Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Ci mancavano loro nella lista...

Christian Zionists, Israel and the 'second coming'
Quindi, applicando "l'acuto teorema" di MMax, dove nel 2003 antisionismo =
antisemitismo...come la mettiamo con i cristiani sionisti?
By Don Wagner
The Daily Star
8 October 2003
http://dailystar.com.lb/opinion/08_10_03_d.asp
The term Christian Zionism is of relatively recent vintage and was
rarely used prior to the early 1990s. Self-proclaimed Christian
Zionist organizations such as the International Christian
Embassy-Jerusalem and the US-based Bridges for Peace, both with
offices in Jerusalem, have been operating for 20 years, but were
under the radar of most Middle East experts and the mainstream media
until after Sept. 11, 2001.
Briefly stated, Christian Zionism is a movement within Protestant
fundamentalism that sees the modern state of Israel as the
fulfillment of Biblical prophecy and thus deserving of political,
financial and religious support. Christian Zionists work closely
with the Israeli government, religious and secular Jewish Zionist
organizations, and are particularly empowered during periods when
the more conservative Likud Party is in control of the Knesset. Both
the secular and religious media place Christian Zionism in the
Protestant evangelical movement, which claims upward of 100-125
million members in the US. However, one would more accurately
categorize it as part of the fundamentalist wing of Protestant
Christianity, since the evangelical movement is far larger and more
diverse in its theology and historical development.
Christian Zionism grew out of a particular theological system called
"premillennial dispensationalism," which emerged during the early
19th century in England, when there was an outpouring of millennial
doctrines. The preaching and writings of a renegade Irish clergyman,
John Nelson Darby, and a Scotsman, Edward Irving, emphasized the
literal and future fulfillment of such Biblical teachings as "the
rapture," the rise of the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon and
the central role that a revived nation-state of Israel would play
during the latter days.
Premillennialism is a type of Christian theology as old as
Christianity itself. It has its roots in Jewish apocalyptic thought
and generally holds that Jesus will return to earth before he
establishes, literally, a millennial kingdom under his sovereignty.
Darby added the distinctive elements of the rapture (or removal to
heaven) of true, born-again Christians prior to Jesus' return, and
interpreted all major prophetic texts as having predictive value. He
also marked world history according to certain periods called
"dispensations," that served to guide believers in how they should
conduct themselves. The fulfillment of prophetic signs became the
central task of Christian interpretation. Darby's ideas became a
central feature in the teachings of many of the great preachers of
the 1880-1900 period, including evangelists Dwight L. Moody and
Billy Sunday, the major Presbyterian preacher James Brooks,
Philadelphia radio preacher Harry B. Ironsides, and Cyrus I.
Scofield. When Scofield applied Darby's eschatology to the Bible,
the result was a superimposed outline of premillennial
dispensationalist notations on the Biblical text, known as the
Scofield Bible. Gradually, the Scofield Bible became the only
version used by most evangelical and fundamentalist Christians for
the next 95 years. In developing a working definition of Christian
Zionism, one can say it is a 19th and 20th century movement within
Protestant fundamentalism that (particularly last century and today)
supports the maximalist claims of Jewish political Zionism,
including Israel's sovereignty over all of historic Palestine,
including Jerusalem. The modern state of Israel, as a fulfillment of
prophetic scriptures, is regarded as a necessary stage prior to the
second coming of Jesus. Christian Zionism is marked by the following
theological convictions:
l God's covenant with Israel is eternal, exclusive and will not be
abrogated, according to Genesis 12:1-7; 15:4-7; 17:1-8; Leviticus
26:44-45; and Deuteronomy 7:7-8.
l There are two distinct and parallel covenants in the Bible, one
with Israel that is never revoked and the other with the Church that
is superseded by the covenant with Israel. The Church is a "mere
parenthesis" in God's plan, and as such it will be removed from
history during the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 5:1-11). At
that point, Israel, as a nation, will be restored as the primary
instrument of God on earth.
