A renewed outbreak of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has already claimed the lives of thousands of civilians and displaced many more.
As humanitarian forces work to bring aid to the region and diplomats work towards some sort – any sort – of peace or stabilization in the region, the situation seems to sit on a knife’s edge.
Amidst this tragedy, people of all religions are turning their voices to prayer – often in remarkable ways.
Note: If you haven't had a chance yet, check out our overview of the religious history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which traces the religious roots of the conflict from the tribal warfare in the region over 2,000 years ago, to the Zionist movement of the 20th century, to recent eruptions of violence.
Synagogues Ring Out
Across the globe, Jewish prayers for peace have been heard. In synagogues around the world, the Jewish community grieved for the loss of life and prayed for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.
"The world deserves better, the Palestinian people deserve better and we need to do better," said Rabbi Daniel Fellman of Temple Sinai. "They are all our brothers and sisters, and when one of us hurts, we all hurt. If we can't see that we share this earth, that we share God's love, ... then we are doomed to live the curse of Cain and Abel again and again."
And on Thursday, the group Jewish Voice for Peace demonstrated at the U.S. Capitol, many adorned in shirts reading “Jews say ceasefire now,” playing shofars and singing songs of peace in both English and Hebrew.
Calling on President Biden to push for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the raucous protest ultimately led to some 300 protesters arrested by Capitol police.
Muslims Pray in High Profile Places
Similarly, the global Muslim community has been protesting and praying for an end to the violence between Hamas and Israel.
In the UK, a remarkable scene played out when Muslim protesters stopped to hold a mass prayer outside Downing Street in London.
In Washington D.C., Muslim worshipers gathered on the National Mall to pray for a ceasefire:
Catholics Join In
In New York City, a public procession of Catholics marched through the streets of Manhattan in solidarity and prayer.
Setting off from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of New York, dozens of Catholic priests from around the world led a procession of hundreds (or potentially thousands – estimates vary) through the busy rush hour streets, as bystanders kneeled in solidarity with the group.
Pontiff Adds His Voice
Pope Francis joined the chorus of prayers for peace during his weekly Angelus prayer:
However, not all Catholics see prayer as enough to resolve the violence.
Last week, in the hopes of making a more direct impact, a cardinal serving as the Catholic Church's representative in Jerusalem personally offered to be exchanged for hostages being held in Gaza. It's unclear if Hamas will take him up on it, though.
What is your reaction? Do you think prayer has a part to play in the quest for peace?
80 comments
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Rev. MichaelRS
This is totally ridiculous there's no genocide of the Palestinians. Israel really wanted nothing to do with them they pulled out of their 15 years ago AND they brought in the Army to remove stubborn settlers who were in areas that they were turning over to Gaza and the Palestinian Authority.
If the Israelis wanted a genocide of the Palestinian people they had many excuses and good reason to over the last 75 years due to all the wars and Terror attacks the PLO and Arab Muslim countries were sending their way.
The Hamas and Hezbollah and the similar charters or mission statements of other such organizations on the other hand call for the total destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.
So let's not fall for this BS that the Israelis are interested in a Palestinian genocide. They are interested in getting rid of Hamas and a military threat to their people.
Unfortunately, metaphorically speaking, Hamas militants go into battle riding on the back of grandmothers and caring small Palestinian children under their arms. That may be a metaphor but for all the danger that they put their people in they might as well be doing that.
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Daniel Gray
Sorry to say this but the HAMAS monsters should all be eliminated from the world. When you set fire to babies and shoot them in the head, then you have no reason to be around any normal human being. They need to be extremely grateful that they didnt do this around my Cherokee ancestors as the way they would have been dealt with would make your blood run cold.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I thought your ancestors German because of your fluency language.
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Daniel Gray
No sorry chuckles, I have repeatedly stated that I am Cherokee. and am on the list of same with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I am a proud member of the wolf clan of the Cherokee nation.
And I suppose Zerpersande and Kenny that when I was assigned to Stuttgart in Germany during my time in the military its offensive to you two for me to not have learned the language? Or should you both be ashamed of your ignorance?
