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Y2K and Millennial PinballDances with Devils Apocalyptic Millennialism Y2K Millennial Pinball Chart Y2K and Millennial Expectation Patriot/Militia SurvivalismChristian Right/Patriot/Militia Confluence with Survivalism
Y2K and Millennial Pinball:How Y2K Shapes Survivalism in the US
Christian Right, by Chip Berlet A paper for the December 6-8, 1998 conference
of the This is a work in progress, Presented 12/8/98 Revised 1/26/99 Survive! Biblical and secular apocalyptic expectation is increasing with the approach of the calendar year 2000; and it is combining with fears that the Y2K computer bug will result in widespread societal chaos--which in turn leads people toward survivalism Survivalist preparation keyed to the year 2000 and especially the Y2K bug is happening not only in the Patriot and armed militia movements, but also in the more moderate Christian Right and the more zealous Far Right. Within each of these political sectors are distinct subcultures with a variety of expectations, strategies, and methodologies This paper extends the work of Philip Lamy in his book: Millennium Rage: Survivalists, White Supremacists, and the Doomsday Prophecy.1 The confluence discussed here was predicted by Charles Cameron in his essay "Apocalyptic: a hidden dimension to the Y2K problem."2 In the course of research I swapped information with Mark Potok at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). See the excellent article in the Fall 1998 (#92) issue of SPLCs Intelligence Report.3 What Lamy and Cameron predicted is indeed coming true. To a certain extent, my research has proved the obvious, but the research demonstrates that what seemed obvious to many of us also turned out to be true, which is not always the case, so the effort was worthwhile. To investigate this phenomenon I read books and magazines, reviewed direct mail, attended workshops, viewed vidoeotapes, and surfed websites Y2K and Millennial Expectation Fear that the Y2K computer bug will cause societal chaos clearly is generating apocalyptic expectation. It is also clear that Y2K fears are focusing and funneling the activity of groups and individuals with pre-existing apocalyptic belief systems As Charles Cameron explained: People who are inclined to think in "apocalyptic" terms will "read" coverage of the computer 2000 problem as another "sign of the times" -- further proof of whatever millennial expectations and anxieties they may harbor.4 In some cases the apocalyptic interpretation of Y2K overlapped with Christian Biblical millennial expectation, and in some cases the narratives are secular What Y2K provides in this milieu is date-setting with plausible deniability. With Y2K independently setting a date, persons with pre-existing apocalyptic expectation could point to the approaching date as corroboration of their beliefs, argue that accelerated expectation and preparation was appropriate, and yet have a backdoor to ease through in case nothing major happens The common thread was survivalism. You may believe that in 2000 a New World Order will be imposed and ruled by Satan, or that an economic collapse will be caused by Jews, or that secret elites are hiding the fact that Y2K will trigger a nuclear meltdown. No matter what the feared outcomes or the suspected villains, you can find common ground with other survivalists in practical discussions about what water filter has the best combination of protection and flow rate. A good example of this is the Preparedness Expo '98," where survivalism, Y2K fears, and "right-wing propaganda" merge in an event described by Karen Olsson, in the The Texas Observer as "Fear and Flatulence in Mesquite."5 Once in the survivalist stewpot, persons with a wide variety of beliefs cross reference each other in print, on tape, and on the web, and also cross recruit each other The process works like a millennial pinball machine A person with a pre-existing apocalyptic worldview enters at the top with an ideological outlook in which are already embedded theories about possible outcomes, and a list of suspected villains Feared Outcomes The feared outcomes are part of an apocalyptic narrative cobbled together from stories, texts, ideas, and metaphors in the society. There are an infinite number of feared outcomes, and this list merely highlights some with popular followings today Suspected Villains These suspected villains are scapegoats--demonized by narratives about how they are conspiring against the common good. There are an infinite number of suspected villains, and this list merely highlights some with popular followings today Y2K Funnel Carrying this package of feared outcomes and suspected villains a person approaches the calendar year 2000 date event horizon. At these point the fears are funneled and focused by the Y2K bug Y2K Furnace Since the Y2K bug sets a date, it heats up expectation Refractory Effect Accelerated by the heat of the Y2K furnace, persons heading into the survivalist stewpot pass through a refractory lens that splits people into a rainbow of methodological strategies Survivalist Stewpot Once in the survivalist stewpot, people interact with each other by engaging in dialogs and recruitment attempts Methodological Outcomes A person will adopt methodological strategies after processing their beliefs about what outcomes they fear are possible, who they suspect are the villains manipulating world events, and how much chaos they expect when the expected apocalyptic event happens This model of millennial pinball works for any date around which there is speculation concerning possible apocalyptic meaning. The funnel and furnace effect are triggered when a person crosses the calendar date event horizon Survivalism is a methodological response to fears of a potential disaster. It can reflect sensible precautions in anticipation of hurricanes or floods, or reflect apocalyptic fears. Given the uncertainty around Y2K, some preparation seems prudent Survivalism, however, often overlaps with conspiracist worldviews, which are prevalent not only in the patriot/militia movement and the far right, but the Christian Right as well. It is not accurate to assume all survivalists share a specific ideological viewpoint, or that they automatically pose a threat to civil order. Most survivalists are taking defensive precautions. Yet the potential for confrontation exists There is a large and vibrant survivalist subculture in the US, with both educational and commercial components. A ad in a November 1998 issue of the ultra-conservative Human Events offers preparedness supplies from the American Family Institute which offers "the highest quality dehydrated food storage products."6 The ad asks: Are You Prepared? In each corner of the ad are boxes listing possible crises: Y2k Millennium Bug Patriot movement websites often link to suppliers of survivalist gear. Sam Andy is a supplier of emergency preparedness items with several distributors. One Sam Andy website bills itself as: "The complete food storage, family food reserve system and leading supplier of nitrogen packed dehydrated food." http://foody2k.freeservers.com/index.htm The site warns that "In emergencies, water is the most important item in survival." Accordingly, item number 001 in the Sam Andy catalog is a lightweight, rust-proof, plastic 30-gallon water storage drum that "looks like a steel drum...to store your life-saving water" priced at $69.95 http://foody2k.freeservers.com/water.htm "Food, heat, lighting, a radio, First Aid and personal needs are your next priorities," explains the text In the summer of 1998, an article by Miguel Helft in the San Jose Mercury News was among the first to publicly discuss concrete survivalist preparations tied to fears of the Y2K problem.7 One person, Peter Huss, was described as follows: The 31-year-old computer systems administrator at a small university in northern Michigan is stockpiling food, water, medicine and other basic necessities and readying a family cabin for himself, his wife and his year-old baby. He plans to take his money out of the banking system by August. And he is honing his construction, gardening and landscaping skills Web rings are related collections of web sites linked together using a common link method. By clicking on the standardized link (text or graphic) the web surfer can jump from site to site in order, jump around the collection, or visit the centralized list of sites that are members of the web ring. The "Personal Y2K Preparedness" web ring lists 163 sites and the "Survival and Preparedness" ring lists 226 sites Y2K Personal Preparedness Ring -- http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=y2kppr;list Survival Ring - Survival and Preparedness - http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=SurvivalRing;list Prophecy belief is widespread in the US. Philip Lamy reports that during the Gulf War, 14 percent of one CNN national poll thought it was the beginning of Armageddon, and "American bookstores were experiencing a run on books about prophecy and the end of the world.8 In 1993 a national poll found that 20 percent of those polled thought the second coming of Christ would occur near the year 2000 Among Christians, the questions revolve around eschatological timetables. There are eschatological differences between pre-millennialists and post-millennialists that significantly affect how the Y2K bug is interpreted. For pre-millennialists, a major question whether or not the Y2K problem is a sign of the End Times? If yes, is the Y2K problem related to the Mark of the Beast? No matter what the eschatology, the underlying premise is the same--Y2K has the potential for spawning widespread chaos. This common belief in the need for survivalist-style preparation bridged eschatological debates. Pre-millennialists, post-millennialists, and a-millennialists could interact with secularists in discussions over which water purification filter provided the best value in bacterial protection. As in secular circles, Christian responses range from cautious preparations to doomsday scenarios that have led some to call for rural survivalist retreats.9 At the 1998 Christian Coalition's annual Road to Victory conference, there was a workshop titled "Y2K: Cough or Catastrophe?"10 The workshop leaders were Michael Hyatt, author of The Millennium Bug: How to Survive the Coming Chaos and the Day the World Shut Down, and prominent Lousiana Republican Dr. Billy McCormack of the University Baptist Church.11 It was devoted to outlining the potential seriousness of the problem, then announcing a plan to mobilize churches to provide food, water, shelter, and medical supplies in case the Y2K bug caused widespread societal problems. This mobilization was justified by arguing the anticipation of resulting disruptions was appropriate no matter what the eschatological viewpoint; and that if there was no serious disruption, the supplies could aid the poor. Special emphasis was placed on the obligation to serve the emergency needs of inner city poor people There was no mention of the end times. This discussion neatly sidestepped the issue of the End Times, while allowing those who believe we are in the End Times to work cooperatively with those who do not Although Hyatt is seen as a secular expert by the media, in the setting of the Christian Coalition meeting, he argued that spiritual preparation was most important aspect, talked about his work with churches, and cited scripture when asked about the possibility of martial law being imposed due to Y2k. 12 Christian Reconstructionist author Gary North is now a much-quoted expert on the Y2K bug with an extensive home page on the web North sees much chaos created by Y2K, but as a post-millennialist, North dismisses the link to Christ's imminent return. North's apocalyptic predictions about Y2K and the need for survivalist-style preparations echoes his previous stance on surviving nuclear war during the Reagan years: Arthur Robinson & Gary North, Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival.13 The book featured a shovel, a clock, and the Capitol building on the cover Some post-millennialists are more in line with the suspicious view Joseph Farah, quoted in the John Birch Society magazine, New American: "Much like the Reichstag fire, could the Millennium Bug provide an ambitious President with an opportunity to seize dictatorial powers?"14 Farah is editor of WorldNetDaily Most Christians, even those who think the End Times are imminent, do not automatically succumb to demonization, scapegoating, and conspiracist thinking. Yet in the escalating surge of millennial titles, a scary number name the agents of the Antichrist or claim to expose the evil End Times conspiracy: Examples include: Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist; One World Under Antichrist: Globalism, Seducing Spirits and Secrets of the New World Order; Foreshocks of Antichrist; How Democracy Will Elect the Antichrist: The Ultimate Denial of Freedom, Liberty and Justice According to the Bible.15 Several of these titles see computer technology, global communications and the internet as possibly part of the Mark of the Beast system. David Webber's article in Foreshocks of Antichrist is titled "Cyberspace: The Beast's Worldwide Spider Web," and includes a discussion of Y2K where he suggests the fix for Y2K might actually be part of the Beastly conspiracy.16 There is a long history of communication and computer technology being linked to the Mark of the Beast. In the mid-1950s William G. Carr promoted the anti-Semitic variant of End Times conspiracism with books such as Pawns in the Game and Red Fog over America. According to Carr, an age-old Jewish Illuminati banking conspiracy used radio-transmitted mind control on behalf of Lucifer to construct a one world government. The secret nexus of the plot was supposedly the international Bilderberger meetings on banking policy. The anti-Semitic Noontide Press distributed Pawns in the Game for many years.17 The process of prophecy belief triggering apocalyptic demonization and then leading to searches for the Devil's partners is continuously updated. Paul Boyer points out that those seen as the prophesied agents of Satan girding for End Times battle can be foreign or domestic or both. He notes how in prophetic literature the identity of Satan's allies in the Battle of Armageddon has shifted seamlessly over time, circumstance, and political interest from the Soviet Union to Chinese communists, to Islamic militants; and warns of an increasing level of anti-Muslim bigotry in some contemporary apocalyptic subcultures.18 Robert Fuller has looked at the range of current targets: "Today, fundamentalist Christian writers see the Antichrist in such enemies as the Muslim world, feminism, rock music, and secular humanism. The threat of the Antichrist's imminent takeover of the world's economy has been traced to the formation of the European Economic Community, the Susan B. Anthony dollar...and the introduction of universal product codes."19 Visions of the Satanic Antichrist are common in relatively mainstream sectors of the new Christian Right. Typical of the current apocalyptic genre is a recent mailing from Prophetic Vision, a small international Christian evangelical outreach ministry, reporting that "prophecy is moving so fast" and "the Return of Christ is imminent." The mailing goes on to declare that the Antichrist, "Must be alive today waiting to take control!" and then solicits funds for the "end time harvest." One segment of the Jeremiah Films series "Pagan Invasion," is titled "Preview of the Antichrist." It is described in an online Christian Right catalog with the following blurb: According to Ancient Hebrew scriptures, in the last days mankind will urgently seek the security of a one - world government. This global desire for a super leader, who will bring peace and safety to a world in chaos, will ultimately leave the human race vulnerable to the beguiling charm and the most intelligent, powerful, and charismatic person of all history. The Bible calls this man the "anti-christ." Ironically, he will dominate the globe and orchestrate society's ultimate destruction Jeremiah is best known for The Clinton Chronicles, a video distributed widely by Jerry Falwell, which alleges that the President is at the head of a vast murderous conspiracy. The Clinton Chronicles video and the subsequent The Clinton Chronicles book are the work of Jeremiah's Patrick Matrisciana, who is also founder and president of Citizens for Honest Government, a group dedicated to the impeachment of President Clinton.21 Rev. Pat Robertson frequently ties his conspiracist vision to apocalyptic hints that we are in the millennial "End Times," and End Times themes have repeatedly appeared on his "700 Club" television program on his Christian Broadcast Network. On one July 1998 program Robertson hinted that a tsunami in New Guinea coupled with the appearance of asteroids might be linked to Bible prophecy. Just after Christmas, 1994, the program carried a feature on new dollar bill designs being discussed to combat counterfeiting. The newscaster then cited Revelations 13 and suggested that if the Treasury Department put new codes on paper money, it might be the Antichrist's Mark of the Beast, predicted as a sign of the coming End Times. 