Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

Is Anti-Zionism equivalent to Anti-Semitism?

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Matt Stone

2009-01-20

Is Anti-Zionism equivalent to Anti-Semitism? That’s a question that came into my head from reading a reader’s comment. I think the answer is no, and that we should be wary of people equating the two, but I am interested in what you might have to say.

Me, I don’t come across many Zionists. We seem to have every other religion under the sun apart from Judaism out here. The only synagogue I’ve ever seen was at Bondi Beach. What I do come across though, particularly through mixing with Americans online, are Christian Zionists. I wonder: how far can I go in critiquing Christian Zionist theology before someone calls me anti-Semitic?

As I ponder this I am reminded of a movie trailer. Young guy says, “You calling me a liar because I’m black?!” Older guy responds, “No, I am calling you a liar because you’re a liar.” We need to be vigilant against discrimination, but we also need to be vigilant against people exploiting anti-discrimination. I think that happens sometimes.

Tags Jewish

7 responses to “Is Anti-Zionism equivalent to Anti-Semitism?”

Jarred

2009-01-20

The sad thing is, there’s reason to question just how pro-Israel/pro-Jewish Christian Zionist theology ultimately is, at least here in the states. As Fred Clark over at Slacktivist points out on occasion, much of Christian Zionist theology is based on post-millennial dispensationalist theology. This means that too often, the interest in the well-being of Israel is mainly (if not solely) motivated by the role that the establishment of Israel, triumph over her enemies, and the rebuilding of the temple play in their end-time theology. It all becomes items to mark complete on a checklist. It’s questionable how that ultimately helps Israel or the Jewish people as a whole.

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Joanne

2009-01-20

Thank you for raising this question as I think it is an important one. I found Stephen R. Sizer’s book, Christian Zionism: Road-Map to Armageddon? a helpful resource for considering this issue.

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Matt Stone

2009-01-21

Jarred, yes I would agree with the Slacktivist assessment. In many ways I find Christian Zionism even more disturbing than Jewish Zionism. Not only does it buttress Jewish Zionism, Christian Zionism corrupts Christianity while it does it.

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mary

2009-01-21

Jarrad stated: the interest in the well-being of Israel is mainly (if not solely) motivated by the role that the establishment of Israel, triumph over her enemies, and the rebuilding of the temple play in their end-time theology. It all becomes items to mark complete on a checklist. It’s questionable how that ultimately helps Israel or the Jewish people as a whole’
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I agree…. See i believe as a Christian Jesus died once for all (Bible) hence there can be no pecking order of humanity… Zionism dictates otherwise. Aside from this there are militant groups on both sides of the issue Israeli v. Palestinian that are horrendous in their indiscriminate wiping out of life. However the truth stands that the Palestinian people were dispossessed of their land, their homes and became 2nd class citizens to fulfil Zionism dictates. That is why i support the rights of the Palestinians. I also understand the stronghold miltant opposition has (Hamas) in a way that parallels the IRA in Ireland… Oppress a people and they rise up…
The below link is by Thomas Williamson (a minister) Zionism versus the Bible helped me incredibly to u/stand how Zionism defies the word of God. He gives scriptures and so on
See when people call you anti-semite for opposing political ploys its laughable. I love Jewish culture – it is a rich, deep and symbolic culture BUT it is not superior to any other culture. Why did God decide to be Jewish when He came to earth – i don’t know. I do know the Jewish Holocaust stands alone as one of the most evil genocides in world history.
However what i find with Zionists is they attack you on that premise and forget the Palestinians are being genocided. Other cultures have been genocided. My people died in what is called a Famine but it is a Holocaust. Britain under the name of God stole the food from our people. There are mass graves all over Ireland.
http://www.mediamonitors.net/williamson4.html
Matt yes -> ‘Christian Zionism corrupts Christianity while it does it.’
Christian Zionism scares the heck out of me…

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Matt Stone

2009-01-21

There is a pretty good summary over at http://www.cc-vw.org/articles/czcri.htm
Here’s the introduction:
At least one in four American Christians surveyed recently by Christianity Today magazine said that they believe it is their biblical responsibility to support the nation of Israel for specific theological reasons, a view known as Christian Zionism. The Pew Research Center put the figure at 63 percent for white evangelicals. This view holds that the regathering of Jewish people to Israel since 1948 is the miraculous fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham to establish Israel as a nation forever in Palestine. Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind novels, together with books written by Hal Lindsey, Pat Robertson, and many others, which propound this view, have sold well over 100 million copies. Burgeoning Christian Zionist organizations such as the International Christian Embassy and Christians United for Israel wield immense influence on Capitol Hill.
A growing number of Christians, however, are left increasingly uneasy about the idea that God would bring the Jewish people back to Palestine while they are in unbelief, since that was why they were exiled from it in the first place. The methods Israel has used, moreover, to colonize the land and subjugate the Palestinians—many of whom are Christians—do not match the picture of a God-fearing Israel that Christian Zionists find in their literal interpretation of the ancient prophecies.
An alternate interpretation is that the promises of land, like the laws of Moses, were part of the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled in the New Covenant. These Old Covenant shadows were realized in and through the substance of Jesus Christ and the church. Christian Zionists’ unconditional support of the current State of Israel would therefore be a misguided effort to separate Jews and Gentiles again, whom God joined together in the church, the body of Christ.

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Matt Stone

2009-01-21

PS. I would again reinforce that the pew results only hold true for America. Elsewhere is the world, where dispensationalism is a minority view, the stats could be expected to be quite different.

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mary

2009-01-24

I wrote this for the people of Gaza 23/01/09 It is a poem which is meant to sung loudly without music. Thought it fitting as a response here. Maybe a Christian Zionist will read it!
O people of Gaza
We hear your weeping
in the night
O people of Gaza
Your very heart is torn apart
There is blood on the ground
of your children
It is crying out to be heard
O people of Gaza
We hear your despair
We are
marching in our cities
We
are crying out
in our streets
For an end to
the slaughter
For an end to
the occupation
For an end to
genocidal practices
For an end to
second class citizenship
O people of Gaza
We hear you
In our heart
We hear you
In our spirit
and
We will not be silent
We will not turn away
What they have done
to you
is genocide
and
we are
marching in our cities
and we are crying out
in our streets
O people of Gaza
We hear your weeping in the night
We hear your weeping in the night
We hear your weeping in the night

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