Normalize or Resist?: Palestinian Christians Respond to Oppression

by Andrew F. Bush, Nelson J Kraybill, Mitri Raheb

Isn’t it good to build relationships between communities, especially in contexts of conflict? Why do people who are experiencing oppression sometimes see such relationships as a problem? What does normalization mean? How should oppression be resisted?

These questions and others are critical in the Palestinian Christian community as it debates how it should respond to the oppression of the occupation.

The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible College gathered important theologians and leaders in April 2023 to discuss these issues in an academic symposium. This book is a transcript of the presentations and discussions. The final section includes powerful Palestinian Christian voices speaking after the outbreak of war in October 2023.

For those seeking to learn more about the issues that are foremost in the Palestinian Christian community, this is a valuable window into contemporary discussion.

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2024

Reviews

[Charles Ewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound analysis and deeply challenging call to the western church

I was unable to put down this record of a recent consultation of Palestinian Christian leaders who came together to discuss the Israeli occupation. Eye opening, inspiring and moving. This is must reading for the western church and I sincerely hope produces a significant re-think of the uncritical support of Israel especially by evangelicals.

[K M Farnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crucial reading

A truly important book, to hear the cry of Palestinians and in particular Palestinian Christians, and to understand the complicity of the Western church in particular in the war on and ethnics cleansing of the Palestinian population

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read to hear from those inside the Palestinian Christian community. We must always put God's Kingdom and the global church above any earthly kingdom!