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Dances with Devils How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes Influence Right Wing Scapegoating and Conspiracism

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Dances with Devils How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes Influence Right Wing Scapegoating and Conspiracism Dances with Devils How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes Influence Right Wing Scapegoating and Conspiracism by Chip Berlet Senior Analyst Political Research Associates This study originally appeared in the Fall 1998 issue of The Public Eye magazine. Revised 4/16/99 . Political Research Associates 120 Beacon Street, Suite 202 Somerville, MA 02143 617.661.9313 http://www.publiceye.org Part One: The Roots of the Apocalyptic Paradigm including "Rambo," "Mad Max," "Red Dawn," "Die Hard," "Terminator" and their sequels reinterpret An Overview of the Dynamics apocalyptic visions while obscuring their origins.5 The The approach of the year 2000 has already "X-Files" film and its related TV series are stimulated widespread discussion of apocalyptic fears quintessential apocalyptic narratives. "Buffy the and millennialist expectations. Often lost in the Vampire Slayer" stomps incarnate evil in a weekly TV discussion is the important ongoing role that specific series. Prophetic scripture provides the paradigm for types of apocalyptic and millennialist thinking play in sensational scripts. What is entertainment for some, shaping the demonization, scapegoating, and however, is spiritual and political reality for others. conspiracism used by various right—wing political and The irrational fear of powerful conspiracies— social movements.1 conspiracism—has flourished episodically throughout A remarkable number of myths, metaphors, US history. Usually it is right-wing groups that have images, symbols, phrases, and icons in Western culture fanned apocalyptic fears of evil conspiracies to create a flow from Christian Biblical prophecies about powerful political weapon. The results can be apocalyptic confrontations and millennial devastating. There have been crusades against sin; transformation.2 The Bible's Book of Revelation waves of government repression justified by claims of subversive conspiracies; and campaigns to purge alien contains warnings that the end of time is foreshadowed 6 by a vast Satanic conspiracy involving high government ideas and persons from our shores. Starting in the officials who betray the decent and devout productive 1620s, witch hunts swept New England for a century, citizens, while sinful and subversive tools of the Devil and fears of plots by Freemasons or Catholics swept the gnaw away at society from below. nation in the 1800s. This century has produced allegations of a Jewish banking cabal behind the In The Origins of Satan, author Elaine Pagels Federal Reserve, and the anticommunist witch hunts of points out that today: 7 the McCarthy Period in the 1950s. "Many religious people who no longer believe in Satan, along with countless others who do Could it happen again at the end of the 20th not identify with any religious tradition, century? Holly Sklar, author of Chaos or Community: nevertheless are influenced by this cultural Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats for Bad Economics, legacy whenever they perceive social and argues that it might: political conflict in terms of the forces of "The demonization of immigrants, welfare good contending against the forces of evil recipients, people of color, and single 3 in the world." mothers is already tolerated to an alarming The anticipation of a righteous struggle against degree in mainstream political debate. evil conspiracies has become a central apocalyptic Now as we head toward the millennium, narrative in our nation's religious, secular, political, and we also face the rising fervor of those cultural discourse.4 This is certainly evident in popular driven by visions of culture war and apocalypse."8 culture where films such as "Armageddon" and "Apocalypse Now" and the TV series "Millennium" Contemporary interpretations of apocalyptic name the tradition while mainstreaming the ideas. Films millennialism can be sorted into three related and overlapping tendencies that range from sacred to allegations will depend on the sector, of the right— secular: First, in the view of some Christian Christian nationalist, right wing populist, or far right.12 fundamentalists, we are in the apocalyptic millennial The approaching millennium creates an "End Times" or "Last Days" prophesied in Revelation apocalyptic milieu in which demonization, and other books of the Bible; Second, a more generic scapegoating, and conspiracism could again have and often secularized apocalyptic world view of serious consequences in our society, especially since impending crisis is reflected in diverse movements rhetoric has already turned to violence. If we are to limit across the political spectrum; Third, there