Plans for Holy Land theme park on Galilee shore where Jesus fed the 5,000

[emad]

· Evangelical groups and Israel on brink of deal
· Some Israelis fear motives of US Christian right

Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv
Wednesday January 4, 2006
The Guardian


The Israeli government is planning to give up a large slice of land to American Christian evangelicals to build a biblical theme park by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus is said to have walked on water and fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish.

A consortium of Christian groups, led by the television evangelist Pat Robertson, is in negotiation with the Israeli ministry of tourism and a deal is expected in the coming months. The project is expected to bring up to 1 million extra tourists a year but an undeclared benefit will be the cementing of a political alliance between the Israeli rightwing and the American Christian right.

However, the alliance has not been welcomed by all Israelis, including some who fear the ultimate aim of the evangelicals is the conversion of the Jews to Christianity rather than support for Israel.

Jonathan Pulik, a spokesman for the Israeli ministry of tourism, said the Christian market was very important for Israel's tourism industry. "We would like to give them more of a reason to come here. We would be willing to lease the land to them free of charge and they would finance the construction."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1677557,00.html

[Clark2008]

1. How tacky!

And that's about all I can say about that.

Geesch!

:crazy:

[MADem]

2. I noted yesterday that the placement of this absurdity is smack-dab

...between disputed Syrian land and Israel proper!! Talk about cannon fodder potential!!! A bunch of Fundie tourists make a perfect DMZ buffer!

[havocmom]

9. Sure makes it seem they will find SOME way of getting US to take Syria

down, doesn't it?

Gee, the evil-doers have killed some good, decent Christian sheep on a poorly thought out vacation to Jesus Land! We gotta go and fight 'em there so we don't hav-ta fight 'em here! I'm a war president and I have Crusades on my mind...

[stevedeshazer]

3. At first I thought this was satire

[Loonman]

4. Dumbest idea ever

Do they want to get bombed?

[long_green]

11. Had the same thought

answer: hell yes, Robertson would have no problem at all sacrificing some of his herd so he can lobby for a war of extermination against Islam.

[zbdent]

5. Boy, that should get the Repukes' boxers in a convoluted bunch

Yes, a memorial to Jesus . . . but also a memorial to an act of some form of socialism/communism - feeding the masses for free . . .

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. reminds me of "The Holy Land"

in For Richer or Poorer...Water into Winery...Bedouin Breakfast...Tora Tora Tora the waterslide... (for both the Jewish and Japanese guests...

subjectProdigal

[Horse with no Name]

7. eegads the morans are all cut from the same cloth

Aren't they?

[FlaGranny]

8. A Jonah in the whale ride?

Maybe a ride in Ezekiel's "space ship." Three horsemen of the Apocalypse ride? Have lunch in the Garden of Eden. Will the Adam and Eve "waiters" be naked (or wearing only fig leaves)? The possibilities are endless. Just - WOW. Tacky beyond description.

[Midnight Rambler]

10. What was that Commandment about graven images?

n/t

[joefree1]

12. Suckers! I know, I design theme parks.

These parks are profit driven. Get the suckers in and take their money. Always place a merchandise store on the right before the exit to maximize last minute purchases.

But ... theme parks create an artificial environment. Only small children and the reality challenged will succumb to a Fundie park. They are just too corny.

Here's one park in Florida that is having a tough time making a profit:
http://www.holylandorlando.net/
The Holy Land Experience, which said it does not attract enough visitors to break even, is funded by Zion's Hope Inc, a not-for-profit religious organisation that cites its goal as converting Jews to Christianity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4678897.stm

There's another one slated for Branson (lots more reality challenged folk go there). A fundie park in Israel is one more sign that intolerant fundie religions are having a fitful death.

[long_green]

13. "Here is where Our Savior walked and preached...

and here's the Tilt O Whirl."

A truer expression of the "depth" of evangelical Christianity cannot be imagined.

Not only will there be problems with the location for security reasons (potential for sudden mass death) but as this is thousands of miles from home something will have to be done to see that the Christian visitors get their 12,500 calories a day.

And now the Israelis, some of them anyway, have misgivings about having so many of these people visiting their country? Assholes, they ALL think you're going to hell.

[LibertyLover]

14. What is the signature food dish going to be?

Loaves and fishes? And what about the signature beverage? Wine from Cana perhaps. Of course the problem would be whether it should be alcoholic wine or non-alcoholic grape juice. I guess it will depend on how many Assemblies of God/Southern Baptists are on the board of directors. All in all this sounds like a bad idea, not to mention tacky.

[Javaman]

15. Can't wait to try the "walk on the water" ride!!! n/t