Radical Political Ideology vs Religious Devotion - Thesis Example

Introduction Religious devotion relates to radical political ideology in many ways that is independent of issues such as corporate and dogmatic dominion. These issues isolates different constructs with measures that results into different predictions. One important concern is the aspect of religious devotion being rooted in supernatural belief as well as coalitional religiosity that has roots in the costly commitment to community of believers. From the definitive perspective, religious devotion focuses on the awareness and attention towards a supreme ‘divine’ being in this case God. For instance, a typical aspect of religious devotion would be “My religion consumes my entire livelihood” (Juergensmeyer 34). There are always strong claims from religion on people’s loyalty rather than the allegiance of the entire community. This is since those engaging in radical political ideology, often times, reflect on religious devotion through involvement and dedication. Therefore, it is always inevitable to separate religious commitments to conflicts that relates to political demands. In this case, it is notable that religious beliefs as well as practices have potential support for politics in several ways. The result has been the concern and attention that is given to particular needs of minority groups distinguished by their religious affiliation instead of ethnicity or gender. 1. Waco, Texas/ David Koresh A. Branch Davidian The accurate presentation on the massacre has attracted several debates. There have been several reports concerning the death toll. In this case, the reports reveals that the ATF agents four in total as well as eighty followers of David Koresh alongside his splinter group referred to as Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists were also involved. The event occurred in early 1993 when the ATF attacked and besieged, the fortified compound known to the Koreshians as Mount Carmel. The aftermath was that the area was rent into total destruction (Linedecker 70). The Branch Davidian Leaders have organized the survivors in the society into religious groups. For instance, the new churches referred to as ‘The Branch’ as well as ‘The Lord Our Righteousness’. From history, a number of these leaders have made efforts to change the massacre site into a tourist destination. The destination would comprise of an amphitheater, a biblical petting zoo, a museum including the gift shop. There would also be centers housing different issues such as organic farm and the Ten Commandments. The purposes for such centers are to lessen the impact of the massacre since those involved prefer to be helped to forget about the whole thing (Linedecker 68). The Siege David Koresh was one of the leaders of the Branch Davidians in Waco and posed as an angel sent from God. The leaders were seen as a criminal by the government since they thought he owned several illegal firearms as well as explosives. Additionally, the government also suspected the leader to be involved in so many negative activities such as those involving physical and sexual abuse on several children associated with him. In February 1993, the sect referred to as the Branch Davidian Christians were notorious and received world-wide recognition. This made the government to send agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and firearms (ATF) to execute a search warrant in the sect’s compound located in Waco. The delegation was concerned with the suspicion of the sect’s involvement in illegal weapons hoarding. This led to a fierce exchange of gun-fire that lasted for two hours leaving six Davidians and four ATF officers dead on Sunday February 28th 1993 (Linedecker 68). The battle led to a 51-day standoff where the Branch Davidians’ charismatic leader, Howell, known popularly as David Koresh led the group through his radical sermons. The leader requested the broadcast of one of his sermons on the media before he could surrender to FBI agents. Later, a number of Davidians left the compound amidst the siege, and then later majority of those who remained perished in the fire that razed the complex (Linedecker 70). . C. Aftermath/anti cult upraises The siege took place in 1993 leading to outburst as well as criticism from different quarters. In the first instance, the newly appointed ATF Director criticized the different perspective of the ATF raid that was used during the siege. According to him, the tactical operation that was employed was flawed since they involved use of helicopters for the attack. The GAO report of 1995 observed that the Waco operation criticized the nature of the entry that was used in the compound and recommended that dynamic entry would be an option after the failure of other possible options. The siege also led to the building being totally destroyed that the area currently is occupied by cement foundation components since the entire site was bulldozed few weeks after the attack. The entire event also led to both criminal prosecutions as well as civil litigation. The Branch Davidians were charged with murder of several officers alongside being in possession of numerous firearms. Consequently, some of the Branch Davidians were acquitted of all charges including murder-related charges, but some five of the group were charged for aiding the manslaughter of federal agents. Currently, a simple survey of the area on the internet shows no signs of the compound due to the resulting ruin caused by the attack which only left a sunken hole. This was used as a bunker to provide the people with safety during