Lectures
Each lecture is 90 -120 minutes in length including 30 minutes Q&A. The 14 lectures of the program are:
1. Introduction to Arab Christian Theology: We will present a brief history of Arabic Christianity that shows the diversity of the Christian church family. In addition, we will introduce major Palestinian theological movements and tendencies that respond to social, political, historical and theological challenges.
2. Islam: A Muslim scholar will present in this lecture the major tenets and beliefs of Islam, highlighting the ways in which they affect the contemporary Christian community and culture.
3. Judaism: a Jewish scholar will give an introduction to ancient Judaism and its history by considering major turning points and historical divisions. Furthermore, we will relate modern Judaism in Israel today with ancient Judaism and study the different points of correspondence between them.
4. Messianic Christianity: A Messianic Christian will give a brief introduction to the history, theology and beliefs of Messianic Judaism. The lecture will also consider the major challenges facing Messianic Christians in Israel today.
5. The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict: The lecture will present the history of the conflict from a Palestinian perspective, starting from the rise of Zionism until the modern time, and the Palestinian Christian response to it.
6. Theology of the Land– Part 1: This lecture will present the major theological themes in the Old and New Testaments, with a special reference to the Palestinian Israeli conflict.
7. Theology of the Land – Part 2: This lecture will attempt to answer some major questions concerning the land today: Who owns the land? What are the boundaries of the land? Who should inherit the land? Who are the Israelites?
8. An Alternative to Zionism– Part 1: This lecture will introduce Christian Zionism and Dispensational theology and how both deal with the end times, prophecy and the Jewish people, and how all of this impacts our region.
9. A Christian Response to Radical Islam: This lecture will look at the political, social, economical and religious backgrounds that led to the rise of radical Islam in the 21st century. It will then suggest biblical response to the rise of radical Islam today.
10. Reading the Old Testament in Palestine: Palestinian Christians struggle with the Old Testament because of its references to Israel inheriting the land of their fathers, and many call the church to abandon the Hebrew Scriptures. How should Palestinian theologians and church leaders in Palestine interpret the OT?
11. Pastoring in Palestine: A Palestinian pastor will speak about the major challenges and difficulties facing a pastor in Palestine, pointing out pastoring experiences in the days of fighting and military curfews in Bethlehem.
12. Pathways to Reconciliation: The lecture will present the biblical principles of reconciliation through the cross, and the church’s role and experience in reconciliation in the Holy Land – with a special reference to Musalaha – a ministry of Reconciliation between Messianic and Palestinian Christians.
13. Peace, Justice and Non-Violence in the Palestinian Context: This lecture will present the biblical principles of justice, non-violence, and it will look at the peace building contributions of the Palestinian Church.
14. Geography and Spirituality of the Land of the Bible: This course discusses the relationship between the topography, geography, and history of the Land of the Bible with the Biblical texts. Educational trip required to accompany lecture.
Note: Each lecture is 90-120 minutes in length including 30 minutes Q&A.