Across the Divide

Across the Divide Podcast
Across the Divide

Across the Divide explores the intersection of the faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel. Hosted and produced by a group of Palestinians and Americans, the podcast provides a space for thoughtful and critical conversations with theologians, scholars, and activists about the situation in Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith, justice and peacemaking. Support our work at https://patreon.com/acrossthedivide

  1. 23. Catholic Faith and Peacebuilding Work with Julie Schumacher Cohen

    DEC 3

    23. Catholic Faith and Peacebuilding Work with Julie Schumacher Cohen

    In this conversation, Daniel chats with Julie Schumacher Cohen about Catholic peacemaking work in Palestine-Israel. Julie shares about her Israeli Jewish family and the impact that visiting Palestine has had on her identity and faith.  She also discusses how her Catholic faith influences the way she advocates for peace and justice through her work at Churches for Middle East Peace. See also our previous conversation with Jordan Denari Duffner, who co-authored an important article with Julie on Catholic Social Teaching in relation to Palestine-Israel. In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Daniel and Julie discuss President Biden's commitment to Zionism. To access this extended conversation and others, consider⁠ ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠⁠. Julie Schumacher Cohen is a member of the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace, having previously served as its deputy director. Julie is also assistant vice president for community engagement and government affairs at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit and Catholic university, where she chairs its community-based learning board, leads its political dialogue initiative, and collaborates with local partners on economic justice, refugee solidarity, and other civic engagement projects. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide  Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes: Article on Catholic Social Teaching co-authored with Jordan Denari Duffner: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/06/20/catholic-social-teaching-israel-palestine-conflict-248191 Article by Julie about Biden’s lack of empathy towards the Palestinians: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/01/25/biden-empathy-palestinians-israel-hamas-247021 Article by Julie about  Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría and the role of Jesuit higher ed in this time of great turmoil in Gaza and Israel-Palestine: https://conversationsmagazine.org/gaza-and-israel-palestine-the-role-of-jesuit-higher-education-in-a-time-of-turmoil-810e1ab89001

    1h 2m
  2. Christian Zionism in the Global South with Crystal Silva-McCormick- Christian Zionism Series #6

    NOV 26

    Christian Zionism in the Global South with Crystal Silva-McCormick- Christian Zionism Series #6

    In Daniel's conversation with Crystal Silva-McCormick, they discuss the spread of CZ throughout Latin America and the Global South. Crystal helps us make sense of the reasons for that interest and expansion in poor environments, and how the prosperity gospel often goes hand in hand with Christian Zionism. They then discuss how Latina/o theology and local expressions of faith in Latin American can give us some insights about the ways we can respond to Christian Zionism. In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Daniel and Crystal discuss her work through Christians for a Free Palestine. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠. Rev. Dr. Crystal Silva-McCormick is Visiting Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Mission at Austin Presbyterian Seminary. Her teaching focuses on the intersection of Christianity with imperialism and colonialism, particularly as it relates to Euro-American Christian missions. She also researches, which is a main topic of our conversation here, the growing influence of Christian Zionism in Christian communities in Latin America, and especially Guatemala. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide⁠  Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes: Prosperity Gospel Latinos and Their American Dream, Tony Tian-Ren Lin https://christiansforafreepalestine.com/

    1h 1m
  3. 22. Education as Resistance: Reimagining Justice & Powering Change in Conflict Zones with Ben Norquist

    NOV 19

    22. Education as Resistance: Reimagining Justice & Powering Change in Conflict Zones with Ben Norquist

    In this episode of Across the Divide, co-host Abeer has a conversation with Dr. Ben Norquist about the pivotal role of higher education in empowering communities within conflict zones, particularly in the Palestinian territories. They discuss how education acts as both resilience and resistance in these high-pressure environments, and explore Ben’s involvement with academic initiatives that bridge cultural and political divides. In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Abeer and Ben delve into the themes of Ben's upcoming book, which examines the narratives American Christians hold about land and their impact on social and environmental policies. To access this extended conversation and others, consider supporting us on Patreon. Dr. Ben Norquist is a scholar and director at the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East and has worked extensively with Churches for Middle East Peace. His research focuses on higher education in conflict zones, particularly within the Palestinian context, exploring the interplay between education and empowerment. Ben is also preparing to publish his book, Every Somewhere Sacred, which discusses the relationship between American Christians and their cultural ties to land, aiming to challenge and inspire new perspectives on justice and environmental stewardship. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes: To register and learn more about the NEME forum, please visit https://www.neme.network/forum. We at Across the Divide will be there and excited to meet you! Ben’s website: https://www.bennorquist.org/ Consider supporting NEME’s mission: https://www.neme.network/donate

