Category Archives: Religious Faith

The Spirit of Judah L. Magnes Lives On

by James M. Wall A New York Times column, A Conflict of Faith:  Devoted to Jewish Observance, but at Odds With Israel,” opens with an interview with Orthodox Jewish scholar Charles H. Manekin. In his column, Mark Oppenheimer describes Professor Manekin as a “rarity”, an apt … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Obama, Politics and Elections, Religious Faith | 6 Comments

What Ike Feared “Has Come Upon Us”

by James M. Wall On February 3, Illinois Sixth District Republican Congressman Peter Roskam introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress that would defend Israel against any criticism from U.S. academics. Roskam is responding to the December, 2013 vote of the American … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East, Religious Faith | 8 Comments

Netanyahu’s “Shibboleths” Scuttle Peace Talks

by James M. Wall “No partner for peace” is one of several “shibboleths” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and his cabinet are now using to scuttle any peace agreement with President Mahmoud Abbas, no matter how often U.S. Secretary of … Continue reading

Posted in John Kerry, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Religious Faith | 5 Comments

Iran And The Season of Peace and Goodwill

by James M. Wall This is the season which celebrates the hope of peace and good will among humankind. The New Testament testifies to this hope in Luke 2:8-20. “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, John Kerry, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Obama, Religious Faith | 5 Comments

Cardoza Law School Ignores Dershowitz To Honor Jimmy Carter

by James M. Wall Despite vicious opposition from the Alan Dershowitz conservative wing of the American Jewish community, Cardoza Law School honored former President Jimmy Carter April 10, for his career of work on peace and conflict resolution. The International Advocate … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Religious Faith | 7 Comments

What Protestants Could Learn from Ron Paul

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Episcopal Church, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion, Presbyterian Church USA, Religion and politics, Religious Faith, United Methodist Church | 20 Comments

Pro-Divestment Presbyterians Win By Losing

by James M. Wall Do you really want to know what happened at the just-concluded 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian U.S.A. denomination? As a veteran watcher of Protestant church political struggles, I urge you to remember that neither the cross … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, Politics and Elections, Presbyterian Church, Religious Faith | 26 Comments

Presbyterians Next Up for Divestment Vote

by James M. Wall  (Two Israeli soldiers guard Palestinian children in Hebron.) Jimmy Carter wrote a New York Times op-ed piece this week, A Cruel and Unusual Record, which states flatly: “The United States is abandoning its role as the global champion of human … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Presbyterian Church USA, Religious Faith, United Methodist Church | Tagged , | 10 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

Church Leader Tells Palestinians and Israelis “eat together and listen to each other’s stories”

by James M. Wall (New Comments Posted Below) An appalling shallowness has descended over Mainline Protestantism. Episcopalians, United Methodists and Presbyterians are actually debating how they should deal with the Israeli Occupation Martin Luther King, sitting in that Birmingham city … Continue reading

Posted in Episcopal Church, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Presbyterian Church, Religion and politics, Religious Faith, United Methodist Church | 38 Comments