Across the Divide Podcast

We’re joined by Seth Sanders, professor of Linguistics at Dalhousie University, to discuss the historic Jewish connection to the land of Canaan and whether they can be considered indigenous to the land. 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 #judaism #history #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

But what are we talking about when we talk about Judaism? Jewish scholar and professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Raphael Magarik joins us for the launch of our new series on "Judaism and Palestine". There's so much we don't understand about Judaism, and you don't want to miss this conversation!Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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 #judaism #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

We're joined by father David Neuhaus, SJ, to discuss the recent controversies surrounding Carrie Prejean Boller where she asserted at a Religious Liberty Commission hearing that Catholics cannot be Zionists. Fr. Neuhaus explores the history of Nostra Aetate and Jewish-Catholic dialogue, and also reflects on the war on Iran and the Just War Tradition. You don't want to miss this episode!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 #iran #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #catholic #catholicchurch

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-atBecome a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivideFollow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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 ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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 ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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 (mmcdougle@lcc.lt) 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 ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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

Ethicist and author Andrew DeCort joins Daniel to address the imperative responsibility of the Western church to respond to the calls of Palestinian Christians! Andrew explains how "neighbor-love" translates into a revolutionary political ethic that demands concrete policy changes.Andrew DeCort is an ethicist and “dissident theologian” holding a PhD in religious and political ethics from the University of Chicago. He founded the Institute for Faith and Flourishing and the Neighbor-Love Movement. Andrew has taught at Wheaton College and the University of Bonn, and his writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and Christianity Today. He is the author of four books, including his latest, Reviving the Golden Rule (2025). For more, visit https://andrew-decort.com/Link to purchase Andrew’s latest work: https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Golden-Rule-Ancient-Neighbor/dp/1514012766Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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.#palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #love #neighbor

Renowned Palestinian theologian Rev. Mitri Raheb and theologian Graham McGeoch join us for a sobering conversation about the reality we live in “After Gaza”. We particularly reflect on their recent edited volume “Theology After Gaza” that analyzes how theology has been misused to justify oppression in Israel's war on Gaza, countering it with liberation theologies centered on justice and truth where Gaza serves as a crisis point for Western theology, Zionism, and modernity.Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb is the Founder and President of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem and widely recognized as the most prolific Palestinian theologian to date. A social entrepreneur and elected member of the Palestinian National Council, he previously served as the senior pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem from 1987 to 2017. Dr. Raheb has authored or edited 50 books, including Decolonizing Palestine and Faith in the Face of Empire, with his works translated into thirteen languages. His extensive contributions to theology, peace, and culture have garnered significant international recognition, including the Olof Palme Prize, the German Media Prize, and the Aachen Peace Award.Rev. Graham McGeoch is a theologian, Church of Scotland minister, and scholar specializing in liberation theology, ecumenism, and World Christianity. He currently serves as the Mission Secretary for Discipleship and Dialogue at the Council for World Mission (CWM). Additionally, he is a professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the Faculdade Unida de Vitória (UNIDA) in Brazil and a research associate at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. His most recent major publication is Theology After Gaza: A Global Anthology (2025), which he co-edited with Palestinian theologian Mitri Raheb. His other recent works include World Christianity and Ecological Theologies (2024) and Teologia da Libertação na América Latina: novas sementes de inquietação (2024). Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across 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