l Christian Zionists claim that Genesis 12:3 ("I will bless those
who bless you and curse those who curse you") should be interpreted
literally and lead to political, economic, moral and spiritual
support for the state of Israel and for the Jewish people in
general.
l Christian Zionists interpret the Bible literally and have a
hermeneutic understanding of Apocalyptic texts -- the book of
Daniel, Zechariah 9-12, Ezekiel 37-8, 1 Thessalonians 4-5 and the
Book of Revelations -- and assume their messages will be fulfilled
in the future. To be more precise, the version of premillennialism
popularized by Darby, Irving and Scofield should be called "futurist
premillennial dispensationalism," so as to differentiate it from
historic premillennialism, the eschatology held by many Church
Fathers, such as Tertullian, Cyril of Jerusalem, Justin Martyr and
others.
l Christian Zionists adopt a dispensationalist approach to history
as advanced by Darby and popularized by Scofield's version of the
Bible, published by Oxford University Press in 1909. Because
fundamentalist leaders, clergymen, Bible colleges, institutes and
seminaries used the Scofield Bible, it became the most significant
transmitter of premillennial dispensationalism and, as such, paved
the way for Christian Zionism.
l Christian Zionists and premillennial dispensationalists have a
pessimistic view of history and wait in eager anticipation for the
unfolding of a series of wars and tragedies pointing to the return
of Jesus. The establishment of the state of Israel, the rebuilding
of the Third Temple, the rise of the Antichrist and the buildup of
armies poised to attack Israel, are among the signs leading to the
final battle and Jesus' return. Leading Christian Zionist
authorities in Bible prophecy seek to interpret political
developments according to the prophetic schedule of events that
should unfold according to their view of scripture. As an
apocalyptic and dualistic type of theology, the movement looks in
history for the escalation of power and influence of satanic forces
aligned to the Antichrist, who, as the end draws near, will do
battle with Israel and those aligned with it. Judgment will befall
nations and individuals according to how they "bless Israel"
(Genesis 12:3).
l Christian Zionism differs from church doctrine, due in part to its
being developed by anti-state church clergymen and theologians in
England. Today its views find significant support among the
charismatic, Pentecostal and independent Bible churches in
Protestant fundamentalism. Christian Zionists often view mainline
Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic denominations with hostility and
have at times considered the World Council of Churches and related
bodies to be tools of the Antichrist. In the Holy Land, Christian
Zionists have been hostile toward Palestinian Christians and
generally detest Muslims as evil forces worshipping another God.
Recent comments by Christian Zionists such as Jerry Falwell, Pat
Robertson and Franklin Graham (the son of evangelist Billy Graham)
have added to the suspicion with which many Muslims view the
Christian West.
Christian Zionism is a growing political and religious movement
within the most conservative branches of Protestant fundamentalism,
but it can also be found in the broader evangelical branches of
Christianity, including the evangelical wings of the mainline
Presbyterian, United Methodist, Lutheran and other Protestant
churches. It thrives during periods of political and economic unrest
such as the present, characterized by international terrorism,
global recession and fear of wars in the Middle East. With its
pessimistic view of history, Christian Zionism seeks to provide
simple and clear answers through a literal and predictive approach
to the Bible. Some estimate that 20-25 million American
fundamentalist Christians hold these views, and the phenomenon is
growing.
Donald Wagner is professor of religion and Middle Eastern studies at
North Park University in Chicago and executive director of the
Center for Middle Eastern Studies. He wrote this commentary, the
second in a series of five on Christian Zionism, for THE DAILY STAR
K
-- 
Il sionismo č morto, e i suoi aggressori sono seduti sulle poltrone del
governo a Gerusalemme.
AVRAHAM BURG*
* Deputato del Partito laburista israeliano, ex presidente della Knesset
(1999-2003), ex presidente dell'Agenzia ebraica
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1041960,00.html

sionisti?
Non vedo il problema :)  Puoi criticare loro per l'appoggio che danno
agli ebrei quale popolo scelto da Dio e mostrare in questo il tuo
antisemitismo :)
-Stefano