the attacks. However, for the sake of compensating for the loss, a chapel was built on the roadside by the Koreshians and their close allies. This is considered a rich source of information concerning Davidian history that provides censuring for all involved in the bloodshed (Linedecker 70). D. Controversies After the siege, one of the agents who participated in the operation reported that the first shots admittedly were fired by the ATF agents assigned to check at the Davidian dogs that were within the compound. However, the agent later withdrew the statement and claiming that the Branch Davidians fired first at the officers. On the other hand, the Davidians reported that it was the ATF door team that fired first prompting them to fire back in self-defense. The use of helicopters in the attack was prompted by the allegations that there was a drug laboratory at the compound that further increased the level of controversy. This is since in the many count of charges and arrest warrant issued on the very morning prior to the attack, none was related to drugs (Linedecker 76). 2. Nazi Germany/ Hitler A. Rise to power There are several factors that contributed to Hitler’s rise to power that include economic depression and the massive recruitment that was done by Hindenburg. However, these were referred to as short-term factors that happened after 1929 that were instrumental in bringing Hitler to power. From the economic perspective it the Wall Street crash of the 1929, which forced the United States to demand the payment of its loans from Germany that eventually, led to the collapse of the Germany economy. This led to increase in the number of the unemployed persons, consequently the poverty also shot up. The situation led to advent blame-game amidst crisis that led to people seeking extreme solutions of which Hitler took advantage of the situation resulting into Nazi success in the elections. The atmosphere of desperation led to Germans shifting focus to the Nazism for help. The massive recruitment by Hindenburg led to the rescue of Hitler when he was contemplating suicide after the 1932 elections. In this scenario, the Nazis were incapable of garnering majority seats in Reichstag. After the elections the party only managed to get 196 seats that was a massive fall from previous elections. However, one of the friends of Hindenburg who happen at that time to be a Chancellor never received enough support from Reichstag. This led to governance by the emergency decree provided for in Article 48 of the Constitution. In this case, Hitler was offered the post of the vice-Chancellor in exchange to the support received from him. However, the request was turned down by Hitler who demanded for the post of the Chancellor of which eventually he was given in 1933. The situation led to Hitler ascending into power without any use of forceful means. B. Persuading the People/Ultimate leader Adolf Hitler was considered one of the most persuasive characters in the history of the 20th century. Hitler’s persuasion tactics led to his influence that led to execution of millions of people that nearly exterminated the Jewish race amidst full support of Germans. In this scenario, it was clear that not all Germans were heartless and cruel. This fact leaves us with the option that Hitler must have been a masterful propagandist that enabled him to persuade the Germans through his policies. Hitler made general policies that he left in the supervision of his subordinates to carry out (Bosmajian 65). This masterful leader used the principle of overlapping spheres of power in his leadership ranks for the purposes of protect himself against a coup. Such leadership scheme set the leaders to fight against themselves making them never to gain enough power to overthrow him. Moreover, Hitler used such incredible skills to intuit people’s moods as well as manipulating people through such observations. One of the principle examples involved annexation of the Rhineland into Germany without war confrontation (“Adolf Hitler”). Hitler used his persuasion methods at the initial stages of his leadership to further himself in the Nazi Party as well as gaining massive following. The leader succeeded since he treated the Germans as a group rather than individuals, therefore, manifesting his full persuasive style. The aspect of treating people as one entity originated from philosophical perspective that considers individuals as rational and only concerned of their own affairs. On the other hand, a group mentality is easily persuaded since they are considered unintelligent. In this case, Hitler identified the aspect that if Germans are conditioned to a group mentality, then it would be easier for the people to be more receptive to Hitler’s ideology and propaganda (Bojman 70). C. Manipulation/Holocaust The loss of the Germans in WWI led to economic crunch in the 1930’s that led to great depression. During the war, Adolf Hitler served as the frontline soldier and was known to be a gifted speaker that made him attract a wide following from the Germans (Bosmajian 68). Hitler used his power of speech to manipulate Germans who were at this juncture desperate for freedom and change. The gift with words made Hitler a mass manipulator that even gained favor with enemies within a short time. Hitler built power around him after being made the chancellor by acquiring the support of many allies, therefore, making Germany a military power house. Hitler took the advantage by staging attacks on Germany soil and putting blame on other nations, creating a sense of hate by Germans towards other nations (Bosmajian 70). The sense of manipulation went over-board where Hitler created a board game for the young children to practice killing of the Jews. Moreover, Hitler expertly used words for manipulation purposes, for instance cloaking the real meaning of extermination camps and referring to them as re-education camps. At the same time, he made Germans to believe in the lie that killing Jews was just an act of ethnic cleansing. Such expert tactics created a belief that every action prompted by Hitler was for greater good. This led to the mass murder of those he would refer to as undesirables with the Jewish people being the main target (Bosmajian 78). 