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"Bush and the Republicans have been Israel's best friend," an Orthodox Rabbi recently told me.
It seems that his words reflect the perceptions of a majority of Orthodox Jews and possibly a large number of Israelis.
It's simple, really. The Bush administration has been the most permissive, through it's policy of almost totally ignoring the middle east and middle east diplomacy. The ORthodox Jews and some Israelis read this as signs of being Israel's best friend. I disagree, but I'll get back to this in a few paragraphs.
First, I want to explore a phenonmenon that Orthodox Jews and Israelis are not aware of-- rapture Christianity. Tens of millions of fundamentalist Christians are fervently praying for the "rapture" to arrive, as soon as possible.
The "rapture" is a scenario that these fundamentalists believe is predicted by the bible. It is preached about routinely, promised by ministers. When the rapture occurs, people who have "taken Jesus into their heart" will be instantly whisked up to heaven "in Jesus' arms." They'll simply disappear from the earth-- both the living and the dead-- to find themselves in heaven.
These tens of millions of "rapturists" believe that, for the rapture to occur, other biblically predicted events must occur. There must be great turmoil and conflict in the middle east, and then, once the turmoil and conflict reach the worst levels, the "antichrist" will come.
The new phenomenon of Christian Zionism is based upon these rapture beliefs. The strong support that evangelical fundamentalists give to Israel is based on these beliefs.
Let's spell it out clearly. For the rapture to occur, Israel must be engulfed in war, massive, violent, hellfire and damnation war, with huge losses of life. This is the vision the rapturists are praying for, that they yearn for. When the rapture occurs, and Jesus "raptures" the people to heaven, hundreds of thousands of Jews will die and the rest of the people on the planet will be "left behind."
There is a "LEFT BEHIND" book series with movies already made. Over 50 million books have been sold. This is a huge phenomenon. Bush's support for Israel, the Republican party's support for Israel are based upon rapturism.
There was a Twilight Zone story, by Rod Serling, that told of a visit to earth by aliens from another planet who had a book, titled, To SERVE MAN. Earthling, learning of the book, warmly welcomed the aliens. THousands of earthlings accepted the aliens' invitation to travel to their planet. Then, a translator discovered-- TO SERVE MAN was a cook book.
The Bush, Republican and Christian Right's support of Israel is just as predatory, equally malignant in intention.
Could it be worse? Yes. Let's look at the last disaster-- Israel's failed Lebanon adventure. This was done with the permission and, at the least, tacit encouragement of the Bush administration. Now that it's over, it's clear that the winners were Hezbollah and Iran. But Bush also won.
The Bush administration used Israel like a stick, poking the Israeli stick deep into the Iranian hornets' nest, stirring up anger, hate and most useful to Bush, the drumbeats of war among the media.
The prospects for war with Iran are seeming more and more likely. This may be attractive to the most macho warhawks. But most people, including Israelis I've spoken to, believe that any war with Iran will produce massive casualties in Israel-- because Iran will lash out at any attack by bombing Israel, not with small katyusha rockets, but with major missiles aimed at major cities. Casualties will be in the tens or hundreds of thousands.
When Bush and his rightwing Republican and Democrat rubber stampers in congress initiate an attack on Iran, Israel will truly find out what kind of a friend Bush has been. I fear the insight will come at a terrible price.
Let's tackle the Bush administration's "friendship" with Israel from another perspective. It's generally agreed that Bush has left Israel alone to do as it wanted in dealing with its neighbors, giving Israeli a longer leash, more freedom than any other administration in US history.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
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A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
I loved the reference to the cookbook show. How fitting.
I am so dismayed that many democrats are going along with the support of Israel. But then my fellow dems disappoint me a lot of late. I'm speaking of those in the congress and senate. Especially my own 'Democratic' senator.
by
Pat Herrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 145 comments)
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 3:03:29 PM
Don't get me wrong. I am an Israel supporter. I don't want to see it disappear. I am also a USA supporter. But I oppose the policies of both the US and Israel.
by
Rob Kall (749 articles, 3834 quicklinks, 320 diaries, 1613 comments)
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 3:08:49 PM
And the truth is the oppressed have become the oppressors.
And the Palestinians are the natural allies to Israel and only when JUSTICE is rendered and that means full human rights, can there be security and peace for all.
e
http://www.wearewideawake.org
JERUSALEM, AUG. 30, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is "The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism" released Aug. 22. The statement was written by Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem and other local heads of Churches in Jerusalem.
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel.
The Christian Zionist program provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today.
We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.
We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral preemptive borders and domination over Palestine.
This inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world.