22 CBN News has an online "Y2K Resource Center." http://www.cbn.org/y2k/index.asp As of January 11, 1999, there were transcripts of fifteen CBN broadcasts on Y2K and the potential for chaos. Here are the titles:
http://www.cbn.org/y2k/stories.asp CBN Ministry has an "End Time Prophecy" conference scheduled for February 25-28, 1999 View conference brochure cover Midnight Call ministries has a prophecy conference scheduled for April 19-20, 1999 Jerry Falwell is distributing a videotape titled "Y2K: A Christian's Guide to the Millennium Bug." http://www.otgh.org/otgh_site/offers/y2k.html Christian financial counselor Larry Burkett writes novels about apocalyptic confrontations between corrupt and subversive government officials and Christians who form armed underground cells with their liberty-loving allies to resist the tyranny.23 His titles include the 1991 The Illuminati: A Novel, and the 1996 The Thor Conspiracy; The Seventy-Hour Countdown to Disaster," Burkett runs Christian Financial Concepts which has an extensive collection of Y2K advice web pages http://www.cfcministry.org/library/Y2K/index.htm [Broken] Burkett also is involved with The Joseph Project which lists over thirty chapters in twenty states as of mid-January 1999 http://www.josephproject2000.org Vision
• Ron Blue, Founder & President Ronald Blue & Company • Mike & Cindy Jacobs, Co-founders & Presidents Generals of Intercession • Tom Mason, Executive Vice-President Focus on the Family • Bill McCartney, Founder & President Promise Keepers >http://www.josephproject2000.org/about.html Some Christians oppose such efforts. Among the more obscure are Tim and Barb Aho, who are much further along the apocalyptic conspiracist trail, tracking issues "related to the One World Religion and the New World Order." http://watch.pair.com/pray.html LARRY BURKETT'S SUBTLE THREATS AGAINST LOCAL CHURCHES IN THE NAME OF Y2K -- By Tim and Barb Aho This Aho text was originally found on an another unusual conspiracy-mongering page, Balaam's Ass Speaks Journal http://www.balaams-ass.com/journal/theworld/burkett.htm Balaam's Ass Speaks Journal seems to promote Christian outreach to Muslims along with anti-Muslim, anti-Catholic bigotry, conspiracism, and Y2K warnings from a Protestant born-again perspective. The writer, despite Dutch, Irish, German, and Cherokee heritage, calls himself an African-American because he has lived in a US African-American neighborhood and in Africa after his missionary parents moved there. This is a truly exotic website Exegesis combines Christian theological argument with apocalyptic conspiracist theories and ultra-conservative politics http://www.sm.org/exegesis One on day it linked to a Western Journalism Center's WorldNetDaily article (by David M. Bresnahan of http://talkusa.com claiming to reveal National Guard plans for Y2K PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990118_xex_the_threat_t.shtml Another Survivalist web ring member is Noah's Ark which claims "156674 visitors since 11 July 1998." Geophysics and prophesy combine to indicate what's coming. Extensive Emergency Preparedness information and 1000+ member global Community Database available to all who wish to join Millennium Ark provides links to "Key Prophetic Sites."
http://www.millennium-ark.net/prophecies.html Jack Van Impe (rhymes with skimpy) has a weekly TV program where he interprets Biblical prophecy. In October and November of 1998 van Impe discussed Y2K at length on several programs. His ministry also maintains a web page. As the year 2000 approaches, his belief that the apocalypse is near has heated up. Here are some selections from his "FAQ" or Frequently Asked Questions section that show his millennial expectation: This is why I believe the Tribulation hour is so near. Observing the present Middle East movements and confrontations, one realizes that the greatest war in the annals of history will take place in this area -- just as the Bible predicts! The hour is late. Earth's judgment is soon to begin, and Christ may call His children home at any moment. Praise God, the Church will not go through the Tribulation! http://www.jvim.com/cgi-bin/FAQ.cgi?Question0306 Do you believe the Antichrist could make his appearance in the near future? http://www.jvim.com/cgi-bin/FAQ.cgi?Question0318 The Jeremiah Project is another link from the Millennium Ark. It has an apocalyptic focus: The situation in America today is similar and deteriorating rapidly. Your churches are weak and vacillating - few take seriously the Word of God. You take from Scripture what you feel comfortable with - that which fits your preconceived ideas, and ignore the rest http://www.jeremiahproject.com The Jeremiah Project has discussions of "Signs of the Last Days" and the "New World Order," and the "Year 2000 Crisis." The discussion of Y2K is rooted in Biblical prophecy and other scripture What is the Y2K Problem? What are its