For several years now, I have been tracking and studying the covert aspects of Christian Zionism but today an anonymous source -- a devoted and concerned student of the spread of anti-Semitic ideas within American pop-culture and religious culture -- sent to me a product, currently sold at Barnes and Noble bookstores, that suggests the historically covert anti-Semitism within American Christian Zionist culture is mutating, changing and entering a new phase: the anti-Semitism is becoming overt. The Christian Zionism of Tim Lahaye and of Senator John McCain's recently renounced political endorser Pastor John Hagee, which has traditionally perpetrated coded attacks on Jews while also declaring them to be blessed by God, especially if they move to Israel, may be entering a new and very dark phase.
Tyndale House, one of the largest Christian and Christian Zionist publishers in the United States, was built largely on the breakthrough publishing success of Tim LaHaye's and Jerry Jenkin's "Left Behind" books, movies and other paraphernalia attached to the now enormous "Left Behind" brand name and Tyndale publishes books by James Dobson, head of the enormous Colorado Springs Christian conservative nonprofit organization "Focus On The Family".
My source who originally discovered what Berlet identifies as a "comic training manual" for "the next pogrom against Jews" states that she:
bought this copy of Manga Messiah at a local Barnes and Nobles, day before yesterday. Tyndale, the Christian publishing house, was also the publisher of the wildly successful Left Behind series, which popularized dispensational Christian Zionism and provided sales of over 60 million books. The growing acceptability in our society of this stereotype of Jews is not happening in spite of the apocalyptic Christian Zionist movement. It is happening because of it! This movement has been the incubator of media objectifying Jews as non human as well as the source of media that is mainstreaming anti-Jewish conspiracy theory. It is dressed up as biblical interpretation or futuristic prophecy but the images are being projected to millions of people all over the world. Even worse, the images are being validated in the minds of these millions as an acceptable way to view Jews because of the visible participation of Jewish leaders with the movement."
In the aftermath of the recent controversy over a video which I made and which subsequently was shown widely on national television, CNN's Wolf Blitzer credited the website I co-founded with journalist Frederick Clarkson with as having forced Arizona Senator John McCain to drop Texas megachurch Pastor John Hagee's February 28, 2008 endorsement of McCain's current presidential bid -- because my video showcased an audio excerpt from a sermon Hagee had given which, I believed at the time, had been given "in the late 1990s", in which Hagee stated that "God sent Hitler" and that Jews were not "spiritually alive".
Many news reports have minimize the audio excerpt, passing it off as a one-time event and as "historic". But, Pastor Hagee has not denied his remarks that God sent Hitler, and John Hagee Ministries up to the moment I am writing this, May 29, 2008, 3:49 PM EST, still sells the 3-sermon "Countdown To Crisis" DVD set from which I extracted the audio clip (the "Battle For Jerusalem" sermon). And, Pastor Hagee has over the years, in his sermons, books and films, promoted a wide range of anti-Jewish themes: most of the classic anti-Semitic tropes and slurs that have simmered in the background of Christianity and sometimes come to the foreground -- with tragic results.
But how can Pastor Hagee, who has raised substantial amounts of money to help Jews make Aliyah to Israel, who have publicly shed tears over the Holocaust, possibly be anti-Semitic ? The answer is complex and far beyond the scope of this short article, but one particular historical anecdote shines a telling light on the question.
As described in the book Henry Ford and The Jews, by Neil Baldwin, from the period of 1913 to 1920, Henry Ford made a regular, and generous, gift of new Ford automobiles to a one-time neighbor of Ford's: Rabbi Leo Franklin. By 1920, Franklin was on his 7th gifted Ford auto but in the years Franklin had enjoyed Ford's largesse, the Rabbi had risen in local Jewish leadership circles and by 1920 had come to a realization which led the Rabbi to return Ford's 7th gifted auto, a customized Model T; Rabbi Franklin had come to the moral realization he could no longer accept gifts from a man, Henry Ford, whose publication the Dearborn Independent was launching vicious anti-Jewish fusillades and which had begun to echo the evolving German Dolchstosslegende, the German "stab in the back" myth that formed a substantial part of the anti-Jewish animus growing in Germany in the early 1920s and which attributed the German loss in World War One to a Jewish plot.
