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Christian Identity

Christian Identity is an antisemitic, racist theology that rose to a position of commanding influence on the racist right in the 1980s. “Christian” in name only, it asserts that white people, not Jewish people, are the true Israelites favored by God in the Bible. The movement’s relationship with evangelicals and fundamentalists has generally been hostile due to the latter’s belief that the return of Jewish people to Israel is essential to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Top takeaways

There were 11 active Christian Identity groups in 2022, growing modestly from nine the year prior. This further reflects the continued stagnation of this radically racist religious sect. Christian Identity tenets have become more popular with some members of neo-Confederate groups in recent years, but the movement is failing to attract new adherents with purpose, further evidenced by its 45% decline between 2017 and 2019.

Key moments

While the number of confirmed physical CID churches and organizations continues to stagnate, references to principles prominent within CID flourish online.

What’s ahead

With the release of our 2022 annual hate map, SPLC analysts noted a growing interest in Christian Identity beliefs among a smattering of neo-Confederate adherents. The number of active CID churches and institutions will likely remain small, and there is little likelihood that Christian Identity will return to the influence the movement had from the 1980s to early 2000s. Several Identity adherents have been vocal online, and some of the core features of their theology – especially its apocalypticism – are evident in the broader white power movement. Nevertheless, all signs point to the belief system remaining niche.

Background

Of all the movements that have appeared within the white power movement in this country, Christian Identity is among the most radical, attracting believers who have gone on to commit acts of terrorism.

Although nominally Christian, this movement owes little to even the most conservative of American Protestants. Again, its relationship with evangelicals and fundamentalists has generally been incongruent because of the belief of these Christians in that the importance of the return of Jewish people to Israel is essential to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Christian Identity is rooted in antisemitism and white supremacist theology, but notwithstanding its radical beliefs, it rose in the 1980s to a position of commanding influence on the racist right. Only a prolonged period of aggressive efforts by law enforcement brought about its present decline, including impactful civil litigation efforts such as SPLC’s successful judgment against Aryan Nations in 2000; multi-racial grassroots organizing campaigns marginalizing such groups in areas where they were most active, such as the Pacific Northwest and Midwest; and the demise of influential leaders.

map of Christian Identity groups

2022 Christian identity hate groups

View all groups by state and by ideology.
*Asterisk denotes headquarters.

Kingdom Identity Ministries
Harrison, Arkansas

Scriptures for America Worldwide Ministries
Laporte, Colorado

Christogenea
Panama City Beach, Florida

Covenant People's Ministry
Brooks, Georgia

Euro Folk Radio Euro Folk Radio
Chicago, Illinois

Fellowship of God's Covenant People
Union, Kentucky

Church of Israel Church of Israel
Schell City, Missouri

Mission to Israel Ministries
Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Assembly of Christian Israelites
Milford, Ohio

Sacred Truth Publishing & Ministries
Mountain City, Tennessee