    1 hr
  4. Challenging Christian Zionism with Don Wagner - Christian Zionism Series #5

    NOV 12

    Challenging Christian Zionism with Don Wagner - Christian Zionism Series #5

    In episode 5 of our series on Christian Zionism, Daniel Bannoura has a conversation Don Wagner about his journey out of Christian Zionism. Don explains the two kinds of zionisms that he has encountered in his work and discusses theological and biblical critiques of Christian Zionism, primarily through the lenses of settler colonialism and liberation theology. In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Don offers pastoral advice to Christians who feel isolated in how to respond this moment we’re in. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.  Rev. Dr. Don Wagner recently retired as the National Program Director for Friends of Sabeel–North America.  He was a Professor of Middle East Studies and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at North Park University in Chicago.  He has written several books on Palestinian human rights, Christians in the Middle East, and Christian Zionism, and most recently his memoirs in 2022 “Glory to God in the Lowest: Journeys to an Unholy Land” If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide  Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes: To register and learn more about the NEME Forum, see ⁠https://www.neme.network/forum Christmas Sermon by Rev. Munther Isaac Christianzionism.org

    1h 6m
  5. 21. What’s Happening in Lebanon? A Conversation with a Lebanese Pastor, Marwan Aboul-Zelof

    NOV 5

    21. What’s Happening in Lebanon? A Conversation with a Lebanese Pastor, Marwan Aboul-Zelof

    In this special episode, we turn our attention north of Palestine/Israel and reflect on what’s happening in Lebanon. Here Daniel Bannoura has a conversation with Marwan Aboul-Zelof, the pastor of City Bible Church in Beirut, Lebanon. Daniel and Marwan discuss the complicated history of Lebanon, its various religious communities, and Hezbollah. Marwan also shares about the current situation in Lebanon and how he has been trying to lead his congregation through this ongoing war.  And for our Patreon supporters, Marwan shares with us some of his thoughts about American exceptionalism and the complicity of the American church with what’s currently happening in Gaza and Lebanon. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠. Marwan Aboul-Zelof is the planting pastor of City Bible Church, an English-speaking church in Beirut, Lebanon. He and his wife, Marci, have been living in the Middle East since 2014. They have two young sons, Noah and Shaya. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide  Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes: To register and learn more about the NEME Forum, see https://www.neme.network/forum The Furnace of the Lord, Elisabeth Elliot Israeli attacks on Lebanon in maps and charts: Live tracker Marwan’s discussion on Zionism and American Exceptionalism on his Instagram page.

    1h 9m
  6. Christian Zionism's Misuse of the Bible with Gary Burge- Christian Zionism Series #4

    OCT 29

    Christian Zionism's Misuse of the Bible with Gary Burge- Christian Zionism Series #4

    In this episode, Daniel has a conversation with educator and New Testament scholar Gary Burge. They unpack the theology of Christian Zionism and the misinterpretation and misuse of the Bible as it relates to the land of Palestine-Israel. Throughout their conversation, they take a close look at biblical stories that present theologies of the land, both in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Daniel and Gary discuss rapture theology and unpack some of the biblical passages that have been interpreted to shape what have become harmful understandings of "the end times." To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠. Gary Burge is originally from Southern California and was an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside, and The American University of Beirut, Lebanon. He attended Fuller Theological Seminary and King’s College, The University of Aberdeen, Scotland. In Scotland he studied with I. Howard Marshall earning a Ph.D. in New Testament. He has served on the faculties of King College (Tennessee), North Park University (Illinois), Wheaton College (Illinois), and currently teaches at Calvin Theological Seminary (Michigan). Gary speaks widely in churches and conferences both in the United States and in various countries. He has traveled extensively, particularly in the Middle East. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and served as a military chaplain (USNR). For over 15 years he was a regular teacher at Willow Creek Community Church in S. Barrington, IL. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide  Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Show Notes Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told about Israel and the Palestinians, Gary Burge Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to "Holy Land" Theology, Gary Burge

    1h 3m

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Across the Divide explores the intersection of the faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel. Hosted and produced by a group of Palestinians and Americans, the podcast provides a space for thoughtful and critical conversations with theologians, scholars, and activists about the situation in Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith, justice and peacemaking. Support our work at https://patreon.com/acrossthedivide

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