Christian Zionism and doctrinal islamophobia: Expediting the end times

Acar, Asena

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108553 Copy

Description

Title

Christian Zionism and doctrinal islamophobia: Expediting the end times

Author(s)

Acar, Asena

Issue Date

2020-04-28

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Dann, Michael H

Committee Member(s)

• Ebel, Jonathan H
• Rana, Junaid

Department of Study

Religion

Discipline

Religion

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Islamophobia
• Christian Zionism
• Israel
• Palestine
• religion

Abstract

Christian Zionism is a religious movement in which Christians advocate for a Jewish state in Israel. These Christians, most of whom identify as Evangelical Protestants, believe that the return of Jews to the Holy Land of Israel and the establishment of a Jewish state in that land in 1948 happened as the fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Christian Zionists believe that Jewish sovereignty in Israel is a necessary step in bringing about the Battle of Armageddon and the subsequent Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is the main objective of the movement. Furthermore, some Christian Zionists believe that the return of all Jews to Israel is also a prerequisite for the Second Coming of Christ. What emphasizes the importance of the religious ideology of American Christian Zionists is this attitude towards the Holy Land. Although Christian Zionism is a religious movement, it utilizes religious as well as sociological methods to garner support for Israel. Christian Zionists portray Islam as antithetical to the state of Israel and use Islamophobic rhetoric as their primary method of justifying support for Israel. In addition, a lesser-known tactic that they use, marginalizing Christian Palestinians and even other Christian Arabs, fuels their use of Islamophobia. In this thesis, I will show how Christian Zionists create Islamophobia (particularly among American Evangelicals), marginalize Christian Palestinians and other Christian Arabs (though to a lesser extent), and use that Islamophobic rhetoric to further their politico-religious agenda, making it a byproduct of their politics in their expedition to the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ.

Graduation Semester

2020-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108553

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Copyright 2020 Asena Acar

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