Robert Parry: The Slaughter in Norway

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



The Slaughter in Norway
July 24, 2011

Exclusive: A right-wing Christian fundamentalist has reportedly taken credit for the terrorist slaughter of some 92 people in Norway on Friday. The alleged perpetrators’ stated goal was to spark a Christian war against Muslims, a reaction to what he saw as a growing multiculturalism, an echo of Christian Right extremism elsewhere, notes Robert Parry.

By Robert Parry
July 24, 2011


News that a Christian extremist has taken credit for the terror attacks in Norway, including the systematic slaying of scores of youth at a summer camp, may be shocking but it shouldn’t be surprising.

Over the past decade, the Christian Right and many Jewish neoconservatives have pushed the propaganda theme that Islam is a uniquely violent monotheistic religion that requires special suppression if the West is to avoid having Shariah law imposed on everyone.

Of course, in making that argument, one has to wonder if these Christian/Jewish zealots have ever read the Hebrew Torah or studied the history of Christianity.

The obvious truth is that the Torah (or Old Testament) is filled with story after story of ancient Israelites striking down their enemies with ruthless force and without remorse. Christianity, at least since its merger with the Roman Empire early in the Fourth Century, has been the world’s preeminent violent religion bathed in blood and steeped in hypocrisy. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2011/07/24/the-slaughter-in-norway/

[Syntheto]

1. So, you're saying...

...that it was Christian fundamentalists who flew those planes into the World Trade Center? I'm confused; I thought it was Mossad and George W. Bush who sawed through the ibeams so that that the controlled demolitions could be effected.

I actually wish that was true, because if Christian fundies had blown up the Twin Towers, instead of Islamic fundies, there wouldn't be any of this conspiracy bullshit; it would be taken at face value.

All religion is bad and has no place in our society. The Planet will never unite to solve the big problems that face us until the entire Earth, from Dafur to Seattle, from Anchorage to Patagonia, from Helsinki to Malaysia goes SECULAR.

[Bragi]

2. Agreed. Religion is the problem, not the solution /nt

[marmar]

3. WTF are you talking about? Where did the Twin Towers come from?

I think that all Robert Parry is trying to point out is that it's not just Muslim fundies who are crazy.

[texshelters]

12. why the mention of 9/11, again

the poster didn't say there aren't Muslim terrorists.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[snagglepuss]

4. Parry is way off base. I am no defender of organized religion let alone fundamentalism

but but nothing I've seen so far indicates that Brevik is a Christian fundamentalist. He appears to be only nominally religious. The only connection to Christian fundamentalism seems to be the fact that he posts on fundy web sites.

Brevik's motivation isn't to set up a theocracy but uber-nationalsim and a hatred of socialists.

[bemildred]

5. The Perp uses lots of Xtian memes, 3rd Crusade, Knights Templar, etc.

It's real old Xtian stuff, much more reactionary than usual, going back to the medieval views, esp. the war against Islam. I am reminded of Franco and various Latin American reactionary despotisms.

[snagglepuss]

6. His glomming on to ancient symbols summons Hitler but doesn't indicate he a Xtian fundy

As far as I can tell, with what I have read up till now, is that he sees Christianity as part of Europe's identity but there is nothing to indicate that he sees relgion as an intrinstic part of his life. From what I've seen he isn't a religious zealot, he is not getting marching from the bible or from his preacher.

[bemildred]

7. So you deny that he sees himself as a Xtian? nt

[snagglepuss]

9. From what I can tell at this point in time relegion for him is simply a cultural

thing. He seems to be nominally religious. This doesn't make him less of a vile despicable creep but why describe him as something he isn't.

[bemildred]

14. That is kind of how most religious people are, in my experience.

People who are on serious spiritual quests are the exception, not the rule.

I do understand your complaint, for what it is worth, and even somewhat agree, the distinction between spiritual religion and political religion ought to be made. But it isn't in common usage, and I don't think you will get far by asserting that this atrocity is not also utterly typical of EDIT:some religious "believers" throughout the entire course of civilization. And THAT is the point various other people are making.

[starroute]

8. He uses the language of American Dominionism

See this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x616041

The article quoted in it makes clear that the shooter is not tied to either Neo-Nazis or conservative Norwegian religious groups but uses the language and has the goals of American extremists, ranging from the "Christian Patriots" to the anti-jihadists.

He mixes it in with some romanticization of the European past and the Crusades, but the foundation is Dominionist.

[snagglepuss]

10. He also uses language used by Islamist extremist such as calling for

"martyrdom" so does that make him an Islamist? Brevik is an extremist so he uses extremist language but have you seen anythng where he swoon's about being born again, about jeeezus, about end-times heralding the second coming?

[starroute]

11. He's more the "Christian Patriot" type of Christian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Patriot_movement

The Christian Patriot movement is a movement of American political commentators and activists. They promote various interpretations of history and law with the common theme that the federal government has turned against the ideas of liberty and individual rights behind the American Revolution, and America's Christian heritage.

The movement originally referred to the late 1980s' Posse Comitatus group, a militant far right organization. Posse Comitatus followed an ideology based on the teachings of Posse founder and Christian Identity minister William P. Gale, though the majority do not follow Identity's white nationalist Israelistic views. This ideology holds that state and federal governments are agents of an arcane conspiracy to deprive Americans of their rights as "sovereign citizens."

[texshelters]

13. Fundamentalists of all stripes can

go to hell, if there was one.

Peace,
Tex Shelters