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ServantOfJudgement
Thank you for your service Daniel!!
I've noticed the left likes to speak for Native Americans, and especially the white left likes to. They suffer from the White Savior Syndrome the Woke Hive commands them to condemn whites for. They can't see it for some reason.
If they come across conservative/Christian native Americans and black Americans, the Woke Hive demands they attack with racism, bigotry and hatred. The hive is angry it can't successfully accuse you of culturally appropriating your super cool native American heritage though it will try. -
Pastor George Day
Daniel Gray,
I'm just curious. Do you have a US passport as well?
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Daniel Gray
Of course I do. Why shouldnt I have one? As an American citizen you need one to go overseas.
So why do you ask?
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
It's funny how DG suddenly has an ancestry when he can flog people over the head with it.
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Pamela A Von Schriltz
I agree with you completely. And we, as Christians should fully support Israel’s fight against unspeakable terrorism.
The writer of this article needs to review the footage being disseminated around the world by the terrorist themselves.
How can anyone be so biased against Israeli defense, as the writer of this article, and claim to be a Christian? This writer is clearly a liberal and adding support to the anti-Semitic behavior in our country.
I stand with Israel.
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Daniel Lee Weiss
the bible makes clear that a time will come when support for Israel will be a controversial topic, I would think that time has come.
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Pastor George Day
Daniel Lee Weiss,
The Bible does say all nations would unite against Israel. Surprised?
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ORDM Genie G
I think we are yet to see how they will be deal with…
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Guy Sutherland McLaren
If your neighbour is an idiot and throws rocks at your house and on your roof, at what point do you stop being nice?
At what point do you decide you have had enough and make sure he is unable to do it anymore?
Do you continue allowing him to terrorise you and your family because it's the "right" thing to do? Causing harm to others is bad isn't it?
I am a natural pacifist, yet if you throw the first punch, my inclination is to make sure I throw the last one.
I hear all these people being nice and I wonder how things would have gone back in 39 if our grandparents had the attitude prevalent in society today. Would we all be speaking German and saluting a dictator?
Actually many of us would probably be dead because we had the courage to speak up.
I say if a bully attacks, ensure he will never do it again because the results would not be proportional, Proportionality is for victims.
On that note, proportionality in the Israel Gaza conflict would be the bombing, raping and shooting of exactly the same amount of Palestinians as Hamas did to Israel. I can't see Israel beheading babies, raping grandmothers and wantonly wi going from door to door in a village and killing everyone that moves.
I feel for the Palestinians, I really do. There is a solution, They can round up all Hamas terrorists and deliver them to Israel, but we know that is not going to happen, A poll not long ago had 58% of Palestinians supporting Hamas.
We all saw footage of Palestinians celebrating the murder of civilians and children after the initial attacks. I believe the good books say "you live by the sword, you die by the sword"
As a logical human, my thoughts are that leave me alone and I will leave you alone, Bop me on the nose and I am going to retaliate, Makes sense that Israel would want to root out every Hamas member and iradicate them, and in my mind this is not an unreasonable idea.
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ServantOfJudgement
Good points Guy, all of them.
Yes, if they deliver Hamas to Israel it would soften or stop Israel's response. One big problem. Hamas is populated primarily the sons of Palestinian parents.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Yeah, as the middle cousin xtians will probably side with the oldest cousin (of the Abrahamic religions) against the youngest. Of course this isn’t new because much of the crusades involved the middle cousin pounding on the youngest. It took a years of brooding but then the youngest spread its wings (or at least those of American Airlines) and gave the middle cousin a bit of overdue comeuppance. The youngest cousins both believe in Yahweh but really get bent out of shape over which prophet will actually save them from that god. That share one more thing though…they’re both delusional, wrong and often as crazy as an outhouse rat.
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Rev Mark D
The middle cousin has done plenty of pounding on the oldest cousin.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Comment has been removed.
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Daniel Lee Weiss
you really like cousins, eh?
