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Israel not a Theocracy? give me a break. The very existence of Israel is based on their claim to somebody elses land because of the Abrahamic covenant (disregarding the later teachings that say that conversion to Christianity is a condition precedent to the in-gathering back in Palestine). Certainly the reaction of Israel to the Hezbollah attack is classic "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" old testament doctrine. I cannot figure out for the life of me why American Fundamentalist Christian Churches are such supporters of Israel.



Actually Israel is run mainly by secularists. Their political parties run from Communist to liberal to conservative to hard core ultra orthodox Jews. The rabbis don't run the government and the politicians don't run the synagogues. Non Jews are allowed to practice their faith and to live and work there without restrictions or official discrimination.

Most conservative Protestant Christian churches support Israel for the same reasons they often find common cause with Mormons and the Pope. While they may disagree on theology, they agree on a lot of other issues and share very similar societal outlooks. For over 20 years the single most popular man among most conservative Protestants I know was Pope John Paul II. Mormons are natural allies of evangelical Christians, and evangelicals realize that Christ was a Jew and that Christianity was born among the Jews.

I don’t think the current situation is a “Tooth for tooth, eye for eye” situation at all. I think the Israelis have shown remarkable restraint. How many other countries would have tolerated cross border raids, rocket attacks and terrorist training camps within sight of their borders as long as Israel did? Imagine the same situation in Mexico. How many rockets would have to fall in San Diego before we put a stop to it? Also, the “Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” verse in the Bible was not a call to vengeance but rather a limitation on vengeance. At the time it was written it was common for vengeance to be all out of proportion to any injury received. The ancient Israelites were thus limited by that verse, not empowered by it.

We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.