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.

Obama Emerges as the US Warrior President

by James M. Wall Memorial Day in the United States is a time for hot dogs, overcooked burgers, too much beer, and a massive dose of militaristic patriotism. It is also a good time for Americans to begin thinking seriously … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Obama | 11 Comments

Will Elections Penetrate Israel’s “Impenetrable, Dangerous, Ideological Shield”?

by James M. Wall It has been 25 years since Jewish historian, and Israeli critic, Simha Flapan, described the dominant narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his 1987 book, The Birth of Israel: Myths and Realities. Even though Israel has … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The Incompatibility of Nakba and Neutrality

by James M. Wall Neve Gordon, a 47-year-old Israeli-born professor and author, greeted this year’s 64th anniversary of the Nakba with an essay for CounterPunch that included this revealing confession: I first heard about the Nakba in the late 1980s, … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics, Religion and politics | 12 Comments

Your Hard-Earned US Tax Dollars and Church Pension Funds at Work for Israel (With Update)

by James M. Wall Monday Update:   Hunger strike agreement reached BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Detainees on Monday signed a deal with the Israeli prison authority to end their mass hunger strike, officials told Ma’an. Prisoner representatives from each of the … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 13 Comments

Methodists Boycott Settlement Products

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, United Methodist Church | 16 Comments

Methodists Delay Vote Until Later This Week

by James M. Wall The United Methodist Church has delayed a vote on a resolution on divestment from three US companies which “aid and abet”* Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The vote was initially set for Tuesday, … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Obama, Politics and Elections, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics, United Methodist Church | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Methodists Face Moment of Occupation Truth

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics, United Methodist Church | 8 Comments

“Throw Their Dirty, Filthy Ships Out of the Water!”

by James M. Wall “Throw Their Dirty, Filthy Ships Out of the Water!” In the 2006 movie, Amazing Grace, John Newton shouts these words at William Wilberforce, a member of Parliament who was the leader of  a 19th century fight to … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, Religious Faith, United Methodist Church | 15 Comments

Does Israel Interfere in US Elections?

by James M. Wall Israel’s ambassador to the US, former American citizen Michael Oren, (at right) trotted out a classic Zionist strategy when he sent a letter to the New York Times  denying that Israel is “interfering” in the American presidential campaign. … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics, Movies, Netanyahu, Politics and Elections | 10 Comments

Gunter Grass Exposes Israel As a Nuclear Power that “Endangers” a Fragile World Peace

Fby James M. Wall A stunning new poem by German novelist Gunter Grass, has “broken the silence” on Israel as a nuclear power. Western journalists and politicians have long enforced that silence by unspoken and unwritten common agreement. The silence … Continue reading

Posted in Episcopal Church, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Presbyterian Church, United Methodist Church | 17 Comments