Violent incidents against Faith-Based Organizations are on the Rise

Statistics on violent incidents and threats against faith-based organizations in the United States:

1. Deadly Force Incidents (1999-2020): According to the Faith Based Security Network, there were 2,361 deadly force incidents associated with faith-based organizations from 1999 to 2020.¹
2. Violent Attacks (2012-2022): The A-Mark Foundation identified 59 violent attacks targeting congregants, clergy, or staff at houses of worship between January 2012 and December 2022. These attacks resulted in 79 deaths and 83 injuries.²
3. Terrorist Attacks (1970-2017): The University of Maryland’s START project documented 150 terrorist attacks targeting religious figures and institutions in the United States between 1970 and 2017. These attacks resulted in 42 deaths and 38 injuries.³
4. Hostility Against Churches (2018-2023): The Family Research Council reported 436 acts of hostility against churches in 2023 alone, more than double the amount reported in 2022. From 2018 to 2023, there were 915 incidents of hostility against churches.⁴

These statistics highlight the ongoing challenges faced by faith-based organizations in ensuring the safety and security of their members.  Violent incidents and threats against faith-based organizations in the United States have unfortunately been a recurring issue across various religious groups, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Below are some notable examples:

Islam

1. Chapel Hill Shooting (2015): Three Muslim students were shot and killed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in what was widely perceived as a hate crime.⁵
2. Islamic Center of Fort Pierce (2016): The mosque attended by the Pulse nightclub shooter was set on fire in an arson attack.¹

Judaism

1. Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting (2018): A gunman opened fire during a Shabbat service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing 11 people in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history.¹
2. Congregation Beth Israel Hostage Crisis (2022): A gunman took hostages at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, leading to a standoff with law enforcement.¹

Hinduism

1. Hindu Temple Vandalism (2015): Several Hindu temples in the Seattle area were vandalized with hate messages and swastikas.¹
2. Hindu Temple Arson (2020): A Hindu temple in Louisville, Kentucky, was set on fire in an apparent hate crime.¹

Christianity

1. Charleston Church Shooting (2015): A white supremacist killed nine African American worshippers during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.¹
2. Sutherland Springs Church Shooting (2017): A gunman opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people.¹

General Trends

• Increase in Hostility: Reports indicate a significant rise in acts of hostility against churches, with over 400 incidents documented between 2018 and 2022.⁶
• FBI Reports: The FBI has noted an increase in threats and violent incidents targeting houses of worship, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.¹

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by faith-based organizations in ensuring the safety and security of their members.⁷  “Religious issue conflicts are on the rise”⁸  What can faith-based communities do about it?  Go to my website to find logical, realistic and affordable solutions for your Faith-Based Organization.  

Sources

¹ Deadly Force Study – Faith Based Security Network (fbsnamerica.com)
² Violent Attacks on Houses of Worship – A-Mark Foundation (amarkfoundation.org)
³ Fact Sheet: Terrorist Attacks against Religious Targets in the United States, 1970 – 2017 | START.umd.edu
⁴ Extremism Against Places of Worship Extends Across Faiths (asisonline.org)
⁵ Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Examining the Threat to Houses of Worship and Public Spaces — FBI
⁶ 436 acts of hostility against US churches documented in 2023 | U.S. (christianpost.com)
⁷ HSAC Preventing Targeted Violence Against Faith-Based Communities (dhs.gov)
⁸ Religious violence is on the rise. What can faith-based communities do about it? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)