British Israelism

[Marulus]

British-Israelism/Anglo-Israelism

Brief History

British-Israelism is not the name of an organization, but the name of an historical movement that has organizational manifestation in the U.S. and Europe today. The key idea of British-Israelism, also referred to as Anglo-Israelism, is that Great Britain is the geographical home of the lost tribes of Israel. The immediate implication of this belief is that it identifies the present day Anglo-Saxon people as God's Chosen People.
Scholars differ in their placement of British-Israelism's origin. Some scholars attribute the beginnings of British-Israelite beliefs to the Puritans of the 1600s, for the Puritans claimed to be the spiritual descendants of the ancient Israelites. Others assert that the idea precipitated from a Dr. Abade of Amsterdam when he allegedly wrote in 1723, "Unless the ten tribes have flown into the air...they must be sought for in the north and west, and in the British Isles" ( Orr ).

Historians find one of the first declarations of an actual European descent from the Israelites in the writings of Richard Brothers in the 1790s. Brothers published A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times in which he proclaimed himself a direct descendent to King David of Israel, and suggested that the majority of true Jews were Europeans who were ignorant of their true biblical lineage. Michael Barkun states that Brother's concept of a "hidden Israel" who thought themselves Gentile serves as the first appearance of this basic belief of British-Israelism (Barkun: 6).

It may be terminally difficult to determine who deserves the credit for originating the concept of British-Israelism, but its precise origin is not of preeminent importance. One ought to devote one's interest more appropriately to the historical development of the idea in the 19th and 20th centuries. With this in mind, a sociological approach to religious movements maintains that they are a sub-category to social movements. A sociologist, therefore, suggests that the reasons for which people join religious groups are the same reasons for which people join other kinds of groups. When one understands these social scientific assumptions, one may begin to understand the emergence of the religious movement British-Israelism .

The basic reward, and primary source of appeal, that British-Israelism provides to its Anglo-Saxon advocates, is its affirmation that biblical prophecy be directed to them specifically. For many Anglo-Saxons, it has been supremely desirable to have such a covenant with God. When people accept the idea, they establish a unique relationship with their God; therefore, its proponents receive the reward of becoming an elite.

British-Israelites view John Wilson as the true "Father of the Rediscovery of Israel," and Wilson delivers British-Israelism's first significant public exposure ( Kossy ). In his work Lectureson Our Israelitish Origin of 1840, Wilson attempted to provide empirical information that supported British- Israelism. His arguments suggested that similarities to English ways in certain elements in Hebrew language and social institutions were not merely coincidental (Barkun: 7). British-Israel organizations formed during the 1870s on account of slow, but growing acceptanceof Wilson's teachings.

According to Ralph Orr, British-Israelism found one of its first organized audiences in Millerism. The faith, named after its founder William Miller, declared that the Second Coming of Jesus would occur between 1843 and 1845. William Miller studied the writings of British-Israelites, and he seems to have recommended that his followers read Wilson's Lectures on Our Israelitish Origin ( Orr ). The exposure of British-Israelism that Millerism provided was limited, for the Great Disappointment of a failed prophecy (no arrival of Jesus) "led to the collapse of Millerism and the discrediting of its leaders" ( Orr ). Meanwhile, John Wilson continued to spearhead the British-Israelite movement.

Upon the death of Wilson in 1871, a new leader of the British-Israelism movement emerged in Edward Hine. He gave the movement increasingly more exposure with his writings and lectures in England and in the United States. One of his most important teachings was pyramidism -- the presentation of which will appear in a later section. Even with its new leader, British-Israelism faced numerous challenges. Perhaps the most serious was the absence of organization. Barkun writes that British-Israelism's "diffusion depended largely on the chance acquaintance individuals made with its teachings" (Barkun: 20).

1928 marks a key point in the history of British-Israelism. In this year, Howard B. Rand became the National Commissioner of the Anglo-Saxon Federation of America, and his significance rests on his anti-Semitic teachings. For the first time in the movement's history, exclusionary hatred earned legitimacy ( Kossy ).

Barkun writes that while British-Israelism reached its peak in the 1920sin England, the Depression of the 1930s provided the movements best environment in the United States. The Anglo-Saxon Federation of America published a monthly magazine until 1969, and Rand's Editorial Letter Service of BI claimed 25,000 readers in 1983 (Barkun: 44).

Modern Movements

The Worldwide Church of God and Christian Identity are the fruits of British-Israelism. The former group is relatively benign, and has recently repudiated the key ideas of British-Israelism; the latter group has harnessed British-Israelism to support its racist and anti-Semitic doctrine.

