The Power of Myth: Israeli Propaganda and Christian Zionism - Paperback

by David M. Crump (Author), Brian Zahnd (Foreword by)

Every nation crafts a national mythology depicting its noble origins and the sanctity of its birth. The Zionist state of Israel is no different. For instance, every Israeli school child is indoctrinated in the founding myth of Israel's miraculous birth in 1948 (one tiny, ill-prepared Jewish state surprisingly victorious over five Arab behemoths armed to the teeth). The problem is that such state-sponsored mythology plays fast and loose with actual history. Israel's victory in 1948 was no miracle. Yet, state-sponsored propaganda drowns this historical fact in the murky depths of Zionist myth-making. Unfortunately, no audience has been more receptive to Israeli mythology and state propaganda than evangelical Christian Zionists. Yet, the Christian commitment to standing firmly on the side of honesty and truth-telling requires every Christian Zionist, whether firmly entrenched or uncertain and merely curious, to dig into the foundations of their Zionism and to fearlessly (re)examine the facts. Faithfulness to Jesus must take priority over devotion to Israel. This book may help to set you free.

Author Biography

David M. Crump was a professor of New Testament at Calvin University for eighteen years before his retirement in 2015. He is the author of several books, including Feeling Like God; Knocking on Heaven's Door; I Pledge Allegiance: A Believer's Guide to Kingdom Citizenship in 21st Century America; Like Birds in a Cage: Christian Zionism's Collusion in Israel's Oppression of the Palestinian People; and Hidden Holiness: Unwrapping the Gift of God's Presence.