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Seeking Understanding to Enable Constructive Dialogue

Jesper Svartvik | 30.09.2012

In October 2011, the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) invited a number of Christians to a meeting in Beit Jala, situated not far from Bethlehem. Two Jewish observers were also invited and contributed to the discussion. I had been asked to present a few reflections on Christian discourse about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. … [more]

The Raheb-Herzog Affair

Malcolm Lowe | 04.05.2012

When the German concern Media Control announced the four winners of its 2011 German Media Prize (Deutscher Medienpreis) on January 13, 2012, the choice of the fourth, Lutheran Pastor Mitri Raheb of Bethlehem, provoked a storm of hundreds of protests. … [more]

Old Habits Die Hard: A Critique of Recent Christian Statements on Israel

Amy-Jill Levine * | 01.05.2012

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"Palestinian Theologian" Trashes "Palestinian Theology"

Malcolm Lowe | 22.02.2012

For over two decades, parts of the Christian world have been bemused by the writings of self-styled "Palestinian Christian theologians." Since their brightest lights are Protestant pastors, they are minor figures among the overwhelmingly Orthodox and Catholic faithful of the Holy Land. But they are strangely popular in Liberal Protestant circles abroad and especially beloved of church bureaucrats. … [more]

Land of Israel and Universal Salvation in the New Testament

Klaus Wengst | 31.08.2011

In December 2009, Palestinian Christians published A Word of Faith, Hope and Love from the Heart of Palestinian's Suffering, (hereafter referred to as Word) that gained great attention through its distribution by the World Council of Churches as "Kairos Palestine Document.” Because Word emphatically, and in detail, speaks in theological terms, I will first outline its theological foundation, then discuss this in four points and, at the end, add a few comments. … [more]

The Jewish Moses

Wengst, Klaus | 30.06.2011

In Rabbinic Judaism, Moses takes the dominant position among all biblical characters. Through him, God leads his people out of Egypt; through him, he gives his people the Torah at Sinai. … [more]

The Jesus of the Gospels as interpreter of the Torah.

Klaus Wengst | 31.12.2010

According to the Gospels, Jesus has neither abolished nor surpassed the law. He interpreted the Torah. To show this, I will confine myself mainly to a section of the Gospel of Matthew, which, in the history of its Christian interpretation, was often used to prove the opposite and set under the heading "Antitheses" – Math. 5:21-48. However, Jesus offers no "antitheses to the law," but interpretations of the Torah. … [more]

John Paul II, Lower Manhattan and the Power of Religious Symbolism

Philip A. Cunningham | 28.09.2010

The recent controversy over the proposed construction of an Islamic center and mosque in Lower Manhattan has raised unsettling questions about religious freedom, sensitivity to the victims of Sept. 11, Islamaphobia, political demagoguery and the limits of accommodation by the majority society to minorities. … [more]

The Palestinian "Kairos" Document.

Lowe, Malcolm | 30.06.2010

The self-styled "Kairos Palestine" document was launched in Bethlehem on December 11, 2009 by a panel chaired by the former Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah. It was quickly made available in Arabic and several European languages at the dedicated website www.kairospalestine.ps. … [more]

Israel and Judaism’s future

Hartman, David | 30.04.2010

There were many people, both in Israel and abroad, who believed – and continue to believe – that the fundamental purpose of the State of Israel was to solve the condition of Jewish suffering by providing a national home for Jews. Treating Israel solely as a haven against persecution is, I believe, incomplete and inadequate for understanding the significance and importance of the rebirth of Israel. … [more]