From: rks@cscns.com (Island's Child)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: The Christian Right and What we're to do about it
Date: 16 Nov 92 20:39:51 GMT
Organization: Community_News_Service
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3


   Unfortunately, Corey is right. It *is* necessary to be vigilant 
when it comes to our rights and freedoms -- such as they remain. 

   My personal choice is to continue my work as a cult investigator.
I am on all the mailing lists and keep track of "what the enemy is
doing". I keep files on all the main groups that use coercion, 
manipulation and mind control as a way of keeping and using members.
Most people think of cults as being groups like the Moonies, the 
Hari Krishna and others who actually house a good portion of thier 
members and control every aspect of their lives. Unfortunately, those
are only the extremes. 

   Groups like Focus on the Family, Pat Robertson's crowd, many local
evangelical Christian churches and movements are equally cultic in their 
activities. They control the *minds* of their members, tell them how 
to live, give black and white solutions to problems, tell them who to
vote for and what their values should be. *ANY* group that uses coercion,
manipulation and fear to control members *is* a cult. 

   It is not just christian groups that evoke fear in me. In fact, my 
primary focus is hate groups. Many of us tend to write them off as
goofballs and ding-dongs. That may well be true but they are a formidable
force when they are controlled by an intelligent leader. We may not like
it but Louis Beam and others like him are *not* idiots. They know how to
use media and they know how to motivate people. Rev. Pete Peters in 
LaPorte, Colorado (an Identity preacher) is an effective and charismatic
leader and it is *suspected* (I have no proof of this) that members of
The Order were at his church the night before the murder of Alan Berg.
These are dangerous folks! 

   I remember talking with a member of Peters' church one night at a 
meeting concerning police matters in Fort Collins. He was *very* upfront
about the goals of these groups. They want a republican theocracy in
this world -- not just this country. And with effective leadership, they
will get it if we don't respond. Who thought in a million years that
David Duke would get elected? That is only the beginning.

   I think we *must* keep up on this kind of activity, teach others about
it and try to interfere with it whenever we can. In my own case, I had
an editorial columnist position at the local Fort Collins newspaper and
I used that column to pop these people and let others know what they are
doing. 

   Information is our best weapon. The spreading of that information is
the best thing we can do with that weapon. Manipulative, controlling
behavior is not acceptable in *any* group or religion. That is part of
the reason I rail so constantly against the hate groups invading Asatru.
That is my chosen religion and I will *not* stand idly by and watch them
use it for those aims. Fortunately, because of the Center, I have the
ability to get the ears of those who can do something about it and I 
will continue to do so. 

   There may be little we have to fight back beyond our minds and our
mouths. When you know about something like that, a group like that, 
*talk about it* to anyone who will listen. Those with legal ability can
sometimes force the issue with the law. But the most important thing
is to *educate*educate*educate! Let these groups know they are being 
watched. Yes, it is sometimes dangerous. I got death threats from a 
splinter group of The Order. (All I can say about that is: if they get
me, that's fine. I will at least go with honor.) This fight will not be
an easy one. 

   Thanks, Corey, for your thoughful and concerned post. If there is
any way that I, or the Center, can be of help to you -- please contact
us. You can use e-mail or write to the Religious Movement Resource Center
at 3107 W. Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 or call us at
719-636-3461. You are welcome to any information we have. 

//rks