Across the Divide Podcast

We’re barely coming out of a genocide in Gaza and now there’a war in Iran. How should Christians respond? What does peacemaking look like in the midst of so much violence, especially violence supported by Christians? Australian pastor and educator Jarrod McKenna to help us respond to this moment where we find ourselves.Jarrod is an Australian peace award winning pastor and social change educator. He is founding director of Australia’s largest Christian social justice advocacy group, Common Grace, and also the co-founder of the global www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com movement. For more visit https://jarrodmckenna.com.

Jarrod’s substack article about peacemaking and Iran: https://jarrodmckenna.substack.com/p/a-starter-kit-for-peacemaking-at

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Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

#israel #palestine #iran #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Daniel Bannoura is joined by Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac and Palestinian theologian Anton Deik to respond to the controversial conversation between Tucker Carlson and the U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠#israel #palestine #gaza #bethlehem #holyland #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #tuckercarlson #christianzionism

South African theologian Sarojini Nadar joins Daniel for a conversation about the weaponization of the Bible and how the book of Esther has been distorted to normalize violent and harmful ideologies. 
Sarojini is a South African theologian and Biblical scholar, and director and research chair of the Desmond Tutu Research Chair in Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape. Her research explores the intersection of gender and religion, with a more broad focus on religion and social justice – spanning issues of race, class, gender and sexuality. Here latest book "Gender, Genocide, Gaza and the Book of Esther" bridges the gap between gendered and geopolitical analyses by interrogating both the sexual and ethnic violence embedded in the Book of Esther and its relationship to the Gaza genocide.
Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide 
Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠
Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.
#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #esther

In this episode Jen has a conversation with Palestinian Christian activist, Usama Nicola. They discuss the current realities in Bethlehem and the acute threats that Palestinians are facing in the Bethlehem area and Palestine broadly. Usama reflects on the ways his faith motivates his engagement with these realities, which includes an orientation towards nonviolence and a belief in the power of everyday miracles.

Usama Nicola is a Palestinian civil society activist and a tour guide from the ancient and resilient city of Bethlehem. He brings together his love for people, justice, and faith in everything he does. Through his Patreon page, Usama shares regular reflections, updates from Bethlehem, and spiritual insights, building a global circle of solidarity and learning. His hope is to warm hearts, challenge comfort, and remind people everywhere that even in places of sorrow, life still grows. Read Usama’s recent article, “The Everyday Miracles of Palestine: Courage, Hope, and Resilience” 

Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide 

Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

#israel #palestine #bethlehem #holyland #christianity #miracles #justice #nonviolence

In this episode, Abeer is joined by Michael McDougle to discuss what it means to teach Palestine and questions of justice in contexts where these issues are often unfamiliar, and how insights from Palestinian Christians have shaped understandings of faith and peacemaking.

Michael McDougle ([email protected]) is an Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Originally from the United States, he has lived and worked in Russia, Ukraine, China, and Lithuania. He holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies (Columbia International University), an MA in TESOL (Biola University), and an MA in Theology and Culture with a concentration in Peace Studies (St. Stephen’s University). His research interests lie at the intersection of theology, peace studies, TESOL, and Culture. Michael is also a Peace Ambassador with Peace Catalyst International, where he serves on the Israel-Palestine Working Group.

Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide 

Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism