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INTERNATIONAL NEWS produced by both print and electronic media highlight the regional strife. The people of Palestine and Israel now shock the civilized world once again. Their present strife was triggered recently by horrid attacks upon persons within the Israeli state on October 7, 2024, by the terrorist organization known as Hamas. That attack quickly caused a sharp rise in Middle East tensions. The reaction Israel made through its IDF (Israeli Defense Force) military now pummels Gaza territory with vengeance, citing the justice that is needed for those killed or injured, and seeking release for those persons still kept in horrid captivity. In this ongoing fray, the world has been shocked. Many prayers have been spoken by religious persons. And now… as expressed on news outlets, fears yet arise concerning movement by the IDF to bring an end to the conflict by establishing permanent Israeli governance in the defeated Palestinian state. Politically this action is seen by many protesters as reflecting an original order that was first intended by the Israeli nation. Increases in anti-Semitic fervor are present as reactions ripple. With this fury from governmental sectors, many voices express fear in the public square and people ask for prayers of healing from various religious entities.., including synagogues, mosques and churches around the world. At the same time, moderate and peaceful Palestinian Christians cringe worriedly at the possibilities of more hate-filled backlash from both Muslim and Israeli factions. Globally, world-wide religious war looms. Amid this strife many governments foolishly deny the conflict’s seriousness. These include foolhardy leaders of our own land. Calls for forceful negotiations and relief efforts for victims seem minimal and have not had large affect. Biased support seems prevalent from our U.S. Ambassador as Israel attacks, possibly because of his personal history with that government. |
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Black Robe Regiment - Allegany - August 2025 |
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We ponder the future as Christians, so we are called to look at the past to see where we are and where we shall be going. We ask, “How did these earthly powers get this way? What is the source for all this hate?” Many blame the ethical stances of religious powers. We know that religious error has caused many past atrocities. History teaches that these struggles came from all faith traditions in the past. I ask you then, “Does this mean all religious faiths are harmful?” Sociologists have argued as such. We learn that strife occurs as either religious and secular powers reach for domination. I fear that even Christianity suffered such sin during the Crusades. I offer that the inherited biblical historical roots for these hatreds go clear back in history to that high and shrouded mountain where it is described that Abraham, as a friend of God, answered to sacrificial instructions. The event occurred in scripture after the jealousy of Sarah had sent his first son Ishmael away. The strife is found behind the story concerning Abraham’s taking of his second son, Isaac to be a sacrifice. He led him up the appointed mountain... And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he |
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Religious Genocide?
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A Christian View of the Middle East Conflict |