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Actually first cousins can breed without any appreciable incidence of birth defects than two completely unrelated people. I guess it’s a bit like eating a raw oyster… initially gross to think about but nothing particularly wrong with doing so.
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Adv Cherry Kushwaha
God bless the injured and may the situation become congenial soon... Amen
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Well, why didn’t somebody think of this before? Decades of war and death only t find that THIS will solve the problem! Hey! Things are going to be congenial!
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Rev Ned
Mark Twain said that the most intolerable thing for a man to see is, his faults in someone else. Muslims and Jews have more in common than they do differences.
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Pastor George Day
Rev Ned,
Both Muslims and Jews share the covenant of circumcision with God.
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Lionheart
Let’s face it, people can nod at a wall, or talk to the floor, wall, or ceiling, but there will never be peace until radical Islamic groups cease to exist. Hamas being just one of them. It’s as simple as that.
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart,
We agree for once!
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Pamela A Von Schriltz
The writer of this article should be ashamed.
The Jewish people are the apple of God’s eye. We should fully support them in their fight against the unspeakable terrorist acts against their people.
I stand with Israel.
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Lionheart
I agree with your last statement, Lady Pamela
As for any people being the apple in any deities eye is of course conjecture, due the fact there is still no demonstrable evidence any gods are real.
🦁❤️
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ORDM Genie G
Firstly, we know that the hospital was not bomber so let’s cool it with references. Second, everyone asks for a ceasefire but no one asks for a release of hostages except one catholic priest. I pray that all these protesters experience at least once the anguish equal to that a mother feels whose child was kidnapped. And lastly, only Jews are silly enough to think anyone will reciprocate their prayers for peace or care about their hardships. There are too little of them and too many of Muslims.
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Steven Ferrell
Anyone who has read the Bible and tracked history, knows there will never be peace in the Middle East.
This all stems back to Abraham and Sarah not trust God’s promise they would have a child, so Abraham sleeping with Sarah’s handmaiden.
Had they just trusted God this rivalry would have never come about.-
Rev Mark D
Steven Ferrell, you know that is actually a very interesting point.
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Catherine
@Steven Ferrell
If only the bible were considered, humans would already be extinct for killing each other until none remained. So it's good that non-believers and different practices exist to balance out the condoned killing and mistreatment of people in the bible.
"Had they just trusted God this rivalry would have never come about." Which God? If everyone did everything one comparatively small group of people dictated, all would be well in the world? I think not.
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Catherine,
If the Bible was considered a little more the world would be a much better place. The Bible doesn't tell us to kill or mistreat persons. The Bible teaches us to love and forgive. And your question "which God" was answered by Steven. He is talking about The God. The God of Abraham...or was that an attempt to be Facetious?
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Catherine
@Minister Raymond Butterworth
The bible (KJV?) is among the most violent religious writings. And even the least violent religious writings condone miseries of all kinds, including killing. Even Buddhism.
'Which God' meant whose God or gods? Whose religion should rule the earth so all can be at peace?
Centuries of histories depct religion and peace as an oxymoronic concept. The most peaceful people are generally trampled. Those who are not, do the trampling.
Are you familiar with the quaterrnion eagle? Informally or not, it symbolizes what organized religions achieved and strive toward.
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13696/quaternion-eagle-of-the-holy-roman-empire/
I cannot be more clear.
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Keith
Yes, prayer can bring peace. Prayer is powerful, and if we pray for peace and believe it is possible, then it can be so. We must open our minds and hearts, learn about our worldwide neighbors, bring love into the equation, and remove all the hate we have. Love can move mountains if we believe and pray in our different religions that peace is possible.
Rev. Keith
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Lionheart
Actually, Sir Keith, the efficacy of prayer has long been studied since 1872 and as a result there has been no conclusive evidence whatsoever that prayer works. It would be nice if it did because we could all work on clearing hospitals of sick children to help heal them of their illnesses.
