United Methodist headquarters Hosting: "60 Years of Dispossession," a month-long exhibit that portrays the founding of Israel as a catastrophe.
For the last month I have been meeting with a large group at the UMC church for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University so we spend a couple of hours each Sunday evening discussing the course, but then we break down into smaller groups that then discuss everyday topics. I really would like to hear from active Methodist church members as to their take on these issues within the structure of the church leaders and some of the members.
I have no problems with individual church members having having liberal views, last I looked we still live in the USA (well, at least for the time being). My problem is when a religious organization not only supports a highly political view, but hosts a convention such as this under the umbrella of the church. In my view this in not far from the displays of racial and political attacks of Reverend Wright from Chicago.
United Methodist group observes 'catastrophe' of Israel
The United Methodist headquarters in Washington, DC, is hosting a month-long exhibit that portrays the founding of Israel as a catastrophe.
The display, which is titled "60 Years of Dispossession," chronicles what Palestinians call the "Nakba" — the Palestinian word for "catastrophe." Palestinians use the word to describe Israel's founding, an event that is reviled in the Arab world. The photo exhibit trumps what it describes as "the 1948 mass deportation of Palestinians, massacres of civilians, and the razing to the ground of hundreds of Palestinian villages" following Israel's creation.
According to a Faith in Action report, the exhibit is an "awareness building resource" that is being used in several countries to educate and inspire advocacy. But Mark Tooley, director of UM Action with the Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD), says the exhibit is proof that activists with the religious left have a deep dislike of Israel.
"Even though they claim they support Israel's existence, they continuously host or support events and programs like this that not only portray Israel very negatively, but ultimately call into question the very existence and validity of Israel," says Tooley.
The IRD spokesman points out in a column for The Weekly Standard that this is not the first the UM headquarters building has hosted a controversial event. He cites past events for groups supportive of Marxist guerillas in El Salvador, the North Korean regime, Fidel Castro's rule in Cuba, and the Soviet empire.
"By portraying Israel's founding as a 'catastrophe' that can only be redeemed through the gradual eradication of the Middle East's only longstanding democracy, the Methodist lobbyists are at least faithful to a decades-long tradition," he writes.
Tooley wonders when the United Methodist lobbyists will host an event celebrating the founding of Israel.
Categories: Religion, Methodist Cuurch stand on Abortion, Methodist Church and the eradication of the Jewish state
Tags: Liberal Church Activities
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