implications? http://www.jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/y2kprob.html A sublink from the main page is "High Crimes and Misdemeanors." http://www.jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/clintoncrime.html This page holds many links to discussions of alleged criminal behavior by President William Clinton. A further sublink from the High Crimes and Misdemeanors page purports to list the Clinton Casualties: A "Casualty" is defined as anyone threatened with harm or actually harmed because of their knowledge of and/or involvement in one or more of the Clinton Scandals http://www.jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/clintbodycnt.html Another sublink from the High Crimes and Misdemeanors page is a page about The Feminist Movement: The spirit of radical feminism is the spirit of witchcraft and rebellion, the spirit manifested in Jezebel. It is the spirit which rejects God's lawful order and authority and tries to usurp that authority to itself, as did Eve in the Garden of Eden http://www.jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/feminist.html A hard right Catholic publication with apocalyptic themes is the Michael Journal, which includes conspiracist articles about the parasitic nature of financial elites that reflect historic anti-Semitic themes. Michael Journal celebrates the memory of Father Coughlin, the Catholic priest whose national radio programs in the 1930s moved from labor populism to anti-Semitism and eventually to fascist-style demagoguery. Coughlin is described as a man "Who courageously denounced the bankers' debt-money system." According to the Michael Journal, "The Illuminati are elite men, those on the top, who control the International Bankers to control, for evil purposes, the entire world." Followers of the Michael Journal lobbied against the Massachusetts seat belt law, believing it was a collectivist step toward Satanic One World Government. The newspaper featured an article titled "The Beast of the Apocalypse: 666" which proclaimed that "Satan's redoubtable ally" was a "gigantic auto-programming computer" in Brussels at the headquarters of the European Common Market. 24 It seems predictable that Y2K will be folded into the theory of the "gigantic auto-programming computer" in the toolkit of the Antichrist "Barefoot" Bob Hardison, Freeman, is example of the generic patriot-style survivalism online: Survive! http://www.nidlink.com/~bobhard/survive2.html The declaration by "Barefoot" Bob that he is a "Freeman," puts him into the Constitutionalist wing of the Patriot movement Signal's Y2K Home Page uses typical Patriot Movement language claiming a globalist New Work Order conspiracy: With Y2K solving the world population problem, and marking a temporary end to the quest of the One Worlders to enslave us to a kind of socialism that would also rob us of the right to own a house and a piece of ground, there are only two Y2K matters worthy of our consideration: http://www.ocnsignal.com/y2k.htm A pop up ad on Signal's page is linked by the text: Come spend Y2K with us! This links to: Circle L Ranch campground opens Summer 1998 http://www.harborside.com/home/c/circle/campgrou.htm One of the members of the Survival Ring is Frugal Squirrel's site where one finds the: Homepage for Patriots, Survivalists, and Gun Owners http://www.logicsouth.com/~lcoble Frugal has a "Survivalist Information Library" sporting an extensive book, computer text file, and resource list. Note the linkage of survivalism with the "Patriot" movement and gun owners http://www.logicsouth.com/~lcoble/password/survival.html Frugal's includes public message area discussion groups on:
Frugal's site is sponsored in part by "Art's Emergency Food Storage Supply," Art's Emergency Food Storage Supply features an animated countdown banner clock "Caution! Only [year/month/day/hour/minutes/seconds] Before the Year 2000!!! The focus of Art's Emergency Food Storage Supply is clearly emergency preparedness with an effort to avoid overt politicization of the Y2K issue. Yet the text and tone reinforces the more political and apocalyptic interpretations Don't get caught unprepared!" The site offers the following newsgroup discussions: Free Food Storage and Survival Newsgroups: http://www.1source.com/~pollarda/foods Some militia groups are taking the Y2K problem very seriously Subject: Re: Y2K The web page of the Ted Davis (Memorial) Brigade militia opens with the heading: "Stop All Federal Abuses Now!!!" accompanied by the colonial-era graphic of a snake cut apart in segments with the slogan: "Join or Die." The home page reprints a transcript of a June 9, 1998 news broadcast from Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcast Network, reported by David Snyder, headlined: "Y2k Blackout? Keeping The Power In America's Power Grid." The supply of abundant electrical power is one of America's most dependable resources. But experts warn that Y2K -- the Year 2000 computer crisis -- threatens to disrupt service throughout the country. CBN News reporter David Snyder explains the struggle to keep the lights on after the year 2000 begins http://www.cbn.org/news/stories/980609.asp The page then has text: Are you ready to become a Y2K Warrior? http://www.ocnsignal.com/y2k-militia1.htm There is also a link to Signal's Y2K Home Page Mike Johnson, describes himself as the "elected spokesman" of the North Central Florida Regional Militia. Johnson has a page of "Ramblings" where he comments on messages posted by various patriots. He cites one message on Y2K: Y2K? Armageddon Jan. 1st, 2000? Johnson has another point of view: I tend to disagree somewhat. It isn't that I think that Y2K won't be a problem, and it isn't that I think we won't have to deal with a government gone completely totalitarian. My only disagreement is with the timing of the thing http://iresist.com/cbg/ramble/Y2K.html Johnson, however, rejects the idea that "The New World Order" is a "Jewish Plot." He criticizes a message making such a claim: There is one aspect of the message in question that bears some commentary. The individual who wrote it seems to think that all the problems that we are facing in America today can ultimately be laid at the feet of people who are ethnically Jewish. That point of view is not only incorrect, but also that will lead people to attempt to apply the wrong solutions to the problems that we are facing, therefore just about guaranteeing that those problems will continue http://iresist.com/cbg/ramble/Jewish.html Christian Right/Patriot/Militia Confluence with Survivalism The Christian Right and the Patriot movement are distinct sectors within the US political right, and too much can be made of the overlap 25 Nonetheless, there are ideological and methodological areas of congruence, especially apocalypticism and conspiracism. Terms like "radical right," "lunatic fringe," and "religious political extremist" are often used to conflate and dismiss such groups. For a discussion of the problems posed by this oversimplified analysis, see: Frameworks for Conceptualizing the US Political Right For a discussion of the separate dimensions of ideology and methodology, see: Mapping the Right Fear that the Y2K problem will disrupt society leads people to some form of emergency preparedness or survivalism. This is a logical sequence of events. The confluence of the Christian Right and patriot/militia movements with generic survivalism can be seen by reading the posts on various websites The Frugal Squirrel web site, a more generic survivalist site, links to a "Y2K Preparedness" forum with scores of messages with questions about storing food, buying firearms, and setting up solar panels. This is where overlap with overt Christian eschatological issues is clear. Consider the message under the topic Christian Survival Retreat: I'm interested in corresponding with fellow Christians about the coming Trib etc..Also about preparedness. Any out there interested in forming retreats or seeking special areas which God has set aside for post-trib survivalists? Y2K Preparedness links in turn to "Chuck Missler on Y2K Preparation," part of a set of audiotapes of a Y2K Conference, "What to do When the Chips are Down" with Chuck Missler, Colin Christie, and Gordon McDonald. This is Y2K combining Christian theology with a relatively moderate survivalist perspective http://www.audiocentral.com/conferences/y2k On his tape, Missler describes Gary North's comments made on the Art Bell late-night radio talk show program as expressing one of the most pessimistic views on a chaotic outcome of Y2K. Missler also cites Acts 17/11 Bridging the Christian Right and the Patriot movement are individuals and groups that share both worldviews Some Christian fundamentalist survivalists believe that to avoid Satan's Mark of the Beast, they must live apart from secular society for a period of up to 42 months. Robert K. Spear, a key figure on the patriot and militia training circuit, is the author of Surviving Global Slavery: Living Under the New World Order, and Creating Covenant Communities.26 According to Spear, we are approaching the Tribulations of the End Times. Spear cites Revelation, Chapter 13, and warns that Christians will soon be asked to accept the Satanic Mark of the Beast and thus reject Christ. True Christians, according to Spear, must defend their faith and prepare the way for the return of Christ through the formation of armed Christian communities. His book is dedicated to "those who will have to face the Tribulations." An even more militant example is the Creator's Rights Party run by zealous Christian anti-abortion activist Neal Horsley, who runs "The Nuremberg Files" website that lists abortion-providers, and runs a line through their name when they are killed HOME DEFENSE FORCES: Neighborhood Watch With Teeth http://www.christiangallery.com/creator.html Horsley also offers an essay by Michael Bray, who wrote "A Time to Kill," a book that justifies the murder of abortion providers. Bray's essay is titled "Y2K Judgment." http://www.christiangallery.com/y2kbray.html Some discussions skirt the edge of reality. Some fall over. Art Bell is a popular late night radio talk show host that promotes numerous conspiracist themes. Bell has focused on the Y2K problem on his show at least eight times in 1998 alone. 27 A web search using the Northern Light service produced 426 hits for "Art Bell and y2k," in early January 1999 His shows are discussed on the web with snippets such as: "[Bell] Investigates Plants From Outer Space" and announces that "The fellow who provided the videotaped interview with an alien from Area 51 will be on the show soon." In 1998 Barnes and Noble featured Art Bell's book, The Quickening : Today's Trends, Tomorrow's World, face out in the Social Science section of the store. This gave an imprimatur of legitimacy to a conspiracist apocalyptic text. 28 Y2K expert Gary North made three appearances on the Art Bell program in 1998. 29 Bell also hosted Chuck Missler. 30 Missler's ministry offers an audio cassette report titled: "Y2K the Millennium Bomb" available as an audio feed online http://www.audiocentral.com/y2k Both North and Missler have written extensively on Christian theological matters The Fall 1998 issue of Intelligence Report from the Southern Poverty Law Center carried an article titled "Millenium 'Y2Kaos.' " Intelligence Report cited these additional examples of Y2K survivalism: Norm Olson, a Michigan militia leader, is busy doing "wolfpack" training for the apocalypse, reports Media Bypass, a magazine popular among Patriots. "Survival is the key. As with most other people, we will rely on our self-supporting 'covenant community,' " said Olson, who believes constitutional rights probably will be suspended before the real crisis hits. "It will be the worst time for humanity since the Noahic flood." Within the broad Patriot movement is a subset called the Christian Patriots, which includes followers of the Christian Identity theology. This is complicated, but it is an important distinction. Ken Stern puts it this way: Some commentators do not distinguish between Christian Identity and Christian Patriotism because, on the American far right, most who are Identity adherents are also Christian Patriots http://www.ifas.org/fw/9610/militias.html Followers of Christian Identity, a theology rejected by all mainstream Christians, say that the United States is the promised land and white Christians are God's chosen people. The neo-Nazi version of Christian Identity says Jews are satanic agents. Some Ku Klux Klan and racist skinhead groups now espouse neo-Nazi Identity philosophy Their millennialist ideology plans for an imminent apocalyptic race war, making the threat of violence especially real. History has proved they act on their beliefs, which were behind the assassination of Denver talk show host Alan Berg, a spree of armed robberies and murders, the tragic shootout between federal agents and the Weaver family in Idaho, and -- by some accounts -- even in the recent brutal dragging death of a black man in Jasper, Texas Three men suspected of shooting a law enforcement officer while attempting to steal a water truck in Colorado in 1998 had talked to friends about the coming collapse of society, using patriot-style rhetoric. Two reportedly attended meetings of a local patriot group. Investigators say Alan "Monte" Pilon and James McVean, construction workers who hailed from southwest Colorado, armed themselves for a violent conflict they believe will follow the millennium meltdown. The third suspect, Robert Mason, killed himself rather than surrender to law officers. 32 According to an article by Greg Burton in the Salt Lake City Tribune, June 21, 1998: Investigators say Alan "Monte" Pilon and James McVean, construction workers who hailed from southwest Colorado, armed themselves for a violent conflict they believe will follow the millennium meltdown. The third suspect, Robert Mason, killed himself rather than surrender to law officers.33 http://www.sltrib.com/1998/jun/06211998/utah/39732.htm The article quoted Jerry Martin, sheriff in Dolores County, CO, saying "They all talked about the end of the world...They even had their own name for it -- Vampire 2000." Vampire Killer 2000 is a publication by patriot leader and former Arizona law enforcement officer, Jack McLamb who runs Police Against the New World Order. According to McLamb, the New World Order plans to impose tyranny at any movement. A report with the same name, Vampire Killer 2000, is readily available on the web. See, for example: http://www.hevanet.com/nitehawk/nwo48.html This concept attracts attention from both left and right http://www.xmag.com/xmag/vampire.html Confrontations are likely to increase as we near the year 2000. However, the conspiracist scapegoating of right wing populism like that in the patriot and armed militia movements creates not only individual acts of violence, it also creates what Mary Rupert has dubbed "a seedbed for fascism." 34 Right wing populism is a recruitment pool for the far right For some in the far right see 2000 as a time of chaos when the final race war will happen. James Wickstrom is an example. According to Intelligence Report: "Prepare for war. It's coming!" Intelligence Report cited these additional examples of Y2K survivalism: Writing in The Jubilee, the leading periodical of the racist and anti-Semitic Christian Identity religion, correspondent Chris Temple says that "the net result of the Year 2000 problem as I have described it will be POSITIVE! Internationalism and capitalism will be dealt severe blows; efforts to recapture local control ... will spread." William Pierce, leader of the neonazi National Alliance, scoffs at both Christian pre-millennialists and Y2K alarmists The Millennium Bug and "Mainstreaming" the News Free Speech - November 1998 - Volume IV, Number 11 http://www.natvan.com/free-speech/fs9811b.html
~1 Philip Lamy, Millennium
Rage: Survivalists, White Supremacists, and the Doomsday Prophecy,
(New York: Plenum, 1996)
~2 Charles Cameron, "Apocalyptic:
a hidden dimension to the Y2K problem," online, Center for Millennial
Studies, < http://www.mille.org/~>.
~3 "Y2Kaos," Intelligence
Report., Southern Poverty Law Center, Fall 1998 (#92).
~4 Cameron, "Apocalyptic:
a hidden dimension..."
~5 For coverage of "Preparedness
Expo '98," see, Karen Olsson, "Fear and Flatulence in Mesquite," The
Texas Observer, Dec. 4, 1998, pp. 30-31
~6 Human Events,
11/13/98, p. 20.
~7 Miguel Helft, "A Techno-Inspired
Doomsday?" San Jose Mercury News, 6/24/98.
~8 Sara Diamond, "Political
Millennialism within the Evangelical Subculture," in Charles B. Strozier
and Michael Flynn, The Year 2000: Essays on the End, (New
York: NYU Press, 1997), p. 210.
~9 Cover story and series
of articles on Y2K from a Christian perspective by Joel Belz, Roy
Manard, Chris Stamper, and Lynn Vincent, in World (God's World
Publications), 8/22/98.
~10 Author attended
the workshop.
~11 Michael Hyatt, The
Millennium Bug: How to Survive the Coming Chaos, (Chicago:
Regnery, 1998); Day the World Shut Down, (Dallas: Word Publishing,
1998).
~12 Hyatt's website
includes a special message for Christians as part of a promotional
strategy, < http://www.michaelhyatt.com/christians.htm~.
Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Larry Burkett, Jack Van Impe, and many
other Christian evangelical leaders have added apocalyptic fuel to
the Y2K furnace; see, for example, Falwell's video, "Y2K: A Christian's
Guide to the Millennium Bug." online, < http://www.otgh.org/otgh_site/offers/y2k.html~;
see also the site maintained by the Inspiration Network, < http://www.insp.org/y2k/~.
~13 Arthur Robinson & Gary
North, Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival, (Cave Junction,
OR: Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, 1986).
~14 Dennis Behreandt, "Millennium
Mayhem," The New American, 9/14/98, p. 14, citing Farah, "Between
the Lines" Column, 7/17/98.
~15 Dave Hunt, Global
Peace and the Rise of Antichrist; (Eugene, OR: Harvest House,
1990); Peter LaLonde, One World Under Antichrist: Globalism,
Seducing Spirits and Secrets of the New World Order; (Eugene,
OR: Harvest House, 1991); William T. James, ed., Foreshocks
of Antichrist; (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1997);Arno Froese, How
Democracy Will Elect the Antichrist: The Ultimate Denial of Freedom,
Liberty and Justice According to the Bible, (West Colombia,
SC: Olive Press, 1997).
~16 David Webber, "Cyberspace:
The Beast's Worldwide Spiderweb," in James, ed., Foreshocks of
Antichrist.
~17 Mintz, Liberty
Lobby, pp. 59-61; The Noontide Press, book catalogs,
1989 and 1995. Phyllis Schlafly's A Choice, Not an Echo,
echoes Carr's conspiracist view of the Bilderberger symposiums,
but without the overt anti-Semitism.
~18 Paul Boyer, lecture
and seminar, Boston University, 11/12/98-11/13/98.
~19 Fuller, Naming
the Antichrist, p. 5.
~20 Church on the Web,
Video List, < http://www.churchontheweb.com/bookshop/paganinvasion/8.html~.
~21 Patrick Matrisciana,
ed., The Clinton Chronicles, fourth edition, (Hemet, CA: Jeremiah
Books, 1994). See also the related Clinton Chronicles video.
~22 "700 Club," 7/23/98
and 12/27/94, author's notes made while watching programs.
~23 Larry Burkett, The
Illuminati: A Novel, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991).
Larry Burkett, The Thor Conspiracy; The Seventy-Hour Countdown
to Disaster," (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996).
~24 "Father Coughlin,
a great apostle of social justice who courageously denounced the
bankers' debt-money system," The Michael Journal, May-June
1995, p. 10; and various undated Michael Journal reprints
handed out in the Boston area from 1995-1998, on file at PRA.
~25 Kenneth S. Stern, "Militias
and the Religious Right," Freedom Writer, IFAS, October 1996.
~26 Robert K. Spear, Surviving
Global Slavery: Living Under the New World Order, (Leavenworth,
KS: Universal Force Dynamics, 1992); _______, Creating Covenant
Communities, (Leavenworth, KS: Universal Force Dynamics, 1993).
~27 Based on searches
of Bell's website <www.artbell.com> for shows mentioning Y2K,
1/11/99.
~28 Art Bell and Jennifer
L. Osborne, The Quickening : Today's Trends, Tomorrow's World,
(Paper Chase Press, 1997).
~29 5/25/98, 7/24/98,
12/04/98, from Art Bell home page.
~30 Art Bell program,
5/11/98, from Art Bell home page.
~31 Stern, "Militias
and the Religious Right," Freedom Writer.
~32 Robert Unruh, Authorities
Speculate Fugitives May Have Slipped Away - Again," Associated
Press, 6/5/98; "Authorities Tracking Two People They Believe
Could Be Fugitives," Associated Press, 7/10/98; David Foster, "Vast
Manhunt Comes up Empty, Associated Press, 8/8/98.
~33 Greg Burton, "Cop
Killing: A Meeting of Radicalism, Religion," Salt Lake City Tribune,
June 21, 1998, online, URL: < http://www.sltrib.com/1998/jun/06211998/utah/39732.htm~>.
~34 Mary Rupert, "The
Patriot Movement and the Roots of Fascism," in Susan Allen Nan, et.
al. eds., Windows to Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Framing
our Field, (Fairfax, VA: Institute for Conflict Analysis and
Resolution, 1997), p. 96.
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