"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
Anti Semitism and the Religious Right
Catholic Priest Father Charles Coughlin was a forerunner of right wing extremism promoting itself under the guise of the Gospel. Coughlin blamed Jews for problems in America.(1) The Catholic Priest developed a relationship with Gerald Smith and Gerald Winrod, prominent Protestant preachers who shared a common anti-semitic viewpoint. (2)
Early foundations of the Religious Right posed a threat to national security in the United States. Father Cougllin's radio broadcasts reached an audience that exceeded three million. (3) Coughlin was the first to use the airwaves to attempt to link the Christian faith with right wing politics. His inciting proclamations concerning the supposed dangerous Jewish conspiracy in America were a painful part of U.S. history. Henry Ford, who happened to live in the same city at the same time, contributed to Coughlin's popularity. Ford's anti semitic newspapers were widely read in Europe before World War II. Hitler publicly called Ford a great American hero and had Ford's picture next to his desk.(4) Some historians think it was Ford's newspapers, filled with stories about mysterious Jewish world plots, that fueled the fires of ideology for the Nazi extermination of Jews in Hitler's Europe.(5) Coughlin's followers provided a serious threat to government war efforts before and during World War II in America. Bands of followers of Coughlin's programs sought to disrupt and even sabotage the war effort in the country.(6) Protestant ministers turned-politicians Gerald Smith and Gerald Winrod identified with Coughlin's politics and praised his jew-baiting lectures. Both men ran for national political offices campaigning on the promise to do something about the national Jewish problem. Winrod came close to being elected senator in Kansas. He even went to Germany just before World War II meeting with several top level German Nazis. He was known as the Jayhawk Nazi.(7) President Roosevelt took personal pleasure in leveling federal charges against the Kansas politician. Right wing extremists during this time accused Roosevelt of being a secret Jew working to use the New Deal to set up a world controlled by Jewish bankers. Winrod bestowed an honorary degree on Billy Hargis who is known in some circles as the founder of the modern Religious Right in the country.(8)
Smith left his pulpit in Louisiana to join a Christian Militia which was linked with Nazi sympathizers. This occurred after meeting with governor Huey Long.. After Long's assassination Smith tried unsuccessfully to take over the deceased governor's political machine.(9)
Gerald used his pulpit to expound his political extremism. Like many contemporary Religious Right leaders, Smith used his Influence as a minister to gain a political following. It was Smith's contention that Jewish bankers were responsible for World War II. (10) Gerald also taught followers the fascist salute. (11)
The fact of the matter is that many Jews in America suffered persecution during this time. Several in the New York area were attacked and threatened. Public meetings of groups like the Christian Front recommended the killing of Jews as an answer to national problems.(l2) Leo Ribuffo in his book, THE OLD CHRISTIAN RIGHT, calls Winrod and Smith early forerunners of the Religious Right in America today.
Gerald Smith was Huey Long's pastor while Long was governor of Louisiana, Long shared a more subtle anti-semitism than his pastor. Dr. M. E. Dodd also resided in Louisiana during this period. He would no doubt glean from contemporaries some political viewpoints. Dodd became famous for attending the 1934 Baptist World Alliance meeting in Berlin. Dodd was president of the Southern Baptist Convention at this time. While other Southern Baptists like George Truett denounced Third Reich policies, Dodd praised them. He excused Hitler's anti-semitism justifying it because of Jewish links with communism. Dodd considered Jews in Germany "outside agitators" similar to Southern caricatures of racial agitators in the South. The ALABAMA BAPTIST went along with Dodd's position.(13) Historians like Gustavus Myers claim the holocaust of Nazi Germany has its roots in American bigotry exported throughout Europe. (14) Anti-semitism is a sadly forgotten part of the Religious Right.
Anti semites are linked with an ancient forgery known as the PROTOCOLS OF ZION. This forgery from Russia is an attempt to blame world wars, hunger, and social unrest on a small band of Jews who are supposed to control the world through finances. According to the book, one Jew is worth 1,000 Gentiles. Even the Protestant Reformation was supposed to be brought into existence by this group of Jews who were Zionist.(15) The Protocols is actually a view of eschatology promoted by Russian Serguis Nilus. This peculiar Interpretation of history is akin to historical revisionists who attempt to deny the Holocaust.
THE PROTOCOLS OF ZION seeks to link Jews with Communism. The Third Reich attempted similar conclusions. Many early Communist fighters in America had anti semitic links. Contemporary Communist fighters like Billy Hargis is a prime example. Hargis often speaks of secret banking plots behind world Communism.(16)
Jerry Falwell's snide remarks about little Jews in journalism or Don Wildmon's euphemisms about Jewish influence in Hollywood are pale by comparison to anti-semitic links amidst the century's earlier Religious Right. In between Coughlin and Falwell was H.L.Hunt.
