Customer Reviews

Tabernacle of Hate: Why They Bombed Oklahoma City

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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"

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!

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.

I've read many informative books on right-wing extremism - all written by experts and/or investigative reporters. But "Tabernacle of Hate" is more than the documentation of facts and events. It's a personal journey with insight and wisdom that can come only from one who has "been there" and come out the other side. I highly recommend this book!

Kerry Noble's personal saga, as told in "Tabernacle of Hate," reveals how regular Main Street, American folks can get caught up in a destructive extreme right-wing religious/political organization. It details how self deception, abuse of power by a charismatic leader, bad company, isolation etc. eventually lead a people, who began with the best of intentions, down a violent path, culminating in a confrontation with the federal government. While enlightening the reader, Noble's frank confessions spare no one, least himself. In addition to serving as an educational tool regarding right wing extremism in the US today, the book also serves to remind the reader that pure motives are hard to come by for us all.

Kerry Noble's new book presents an entirely new perspective on the birth and growth of a modern extremist group. In "Tabernacle of Hate," Noble's remarkably candid first-person account offers the reader an inside view of how a small survivalist, religion-based private community in rural Arkansas devolved into one of the most dangerous extremists groups of the 1980s. At the same time, Noble describes his own personal descent into extremism and his ultimate redemption.

Noble's insights into the mind and motivations of the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of God's leader, Jim Ellison, are also fascinating as he shows us how Ellison cleverly manipulated himself to godhood status within CSA. Once achieved, any act of terrorism became justifiable.

We also learn that the genesis of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing germinated from within CSA and had the 'blessings' of Robert Millar, the leader of Elohim City - a Christian Identity commune in eastern Oklahoma where Ellison has lived since his 1995 release from prison.

One of the most interesting passages in the book concerns how, years before Ruby Ridge and Waco, the FBI successfully negotiated with Ellison through Noble to achieve a peaceful and bloodless resolution to the inevitable standoff at the CSA compound

Rarely do students of right-wing extremist groups and law enforcement have the opportunity to read an insider's account. For that reason, "Tabernacle of Hate" is an invaluable addition to my library.

Kerry Noble has laid bare the inside workings of the Christian Identity Movement, not only from the various groups throughout the country, but from the deeply personal level. For anyone in the area of Law Enforcement to the curious citizen, this book is for you.

As a police officer who lost several friends in the bombing of the Murrah Building in Okla City, Kerry Noble's book answered some of the aggravating questions I had about the types of people who are able to kill in the name of some twisted belief, and how they came to be so full of hate. Mr. Noble is able to give readers first hand experiences, as the number two man in the C.S.A. (Covenant Sword and Arm of the Lord). I want to thank Kerry for writing this book, and want him to know I consider him a friend.

This book is a wonderful read. It is a fascinating chronicle of how a closed community, founded on religious principles, slowly goes off the rails as its members fall under the spell of extremist ideas.

A must read for anyone who has ever wondered how an obviously intelligent, G-d fearing, compassionate person could end up part of an organization that shoots/bombs innocent men, women and children. Mr. Noble takes us along on his dark journey as he goes from being a concerned friend trying to rescue a couple from what looks like it might be a cult, into the number two man in an organization dedicated to the violent, white, racial overthrow of America - by any means necessary. The book reads like a good novel, riveting the reader as the author takes part in an armed standoff with government agents (long before Waco or the Freemen standoff), contemplates blowing up the Federal Building in Oklahoma (long before Tim McVeigh does the job), or sits in a gay church with a bomb at his feet visualizing the potential for human destruction literally at his fingertips. That every word is true only serves to further engross the reader.

What is scary is the almost logical pr! ogression into the abyss of racism and violence. The reader comes to understand the allure of the individual, small steps which lead one inevitably to that which would have previously been found reprehensible. The militia movement, Identity Church, and various separatist organizations all look different from inside and Kerry Noble takes us there. We should all thank him.