We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ.
Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!
We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements.
The establishment of the illegal settlements and the construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land undermine the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region.
We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an alternative way:
We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights.
We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together within peace, justice and security.
We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.
We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others.
We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.
With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.
God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but without violence.
"What does the Lord require of you: To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other. Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our land. By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace -- and working for peace makes us children of God.
"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19)
Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Israel will continue enjoying unconditional support regardless of its actions as long as the American people, the tax payers think it is defending our interests in the Middle East, and as long as the Arab governments are not willing to represent the interests of their people.
The question becomes how we can break the viscous cycle, if our representatives understand that the key to their reelection is the Jewish lobby. It is the only thing the both parties agree on. Otherwise they might be anti-Semite!
by
sameh abdelaziz (35 articles, 6 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments)
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 9:55:48 PM
Rob, I am trying hard not to take offense at a continuous attack on Christianity. I, too, am a liberal in politics, but a conservative Christian. I believe in the rapture and the return of Christ to be the HaMeshiach of Israel. This is much a part of traditional Christianity as the belief in Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection after three days in the grave and that He is coming to the earth again. Do not mistake that all Christians are right wing reactionaries as Bush. As he hijacked the American government, he has hijacked the Christian faith.
If it comes down to choose between my faith and choosing a political position, well, my faith comes before my life, family, my country or anything else. I just happen to believe that no where in the New Testament is any passage found which teaches that a true follower of Christ is to kill for any reason whatsoever. I am a liberal in politics because I believe in a strict Separation of Church and State which you may read as absolutely no compulsory prayer in school or any kind of government financial support for any religious organization of any kind. As a conservative Christian I believe government programs are to be about taking care of citizens who are poor, fatherless, and defenseless which you may read is financially disenfranchised; therefore I am for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and a national health single pay insurance policy. I am for a complete openness in government within reason. I am for taxation of the most wealthy in our nation and a graduated income tax. I am for a universal draft with no exceptions for the rich or anyone else. No matter who you are with no exceptions, you must give at least two years to your country. I believe in a free public education system through college with good grades as the main criteria to advance freely through the education system which means most college student go to college without cost.
I believe in the rapture and have never voted for a Republican since I first voted for JFK in 1960. Rob, I think your trouble is that you are painting all Christians with the same right wing reactionary brush, and I think you know very little about the difference between Covenant Theology and Dispensational Theology. I cannot speak with authority on nuclear isotopes or brain wave patterns. Until I take my pre-med courses and graduate from med school, I will not try to do brain surgery on you; please do not try to do theology surgery on me. I have been a Minster the last forty-four years and still serve as a full time senior pastor in my church. I have studied a wee bit about what the New Testament and the Tanakh teaches about the first and second Advent of HaMeshiach. I have been a conservative Christian about as long as I have been a Progressive Democrat.
Phil.
by
pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 945 comments)
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 10:52:10 PM
Well, we sure agree on a lot. And I doubt that you are enjoying seeing the conflict in the middle east escalate, with more and more people dying. I DO want to respect any faith that respects others and that does not thrive at the expense of others.
On the other hand, 65 million copies of Left Behind have been sold, and I believe that there ARE millions of Christians who WANT more violence in the middle east, because it fulfills their idea of prophecy. . How do we reach rapprochement?
by
Rob Kall (749 articles, 3834 quicklinks, 320 diaries, 1613 comments)
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 11:07:48 PM
"The problem is too few have actually done it!"-GK Chesterton.
The Western concept of Jesus as promoted in the Left Behind series is a false God and these mis-informed, misguided Christians are a cult- I hope the good Rev will read two articles on oped regarding the politically driven Christian zionism that pursues a god of Armageddon:
Did the Rev read "The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism" released Aug. 22 which is posted above and articulates the dangers and HERESY of Christian Zionism?
I also invite the Rev to NOT look at all of this as an 'attack' on Christianity, for The Prince of Peace has been misused for too long by right wingers seeking political power. THEY have taken my Lord, and I do NOT see him in their rhetoric or actions!
Also, JFK was a democrat, NOT a republican, and neither is Jesus!
Maybe the following excerpt from my just published book will enlighten the good Rev?
Quoting Fr. Matthew Fox, July 2005:
"Forget original sin; remember original blessing. There are two Christianities in our midst. One worships a punitive father and seeks obedience at all costs. It is patriarchal, demonizes woman, the earth, science, gays, lesbians, and deep thought. It builds on fear and it supports empire-builders. Its theology includes a punitive father in the sky and teaches original sin. The other Christianity recognizes the original blessing that all beings derive from. We recognize awe, not sin, not guilt, as the starting point of true religion. We recognize a divinity who is source of all things and is as much mother as father, as much female as male.
