The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb brings precision and passion to a talk at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church

The Palestinian author and theologian shares five theological challenges he’s struggling with

October 31, 2024

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb concluded his plenary at the Matthew 25 Summit in January with several action steps Presbyterians can take to work for peace in Gaza. (Photo by Rich Copley)

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, recently spoke at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., as part of the McClendon Scholar program. Watch his presentation, titled “Understanding Gaza: Political Context and Theological Challenges,” here.

Raheb’s friend, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Johnson, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church’s senior pastor, introduced him, saying he has “challenged me to shuffle and recalculate my narratives.” Johnson also noted Bright Stars of Bethlehem, which supports Dar al-Kalima, the only university of arts and culture in Palestine. Its motto, Johnson said, is, “Hope is what we do.”

Raheb’s family has lived in Bethlehem for millennia. He uses the term “settler colonialism” to frame what’s going on in his homeland. Such colonists intend to stay in the place “for good,” he said. “The ultimate aim is to replace the native people, not live with them.” Native people become aliens, and settlers become more like natives, he said. A police state has to be created and granted extra power, including over the civil affairs.

He described five stages of colonialism in Palestine since 1948: seeding the seeds, taking the land, expanding the boundaries, negotiating a compromise and sealing the colonial project, which is what’s happening now, Raheb said. “As a Palestinian whose ancestors have been living there for thousands of years, I am an alien. I have no rights in the land, and I’m not allowed to question it. They’re not shy about it,” he said of the Israeli government. “They are proud to be a settler colonial state.”

“The whole idea is to make life unlivable in Gaza,” he said. “They will have no choice but to be displaced and seek refuge somewhere else.”

Dr. Lamma Mansour

Raheb next turned to five theological challenges he’s struggling with:

• The question about God and humanity. People feeling the pressure of an occupying force often ask, “God, where are you?” But according to Raheb, in Gaza they say, “God is my defender. Where is the Arab world? The Muslim world? The church?” “They don’t feel abandoned by God. They feel abandoned by humanity, and the silence of the world is deafening,” he said. “We need to think about what this means, when people lose their faith in humanity. It’s much tougher than losing faith in God.”
• The question about human rights. As they see the support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion, “Palestinians wonder if human rights are really universal,” Raheb said. Governments have funded human rights initiatives around the world, “but when we needed human rights defended, they’re not there,” he said.
• The question of what Raheb called “genocidal theology.” He noted that some of Israel’s prime ministers have compared themselves to Joshua, leading conquests in God’s name.
• The warrior God and the warrior state. While liberation theologians look to God’s liberating acts in Exodus, God as warrior “is more visible in Joshua and Judges,” Raheb said.
• Decolonizing Palestine and decolonizing the Bible go hand in hand. “We have so much to do as theologians, politicians and as human beings to bring justice, peace and reconciliation to the world,” Raheb said. “We have to end settler colonialism so Israelis, Palestinians, Christians and Muslims can share the land on equal footing.”

During a question-and-answer session following the talk, Raheb made it clear that “our problem is not with the Jewish faith. They were part of the Palestinian people until 1948.” When people talk about God giving the land of Palestine to Israel, “they mean to support settler colonialism,” he said.

The United States has “many young people against settler colonialism” who “support equality and reconciliation and the end of occupation,” he said.

He reminded the hundreds of people online and those gathered in person at the church that history for Palestine didn’t start with Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023. “At the time of Jesus, Palestine was under imperial Roman occupation,” Raheb said. “As long as there is occupation, there will always be resistance.”

“Is armed resistance the best way? I personally am not for armed resistance,” he said. “The best way to fight terrorism is to offer people hope. Fighting terrorism with more military power is counterproductive. It creates more terrorism.”

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service

Today’s Focus: Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb speaks at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Miguel Vargas, Building Manager, Presbyterian Historical Society 
Stephanie Vasquez, Language Services Manager, Administrative Services Group (A Corp) 

Let us pray

Dear God of every generation, may we listen to your voice like the roar of rushing waters and answer your call upon our lives. Amen.