Happy Easter from your local, friendly, right wing, "deather," "birther," Sarah Palin-loving "Real Americans" waiting for the return of Jesus. To prevent socialism, communism and Obama the Anti-Christ from "taking away all our freedoms," lucky for us the far right gun owners and other assorted "freedom lovers" are standing tall.
As a former religious right instigator I feel ashamed that I did my bit to contribute to this news story albeit in the 1970s when I helped start the Protestant anti-abortion movement that in years since morphed into a war on America from the right.
According to AP Sources:
WASHINGTON -- People familiar with the case against seven suspects arrested by the FBI this weekend say the case revolves around a plot to kill police officers.
Two law enforcement officials tell The Associated Press that members of the group in the Midwest had planned multiple attacks on police officers or other law enforcement personnel as a way of acting out their hatred for the government.
The officials said the raids and arrests stopped the plot before such attacks could be carried out. The officials are speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
The plot allegedly was hatched by members of a Christian militia group called Hutaree. The charges are expected to be unsealed when some of the suspects appear in court later Monday.
(By DEVLIN BARRETT (AP) March 29, 2010 The Associated Press)
Here is what's on the Hutaree Militia homepage:
As Christians we all are a part of the Souls of the Body of Christ, the one true church of Christ... This is the belief of the Hutaree soldier, as should the belief of all followers in Christ be.
We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. All Christians must know this and prepare, just as Christ commanded. Luke 22:35-37...This clearly states the reason for the training and preparation of the Hutaree.
Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment. The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, til the return of Christ in the clouds...
The Hutaree will one day see its enemy and meet him on the battlefield if so God wills it. We will reach out to those who are yet blind in the last days of the kingdoms of men and bring them to life in Christ. Daniel 11:32-35, "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33, "And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34, "Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join them by intrigue. 35 "And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time."
You can find the news we find in some of the places we have in the information sources section. Also you can get gear from some of the choice places we have on gear links...
Go to the "gear" linked to their page and you'll find the evangelical fish symbol on a catalog for military weapons. Go to "other links" and you'll find mainstream right wing evangelical organizations and other far right groups including:
Worthy Christian News
WorldNetDaily - A Free Press for a Free People
Jack Van Impe Ministries
Real Truth Magazine
Times of Noah - Current Events and Bible Prophecy
Christian Apologetic Web Site; Countercult; Evangelism
Also... a whole lot of links to news about the Middle East and Europe where crazy evangelicals think that "Armageddon" will originate and or the Anti-Christ.
People who have been reading my book Crazy For God will know that I think the media and politicians play down just how dangerous the religious right has become. And figures like Sarah Palin tied to right wing extremists are rarely asked to justify their ties.
Are the "Respectable" Evangelical "End Times" Nuts Writing the Handbook For Terror?
That's the question to ask as you think about the insanity of evangelical theology re the "End" and watch these two Rachel Maddow reports.
and
The group of arrested alleged terrorists was charged on Monday and more details about their plans were published in the LA Times. So where are the Christian leaders tonight? Are they doing anything to rein in their extremists?
No. They can be found where they always are: bashing gays, trying to take away choice from women, telling everyone else how to live a moral life, trying to "repeal" health care reform, but never standing up to their own domestic terrorists.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and the author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back