Christian Identity

Christian Identity is a unique anti-Semitic and racist theology that rose to a position of commanding influence on the racist right in the 1980s. "Christian" in name only, the movement's relationship with evangelicals and fundamentalists has generally been hostile due to the latter’s belief that the return of Jews to Israel is essential to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Top Takeaways

The number of Christian Identity groups remains relatively static. Many of its iconic leaders are dead and the prominence it had in the early years of the white supremacist movement — mainly the ’80s and ’90s — is long gone.

Key Moments

Conferences and meetings were few, although the Church of Israel of Schell, Missouri, boasted on their website that their April 19 “Feast of the Passover” drew a record-breaking number of attendees.

What’s Ahead

Certain adherents are attempting to revive the doctrine, notably William Finck of the League of the South. Finck has a sophisticated propaganda machine, utilizing his website, blogs, podcasts and social media to promote the ideology.

Background

Of all the movements that have appeared among white racists in America, Christian Identity is surely one of the strangest.

Although nominally Christian, it owes little to even the most conservative of American Protestants. Indeed, its relationship with evangelicals and fundamentalists has generally been hostile due to the latter’s belief that the return of Jews to Israel is essential to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Identity has created for itself a unique anti-Semitic and racist theology, but notwithstanding its curious 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, together with the demise of influential leaders who were not replaced, brought about its present decline.