The “Christian” Terrorist Who Wasn’t Very Christian
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
OSLO, NORWAY (Worthy News)– Anders Behring Breivik’s 1,500-page manifesto shows that the Norwegian terrorist’s depiction as a “right-wing, Christian fundamentalist” by many in the mass media may be as inaccurate as that of their so-called “Christian” bomber, Oklahoma City terrorist Tim McVeigh.
Breivik was charged with two violent attacks in and around Oslo: a bombing in the capital that killed seven, and a shooting spree at a youth political retreat that killed more than 80, but though he was called a Christian despite these most unChristian acts, Breivik’s own words reveal he isn’t very religious and actually prefers science over scripture.
“As for the Church and science, it is essential that science takes an undisputed precedence over biblical teachings,” wrote Breivik. “Europe has always been the cradle of science, and it must always continue to be that way. Regarding my personal relationship with God, I guess I’m not an excessively religious man. I am first and foremost a man of logic …”
Contemporary media reports had also characterized McVeigh as a Christian even though he no longer held any religious convictions; before his execution, McVeigh even said that his god was now “science”.
As for Breivik, his definition of “Christian” is sociological at best and contradictory at worst.
“As this is a cultural war, our definition of being a Christian does not necessarily constitute that you are required to have a personal relationship with God or Jesus,” he wrote. “Being a Christian can mean many things; That you believe in and want to protect Europe’s Christian cultural heritage … It is therefore essential to understand the difference between a ‘Christian fundamentalist theocracy’ (everything we do not want) and a secular European society based on our Christian cultural heritage (what we do want). So no, you don’t need to have a personal relationship with God or Jesus to fight for our Christian cultural heritage. It is enough that you are a Christian-agnostic or a Christian atheist …”
Breivik seems to have emulated Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher who suggested that religion was used as a crutch for avoiding decisive actions.
“I’ve always been very pragmatic and influenced by my secular surroundings and environment,” recalled Breivik. “In the past, I remember I used to think: ‘Religion is a crutch for weak people. What is the point in believing in a higher power if you have confidence in yourself!?'”
Although Breivik took decisive actions in Oslo, none of it could accurately be described as Christian.