Thank you for this. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m thinking about your question, can there be a “not in our name” movement that holds gravity and activates a lot of Christians, and I’m thinking about the swaths of Christians who don’t realize what’s being done in their name. A lot of Christians are taking a “supporter” rather than “organizer” role because they aren’t the oppressed people, but Jewish people should not have to do the work of educating Christians about Christian Zionism. Christian Zionism is so implicit and sneaky in so many Christian settings, and it still feels so “fringe” that a lot of people aren’t even aware enough to take responsibility for it. This education (not just what it is but how to confront it) feels crucial right now and I do think antisemitism is a part of this conversation/education, because antisemitic theologies like supersessionism directly contribute to Christian Zionism. Then understanding the Christian Zionist organizations/meetings/moments they should be protesting.
I’ll speak a bit for myself too: I was spiritually and emotionally injured by my Christian upbringing, and I’ve really only begun that healing. Physically stepping into any church is hard. But I do find myself wanting to return to my Christian story *in order to* mobilize for Palestine. I’ve already met several former Christians who feel the same way. Even if we’re not practicing Christians, even if we don’t find spiritual life in the churches or communities where we grew up, we’re still responsible. Palestinian Christians and Palestinians of all faiths are asking for us to take that responsibility seriously.
Great thoughts, thanks for commenting with your experiences. Yeah I don't know the answer yet - does it make sense to try to mobilize 'former' Christians for a 'not in our name'? Or can we just as those who still feel some tie to it to get on the front lines, and help other people navigate this landscape? Not sure. I certainly don't want anyone who's too hurt by Christianity to have to engage, cause it really messes people up.
Long-lapsed Episcopalian here who is something of a Zen Norse pagan, but I've been wondering the same thing: I see the Jews out there making damned sure we all know they don't have anything to do with this dangerous Zionist Project, but where are the Christians?
Sure, the fundamentalist, dispensationalist heretics who follow the spiritual traditions of American settler snake oil salesmen are all for building the Third Jewish Temple of Jesus Bait in Jerusalem, but Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, none of them believe that puffery. So where are they?
They'd gain a lot of credibility if they just did what they already know is the right thing to do--forcefully condemn genocide. It's happening NOW. What Christians did two centuries ago is irrelevant.
Right. And of course there are some Christians out there, but largely not out there being really visible and firm, which is kind of what's needed. Especially as you're pointing out, where are the so-called 'progressive/liberal' catholics, episcopals, lutherans, etc? I'm sure some are out there but not in force the way Jews have mobilized.
My wife is Jewish so I’m in a lot of Jewish spaces that most Christians never see.
I agree that anti Zionism is not antisemitism (Jew hating, to be more accurate). What I DONT see is antizionists bothering to ask Jews if they’re Zionist or not; they just assume they are, then judge them negatively but say it’s not antisemitism. In other words, it’s a finer line than most think and most non-Jews don’t walk it as they should.
Also, there are a lot of ppl telling Jews what is and isn’t antisemitism. Would they tell a POC what is and isn’t racism, or should a woman accept a man’s definition of misogyny? If the answer is no, don’t define antisemitism for a Jew.
I recommend going SILENTLY into some Jewish spaces on Reddit, for example, if you want to know, not assume, what Jewish ppl are thinking and saying. See what your reactions are.
I do think it's true that antisemitism is on the rise, and unfortunately the state of Israel's violence make Jewish people less safe around the world, as antisemitism never leaves. But I'm speaking specifically to accusations that opposing Zionism and Israel are inherently antisemitic - which isn't true. I would also say I think the media complicity with Israel is due to the interests of wealth and empire to maintain relevance and power in the Middle East, rather than Jewish people or Zionists owning the media - that is actually a trope used to vilify Jews.
Thank you for this. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m thinking about your question, can there be a “not in our name” movement that holds gravity and activates a lot of Christians, and I’m thinking about the swaths of Christians who don’t realize what’s being done in their name. A lot of Christians are taking a “supporter” rather than “organizer” role because they aren’t the oppressed people, but Jewish people should not have to do the work of educating Christians about Christian Zionism. Christian Zionism is so implicit and sneaky in so many Christian settings, and it still feels so “fringe” that a lot of people aren’t even aware enough to take responsibility for it. This education (not just what it is but how to confront it) feels crucial right now and I do think antisemitism is a part of this conversation/education, because antisemitic theologies like supersessionism directly contribute to Christian Zionism. Then understanding the Christian Zionist organizations/meetings/moments they should be protesting.
I’ll speak a bit for myself too: I was spiritually and emotionally injured by my Christian upbringing, and I’ve really only begun that healing. Physically stepping into any church is hard. But I do find myself wanting to return to my Christian story *in order to* mobilize for Palestine. I’ve already met several former Christians who feel the same way. Even if we’re not practicing Christians, even if we don’t find spiritual life in the churches or communities where we grew up, we’re still responsible. Palestinian Christians and Palestinians of all faiths are asking for us to take that responsibility seriously.
Great thoughts, thanks for commenting with your experiences. Yeah I don't know the answer yet - does it make sense to try to mobilize 'former' Christians for a 'not in our name'? Or can we just as those who still feel some tie to it to get on the front lines, and help other people navigate this landscape? Not sure. I certainly don't want anyone who's too hurt by Christianity to have to engage, cause it really messes people up.
Long-lapsed Episcopalian here who is something of a Zen Norse pagan, but I've been wondering the same thing: I see the Jews out there making damned sure we all know they don't have anything to do with this dangerous Zionist Project, but where are the Christians?
Sure, the fundamentalist, dispensationalist heretics who follow the spiritual traditions of American settler snake oil salesmen are all for building the Third Jewish Temple of Jesus Bait in Jerusalem, but Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, none of them believe that puffery. So where are they?
They'd gain a lot of credibility if they just did what they already know is the right thing to do--forcefully condemn genocide. It's happening NOW. What Christians did two centuries ago is irrelevant.
Right. And of course there are some Christians out there, but largely not out there being really visible and firm, which is kind of what's needed. Especially as you're pointing out, where are the so-called 'progressive/liberal' catholics, episcopals, lutherans, etc? I'm sure some are out there but not in force the way Jews have mobilized.
My wife is Jewish so I’m in a lot of Jewish spaces that most Christians never see.
I agree that anti Zionism is not antisemitism (Jew hating, to be more accurate). What I DONT see is antizionists bothering to ask Jews if they’re Zionist or not; they just assume they are, then judge them negatively but say it’s not antisemitism. In other words, it’s a finer line than most think and most non-Jews don’t walk it as they should.
Also, there are a lot of ppl telling Jews what is and isn’t antisemitism. Would they tell a POC what is and isn’t racism, or should a woman accept a man’s definition of misogyny? If the answer is no, don’t define antisemitism for a Jew.
I recommend going SILENTLY into some Jewish spaces on Reddit, for example, if you want to know, not assume, what Jewish ppl are thinking and saying. See what your reactions are.
I do think it's true that antisemitism is on the rise, and unfortunately the state of Israel's violence make Jewish people less safe around the world, as antisemitism never leaves. But I'm speaking specifically to accusations that opposing Zionism and Israel are inherently antisemitic - which isn't true. I would also say I think the media complicity with Israel is due to the interests of wealth and empire to maintain relevance and power in the Middle East, rather than Jewish people or Zionists owning the media - that is actually a trope used to vilify Jews.