FREE ESSAY ON RESPONSE TO MILLENNIAL CULTS

RESPONSE TO MILLENNIAL CULTS

Two themes I found throughout these essays included the views of the cults towards society
as a whole and views pertaining to governmental tyranny. The Millennial attitudes of all
these groups focus on catastrophic occurrences and how they can survive in the oncoming
new world.
The two themes of social and government evil evoking the new world seem intertwined in
many of the cults. However, I find an example of cultural blame being the underlying
factor of groups/cults such as those described in 'Millenarians & Violence, The case of
the Christian Identity Movement' to particularly attribute the evils of the world to the
Jews. Although these groups criticize government and believe it to be satanic, I do not
believe this criticism is valid for it is based on their theory of Zog. Instead of
representing government as the problem, they refer to some underlying controlling group
of Jews known as the Zionist Occupation Government. This fact enables me to regard their
oncoming apocalypse due to governments evil tyranny because they are basing it on a
racial presumption. Therefore, I contend these groups base their beliefs of Millenialism
on the sole fact that Jews and non-whites are the ultimate evil that must be fought in
the tribulation. For this reason I find their blame or reason for Millenialism to be
founded on social/racial factors. These groups focus on a war between good and evil,
which breaks down to white/good and Jew, non-white/evil. These beliefs lead many of these
groups to a militant sort of lifestyle focusing on withdrawal from society and a
self-sufficient focus. With the oncoming tribulation at hand, they stockpile weapons and
food, as well as other amenities, in order to battle with the evil forces around them
until judgement day cometh and they can be saved by the return of Jesus and join him in
the new Utopian world of 1,000 years of peace following the Rapture.
The more prominent blame of government tyranny evoking apocalypse that I found throughout
the essays is a theme I believe in. However, I find these cults to be somewhat psychotic
in their views and beliefs. For instance, peoples such as the Branch Dividians, I see no
harm in letting these small groups build a commune and shelter themselves from the norms
of American life. After all, I see everything they did as the American way (I'm not
saying morally I agree with all of their actions), for the most part they wanted to
practice their beliefs in a small community. Collecting weapons is a constitutional right
given to us in order to keep government in check, yet it was the main reason our
government preyed upon these people, leading to the fulfillment of Koresh's prophecy.
Here was an example of a cult who believed the Babylonian power of U.S. government wanted
to take over the world by force and institute a slave like world socialistic government.
Koresh, for them, seemed to decipher Revelation scripture explaining the seven seals, and
had them believing Armaggedon was at hand and they must battle the evil Babylonians in
the cosmic struggle of good and evil. This battle would bring Gods Kingdom to earth and
even in death they would be saved, for they will sit righteously in the eyes of God. With
these apocalyptic beliefs it is no wonder why these otherwise peaceful people reacted in
the way they did, defending their righteous sanctuary in the eyes of their God, against
the evil Babylonian empire. Government as the underlying theme of apocalypse in this
cult, turned out to be a fulfilled prophecy in the eyes of the Branch Dividians.
All of the essays focused on catastrophic occurrences in the new world and how to prepare
for survival. Some thought eternal spiritual existence was the answer, such as the Solar
Temple cult. They seemed to participate in a mass suicide ritual believing their internal
energys would transcend into a new, better world. Other cults like the Aum Shinrikyo
developed a system of becoming self-sufficient in all areas; from education to medicine,
and priesthood to science/technology. This group sought survival by extending survivalism
to areas most survivalists do not focus on.
In the extent of survivalism and government tyranny, I agreed with some of the groups
mentioned, mostly that of the Soldiers of Fortune. I agree in so far as being prepared
for the fall of industrial society and /or governmental oppression. Where I differ with
all of these groups is the fact that each and every one of them seem to single out
peoples based on race or religious backgrounds and place blame on these groups of
individuals; whereas, my blame is on those who believe they are better than others as
well as those people who believe their claims to this world/land are greater than anyone
elses.