An anti-Zionist Christian enlightenment...

Anti-Christian Zionism: A Christian Enlightenment

In America, Israel's most fervent supporters are "White Evangelical Christians." This group, who describe themselves as "Christian Zionists," play an active role in maintaining the policies of Republican administrations that include unconditional support for Israel. However, support for Israel among young Evangelicals, much like among young Americans in general, is at a low ebb. Israel's genocide in Gaza has sharply accelerated this decline in support.

Israel has relied heavily on Christian Zionists for American support. Young Evangelicals, however, are questioning the so-called religious justifications for backing Israel. Last year, Israel bringing over a thousand Evangelical leaders to give them "homework" was a sign that fear was making them desperate.

The Christian Zionists' applause for a genocide that has massacred tens of thousands of children in Gaza has also mobilized non-Evangelical Christians. Some have described this movement, which began on the grounds that Christian Zionism pollutes Christian teachings, as a "Christian Enlightenment." This new Christian enlightenment is developing as an action to put an end to defending support for Israel on religious grounds. On the other hand, some newly established Evangelical congregations are also asking their members to purify their religious beliefs from Zionism.

Tucker Carlson, a Trumpist conservative commentator with millions of young followers, has branded Christian Zionism a heresy. Criticizing the genocide in Gaza and pointing out that Israel also targets Palestinian Christians, Carlson stated, "If you wake up in the morning and decide that your Christian faith requires you to support a foreign government that's blowing up churches and killing Christians, I think you've lost your mind."

Furthermore, a statement signed in January by the "Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem" described Christian Zionism as a harmful ideology. The statement represents established churches such as the Latin Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Anglican, and Lutheran. It expressed discomfort with attempts by some Christian activists linked to the Israeli army to reconcile Christianity with Zionism. The statement emphasized that these activists are in no way supported by the established churches.

Another development occurred last week within the "White House Commission on Religious Freedom." Fierce debates broke out in the Commission, whose members were appointed by Trump, over the definitions of antisemitism. Carrie Prejean Boller, known for her closeness to Trump, objected to Jewish-Zionist members defining criticism of Zionism as anti-Jewish.

Boller, a former Evangelical, asked, "I am Catholic, and Catholics do not embrace Zionism. So, according to you, are all Catholics antisemitic?" Of course, Boller received no answer. Boller also objected to labeling criticism of Israel's genocide as anti-Jewish.

Christian Zionists and Jewish Zionists subsequently declared Boller to be 'anti-Jewish.' Amidst the pressure, the Commission's Chairman, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, announced that Boller had been removed from her membership. However, in posts on her X account, Boller stated that Trump had appointed her and that only Trump had the authority to dismiss her, asserting she would be present at the next Commission meeting. Accusing Dan Patrick of pursuing a political Zionist agenda, Boller also emphasized that she would not bow down to the State of Israel.

This dispute represents a significant rift that has emerged over the last few years, a fundamental break from Christian Zionism among Christians. Candace Owens, a conservative commentator with millions of young followers like Tucker Carlson, who has also been labeled 'anti-Jewish' by the "Israel Lobby," showed her support for Boller in a post on her X account, saying, "Your decision will further the Christian enlightenment taking place in this country. We thank you for it."

In England, Aaron David Fruh, a research fellow at the "Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP)" at Cambridge University and chairman of "Israel's International Advocates (ITAI)," analyzed why young Evangelicals oppose Israel in an article published in the pro-Israel "Middle East Quarterly" in December 2025.

In conclusion, Fruh warned that there has been a sharp decline in American Evangelicals' support for Israel, and if this downward trend is ignored, within ten or twenty years the American Evangelical movement will largely turn against Israel.