Zealous For Zion

[♦ nivek ♦]

Zealous for Zion

The American Conservative

by Michael Brendan Dougherty

 

"The image of thousands of conservative Christians from the heartland waving the flags of a foreign nation would have astounded anyone 50 years ago -- except maybe George Orwell. In an essay on nationalism, he criticized G.K. Chesterton, the English writer, for romanticizing Latin countries, particularly France, on account of his Catholicism. Orwell called this 'transferred nationalism' and argued that fixing upon another country allows one 'to be much more nationalistic -- more vulgar, more silly, more malignant, more dishonest -- tha[n] he could ever be on behalf of his native country, or any unit of which he had real knowledge.' But Chesterton's affinity for France was sentimental -- and harmless. CUFI knits theology and politics to powerful effect: Christian Zionists support Israel because God commands them to do so." (08/27/07)

 

http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_08_27/article1.html

[מה טבו]

This is one that has bugged me quite a bit. I'm often disturbed to see some rabbis aligning themselves with the likes of John Hagee. First, as Orthodox rabbis, it seems they're compromising their beliefs to do this. Secondly, the Christian idea of Zionism is very different from the Jewish one. Hagee and crowd are using the Jewish people. Hagee believes that the ingathering of the diaspora to Israel is simply a prerequisite for Josh to return, then the land of Israel and the entire world can be given over to the Christians. In the minds of Christian Zionists, Israel is a Christian nation. The Jews are just saving a spot.

[Yaoi Huntress Earth]

This is one that has bugged me quite a bit. I'm often disturbed to see some rabbis aligning themselves with the likes of John Hagee. First, as Orthodox rabbis, it seems they're compromising their beliefs to do this. Secondly, the Christian idea of Zionism is very different from the Jewish one. Hagee and crowd are using the Jewish people. Hagee believes that the ingathering of the diaspora to Israel is simply a prerequisite for Josh to return, then the land of Israel and the entire world can be given over to the Christians. In the minds of Christian Zionists, Israel is a Christian nation. The Jews are just saving a spot.

 

Not to mention they'll be tossed aside once their usefullness is over.

[Piprus]

This is one that has bugged me quite a bit. I'm often disturbed to see some rabbis aligning themselves with the likes of John Hagee. First, as Orthodox rabbis, it seems they're compromising their beliefs to do this. Secondly, the Christian idea of Zionism is very different from the Jewish one. Hagee and crowd are using the Jewish people. Hagee believes that the ingathering of the diaspora to Israel is simply a prerequisite for Josh to return, then the land of Israel and the entire world can be given over to the Christians. In the minds of Christian Zionists, Israel is a Christian nation. The Jews are just saving a spot.

 

Not to mention they'll be tossed aside once their usefullness is over.

Indeed, there are many christians who think of themselves as the "new" Israel, god's chosen.

The jews won't be tossed aside, just forcibly converted...christians are known for that.

[Grandpa Harley]

Tut... such cynicism! Small pox blankets THEN forcible conversion...

[מה טבו]

I do have to wonder how this will end up. Let's say hypothetically that the ingathering of the diaspora eventually happens, and the majority of the world's Jews are in Israel. (I'm going to leave out WWIII, the inevitable Muslim nation nuclear attack, and all of that good stuff for now.) Let's play pretend for a minute.

 

Let's say the nation of Israel flourished, and the Jews of the world lived there. What then? What will happen when Israel continues to exist, and Josh of Nazareth doesn't return? I wonder if this Christian Zionism is just a fad, or if it is becoming a permanent part of the landscape of Christianity. Will they really wait forever for the Second Coming, supporting Israel all the while? Or at some point, is the doctrine of "screw the Jews" going to resurface in mainstream Christianity?

 

I really don't need to re-print here some of the anti-Semitic bile that has spewed from the mouths of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and the like - who later claimed to be adamant supporters of Israel. There's no ahavat Yis'ra'el behind their "support". Those guys are the same bigots they always were - but now they think they see a use for the Jews, so suddenly the old enemy is getting all buddy-buddy. I, for one, smell a rat.