Even Arabs support the Israelis, mainly because of their belief that they have a common ancestor in Abraham, whereas Palestinians, such as Hamas, were originally Gypsies, Mongols, Turkmens, Circassian, Romans, leftovers from other places as a displaced people with no land of inheritance.
So, bottom line, prayer, which of course means talking to a wall, floor, or ceiling, will do nothing. The barbarism of Hamas needs to be defeated, then, there will be peace.
🦁❤️
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Catherine
@Lionheart
Noetic sciences come to mind, though not in a religious way.
At one time, science couldn't explain the existence or function of an atom. Being we still don't use our brains 100%, I prefer possibilities. I think there is much that isn't understood, that we allow others to pretend they know.
For sake of debate, most everything I'm aware of emanates energy. Our bodies contain a lot of water and iron. Constant interaction (friction?) makes electricity which fires the heart and brain. Even inert materials have energy.
Kirlian photography isn't needed to feel energy coming off one's self or someone else. By closely hovering-not-touching one hand over part of a body, energy is felt. Where skin is thinner, there is more warmth. Where skin is thicker, there is less. Chinese medicine uses this approach to identify warmth and coolness where those don't belong to assist with diagnosis.
Through creative visualization, inner energy can be directed to reduce physical or emotional pain. Some of us do this naturally, while others must make an effort.
How is it possible any of us are UNable to direct energy? I think we do it mostly without thought. With focused intent, it makes sense that an outcome might be effected. That said, I think choice, circumstances, volatility, and other factors can counter directed energy.
So I cannot agree prayer has been scientifically proven ineffective. Might there not have been some bias in the testing that says so? First up, is scientists would have had to be at least objective and personally interested enough for intent to have effect.
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Lionheart,
Gods powers and works cannot be measured by science regardless of what some scientists say. God has already proved that which He needed to. All of that was recorded in the Bible. Some persons understand and believe in the Bible and many do not. The Bible states narrow is the path of righteousness and few will make it. In my own relationship with God i find prayer to be most useful as well as fulfilling. If you are talking to the walls,floor,ceiling etc, thats your problem. You have to talk to God when praying 🙏. I will continue to pray for you lionheart, as i do all the non believers and lost souls out there.
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Lionheart
Thank you very much, Sir Raymond. I would rather you pray for all those children dying in hospitals before being too concerned for me. I look forward to seeing your prayers work its wonder, and I also look forward to children’s hospitals being emptied very soon. I’m sure your Gods omnipotent powers can work there…..right? I really hope you’re right, for all those children’s sake. I’ll keep my ears and eyes open on the great news that all the children are being cured. You’re a good man, I hope it works.🤗
🦁❤️
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Catherine
Either God is a severely bi-polar sociopath, or the stories Christians tell themselves are bad fiction.
John Spong, an Episcopalian Bishop, openly stated hell was created by the church. Can't imagine his popularity rose and remained consistent for decades without support.
If a kind and loving, almighty God were real and we all were made in his image, there would be no conflict nor suffering. Heaven would exist here and we'd never have known about a hell.
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Catherine
@Minister Raymond Butterworth
God said what men said he said. If the name God was replaced with say, Kent C. Strait, would you believe everything men - centuries ago - said Kent C. Strait said?
You know what is difficult? Looking inside to see what your Self was gifted or lacks. So religious followers chuck all the weight - good, bad, or indifferent - on a God or gods.
Not to say non-religious people don't find ways to do the same, though it's also true they have no leader other than themselves which makes them 100% responsible for bad behavior. Whereas men found a way to blame bad behavior on God or gods.
When they encourage killing I think religious followers are indecent, consciously irresponsible, and deranged. Organized religions are experts at manipulating weaker minds into believing the so-called enemy is inhumane and evil so it's easier to commit the worst of wicked acts.
No doubt people have hurt each other since their earliest beginnings. The worst of religions though, amped up the action, really put it to use, and still do. I call that a tool for statists.
Encouraging others to do it because you do, invites more of the same. If you want to engage in that hoary mess, that is one option.
