Warning about extremism seeping into some NZ churches

Extremism and its threat to churches was the subject of a talk at the National Dialogue for Christian Unity in Wellington last month.

Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), Salvation Army and ecumenical organisation representatives heard from New Zealand-based online extremism researcher Byron Clark, who outlined evidence of Christian nationalism and other forms of violent extremism present in Aotearoa.

Mr Clark outlined how some organisations and individuals present in New Zealand are promoting extremist theories that attempt to justify racism and demonise Government and non-Christian people. Among them are a vocal minority that use their church networks to fuel extremist positions including antisemitism, Islamophobia or violent homophobia.

Mr Clark reported that his research has shown that mosques in New Zealand approach the problem of extremism face on, employing methods of deradicalisation when they identify a congregant expressing extremist views.

He suggested that church communities could learn how to recognise individuals who have been radicalised online, as they may enter churches equipped with extremist ideologies masked as faith.

He also referenced author Christopher Lamb who said that in Europe, “The populists and nationalists were looking for some kind of soul for their politics, and they found it in some symbols of the faith”.

Another figure referred to by Mr Clark was Canadian Catholic researcher David Lafferty, who describes this phenomenon as “Catholic LARPing” (Live Action Role-Playing), where individuals adopt the trappings of Catholicism, but not the actual tenets of the faith, such as mercy, compassion, peace or the Golden Rule.

New Zealand church representatives heard how some independent churches in New Zealand had actively spread US-imported propaganda, designed to drum up anxiety and fear.

Rt Rev Rose Luxford, who has been the chair of NDCU while Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa from 2023-2025, said “churches do need to be more aware of extremist elements. When churches are in relationship with each other, across denominations, information and views can be shared and I believe that is very helpful as we navigate our way through the constantly changing world in which we live”.

FULL STORY

Anglican Taonga – News for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia (By Michael Wallace/Anglican Taonga)

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