Thread: Christian Zionism: A Danger To World Stability?

Christians United for Israel: New Christian Zionism Lobby Hopes to Rival AIPAC

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We take a look at a new recently established group called Christians United for Israel - an evangelical organization that believes supporting expansionist policies of the Israeli government is: "a biblical imperative." We speak with investigative journalist Max Blumenthal who reports they lobbied the Bush administration to adopt a confrontational posture toward Iran, refuse aid to the Palestinians and give Israel a free hand in its attack on Lebanon. [includes rush transcript]
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In March of this year, a study on the role of the Israel lobby in US foreign policy caused an uproar in the academic community and in the media. The paper's authors, Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University and John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, argued the pro-Israel lobby has unduly influenced the United States to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of Israel. The study emphasized the activities of the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
Well, there's another side of the pro-Israel lobby that's drawing increasing attention -- and some say its far more influential. A new group was recently established called Christians United for Israel - CUFI. They're an evangelical organization that believes supporting expansionist policies of the Israeli government is: "a biblical imperative." In a new article for The Nation, journalist Max Blumenthal reports group members have held several meetings with White House officials to talk about US policy in the Middle East. They've apparently lobbied the administration to adopt a confrontational posture toward Iran, refuse aid to the Palestinians and give Israel a free hand in its attack on Lebanon.

We're going to speak with Max Blumenthal in a moment but first, we hear from Christians United for Israel. Their inaugural event was held last month in Washington, DC. More than 3,000 people were in attendance to hear speeches from Israeli and American dignitaries. Among the speakers was Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback.


Sam Brownback (R - Kansas), speaking at a Christians United for Israel summit in July 2006. [Click for mp3 of full address]

The group's founder, Texas television evangelist John Hagee, also spoke.

John Hagee, speaking at a Christians United for Israel summit in July 2006. [Click for mp3 of full address].

We speak with Max Blumenthal. He writes about Christians United for Israel in a new piece for the Nation titled "Birth Pangs of a New Christian Zionism."

Max Blumenthal, Puffin Foundation writing fellow at the Nation Institute. His work has appeared in The Nation, Salon, The American Prospect and the Washington Monthly. His blog is MaxBlumenthal.Blogspot.com.


AMY GOODMAN: We are going now to speak with Max Blumenthal in a moment. But first, we turn to Christians United for Israel. Their inaugural event was held last month in Washington, D.C. More than 3,000 people were in attendance to hear speeches from Israeli and American dignitaries. Among the speakers was Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback.

SEN. SAM BROWNBACK: Thank you in your energy. Thank you in your prayers. Thank you for standing with Israel in this difficult time. I close with noting that the recently elected Prime Minister of Israel addressed a joint session of Congress about a month or so ago. And he spoke there, and I sat as I listened to him give an eloquent speech, uniting speech, thinking to myself, the United States doesn't have a closer partner in the world than Israel today. And it is true. And it's important for us, when our friend is in difficulty, Israel, that we stand by them in this difficult time. Thank you for being here. God bless you all. God bless the United States of America. And God bless the Israeli people.

Cont'd at www.democracynow.org

The USA has two paths either support Israel,or support the enemys of Israel,the enemys of Israel leave us no other choice!Its as simple as that,I support Israel because I
support YHWH not Allah!

Religion itself is a danger to world stabilization. With so many divisions even within each of the main religions is a blatant sign of division.

In my opinion the problem of religion & politics is real simple. Religion is for the individual, politics is for the masses. All we need do is remember that religion, when used as a political tool, has caused more death and destruction, and still does, than any other source. If we were to remove religion from all political applications we would, in my opinion, solve the vast majority of all problems, everywhere.
Of course, then we would still have to deal with the greedy, power-hungry, selfish clowns in both politics and the corporate world. That is where the principals of religion, not necessarily [I]A religion, come to play. I think that the most important role of religion is to instill the values that humans do not embrace of their own accord. If we all embraced the principals of religion, and that means the rich & powerful also, then we would live in the paradise that God created.
God created a perfectly balanced world. He destroyed us many times over. He then decided that he would not do so again. The world, as it is now, is not the creation or fault of God. It is our own.

Originally Posted by kgp465905

God created a perfectly balanced world. He destroyed us many times over. He then decided that he would not do so again. The world, as it is now, is not the creation or fault of God. It is our own.

Beautiful and so true.

Originally Posted by ilikeGW

Beautiful and so true.

Wow IlikeGW, that sounded like a response a liberal would say. Impressive! ~Inkster

When does a liberal ever talk about God?

Oooh, right, when the ACLU is fighting to have it taken out of speeches, off money, out of schools, out of military cemetaries...

No liberal would say that, they'd balme it on Bush then call the ACLU to file a lawsuit to have that member removed for saying anything about God in public, as it would offend the Atheist who's not even a member here.

I have enjoyed reading back through past posts to try to familiarize myself with the general direction of the discussions and the orientation of the members. I enjoy debate and discussion and hope that I can add a little to this forum. So...

Creationists say that the universe began by God creating everything in 6 days and taking a break on the 7th. Scientists say that the universe began in one Big Bang. To me, both theories are equally plausible and, at the same time, equally impossible.

The question that keeps coming to my mind is... Where did the first anything (molecule, thought, God, whatever) come from? To our human minds everything has to begin and end. We are born, we die. We buy a product, we use it. We start a project, we finish it. We inhale, we exhale, etc. Beginnings and endings to everything.

So, where did the first whatever come from? To the human mind, at least the way I understand it, the only possible state of being is absolute nothingness. Since nothing can just appear out of nothing, then nothing can exist.

I know that science tries to explain things by observation, testing and repetition and that it is one of humanities greatest and most defining achievements. But, at least as far as I know, it can't offer a theory about the beginning that is any more rational than the creationism theory.

The Bible says that we cannot comprehend the mind of God. That may be a cop-out, but it is, to me, the only thing that makes sense. Maybe we just aren't capable of understanding the true nature of things in the physical world that we live in.

Religion is not in itself a threat to world stabalization.

It's the human flaws put into it.

Originally Posted by melchizedek22

The USA has two paths either support Israel,or support the enemys of Israel,the enemys of Israel leave us no other choice!Its as simple as that,I support Israel because I
support YHWH not Allah!

A fine example why group religion sucks..