Anders Behring Breivik

Anders Behring Breivik (born Oslo, Norway, February 13th, 1979) , is a self-described "investor, director, manager," etc. "revolutionary conservative," "resistance fighter" — and terrorist.

Breivik was accused of, and has since admitted to, murdering at least 77 people during a bombing and mass shooting spree Norway on July 22, 2011. A bomb was detonated near government buildings in Oslo, killing 8. Some 90 minutes later, Breivik, dressed as a policeman, gained access to the island of Utoya, where hundreds of young people were attending a youth camp sponsored by the left-leaning Norwegian Labor Party. After gathering the attendees into a group, explaining that he was there to tell them about the bomb, Breivik reportedly began shooting, killing at least 68 people there.

Charges and investigation

Breivik has been charged with acts of terrorism. While appearing before a judge on July 25, 2011, Breivik admitted to the acts but pleaded not guilty to the charge of terrorism, as he believes he was acting in pre-emptive self-defense Breivik will be kept in custody for eight weeks, the first four weeks being spent in solitary confinement with no visitors, letters or access to media.

The 32-year-old murderer also said his bombing of government buildings in Oslo and shootings at the summer camp on Utoya island for Labour's youth wing was aimed at deterring future recruitment to the Labour party, which he blames for "mass imports of Muslims," which he accuses of engaging in "demographic warfare."

If convicted on the charges against him in Norway, a possible 30-year prison sentence could be imposed. However, as a Norwegian prisoner serving an indeterminate sentence must show they are no longer a danger to society before being granted parole, some believe that it is technically possible that Breivik could spend the rest of his life in prison. The prosecution said Breivik had behaved calmly and did not seem to be affected by events. The lawyer representing Anders Behring Breivik has stated that his client is most likely insane.

Norwegian newspaper VG Nett claims Anders Behring Breivik had been put on a terrorist watchlist after illegally buying large amount of chemicals online from a Polish retailer.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister had visited the Labour Youth League summer camp on the island of Utoya Thursday, and was met with claims that Norway must recognize a Palestinian state, which Breivik also opposes, as part of his nationalistic beliefs. Breivik also supports nationalistic movements in India.

Breivik manifesto and ideology

Over a period of a some three years Breivik wrote and/or compiled a 1,518 page, partly plagiaristic manifesto, 2083 – A European Declaration of Independence, half of which he states he wrote himself. He sent this to 8,000 dedicated nationalists just before his murderous rampages began, and which was subsequently converted to a PDF file and posted on the Internet after the attacks.

While the manifesto contains a legal disclaimer, (p. 766-68) yet Breivik details how Europe was invaded by Islam in the past and was defeated, and expresses plans to combat, by an "armed indigenous rights movements/resistance movement" (p. 668), the latest Islamic invasion/attack in which they employ "demographic warfare." (p. 816) Breivik resistance involves raising up an army of Justiciar Knights, PCCTS, ("Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici," or "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" in Englsih), commonly known as the Knights Templar,(p. 1509) which Breivik claimed had been re-formed in London in 2002

Breivik compendium/book presents "advanced ideological, practical, tactical, organizational and rhetorical solutions and strategies" for his war against "Islam and the cultural Marxism/multiculturalism in Western Europe," and its different political fronts, and the reestablishment of a secular "Christian" Catholic culture, and thus the restoration of Europe's cultural self-confidence (nationalism) by 2083. (pp. 4,5,802) Its extensive instructions includes prolonged violence and advocation of the use of drugs to enhance performance.

The manifesto also shows that Breivik was an active player of the World of Warcraft (and other computer games), and indicates that he was inspired by such themes.

Religion and moral views

On his Facebook profile, Breivik describes himself as a Christian. He states that he chose to be baptised into the Protestant Church of Norway at the age of 15 although he later became disenchanted with Norway's State Church, supporting “an indirect collective conversion of the Protestant church back to the Catholic” in an online post in 2009.

Deputy police chief Roger Andresen initially told reporters that "We have no more information than... what has been found on [his] own websites, which is that it goes towards the right and that it is, so to speak, Christian fundamentalist."

Likewise some reports were quick to described Breivik as a “Christian terrorist,” largely on the basis of his basic identity as one on his Facebook profile and his postings to some Christian fundamentalist type Web sites on certain shared views.

