“We are not sure whether he was alone or had help,” a police official, Roger Andresen, said at a televised news conference. “What we know is that he is right-wing and a Christian fundamentalist.” -NYTimes
Before everyone wants to call this guy a “Christian fundamentalist” – and most people realize that Christians of any sort aren’t the sort to go on rampages of mass murder, but for sake of argument let’s continue – let’s look at what he actually wrote:
Admittedly Contradicts “Biblical Teachings”
First, he explicitly authorizes “sexual stimuli” and “any and all methods that will contribute to keep your moral and motivation up” for this mission of blowing up buildings and killing people.
p.836 - Breivik's European Declaration of Independence
If you have met any Christian fundamentalists (or heard about them on A Prairie Home Companion), they may differ on many things but they’re not big on publicly encouraging “sexual stimuli.” Some individual Christian fundamentalists may have fallen into such things, but they don’t proclaim it as “permitted and even encouraged.” And Berivik picks up on the problem that it poses:
p.836 - Breivik's European Declaration of Independence
For those new to church history, fundamentalist Christianity is rather simple – its about the fundamentals of Christianity – mainly, the Bible. In fact the World Congress of Fundamentalists (yes there is such a thing) is sponsored by the International Testimony to an Infallible Bible. So – for people to label someone who calls for “certain measures [that] are obviously in violation to biblical teachings” as a “Christian fundamentalist” is not an appropriate use of the English language.
Supports the Protestant church “being absorbed by Catholicism”
If there is a second defining factor about fundamentalist Christians after a belief in an inerrant, infallible Biblical revelation, it is that of ecclesiastical separation (the belief that they cannot in good conscience worship together with certain groups due to theological differences). Out of a quest for purity they believe in ecclesiastical separation from Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, and even Southern Baptists!
So, let’s look at the religious views of Berivik:
p.1388 - Breivik's Declaration of European Independence
While fundamentalists may be in favor of a second Protestant Reformation, they would not be wanting to be part of a unified Catholic-Protestant church. This is not because of any anti-Catholic bias, but the fact that Christian Fundamentalists have theological differences with Catholics AND many Protestants.
And by the way – the guy describes himself as “moderately religious.” Again not a typical trait of Christian fundamentalists (they tend to be at church four times a year).
Finally – let’s look at his coalition:
p. 1346
Breivik is highly optimistic about the size of his coalition – and it includes pretty much everyone. A bit broader than your typical Christian Fundamentalist group.
Focus on pre-Christian Viking Era
Breivik draws emphasis to the pre-Christian roots of his name, that is a sense of pride for him. Obviously, pre-Christian eras aren’t usually a focus of fundamentalist Christians:
p.1390 - Breivik's Declaration of European Independence
Atheist members of his group
Breivik lists the members of his group the “Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici” – a revived Knights Templar – that held two meetings in London in April 2002.
p.807 - Breivik's Declaration of European Independence
Some things stick out from this document – such as the idea of a “English Christian atheist” or a “Dutch Christian agnostic.” Most people would agree that to be a Christian one has to believe in God. However, Breivik appears to have a group of CINO’s (Christians In Name Only) of whom only a bare majority actually believe in the existence of God. Not exactly a hotbed of Christian fundamentalism.
In fact he says that to be a member of his group you must be a Christian, a Christian agnostic, or a Christian atheist! If I may humbly propose an idea – Christian fundamentalists don’t believe in Christian atheists…
p. 1350 - Breivik's Declaration of European Independence
Christian fundamentalism, as well as the broader Christian evangelicalism, would strongly disagree with the statement “The cultural factors are more important than your personal relationship with God, Jesus or the holy spirit.” In contrast, the early fundamentalist evangelist Billy Sunday stated that “Going to church doesn’t make you any more a Christian than going to the garage makes you a car.”
Breivik disavows a belief in a personal relationship with God
Finally, Breivik states that a “Christian Fundamentalist theocracy” is “everything we do not want.”
p. 1361 of Breivik's Manifesto
Most Christian fundamentalists are not interested in a “theocracy” – but Breivik understands the difference between his view of a “cultural heritage” as opposed to “a personal relationship with God or Jesus” – something that is a core tenant of not just fundamentalist Christianity but of evangelicalism and other Christian groups as well.
Breivik is not a fundamentalist Christian by any means. He even admits to not being a religious Christian.
p.1297 - Breivik's Manifesto
While people are free to call themselves ”Christian” – it is dishonest to call Breivik a “fundamentalist Christian.” In fact, he admits to being a “Christian” for purely pragmatic reasons.
p.1370 of Breivik's Manifesto
Obviously Breivik has a few screws loose when he believes it is morally justifiable to kill almost a hundred people. However, it should be equally obvious that he is not a Christian Fundamentalist, or any type of Christian at all (even if you accept the term “Christian atheist”).
