Sometimes I often wonder whether by writing an editorial like this, I will anger people on both sides of this equation. Well,..essentially that is my point and I really don't care. I mean, I graduated with a degree in political science after all so why wouldn't I be able to weigh in at least intelligently on such a political hot potato, and why now? Well,..over the last few days, I've received arguments from both sides, intelligent ones to boot, yet either side seems to be calling out the other ones so-called 'facts.' As best I can,..I'm gonna try to weigh in on this issue....
Before I do, I think we all need a little primer as to what the tale of the Tape between both of these 'peoples' would read,..so for that, in brief, for today,..we'll concentrate on history...
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict cannot be understood by the Western mindset without a firm grasp of the other's theology. In this light, both sides, claim as the source of justification that God gave to them the land. The Israelis cite the Torah specifically Exodus,..while the Muslims understand this in terms of Dar Al-Harb vs Dar Al-Islam. Insert into this quagmire, certain groups of Evangelical Christians adhering to dispensationalist theology, (a heresy btw..) which views the return of the Jews to their homeland as a necessary primer to usher in the third coming of Christ. (I say 'third' because, according to their theology, Jesus will appear in the sky and rapture all true believers,..before he returns as Just Judge..)
The land located in the middle east has a long history and can be argued is one of the oldest of all to be inhabited. Through settlements, at God's command, the Jewish people at roughly 950 bce (disputed..) established the United kingdom of Israel which later split into North and South,(Judea). The Romans would later conquer the land in roughly 5-6 Ad,.(this pressupposes the birth of Christ at around 4-3 bce.) yet although the Romans conquered it, as was their custom, they left it as a province so to speak and it continued to be governed by jewish authorities. When the Roman, empire became Christian in 313ad, 'Palestine' also became Christian and thus, a center for many monks and religious. It was during this time, that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Nativity and others were being built.
Enter the conquest,..this time, by the muslim army. Caliph Umar enters Palestine in 638ad and a complete ransack begins. Sorry, again to the revisionist historians who claim that life under Islamic law was nothing but candy canes, roses, rainbows and leprechauns,..again not quite true. The time of the Crusades took place and battled for the Holy sites...To read about more of this,....see here. You might not like Voris style,..but his sources are impeccable!
That's all for today,..but we need this lense in order to go forward within this analysis. The 'Religious right' don't accept the fact that we as Catholics must view this as a political matter, not a theological one. The Catholic Church is the bride of Christ and thus the continuation of Israel as people of God.....Coming soon Part 2,..whereby I will attempt to break down key important dates stemming from the British ruled Palestine to now.....
Our Lady of Ville Marie,...............Ora pro nobis
2 comments:
The thing to understand about the "end times" Protestant Evangelicals is that their affinity and "friendship" with Israel is not so much that, but are aspects of their hope of ushering in the Apocalypse, which they think is imminent.
Great post, Marco! Will be back to read part 2 tomorrow.
tu ne cede
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