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Catherine,
God is the almighty, if He should choose to be called kent c. Straight i wouldn't have a problem with it. So men rewrite the Bible at times. Do you really think The Almighty would allow His message to be corrupted? The message is valid Catherine. Just as it always was. Here's food for thought, suppose someone wrote something inaccurate in the Bible and God, using said rewrites fixed the problem thus making the current translation the most valid of all. Just a though.
Bad and/or misguided persons pervert religion for their own ends. This is not the fault of the religion in question. Hypothetical scenario: if i was to take your identity run-up a rack of bills and perhaps an outstanding warrant or two, would you think it fair that you have to foot the bill for it all. I thought not. The good true Christians pay the price for every evil done by
I do not endorse killing. Life is a precious and delicate gift that so many persons have absolutely no respect for. The Bible as well as the 10 commandments tell us not to kill.
Any persons who use violence or threats are most certainly not Christian.
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Catherine
@Minister Raymond Butterworth
If "Any persons who use violence or threats are most certainly not Christian", then the bible (KJV?) provides less than christian teachings and has countless less-than-christian followers.
There is what we pefer to think and reality. History and current events clearly show that same reality.
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Lionheart
Talking to a wall, floor, or ceiling, has no part to play in the quest for peace. Until religion is eradicated from the face of the earth this will always be an issue. Radical Islam is at fault, as is radical Judaism for this current conflict.
Zoological primates get on better with each other than we do. The reason is, they don’t rely on religion to exist.
🦁❤️
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ServantOfJudgement
I saw a video of a chimpanzee give birth and a male immediately ran to the mother, grabbed the baby, killed it and ate it in front of the mother.
Your right again though, we are far worse.
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Reverend Buzz
Lionheart, two thumbs up. When, throughout history, has praying to prevent war, or stop war worked. Each faction thinks god is a fan of their team. Maybe, he/she just likes to watch the game without cheering for either side. In answer to the question of who created the universe, the answer given is; god. In answer to the question of who created, or where did god come from, the answer given is; god always existed. Maybe, just maybe; try to wrap your head around this; just as time and space are infinite, the universe has always existed. No god was necessary to create it. Give it some thought - your mind won’t explode.
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ServantOfJudgement
Buzz
All wars have had prayers to stop and all wars have stopped.
God sent the Evil Cortez to destroy the evil Aztec. His methods are quite predictable, you can read about them.
Steven Hawkins agreed with the Bible when he said the universe didn't exist until it did. You'll have to show the scientific community your math if you expect any traction.
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Lionheart
All wars will eventually stop, that’s a no-brainer. Just because they stop doesn’t mean they stopped due to people talking to a wall, floor, or ceiling. If prayers truly worked, wars wouldn’t start in the first place. 🤷🏼
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Reverend Buzz,
Where do you get the idea that time and space, let alone the universe, are infinite?
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Lionheart
Thank you, Sir Buzz. I have indeed given it lots of thought and the reality is, no one really knows the truth of what you postulate. Fanciful theories, yes, but until we know for sure they will remain theories. Thank you for your reply. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Rev Mark D
Darn phone speech to text sometimes Miss-hears... I'meant Quakers, not Crackers. Oops.
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Rev Mark D
Lion, Wicca doesn't do this, Judaism does not do this, B'Hai and Zoroastrians do not do this... And there are other religions too. Crackers do not do this, all the Anabaptist sects (Amish, Mennonite, etc.) do not do this. But if you equate Judaism and Hamas, I can see where you might be spouting some sort of autobiography, and unable to see beyond your nose, that sort of vision does do these things, and would let such extremists continue my reason of your misattribution... Which makes you part of it too. Thimk!
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ServantOfJudgement
Hahaha! Crackers!!! Lol!!
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart,
OK, you're off tracking now!
