Jesus lives in the Holy Land. Maybe

The dream seemed so close to being realised:

“The Israeli government is planning to give up a large slice of land to American Christian evangelicals to build a biblical theme park by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus is said to have walked on water and fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish.

“A consortium of Christian groups, led by the television evangelist Pat Robertson, is in negotiation with the Israeli ministry of tourism and a deal is expected in the coming months. The project is expected to bring up to 1 million extra tourists a year but an undeclared benefit will be the cementing of a political alliance between the Israeli rightwing and the American Christian right.”

Now, however, radical Christian Zionists may have to wait for redemption:

Israel has suspended contact with evangelist Pat Robertson for suggesting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was divine punishment for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip – casting doubt on plans for a Christian tourism centre that would showcase the growing flow of money and influence from U.S. church groups.”

The Lord is truly merciful.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

Site by Common