History Claims Today
"Peace finds no nourishment in the thrice-loved land" (Isma’il Ibrahim Nawwab). While it could be contradictory for a place to be so loved and have such conflict, the history of Jerusalem explains why. In both the Hebrew Bible readings and the Sura, the religious texts describe a profound connection to the land. Not only is Jerusalem important in the religion it is central in the founding of the faith as well as treasured in foundational religious stories. This relates strongly to last weeks reading of profound connection through sacred space. Multiple imageries again evoke the foundational importance of Jerusalem. "[Jerusalem] which would be revered as the center of the world by millions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims" (Armstrong 3). This sentiment is echoed in Thrice Loved Land describing Jerusalem as the head of the Earth. This deep connection explains how something so loved is so steeped in conflict. Due to the sacred nature, of Jerusalem it impossible to simply be shared. This creates competition and othering. Which appears to be condoned in their religious texts.
These histories and stories are what ties each religion to the land so fundamentally that it drives them to conflict. Some scriptures from either the Hebrew Bible or the Quran could be interpreted as allowing disdain or violence for others or nonbelievers. Sura 17:7 says "enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction". The Hebrew Bible additionally describes the need to push outsiders or no believers out of the Promise Land. I believe saying these texts encourage violence is not nearly nuanced enough to comprehend the importance of Jerusalem. Instead, the passages offer us a critical insight into the sacred relationship with the land. Instead of a call to violence, these passages can be seen as a personification of the importance of the land. Overall the history creates a sacred connection to the land that manifests in a willingness to do anything for it.
These histories and stories are what ties each religion to the land so fundamentally that it drives them to conflict. Some scriptures from either the Hebrew Bible or the Quran could be interpreted as allowing disdain or violence for others or nonbelievers. Sura 17:7 says "enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction". The Hebrew Bible additionally describes the need to push outsiders or no believers out of the Promise Land. I believe saying these texts encourage violence is not nearly nuanced enough to comprehend the importance of Jerusalem. Instead, the passages offer us a critical insight into the sacred relationship with the land. Instead of a call to violence, these passages can be seen as a personification of the importance of the land. Overall the history creates a sacred connection to the land that manifests in a willingness to do anything for it.
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