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Samuel Tamayo
It is written ; unless a religion is unstained by the world before God it is as False as its Founders . The Earth is God's creation and nothing and no one can match his wisdom or his will. To take one side or the other is most unlikely to change an out come of those who are hell bent on the annihilation and destruction of a people .. truly they have lost the their way in the wilderness ,even so with God's Love and grace as a Beacon of light. (Hamas) Ingulps them both .Let us pray for peace and the end of Hamas around the world. Note (Hamas) in the word of God in Hebrew means (Possessed evil ). Name one point in man's history where it has not Revealed its ugly face. Peace be with you all my brothers and sisters. ❤️🔥 🙏🕯📖🕯🙏
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Catherine
@Samuel Tamayo
It is thinking like yours, promulgated by organized religions, that keeps the world's peoples in fear and perpetuates conflict.
Who do you think is best served by manipulating people through fear?
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Raymond Brady
I pray for the individuals who are dying and I pray for the families who have lost I feel your pain and I’m praying for everyone god bless 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
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Lionheart
Thank you, Sir Raymond, but alas, the efforts to the deity you believe in are obviously falling on deaf ears, no matter which deity you think is real. It’s very nice of you though. I know you mean well 🤗
🦁❤️
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Raymond,
Keep your faith strong. God hears all prayers. Sometimes we think the answer isn't fast enough or not what we had hoped but He has a plan. Trust Him.
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Daniel Lee Weiss
Matthew 24:4-8
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Ezekiel 39:12-13
For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,” says the Lord God.
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Catherine
I think the intent of heartfelt prayer by anyone - religious or not - sends out an energy that is felt. Prayer is similar to Reiki and creative visualization. Directing energy has all sorts of names.
What people are really praying for is another matter. Particularly those who think "Jews are the apple of God's eye". Seriously? No one else matters? Or some matter more or less than others. That is utterly bigoted, self-elevating, narcissistic, sociopathic, rotted, poisonous thinking.
Other religions think and act similar though. No wonder conflicts continue.
I am compelled to agree with @Lionheart that there would be less conflict without religions.
Or, perhaps considering Dunbar's number and desire by some humans for a supreme being, maybe thousands of religions with small groups of members could simultaneously satisfy human need for unity and division. Division can serve a purpose toward individuation and personal growth.
If there were many more religions, maybe people would use those to grow into better people with. Religions to suit growth phases? Laughing at myself about now.
They can at least keep that crutch to lean on when life gets confusing. Give credit to an entity who did nothing to deserve credit. And bonus: there could be all manner of Gods and gods to account for the worst of human activities.
If all organized religions were limited to less than 150-ish members, none could become so powerful as to bring the world to its knees through relentless conflict.
Imagine the cartoons! Though humor might be lost in the mire of thousands of religions... meh. Thought I had something going there for a minute.
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Rev Mark D
Given the persistent and cumulative result of being the Apple of God's Eye, I would like to ask God to dispense with further such "Appellation," (sorry about the pun, I know it is a bad one) so that somebody else can enjoy the honor for a while.
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Catherine,
Jews are God's chosen. His Son, Jesus, was born to a Jewish mother. Much of the old testament involved jews but God is The God of us all. See acts2:21- romans3:29- john 10:16. There's more if you'd like. If you were to read the Bible you would know this. Please don't be like so many persons just running with everything they hear from all the other uneducated haters. I believe that persons spewing negativity on something they have little or no knowledge of is...how would you say it...bigoted, self-elevating, narcissistic, sociopathic, rotted, poisonous thinking.
Read the Bible with an open mind and see for yourself...or not. The choice is yours.
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Prayer certainly wont hurt anything.
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Lionheart
….and it will also do nothing. See my message below 👇 to Sir Keith.
🦁❤️
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Minister Raymond Butterworth
Lionheart,
Prayer works. Its not gonna work for one of no Faith nor for those trying to prove a point.
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Carol M. Anaski-Figurski
Well as I grow in my Faith I have long been a Jerusalem prayer team. I have witnessed the miracles of hostages being released & prayer ever more. The humanatarian aid & food supplies for hamas should be recieved & in exchange for the release of more women & children & men. God does not want innocent blood shed. I began to prayer for not taking sides but asking God to give me the power to see it thru neutral eyes. I prayer for both sides Everyone. Can this be the spirit of negotiations for hostage releases & basic food needs a win win for everyone. A giant spiritual step for world peace & add the Bishop.
