I have frequently criticized On Being, Krista Tippett’s popular religion show on National Public Radio for avoiding the Zionism question and settling down in the featherbed of Israel support. (Here, here.)
Well, on Sunday Tippett interviewed Brian McLaren, a progressive evangelical Christian involved in the “emerging” Christian movement for what she termed a “provocative” conversation. McLaren spoke of being excommunicated from the evangelical community because of his stand in favor of gay marriage. And then 3/4ths of the way into the conversation, this slipped out (transcript here):
McLaren: It really gets interesting– I got a phone call seven or eight years ago, I was still a pastor– from a rabbi. He said, I represent a group of several dozen rabbis, who’ve read all your books. Which really impressed me. I thought, my wife hasn’t read all of my books.
They said we’d like to meet with you. So I met with some of these rabbis. And they’re having the same problem–
Tippett: Yeah.
McLaren: If you’re a Jew who really thinks that’s what’s being done to Palestinians is wrong in the name of your religion, it’s very very hard to be a Jew who’s faithful to the prophetic tradition. And so we’re all struggling with this. I know Muslims are struggling with this too. And that’s why I think a lot of people are joining the nones. I don’t want any of those labels, I’ll just be a none.
I then discovered that that McLaren has been a bold leader on the Israel Palestine issue. For instance, he endorses the Kairos document and shows Palestinian solidarity, speaking of house demolitions as brutal and urging folks to go to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and bear witness.
We can all serve as witnesses, to tell the truth about what is going on, to refuse to remain silent and complacent when innocent people are mistreated … please join me in praying for peace with justice in Palestine, and please stay alert.
Tippett didn’t follow up on McLaren’s point. But she really ought to have Marc Ellis on to talk about the prophetic tradition of Judaism in an era of Israeli militarism.
P.S. McLaren also praised his Florida neighbors, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers who pick the tomatoes that we all eat in the winter. He’s seen “what they’ve suffered.” And their spiritual understanding goes way beyond a seminary class.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.580496
“Justice Minister Tzipi Livni warned Tuesday that the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners – set to be freed at the end of March as part of the agreement to resume negotiations – will not be released if Israel and the Palestinians have not reached a broad framework agreement by then.”
This is really rich from the b$tch
” Israel does not want barren talks whose only purpose is to play for time and avoid making decisions.”
So if they don’t accept Israel and a Jewish state they won’t get any prisoners released.
Take the bots to the Hague
McLaren is one of the founders of what is known as the “emerging” church.
http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/the-emerging-church.html
This is a post modern reaction by young evangelicals to the neo-conservative culture wars. Here’s some examples of the evangelical establishment freaking out over the emerging church and its attitudes towards Israel/Palestine, the environment, peace and justice, etc. No longer will evangelicals — particularly the next generation of evangelicals — hear gays and abortion and fall in line.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/the_emergent_church.htm
http://ivarfjeld.com/2012/04/04/willow-creek-pastor-demonize-israel-as-occupying-power/
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2010/mark-d-tooley/the-anti-israel-revelation/
The author of my last link is particularly significant to Presbyterians such as myself. Tooley heads the Institute on Religion and Democracy which is funded by a couple of neo-con billionaires. It’s mission is to destroy mainline Protestant churches through using wedge issues like gay marriage and Israel/Palestine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/22/us/conservative-group-amplifies-voice-of-protestant-orthodoxy.html
Now Tooley is freaking out over what he anticipates in our next GA.
http://juicyecumenism.com/2014/02/14/presbyterians-send-anti-israel-valentine-to-congregations-in-zionism-unsettled/
He should be:
http://pc-biz.org/MeetingPapers/%28S%28x4ts41cd0a3locn2wh0u0t2a%29%29/Explorer.aspx?m=ro&id=4793
http://pc-biz.org/MeetingPapers/%28S%28mojeqypauhjc43ljuzzs0lgj%29%29/Explorer.aspx?id=4715
Whether it’s mainline or evangelical Protestants, the Zionists will be looking over their shoulders.
This statement is neither good for Zionism, nor for its propagandists. So it’s by default antisemitic. LOL.
http://biblehub.com/proverbs/28-15.htm
“As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people”
Netanyahu and Gaza
Christ, and this is what Judaism is all about, is it ?
” But she really ought to have Marc Ellis on to talk about the prophetic tradition of Judaism in an era of Israeli militarism”
I have never understood what the prophetic tradition of Judaism is but whatever it is what does it have to do with Israel?….I assume when you say prophetic tradition you arent talking about ‘God gave us this land’ bible stuff.