Category Archives: Bible and Holy Land

Smiting Pat Robertson for Spiting Ariel Sharon

Bible and Holy Land, Israel

The White House has just announced that Pat Robertson’s 700 Clubbing of ailing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday is “wholly inappropriate and offensive.” According to an article by Daniela Deane, posted at 2:54 pm on the Washington Post website, “White House press spokesman Trent Duffy made the comment to reporters traveling on Air Force One with President Bush this morning. He added that Robertson’s comments ‘don’t have a place in this or any other debate.’” The White House, even with an evangelical sitting in the oval office, is not willing to whitewash the latest off-the-cuff remarks of Mr. CBN. Continue reading Smiting Pat Robertson for Spiting Ariel Sharon →

What Would Jesus Ride

Bible and Holy Land, Israel

In The Guardian yesterday reporter Conal Urquhart wrote about “Plans for Holy Land theme park on Galilee shore where Jesus fed the 5,000.” Several evangelical Christian groups under the spirited guidance of Rev. Pat Robertson are negotiating with the government of Israel for land to build a 50 ha (125 acre) theme park tentatively called the “Galilee World Heritage Park.” If this seems like a joke, I note that “Sea of Galilee & its Ancient Sites” is listed on the online wish list of world heritage sites. It is no joke to righteously motivated investors trying to raise 60 million dollars. Nor to Syria, which disputes the take-over of its territory along the Sea of Galilee in the 1967 war. Nor is it likely just a joke to Jews, who Pat Robertson and his followers think are about to suffer the worst persecution ever as soon as a soon-to-be Rapture transports all Bible Believers to meet their Lord in the air. But I can’t help but wonder, in this biblically based theme park what would Jesus ride? Continue reading What Would Jesus Ride →

Channeling the Crusades

Bible and Holy Land, Islamic History

On Sunday, Nov. 6 at 9 pm EST The History Channel will resurrect the era of the Crusades with a special program called “The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross.” I have not seen the program, so I cannot comment on its historical accuracy, fairhandedness or cinematic quality. Were it to air (I am tempted to say err) on Fox News, I would make every effort not to see it. But my academic bent idealistically treats “The History Channel” as National Geographic with substance.

I have, unfortunately, seen the advertisement for this program gracing the back of my recently arrived November Smithsonian magazine. I repeat “unfortunately” because either the ad maker has no clue what the program is trying to say (this is my hope) or else this special might as well be on Fox.

Let’s start with the hook. “CAN A PRESIDENT FINISH WHAT A KING, A SULTAN AND A POPE BEGAN?” Just about everything in this question (I do so hope it is meant to be rhetorical) is backwards. Surely, this program is not going to argue that Bush’s well-oiled but poorly thought out war in Iraq is a new crusade. Yes, our president uttered the inappropriate c-word (I am thinking of the non-sexual one here) soon after 9/11, but I do not think the Pentagon got its game-plan from Rev. Franklin Graham. I can only wonder what “King” will be targeted as the royal jump-starter for the Crusades? Unless this is a subliminal plug for Larry King Live on another channel. Nor do I remember any sultan in the Middle East or yet-to-be occupied Constantinople making a preemptive strike on Christendom. Why save the Pope for last, since Pope Urban’s fiery speech in 1095 C.E. is what historians used to cite as kindling the flame? Continue reading Channeling the Crusades →