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Rev Ned
No.
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Laurie Beth Maniatis
I am a Buddhist. After 9/11 attacks Molloy College on Long Island offered a seminar on peace. There were speakers from every religion. After the main part we broke into small groups to discuss provided topics. The only caveat was that multi religions had to be involved in the groups. To me it was amazing how everyone wanted the same things.
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Rev Mark D
Laurie, that's a statistical property called selection bias. People who want peace are most likely to attend a seminar on peace. And they are going to have this bias regardless of their religious subscription.
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Susan Christine Giganti
This article is not well written. It leans to Hamas, and isn’t neutral. Remember that the goal of terrorists is to do things to disgust people who wouldn’t think of fighting back the same way. Who kills babies? Who uses human shields by making their HQ & Comms Ops in a hospital or school ? Who prevents their innocent people from getting out of town to safety?
Gaza was given as compromise, the terrorists took it over. They stole the aid and money for making it a nice place , and chose violence. There is no dealing with them. They know the US doesn’t want innocent Palestinian civilians dead. Neither do I. But Israel was invaded and has the right to defend itself. Time is on the side of Hamas to plan more nasty things to do.
**sniffs*** It smells like the late 1930’s in here. #NeverAgainIsNow-
Carolyn S. Madera
Agree
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Karen Tilton
Who are we to tell a country to cease fire after their women were raped and killed, babies beheaded, people slaughtered, hostages taken?
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TheSound.com
(Matthew 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? Often, a peacemaker is somebody who comes between two warring parties and takes the blows from each side in order to create peace.
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Catherine Green
I believe anything is possible with God and prayer most definitely helps ? If it is God's will then it will be.
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Catherine
Information shared with me recently by someone without sand in their eyes.
https://unctad.org/news/unrealized-potential-palestinian-oil-and-gas-reserves
28 August 2019 U.S. to Push Israel on Allowing Gaza Offshore Gas Reserves to Revitalize Palestinian Economy
...
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-20/ty-article/.premium/u-s-to-push-israel-to-allow-gaza-offshore-gas-reserves-to-revitalize-palestinian-economy/0000018b-ed90-ddc3-afdb-fdd1ff250000
Nov 20, 2023 Israel gave preliminary approval for the development of a gas field off Gaza's coast in June. 'We shouldn’t exaggerate its potential, but it can absolutely be a revenue stream for a Palestinian government,' says Amos Hochstein, President Biden's energy security advisor, who is currently visiting Israel."
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More plainly:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-war-geopolitics-gaza-multibillion-dollar-gas-field
15 November 2023 Gaza's multibillion dollar gas field
This article seemed biased against Israel. All the groups mentioned suffer from wealth privilege. They live in safe countries in comfortable homes and armchair quarterback Israel's response to horrific acts of barbarism. Islam loves watching these helpful fools. If these groups were truly intent on peace, they wouldn't have cheered when those small communities were raided along with the gruesome acts against the people living in them and they would demand the safe return all hostages. They don't because they don't desire peace, they want to use the slogan as a tactic. Beware those who have peace on their lips but war in their hearts. Support Israel.
I'll get you into trouble if I agree with you but I do Russel. Always these cease fires are broken by the Palestinians. Not long before this latest round I read an article that Israel was relaxing border crossing for US/Palestinians with a USA passport and I thought Oh man, Israel is relaxed enough, Hamas strikes at times like this. And they do.
To your point, there is zero concept in this country of the danger that lurks around the corner. We've had prosperity and security so very long that we now think it absurd that combatants would cross the unchecked southern border yet they do. Danger. Warning.
Stay safe, stay aware
Thank you, SOJ.
To get my support Israel must pull back to the green line and let Palestine open airports and seaports
Alun Lloyd Palmer,
Then we'll see more terrorists around!
Agree