Tabernacle of Hate: Why They Bombed Oklahoma City [Hardcover]

Kerry Noble (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kerry Noble knows more about the Christian Identity Movement than anyone I have ever known. His rejection of that hateful philosophy helped us avoid a bloodbath in the Ozarks." -- Danny Coulson, FBI Agent, ret.

"Kerry Noble tells a riveting story of a part of America few people could ever imagine exists. Noble has emerged from a truly incredible journey as a witness to a dark side of our world." -- James Ridgeway, author of Blood in the Face

"Kerry Noble's first hand experience as a leader within the radical racist movement of Christian identity gives this book unusual authority and penetrating insight to an American subculture that is hellbent on Holy War." -- Michael Reynolds, Senior Intelligence Analyst, Southern Poverty Law Centre and Klanwatch

"The turmoil he experienced has left him a humble, respectful, intelligent and wiser man. He knows of what he speaks and he says it straight. I am glad I have made his acquaintance." -- Michael Singer, Producer CBS News

From the Inside Flap

Tabernacle of Hate explains why the Murrah Federal building on Oklahoma City was bombed on April 19, 1995, the second anniversary of the tragedy of Waco. The story begins a decade earlier when the building was first targeted by a man who was executed for murder the very day the building was blown up. He was a member of the "Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord" (CSA), a racist right-wing cult whose puropse was the overthrow of the United States government. CSA was the subject of a stand-off on April 19, 1985. The author of this book was the second in command of CSA and it was his rejection of violence that led to a peacful end to that crisis. This is the only book written by a former cult-leader who has abandoned the racist and violent philosophy of the Christian Identity Movement. He explains how a deeply religious man could be seduced into extremism.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Pub; 1st edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0921842562
• ISBN-13: 978-0921842569
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,505,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frightening insider's view of the racial right, November 14, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Nassau Bay, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tabernacle of Hate: Why They Bombed Oklahoma City (Hardcover)

Kerry Noble brings a new and fascinating look into the workings of the extremist right in America. His experiences, his insights and his confusion as a member of CSA creates a sensitive account of a devout man struggling with both himself and the toxic dogma of an insular and isolated society. As a writer who has researched the racial right for over five years, I find that Noble does an excellent job of articulating the conversion experiences of the radicalized religious right. It is indeed a short step sometimes from moral dissension to dangerous alienation, from a spiritual retreat to an armed camp.

Tabernacle of Hate again illustrates the dangers of blind faith in any leader, the twilight zone reality of isolated individuals whose only truth is the truth from within the movements, the odd "Catch-22's" of revelation and prophecy as practiced by the Identists, and the uncompromising racial and political positions that faith demands.

But perhaps more than the examination of the radical movements, Noble's ruthless examination of himself and his beliefs add a dimension to his work that is missing from other works of this nature. Noble provides a clear understanding of how a good-hearted and well-intentioned man can lose himself in a world of fear, hatred and dark religious zeal.

Howard L. Bushart Co-author, "Soldiers of God: White Supremacists and Their Holy War for America"

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and important information for everyone, September 20, 2007

By 

Tana Grubb (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tabernacle of Hate: Why They Bombed Oklahoma City (Hardcover)

Kerry masterfully draws you into the world of terrorism just as he and his family were drawn into the group. A truly riveting tale that offers insight so very relevant to the reality of potential domestic and foreign terrorism faced by the world today. If you ever thought such groups were harmless or didn't really exist, you had better read Kerry's book!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting personal account of the far right in the US, July 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tabernacle of Hate: Why They Bombed Oklahoma City (Hardcover)

Tabernacle of Hate is a fascinating account of the rise and fall of the Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord (CSA), a now-defunct right wing militant extremist group. Noble, formerly second in command of CSA, carefully explains how he and others became caught up in the rhetoric of the group's charismatic leader, Jim Ellison, and how this almost lead to a bloody encounter with the FBI, ATF, and others.

Tabernacle of Hate is an invaluable resource for those interested in understanding the origin and inner workings of a domestic right wing extremist group. His meticulously detailed account of the mind set, weapons, and tactics favored by these groups makes this book a "must read" for law enforcement agencies who may encounter this type of militant extremism in their jurisdiction.