio broadcasts to market his theological viewpoint through sermons and speeches. While he promoted Identity to a larger number of interested observers and believers, he was only the first to do so. Many other preachers and pastors also have contributed. Often, however, these ministers do not agree with each other on key doctrinal issues.” (Pg. 93)
He points out, “Bloodline Identity followers believe there are many mysteries, secrets, and codes in the Bible…. Identity claims that these mysteries are only to be revealed to God’s people towards the end of time. These codes… state that the former tribes of Israel are now white, Anglo-Saxon men and women in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South America, Rhodesia, and Great Britain. The Caucasians of these nations are the inheritors of the Covenant and are in the direct lineage line of the dispersed tribes of Israel.” (Pg. 126)
He continues, “Bloodline Identity groups also emphasize the Old Testament more so than does the average Christian. Identity beliefs depend on Old Testament rather than New Testament themes. Some Identity adherents also accept the warlike concepts of the ancient Israelites, rather than the loving, gentle Savior who wants us to turn from our sins. There is nothing tender about seedline Identity.” (Pg. 128)
He concludes, “The radical right wing and bloodline Identity will unfailingly support our government and our military when others prey on Americans. In fact, they will help the government, if they can. However, when the war against international terrorists is no longer an issue, domestic right-wing patriots, Christian militias, and bloodline Identity will still exist… The anger of bloodline Identity is focused on many of our domestic policies, our tax base, and the over-control of secular humanists manipulative bureaucrats, and governmental criminals. All is not well. Groups like this may go underground for a season, but they don’t go away.” (Pg. 182)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone seriously studying these movements.
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