As my anonymous source for the striking Manga comic book material featured in this post explains:
Henry Ford believed that his friend, Rabbi Franklin, should not be concerned about Ford's spread of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," because as his spokesperson explained, he was only targeting "a certain type of Jew to open up the way for those Jews' self-correction." There could not be a better description of the current dispensationalist activities. They happily embrace the "good Jews" who will play their role in bringing about the violent apocalyptic drama that will end the "Jewish Question" forever and bring Jews to correct belief. However, while wrapped in the protection of a big Israeli flag, they are free to brutally attack "a certain type of Jew" which is the source of the moral degeneration in America and the obstacle to the Christian millennial reign."
In the 1920s, automaker Henry Ford paid for a mass printing of his "The International Jew" pamphlet, a close derivation of the "Protocols", and through such nakedly anti-Semitic literature Ford helped shape the ideological climate in Germany that fed the rise of Third Reich and The Holocaust. But, Ford did not believe he hated Jews as a people: only the "wrong" Jews.
As conservative Baptist scholar David P.Gushee described, in an address given at the Andover-Newton Theological Seminary, in Andover Massachusetts, during the summer of 2006, there are many troubling similarities between the narrative of cultural despair and cultural complaint that prevailed in Germany of the 1930's and corresponding narratives of cultural despair and complaint that have been on the rise in America in recent decades:
It was this cultural despair--a toxic brew of reaction against secularism, anger related to the loss of World War I, distress over cultural disorientation and confusion, fears about the future of Germany, hatred of the victorious powers and of those who supposedly stabbed Germany in the back, and of course the search for scapegoats (mainly the Jews)--that motivated many Germans to adopt a reactionary, authoritarian, and nationalistic ethic that fueled their support for Hitler's rise to power. A broadly appealing narrative of national decline (or conspiratorial betrayal) was met by Hitler's narrative of national revenge leading to utopian unity in the Fuhrer-State.
Conservative American evangelicals in recent decades have been deeply attracted to a parallel narrative of cultural despair. Normally the story begins with the rise of secularism in the 1960s, the abandonment of prayer in schools, and the Roe decision, all leading to an apocalyptic decline of American culture that must be arrested soon, before it is too late and "God withdraws his blessing" from America. While very few conservative evangelicals come into the vicinity of Hitler in hatefulness, elements similar to that kind of conservative-reactionary-nationalist narrative can be found in some Christian right-rhetoric: anger at those who are causing American moral decline, fear about the future, hatred of the "secularists" now preeminent in American life, and the search for scapegoats. The solution on offer -- a return to a strong Christian America through determined political action -- also has its parallels with the era under consideration."
In Germany of the 1920s the key purported villains behind an alleged national, cultural and moral decline were the same as today in America of the early 3rd millennium: liberal Jews, socialists, liberals, gays, artists and those in society who follow non-conventional lifestyles and cleave to non-conventional, leftist politics. Germany in the 1920s was culturally one of the most liberal, permissive societies on Earth, but that changed radically -- and in a breathtakingly short period of time -- with the rise of Nazism.
Pastor John Hagee professes, with great apparent sincerity, even to tears, to love Jews. But Hagee also promotes, in his sermons and literature, conspiracy theories that trace back, in their lineage, to "The Protocols of The Elders of Zion" and Henry Ford's "The International Jew". How, then, can these clashing views of John Hagee be reconciled ? One answer comes, in the form of a question, from the account of Henry Ford and Rabbi Frankel -- what is the nature of friendship and what is the nature of love ? Another answer comes from the field of criminology, which recognizes: love, hate and murder are, all too often, tragically, not far apart.
As Political Research Associates Senior Analyst Chip Berlet further characterized the Manga comic book "Manga Messiah" currently sold at Barnes and Noble bookstores, the comic:
Portrays a version of reading Biblical text about the crucifixion of Christ rejected by most Christians for decades--especially since the Nazi genocide of Jews.
Many readers of the Bible's New Testament will recognize the jibes from the jeering crowd as coming from Jewish chief priests, elders, scribes, and Pharisees. If readers don't know the references, the Bible verses cited below the images can be consulted to make clear the Jewish identity of the bloodthirsty crowd taunting Jesus.These images of Jews as the Christ killers make Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" hideous snuff movie seem tame in comparison."
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That's nothing.
try reading Son Of God Comics from the old National Lampoon.
Now that is SACRILEGE!
"There is absolutely no evidence that the Bible has been revised, edited, or tampered with in any systematic manner. The sheer volume of Biblical manuscripts makes it simple to recognize any attempts to distort God"s Word. There is no major doctrine of the Bible that is put in doubt as a result of the minor differences that exist between manuscripts."
