White nationalists are once again using Christian symbols to spread hate

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON — A screaming man with his fist raised, a Byzantine cross emblazoned in red on his T-shirt. A white flag with a lone green pine tree and the words "An Appeal to Heaven" fluttering over the angry crowd. The Christian flag whipping in the wind from a parked pickup.

Those images on display at the Jan. 5-6 rally and riot in Washington, D.C., have raised concerns that some of former President Donald Trump's most ardent and dangerous supporters, including groups such as the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers, QAnon, 3 Percenters and America Firsters, are cloaking themselves in Biblical language to justify their actions.

The flags and other displays are the latest examples of how white terrorists throughout history, including the KKK, have cited Christianity to justify what they claim is their god-given right to control races and ethnic groups, experts said.

The displays — including a prayer from the Senate rostrum by a QAnon shaman who broke into the Capitol — have so alarmed some faith leaders that they published an open letter Friday signed by more than 1,400 pastors and church leaders condemning the "perversion" of their faith.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/white-nationalists-are-once-again-using-christian-symbols-to-spread-hate/ar-BB1e5xwi?li=BBnb7Kz

Did anyone notice that the QAnon shaman has the Hammer of Thor tattooed on his left side?

Also how many of these so called Christians realize that Jesus was a brown skinned middle easterner?

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Perversion of their faith indeed

What so-called 'minister' would remain silent in the face of blasphemy, idolatry, and other perversions of their faith? That's a rhetorical question.

[bluestarone]

2. You know, you just can't get it through their head about religion.

These people are religious fanatics will only believe what THEIR CRAZY MINDS believe!!!!! They make religion HATEFUL!!!

[KarenS]

3. We have several of those

"Appeal to Heaven" flags displayed in our neighborhood,,,,

Jeeze.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Same techniques early Jesuit missionaries used to convert pagans.

Incorporated pagan symbolism and holidays to covert them to christianity.

The GOP using age old, tried and true propaganda methods.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Are you sure it was the Jesuits?

They were founded in the 16th century as part of the counter-reformation.

The practice of incorporating pagan holidays at least goes back to the time of the Roman empire.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Yes, the Jesuits were the most successful using these techniques.

They called it adaptation and accommodation when converting pagans to Christianity.

But certainly it had been done since Roman times.

The Jesuits are considered the intelligentsia of the Catholic Church and used advanced techniques in their world wide conversion strategies.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."- FDR

Link to tweet

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[abqtommy]

8. Any casual analysis of "Biblical language" shows that there's a diversity of language. From the

inspiring to the murderous, there's something for everyone and all of it came directly from Gawd,
don'tcha know?

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Thor's hammer? Yes, and also a 'valknut'

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214860558#post23

"He has a Thor's hammer tattooed/painted on his abdomen

So I'm leaning towards Viking. Or more likely he's made up his own cult from bits and pieces of other cultures.

I am fed up with white supremists appropriating Nordic cultural symbols, especially without knowing their roots.
...
"Most significantly, a valknut, or "knot of the slain," popular among white supremacists...

"...and most significantly, placed right above his heart, a valknut, or “knot of the slain,” an old Norse runic symbol turned recognized hate symbol that is popular among white supremacists."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214860558#post23

The Valknot or "knot of the slain" is an old Norse symbol that often represented the afterlife in carvings and designs. It is often considered a symbol of the Norse god Odin. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol. Often they use it as a sign that they are willing to give their life to Odin, generally in battle.

Nonracist pagans may also use this symbol, so one should carefully examine it in context rather than assume that a particular use of the symbol is racist.

https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/valknot

Three Intersecting Triangles (right jaw) –– This symbol is known as a valknut or volknut. Among non-racist pagans, it's a sign of the afterlife and a binding of the soul to Odin, chief among the Norse gods. Among racist pagans, it signifies “that one is ready to be taken into the ranks of Odin’s chosen warriors.”

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2007/08/23/face-hate-curtis-allgier-explained

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214852991

[Bettie]

10. My evangelical SIL has explained to me about the brown skin according to her little weirdo church:

part of the miracle of Jesus' birth was that he was born of god and the proof of this was his white skin and blonde hair!

Have I mentioned she's an evangelical right wing nutjob. Her train appears to have left the station with no passengers.

[Celerity]

12. that literally is insane

part of the miracle of Jesus' birth was that he was born of god and the proof of this was his white skin and blonde hair

[Bettie]

13. Yes, yes it is

but this is the level of delusion we're dealing with.

She also home schooled with the bible as her only textbook.

[Celerity]

14. all these psychos are potential deep terrorist cells if/when a dispersed kinetic civil war starts

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

[Johnny2X2X]

15. White Nationalism the US is a Christian based movement

So it s not like they’re taking those symbols, but test her they’re just using the symbols of their faith to support their racism. A practice as old as America.