From TPM Reader BR …
As a lapsed Southern Baptist, I think it’s mistaken to regard evangelical support for Israel as primarily about eschatology.
More than other Christian denominations, evangelicals stress intimate and uncritical familiarity with the Bible. Thus, the most famous expression of the Abrahamic covenant (“I will bless those who bless thee and curse those who curse thee”) becomes ingrained in their minds from an early age, as does a romanticized narrative of the Jewish people’s ancient conquest of the Holy Land.
To be sure, reflexive support for Israel based on simplistic ideas about the past is as problematic as reflexive support for Israel based on fantastical ideas about the future. In fairness to evangelical supporters of Israel, though, I don’t think that the majority of them advocate settlement expansion because of a desire to prepare the way for an apocalyptic conflagration.
Point taken. Not for everyone. And not the sole issue in play. What I still think is that it’s a big thing for many evangelical leaders, the Robertsons, Falwells and their successors today. Read More
Lieberman: No rush on all that health care stuff. Maybe in a few years.
Seven months into his first term, Obama has fewer than half of his senior political appointees in place. That and the day’s other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.
Senator Joe Lieberman says health care reform is a little too difficult to do during an economic recession, so let’s just put off the toughest decisions for another day. Plus, will John McCain condemn the “death panel” language used by his former running mate Sarah Palin? All that and more in today’s Sunday Show Roundup …
Full-size video at TPMtv.com.
Fox News and Jonah Goldberg roll out “death panels” for disabled veterans.
Adds bonus Veterans Administrations/Nazi Germany comparison.
This should go over well.
GOP Michael Steele just managed to compare former House leader and Missouri senate candidate Roy Blunt to raw sewage clogging a toilet and then agree that Blunt is a serial philanderer.
Another report from the pews on evangelicals and Israel, from TPM Reader DH …
Josh, for what it’s worth, I grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist church (in Indiana), and my experience was more consistent with your understanding of evangelical support for Israel. Unlike your reader BR’s experience, in my church, support for Israel was very much tied to the idea that Israel played a role in the timing of Christ’s return to earth. It was understood that the benefit would redound to Christians, not to the Jewish inhabitants of Israel, who would either accept Christ or go to hell. I don’t recall any significant romantic or sentimental aspect to pro-Israel ideas.
Attorney General Holder to name special prosecutor to investigate detainee abuses.
Christie conference call to attack Corzine on ethics doesn’t go according to plan.
Pro-health care reform advocates — or at least one — gets in on the gun-toting at protests craze.