You know most fundies go crazy over teh King James Bible, one that he specifically altered to match his own desires. Shame on you
I agree that Christians need to obey the Bible word for word, there's no faster way than deconversions than a good bible read.
Stone any shrimp eaters lately? Remember, if you used Tilex on mildew instead of having a priest come to clean your house by killing birds in a wacky ritual and spraying your house with the blood, you're not doing god's will
I have given up eating Ospreys.
I've got to get that ish! (of course I won't buy it--I'll look in the dumpster behind the store). Anyway, it reminds me of the ubiquitous "Chick Tract" comic booklets--each panel looking like they're done by a different artist, by the way, and they're a sight to behold--they're classics!
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0001/0001_01.asp
"the Holy Spirit convicted me" The premise of christens from the start is flawed because they believe god condemned them and there need for forgiveness. Setting yourselves up to a life of bondage is no way to live.
ROFLMAO
Oh my - you really don't have a clue to you????
You can be saved too.
I just said a prayer for you... best of luck to you.
And my family thinks I am paranoid about whats coming....
Judaism has nothing to do with zionism period.you cant be both it is either or.jew cant be a zionist and zionist cant be a jew.ask a rabbi.
The more I hear about religion, these days, the more I am inclined to go along with Elton John. Religion should be outlawed, as it is in it's current form'.
The God of christians, is suppose to be the God of love and tolerance. I do not see many so called christians being either of these things.. They want to rid the earth of every religion but theirs, WTH is that about.
You are taking 'man's' interpetation of the Bible as the correct interpetation and that may not be the right thing to do. The RCC decided which books would be in the Bible, what did they NOT want in there. What did they or are they hiding??
I believe in a supreme being but is he 'your' God, I do not know.
Not sure if this was meant as sarcasm. I hope so but if not I want to point out that the idea of outlawing religion betrays the same intolerance and fear that causes so many religions to go bad. Someone who really believes in something (whether that thing is faith or science or whatever) will welcome discussion and the free exchange of ideas. It is only people who know that their beliefs can't stand up to analysis that want to impose them (or ban others).
It is those who know God, and who know the absolute truth. It is those who have seen the light, and who know that you will thank them when they make you see it too. That is the problem--and the clear and present danger--of having too many people believing this nonsense.
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."
--Benjamin Franklin
Perhaps there is a parallel between the Pre World War 1 growth of German military might and the Post World War 2 growth of US military might and the deleterious effect both seem to have had on their respective populations?
If Jesus doesn't consider himself as "good", then how can any sane person put him on the same level as GOD Almighty?
I have yet to see a good answer to this one by any polytheist trinitarian.
Also, another important point to notice in Mark 10:18 is the word "alone": ""Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good"except God alone." (From the NIV Bible, Mark 10:18)"
Jesus in this verse is clearly giving exclusivity to GOD Almighty when he said "alone". If Jesus was truly part of GOD Almighty and/or the trinity lie was true, then Jesus, to say the least, would not have said that.
Trinitarian Christians often refer to trinity as the "Holy Trinity". A very powerful statement indeed for a satanic word that doesn't even exist, not even once, in the Bible!!
When Jesus said, "Why do you call me good?" He was merely asking a question in order to teach.
He was not saying, "I am not good."
Rather, He was saying, "Don't assess anyone's goodness based on human standards of goodness."
Then Jesus immediately told the rich man that the ONLY standard of goodness is God Himself...
Following this logic then Jesus wasn"t God.
Christianity , Judiism , The Muslim Faiths , ALL TROUBLE
No Religion = Peace on Earth
To be fair, there was no shortage of war before monotheism. The pagans were often pretty.....pagan.
As any doctor will tell you, there are many things that are harmless in small doses but will kill you if you have too much of them. Religion is fairly harmless until you take it too seriously. Anybody who goes to the effort of facing Mecca and praying 5 times a day, with poor evidence that anybody is listening, has the potential of being intolerant of those who don't do that. Those who have decided that there must be a country where people of their religion are an overwhelming majority, despite the objections of the natives of that country, hold a difficult position to maintain in the 21st century. A pox on both their houses since those are the two factors that may end civilization before any other, like global warming exterminates us.
Before or after the crusades?
The problem in discussing this stuff is that there is a constant conflation of ideas.
There is the Nation of Israel, which is not a person but a state that has real policies which can be examined. There are also the Jewish people, who are diverse and varying in belief, yet linked to a group identity through the idea of Israel. The conflation of these two things ALWAYS harms discourse.
