‘US’ AND ‘THEM’: The Politics of Christian-Muslim Conflict (original) (raw)

Understanding Christian Zionism A Special Report by the Islamophobia Studies Center

Islamophobia Studies Center, 2020

Understanding Christian Zionism https://iphobiacenter.org/understanding-christian-zionism/ The report on Christian Zionism is essential and timely research to unpack one key driver, among others, that contribute a distinctive form of Islamophobia that is connected to theology and religious discourses centering on Palestine. Moreover, the current strong relationship between several evangelical groups and Zionist organizations has made it possible to unleash political pressure in the US that shields Israel from accountability for its continued violations of international law. The report is intended to generate the needed conversations on how Christian evangelical groups and others play a role in preventing the actualization of peace, justice, and dignity for the Palestinians. Not to imply that this is an exclusively Christian problem; on the contrary, the Center’s future research intends to focus on the emergence of Muslim or Islamic Zionism, which articulate relations with Israel based on a distorted religious discourse that rationalizes normalizations of relations at the expense of Palestinian rights. Lastly, the report’s discussion on Christian Zionism should not distract the reader from the positive work, advocacy, and engagement with Palestinians by many churches and religious institutions in the US.

Muslims in Pre- and Post-9/11 Contexts

Muslims have never ceased to be important for the West and have been depicted in vilifying and stereotypical manners in western literature and films. However, after the tragic event of 9/11, a dramatic change has been observed in the world's focus towards Muslims. Although stereotypes and discriminatory actions were nothing new to Muslims, the post-9/11 backlash was absolutely terrible and heartbreaking. People have started to consider Muslims either terrorists or sympathetic to terrorists, and they have been suspected and distrusted. Lots of books, articles and films have depicted Muslims in a derogatory and extreme manner. Pre-9/11 Hollywood movies True Lies and The Siege explicitly show the stereotypical attitude of the West to Muslims while post-9/11 novels like The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid and Once in a Promised Land by Laila Halaby depict the plight and predicament of Muslims in America. The article aims to depict the stereotypical, vilifying and antagonistic attitudes of the West to Arabs and Muslims in both pre-and post-9/11 era. It also aims to prove that the depiction is highly motivated by the media, western authorities and the West's desire for social, cultural and political dominance over the East.

Whose problem is 'the problem with Islam'? Reflections of a Christian Palestinian

2016

This paper was presented in Melbourne in May 2016 at the Institute for Post-Colonial Studies. The question put to the panel was 'Whose problem is the problem with Islam'? While specific to representations of the Palestinian question, the ideas raised in this paper have a relevance to the current disarray and divisiveness in discussions following the tragic massacre in Christchurch in March 2019.

Muslims and Christians: Global Confrontation or local problems?

2007

Increasingly, many secular people, Christians and Muslims depict a number of conflicts in pour world as religious wars and manifestations of ancestral hatred. Religious intolerance, more particularly associated with Islam and indiscriminately attributed to Muslims, is likely invoked as a determinant in such conflicts. With more or less religious and historical overtones, reference is frequently made to Jihad and Crusade. Expressions of what is said to be an Islamic “threat” continue to capture, with more intensity, the instantaneity of media’s attention. Perceptions of Muslims, and conflicts they are a party to, are marked increasingly by sensationalism, essentialism and culturalism.

“JESUS SAID, I HAVE THE OTHER SHEEP”: The Palestinian (Arab) Christians in Occupied Palestine

Christianity in the Middle East Journal, 2017

One of the forgotten minority groups in the Middle East are Palestinian/Arab Christians, particularly in Occupied Palestine (East Jerusalem and West Bank). Sadly, Christian churches around the world are not aware (and misinformed) that strong Christian minority exists in the region. When such misinformation persists, Palestinian people will continue to suffer such injustices. Scholars, however, argue that such misinformation is rooted in dispensationalism and Zionist ideology. Dispensationalism believes that the coming of Israel to the land has stared the countdown that will end history (Burge, 2017). This article is presented in three parts. The first part discusses the unholy alliance between the Conservative Evangelicals and the Zionist movements. Second part presents Palestinian/Arab Christians as forgotten faithful in occupied Palestine. In the last part, the author gives a short conclusion. Keywords: Conservative Evangelicalism, Christian Zionism, Dispensationalism, Misrepresentation, Palestinian/Arab Christians.

Crusader Hirelings or Loyal Subjects? Evolving Jihadist Perspectives on Christian Minorities in the Middle East

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, 2022

In contrast to common assumptions, jihadist movements' view of Christian minorities in the Middle East has been neither unambiguous nor static. It changes according to the overall political conflict in the region and is characterized by specific, unpredictable struggles that arise locally. By studying the official statements of al-Qaeda and ISIS, their ideological and strategic writings and their conduct vis-à-vis indigenous Christians in the Middle East, this article seeks to paint a more complex picture of how jihadists perceive this minority. One key finding is that the Christians of the Middle East and the foreign Christian 'Crusaders' are not a single phenomenon or foe in the conceptual worldview of jihadists. Second, rather than seeking to eradicate Christians completely, jihadist movements wish primarily to demonstrate the dominance of Muslims and their role as legitimate rulers over Christian minorities. Third, terrorist attacks on Christians and churches have been devastating and deadly, especially in Egypt and Iraq, but local Christian minorities are not a top priority target for most jihadist groups.

Sailing Through Troubled Waters: Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land

Dialog-a Journal of Theology, 2002

For many people the names "Arab Christians" and "Palestinian Christians" seem to be oxymoronic. Christianity was, however, born in the Middle East, in a little town called Bethlehem. This article explores the ways in which Palestinian Christians, a minority group in both Palestine and Israel, relate to both Jews and Muslims in Palestine and Israel. Though there is no covert persecution of Palestinian Christians, they face the same trials as other Arabs and Muslims in Palestine, due to the current policies and actions of the Israeli government and to the current "war on terrorism." In fact, Christians in Palestine become easy targets for both those enraged by and supportive of the US declaration of war. At the same time, they offer the world an example of healthy Christian-Muslim relations. Perhaps too, Palestinian Christians can be the bridge between the Jewish and Muslim communities in the Holy Land.