Persecution, Rebellion, Terrorism Cornerstones of Waco, Other Government, Religion Conflicts

COMMENTARY | On a Texas spring day in April 1993, government forces led by the ATF raided the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco, Texas. The raid and fire that followed resulted in the deaths of 75 men, women, and children. The incident became a rallying cause for American fundamentalists.

Waco wasn't the only violent interaction between government and religion in America. The areas of conflict can be broken down into three basic themes: government actions against religious minorities, religious groups rebelling against government authority, and terrorism against the government or individuals in response to perceived wrongs.

While Americans pride themselves on being tolerant of various religions, the reality is often quite different. When government officials sanction or participate in religious persecution of faiths different from the majority, they go counter to founding principles. Sometimes, initial intolerance leads to violent reaction. In other situations, the opposite is true.

The Mormon War

The Mormons experienced prejudice and persecution by civilians and government authority after the founding of the church in April 1830. Forced out of New York State, they went to Ohio, then Illinois, and on to Utah. Later, in Utah, their story turned to one of minority prosecution.

In 1857, President Buchanan sent troops to Utah, reacting to rumors of rebellion and strong talk from Brigham Young, governor of the territory. Buchanan accused Young of harassing non-Mormons wishing to settle in Utah, among other wrongs.

As the troops advanced, they ran into a scorched earth policy, with widespread destruction of crops and supplies. Young directed his side to harass the advance with guerrilla warfare tactics. Eventually, the conflict ended with little actual warfare.

The actions of the government, as well as persecution of Mormons before they arrived in Utah, instilled a deep sense of paranoia. The fear and distrust of outsiders led to the Mountain Meadows Massacre on a September day still associated with religious fanaticism. On Sept. 11, 1857, Mormons killed around 120 emigrants on their way to California.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his Oregon cult

When Indian cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh set up a compound in rural eastern Oregon in the summer of 1981, few regarded them as hostile. In fact, they were seen as different but friendly and accepted by the ranchers and farmers living in the area.

The cult, not understanding Oregon land use laws, started a conflict that led to terrorism, arrest, imprisonments, and deportations. Oregon law strictly limits the number of buildings that can be placed on ranch land. The Rajneesh cult greatly exceeded the limits.

Looking to retaliate against the state government, Rajneesh followers were behind the biggest biological attack ever in America when they sickened hundreds of people by poisoning salad bars. They also attempted assassination of officials, and even reportedly spoke about flying an explosive-laden aircraft into the county courthouse in The Dalles, Ore.

Anti-abortion terrorism in the wake of Roe v. Wade

Years after the landmark Supreme Court case legalized safe abortion in the United States, anti-abortion fundamentalists continue to react violently to the ruling. Bombings of clinics, shootings of providers, and intimidation incidents against patients have happened around the country.

Dr. George Tiller, called by Fox News host Bill O'Reilly "Tiller the baby killer," was gunned down in a Kansas church in 2009. The investigations into the killing show that while Scott Roeder acted alone, he was part of a movement that has entrenched itself in fundamentalist Christianity in America.

The September 2010 arrest of Justin Carl Moose, who called himself the "Christian Osama bin Ladin," and renewed attacks on clinics shows this is a problem not going away. Inflammatory rhetoric from House Republicans over the funding of Planned Parenthood will likely fan the flames.