Hunt often promoted anti semitic rhetoric on his religious/political radio programs. The Hunt family believed that Jewish bankers were behind some of their financial failures. H. L. himself would not drink Dallas water for fear Jews had poisoned it.(17) I grew up with the notion that the concept of the genocide of six million Jews was the most inhumane thing accomplished in modern history. I had the tragic opportunity to go through the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. The event was a unique moving experience that would take far more than a day to browse through half the artifacts, films and tape recordings. In my own church are several men who witnessed the Holocaust through first hand experiences during World War II. The fiftieth year anniversary of the War has rekindled the study of Hitler's Third Reich. Hollywood's Shindler's List has reinvigorated interest in the tragic event that made heroes of people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten Boom. With current affairs taking place as they have, I was astounded to learn there are elements in the Religious Right community who deny the Holocaust ever took place! Such "think tanks" promote the idea that the story is a myth circulated by Zionists to justify the occupation of Israel. Armed with printing companies, professors from universities and political supporters, these theorists surmise that the story was fabricated to justify America's entry into World War II. Much in the same way that anti separation of church and state leader David Barton is seeking to rewrite history, the PROTOCOLS OF ZION and Holocaust deniers are doing the same thing. Barton had led conferences sharing time with Holocaust deniers on the program.(18) Barton is the key head of the anti separation concept among the Religious Right.
As astounding as these charges appear, they have received a newfound following. Some in the Religious Right community are spreading this malicious gossip. Deborah Lipstadt, in her splendid book, DENYING THE HOLOCAUST, mentions a few darlings of the Religious Right like David Duke. Duke believed the Holocaust was a fabrication of the media which is dominated by Jews. Duke was also known to celebrate Hitler's birthday.(19) Duke was backed by the Louisiana Christian Coalition leadership in his bid for political office in the state.(20)
Tim and Beverly LaHaye, prime movers in Religious Right fundraising, lobbying and political activities, have been linked to John Birch Society circles. Beverly, who was a featured leader at the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission in Nashville, was caught interviewing a guest social activist who was using anti-semitic literature. (21) One of the Christian Coalition's favorite sons, Pat Buchanan has been accused by Lipstadt of flirting with Holocaust denial. Religious Right leader William Bennett even accused Buchanan of hinting around fascism. (22)
The Reconstructionist movement, founded by John Rushdoony, has ties with extremist elements. The group is a favorite among Religious Right elements. One such extremist tie is the founder's link with Holocaust denial. (23) Holocaust denial is often associated with movements that label Jews involved in secret plots to take over the world. One such curious common denominator with these groups is the linking of Masons with this diabolical plot. Right wing conspiracy theorists like Texe Marrs of Austin and Virginia's Pat Robertson promote paranoid revisionist views of history. They trace all world problems and wars back to the secret order known as the Illumaniti. This Illumaniti is supposedly a union of Jewish conspiracists with the Masonic Lodge. (24) No doubt much of the controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention over Masons is linked to these types of teachings. Both Franco and Hitler banned Masons during their reigns.
The denial of the Holocaust is not a popular movement in the United Stated as of yet. The fact that it exists is cause to alarm those who cherish truth and are sickened by what happened in Nazi Germany. It is a sad reminder of the necessity for places like the Holocaust Museum. The fact that such anti semitic-elements exist amidst Religious Right circles portrays the movement as more right than religious. Rev. James Watkins, speaking at the 1995 Americans United Conference said, "The fact of the matter is simple. The Religious Right in toto is nothing more than a paranoid political movement using religious dress". (25)
About fifty miles east of me is a village fami1iar to me as the hometown of my daughter's college roommate and the high school's fighting Bulldogs. This city, Jasper, Texas, is now etched in the nation's memory as the scene of a grizzly racial murder. The alleged murder of a black man by three white men vaulted the community into the national spotlight which brought with it the world's media and outside agitators. Early reports circulated about a religious gang the white men belonged to known as the Aryan Brotherhood. The last time I visited in our prison system here in Texas I had a difficult time getting admitted. What was usually an easy process has gotten more involved. I was told by a warden that the growth of the Aryan Brotherhood and other religious fringe groups brings with it a host of people claiming the credentials of "minister".
News reports out of Jasper carried the quote that blacks were called "mud people" by the alleged assassins. The term is a familiar term to those in the Christian Identity movement. Michael Barkun, in his book RELIGION AND THE RACIST RIGHT, deals with this movement in the manuscript. When I got the work I thought I would be reading a sociology book.
