Most people call it the Holy Land, and indeed that is what it is. Some refer to it as the state of Israel while other call it Palestine. There was once a kingdom of Israel joined to that of Judah. When the Greeks looked at this land, they called it Palestine after the Philistines who once lived there and the Romans later adopted the same name for this small "province" that they had conquered. In later times, many Arabs who also lived in the same region started to once again call the region Palestine with hopes of setting up an independent state. Then the United nations stepped in and set up the state of Israel and there has been open conflict ever since.
When one reads the Bible, the tragedy is that the people called Jews and the people called Arabs are in fact brothers fighting over the same land. All of them have the same father, Abraham. Maybe the land should be renamed the Land Of Abraham. What is worse is that both Arabs and Jews have allowed outside forces to interfere in their family dispute. Perhaps they need to go to some kind of family court and maybe they all need some counselling, but in the long run they have to begin to respect one another and grow up. Add to the problem what is called radical Zionism and radical Islam and one comes up with a whole different set of problems. The so called Holy Land becomes a place where religion is used as a weapon. Then how can we call the land, holy?
For Christians, one of the most important shrines of their belief in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Even Christians in the "Holy" Land are sometimes divided and as a result the key to this most sacred building is entrusted to an Islamic family. Perhaps it is time for the Islamics and the Zionists to really cherish the land as brothers. Just think of how miserable their family life has been and how many bothers and sisters on both sides have been murdered, not to mention the huge financial loss they have all endured needlessly.
Israelis and Arabs have to realize that "My God is not bigger than your God." He is one and the same. I have said it over and over: God laughs because He cannot cry. But the land belongs to neither Arab and Jew nor to Christians. People must begin to realize that before it is too late. So create your states and governments as you wish, but remember that all are just tenants on the land, nothing more. Grow up, children!
Of course I realize that it is not all that simple -- the point is that time is running out. God will be back to reward or to punish. Probably like most brothers you will say (in vain) "He made me do it."
When one reads the Bible, the tragedy is that the people called Jews and the people called Arabs are in fact brothers fighting over the same land. All of them have the same father, Abraham. Maybe the land should be renamed the Land Of Abraham. What is worse is that both Arabs and Jews have allowed outside forces to interfere in their family dispute. Perhaps they need to go to some kind of family court and maybe they all need some counselling, but in the long run they have to begin to respect one another and grow up. Add to the problem what is called radical Zionism and radical Islam and one comes up with a whole different set of problems. The so called Holy Land becomes a place where religion is used as a weapon. Then how can we call the land, holy?
For Christians, one of the most important shrines of their belief in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Even Christians in the "Holy" Land are sometimes divided and as a result the key to this most sacred building is entrusted to an Islamic family. Perhaps it is time for the Islamics and the Zionists to really cherish the land as brothers. Just think of how miserable their family life has been and how many bothers and sisters on both sides have been murdered, not to mention the huge financial loss they have all endured needlessly.
Israelis and Arabs have to realize that "My God is not bigger than your God." He is one and the same. I have said it over and over: God laughs because He cannot cry. But the land belongs to neither Arab and Jew nor to Christians. People must begin to realize that before it is too late. So create your states and governments as you wish, but remember that all are just tenants on the land, nothing more. Grow up, children!
Of course I realize that it is not all that simple -- the point is that time is running out. God will be back to reward or to punish. Probably like most brothers you will say (in vain) "He made me do it."
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