Counterpoint: What does the religious right want?

[Phx_Dem]

Israel has lived in a perpetual state of war and terror since its establishment 60 years ago. For two-thirds of its existence, it has occupied another people. It is an unnatural state of affairs for Jews, who have experienced so much pain and suffering at the hand of others, to find themselves in such a historically contradictory role.

And yet, despite this difficult reality, throughout Israel's brief modern history, its accomplishments are awe-inspiring, not only in its successes on the battlefield, where it has fended off attempts by surrounding countries to destroy it, but primarily in its ability to build a democratic society in the midst of seemingly unending turmoil, where totalitarian regimes dominate the regional scene.

snip

BUT ALL the above will be for naught if Israel were to follow the lead of those on the religious right of the political spectrum, who have created a dangerous unity between religion and nationalism. To be "religiously right" is not only an expression of ideology, but of morality. And, in the Jewish state, sadly, if Israelis were to adopt the views of those on the religious right, it would not only undo all the good works that the country has accomplished in its short lifetime, but it would undermine the country's moral legitimacy as a Jewish state.

Is this a gross exaggeration? Let's look at one basic political concept that the religious right embraces: the annexation of the entire West Bank. Barring that possibility, it would simply opt to rule over the territories, not necessarily because of reasons of security, but because of matters of theology - a theology that clings to the biblical notion that occupying the greater land of Israel is a "divine promise." However, such a "divine promise" promises two things: 1) the continual oppression of Palestinians; and 2) a guarantee that Israel will never achieve peace.

More at:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1213794281410&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[whistle]

1. They want our souls

:shrug:

[fascisthunter]

2. the end to their own misery="End Times"?

[DailyGrind51]

3. They really don't care about events in this life, because they are

focused on "the here-after". They believe that the more miserable things get in the corporeal world, the more people will pray for salvation.

[Phx_Dem]

4. The article is about Jewish RWers

not Christian RWers. Big dif. Jewish RWers focus on preparing the world for the coming of the messiah, they don't talk much about the "afterlife". Both groups share a preference for theocratic as opposed to democratic governments.

[oberliner]

5. Does anyone actually read the articles before commenting?

Or do they just read the subject lines?

Anyway, interesting piece. Israel is going to have to deal with the increasing tensions among the various communities at some point. The secular and the religious seem to live in two different worlds.

[azurnoir]

7. RW Jews

at least in "traditional" Judaism one does not follow the rules because if you do "sky daddy" will reward you in the next life, you do it because that is what it takes to live in an at least half way civilized society in the here and now.

That being said theocracies are pretty much all bad, just some can be worse than others.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Actually no; salvation and the afterlife are central to Christianity but not Judaism.

Both the Christian and Jewish Religious Right are inclined to fundamentalist interpretation of religious texts; emphasis on fulfilment of Biblical prophecies; and favouring legal enforcement of religious laws. But only the Christian Right links such matters to an emphasis on the afterlife.

[CanonRay]

Simple: Armageddon

[CanonRay]

6. Simple: Armageddon

[LeftishBrit]

8. Interesting article.

It's a real problem. The Jewish Religious Right appear to be quite a small proportion of Israelis (it's quite a secular country; and even the more religious types are mostly not theocrats); but they have somewhat disproportionate power due to the strict proportional-representation system, which can result in small fringenut parties holding a governing coalition hostage.