No description available.

Réalisé en cotutelle avec L'Université Bordeaux-Montaigne / Cette thèse porte sur le sionisme chrétien américain, plus précisément sur le pasteur John Hagee, et sur les membres de son organisation (Christians United For Israel - CUFI) et de son assemblée Cornerstone Church. Ce mouvement regroupe des évangéliques fondamentalistes qui obéissent littéralement au verset 3 du livre de la Genèse, chapitre 12, selon lequel il est nécessaire de bénir Israël pour être béni en retour. Ils croient que le retour des juifs en Terre sainte, la création de l’État d’Israël (1948) ou encore la prise de Jérusalem (1967) sont les signes annonciateurs du retour du Christ confirmant les prophéties vétéro et néotestamentaires. Le CUFI a un message pour sa nation, mais également pour l’humanité. Leur « bonne nouvelle » doit être communiquée pour défendre l’État d’Israël et les juifs. C’est ainsi que le mouvement chrétien sioniste qui a des origines anciennes, vise à atteindre son objectif ultime d’influence nationale en utilisant constamment des techniques et des stratégies évolutives et adaptatives. La question porte sur les rapports entre religion et politique. La recherche s’intéresse au passage de la sphère religieuse à la sphère de l’engagement politique sioniste chez Hagee et son groupe, et aux facteurs à l’origine de ce passage. Nous verrons comment ils deviennent des acteurs religieux dans l’arène politique et comment ils sont influencés par un héritage religio-politique et prophético-millénariste. C’est l’individu, en tant qu’« évangélique pro- Israël », son expérience propre, et les rapports qu’il tisse entre religion et politique qui nous ont intéressés. De plus, les objectifs spécifiques de cette recherche consistent à étudier la littérature évangélique pro-Israël, à réaliser une étude de terrain de ce cas accompagnée d’observations et d’entretiens. Enfin, cette thèse s’inscrit dans une perspective interdisciplinaire au carrefour des Sciences des religions et des Études nord-américaines. / This doctoral thesis deals with Christian Zionism, and more precisely with pastor John Hagee, the members of his organization (Christians United For Israel - CUFI) and his assembly, Cornerstone Church. This movement gathers fundamentalist Evangelicals who literally obey Genesis 12: 3, which says it is necessary to bless Israel to be blessed in return. They believe that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, the creation of the State of Israel (1948) and the conquest of Jerusalem (1967) are forewarning signs of the Second coming of Jesus Christ confirming the prophecies from the New Testament and the Old Testament. CUFI has one message for the nation of America, and also for humanity. Their message must be communicated in defense of the State of Israel and the Jews. This explains how the Christian Zionist movement, which is not a recent one, aims for reaching its ultimate objective of national influence by constantly changing its techniques along with employing progressive strategies. The question deals with the relationship between religion and politics. The research follows the progression of Hagee and his groups from the religious sphere to political engagement, and the factors that are the origins of this passage. We will see how these Christians, who are influenced by a background that is political, millenarist and prophetic, become religious actors in the political arena. Moreover, we concentrated on pro-Israel Evangelical literature, in addition to making a field study along with observations and interviews. During the field trips, the individual, as a pro-Israel Evangelical, his own experience, and his relation to religion and Israel was our focus. Finally, this thesis provides an interdisciplinary perspective between religious studies and American studies.

This dissertation poses a set of six questions about one of the Israel Lobby’s particular components, a Potential Christian Jewish coalition (PCJc) within American politics that advocates for Israeli sovereignty over “Judea and Samaria” (“the West Bank”). The study addresses: the profiles of the individuals of the PCJc; its policy positions, the issues that have divided it, and what has prevented, and continues to prevent, the coalition from being absorbed into one or more of the more formally organized components of the Israel Lobby; the resources and methods this coalition has used to attempt to influence U.S. policy on (a) the Middle East, and (b) the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular; the successes or failures of this coalition’s advocacy and why it has not organized; and what this case reveals about interest group politics and social movements in the United States. This dissertation follows the descriptive-analytic case-study tradition that comprises a detailed analysis of a specific interest group and one policy issue, which conforms to my interest in the potential Christian Jewish coalition that supports a Jewish Judea and Samaria. I have employed participant observation, interviewing, content analysis and documentary research. The findings suggest: The PCJc consists of Christian Zionists and mostly Jews of the center religious denominations. Orthodox Jewish traditions of separation from Christians inhibit like-minded Christians and Jews from organizing. The PCJc opposes an Arab state in Judea and Samaria, and is not absorbed into more formally organized interest groups that support that policy. The PCJc’s resources consist of support and funding from conservatives. Methods include use of education, debates and media. Members of the PCJc are successful because they persist in their support for a Jewish Judea and Samaria and meet through other organizations around Judeo-Christian values. The PCJc is deterred from advocacy and organization by a mobilization of bias from a subgovernment in Washington, D.C. comprising Congress, the Executive branch and lobby organizations. The study’s results raise questions about interest group politics in America and the degree to which the U.S. political system is pluralistic, suggesting that executive power constrains the agenda to “safe” positions it favors.

No description available.

Cette thèse porte sur le sionisme chrétien américain, plus précisément sur le pasteur John Hagee, et sur les membres de son organisation (Christians United For Israel - CUFI) et de son assemblée Cornerstone Church. Ce mouvement regroupe des évangéliques fondamentalistes qui obéissent littéralement au verset 3 du livre de la Genèse, chapitre 12, selon lequel il est nécessaire de bénir Israël pour être béni en retour. Ils croient que le retour des juifs en Terre sainte, la création de l’État d’Israël (1948) ou encore la prise de Jérusalem (1967) sont les signes annonciateurs du retour du Christ confirmant les prophéties vétéro et néo-testamentaires. Le CUFI a un message pour sa nation, mais également pour l’humanité. Leur « bonne nouvelle » doit être communiquée pour défendre l’État d’Israël et les juifs. C’est ainsi que le mouvement chrétien sioniste qui a des origines anciennes, vise à atteindre son objectif ultime d’influence nationale en utilisant constamment des techniques et des stratégies évolutives et adaptatives. La question porte sur les rapports entre religion et politique. La recherche s’intéresse au passage de la sphère religieuse à la sphère de l’engagement politique sioniste chez Hagee et son groupe, et aux facteurs à l’origine de ce passage. Nous verrons comment ils deviennent des acteurs religieux dans l’arène politique et comment ils sont influencés par un héritage religio-politique et prophético-millénariste. C’est l’individu, en tant qu’« évangélique pro-Israël », son expérience propre, et les rapports qu’il tisse entre religion et politique qui nous ont intéressés. De plus, les objectifs spécifiques de cette recherche consistent à étudier la littérature évangélique pro-Israël, à réaliser une étude de terrain de ce cas accompagnée d’observations et d’entretiens. Enfin, cette thèse s’inscrit dans une perspective interdisciplinaire au carrefour des Sciences des religions et des Études nord-américaines. / This doctoral thesis deals with Christian Zionism, and more precisely with pastor John Hagee, the members of his organization (Christians United For Israel - CUFI) and his assembly, Cornerstone Church. This movement gathers fundamentalist Evangelicals who literally obey Genesis 12: 3, which says it is necessary to bless Israel to be blessed in return. They believe that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, the creation of the State of Israel (1948) and the conquest of Jerusalem (1967) are forewarning signs of the Second coming of Jesus Christ confirming the prophecies from the New Testament and the Old Testament. CUFI has one message for the nation of America, and also for humanity. Their message must be communicated in defense of the State of Israel and the Jews. This explains how the Christian Zionist movement, which is not a recent one, aims for reaching its ultimate objective of national influence by constantly changing its techniques along with employing progressive strategies. The question deals with the relationship between religion and politics. The research follows the progression of Hagee and his groups from the religious sphere to political engagement, and the factors that are the origins of this passage. We will see how these Christians, who are influenced by a background that is political, millenarist and prophetic, become religious actors in the political arena. Moreover, we concentrated on pro-Israel Evangelical literature, in addition to making a field study along with observations and interviews. During the field trips, the individual, as a pro-Israel Evangelical, his own experience, and his relation to religion and Israel was our focus. Finally, this thesis provides an interdisciplinary perspective between religious studies and American studies.

AFRIKAANS : Waar die meeste nasies in die wêreld hul aanspraak op `n eie land baseer op besetting of verowering deur hul voorgeslagte, baseer die Jode hulle aanspraak op die land Israel op godsdienstige, historiese en politieke gronde. Hierin speel die Hebreeuse Bybel (TeNaK) `n sentrale rol. Twee Ou Testamentiese verbonde, die Abrahamitiese verbond en die Deuteronomiese (Land-van-Israel/Palestina) verbond, vorm die basis hiervan. Die aanname dat die Jode van vandag `n voortsetting van Bybelse Israel is en gevolglik aanspraak op hierdie verbondsbeloftes kan maak, asook God se doel met die insluiting van die land Israel in Sy verbond met Abraham en die rol van die land in die verhouding tussen Hom en Sy uitverkore volk, ondersteun Jode se godsdienstige aansprake. Vanuit `n historiese perspektief word aangevoer dat die Jode `n teenwoordigheid in die land behou het sedert die Israeliete se inname van die land Kanaän tot en met vandag, ten spyte daarvan dat die land deur die geskiedenis heen deur verskeie wêreldryke beheer is. In aansprake op politieke gronde word verwys na die aanbevelings van die Verenigde Nasies wat die gebied met die Partisieplan amptelik verdeel het in `n Joodse en Arabiese gedeelte; waarna Israel in 1948 die Joodse staat afkondig het. Hoewel Christene nie aanspraak maak op die land Israel nie, het hulle wel bepaalde sienings oor Israel, die Jode en Joodse aansprake op die land. In `n Christelik-teologiese evaluering van hierdie aansprake, blyk dit dat verskille met die Joodse beskouinge in hoofsaak te doen het met die godsdienstige aansprake omdat die betekenis van die term Bybel vir Jode en Christene verskil. Onder Christene is daar ook nie eenstemmigheid oor wát die Bybel is en hoe dit vertolk behoort te word nie. Twee breë denkrigtings binne die Christelike geloof, Vervangingsteologie en Christen-Sionisme, bied verskillende sieninge in dié verband. Die konflik in die Midde-Ooste raak elke persoon, afgesien van sy godsdienstige affiliasie of afwesigheid daaraan. Vanuit `n bepaalde Christelik-teologiese perspektief is `n alternatiewe beskouing aangebied om die spirituele, eerder as die oënskynlike sekulêre en politieke aard daarvan, te beklemtoon. Israel se oorspronklike roeping om verlossing aan die wêreld te bring is ondersoek, terwyl die werkbaarheid van `n Twee-party-staat as oplossing vir vrede in die streek in die lig hiervan, bespreek is. Die aktualiteit en doel van die studie is daarin geleë dat inligting aan Christenlesers gebied word sodat `n ingeligte standpunt oor die aangeleentheid geformuleer kan word. ENGLISH : While most of the nations of the world claim the right to their own country as a result of occupation or conquest, the Jews claim the right to the land of Israel on religious, historical and political grounds. In this regard the Hebrew Bible (TaNaK) plays a central role. Two Old Testament covenants, the Abrahamic covenant and the Deuteronomic (Land of Israel/Palestine) covenant, form the basis of this claim. The assumption that the Jews of today are a continuance of the Biblical Israelites and consequently can lay claim to these covenants, God’s purpose for the inclusion of the land in His covenant with Abraham, as well as the role of the land in His relationship between Him and His chosen people, support these Jewish religious claims. From a historical perspective it is put forward that the Jews have maintained a presence in the land since the Israelites captured the land of Canaan up to and including the present, despitethe fact that the country has been ruled throughout history by various other powers of the world. In claims on political grounds one is referred to the recommendations of the United Nations which, according to the Partition Plan, divided the country into Jewish and Arab parts. Israel then, in 1948, declared the State of Israel. Although Christians do not lay claim to the land of Israel, they have indeed distinct views concerning Israel, the Jews and Jewish claims to the land. In a Christian-theological evaluation of these claims it appears that the differences with the Jewish views have mainly to do with religious claims because the meaning of the term Bible differs for Jews and Christians. Among Christians too there is also no unanimity about what the Bible is and how it should be interpreted. Two broad schools of thought within Christians beliefs, Replacement Theology and Christians-Zionism, present different views in this regard. The conflict in the Middle East affects every person, irrespective of his religious affiliation or absence of it. From a specific Christian-theological perspective, an alternative opinion is given to emphasise the spiritual, rather than the apparent secular and political nature. Israel’s original mission to bring redemption to the world is examined and the feasibility of a Two-party-state as a solution for peace in the land is discussed in this respect. The actuality and purpose of the study is to give the relevant information to Christian readers so that an informed opinion concerning the subject can be made. / Dissertation (MA(Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Science of Religion and Missiology / unrestricted

