Violent demonstrations, car attacks, assaults, killings, shootings – the list of racially motivated hate crimes all over the United States is long and it shows the extent to which white supremacy dominates society. In order to counteract these kinds of acts and racism in general, it is necessary to gain an in-depth understanding of white supremacy. The research area is multi-faceted and ranges from focusing on economic factors and consequences like rioting and looting to aspects of religion. The latter will be of special interest in the following paper. As Johnson (2018) points out, a common research topic in relation to religion is its role in the radicalisation of Muslims. Meanwhile, the same function concerning far-rights and Christianity is less often addressed even though “[w]hite supremacists […] use religious concepts and scripture to justify threats, criminal activity and violence” (Johnson, 2018). Further, research often neglects the connection between religion and racism. Thus, this paper aims to analyse how and why far-rights incorporate Christianity into their ideology by examining an article published on a far-right website and a documentary about far-rights at the Charlottesville demonstrations in 2017.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Framework
- 2.1. Essential Terms: Far-Right and White Supremacy
- 2.2. History of Christianity and Racism
- 2.3. Defining the Role of Religion in Far-Right Extremism
- 3. Methodology
- 4. Analysis
- 4.1. Article about Christianity in the Far-Right Movement
- 4.2. Documentary about the Charlottesville Rally
- 5. Conclusion
- 6. Bibliography
Objective & Thematic Focus
This paper fundamentally aims to analyze how and why far-right movements in the United States incorporate aspects of Christianity into their ideology. It investigates the less-explored connection between far-right groups and Christianity as a factor in radicalization and justification for their actions, particularly in contrast to more frequently studied religious radicalization.
- The Far-Right Movement in the United States
- The Role of Religion (Christianity) in Far-Right Ideology
- White Supremacy and its Historical Ties to Christianity
- Methodologies for Analyzing Far-Right Discourse and Actions
- The Use of Christian Concepts for Community Building and Legitimization
- Case Studies: A Far-Right Article and the Charlottesville Rally
Excerpt from the Book
2.3. Defining the Role of Religion in Far-Right Extremism
The previous chapter showed how Christianity and white supremacy are intertwined. Even though this includes racism it certainly does not imply a far-right position of Christianity. As previously stated, white supremacy does not have to be connected to right extremists. In order to understand the role of religion in far-right extremism, it is necessary to point out that far-rights are referring to a conservative Christian faith which Althoff (2018: 341) defines “as an attitude that, analogous to political conservativism, seeks a return to the status quo ante, but in a religious meaning.” In this context the status quo ante is connected to the founding of the United States as a white and Christian nation. Hence, “[w]hite nationalists [...] draw metahistorical and historical links, respectively, between white supremacy and Christianity” (Temoney, 2020: 153). There are two primary ways far-rights are using these links to their advantage: to create a sense of community and for legitimisation. The effectiveness of both strategies is linked to the aforementioned spread of Christianity in the United States.
First, the shared belief creates a feeling of belonging and familiarity (cf. Hills, 2020: 52). As a result, far-right groups are able to recruit, mobilise, and radicalise new members (Johnson, 2018) by “influencing and infiltrating public discourse using religious language" (Temoney, 2020: 161). The recruitment culminated after the election of Barack Obama in 2009 especially among young people “who often hold no explicit white supremacist views” (Neel, 2018: 24). Nonetheless, Gray et al. (2020: 24) note that these “imagined communities” are fragile and heterogenic in their ideology. This may be associated with what Neel (2018: 32) calls an "after-the-fact development” of religious additions to ideology. Therefore, it is possible that people with different views or interpretations of Christianity are grouped together which then creates fragility.
