The West, Palestine and the world
knowledge Production in the time of genocide
During my trip to Palestine last October 2023, I witnessed some of the devastating effects of settler colonialism, occupation, and apartheid. These oppressive structures have been ruining and destroying the lives of Palestinians who have lived on the land for thousands of years.
Since Oct 7th, the death toll in Gaza has been over 35,000 and the situation is getting worse and more dire in Gaza every day. We lament and mourn these deaths and we cry out, when will this end? Innocent people are dying and many are at the brink of death through starvation.
This May, a group of scholars invited by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb (President and Founder of Dar al-Kalima University) will gather in Istanbul for a conference, “The West, Palestine and the world: knowledge Production in the time of genocide”.
Rev. Dr. Raheb writes,
Dar al -Kalima University, in cooperation with The Institute for Palestine Studies, is organizing an international conference in Istanbul in May 2024 entitled, “The West, Palestine and the world: knowledge Production in the time of genocide”, which brings together a group of intellectuals and academics from Palestine and around the world to discuss the prospects of cultural and academic work in light of the continuation of genocidal policies against the Palestinian presence.
This conference comes within the vision of Dar al Kalima University in employing knowledge as a tool of liberation and justice, through joint efforts and an effective strategic vision between Dar al Kalima University and the Institute of Palestinian Studies, in order to contribute to creating a serious space for discussion, seeking to develop a comprehensive vision about cultural and academic action with an international dimension, especially in light of the comprehensive genocide in Gaza, which affected both man and place, destroying all forms of life infrastructure, including educational, cultural and historical infrastructure.
The conference will discuss the dimensions of colonial policies in Palestine, their manifestations in the ongoing war of extermination in Gaza, and the prospects for international academic and cultural movement to stop the extermination, through advocating for Human Rights and the rejection of the policies of erasure in all its destructive forms. The conference also aims to come up with academic and cultural recommendations that form a starting point towards expanded academic work, contributing to the efforts of cognitive rescue.
I am honored to be invited to this important conference and will present a paper on “Reimagining God Amidst Genocide”. This is not an easy paper to write as we ask ourselves, how can a loving God allow such atrocities to occur?
However, atrocities in the world do not happen because of God, but because of how we imagine who God is. Christianity has been embedded in dualism and dualism has contributed to colonialism and settler colonialism which is present in Palestine. Furthermore, whiteness and white supremacy have created divisions, harm, domination, and subjugation of people of color around the globe. Many of these problems and atrocities against humanity and creation are due to our image of who God is.
Throughout Christian history, we have continued to view God as a white man which then “allows” racism, apartheid, settler colonialism, enslavement, indentured workers, and sexism to happen as it upholds white men are closer to the image of God and the rest of us are lesser human beings. In the U.S. white men then have carried out genocide, enslavement, racism, and sexism in the name of a white male God.
Amid genocide in Gaza, we must rethink and reimagine God and Christianity. Otherwise, our image of a white male God will continue to lead us towards the destruction, and exploitation of people of color and women throughout the world.
I wrote my book When God Became White before Oct 7th, but much of my book addresses some of the key issues of whiteness, colonialism, and racism which leads to atrocities such as the genocide in Gaza.
Below is a Brief Description of When God Became White:
When Western Christians think about God, the default image that comes to mind is usually white and male. How did that happen?
Christianity is rooted in the ancient near East, among people of darker skin. But over time, European Christians cast Jesus in their own image, with art that imagined a fair-skinned Savior in the style of imperial rulers. Grace Ji-Sun Kim explores the historical origins and theological implications of how Jesus became white and God became a white male. The myth of the white male God has had a devastating effect as it enabled Christianity to have a profoundly colonialist, racist posture across the globe. Kim examines the roots of the distortion, its harmful impact on the world, and shows what it looks like to recover the biblical reality of a nonwhite, nongendered God. Rediscovering God as Spirit leads us to a more just faith and a better church and world.
You can listen to my talk at Dar al-Kalima University’s 26th International Conference titled “Land, People and Culture” presented in October 2023. My paper is entitled, “Land, People and Religion: The role of religion in settler colonialism as well as resistance”.
Special Events:
1.Florida friends, please come to this Brunch and Book event where I will be sharing my book WhenGodBecameWhite. This event is organized by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida and held at the Woodson Museum on June 8th.
2.New Madang Podcast episode with Dr. