Using Religion to Justify Israel

by Maurice Lavian               March 2006

The following is from a religious pro-Israel supporter:

The United States of America is making a huge mistake in pushing the Palestinian state in Israel. The Palestinian state issue is putting a judgment on the United States for going against Abraham's promise from the god of Israel. Over 3,900 years ago the God of Israel told Abraham that Israel was holy ground for the promise land. The God of Israel said "I will bless the ones that bless Israel and I will curse the ones who curse Israel!" The United States is being deceived by other nations that the Palestinian State is the roadmap to peace. They say peace and safety on their lips but in their heart is war! War will happen soon in Israel from this abomination of God from the Palestinian State. Man can't divide the promised land that the God of Israel promised for Abraham's blessing! The Jewish people, who are God's chosen, are being moved off their own land! There is only one solution for this problem. If the Palestinian people aren't happy in Israel they could move over into the country of Jordan. This would prevent the problem and judgment wouldn't come to the United States of America! - George Culley of Pinkneyville Illinois October 11 2005 the Macomb Journal

Also see: America's Support for Israel The Creation of Israel is Not Affirmative Action Israel's Settlement Activity Religion and Secularism in Israel More Articles on Religion vs Secularism

I realize most of my readers are not atheists like I am, but most average every day people will not buy this theocratical argument in support of Israel. While a large majority of the world population believes in some sort of god, most people believe in a certain degree of secularism, especially in the western world. Therefore arguments such as "god told Abraham this" or "god of Israel said that" is not a sufficient argument for anything with most people in secular America. In western society we have separation of church and state. While everyone is free to practice whatever degree of whatever religion that he or she wishes, most people recognize that when it comes to public policy or any significant international issue, god or the bible is not a valid argument. We cannot simply say that lifesaving stem cell research should be outlawed because the bible is against it. We cannot say all stores and all businesses must close on Sundays simply because the bible says its the sabath. We cannot force scientists to suppress legitimate findings on evolution simply because it might contradict a religious scroll. For those same reasons we can not simply support a state or a creation of a state just because a religious book told us to. Most Americans do not find something that might have happened 3900 years ago relevant to today. Just because some holy book states that back in the old days "god of Israel" told Abraham that Israel was the "promised land" does not mean that we should create a state in the middle east and give it to "the chosen people".. Just because some religious book claims that the "god of israel" said he will "bless the ones that bless Israel" and he will "curse the ones who curse Israel" does not mean that every human being in today's world should support Israel out of fear of being cursed. This writer is opposing the creation of a Palestinian state because of a religious delusion, with no knowledge or consideration of the 4 million Palestinian refugees living in Gaza and the West Bank, which would be severly impacted if people who share this writers' theocratical points of views have their way. This is how blind and ignorant religious ideologies can be. This writer is asking America's leaders to shape our foreign policy based on the bible! He believes we should support Israel because if we don't, we will be "cursed". Such theocratical arguments have no place in a secular progressive society. There are many good reasons to support the state and the creation of Israel. Religion (as well as the holocaust) should NOT be one of them. The creation of Israel should be supported as a REWARD to the Jews that lived in pre-state Israel for their support to the winning sides of world war 1 and world war 2. At the same any potential Arab claim to Israel should be revoked due to the Arab/Muslim worlds staunch support for the axis powers in both world war 1 and world war 2. The state of Israel should be supported not to avoid being "cursed", but because a legally binding U.N. partition (a secular document) was passed and endorsed by the overwhelming majority of the international community. Israel is the only secular, progressive, and civilized democracy in the middle east, and is under constant threat from its neighbors. Israel should be supported by America because they have been a staunch supporter of the United States in every major world conflict even when they didn't have to.

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