Second, Christianity is used to legitimise violence: Far-rights call themselves “Soldiers of Odin,” “Phineas Priests,” or “Holy Warriors” [...] to lash out and kill in the name of religion” (Johnson, 2018). Another facet of legitimisation through religion is the possibility to argue in a seemingly reasonably way (cf. Temoney, 2020: 165) which is connected to the arguments presented in the chapter on Christianity and Racism. In addition to common aspects of racism (depicting Black people as being inferior etc.), far-rights turn the argument around and portray themselves as victims. In particular, they are talking about a 'white genocide'. Gray et al. (2020: 24) explain in what way this self-portrayal supports far-right ideology:
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research problem by highlighting the critical need to understand the connections between race, religion, and social studies to address persistent racial inequalities, focusing on how far-right groups incorporate Christianity into their ideology.
2. Theoretical Framework: This section defines essential terms like "Far-Right" and "White Supremacy," traces the historical link between Christianity and racism in the U.S., and explains how religion is used for community building and legitimizing violence within far-right extremism.
3. Methodology: This chapter outlines the qualitative research approach, grounded in social constructivism, used to analyze an article from a far-right website (Daily Stormer) and a documentary about the Charlottesville Rally.
4. Analysis: This section applies the theoretical framework to the chosen sources, examining how an article bans religious debates for unity while maintaining a pro-Christian tone, and how a documentary showcases far-right violence and rhetoric, justifying actions through white victimhood and calls for an ethnostate.
5. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, reiterating that Christianity serves as a tool for legitimization rather than purely spiritual belief within far-right ideology, linking it to white identity and racism, and acknowledges the study's limitations while suggesting avenues for further research.
Keywords
Far-Right Movement, United States, Religion, Christianity, Ideology, White Supremacy, Racism, Extremism, Radicalization, Charlottesville, Daily Stormer, Social Constructivism, White Victimhood, Ethnostate, Legitimization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally explores the intricate relationship between the far-right movement in the United States and religion, specifically how and why far-right groups integrate aspects of Christianity into their extremist ideologies.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the far-right movement, the role of Christianity in its ideology, the historical connection between Christianity and racism, the concept of white supremacy, and the use of religious narratives for radicalization and legitimization.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to analyze how and why far-right groups incorporate Christianity into their ideology, thereby contributing to the understanding of their operational mechanisms and motivations.
Which scientific method is used?
The paper primarily employs a qualitative research method, based on social constructivism, to analyze textual and visual data from an article and a documentary.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part delves into a theoretical framework defining key terms, provides historical context for Christianity and racism, and then analyzes a far-right article and a documentary about the Charlottesville rally to illustrate the practical application of Christian themes within their ideology.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms characterizing this work include Far-Right Movement, Christianity, White Supremacy, Racism, Extremism, Ideology, Radicalization, and Legitimization.
How do far-right groups use Christianity for legitimization and community building?
Far-right groups utilize a conservative Christian faith to foster a sense of belonging and familiarity, facilitating recruitment and mobilization. They also leverage Christian values and scriptures to legitimize their actions, including violence, by framing them as defense against perceived threats or in pursuit of a "white and Christian nation" ideal.
What role did the Charlottesville rally play in understanding far-right actions?
The Charlottesville rally documentary provided a visual and auditory representation of the far-right's values and goals, showcasing their violent actions, rhetoric of white victimhood, and explicit calls for an "ethnostate," demonstrating how their ideology translates into public display and action.
How does the analysis of the Daily Stormer article contribute to understanding far-right ideology?
The analysis of the *Daily Stormer* article revealed internal tensions regarding religious interpretations within the far-right movement, highlighting how leaders attempt to unify the movement under a "pro-Christian tone" while also using Christianity as a tool to defend against perceived enemies like "Jews and BIPOCs."
What is meant by "white victimhood" in the context of far-right ideology?
"White victimhood" refers to the far-right's self-portrayal as a persecuted group, often claiming to face a "white genocide" or threats to "white, Western values." This narrative is strategically used to justify their extremist ideology and violent actions as self-defense or a necessary response to perceived societal decline.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sinja Köhne (Autor:in), 2022, The Far-Right Movement in the United States and Religion, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1689066