However, in contrast to the common theological understanding of Christian fundamentalism, that of "militantly anti-modernist Protestant evangelicalism," and its emphasis on Protestant doctrine and salvation by faith, in his manifesto Breivik referred to "Protestantism as the Marxism of Christianity," (p. 1346) and criticized salvation by faith and deplored "Christian fundamentalist theocracy" as "everything we do not want", in favor of "a secular European society based on our Christian cultural heritage", (p. 1346) and also commended the separation of Church and state. (p. 1132)

Breivik invoked Roman Catholic canon law and the example of the Crusades for support, and looked toward a "Crusader Pope." (p. 1135) He also believed those who died in his case were worthy of an Indulgence, (pp. 1324-26, 46) and stated, "If there is a God I will be allowed to enter heaven as all other martyrs for the Church in the past," (p. 1345) and advocated that such take of "the Eucharist (Holy Communion/The Lord's Supper)" for the practical purpose of strength to face such death. (p. 1345)

Breivik also considered it sufficient that one be "a Christian-agnostic or a Christian atheist" to fight for his Christian cultural heritage, (p. 1361, 62) and held that "it is essential that science takes an undisputed precedence over biblical teachings." (p. 1403)

Breivik denied the need for a personal relationship with Christ to be a Christian, stating, “If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian. Myself and many more like me do not necessarily have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. We do however believe in Christianity as a cultural, social, identity and moral platform. This makes us Christian.” (p. 1307)

In response to the question as to why he choose an allegiance to a group with Christian values and pan- European goals instead of a purely national/regional group, Breivik stated that,

"My choice has nothing to do with the fact that I am not proud of my own traditions and heritage. My choice was based purely pragmatism...A hateful ideology (white supremacist), death metal, Odinism, conspiracy theories does NOT have mass appeal...It is essential that we choose a banner that has the potential to appeal towards central and southern Europeans as well...Mass appeal should be the most essential factor in this strategy. (p. 1380,81)

Responding to the issue of perceived anti-Gay mentality among conservatives, Breivik stated,

The multiculturalists WANT us to fit in their pre-defined stereotype. They want us to be racists, fascist, gay hating individuals because it would make their job so much easier in their effort to label us as the scum of the earth. The truth of the matter is that I personally know several gay individuals and have known several gay people during the years and I don't have any reservations against them. Why would I care what they do behind closed doors?

However, I personally do object to the "gay media hysteria" which has been going on in Western Europe the last two decades. In many cases "alleged victim groups" are subjected to positive discrimination within politics, media and certain sectors. In those specific contexts it has become standard policy to discriminate so called "heterosexual men". Western European media, especially in the protestant countries are obsessed with cheering the gay community and other minorities they see as "preferred groups" in their so called "victim hierarchy". The glorification of "preferred groups" in the EUSSR "victim hierarchy" have gone too far. It's racist and fascist. (pp. 1357,58)

In addition, Breivik stated that after 5 years in the Freemasons he was finally accepted for rank 4-5. However, due to lack of time he decided to decline the offer and told them he would be unavailable until Autumn 2011, due to extensive traveling. (p. 1431)

In an insight on his personal morality, Breivik was fond of the clubs in Hungary, though he disliked rock music, but he avoided affairs with females for the sake of his mission, although he had engaged in fornication less recently, which he stated was "a relatively small sin compared to the huge amounts of grace I am about to generate with my martyrdom operation." He also revealed that he had reserved a substantial sum from his operations budget which he intend to spend on a quality prostitute just before or after he attended his final martyrs mass in Frogner Church in order to place him "biologically, mentally and spiritually at ease." (p. 1424)

While he avoided getting drunk due to the priority of his mission, he advocated the use of performance enhancing drugs to that end, while he did enjoy getting very drunk at a birthday party. (p. 1415) He also played video games for pleasure and motivation, such as those in the "World of Warcraft" series and "Dragon Age Origins", and stated, "I regret to admit that I’ve become a notorious downloader of pirated movies, series and games etc." (p. 1418,24,25)

Response and analysis

The attacks left the world stunned, not only due the number killed in such a manner, but that it happened in Norway, a country seen as relatively peaceful. And which was also due to the murdering being done by a blond haired, green eyed 32-year-old gunman, looking much like a Nordic ideal (he claimed Viking ancestry), who apparently had no criminal record other than traffic violations. Jens Breivik, the father of Anders Behring Breivik, who said his son cutr contact with in 1995 (Breivik was 15-16 years old), sent his condolences to "all those who have suffered" as a result of the attacks, and saiudsays he is in "a complete state of shock and has not recovered".

In less than a day over 27,000 people signed up via Facebook up for a memorial service in Oslo the next day, with numbers increasing rapidly. It was later reported that the whole country was watching the service, "Not a man in sight outside."

Geir Lippestad, Breivik's lawyer, told Norwegian media, "I think he's realized what he's done, and he views himself as sane." "He has said that he believed the actions were atrocious, but that in his head they were necessary...He wanted to hurt the Labour party and halt its recruitment in the worst possible way, referring to party members as marxists." Extra security was planned for mosques around the U.K.

