Kayse, I feel like there’s a big element missing from your “Christian Zionism Exposed” series. I know you mentioned that a discussion on Jewish Zionism was beyond the scope of the material you’re focused on, but I think your analysis is incomplete without it. For one thing, your entire premise minimizes the role and purpose of Jews in fighting for and building a Jewish homeland after the Holocaust. To me, it sounds like you’re saying Israel wouldn’t even exist without the massive support provided by Evangelical Christians, and the church’s own selfish desire to have Jews inhabit and control Israel. Your anger at Israel (aside from its treatment of Palestinians) seems to come largely from the idea that Christians have been manipulated into supporting Israel by their mega churches and by partnerships between Christian and Jewish lobbying organizations. I agree with you that Evangelical leaders and institutions use Jews as pawns to manipulate their congregations into supporting Israel at all costs and continuing the flow of money to the churches. The piece that you’re leaving out is how the vast majority of Israeli Jews, and the Jewish people, in general, view the situation in the Middle East, and how they have viewed it for generations. What about Israel’s right to exist and to be secure in its borders? Jews make up a very small portion of the world’s population, and Israel is about the size of Delaware. Jewish Zionism was never about wanting to displace people or create an apartheid state, and certainly not committing genocide. All I’m saying is that your decision NOT to discuss in more detail the Jewish side of the equation, in my opinion, has you coming off as anti-Israel, and not merely anti-Christian Zionist. Most Jews would interpret your anti-Israel theme and the terminology you use to describe Israel (the Israeli regime, the occupying power, etc.) as not just anti-Israel, but anti-Semitic as well. I don’t believe you are or intend to sound anti-Semitic, but my take aways from listening to all 3 parts of your series are that Christian Zionism is the single most dangerous aspect of Christianity in this country, primarily because it supports a regime that is committing genocide, that Israel couldn’t or wouldn’t exist without the overwhelming support and collaboration of Christian Zionists, and that the entire State of Israel and the idea behind creating a Jewish homeland originated primarily with Christians. I can say with a high degree of certainty that most Jews have no idea how big a part Israel plays in Christian mythology, nor why Evangelicals are so supportive of Israel. I think most Jews would be extremely turned off to learn that Christian support of Israel is due primarily to the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy, and that they can either choose to accept Jesus Christ as their savior during the rapture or die alongside all the other non-believers. Certainly, Israeli administrations and Jewish organizations have leveraged the support of the Evangelical Christian community for their own purposes, and I think that has been opportunistic and wrong of them to do so. Nevertheless, without U.S. political and military support, the State of Israel would not last very long. What else would you suggest a tiny nation (in geography and population) do to preserve itself? The history of Israel, its significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the many, many conflicts that have occurred, is and has always been, very complex. I think Israel’s present leadership is damaging Israel’s standing in the world, and putting its own future in peril. Netanyahu wanted Trump as president, because he knew there would be few, if any, restrictions on how they prosecuted this war on the Palestinians. The majority of Israeli citizens are not supportive of Netanyahu, but he is their duly elected leader. As a democracy, they, like us, can resist, but they can only do so much despite an authoritarian leader being in power. There is a much bigger story, which I would agree is probably not possible to cover in a series on Christian Zionism. I thought you did an amazing job overall, and I just wanted to let you know how I perceived things in the absence of a Jewish perspective. I continue to admire you and your excellent content. I hope I have not offended you, and that we can have a productive dialog.
Kayse, I feel like there’s a big element missing from your “Christian Zionism Exposed” series. I know you mentioned that a discussion on Jewish Zionism was beyond the scope of the material you’re focused on, but I think your analysis is incomplete without it. For one thing, your entire premise minimizes the role and purpose of Jews in fighting for and building a Jewish homeland after the Holocaust. To me, it sounds like you’re saying Israel wouldn’t even exist without the massive support provided by Evangelical Christians, and the church’s own selfish desire to have Jews inhabit and control Israel. Your anger at Israel (aside from its treatment of Palestinians) seems to come largely from the idea that Christians have been manipulated into supporting Israel by their mega churches and by partnerships between Christian and Jewish lobbying organizations. I agree with you that Evangelical leaders and institutions use Jews as pawns to manipulate their congregations into supporting Israel at all costs and continuing the flow of money to the churches. The piece that you’re leaving out is how the vast majority of Israeli Jews, and the Jewish people, in general, view the situation in the Middle East, and how they have viewed it for generations. What about Israel’s right to exist and to be secure in its borders? Jews make up a very small portion of the world’s population, and Israel is about the size of Delaware. Jewish Zionism was never about wanting to displace people or create an apartheid state, and certainly not committing genocide. All I’m saying is that your decision NOT to discuss in more detail the Jewish side of the equation, in my opinion, has you coming off as anti-Israel, and not merely anti-Christian Zionist. Most Jews would interpret your anti-Israel theme and the terminology you use to describe Israel (the Israeli regime, the occupying power, etc.) as not just anti-Israel, but anti-Semitic as well. I don’t believe you are or intend to sound anti-Semitic, but my take aways from listening to all 3 parts of your series are that Christian Zionism is the single most dangerous aspect of Christianity in this country, primarily because it supports a regime that is committing genocide, that Israel couldn’t or wouldn’t exist without the overwhelming support and collaboration of Christian Zionists, and that the entire State of Israel and the idea behind creating a Jewish homeland originated primarily with Christians. I can say with a high degree of certainty that most Jews have no idea how big a part Israel plays in Christian mythology, nor why Evangelicals are so supportive of Israel. I think most Jews would be extremely turned off to learn that Christian support of Israel is due primarily to the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy, and that they can either choose to accept Jesus Christ as their savior during the rapture or die alongside all the other non-believers. Certainly, Israeli administrations and Jewish organizations have leveraged the support of the Evangelical Christian community for their own purposes, and I think that has been opportunistic and wrong of them to do so. Nevertheless, without U.S. political and military support, the State of Israel would not last very long. What else would you suggest a tiny nation (in geography and population) do to preserve itself? The history of Israel, its significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the many, many conflicts that have occurred, is and has always been, very complex. I think Israel’s present leadership is damaging Israel’s standing in the world, and putting its own future in peril. Netanyahu wanted Trump as president, because he knew there would be few, if any, restrictions on how they prosecuted this war on the Palestinians. The majority of Israeli citizens are not supportive of Netanyahu, but he is their duly elected leader. As a democracy, they, like us, can resist, but they can only do so much despite an authoritarian leader being in power. There is a much bigger story, which I would agree is probably not possible to cover in a series on Christian Zionism. I thought you did an amazing job overall, and I just wanted to let you know how I perceived things in the absence of a Jewish perspective. I continue to admire you and your excellent content. I hope I have not offended you, and that we can have a productive dialog.