Mitri Raheb

This is what the Kairos document in South Africa identified as state theology, a theology that blesses injustice, canonizes the will of the powerful, and reduces the poor to passivity, obedience, and apathy.

In Palestine, this is what Reverend Mitri Raheb identifies as the software that gives theological cover to Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

Will the Church challenge these theologies? Will the Church reject this orchestration of violence close- cloaked in religious language? The answer matters not just for Palestinians, but as we heard, for the ig- integrity of the Gospel itself.

Because when theology becomes a tool of oppression rather than liberation, when scripture is twisted to justify theft rather than protect the most vulnerable, God's name is taken in vain.

And that kind of history of displacement makes it complicated to read.

That occurred to me, I think, because I guess I've been like attuned now, especially when people like Mitri Raheb, really interesting Lutheran pastor in Palestine, to be like a bit not suspicious of that because it's whatever.

It's like a myth that has animated so many very good things.

but to just be like mindful about it.