MU researcher studies Christian Identity Movement beliefs

Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and Eric Robert Rudolph, responsible for the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building and the Olympic Park bombing respectively, are three men whose names are forever linked to the phrase "white extremism." However, these extremists represent a very small part of a growing society in the United States, called the Christian Identity Movement (CIM). A researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia, after spending almost four years examining the CIM, discovered specific biblical beliefs that provide a better understanding of how this group works.

"With such events in the past decade as the incident at Ruby Ridge, the situations with the Freeman in Montana, and church and abortion clinic bombings, the general public is becoming newly aware of the increased presence of right-wing extremist groups across the country," said Larry Brown, Geography instructor at MU and local pastor, who spent time going to area CIM meetings every other month and attending annual large meetings. "This group, though, is much like any other social group that feels their beliefs are very rational."

Brown looked extensively at three CIM groups from the Greater Ozark Region, which has the highest CIM per capita in the United States. Each of the groups was patriarchal, with the members feeling marginalized from society; however, Brown said it was too easy to say they were blue collar or poor. When the leaders preached, they used specific passages from scripture repeatedly. They focused heavily on the biblical books of Genesis, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, but stayed away from Revelation, Brown said.

"They take the Bible literally, so when God says, ‘this land is your land,’ the CIM believe the United States is the New Israel," Brown said. "Also, they believe Adam was not just the first man, he was the first white man."

The CIM, Brown found, declares the land they occupy, known to many as "compounds," to be sacred, both in a symbolic and literal way. They do not want any government interference. And while most of the time, they are non-violent in nature, Brown believes that present events might change that.

"If the economy continues to suffer and the government continues to take away individual liberties, there’s a possibility of more violence from these groups," Brown said.

For more information, contact Larry Brown BrownLar@missouri.edu.

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Department of Geography

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