Palestine is known as the birthplace of Christianity. However the Christian population of this land is relatively insignificant today, despite the continuing institutional legacy that the 19th century Western missionary focus on the region created. Palestinian Christians are often forced to employ politically astute as well as theologically radical means in their efforts to appear relevant within an increasingly Islamist-oriented society. My thesis focuses on two ecumenical Christian organisations within Palestine, the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem (headed by the Anglican cleric Naim Stifan Ateek) and Dar Annadwa Addawliyya (the International Centre of Bethlehem-ICB, directed by the Lutheran theologian Mitri Raheb). Based on my field work (consisting of an in-depth familiarisation with the two organisations in Palestine and interviews with their directors, office-staff and supporters worldwide, as well as data analyses based on an extensive literature review), I argue that the grassroots-oriented educational, humanitarian, cultural and contextual theological approach favoured by the ICB in Bethlehem is more relevant to the Palestinian situation, than the more sectarian and Western-oriented approach of the Sabeel Centre. These two groups are analysed primarily according to their theological-political approaches. One, (Sabeel), has sought to develop a critical Christian response to the Palestine-Israel conflict using the politico-theological tool of liberation theology, albeit with a strongly ecumenical Western-oriented focus, while the other (ICB), insists that its theological orientation draws primarily from the Levantine Christian (and in their particular case, the Palestinian Lutheran) context in which Christians in Israel-Palestine are placed. Raheb of the ICB has tried to develop a contextual theology that seeks to root the political and cultural development of the Palestinian people within their own Eastern Christian context and in light of their peculiarly restricted life under an Israeli occupation regime of over 40 years. In the process, I argue that the ICB has sought to be much more situationally relevant to the needs of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, given the employment, socio-cultural and humanitarian-health opportunities opened up by the practical-institution building efforts of this organisation in Bethlehem.

The thesis is concerned with two issues, modern messiahs and their appeal, namely the highly successful Rebbe M.M. Schneerson from Chabad; and hostile, modern day, militant messianists and their beliefs, namely the USA Christian evangelicals and their rapture belief. The study directs attention at the three successful (in the sense that their movements survived their deaths) Jewish Messiahs, the 1st century Jesus, the 17th century Sabbatai Sevi and the present day, but recently deceased (1994) Rebbe Schneerson. The focus in the study falls on the latter two Jewish Messiahs, especially Rebbe Schneerson and Chabad, from Crown Heights, New York, whose messianic beliefs and conduct the thesis has been able to follow in real time. The thesis argues that Rebbe Schneerson and Chabad‟s extreme messianic beliefs and praxis, and the marked similarities that exist between all three Jewish Messiahs and their followers indicate that Chabad will probably, over time, become another religion removed from Judaism. The thesis notes that the three Jewish Messiahs share a similar messiah template, the “„suffering servant‟ messiah” template. The thesis argues that this template is related to the wide appeal and success of these three Jewish messiahs, as it offers their followers the option of vicarious atonement which relieves people from dealing with their own transgressions and permits people to evade the demanding task of assuming personal accountability for all their actions, including their transgressions. The recommendations in this thesis are prompted by the “wall of deafening silence” which is the result of political correctness and the “hands off religion” position, that prevents debate or censure of hostile militant messianism, despite the inherent dangers and high cost attached to the praxis of hostile, militant messianism and militant messianists‟ belief in exclusive apocalyptic scenarios, in modern, multicultural and democratic societies. The thesis argues this situation is not tenable and that it needs to be addressed, especially where modern day, hostile, militant messianists, unlike their predecessors at Qumran, now have access to the military and to military hardware, including nuclear warheads, and are able to hasten the End Times should they simply choose to do so. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Archaeology)

The thesis is concerned with two issues, modern messiahs and their appeal, namely the highly successful Rebbe M.M. Schneerson from Chabad; and hostile, modern day, militant messianists and their beliefs, namely the USA Christian evangelicals and their rapture belief. The study directs attention at the three successful (in the sense that their movements survived their deaths) Jewish Messiahs, the 1st century Jesus, the 17th century Sabbatai Sevi and the present day, but recently deceased (1994) Rebbe Schneerson. The focus in the study falls on the latter two Jewish Messiahs, especially Rebbe Schneerson and Chabad, from Crown Heights, New York, whose messianic beliefs and conduct the thesis has been able to follow in real time. The thesis argues that Rebbe Schneerson and Chabad‟s extreme messianic beliefs and praxis, and the marked similarities that exist between all three Jewish Messiahs and their followers indicate that Chabad will probably, over time, become another religion removed from Judaism. The thesis notes that the three Jewish Messiahs share a similar messiah template, the “„suffering servant‟ messiah” template. The thesis argues that this template is related to the wide appeal and success of these three Jewish messiahs, as it offers their followers the option of vicarious atonement which relieves people from dealing with their own transgressions and permits people to evade the demanding task of assuming personal accountability for all their actions, including their transgressions. The recommendations in this thesis are prompted by the “wall of deafening silence” which is the result of political correctness and the “hands off religion” position, that prevents debate or censure of hostile militant messianism, despite the inherent dangers and high cost attached to the praxis of hostile, militant messianism and militant messianists‟ belief in exclusive apocalyptic scenarios, in modern, multicultural and democratic societies. The thesis argues this situation is not tenable and that it needs to be addressed, especially where modern day, hostile, militant messianists, unlike their predecessors at Qumran, now have access to the military and to military hardware, including nuclear warheads, and are able to hasten the End Times should they simply choose to do so. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Archaeology)