"Countering the push to shift Evangelicals away from Israel will require more than old style 'the Bible says' arguments." -- IRD President Mark Tooley

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Evangelical Christians, traditionally Israel's strongest U.S. boosters, could be poised for a politically significant shift away from traditional support for the Jewish state.

Polls show that U.S. Evangelicals remain strongly pro-Israel. But an increasing number in parachurch groups, Evangelical schools and missions groups are endorsing pro-Palestinian political activism.

On April 17, the Institute on Religion & Democracy will host a conference at Georgetown University examining Christians and Israel. "People of the Land: a Twenty-First Century Case for Christian Zionism" will consider if Christian Zionism can be defended theologically and historically, and if its legal, moral, and political outworkings are compatible with the ideals of the biblical covenant.

Scholars and experts will explore what may be one of the most profound questions facing the New Testament church: how do Christians respond to the fact that millions of Jews once scattered around the world have returned to their ancient homeland and established a modern nation-state?

A conference schedule, list of speakers and registration information can be found on the conference web site at: christiansandisrael.org.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

"Countering the push to shift Evangelicals away from Israel will require more than old style 'the Bible says' arguments. It will require intellectually substantive explanations as to why Israel merits survival and support in a fallen world often hostile to both Jews and to ordered democracy. Neither Providence nor the Bible are neutral between a people striving to survive against many others who hope for their elimination."

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