Army of God
- Evan Berridge
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 24
Insurgency Overview
The Army of God (AOG) is an anti-abortion underground terrorist group based in the United States that has been linked to bombings, kidnappings, and murder beginning in the 1980s. The AOG promotes violence in response to abortion and the use of biblical scripture as a means to justify their violent actions. The group’s members and operations are primarily based out of the East Coast of the United States.
History & Foundations
Anti-abortion violence began to increase after events such as Roe v. Wade in 1973, as access to abortions increased and political discourse on the matter changed.
The exact date of formation of the AOG is not currently known. However, the first confirmed instance of the group taking part in anti-abortion violence occurred in 1982, when Dr. Hector Zevallos, who performed abortions, as well as his wife, were kidnapped by members of the AOG. They were later set free (9).
The AOG has a website that included a manual detailing information about the group’s founding, motivations, and instructions on how to destroy “babykilling abortion mills.” However, the bulk of the manual remains missing due to claims that it is illegal to upload online (7).
The AOG’s operations, or whether they remain active, are currently not known. The group began in the early 80s and seems to have halted activity in the 2000s, although an individual was arrested in 2018 for making bomb threats against clinics (10).
Objectives & Ideology
The AOG believes in violence against doctors who specialize in performing abortions and other medical professionals involved with abortions, as they believe abortion is murder and claim those who carry out abortions are “baby killers.” Members tend to embrace right-wing politics.
The AOG is also considered a religious extremist group. They cite passages from the Bible, particularly Genesis 9:6 (“Who so sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God he made he man”) or Mark 8:36 (“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”). These passages, along with a plethora of other scriptures and messages from the Bible, are used as a justification for the AOG’s actions. They view violence against abortion providers as “killing the killers” (7).
The AOG formerly had a manual that was available online. Consisting of nine chapters, the first three are an intro and “special thanks” to various online users and real people. Chapters 4–6 detail instructions, and the remaining chapters serve as a call to arms to “stop the mass murder of infants.”
The manual is said to have undergone three revisions (7), with the final one resulting from the FBI’s crackdown on the group around the mid-to-late 2000s, based on additions made to the manual section (7).
People within or outside of the group who assault or murder abortion specialists were referred to as “heroes” on the website. Notable examples include Paul Hill, who murdered John Britton, a doctor who carried out abortions, in 1994; and Shelly Shannon, who shot George Tiller, another abortion provider, in 2009 (5).
Political & Military Abilities
The AOG does not have an armed or political wing in the traditional sense, operating more as a loose formation whose members often do not know one another. Past actions have shown they are capable of carrying out bombings, arson, and other forms of property damage.
Members are recruited through word of mouth or sharing the website/manual contents online or through physical copies.
Due to the leaderless structure and anonymous membership of the group, the total membership of the AOG is difficult to determine. Notable members include Eric Robert Rudolph, responsible for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta; Donald Spitz, a spokesperson for the group; and Paul Jennings Hill, who murdered John Britton (1, 2).
Approaches to Resistance
The bulk of the AOG’s approach to resistance comes in the form of violence, mainly bombings and other forms of property damage, but the group has also been responsible for murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Most of their attacks are against either medical institutions, such as Planned Parenthood, or individuals in the medical field.
The AOG does not have a formal leader and operates on an individual basis, with members often not knowing each other. This approach is sometimes known as “compartmentalization,” and it is done to make it more difficult for law enforcement to monitor them (2).
Relations and Alliances
Since the AOG operates as a mostly anonymous group, it is difficult to say if they directly work with anyone outside of their inner ranks. The AOG website mentions and gives thanks to people who aided their operations or otherwise provided favors to the website hosts (7).
Works Cited
Feminist Majority Foundation Blog, (2.25.1997) extremist “Army of God” group takes credit for Atlanta bombings, promises to attack again, United States
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism (publish date unknown) Terrorist Organization Profile Army of God, United States
Clarkson, Frederick (9.15.1998) Anti-abortion movement marches on after two decades of arson, bombs, and murder, SPLC, United States
4.)Henderon, Alex (4.7.2015) 6 modern day Christian terrorist groups our media convenently ignores, Salon, United States
5.) Associated Press (11.7.2018) Rachelle ‘Shelley’ Shannon, activist who shot abortion doctor George Tiller, released from prison Associated Press, United States
6.) NY times (1.20.1985) 3 men charged in bombings of seven abortion facilities
NY Times, United States
7.) ArmyofGod.com (link removed due to gragic imagery)
8.) Jennifer, Jefferis (12.2011) Armed for Life: The Army of God and Anti-Abortion Terror in the United States, JSOTR, United States
9.) Sheppard, Nathan (8.21.1982) Abortion doctor and wife are freed, NY Times, United States
10.) Goudie, Chuck and Weidner, Ross (2.12.2018) Feds: Indiana man linked to "anti-abortion extremist organization" threatened clinic attacks, ABC & news, United States
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