UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM Theological and Regional Variations Calvin L. Smith

1. UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM Theological and Regional Variations Calvin L. Smith

2. Christian Zionism in the News Claims: US Middle East policy influenced/shaped by powerful Christian Zionist lobby (cf Balfour) Well-known televangelist Zionists Hamas warnings to Christian Zionists (regarded as a fair target) Recent attacks upon UK churches with �Zion� in their name

3. Defining Christian Zionism Heb. �Sion� (Zion) Ophel ? Jerusalem ? Jewish homeland in Palestine Jewish Zionism Support for a Jewish homeland on political grounds Christian Zionism Support for a Jewish homeland on theological grounds Primarily an Evangelical movement

4. Christian Zionism perceived as monolithic. �All Christian Zionists uncritically support Israel� �All Christian Zionists reject land for peace� Purpose of This Presentation Demonstrate Christian Zionism is not homogenous (Evangelical Left vs Right) Identify how local factors shape Christian �Zionisms� Highlight several methodological issues when researching religio-political issues such as this

5. Why It Matters� Israel-Palestine conflict: major issue on the geopolitical stage Theological nature of the conflict (Christian Zionism, liberation theology, settler Judaism, Muslim land) Perceived role of Evangelicals in shaping US policy in the Middle East In short, an example of how religion impacts society and politics (cf 1980s+ religion as a political determinant) Hence, growing literature on Christian Zionism

6. Regional and theological variations of Christian Zionism�

7. 1. Israel and Latin American Pentecostalism REVOLUTIONARY NICARAGUA (1979-1990) Leftist Sandinista revolution Sandinista links with PLO (training camps) Nicaraguan Pentecostalism: pro-US, classical, Zionist CDS, ration cards, �Mark of the Beast� �Actualised� hermeneutic: �We�re in the End Times� Sandinista view of Israel cited as proof Sandinista purge of Nicaraguan Jewry

8. Thus, local factors exacerbated AoG�s Zionism cf. autochthonous Pentecostalism in Latin America (eg Chile, Brazil) Less dependent on exogenous theology Less inclined to embrace classical Pentecostal theology (eg glossolalia in Chile) Less eschatological, less Zionist Also, less suspicious of the Left (unlike in Nicaragua) Grassroots Chilean Pentecostals and Allende (1970) cf hierarchical support for Pinochet

9. 2. US versus UK Christian �Zionisms� DOMINANT EXPRESSION OF U.S. ZIONISM Highly politicised (political right) Eschatologically-driven, apocalyptic Seeks to hasten parousia Actualised hermeneutic (pivotal biblical prophecy role; some argue it seeks to foment Middle East crisis) BRITISH CHRISTIAN ZIONISM More covenantal (focus on Jews as God�s covenant people) Less eschatological (But note: both expressions present in UK and US)

10. 3. British Pentecostalism and Israel CLASSICAL PENTECOSTALISM IN THE UK Traditionally Zionist (though not as much as US) (NB gradual AoG shift to amillennialism) RESTORATIONISM (house church m�t) Bryn Jones� internationalism, pro-Palestinian (w/c, British trade unionist internationalism?) Terry Virgo and New Frontiers Promotion of Stephen Sizer

11. 4. Evangelical Views From the Holy Land Palestinian liberation theology, Reformed Arabs (local factor: Evangelical Arabs much less Zionist) But also Christian Zionist Arabs! Christian Arabs who reject both supercessionism and Zionism Grassroots vs hierarchy Jerusalem, Israeli, West Bank Arab-Christian differences Messianic Jews as Zionists or anti-supercessionist Reformed Jewish Christians (political, not theological Zionists)

12. 5. Christian Zionism or anti-Supercessionism? R. Kendall Soulen The God of Israel and Christian Theology Identifies three forms of supercessionism: punitive, economic, structural Soulen rejects supercessionism completely The Jews remain God�s chosen people But Soulen also firmly rejects Zionism

13. Other Factors to Consider� Some Christian Zionists publicly criticise Israel Some Christian Zionists reject the anti-Arab racism within parts of the movement (Hagaric covenant) Some Christian Zionists allow for an exchange of land for peace

14. IN SUMMARY

15. Parodies of Pro-Israel Christian Views All pro-Israel Christians are Zionist All Zionists on the political right All Zionists are politically active and lobbying their governments All are obsessed with the land and the End Times None want peace in the Middle East All are racists, anti-Arab Lacks nuance. Christian Zionism is more complex.

16. Yes, such views exist. But� Note various expressions of Christian Zionism Note also how local factors/theology help shape the movement Some focus on the people rather than the land Possible common ground for dialogue between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian Christians?

17. Methodological Issues Take care of explanations relying heavily on homogeneity/generalisation Interview all stakeholders (eg hierarchichal, grassroots, different denominations) Dangers of ideologically-driven sources Problems with investing too much authority in a single source or interview

18. For a copy of this Powerpoint file www.calvinsmith.org Resources ? Other Resources