Modern Christianity: Christian Identity movements

Eve and Adam 483-502, Chester Quarles' Christian Identity (2004) 66-127.

Preadamite Theory and the Christian Identity Movement: Race, Hierarchy, and Genesis 1-3 at the Turn of the Millennium:

The Preadamite theory states that Adam and Eve were created after another race of people, the people created in Gen 1.  Adam and Eve were white and were superior, according to this theory.  This, along with the idea that Jews are descended from Eve and Satan, was in the post-Civil War era as well as in the 1970s with the rise of the Aryan nations. 

D.G.Phillips wrote article in 1868 in response to the freeing of the slaves after the Civil War.  In his article he stated that blacks were not descendents of Adam and Eve and question their humanity itself.  He concluded that blacks were sub humans, created before Adam and Eve and therefore inferior to them.  He also discusses the identity of the serpent.  He argues that when blacks were created they were not slaves by nature, but they were still subordinate to Adam.  He believes they were condemned to slavery because of their offenses, which he names later. Mankind was created in Genesis 1:26-27.  At this creation all races were created, and if blacks are human and they were created here too.  He examines the Hebrew and claims that in the use of 'man' and the materials used to make him the author is saying that man was created with red clay this chapter.  This may have a connection to his skin color, not to say that he's a red man but rather a white man created on the sixth day.  Where did the other races come from? They were created on the fifth day.  He claims that they came from a being which from its size and shape and partial confirmation had the image of a man.  He notes the curse of Ham in the Noah's Ark story, and makes a distinction that that was not where slavery was first put upon another race but rather it was in the beginning in Genesis 1-3.  He claims that Adam was more intelligent and exalted then this other being, superior to him but not in a slave to master relationship.  Next he examines the serpent.  He claims that the word serpent in Hebrew does not in any way mean serpent.  Instead the serpent was really a black man.  He argues that white and black men's bones and bone structure are completely different and uses this as definitive science to finally prove his point that blacks are inferior, they sinned and they should be slaves.

Next author was Prospero (he uses a very clever title for his article which is very Shakespearean).  He believes the science proves the races didn't come from a single source, although the Biblical account seems to say differently.  But it actually, he argues, the Bible records to creation stories of humans.  The creation of white men is in Genesis chapter 2:7 – 25.  Wipes began agriculture, domestic life and society.  They were created to be the builders, the farmers, the artists and scientists.  They were mean to be superior to the nomadic gatherers that has existed before Adam.  Now, God took care of all the extra races of Christianity because Christianity is open to all races as stated in the New Testament.  Further evidence for these extra races is found when no suitable helper is found for Adam in the race already there.  And just like Phillips, prospero argues that the serpent was a black man and a member of one of the races that existed before Adam.  The text states that the reason he's called a serpent in the text is because it describes him as well as being vile like a reptile.  He uses the image of an African medicine man, a whispering and seductive sorcerer.   He adds on to this argument that White for superior when they fell because they felt shame and cover themselves, they had modesty for their race.  Whereas, he says that Africans both men and women often go about naked and feel no shame.  On the issue of slavery he mentions that slavery was tolerated in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament.  Why then did the south of the Civil War if they weren't doing anything wrong?  He argues that the crime of the south committed was not slavery but 'amalgamation', that is, having sex with slaves.  

The next author was W. A. Swift.  He begins by discussing the flood in the implication that has of our view on human ancestry.  Is the flood was a worldwide occurrence then all races would have to be descendents of Noah.  But he argues that this was a localized event, not worldwide.  He takes the Hebrew as support, saying that in Hebrew what is described as being flooded was an area of land not the world.  He believes that a trace had its own spot, so other races survive the flood event.  Next he discussed his creation to tackle with the issue of Adam's descendants.  I noted that he calls the days of creation eras or cycles of time.  Swift believe that the first race of man was created on the sixth day but they succumbed to Satan's dominion in that era.  This first race was nomadic.  On the seventh day God both arrested and created the Admites, these were the white race and descendents of Adam.  This race of men with able and knowledgeable and were meant to be farmers.  They were a divine grace and giving the command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is described as the racial tree made up of the people and races.  They were commanded not to mongrelize in order to maintain the holy seed.  He is the first author in this group to even mention the tree.  Next he talks about Eve.  He says that no ribbon is in the original Hebrew but it says a feminine portion was taken from the man.  This was a separate act from creation on the six-day.  The active creating man on the seventh day established his racial supremacy and Judy to carry out the destiny of building God's kingdom.  

Richard Butler was the leader and founder of Aryan nations.  He believed that white Anglo-Saxon with a true Israel and had a duty to maintain the purity of the race.  He lists a statement of beliefs held by the people in the Aryan nation's group.  They believe that the Bible is the family history of the white race.  They believe that they are the children of Yahweh and Sons of Adam; not all races are descended from Adam, only whites.  They believe that the 12 tribes of Israel are now scattered into the Anglo-Saxons, the Celts, the Scandinavians, and the Teutonic peoples.  They believe that Abraham was the father of all these nations.  They also believe that the children of Satan are real and descended from Cain, the offspring of Eve and Satan.  These descendents are the Jews.  They believe that the Jews are the adversary of the white race and God.  They believe the Jews are out to destroy the racial politics, the white culture, and racial purity.  Those who can resist them are called chosen and faithful.  They believe that a battle is constantly raging against him and that the Aryans are the true Israel of the Bible not the Jews.  They believe that the plan of Yahweh is to bless all people through the seed of Abraham.  They believe that the present world problems are the results of the white race's disobedience of God's laws.  They believe that the white race is in charge of the earth and holds divine power.  They believe that every foundation of faith and worship is racial truth, for the Aryan, Christianity and the race are one.  Sex with other races is prohibited and everything should be done for the improvement of the white race.  Additionally, they believe in the science of eugenics. Butler backs up many of these claims of white supremacy with the Adam and Eve story, mostly the work written by Swift.

On the women, Butler writes that their only point in life is to have children and maintain the domestic sphere, to support their husbands.  The tasks and spheres of men and women are separate but complementary.  everything they do must be done to maintain the national community, national interests come before private interests.  

From these authors I am left with a few critiques.  None of them seem to go past Genesis 2.  they do not delve deeply into the story of the fall or the consequences.  Additionally they do not take the two stories from Genesis 1 and from Genesis 2 and 3 as separate but together.  Also they seem to imply that supremacy is dictated by order of creation.  If this is so witty Eve be superior to Adam?  Overall, these authors leave out large amounts of the story and do not take the story at face value but try to their interpretations fit the story.  

From many of Butler's writing a movement called Christian identity emerged in America and Europe.  Christian identity believe that Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians, Germanics and related peoples are the true Israel.  Basically that the true Israel are white Christian who have learned their true identity as descendents of Jacob.  They believe that contemporary Jews are descendents of Cain and are the offspring of Satan and Eve.  Blacks and other nonwhites are considered God's creation but without the same standing as whites.  Within this movement there is much debate whether or not other races can go to heaven.  But some things that groups within this group agree on his racial purity, separatism and white supremacy. They follow Swift's and Butler's beliefs concerning Adam and the other races at creation.  That is, the idea of a race preceding Adam and his superiority over it.  They believe that the Bible is all about the history of the white race.  Those who adhere to these beliefs are sometimes indistinguishable from ordinary church members; they hold the same beliefs about salvation and divine inspiration.  Those who support Christian identity use similar language but use more identity terms and express more Christian patriotism, but it really only differ in ideas of race.  Christian identity supporters tend to twist Bible verses, fit scripture to their police and believe that covenants applied to them and not to the Jews.  This movement is not centralized or organized and does not apply to any single denomination.  There is no set leader.  They do not except Jews are nonwhites into their congregation.  

This movement has divided into several groups who hold similar beliefs.  The American Israel believes that white, Chritsian Americans are the 10 lost tribes.  They are the true Israel that is descended from the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom who migrated to Europe after the Assyrian exile.  The believe in white supremacy, that America is the new promised land and that racial purity makes for America's security.  The US is the nation that Bible promised to restore, divine government with the only true religion.  They are God's chosen people, not the Jews.  Jews are the enemy that wants to set up a one world government and take control.  They also have conspiracy theories about the government.  They believe that the US government wants to take away their right and property, especially their guns.  And so, they do not trust the government and seek to tear it down, sometime violently.  Racial Militias and American Israel groups have issued terrorist threats and hold ideas of holy war.  They think that war will help Aryan realize their identity and prepare them for Armageddon.  They are strong supporters of the documents on which the US was founded, the Bill of Right and Constitution.  These documents are sacred and God-given.  

British Israel is a Christian Identity group in Britain, similar to the American Israel.  They believe that the Bible is a racial book detailing the history of the white race.  They support racial purity and hold belief about Jesus similar to those of traditional Christians.  They also accept Jews and nonwhites into congregations.

Seedlines Identity is another American group that is narrow, constrictive and subjectively interpretive.  They strong believe in the exilic migration of Israelite to Europe and that these people were the true Christian church, protected by God.  The also believe that Yahweh doe snot love everyone, just the obedient.  To them, Jews and nonwhites are doomed, condemned eternally.  

Bloodline Identity also believes that the Bible is a racial book.  However, they believe that the text has been tampered with over time and there is much debate about how accurate today's manuscripts are.  They seek to reestablish God's kingdom and follow many of the beliefs of Swift and Butler.  They also believe that there is a ranging battle against evil always going on that they must fight, especially to win America back for God.  They hold some specific view about Biblical events like the Flood and the end times.  In terms of the Flood story, they believe that Noah was racial pure, the last pure blood Adamite, and need to be saved.  Also, the flood was a localized event, not worldwide, and in order for the Genesis 3:16 covenant to occur, the seed of Satan also had to be on the ark.  

Many of these Christian Identity beliefs have stemmed from the unfairness that rural populations feel from the government and big business.  They see that society is spinning out of control and falling away from christian values.  Many argue for nativism: favoring interests of native inhabitants over new comers (but not for Native Americans, for caucasians).  In terms of Biblical translations, they usual believe only one or two translations are correct, but there are many disputes. Most use KJV or New KJV.  Some also believe that the Bible contain mysteries and codes, specifically concerning the white Israelites.

It is amazing that such ideas have sprung from a few writers interpreting Genesis and what they believe it says about the origins of racial difference.  This is just a summary of how Christian Identity movements have come out of such writing and are no where near the depth that these group really have.