Allies for Armageddon: The Rise of Christian Zionism

by Victoria Clark

Millions of Christian Zionists in America believe that God requires them to offer Israel unconditional support--moral, financial, political, and military

Guided by a literal reading of the prophetic sections of the Bible, Christian Zionists are convinced that the world is hurtling toward a final Battle of Armageddon. They believe that war in the Middle East is God's will for the region. In this timely book, Victoria Clark...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300116985
• ISBN13: 9780300116984
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Armageddon Outta Here!

If you seek an explanation for why the world is in the mess it's in -- especially referring to U.S. foreign policy and our endless wars -- seek no further! This book traces Christian Zionism way back to its centuries-old roots and shows how its history is profoundly entangled with that of the U.S. and England -- and continues to be so today. This is a profoundly important book for anyone not yet crushed under the heel of political correctness. Yes, you can be opposed to the policies that grow out of Christian Zionism without being anti-Semitic, despite propaganda to the contrary.

Thanks for this book - from a Christian

I am a Christian who believes that Christian Zionism is completely unbiblical. Understand that there is a large group of Christians who do not agree with the Christian Zionist movement. Thanks much....

Some history we all should know.l

This is really an amazing book--full of history and current relevancy of the origins of the fundamentalist Christian interpretations of the Bible, and their effects on political events from the 18th to the 21st centuries. The drive to "bless Israel" in order to receive the blessings of God, then to create the conditions for the the final battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming has brought about a number of contradictory and dangerous policies which may be monetarily helpful to the "State" of Israel, but longer term lay the foundation for its destruction. Clark hopefully is exaggerating to a degree how pervasive this eagerness for the Second Coming is among fundamentalist Christian sects (Christian Zionists) since she puts huge numbers to the believers in this course of events--not the least of these George W. Bush. This may be just another way to bash Bush and this partiality somewhat undercuts her credibility. The historical first half of the book, though, is well worth reading and understanding.

How the Christian Right Influences Secular Policy

So do you think the religious right in the U.S. and elsewhere are just a bunch of harmless nuts who spend their time yelling about the right to life and how clusters of a few cells in the womb have a soul? Well, if you haven't been reading the newspapers or watching TV for the last few years at least read this book. It describes in detail how the Christian fundamentalist movement has hijacked U.S. foreign policy in order to further their literal interpretation of the bible. These people believe that the second coming of Christ is dependant on Jewish possession of the Holy Land and that the Jews will eventually rebuild the Temple of Solomon, paving the way for the ultimate battle between good and evil, Armageddon. Hence, the state of Israel must be supported regardless of the cost to the U.S. God has said he will bless those who support the Jews and curse those who do not, and if the Jewish people cooperate the advent of the "end times" will be hastened. The author takes the first half of the book to lay out the history of Christian fundamentalism and the specific subtype of Christian Zionism from its roots in 17th century Britain and elsewhere to its current incarnation in the United States. She also documents the role of British Christian Zionists and adherents of fundemantalist sects in the creation of the state of Israel. The second half of the book details the intricacies of modern day Christian Zionism and its influence on U.S. foreign policy and describes how this movement has reached something of a climax in the Bush administration. The book reveals how a series of clever Israeli politicians have exploited the Christian Zionist movement for their own ends, despite the fact the bible calls for the death over two-thirds of the Jewish race as part of the events that lead to the ultimate showdown between Christ and the anti-christ. If this book does not alert you to the dangers of religious fundamentalism in the modern world, then I'm not sure what will. In the end there is no difference between Christian fundamentalists and Islamic ones. They are all driven by a belief that that we live in a corrupted world which must be cleansed by violence and that they, as true believers are exempt from any supernatural punishment. If you believe the world must end and you are to be saved, then what is the harm in doing whatever is necessary to achieve this end?