Soldiers in the Army of God 2/7

Given the recent tragic shooting of Dr. George Tiller, I feel this documentary is of particular significance in understanding the mindset and actions of those who choose violence as a method to be heard on the issue of Abortion

Points of Note:

The Army of God is a militant anti-abortionist organization whose operational method is one of Leaderless Resistance[1], a type of cell structured organizing that is designed to be highly difficult to trace and monitor. This structure also makes coordination and cooperation between cells very difficult, minimalizing its ability to plan large operations. The Army of God coordinates communication between groups and those incarcerated for crimes against the government and medical facilities, so called 'Prisoners for Christ'

The group promotes what they call 'defensive action' as an appropriate means of ending what they, and many others view as the murder or killing of the 'unborn'. This style of linguistic language specific to a group or ideology is common among extremist organizations and cults and special attention should be paid to their terminology and its ability to foster in-group understanding.[2][3]

While primarily religious in nature, this Army of God has strong connections with certain political views, such as the Sovereign Citizen movement (itself an offshoot from Christian Identity teachings) and staunch conservatism.

I would stress however, that the views of those expressed in this documentary are not to be taken as indicative of the entire anti-abortion movement, or Christianity in America. While sharing many of the same basic views regarding the morality and legality of abortion in the US, organizations such as Operation Rescue and the National Right to Life do not support violence as a method of achieving their goals.

The makings of a terrorist are complicated, and as you will see in watching this documentary, it is often the case that those who do make that step into violence do so after feelings of ineffectiveness or weakness.[4] Acts of terror are often the result of perceived increased pressure on the group from their external enemy, in this case the United States government, as well as 'Satan', 'secularism', 'paganism' and other enemies of their extreme version of Christianity.

[1]Leaderless Resistance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaderless_resistance

[2]Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill, by Jessica Stern
[5] Ibid.

[3]Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, by Robert Jay Lifton
http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing19.html#Loading%20...

[4] Sovereign Citizen movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Citizen

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Terrorism
• Abortion
• Army of God
• Evidence

[doggygenesis]

"God Hates Murderers!" and yet you have the nerve to MURDER someone else. oh wait right you guys think it's ok to do it ONLY when it is for a good cause. MY ASS. you're nothing of your religion.

[hstg98]

People are only watching this to observe the horrible ignorance and astounding lack of education that is the crazy pro-life movement. ...and it does not disappoint!

[ryddelwearsahat]

..this is why all religion should be outlawed. I don't care about someone whining about their 'rights'-

We are past the time for religion- this is the day and age of education, not superstition.

Religion does far more harm than it could ever do good- vote for the taxing of churches, and vote to outlaw religious practices.

EDUCATE the masses, and see how much farther humankind can go, how much FASTER we can progress- and how far human rights, medicine, and technology will bound forward.

[fileboy2002]

@lukedm5 Abortion bans don't work. Millions of illegal abortions are performed all over the world every year. You'll never stop abortion, no make what you do. All abortion bans do is raise the mortality rate of women who have them. In other words, abortion bans don't save babies, they just kill women. I'll have compassion for the unborn when you show some compassion for their mothers.

[fileboy2002]

@lukaszk99 About 1/4 of all pregnancies in the US are terminated. That means an effective abortion ban would cause millions of additional children to be born each year. What is your plan for feeding, housing, educating and providing employment and health care for all those children? Until you come with a plan, you have nothing serious to say.

[spiritmartyr009]

@doggygenesis

I'm a devoted Christian, but I know a fraud when I see one. I agree with you completely!

[lukaszk99]

I cannot believe that everybody here is full of compassion for this killed MURDERED Tiller and his companions, yet nobody is for thousands of unborn children he was executing on a daily basis. People you must be seriously sick!

[lukedm5]

There is nothing tragic about Dr Tiller's death. Why is it OK to execute a murderer of an adult but not a serial killer of the unborn? The end's completely justify the means.

[ih8tu100]

@Madz1987 fine by me...I'm getting tired of this to. "I may not believe what you say, but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it." I guess this applies for us

[Madz1987]

@ih8tu100 Anyway... I think we have exhausted all the arguments for both sides. We may agree on some minor points but our major positions are irreconcilable. I will give you the last word but I think i'm done replying. If there is something you really want me to reply to then send me a private message.

[Madz1987]

@ih8tu100 "I already did respond....I responded to everything you have said so far......."

Huh? I don't understand why you said that. I never said you didn't respond to my points. Strange...