The War in Gaza
Isn’t a War Between Judaism & Islam

Seventy-six years of wars, peace treaties, conferences, and cease-fires over small scraps of land are about two opposing forces that cannot compromise in their grasp for power. Those who criticize Israel for its conduct of the war are not anti-Semitics. They are concerned about disproportional response to the attack by Hamas. For millennia, the Jews taught “an eye-for-an-eye,” that is, a response to an injury that was comparable to the original injury. What we have now is revenge, not a defense.

We’ve had so-called “religious wars” between Protestants and Catholics in Europe. Except for infidels who can claim anything in the justification for war, the primitive thinking in the past about religion justifying war has no place today. The costs are too high, and the rational is false.

To try to define Christian Nationalism, you must break down the broad scope of religion and governance. Christianity is more of a historical perspective of a religion than a unified theology, and our democracy is only one form of governance.

Trying to separate the concepts of power, dominance, religion, politics, theology, and rationality is impossible because they all converge into social norms. Iran is a simpler form of theocracy, and some claim that the United States is moving in that direction. Who is supposed to be in charge?

In the 1920’s America was dominated by isolationism, racism, misogyny, unfettered capitalism, economic inequality, and small government. Today, the same beliefs still function but with different labels. Those with most extreme political views believe their mindset should dominate everything, including abolishing religious freedoms. It’s my way or the highway reasoning. When they criticize science, they are simply avoiding the idea of rational thought.

UMC News Service Photo of Announcement of Ordination Changes

The United Methodist Church General Conference only meets every four years and had experienced two delays in 2020 & 2022. It met April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte. It is authorized to host 1,000 delegates, half of which are clergy and half of which are lay persons. About a quarter were unable to attend for a variety of reason. The meeting has a complex set of procedures, social issues, and detailed reviews of petitions as well as financial issues such as the budget.