Witnessing for Peace: In Jerusalem and the World / Edition 1

by Fred M. Strickert, Munib A. Younan

Overview

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Israel/Palestine has dashed hopes of any imminent peace or even accommodation between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. A leader in Palestinian Christianity, and an outspoken advocate of nonviolence and of Palestinian rights, Bishop Munib Younan directly addresses this situation and its imperatives. Born of Palestinian refugee parents and raised in Jerusalem, Younan has spent his life pastoring Palestinian Christians and searching for nonviolent solutions in this complex and volatile religious and political scene.

In this volume, Younan presents first the historical and social context of the Palestinian situation, beginning with the not-well-known story of Arab Christianity and his own background. He elaborates his own theology of nonviolence, centered in the idea of martyria-heeding a call to justice, inclusion, and forgiveness. He illustrates the notion with dramatic and often tragic episodes and shows how it can address key issues in the current struggle with Israel over statehood, land, and refugees. Younan's model of Christian nonviolence also has demonstrable benefits in addressing terrorism, interreligious strife, and global peacemaking. Younan's is a voice all Christians of conscience should hear.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800635985
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	06/03/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

Fred M. Strickert is Professor of Religion, Wartburg College, Iowa, and author of Bethsaida: Home of the Apostles (1998) and co-author of Bethlehem 2000: Past and Present (with Mitri Raheb, 1998).

Munib A. Younan is Bishop of Jerusalem in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan, Jerusalem.

Editorial Reviews

When Westerners ask Palestinian Lutheran bishop Munib Younan when his family converted to Christianity, they are often surprised to learn that the conversion occurred many centuries ago. In Witnessing for Peace: In Jerusalem and the World, Younan shares many poignant stories from his ministry as the Bishop of Jerusalem of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He opens with a memorable story about being the only Christian representative chosen to accompany Muslim leaders in a meeting with Pope John Paul II at the Dome of the Rock in 2000. Immediately after this wonderful moment of interfaith cooperation, Younan was accosted twice-first by a Muslim extremist man and then by a Jewish woman who spat on him-because of the cross he wore. This juxtaposition of mutual respect tempered with outbursts of hatred sets the stage for a heartfelt book that both explains the venerable tradition of Palestinian Christianity and issues a clarion call for peace in the Middle East. Younan's book is an important reminder that although Christians constitute less than 2% of Israel's population, their presence is a potentially significant determinant of the region's future. Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly