American Christian Support for Israel
Standing with the Chosen People, 19481975
By (author) Eric R. Crouse
Publication date:
28 October 2014Length of book:
192 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksISBN-13: 9780739197189
The dominant political theme of the State of Israel is the perpetual quest for security. In its first 25 years, Israel experienced five wars with Arab states declaring their goal to destroy Israel. In American Christian Support for Israel:Standing with the Chosen People, 1948–1975, Eric R. Crouse examines how American Christians responded to Israel’s wars and the persistent threats to its security. While some were quick to condemn Israel as it made difficult and unpopular decisions in its fight for survival in a hostile region, conservative Christians were trustworthy supporters, routinely voicing uplifting reports. Crouse argues that Israel’s embodiment of western ideals and its remarkable economic development gave conservative Christians good reasons to favor Israel in a troubled Middle East, but the main reason for their unconditional support was the key biblical text of Christian Zionism: “I will bless those who bless you [Abraham and his descendants], and I will curse him who curses you” (Genesis 12:3).
In a short but poignant exposé of US Christian support for the Israeli state, Crouse adds to the literature of the nexus of religion and politics, especially US foreign policy. Beginning with an excellent explication of the variant perspectives, he collapses the scholarship focusing on conservative Christians' 'individualistic approach to ... social involvement.' In so doing, he adds to the argument of interest group engagement in the foreign policy process as well as the discussion of asymmetric warfare, specifically the Arab-Israeli conflicts and the incremental support of the US to the point of establishing a special relationship. Though Crouse restricts his work to the first 30 years of Israel’s existence, the lessons drawn remain applicable. The four main chapters illuminate the continual threats to Israel's survival and increasingly convergent support by the US. Crouse's causality of Christian beliefs for Israel's survival, however, moves from centrality to the periphery as evangelicals reacted to increasing 'Soviet intrusion in the Middle East.' Christian support for Israel therefore transitioned from strong millenarian beliefs to more secular national security policy demands 'by way of military strength and preparedness.' Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries.