Understanding Apocalyptic Terrorism This book explores a cross- cultural worldview called ‘radical apocalypti- cism’ that underlies the majority of terrorist movements in the twenty- first century. Although not all apocalypticism is violent, in its extreme forms radical apocalypticism gives rise to terrorists as varied as members of Al Qaeda, Anders Behring Breivik, or Timothy McVeigh. In its secular variations, it also motivates ideological terrorists, such as the eco- terrorists Earth Libera- tion Front or The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. This book provides an ori- ginal paradigm for distinguishing between peaceful and violent or radical forms of apocalypticism and analyzes the history, major transformations, and characteristics of the apocalyptic thought system. Using an inter- disciplinary and cross- cultural approach, this book discusses the mecha- nisms of radicalization and dynamics of perceived oppression and violence to clarify anew the self-i dentities, motivations, and goals of a broad swath of terrorists. As conventional counter- terrorism approaches have so far failed to stem the cycle of terrorism, this approach suggests a compre- hensive “cultural” method to combating terrorism that addresses the appeal of radical apocalyptic terrorist ideology itself. This book will be of much interest to students of apocalypticism, polit- ical violence, terrorism and counter-t errorism, intelligence studies, reli- gious studies, and security studies. Frances L. Flannery is Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Terrorism and Peace (CISTP), James Madison University, USA, and author of Dreamers, Scribes and Priests: Jewish Dreams in the Hellenistic and Roman Eras (2004) and co- editor (with Rodney Werline) of Experientia, Volume One: Inquiry into Religious Experience in Early Judaism and Early Christianity (2008). Political Violence Series Editor: David Rapoport This book series contains sober, thoughtful, and authoritative academic accounts of terrorism and political violence. Its aim is to produce a useful taxonomy of terror and violence through comparative and historical ana- lysis in both national and international spheres. Each book discusses origins, organizational dynamics and outcomes of particular forms and expressions of political violence. Aviation Terrorism and Security Right- Wing Extremism in the Edited by Paul Wilkinson and Twenty- First Century Brian M. Jenkins Edited by Peter H. Merkl and Leonard Weinberg Counter- Terrorist Law and Emergency Powers in the United Terrorism Today Kingdom, 1922–2000 Christopher C. Harmon Laura K. Donohue The Psychology of Terrorism John Horgan The Democratic Experience and Political Violence Research on Terrorism Edited by David C. Rapoport and Trends, achievements and failures Leonard Weinberg Edited by Andrew Silke Inside Terrorist Organizations A War of Words Edited by David C. Rapoport Political violence and public debate in Israel The Future of Terrorism Gerald Cromer Edited by Max Taylor and John Horgan Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism The IRA, 1968–2000 The globalization of martyrdom Analysis of a secret army Edited by Ami Pedahzur J. Bowyer Bell Terrorism versus Democracy Millennial Violence The liberal state response, second Past, present and future edition Edited by Jeffrey Kaplan Paul Wilkinson Countering Terrorism and WMD Unconventional Weapons and Creating a global counter- terrorism International Terrorism network Challenges and new approaches Edited by Peter Katona, Edited by Magnus Ranstorp and Michael D. Intriligator and Magnus Normark John P. Sullivan International Aviation and Terrorism Mapping Terrorism Research Evolving threats, evolving security State of the art, gaps and future John Harrison direction Edited by Magnus Ranstorp Walking Away from Terrorism Accounts of disengagement from The Ideological War on Terror radical and extremist movements Worldwide strategies for John Horgan counter- terrorism Edited by Anne Aldis and Understanding Violent Graeme P. Herd Radicalisation Terrorist and jihadist movements The IRA and Armed Struggle in Europe Rogelio Alonso Edited by Magnus Ranstorp Homeland Security in the UK Future preparedness for terrorist Terrorist Groups and the New attack since 9/11 Tribalism Edited by Paul Wilkinson Terrorism’s fifth wave Jeffrey Kaplan Terrorism Today, Second Edition Christopher C. Harmon Negotiating with Terrorists Strategy, tactics, and politics Understanding Terrorism and Edited by Guy Olivier Faure and Political Violence I. William Zartman The life cycle of birth, growth, transformation, and demise Explaining Terrorism Dipak K. Gupta Causes, processes and consequences Global Jihadism Martha Crenshaw Theory and practice Jarret M. Brachman The Psychology of Combating Terrorism in Northern Counter- Terrorism Ireland Edited by Andrew Silke Edited by James Dingley Terrorism and the Olympics Leaving Terrorism Behind Major event security and lessons Individual and collective for the future disengagement Edited by Anthony Richards, Edited by Tore Bjørgo and John Horgan Peter Fussey and Andrew Silke Irish Republican Terrorism and Prisons, Terrorism and Extremism Politics Critical issues in management, A comparative study of the official radicalisation and reform and the provisional IRA Edited by Andrew Silke Kacper Rekawek The Psychology of Terrorism, Fault Lines in Global Jihad Second Edition Organizational, strategic and John Horgan ideological fissures Edited by Assaf Moghadam and Victims of Terrorism Brian Fishman A comparative and interdisciplinary study Militancy and Political Violence in Edited by Orla Lynch and Shiism Javier Argomaniz Trends and patterns Edited by Assaf Moghadam Lone- Actor Terrorists A behavioural analysis Islamist Radicalisation in Europe Paul Gill An occupational change process Daniela Pisoiu Understanding Terrorism Innovation and Learning An International History of Al- Qaeda and beyond Terrorism Edited by Magnus Ranstorp and Western and non- Western Magnus Normark experiences Edited by Jussi Hanhimäki and Evolutionary Psychology and Bernhard Blumenau Terrorism Edited by Max Taylor, Jason Roach Democracy and Terrorism and Ken Pease Friend or foe? Leonard Weinberg Understanding Apocalyptic Terrorism State Terrorism and Human Rights Countering the radical mindset International responses since the Frances L. Flannery end of the Cold War Edited by Gillian Duncan, Orla Lynch, Gilbert Ramsay and Alison Watson Understanding Apocalyptic Terrorism Countering the radical mindset Frances L. Flannery First published 2016 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2016 Frances L. Flannery The right of Frances L. Flannery to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing- in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data Flannery, Frances. Understanding apocalyptic terrorism: countering the radical mindset / Frances L. Flannery. pages cm. -- (Political violence) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Terrorism--Religious aspects. 2. Terrorism. 3. Political violence-- Religious aspects. I. Title. BL65.T47F53 2016 363.325'17--dc23 2015010689 ISBN: 978-1-138-77954-9 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-77116-8 (ebk) Typeset in Baskerville by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear For Harry, Sam, Lloyd, and Susie This page intentionally left blank Contents List of abbreviations xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 PART I Roots of the apocalyptic worldview 15 1 The original Book of Revelation 17 2 By this sign you will conquer: transformations of the Book of Revelation 34 PART II The apocalyptic formula and terrorism 57 3 How not to make a terrorist: peaceful vs. radical apocalypticism 59 4 “One who swims in the sea does not fear rain”: Al Qaeda and Sunni radical apocalypticism 84 5 The case of the self- declared “Islamic State”: ISIS/ISIL 127 6 “The Lord God is a Man of War”: Christian Identity teaching and radical apocalyptic terrorism 143 7 The humanpox versus green fire: eco- terrorists and eco- activists 186 8 Bringing Armageddon: Aum Shinrikyo 214