Breivik wrote of having strong links with the right-wing group, the English Defence League (EDL), but which denied that Breivik had any links with them and stated that they "vehemently" opposed his actions. Daryl Hobson, who organizes EDL demonstrations, condemned the killings, and stated that,

“I spoke to him a few times on Facebook and he is extremely intelligent and articulate and very affable,” said the source. “He is someone who can project himself very well and I presume there would be those within the EDL who would be quite taken by that. It’s like Hitler, people said he was hypnotic. This guy had the same sort of effect.”

In contrast to the overall reaction by Islamic authorities to the acts of Muslim terrorists, the Christian community has been quick to condemn the attacks by Breivik as being contrary to authentic Christianity. Gordon Showell-Rogers, Associate International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), stated,

“Norway’s strong Christian history has created a long history of peace within her borders and has been a significant contributor to Norway’s very positive impact on global peace efforts.” “Evangelical Christians globally condemn religious violence in the strongest possible terms, and are sickened when such violence is carried out in the name of Christ.”

Norways’ Pro Deutschland group concurred, saying,

"As Christians and Conservatives, we want to express solidarity with the victims of the attacks of July 22. The hate that is driving Islamic assassins and fanatic individuals a la...Breivik is foreign to Christians and Conservatives."

Norwegian minister. Olav Fykse Tveit, head of the World Council of Churches, representing 349 Protestant and Orthodox churches , told The Associated Press in response to the attack,

It's important to say to all Muslims wherever they are, in Europe or elsewhere in the world, that these actions in no way can express what is our Christian faith and our Christian values." "It is blasphemous to make that kind of connection."

It is also pointed out that while religious violence was sanctioned for Israel in a limited context, under the New Testament the Bible does not offer any sanction for physical religious violence, such as,

• Christians killing others due to their contrary views.

• the church using violence in correcting false beliefs among church members

• the church exercising such to rule over those without

• the church exercising such to expand the physical territory of the church

A possible exception might be in order to save others from being hurt in an immediate situation, but that is hardly a religious context. And historically, rather than religious violence, many Christian Evangelica­l “fundamenta­list” groups have chosen to be complete pacifists, while acts such as the Crusades are seen to be the result of Biblical illiteracy and of men presuming a higher authority. This lead to the conclusion that those who assert that Breivik was acting consistent with the Bible may be potentially as dangerous as he is.

Certain liberal sources, such as a Professor Juan Cole, were quick to implicate conservatives as somewhat culpable for Breivik's rampage, leading others to opine that, “The Left tends to use non-violent passive resistance, like with Gandhi and MLK, Jr.”

To which one respondent writes,

"Your above-cited quote is a good case of historical amnesia, deliberate or otherwise... You apparently have never heard of (or don’t want to acknowledge) the Weathermen, the Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army, and others in the U.S.; not to mention the Bolsheviks in Russia, Mao Zhe Dong in China, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Kim Jong Il in North Korea, the FARC in Colombia, the Sendero Luminoso in Peru, The MIR in Chile, and other Leftist movements throughout the world that have used terrorism as a tactic. I think an objective tally would prove that both the Left and the Right are equal opportunity terrorists."

The New York Times (which Breivik references a few times in his manifesto), in a opinion piece titld, Breivik and His Enablers, used the killing to implicate Sarah Palin with the attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords, while naming Republicans such as Republicans former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Representative Peter King as "ideological fellow travelers" with Breivik, as well as "U.S. church pastors using their bully pulpits week after week to say America is a Christian nation under imminent threat from Islam." The columnist called such bigotry, while he exhibited his own bigotry against the latter group of people, linking them to the actions of Breivik, and "a racist and murderous European right."

At the least, liberal journalists charged that Breivik seems to have been motivated by the view of right versus wrong that animates the "Christian worldview," which pits Marxism, multiculturalism, Islam, etc. as enemies of God and truth, while the same journalists fight against evangelical Christian faith, traditional morals and those who uphold them as being enemies of liberalism's deleterious social experiment that has cost America and the world greatly in souls, lives and money.

Others also cite evidence that liberalism is more prone to violence and terrorism.

Many liberal secular sources were quick to label Breivik a Christian Extremist a "Christian fundamentalist with right-wing connections," or "Christian terrorist," based upon a Facebook and a Twitter account in which he identifies himself as a Christian and a conservative.

