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Seeking the Peace of Jerusalem: Overcoming Christian Zionism in the Quest for Justice
Mark your calendar for the end of April 2015, for this important event.
What: Seeking the Peace of Jerusalem: Overcoming Christian Zionism in the Quest for Justice conference
Where: Vancouver, B.C., St. Mary's Kerrisdale Church
When: 23 – 25 April 2015
FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: www.necefsabeel.ca
A conference examining a threat to Middle East Peace as well as encourage and inform strategies to overcome it.
Headline Speakers: The Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek of the Anglican Church, founder of the Sabeel Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem; Rabbi Alissa Wise, Jewish Voice for Peace. Oakland; Dr. Gary Burge, Professor of New Testament Studies, Wheaton College, Chicago; and The Rev. Carmine Lansdowne, Doctoral research in decolonizing indigenous histories, Heiltsuk First Nation, Vancouver Island
Christian Zionism is not a phrase on everyone's lips, but it should be. The phenomenon represents a threat not only to peace in the Middle East, but also to the very fabric of mainstream Christianity and indeed democracy itself. A growing number of mainstream religious and church-related academics, clergy and lay people see Christian Zionism exerting an increasing influence on mainstream Christian theology, and on governmental policies in North America. As well, Christian Zionist beliefs and activities continue to make lasting and just peace in the Middle East an impossibility.
What does Christian Zionism mean? How do we as people of faith inform ourselves about Christian Zionism? Perhaps most importantly, if this is a heresy, how do we challenge it? The belief that Christians have an obligation to support the State of Israel and any actions it chooses to take is inherent in Christian Zionism. This belief is often rooted in a literal interpretation of scripture; it can equate the modern State of Israel with the biblical Israel and states that God gave Israel the land.
The impact? An unwillingness to criticize the modern State of Israel for its continuous violation of Palestinians' human rights, and a denial of Palestinians' equal right to land and security.
Seeking the Peace of Jerusalem: Overcoming Christian Zionism in the Quest for Justice, a conference convening this April in Vancouver, will address the preceding questions and suggestions for action to respond to this threat. Those actions will include B.D.S (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) and A.C.P. (Authentic Christian Pilgrimage).
The conference will bring together a group of biblical theologians and activists, including Jews and Muslims concerned with justice. They will shine a light on the Christian Zionist threat, as well as encourage and inform resistance to it. In other words, education and suggested action for people of faith.
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