Author Archives: wallwritings

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About wallwritings

From 1972 through 1999, James M. Wall was editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine, based in Chicago, lllinois. He was a Contributing Editor of the Century from 1999 until July, 2017. He has written this blog, wall writings.me, since it was launched April 27, 2008. If you would like to receive Wall Writings alerts when new postings are added to this site, send a note, saying, Please Add Me, to jameswall8@gmail.com Biography: Journalism was Jim's undergraduate college major at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned two MA degrees, one from Emory, and one from the University of Chicago, both in religion. He is an ordained United Methodist clergy person. He served for two years in the US Air Force, and three additional years in the USAF reserve. While serving on active duty with the Alaskan Command, he reached the rank of first lieutenant. He has worked as a sports writer for both the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, was editor of the United Methodist magazine, Christian Advocate for ten years, and editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine for 27 years. James M Wall died March 22, 2021 at age 92. His family appreciates all of his readers, even those who may have disagreed with his well-informed writings.

Searching for Justice In Church and On Campus

by James M. Wall In less than two weeks, elected representatives of the Presbyterian Church USA, will gather in Detroit, Michigan, June 14-21, for their biennial General Assembly. Meeting in solemn assembly, they will debate and vote, again, on how best … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA | 4 Comments

What the Pope Did Not Say

by James M. Wall It is what the Pope did not say that should disturb the world. The Turkish World Bulletin’s New Desk  points to crucial words missing from his Holy Land Papal trip May 25-26: “Although the Pope has prayed at … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Obama, Television | 4 Comments

Israel Hides Behind its Own Special “Catch 22”

by James M. Wall Following yet another round of failed peace talks, Palestinian leaders  have seized the initiative to create their own future. Knowing that Israel has consistently demonstrated no interest in reaching a peace accord, Palestinian leaders defied pressure from … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, Netanyahu | 5 Comments

“Zionism Unsettled”: Neither False Nor Misguided

by James M. Wall The battle has begun over Zionism Unsettled. The Christian Century opened round one by publishing an attack on Zionism Unsettled, a study guide developed for the study of Zionism, a secular ideology formed in the 19th century, which has … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics | 10 Comments

Time for Obama To Earn His 2009 Nobel Prize

by James M. Wall President Obama has suggested a “pause” following the failure of the most recent Israel-Palestine peace negotiations. A pause is an option, of course, but it needs to be a “pregnant pause”, defined by one source as: “A pause that gives … Continue reading

Posted in Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Politics and Elections | 5 Comments

A Tale of Two Tapes

by James M. Wall UPDATED: Tuesday, April 29 Two tapes have surfaced in recent days. Thereby hangs a modern tale of the “best of times and the worst of times”. It is a bit of a stretch to use Charles Dickens to … Continue reading

Posted in John Kerry, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Television | 3 Comments

Unity Agreement Evokes Israeli-U.S. Threats

by James M. Wall We all remember the schoolyard bully, the girl or boy who set the rules and forced the rest of us to play by those rules, enforced by threats of the loss of backpacks and lunch money. … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Middle East Politics | 7 Comments

It Is Time to Bury the “Honest Broker” Deception

A couple of possilble corrections for the 21st column:

Benjamin Netanyahu and his robotic allies in the U.S. congress Congress

The New York Times, which favors same sex marriages almost as much as it favors Israel
same-sex Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, The Human Condition | 10 Comments

“I Once Was Blind . . . But Now I See”

by James M. Wall In a scene from the 2006 movie, Amazing Grace, set during the lifetime (1759 – 1833) of William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd, right), Wilberforce presents his anti-slave trade bill to the  British Parliament. It is a task he performs … Continue reading

Posted in -Movies and politics, -Movies and Religion, Middle East Politics, Movies | 4 Comments

“What we got here is failure to communicate”

by James M. Wall John Kerry’s April 29 deadline for a negotiated framework between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, is only a few weeks away. Without waiting for what is still a “flexible” end point for this round of “peace … Continue reading

Posted in John Kerry, Middle East Politics, Movies, Netanyahu, USA | 6 Comments