However, rather than being product of Bible-preaching evangelical or fundamental preaching, which historically has taught that it is fundamentally contrary to Christ to engage in killing after the manner of Breivik, further research revealed that the Christianity of Breivik was that of a "cultural Christian," one that denied the necessity of the conversionary new birth (John 3:3) and its personal relationship with Christ. (p. 1307)

Breivik also claimed to be an fan of some violent video games, and whose favorite television show was the serial killer show "Dexter." He was also an advocate of performance enhancing drugs for his mission, and was a somewhat advanced Mason.

Although Breivik valued Christian morality in general, and had a perverse hope of glorification as a martyr, yet much of the value he placed upon religion was for the practical purposes of fulfilling his mission.

While Breivik could express an lucid understanding of problems due to liberalism, he also evidenced various delusions, while his method of achieving a "a secular European society based on our Christian cultural heritage", (p. 1346) was itself immoral, and not in accordance with Scripture, as was much of his idea of a such a society itself.

Breivik's goal seems to have been to bring about a repristinated Norway according to the memory of his youth and his interpretation of history, with a secular Christian but Catholic culture. He saw Islam as engaging in another invasion, this time by a birth rate far above that of the "indigenous" people, whom he compared to American Indians. (p. 688)

His antipathy toward the Islamisation of Europe apparently had beginnings far earlier, as he states that he remembers Muslim gangs in the 90's "that systematically harassed, robbed and beat ethnic Norwegian youngsters who were unfortunate enough to not have the right affiliations."

However, his best friend was a man named Arsalan who was a Pakistani, 1389)and Breivik also asserted. "I don't hate Muslims at all. I acknowledge that there are magnificent Muslim individuals in Europe. In fact, I have had several Muslim friends over the years, some of which I still respect. This does not mean however that I will accept an Islamic presence in Europe. Muslim individuals who do not assimilate 100% within 2020 will be deported as soon as we manage to seize power. Although I do admit that I am disgusted by the current development, I would rather say I'm driven by my love for Europe, European culture and all Europeans. This does not mean that I oppose diversity. But appreciating diversity does not mean that you support genocide of your own culture and people by accepting for example Islamic Demographic Warfare." (p. 1382)

Breivik was anti-Nazi and also supported Indian nationalists in general which seek to make the Indian state into a "Hindu nation" and its Sikh, Buddhist and Jain minorities incorporated into Hinduism, and impugned Christian missionary work among the lower caste. (p. 1475)

It therefore seems evident that what Breivik was engaged in was a culture war for the institution of a quasi-Catholic based secular culture as opposed to Islam, but his murderous means of waging such was like unto those of the Muslim extremists that he abhorred, and which methods afforded him little moral high ground. Also, paradoxically, his manifesto, with its guide to waging war, may have provided Muslim terrorists and other violent radicals with improved tactics, while his actions are expected to make it more difficult to peacefully support conservative values.

Although Breivik's legal disclaimer states that his manifesto is "a fictional account" by a "sci-fi writer" using a new writing style "that has the potential to shock the reader with an incredibly credible fictional plot (written in first, second and third person narrative), yet it seems apparent that the only part of the book intended to be fiction was his statement that "the author or distributor does not condone or agree with any of the descriptions or methods used in this book and the related chapters." (p. 767)

However, it man be speculated that Breivik's lack of distinction between fiction and reality was fostered by his indulgence in computer games. The pretense of writing fiction perhaps also allowed him to advocate and plan things that more objectively and rationally he might have not engaged in. In addition to the calculated killing, in dealing with the need for absolutely committed comrades, he stated that,

"The difference between an agent and a Justiciar Knight is that the latter will be willing to make a great sacrifice for the purpose of proper validation. Now what kind of sacrifice would be great enough to remove all doubt that the candidate is not a EU/US agent? A Justiciar Knight is willing to martyr himself for the cause while a EU/US agent will not be willing to sacrifice much. The entity should demand that the alleged Justiciar Knight in question surgically remove his penis and testicles and/or execute a fixed number of civilian children. While this requirement seems morbid, absurd and unreasonable, it is perhaps the most effective method of confirming the intentions of an individual. (p. 960)

That Breivik understood the gravity of his planned program of actions is evident from his statements in his manifesto. In the event that he had "a successful mission" and lived to "stand a multiculturalist trial," he stated that not only would all his friends and family detest him and call him a monster, but that he would be "labeled as the biggest (Nazi-) monster ever witnessed since WW2." He wondered if he could biologically "survive the mental" pressures he expected, including physical torture, though he asserted "I have an extremely strong psyche (stronger than anyone I have ever known)," and that "I will always know that I am perhaps the biggest champion of cultural conservatism, Europe has ever witnessed since 1950."

In the end, Breivik joins a list of other deluded souls who only wanted some form of Christianity, due to some of its positive aspects, but denied the power thereof, that is, Christ and His kingdom, and therefore he choose "a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)