Archive for the ‘Politics in Religion’ Category
by James M. Wall When the gavel fell on the Episcopalian convention, July 10, three major U.S. Protestant denominations had formally ended their 2012 discussions on how much religious support they were willing to give Palestinians under occupation. The most charitable answer for all three gatherings is, not much. Judging by the degree of hostility stirred up […]
Filed under: Episcopal Church, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics, Religious Faith, United Methodist Church | 20 Comments
by James M. Wall By a vote of 558 to 367, a strong majority of lay and clerical delegates to the United Methodist General Conference called this week for a boycott of Israeli companies operating in Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The resolution denounces the Israeli occupation and the settlements in a sweeping indictment. It calls for “all […]
Filed under: Media, Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, United Methodist Church | 16 Comments
by James M. Wall The mainstream media does not know it, and far too many high steeple church folk do not want to know it. But in Tampa, Florida, this week, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will make a decision. They will spend the week writing and rewriting. Some, like Alissa Bertsch […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics, United Methodist Church | 8 Comments
The editorial comment below is reprinted from the Christian Century magazine of November 23, 1977. At the time the editorial appeared, I was the editor of the Century. This was the week’s lead editorial. In 1977, I had been editor for five years, a position I held until 1999. President Jimmy Carter was inaugurated in January, 1977. […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Politics and Elections, Politics in Religion, Religion and politics, United Nations | 13 Comments
by James M. Wall Five Updates Below; Presbyterian General Assembly delegates are in Minneapolis this week for their national gathering–held every two years–discussing, praying, arguing, and finally voting, on a wide variety of issues that will determine how the heirs of John Calvin will face the future. This 219th General Assembly runs from July 3 through […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion | 9 Comments
by James M. Wall Four professors–two from Vanderbilt, one from Auburn Theological Seminary, and one from Syracuse University–have burst on the national scene as strong opponents of a Middle East Study Commission resolution which will be presented to the Presbyterian Church, USA, General Assembly in Minneapolis, MN, July 3-10. Between them, the four professors have […]
Filed under: Politics in Religion | 22 Comments
by James M. Wall Charles Colson, the former Nixon special counsel-turned-Christian radio commentator, told his listeners God allowed Hurricane Katrina to remind the United States how important it is to win the “war on terror”. That’s the way folks like Chuck Colson think. God talks to them. It may sound weird to most folks, but if […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Politics and Elections, Politics in Religion | 7 Comments
Monday Noon Update by James M. Wall Bill Kristol was in the New York Times Monday, channeling George C. Scott as General Patton, gleefully rubbing his hands together as he predicts that Gaza will not repeat the failure of the Lebanese 2006 invasion. This time, promises Kristol, “our boys will give the enemy what for”, or […]
Filed under: Politics in Religion | 1 Comment
