Why do Evangelical Christians support Zionism?

For a start, there is the alliance between America and Israel in the war on Islamic terror. But it goes deeper. For Christians who interpret the bible in a literal fashion, Israel has a crucial role to play in bringing on the Second Coming of Christ.

“It is my belief that the Bible Belt in America is Israel’s only safety belt right now,” says Rev. Jerry Falwell, one of the leaders of the Christian Right. That’s the bulk of Evangelical Christians; Falwell claims to speak for all of them.

“There are 70 million of us,” he says. “And if there’s one thing that brings us together quickly it’s whenever we begin to detect our government becoming a little anti-Israel.”

What propels them? The return of the Jews to their ancient homeland is seen by Evangelicals as a precondition for the Second Coming of Christ. Therefore, when the Jewish state was created in 1948 they saw it as a sign.

Israel’s conquest of Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967 also deepened their excitement and heightened their anticipation. And today’s war between Jews and Arabs was also prophesied, they say. They’ve seen it all before – in the pages of the Bible.

The Christian fundamentalists believe the only Israelis who are really listening to God are the hard line Jewish settlers who live on the West Bank and Gaza and refuse to move.

They believe that God gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people.

What about the three million Palestinians who live on the West Bank and Gaza?

Christians, like Boaz (and he has admitted this in his posts) believe the bulk of them could be ‘cleansed’ from this ‘God-given’ real estate and moved to some Arab country. Nothing can come between the Jews and their land.

Without the involvement of the Christian right, Israel would be making (or would’ve made) peace with Palestine.

All of which proves the horrors that are created when God is invoked as a reason – a reason for anything.

Congratulations BOAZ_David.

2000 posts on OLO, and in less than 18 months.

Mammoth effort.

David

Ahhh Genesis, the Old Testament. Wasn't it you who said

'No well informed Christian to my knowledge uses 'specific historical events' from the Old Testament context as '2006 commandments' or.. examples to follow.

We cannot look at what God did then, and say "Ah HAH ! see what God did to the evil Canaanites, clearly these are commands for us to follow"...nope. wont happen.

This is why I am never worried to debate the Old Testament. There is absolutely NO command from God based on those events to embark on war against any people today.'

Now I suppose the Palestinians are expected to leave peacefully because the odd Christian and all the Israelites wish such? And all because the God of both Christian and Jew said, thousands of years ago, 'the Jews own the Palestinians land'.

God help you all. It's no wonder many of us are so troubled about religion.

The Sermon on the Mount, David... you profess that as your 'rock'.
What had Christ to say of one's enemies?

"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Luke 6:28-31. King James Version)

Nothing in that there dialogue that supports Ethnic Cleansing.

David in this issue your support for the Israeli's runs counter to the teachings of Christ ... your God ... and your own stated moral position. I'll repeat it for you so you are less confused...

'There is absolutely NO command from God based on those events (OT) to embark on war against any people today.'

Who says that the Palestinians are expected to leave? And for that matter why should the Israelis? If each keeps to their own territory what is wrong with that?

Israel is at last starting to move the settlers from the Palestinian lands. However Hamas will not recognise Israels right to exist and still runs a platform of destroying them.

No one has commented on the position of hundreds of thousands of Jews dispossesed from the Arab lands. If the Palestinians want the right of return to their homes can these Jews have equal right of return to Egypt, Iraq, Iran Yemen etc? Would they get their homes back and be given full democratic rights and the freedom to practice their religion?

More illogic from logic: "If each keeps to their own country"? What are the Israel Occupation Forces doing in the West Bank then? And why shouldn't ALL Palestinian refugees return to their homes and lands in Israel improper? "Israel is at last starting to move the settlers from the Palestinian lands." More unsupported assertions. There are over 400,000 settlers in the WB and East Jerusalem. Refer me to one concrete piece of evidence re seriously "starting to move them" as opposed to entrenching them?

Jewish Arabs again, the usual red herring to fob off coming to terms wioth a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem. The 2 issues are only linked by Zionist propagandists like Horus. Nobody seriously concerned with refugee rights ever indulges in games of playing off one group of refugees against another. The facts: the primary issues here were Zionist campaigns to uproot them in the wake of the expulsion of the majority of Palestinians in those parts of Palestine overrun by Zionist forces in 1948-49. Although they are not living in refugee camps in Israel, should any regard themselves as refugees, they have the right of all refugees, including the Palestinian refugees, to return to their former homelands. Would they get their homes back and be given full citizenship rights? I have no idea. Should they? Absolutely. Now what about my other questions?

Re anyone concerned with the kind of side/non-issues raised by our friend Bamboozled, could I suggest a read of Keith Whitelam's 'The Invention of Ancient Israel'. That's right, invention: Solomon and David who? The very basis of Bamboozled's cult and that of political Zionism has no foundation WHATEVER in the ancient historical record.

To Mr Strewth.

I always know when I am winning a debate because my opponents simply resort to tossing questions at me while pointedly ignoring mine. But I will play along.

Question A. I notice that the Jews have not escaped your racism. But I bet you pretend that you are non racist, right?

Question B. Yes it might. But if everybody who’s land was stolen at some time in history demanded their land back, the entire human race would be at each others throats. Just a few examples. Historically, Burgundy in France was part of Germany. “Britanny” in France was historically populated by British tribes. Italy is still sore at what was once Yugoslavia (now Croatia) stealing a large tract of it’s northern coastline after WW2. The Spaniards are sore at the Briish over Gibraltar. The Argies claim the Falkland Islands. The Germans are sore at the Ivans for annexing Prussia, which the Germans have always considered the heart of Germany. Japan is sore at the ivans for stealing Kamchatka Island. The Chinese are sore at the Ivans for stealing Manchuria. The Australian aborigines are sore at everybody on the planet who now live on what they consider is their land.

Hey, come to think of it, when is the Islamic world going to hand back stolen Constantinople to Christendom?

Get over it.

Question C. The government already has that right to evict me from my land if it sees fit. People’s properties are resumed by governments for the public good, all of the time.

Now answer my question. If you live in Australia, then you are living on aboriginal land. So, when are you going to comply with your own sense of injustice and head back to some backward Arab dump where you came from?