I was surprised to read a book that primarily dealt with theology. Many right wing hate groups trace their roots to a movement know in America as the British-Israel theory. In short, the belief system says Anglo Saxons are the true descendants of Abraham--thus the lost tribe of Israel and the real chosen people. The theory meant that white Americans were the real descendants of the Covenant. A Yale professor at the turn of the century popularized the theory in America. The obvious question arises as to who the Jews of today really are? The Christian Identity adherents believe the Jews of today are actually fathered by the devil originally. The serpent was to have fathered blacks copulating with Eve.
Henry Ford's publisher, William Cameron, sought to link anti-semitism with the British Israel system. Cameron was on great demand in the Detroit area as a preacher. William Pelley was a minister turned national politician who once ran for office in the U.S. affiliated with the Christian Political Party. Pelley founded the Fascist organization known as the Silver Shirts in the thirties. He advocated that Jews were actually descendants of Satan. (26) This theology factors in with the belief systems of Timothy McVeigh, the Federal Building bomber and David Duke.
The book known as THE TURNER DIARIES, served as inspirational reading for some of these theological elements. It attributes urban ills to blacks and Jews. Some sources believe McVeigh was motivated by the book to bomb the Oklahoma City building. McVeigh was linked to these elements.
The link with theological viewpoints like these are catching on in the Texas prison system associated with white gangs. There are some definite connections with some of these groups who have had a forum in what was considered mainline Christian gatherings. Though on the fringe, their small numbers can pack a wallop as Jasper and Oklahoma City testify.
Fundamentalist preacher J. Frank Norris had, Gerald Smith in to speak to the congregation at First Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Smith's topic he preached on dealt with a Communist plot to deceive Negroes and Red Propaganda on campus.. Norris parted with Smith over the anti-semitic issue according to author Barry Hankins. Norris, popular in the early fifties, could not tolerate the position Smith held claiming Jesus was not a Jew. (27)
Jesus was a Jew and He taught that all races have their origin in creation by God. That is a theological point that needs to be taken up again in this country with the Religious Right.
ENDNOTES
1. Sara Diamond, SPIRITUAL WARFARE, Southend Press, Boston, Ma. 1989, pg. 3.
2. Leo Ribtiffo, THE OLD CHRISTIAN RIGHT, Temple Univ. Press, Philadelphia, 1983, pgs. 144-175.
3. Gustavus Myers, A HISTORY OF BIGOTRY IN THE UNITED STATES, Random House, N.Y., N.Y., 1943, pg. 444.
4. Roy Carlson, UNDER COVER, E.P. Ditton, N.Y., N.Y., 1943, pg. 210.
5. Myers, pg. 362.
6. Carlson, pg. 58.
7. Ibid. pg. 1.69.
8. Daniel Bell ed, THE RADICAL RIGHT, Doubleday, N.Y., N.Y., 1963, pg. 376.
9. Carlson, pg. 313.
10. Ribuffo, pg. 155.
11. Ibid. pg. 146.
12.Myers, pg. 444.
13.William Allen, "How Baptists Assessed Hitler", CHRISTIAN CENTURY, Sept. 1, 1982. pg. 891.
14.Myers, pg. 444.
15. Victor Marsden, translator, THE PROTOCOLS OF ZION, pgs., 55, 152.
16. Billy James Hargis, COMMUNIST AMERICA MUST IT BE? New Leaf, Green Forest, Ark. 1986, pg. 17.
17. Harry Hurt III, TEXAS RICH, North & Co., N.Y., N.Y., 1981, pgs., 1-119, 265.
18. David Cantor, THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT, Anti-Defamation League, N.Y., N.Y., 1994, pg. 55.
19. Deborah Lipstadt, DENYING THE HOLOCAUST, Free Press, N.Y., N.Y., pg. 5, 20. Cantor, pg. 18.
21.Joseph Conn, "The Airways Ayatollahs,", CHURCH AND STATE, Mar. 1994, pg. B.
22. Maurene Dowd, "Bully in the Pulpit", NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 7, 1995, A15.
23. Cantor, pg. 80.
24. Texe Marrs, FLASHPOINT, Oct. 1995, back cover.
25. Rob Boston, "Reinforcing", CHURCH AND STATE, Dec. 1995, pg. 6.
26. Michael Barkun, RELIGION AND THE RACIST RIGHT, Univ. of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1994, pgs. 14, 37, 91, 96.
27. Barry Hankins, GOD's RASCAL, Univ. Press of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 1996, pgs. 134-135.