You have a situation where people defend the indefensible because they have been taught that to not defend the Nation of Israel, is tantamount to not defending their own culture. On the flip side you have those who condemn an entire people, based on the actions of the state of Israel.
This is a fatal flaw in reason, and promises to cause much more trouble in the future.
I am not attacking anyones faith, but the policies of governments must be called what they are. Israel is the number one Apartheid state on earth. For anyone to look at whats going on there and not see that its apartheid, troubles me. The constant, over-the-top pro-Israeli propaganda in media also doesn't help the discourse. Its counterproductive because even the non observant can feel that its being shoved down their throats. It creates an air of resentment because it is a over-representation of the agenda and views of one group, relative to the larger American society. Issues as hot button as this, require a different starting point.
I shuddered reading the comments here!
How are we supposed to conduct civil discourse on Israel when it reverts to name calling?
Not all Jews are Zionists, not all Zionists are Right Wing, not all Christian Zionists are apcolyptic (most seem to be). I think the AIPAC croud is making a huge mistake linking themselves to this Hagee/Robertson/Falwell-esque troupe, I fear they will be seen as colaborators in the end.
I am a proud Zionist, in that i support the right of the state of Israel to exist. But I am pro-peace, pro two state solution and against the settlements. This is a basic diference between the Right and the Left - just like in domestic politics.
The truth isHamas is as much agaist peace as Likud! How can Israel sit down with Hamas and talk peace when thamas calls for pushing the jews into the sea?
Was it a mistake to create the Jewish state in Palestine - i would say yes, but its there and we cant uncreate a country. Lets use this as a starting point : Israel exists, and the palestinians need a country of their own- discuss.
Please becareful lumping people into monolithioc groups, because they dont really exist.
I agree that lumping people into narrow monolithic groups is bad. However, I don't agree that Hamas and Likud have the same moral footing. Hamas has not called for "pushing Israel into the sea" I challenge you to provide a link of someone from Hamas saying that. Note: not someone from the Bush administration paraphrasing what they believe Hamas has said but an actual quote. Hamas won the only election held among Palestinians that was close to being fair because Fatah is corrupt and was essentially playing the role that so many other 3rd world governments co-opted by the US have played: to take over the job of oppressing their own people from the Israeli army so that the occupation and oppression look legitimate. Whether its the Vichy government in France, the police states established by the US in El Salvidor, Chile, or Brazil or the government that Bush thought he would install in Iraq they are all quite similar. Israel needs to negotiate in good faith and give the Palesitinians a state that is viable. That means not something that is divided by walls, barriers, checkpoints, and settlements.
I like your comment, I understand your stance and you seem like a reasonable rational fellow.
Only point I disagree with you about is when you say ''we cant uncreate a country' ... Zionists 'uncreated' Palestine and Israel can be dismantled as well and either moved to Germany, where it should've been created in the first place, if not for the Zionists who insisted on their religious fanatical demands that Israel is the biblical land of the Jews, in Palestine.
I support a one state solution for Jew/Christian/Muslim.
There is a big difference between Christians and Christian Zionists ... the Zionists by definition are Apocolyptic.
Dear Bruce:
I greatly admire and appreciate your work in exposing these ugly truths, as they do their greatest damage, and are the most dangerous, when they remain in the shadows and below the surface of our culture: As Justice Brandeis said: Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
There is clearly no shortage of anti-semitism, disturbingly, even here on the posts of HuffPo.
This vile hatred, like all ignorant racial, ethnic, or religious hatred, needs to be exposed and confronted by all decent people, at every opportunity. To allow such hatred to go unchallenged is to condone it.
One cannot change the dark hearts of those who willingly seek out such vile propoganda, but you can help decent people to not get sucked into the lies of these hate mongers, by exposing them for what they really are, in all their ugliness, for all the world to see.
Keep up the great work Bruce.
The entire world is so full of hate, what is spurring it on, something is, this is all just sick, people need to get out of their ego's and rise above all this hate or we will all kill each other off, sad , and someone would actually buy these books for their children?That is a sick person.......
I'll give you three guesses...hell, I'll tell you:
3. Religion
2. Stupidity (short-sightedness & xenophobia)
....and, the number 1 reason for hate, violence, dispair & genocide by other means:
1. Greed
I actually approve of these comic books. Israelis are racist.
ALL of them? Do you know them all?
And your actual argument for that statement is... what?
"Some Israelis have racist views, so they should all be a target for hatred?"
Enlighten us.
I don't approve. However, I do think Palestinians are treated poorly.
Posted May 29, 2008 | 05:37 PM (EST)