Bethlehem Bible College launches a new course: “Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine”
Bethlehem Bible College launches a new course:
"Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine"
Bethlehem Bible College has launched a new theological course entitled “Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine,” which is the first joint work between our College and Dar Al-Kalima University College.
More than 90 students joined the course, including students from Bethlehem Bible College and Dar Al-Kalima University College in addition to other attendees from Bethlehem and around the region.
The course aims to educate Palestinian youth about their potential and the role of Palestinian theology in light of the current political, social and economic reality that we live in. The course focuses particularly on Palestinian Christians who are considered part of the Palestinian identity and have consistently advanced strong contributions to our society; part of which includes the development of local theology. Since only a few Palestinian Christians are familiar with local theology, this course is an opportunity for them to learn about its development and its challenges, as well as to contribute to its ongoing refinement and impact.
This course will conclude with the sixth Christ at the Checkpoint conference, “Hope and Resilience in a Broken World” which will be held in Bethlehem from June 5 – 9, 2020.
At the first meeting, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaaq, the Academic Dean at Bethlehem Bible College, welcomed the students and attendees after which Mr. Yousef El-Khoury, the course coordinator, introduced the course and its goals. He said, “We named the course Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine because theology as a science is part of the intellectual development of identity and culture in Palestine. It is based on our belief that the Bible is a book of life, and that God still speaks to us in light of our current reality through his revelations. Hence, developing a Biblical Palestinian theology on the nature of God as holy and just is very important, especially in light of the reality of the occupation, and theological challenges posed by Christians Zionists and the Zionist movement in general.”
The first lecture “Palestinian Christians: Reality and Challenges” was presented by Bishop Munib Yunan, during which he discussed nine particular challenges for Christians, followed by interaction and discussion with the attendees.
The course is supervised by Mr. Yousef El-Khoury, a lecturer at Bethlehem Bible College, who has written several articles related to Palestinian theology and a Palestinian reading of the Bible. The course will be hosted and taught by a diverse group of Palestinian theologians and church leaders who have had an active and fundamental role in the theological intellectual movement in Palestine during the past 35 years.
It is expected that the course will host Prof. Rifat Kassis, Rev. Dr. Mitri Rahib, Father Dr. Jamal Khader, Patriarch Michel Sabah, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaaq, and Bishop Atallah Hanna, who will present various topics including Kairos Palestine; the theology of liberation; justice and peaceful resistance; the concept of the Promised Land; Christian Zionism, and Christian-Islamic relations, among other topics.
You still have the opportunity to register and attend the upcoming lectures, which will continue until June 9, 2020, twice a month, on Tuesdays from 4-6:30 pm. For more details and to register, please click here.
