Actions
  • shareshare
  • link
  • cite
  • add
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
add
Publication . Article . 2004

Christian identity: the apocalyptic style, political religion, palingenesis and neo‐fascism

Chip Berlet;
Published: 01 Jan 2004 Journal: Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions, volume 5, pages 469-506 (issn: 1469-0764, eissn: 1743-9647, Copyright policy )
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Abstract

Aggressively dualistic versions of the Christian Identity theology in the United States are accurately described as neo‐fascist. This study will examine one such group, Aryan Nations, to illustrate how Gentile's theory of fascism as a totalitarian system that promotes the sacralisation of politics, and Griffin's theory of fascism as a form of palingenetic trans‐class populism, are complementary; and fit into a broader scholarly trend that classifies certain social movements as forms of apocalyptic millenarianism. This claim creates an Escher‐like picture in which the ‘sacralisation of politics’ leads up the down staircase to groups that add a theological dimension to a totalitarian political ideology that is palingenetic, and which began in fascist Italy as an attempt to create a secular form of sacred nationalism, thus producing a relationship between religion and politics that is fraught with irony and paradox.

Subjects by Vocabulary

Microsoft Academic Graph classification: Ideology media_common.quotation_subject media_common Politics Christian Identity Sociology Political religion Neo-fascism Religious studies Political science of religion Palingenesis Millenarianism

Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
Download from
question_mark
moresidebar