The World Wide Church of God: At this point, it is appropriate to return to the topic of Millerism. Most Millerites after the Great Disappointment abandoned the teachings of William Miller, and rejoined their former churches. Others remained together, and earned the name Adventists because of their belief in the imminence of the second advent of Jesus ( Orr ).
Some scholars argue that British-Israelism entered the American Adventist movement -- from which the Worldwide Church of God developed. In 1927, American Adventist Herbert W. Armstrong became keenly interested in British-Israelism. By 1933, Armstrong had established the independent Eugene congregation in Oregon, which "became the parent of the Worldwide Church of God" ( Orr ). Along with other unorthodox doctrines, Armstrong and his congregation embraced British-Israelism. The Worldwide Church of God did not endorse anti-Semitism, nor racism.

Following the death of its founder, The Worldwide Church of God dropped British- Israelism and other unorthodox beliefs in 1995. The Church's officialweb page states: "We have worked hard to inform our own members about where we went wrong," and they apologize for having "taught...erroneous doctrines [like British-Israelism]."

Christian Identity: Howard Rand's explicit attempts to attach anti-Semitism to British- Israelism earned a following. In the middle of the 1940s, a Wesley Swift founded his ownchurch in Lancaster, California that taught British-Israelism. During these same years, "he was involved in an attempt to revive the Ku Klux Klan in Los Angeles" (Barkun: 64). Other churches that espoused British-Israelism with an application towards racial bias developed into the Identity movement. The Identity emphatically believes that the modern day Jews are of the House of Judah, while Anglo-Saxons are of the House of Israel. Themovement maintains that only the Anglo-Saxons, of the House of Israel, have a covenant with God, thereby inducing pro-white attitudes. Click here to access some horrifying examples of the radically racist and anti-Semitic teachingsof the Identity movement.

Beliefs

The grounds from which British-Israelism arise base themselves on the ancient history of Palestine. Historians know that the Babylonian-AssyrianEmpire sacked the northern tribes of Israel and the southern tribes of Judah during the 7th and 8th centuries BCE. Assyrian occupation lead to the expulsion of the ten northern tribes from their homelands in Israel. British-Israelism asserts that these ten tribes migrated from the middleeast to the British Isles, thereby establishing a direct lineage from the Jews of Israel to the present day British, Americans, and Canadians. Accordingto author and researcher Nick Greer, British-Israelites claim that when the daughters of King Zedikiah went to Europe to avoid Babylonian capture (as indicated by Jeremiah 43:4-7), the Throne of David became fixed in Ireland. This supposed transfer of the Throne, British-Israelism argues, established in Ireland a Jewish divine right. Furthermore, Greer writes, British-Israelism alleges that the lost tribes traveled across Europe before settling in Britain, and making Britain the "new Israel" ( Greer ). Writers of British-Israelism contend that the Stone of Scone, which the British use in the coronation of their kings and queens, is the same stonethat coronated King David in Israel.
The arguments that British-Israelites put forth to support their beliefs are varied. For instance, British-Israelites assert that many of the geographic names in Europe are Israeli by origin. British-Israelites suggest that Danube , Denmark , and Danzig are areas through whichthe tribe of Dan migrated ( Williams ). David Williamsalso writes, "By removing the letter "I" from Isaac, [British- Israelism] derives the word "saac" which combines with the word "son" to form "Saxon",i.e. "British" ( Williams ). Scholars refute the historical accuracy of these arguments. Popular opinion is that the ten tribes assimilated into the societies around them(click here for reasons).

Edward Hine incorporated the interesting belief of pyramidism into British-Israelism. This belief espouses that a divine source constructed the Great Pyramids of Egypt with its own superior form of measurement. Orr writes, "Pyramidologists claim that if one correctly interprets the measurements of the inner tunnels of the Great Pyramid of Giza one can know the future ( Orr ).For instance, the July 1907 edition of The Journal of the British-Israel Association in London contains an article about pyramidism that reveals the perceived significance of the mathematics that make up the Pyramids. Jane Simpson, the author of the article, writes, "the region in which granite reappears, after being wholly absent for an interval of near 2,900inches, (represents) the years during which the two houses of Israel and Judah have remained separate..." (Simpson: 12). Thus, British-Israelism views the pyramids as a tool through which people may understand God's will for the future.

The original attitude British-Israelites held towards Jews is not necessarily anti-Semitic. Most British-Israelites of the movement's early years viewed present day Jews as partners under their same God. They emphasized theneed of the reconciliation of all the tribes in Israel, including the tribes of Judah and Levy (whom British-Israelites presume to be Jews of the present day), for the Second Coming of Jesus. Anti-Semitism seems to have formally entered British-Israelism with Howard B. Rand. "One of Rand's accomplishments," according to Kossy, "seems to have been the sanitization of anti- Semitism by smoothly integrating it with Anglo-Israelite ideology" ( Kossy ). Rand stressed that those who called themselves Jews had intermarried with non-Jews under Babylonian rule, thereby sacrificing their heritage of being God's Chosen People ( Kossy ). Hatred groups, like the Christian Identity, have continued to draw from these unoriginal characteristics of British-Israelism.

It is important to recognize that British-Israelism does not aim to challenge the Hebrew and Christian bibles. Rather, British-Israelism is a Christian sectarian movement that holds the above distinctive beliefs in addition to those basic to Christianity.

Links to British-Israelism Web Sites

Anglo-Israelism;British Israelism; WorldWide Church of God
This site provides a brief history of British-Israelism, and is a good resource for information about the Worldwide Church of God. It discusses the Church's past and present doctrines. The site gives you access to anumber of related links, but not all of them work.
ANGLO-ISRAELISM; BRITISH ISRAELISM; WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
British Israel World Federation Home Page
Not a large site, but it provides valuable information about history, beliefs and membership.
British Israel World Federation

The Anglo Israelites

Access Donna Kossy's "The Anglo-Israelites" here. Also, you may find a fairly comprehensive history of British-Israelism. Special note of interest:it relates British- Israelism to Yahwism, which asserts that Yahweh is theparticular name of the God of Israel.
http://www.teleport.com/~dkossy/anglo.html

Israel-Identity

This site lists, and offers answers to, a series of popular questions about British-Israelism. The comments embrace the viewpoints of the Identity movement.
search

Lost Tribes of Israel

Read Ralph Orr's article here. He discusses the integration of British-Israelism with the Worldwide Church of God.
http://www.wcg.org/lit/anglo/anglo-study.htm

British-Israelism:An Expose

Find David William's article here. He briefly describes the concept of British- Israelism, and presents some popular arguments for it. Furthermore, he offers arguments that refute British-Israel claims.
British Israelism

The Identity Movement

This site presents the Identity movement, and it provides a useful list of present day related organizations.
The Identity Movement

RevivalFellowship Information Page

Access Nick Greer's "British Israelism and the Revival Centres" here. It offers information about the Revival Fellowship religious group in Australia. It represents the attitude of the counter-cult movement, and provides access to many relevant articles. This is a well constructed page -- it even has working sound bytes to offer.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1282/index.htm

Print Bibliography
Barkun, Michael. 1997.
Religion and the Racist Right. Chapel Hill: North Carolina Press.

Boyer, Paul. 1991.
When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture. Cambridge: Harvard Press.

Horsman, Reginald. 1981.
Race and Manifest Destiny: The Origins of American Racial Anglo-Saxonism. Cambridge: Harvard Press.

Kaplan, Jeffrey, ed. 2000.
Encyclopedia of Whilte Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right. Alta Mira PRess 585 pps.

Simpson, James. July, 1907.
The Covenant People: The Journal of the British-Israel Association. "Great Pyramid Papers."

Totten, Charles A. 1891.
Our Race: Its Origin and Destiny- A Series of Studies on the Saxon Riddle. New Haven: Our Race Publishing Company.

Footnote References
1. "How Anglo-Israelism Entered the Churches of God: A History of the Doctrine"
This article by Ralph Orr is located on a site entitled Lost Tribes of Israel . (Last visited: 12/15/98)
http://wcg.org/lit/anglo/anglo-study.htm

2. "The Anglo-Israelites"
This article by Donna Kossy is located on a site entitled The Anglo Israelites . (Last visited: 12/15/98)
http://www.teleport.com/~dkossy/anglo.html

3. "British Israelism and the Revival Centres"
This article by Nick Greer is located on a site entitled Revival Fellowship Information . (Last visited: 12/15/98)
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1282/index.htm

4. "British Israelism- An Expose"
This article by David Williams is located in a site entitled British Israelism - An Expose . (Last visited: 12/15/98)
British Israelism

[source]

[Marulus]

British Israel: The Hidden Hand Behind the
'The Kingdom of God on Earth' Deception



