‘Assassination Culture’: Many Believe Killing and Destruction Are Justified
In 1995, Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, “Evangelium Vitae,” which means “The Gospel of Life,” described “the struggle between the ‘culture of life’ and the ‘culture of death.’”
While the culture of death is as old as humanity, John Paul listed some issues that exacerbate it in our modern world, including “the eclipse of the sense of God,” the loss of the sense of human dignity and value, and rejection of belief in objective truth.
He wrote that these lead to “whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, or willful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person.”
As John Paul explained, “A large part of contemporary society looks sadly like that humanity which Paul describes in his Letter to the Romans,” where he describes society’s downward spiral: men suppress the truth, don’t give thanks to God or acknowledge Him, become foolish, carry out evil deeds, and approve of others who do the same.
John Paul also called the church to stand against our culture of death by presenting the “Gospel of God’s love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the Gospel of life.”
Every day we hear news that illustrates our culture of death, including the destruction and violence of the BLM and Antifa riots, attacks on churches and pro-life groups, Israeli citizens murdered, kidnapped and sexually assaulted by Hamas terrorists; the destruction of millions of preborn children, as well as the mutilation and damage to children from “transgender” medical interventions,
A disturbing development in all this is the growing of support for violence and destruction from radical activists. As Paul wrote, “They not only do [evil deeds] but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).
One very recent example of this support for evil is a survey which found a significant percentage of respondents believe, “It would be at least somewhat justified to murder Elon Musk and President Trump.” Given that there have been four assassination attempts against the president, along with other “security incidents,” the results are alarming.
The same research also found that a considerable number of people believe destroying Tesla dealerships is “somewhat acceptable.” Already there have been more than 50 attacks on Tesla cars, dealerships and charging stations.
The National Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) partnered with Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab (SPL) to conduct the survey, which found that higher percentages of self-identified leftists believe murder and mayhem are at least somewhat acceptable.
NCRI and SPL report (their emphasis, throughout):
- Murder Justification: 31% and 38% of respondents stated it would be at least somewhat justified to murder Elon Musk and President Trump, respectively.
- These effects were largely driven by respondents that self-identified as left of center, with 48% and 55% at least somewhat justifying murder for Elon Musk and President Trump, respectively, indicating significantly higher justification for violence against these figures.
- Property Destruction: Nearly 40% of respondents (39.8%) stated it is at least somewhat acceptable (or more) to destroy a Tesla dealership in protest.
NCRI and SPL also explored “Psychological/Ideological Correlations with Assassination Culture.” They found:
The strongest predictors are far-left political identity and Left-Wing Authoritarianism – suggesting this justification of violence is underpinned by politics and ideology.
The organizations identified two other important factors fueling violence:
- Time spent on [the social media platform] BlueSky also emerged as a significant predictor suggesting a role for the cyber social domain in justification of violence.
- External locus of control – the belief that one’s outcomes are shaped by outside forces – was linked to greater support for violence, suggesting that feelings of powerlessness may fuel justification for extreme action.
The researchers concluded.
“These findings confirm that assassination culture is not random or reactive, but structured, ideological, and amplified in specific digital environments.”
The institute and lab had previously released research about support for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by alleged killer Luigi Mangione. In “Praise for United Healthcare CEO Assassination Goes Viral,” NCRI found “a surge of highly engaged posts across social media glorifying the incident, some even calling for additional acts of violence, generating impressions in the tens of millions.”
NCRI’s report describes how social media celebrates and foments violence:
- Out of the top ten most engaged posts on Twitter/X that mention Brian Thompson or UnitedHealthcare, six either expressed explicit or implicit support for the killing or denigrated the victim.
- A top ten most engaged post referencing the incident on Twitter/X, stated “Are we starting now then?” likely in reference to a beginning of a larger movement, garnered over 1.8 million impressions, with highly engaged comments referencing a “Class War.”
The Daily Citizen’s Emily Washburn reported on this outpouring of support for Mangione on social media, including the “joy” expressed by some after Thompson’s murder:
“A disturbingly large group of people have adopted Mangione as a populist hero – not in spite of his charges, but because of them. An independent online fund for Mangione’s defense has raised more than $157,000 as of December 19. “
Four months later, the fund has raised almost $839,000 for the alleged murderer.
In another study of responses to Thompson’s killing, “Killing with Applause: Emergent Permission Structures for Murder in the Digital Age,” NCRI and Rutgers documented the growing “normalization” for “targeted violence.”
The report explains,
Using social media data, AI, and social psychology survey methods, we find an evolving online “permission structure,” a framework that justifies previously unacceptable beliefs or actions with a mutually reinforcing dynamic: Social media platforms provide amplification, while psychologically susceptible individuals provide justification. Together they form an emergent system that normalizes violence.
In addition, NCRI and SPL note:
- Targeted violence is becoming normalized online and in the real world.
- Previously fringe rhetoric has migrated into the mainstream.
- Our analysis confirms social media supports a digital “permission structure” for justifying murder.
The researchers explain that their most recent survey has some limitations saying, “Self-reported attitudes do not necessarily reflect actual behavior.”
They conclude, saying,
This report points to disturbingly high levels of support for political violence, particularly targeting President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Across survey responses, nearly one-third of respondents – and a significantly higher share of left-leaning respondents – expressed some degree of justification for acts of lethal violence.
Unless political and cultural leadership explicitly confronts and condemns this trend, NCRI assesses a growing probability of real-world escalation.
The sizeable section of our country supporting assassinations and destruction demonstrates our desperate need for cultural renewal, spiritual revival, and a return to basic principles of law, order and justice.
These are important issues for churches and families to talk about. Pastors can address the increasing violent nature of our public discourse and political protests, encouraging and facilitating the development of spiritual habits that transform such darkness into forgiveness and grace.
Parents can warn their children about the widespread acceptance of violence and hateful rhetoric on many online forums. They can also teach children that they are not simply passive victims of fate or the actions of others. Instead of an external locus of control, which blames outside forces for struggles and setbacks, an “internal locus of control” helps children take responsibility for their own actions and understand that their choices and actions affect themselves and others.
Those supporting violence and death need biblical truth and grace. Christianity offers hope that our culture of death will be overcome by the Gospel of Life.
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