"We honor creation and diversity. When God created everything, He pronounced it all good. We are here to make love to life. Yes, we are here to make love to life. Delight in creation and take your dreams into our politics and institutions. We live in the midst of a suicidal economy, motivated by love of money. We have reached a dead end.
"What we need to turn it around are hearts in love with life. How do we do it? We first must move from domination to partnership, and we begin by educating our young in awe and wonder, not how to take tests. Awe leads to reverence, which leads to gratitude, which will reinvent our species. This is the task of our generation: to regain awe. The three Rs need to be balanced by the ten Cs: contemplation, creativity, chaos, compassion, courage, critical consciousness, community, celebration, ceremony, and character.
"In community, people remain united, despite everything that divides them. In capitalist society, people are isolated, separated, despite everything that should hold them together. We are in the midst of an epic struggle between community and capitalistic society. We need a new narrative. It is the economy of materialism; it is the virus of affluenza that has weakened family life."
-e
http://www.wearewideawake.org
by
Eileen Fleming (139 articles, 48 quicklinks, 264 diaries, 581 comments)
on Monday, September 4, 2006 at 10:30:25 AM
WAWA,
my statement was, 'I believe in the rapture and have never voted for a Republican since I first voted for JFK in 1960.' I should have said it more clearly. "I first voted in 1960. I voted for JFK. I have always voted Democrat. I have never missed a state wide or national election, and never once have I voted for a Republican. It is simple as this. I decided a long time ago that politicians lie to you: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II have proved me correct in my assumption. I cannot depend on newspapers to write the truth since their only motive is profit. Since I keep up with the voting records in the House and Senate and the state level, too, I know how Democrats and Republicans vote consistently. I agree with about eighty percent of the Democrat votes on issues that are really important to me. If a Republican says he is pro-labor, for Social Security, for free Public Education, for a single pay national health insurance program, he is lying, pure and simple, he is lying. To me the most ignorant and silly voters in our society are those who say, "I am independent. I vote for the person." It is because of this silliness we are in the mess we call the Bush era.
I have read the articles you mentioned. I do not change one thing I wrote. I am a conservative Christian who believes in the rapture, the anti-Christ, the second coming of Christ, his death on the cross for my sins and your sins. Whether you believe it Christ as I do is totally up to you. Unlike Islam, I will not try to have you put to death if you attempt to convert me from Christ. My beliefs in the Second Advent of Christ have nothing to do with whether or not I am a Progressive Democrat.
As far as the Left Behind series, they are simply sci-fi. It is ashamed that many Christians have developed their theology based on something other than the New Testament. The reasons why many evangelical Christians are right wing Republicans has roots in things that are much too involved to deal with in this short space. One of the things that really hurts the Progressive Democrat cause more than anything else is that the right wing with all their money has sold the Southerner and Midwesterner on the snake oil belief that the Democrat Party stands for pornography, swingers, drugs, and a dozen other issues such as not standing up to "the enemy" called Communism, Socialism and a Islamicism. If it were not the Communist and Muslims it would be something else. They must have an enemy. When I see so called left wingers using filth for a vocabulary time and again in many articles, they are simply playing into the hands of the reactionary right wing who will make sure that voters see just how immoral a Democrat is. These voters do make the simple deduction that Bill Clinton is responsible for murdering two million sperm on Marsha's dress while George W. Bush is responsible for the murder of over a hundred thousand Iraqi women and children. Clinton lied about the sperm. Bush is lying about the women and children.
It is easy to put labels on people such as liberal or communist with a little "c". Long before the Left Behind series ever came along, there were those who believed in a coming Antichrist, a coming world order, and the Second Coming of Christ. Cult is another easy label to slap on someone. By the way, I am a Progressive Democrat because I believe the Bible teaches God judges a nation on how it treats the poor, the helpless and the fatherless. Isn't it peculiar that those who thump the Bible the loudest are trying to take away the government's ability to help those three groups? I keep asking the Bush crowd, who is really Christian and WHO IS NOT according to the Bible?
by
pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 945 comments)
on Monday, September 4, 2006 at 7:36:05 PM
I see you haven't submitted an articles here yet. I hope that will change soon. You write well and cover a topic that can not be discussed too much. I encourage you to write and submit articles to OpEdNews.
Rob Kall
by
Rob Kall (749 articles, 3834 quicklinks, 320 diaries, 1613 comments)
on Monday, September 4, 2006 at 8:42:32 PM
