Christian Terrorism

The phrase, "ChristianTerrorism," appears to be an oxymoron, much like the phrase, "Islamic Terrorism." Although there is nothing about terrorism that is either Christian or Islamic, these phrases seem to make sense only because terrorists invoke both Christianity and Islam as justification for their murderous activities. Perhaps, it would be more appropriate to use the term of Shannyn Moore who in a May 21st blog uses the term "Christian Fundalmentalist Terrorism," and, by the same token, "Islamic Fundalmentalist Terrorism." After all, it is the fundamentalist factions whose rhetoric and actions constitute terrorism.

We have been quite comfortable referring to Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorists, but now, unfortunately, we have to face the fact we have home-grown Christian Fundamentalist Terrorists. The two murders of innocent people attending the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church were committed by a man who was upset with "liberals in general as well as gays." More recently, Dr George Tiller was serving as an usher in his church, Reformation Luthern Church in Wichita, where he was allegedly gunned down by a fundamentalist Christian. Again recently, Donald Crabtree's coffee shop in Maine was torched to the ground, presumably because the waitresses were topless.

The Conservative talking heads on TV have been quick to attack Islamic Madrasas for teaching hatred, but are they not doing the same by referring to doctors like George Tiller as "murderers" and "baby killers"? It appears to be the same violent rhetoric in both cases.