Fear Under Construction: Islamophobia Within American Christian Zionism
2014; Pluto Journals; Volume: 2; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.13169/islastudj.2.1.0026
ISSN2325-839X
Autores Tópico(s)Religion and Society Interactions
ResumoNIV).For these leaders, God's words to Abraham are God's words to 21 st century Americans, who will experience dire consequences if they curse rather than bless the nation of Israel.I will examine the use of this verse within what I call the American Christian Zionist "Genesis 12:3 narrative," drawing particular attention to its Islamophobic discourse.This narrative is grounded in fear, raising the specter of imminent catastrophe if American Christians do not respond to the warning of Genesis 12:3 and pledge unconditional support for Israel against the threat of purportedly fundamentally evil, violent Islam.Especially because of its basis in fear, this narrative can exert a powerful influence upon the way in which Christian Zionist laypeople view Palestinians, leading these Christian Zionists to oppose their land claims, to fail to recognize their human dignity, and to justify violence against them.Pastor of 19,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, John Hagee is one of American Christian Zionism's chief Genesis 12:3 narrators.Hagee started "A Night to Honor Israel" in 1981, responding to what he viewed as unjust world condemnation of Israel after its bombing of a nuclear reactor in Iraq.According to his In Defense of Israel, at his first "A Night to Honor Israel" Hagee declared, "Israel, you are not alone;; Christians support you, and America supports you.We love you, and we shall stand by you," and since 1981 this event "has given encouragement, inspiration, and comfort to people who often felt alone.A Night to Honor Israel has also raised millions of dollars to support charities and resettlement of world Jewry in Israel" (2007: vii-viii).Indeed this financial support has been abundant, with John Hagee Ministries donating $8 million to Israel in 2007 alone for immigration and other assistance.Hagee's Global Evangelism Television has broadcast programs worldwide on 150 stations, and his books amass a large number of readers, such as his Jerusalem Countdown, which has sold over 800,000 copies.Hagee has also shaped American foreign policy decisions, especially through Christians United for Israel (CUFI), which he began in 2006.Stephen Spector writes that CUFI features a network of activists who "flood Capitol Hill with e-mails, faxes, and phone calls on issues of immediate concern to the Jewish state " (2008: 168).In CUFI's first lobbying effort, in July 2006, over 3400 Christian Zionists from all 50 states came to Washington, DC and participated in 280 meetings with congressional representatives, and on the day of the CUFI banquet the House of Representatives passed a strongly pro-Israel resolution by a vote of 410 to 8 (Spector 2008: 169).In addition to Hagee, ideas of three other prominent Christian Zionist leaders will be highlighted in this article.Michael Evans is the founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team, whose members have included Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, and other well-known pastors, as well as major political figures such as U.S. Representative Dick Armey and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Evans's books proudly display his recipience of the Ambassador Award from the Israeli government and his advisory positions to many prime ministers of Israel and mayors of Jerusalem.Though not as connected
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