3. Manson Family/Charles Manson A. Upbringing Manson was a son to Kathleen Maddox and Walker Scott born in 1934 with the name Manson being borrowed from his stepfather William Manson. Mansion was known as an individual with incredible ability of dominating others in every environment. This made him to assemble a doomsday cult around himself, later referred to as ‘The Family’. The members of the movement referred to mansion as both ‘God ‘and ‘Satan’ since he claimed to be a reincarnation of Jesus Christ (Fillmer 1). B. Helter Skelter The Beatles influenced Manson’s belief during their first Album release in the United States in 1964. As inmate he learnt music from one of the Beatles’ who happen to be a fellow inmate. Later, Manson became a staunch believer in “Helter Skelter”. The term was commonly used by the Beatles in their song that was a symbol of an apocalyptic race war that they perceived to arise between black and white races. At the same time, his actions were also inspired by the writings of the New Testament Book of Revelation. In the year 1969 the Manson’s family created an album in line with the Helter Skelter. The album would help trigger conflict between the races and at the same time, attract the young white Americans to be part of the family. Their focus was to create murderous rampages that would escalate into racial group conflicts. The song Helter Skelter despite being seen as harmless entertainment and funfair slide was to be the initiator of chaos which Manson had foretold. According to Manson, the Beatle’s song incorporated a number of coded messages with hidden meanings (Fillmer 1). C. Manipulation/Murder The family of Manson perpetrated mass murders with the first incident being that of Gary Hinman in Los Angeles in 1969. The first series of murders were referred to as “Tate” homicides that took place at the home of Sharon Tate Polanski in 1969 where three people were killed within the estate. Some of the victims suffered numerous fatal stab wounds; they had their necks suspended precariously by a single rope over the roofs. Subsequently, this was followed by another homicide referred to as “LaBianca murders” that was discovered few days after the “Tate” homicide incident. This took place at the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca who were found to have suffered knife wounds. Then there was the murder of Donald Shea a former stuntman working at the Spahn Ranch. Manson was believed to have ordered his followers to undertake such murder operations (Fillmer 1). D. Trials/His following Manson was later arrested by the police and put on trial. In most instance, the police were of the belief that Manson was driven by sections within the Beatles’ song Helter Skelter as well as the Christian Bible’s book of revelation. His action of directing murder of highly profiled people within the society was an initiative meant to trigger the ‘final day’s’ conflict. However, the police were stunned by such horrific murder crime that eventually led to the arrest of Manson. There was a major sweep on the Family members in 1969 that led to the arrest of Manson’s family members and charged with grand theft. The incidence led to Manson and his followers being charged with murder of Tate (Fillmer 1). They were found guilty, therefore, sentenced to execution concerning the Hinman and Shea killings. However, the death sentences were later changed to life imprisonment in the year 1970 following changes within the California law. Conclusion From the study it is clear that those who engage in radical political ideology, oftentimes, their involvement and dedication reflects religious devotion, and can be translated and viewed as such. However, the aspect of religious tolerance in the society could ensure peaceful co-existence of people from different religious background. It is important to note that this aspect eliminates the essence of discrimination as well as misunderstanding that might otherwise exist between those of different religious sects, therefore, fuelling unnecessary conflicts. Such peaceful co-existence is achievable through the perspective of bringing religions closer by establishing some points of commonality, and ensuring that everybody is treated with some level of respect. However, ignorance on contemptuous issues amongst religions can be a source of great conflicts within the society. For instance, the period Christians believed that Jews contributed so much in the confusion that was experienced in Germany, therefore, were seen as the generators of the evils of capitalism as well as communism. Works Cited "Adolf Hitler." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Bosmajian, Haig. "Nazi Persuasion And the Crowd Mentality." Western Speech 29.2 (1965): 68 78. Fillmer, Deborah "Forensic science and the Charles Manson murders," 2014 . Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003, p. 34 Linedecker, Clifford. Masscre at Waco, Texas. St. Martins Press, 1993, page 70-76 Read More