From Ken Adachi <E-mail>
British Israel, The Hidden Hand Behind The \'Kingdom of God on Earth\' Deception (July 10, 2005)
July 10, 2005

British Israel Uses Christian Fundamentalist Evangelicals to Promote the "Kingdom of God on Earth' Scheme to Deliver Up A One World Society-Both Feudal and Fascist

"British Israel" is a term used by the anonymous author of a book (ca. 1970) titled The Union Jack, to describe the manipulative efforts of elite British oligarchs to create a one world feudal society-controlled by British oligarchs of course-by first creating the state of Israel (the 1917 Balfour Declaration), and then using Christian fundamentalists to promote the idea that Christ will physically return to Earth and will rule a "Kingdom of God on Earth' for a thousand years (the 'Millennium') from His throne in -you guessed it-Jerusalem.

The only problem is, after those million upon millions of 'Christian' fundamentalists passively give up their constitutional liberties, their country's sovereignty, and their freedom in the mistaken belief that the Apocalypse/Armageddon and End Times scenario is an inevitable 'prophecy' from God that must take place before we can be delivered into the happy world of the New Millennium, they will finally discover that they've been delivered into a satanic, feudal slave society that will no longer tolerate any talk of Christ or Christianity- assuming they are still alive to enjoy the 'Kingdom of God on Earth'.

The frontline promoters and propagandists of the 'Kingdom of God on Earth' scenario include all the well known TV evangelical personalities like Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, Robert Shuller, Benny Hinn, Jack Van Impe, Jerry Falwell, Paul & Jan Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting , Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Rod Parsley, Fred Price, Kim Clement, John Hagee, and Kenneth Hagin among others, but their ranks are also swollen with lesser known evangelical, pro-Israel promoters who show up on UHF, cable TV, and radio stations every Sunday morning to pitch the soon-to-be-realized Great Tribulation and End Times "prophecies". A large percentage of these televangelist employ shouting, flamboyant movements, repeated phrases, and various histrionics to pump up the emotions of the audience in order to achieve a very specific technique of brainwashing called 'conversion'.

The Illuminated Ones play both sides of the Christianity card to manipulate the gullible into delusion. They either utilize pseudo-historians like Acharya S (The Christ Conspiracy, The Greatest Story Ever Sold) to sell the idea that Christ never even existed, or they use their opposite, the fundamentalist 'Kingdom of God on Earth' promoters, to sell the Apocalypse/Armageddon/End Times package. Either way, the naive and gullible lose. They either lose their spiritual foundation altogether and acquiesce to the humanistic or Masonic Gnosticism ploys, or they go whole hog into cheering for Armageddon and the End Times scenario to unfold so they can "get it over with" and race into the arms of 'Jesus' who will greet them from His golden throne in the newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. These End Time 'prophecies' have no relationship whatsoever to the words or earthly mission of Jesus Christ. .

Sincere Christians need to recall an important statement that Christ made while on Earth. Christ said that " My Father's Kingdom is not of this world". Christ was specifically rejecting the notion being promoted by a dominant Jewish sect of the day known as Pharisees. The Pharisee priests had been predicting that a Messiah would come to earth and establish a "Kingdom of God' and rule from his throne in Jerusalem, after overthrowing the Roman oppressors who ruled Judea at the time. This is EXACTLY the same tale that the above named 'Christian' fundamentalist preachers are selling to multitudes of deceived people around the world. It's Pharisee-ism plain and simple! Once this realization sinks in-and you need to remember that it was the Pharisee priests who got Pontius Pilate to condemn Christ to death- you can then begin to remove the mist from your eyes and recognize these fundamentalist 'Christian' propagandists for what they are-- agents of the satanic British oligarchy.

Christ came to Earth to remind humanity that man is more than flesh; that man is spirit clothed within an outer vestment of flesh. Christ wanted to remind mankind that the virtues of love, honor, and forgiveness were the most important attributes to guide your daily life. Christ's example thoroughly rejected the materialism, corruption, and deception so plainly witnessed in the lives of the above named End Times propagandists. Honest Christians need to awaken and throw the satanic infiltrators within their midst (and in the pulpits) and return to embracing the true message of Christ.