is a generic the potential short-term damage, and understand the sense of expectation and renewal, generated merely by significance of the long-term dynamic, we need to the approach of the calendar year 2000, because it is a 9 better understand the thinking of those who live in the millennial milestone in human recorded history. shadow of the Apocalypse. These apocalyptic fears and millennial Most people delving into the topic for the first time expectations in turn influence three broad contemporary find the layers of complexity, unfamiliar vocabulary, right-wing movements in the US: and competing timelines to be daunting. The effort is • Activists in various sectors of the Christian nevertheless worthwhile because it helps to explain Right, ranging from electoral to insurgent, and with what often appears to the uninitiated as inexplicable varying views regarding whether or not the year behavior among members of right-wing social and 2000 marks the End Times. This includes attempts political movements.13 What do Christian by Christian hard-liners to purify the society as part fundamentalists mean when they warn about the "signs of a religious revival, such as the homophobic of the times?" How did apocalyptic millennialism set statements by Trent Lott, and advertisements the stage for the Oklahoma City bombing? Why do calling on homosexuals to "cure" themselves by members of ultra-conservative groups such as the John turning to Jesus. The most aggressive activists Birch Society and Eagle Forum worry that the UN is engage in theologically-motivated acts of violence trying to create a globalist "One World Government?" against abortion providers. What is the "The Mark of the Beast?" • Right wing populists, including survivalists, Behind much of the current resurgence of gun rights activists, anti-elite conspiracists, and scapegoating and the spread of conspiracy theories participants in the Patriot & armed militia about secret elites lies apocalyptic and millennialist movements. Conspiracist scapegoating is rampant themes as old as Satan. in this sector. A popular speaker in these circles is Robert K. Spear who believes the formation of Apocalypse armed Christian communities is necessary as we The word "revelation" is a translation of the Greek approach the End Times. Preparing to survive the word "apokalypsis."u The original Greek term referred coming apocalypse has led to a survivalist to unveiling hidden information or revealing secret subculture that stores food and conducts self- knowledge concerning unfolding human events. Thus, defense training—a culture that now spans a the words "apocalypse," "revelation," and "prophecy" continuum from religious to secular in right-wing are closely related. Prophets, by definition, are populist groups. apocalyptic. • The far right, including neonazis and persons In its more common usage, the word "apocalypse" influenced by far right versions of the Christian has come to mean the belief in an approaching Identity religion. Identity beliefs were behind the confrontation, cataclysmic event, or transformation of assassination of Denver talk show host Alan Berg, epochal proportion, about which a select few have a spree of armed robberies and murders starting in forewarning so they can make appropriate preparations. the 1980s, the tragic shoot-out between federal Those who believe in a coming apocalypse might be agents and the Weaver family in Idaho, and—in optimistic about the outcome of the apocalyptic some reports—the brutal dragging death of a Black moment, anticipating a chance for positive man in Jasper, Texas. transformational change; or they might be pessimistic, In each of these sectors, scapegoating is anticipating a doomsday; or they might anticipate a widespread. Scapegoating always needs to be taken period of violence or chaos with an uncertain seriously when it becomes tolerated in political and outcome.15 social discourse.10 But scapegoating that is generated or In Christianity, the Apocalypse refers to a gigantic enhanced by apocalyptic fears has distinctive features global battle with Satanic forces that signals the end of and targets.11 Any group can be framed as doing evil or time. The apocalyptic tradition also exists in Judaism, being evil, given enough creative energy on the part of Islam, and other religions, and pre-dated Christianity.16 the scapegoater, although the actual framing of the Apocalypticism can also be found among a few New Antichrist. Today, apocalyptic themes influence many Age devotees and environmental activists.17 diverse Christian groups, including those who do not think the End Times are close at hand. Conspiracist Revelation Interpreted as Apocalyptic appeals also reach a wide secular audience of alienated Conspiracist Narrative persons on a cultural and often unconscious level. Christian apocalypticism is based on many sources in the Bible, including the Old Testament books of Millennium Daniel and Ezekiel,
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