The Union Jack, is posted below in its entirety-except for Chapter 3- which I could not download from internet archives (if anyone reading this owns the book, I would be most grateful if you could send me Chapter 3- Editor ). The additional articles posted below will also further illustrate the deception (and the promoters) of the End Times hoax described here. ...Ken Adachi

The Union Jack by Anonymous (mistakenly attributed to Helen Peters)

[Update November 1, 2005: I've been contacted by a man named Dave Wilbur who has greater knowledge of the background and history of Helen Peters than I. He told me that Helen Peters was not the author of The Union Jack, but rather that she promoted the book through her newsletter, 'Defenders of the Republic'. The Union Jack was published, he said, without identifying the author. Dave told me that Helen Peters died in 1971 and that her newsletters were compiled and published into a book of the same title following her death. I'll post more info about Helen Peters as I acquire it. ...Ken]

Complete pdf version of The Union Jack as a single download (895kb)
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/TheUnionJack.pdf .(Courtesy of Barney <barney-rubble@tiscali.co.uk>)


Contents

Prologue (posted June 19, 2006)
Prologue to The Union Jack, America-Postmortem?

British Israel Propaganda And Deceit, Chap. 1 (July 24, 2005)
British Israel Propaganda And Deceit , Chapter 1, The Union Jack By Helen Peters (ca. 1970)

Political Messianicism and the Right Wing, Chap. 2 (July 24, 2005)
Political Messianicism and the Right Wing ( The Union Jack, Chap. 2) By Helen Peters (ca. 1970)

(Chapter 3 is missing )

World Evangelism and The Scofield Bible: Undermining America with Anti-Communism and 'Patriotism' Chap. 4 (Aug. 12, 2005)
World Evangelism and The Scofield Bible (Chap. 4, The Union Jack) By Helen Peters

British Israel and the Catholic Church: Undermining America with anti-Catholicism Chap. 5 (Aug. 12, 2005)
(Polish version of Chapter 5)
British Israel \'Judeo Msaonry\' and the Catholic Church ( The Union Jack, Chap. 5) By Helen Peters (ca. 1970)

The Hope of Israel Is The Triumph of Christ: Undermining Christianity with Christianity, Chap. 6 (June 19, 2006)
THE HOPE OF ISRAEL IS THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST

Masonry and British Israelism: Undermining Christianity with Brotherhood, Chap. 7 (June 19, 2006)
MASONRY AND BRITISH ISRAELISM

Epilogue (June 19, 2006)
The Union Jack EPILOGUE

Related Articles

Sanctifying Slaughter by John Kaminski (July 4, 2006)
Sanctifying Slaughter by John Kaminski (June 24, 2006)

Ken Adachi Responds to Billy Graham Admirer Who Chaffs at British Israel Deception Scheme (Dec. 7, 2005)
Billy Graham Admirer Chaffs at British Israel Concept

A Few Words on Bible-believing Christians and the Bible (Aug. 21, 2005)
A Few Words on Bible-believing Christians and the Bible

British Israel and The Nuclear Bomb (Aug. 7, 2005)
British Israel and The Nuclear Bomb

The Armageddon Deception (July 24, 2005)
The Armageddon Deception

American Fundamentalist Army General Stumps for Israel and the 'Kingdom of God on Earth' Mission (July 24, 2005)
American Fundamentalist Army General Stumps for Israel and the \'Kingdom of God on Earth\' Mission


British Israel, The Hidden Hand Behind The \'Kingdom of God on Earth\' Deception (July 10, 2005)

[Milesian]

Some related links

The Orange Order in relation to Anglo-Israel - Irish Nationalism
1st degree (Orange Degree) - Irish Nationalism

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Some related links

The Orange Order in relation to Anglo-Israel - Irish Nationalism
1st degree (Orange Degree) - Irish Nationalism

I have to say I always hate seeing those f****n' Israeli flags when I go up to Derry or Aldergrove. They have no clue what an actual Israeli or Jew is like.

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

I have to say I always hate seeing those f****n' Israeli flags when I go up to Derry or Aldergrove. They have no clue what an actual Israeli or Jew is like.

Yes, but perversely they are actually more in-tune with their "British" identity than most Brits. We all know that the star in NI flag doesn't really stand for the six counties

[Erasmus]

Related links:

Ten Lost Tribes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
Herbert W. Armstrong: Information from Answers.com
Herbert W. Armstrong Searchable Library - Welcome

[Marulus]

This may be somehow related to the British Israelism. George Bush is known to invoke god (I write it intentionally with minuscule, because this god has no relation with th true God) all too often, in almost every political speech. But which God is he referring to?

George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq'

President told Palestinians God also talked to him about Middle East peace

Ewen MacAskill
Friday October 7, 2005
The Guardian

George Bush has claimed he was on a mission from God when he launched the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a senior Palestinian politician in an interview to be broadcast by the BBC later this month. Mr Bush revealed the extent of his religious fervour when he met a Palestinian delegation during the Israeli-Palestinian summit at the Egpytian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, four months after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
One of the delegates, Nabil Shaath, who was Palestinian foreign minister at the time, said: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I am driven with a mission from God'. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did."
Mr Bush went on: "And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, 'Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East'. And, by God, I'm gonna do it."
Mr Bush, who became a born-again Christian at 40, is one of the most overtly religious leaders to occupy the White House, a fact which brings him much support in middle America.
Soon after, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz carried a Palestinian transcript of the meeting, containing a version of Mr Bush's remarks. But the Palestinian delegation was reluctant publicly to acknowledge its authenticity.
The BBC persuaded Mr Shaath to go on the record for the first time for a three-part series on Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy: Elusive Peace, which begins on Monday.
Religion also surfaced as an issue when Mr Bush and Tony Blair were reported to have prayed together in 2002 at his ranch at Crawford, Texas - the summit at which the invasion of Iraq was agreed in principle. Mr Blair has consistently refused to admit or deny the claim.
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, who was also part of the delegation at Sharm el-Sheikh, told the BBC programme that Mr Bush had said: "I have a moral and religious obligation. I must get you a Palestinian state. And I will."
Mr Shaath's comments came as Mr Bush delivered a speech yesterday aimed at bolstering US support for the Iraq war.
He revealed that the US and its partners had disrupted at least 10 serious al-Qaida plots since September 11, including three planned attacks in the US. "Because of this steady progress, the enemy is wounded - but the enemy is still capable of global operations," he said. He added that Islamic radicals had used a series of excuses to justify their attacks, from conflict with the Israelis to the Crusades 1,000 years ago.
"We're facing a radical ideology with unalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world," he said. He conceded that al-Qaida, led in Iraq by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and other insurgents had gained ground in Iraq but the US would not leave until security had been established. "Some observers also claim that America would be better off by cutting our losses and leaving Iraq now. This is a dangerous illusion, refuted with a simple question: Would the United States and other free nations be more safe, or less safe, with Zarqawi and Bin Laden in control of Iraq, its people, and its resources?" Mr Bush asked.

[Milesian]

I think Bush's attitude reflects both the Judaic belief in being "The Chosen" and also the American concept of Manifest Destiny, which is based on the Calvinistic belief of Pre-Destination, which is itself based on that same Judaic notion of "Chosenitism".

[Errigal]

President George W. Bush's family history has Puritan Calvinism deeply woven into it. This distant relative is very interesting:

George Bush (biblical scholar) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If one looks at his family tree one can see almost no Southern US or European heritage. He is a New Jerusalem Yankee from head to toe. The Texas stuff is very new; he is the first in his line to be born there and did almost all his schooling in New England.

Ancestry of George W. Bush

[Uri]

Another example of British Israelism was present during the Crimean War (1854-1856), when the scottish clergyman John Cumming (1807-1881) preached against Russia, comparing the czar with the biblical Gog and Magog that will destroy Israel. This remix of evangelical fanaticism and geopolitics was also present, naturally, during the Cold War. (At the time of the Crimean War, the russians were interested in preserve the orthodox communities in the Near East, facing the Ottoman empire ).

One link about this subject:

DISKUS: Klaus-Dieter Stoll

[wilpuri]

This is drifting a tad OT but here goes.

The small amount of time I've spent within the walls of a church, and the even smaller amount of time I've spent within the walls of a church with my ears and eyes open, I've noticed that at least here the old testament is often read and examples are taken that have parallels with contemporary issues. Now, this is something I'm used to, and I don't consider it Israelism, but what is your take? The Protestant denominations are more Judaism friendly, but I think it is only logical, as they have their roots in rebellion against the religious authority that was the Catholic church, and theirs has been a cause of "religious liberation". I think its more of an alliance of convenience. There is a lot of terminology used by the Finnish Lutheran Church (mostly from the period of pre-independence to the end of the wars) that would to many of you smack of "chosenitism", but I think its only natural for such 'national churches' to focus on the people they represent.

Some posters here [not in this particular thread] seem to have hinted that protestantism is of the devil all together. As someone who is nominally protestant, this anti-Protestant attitude expressed by some Catholics is new to me. I'm not overtly concerned as I'm not a practicing Lutheran, but I am curious.

There are some clearly pro-Israel Protestant groups in Finland (such as this one), but they are not affiliated with the Lutheran Church of Finland.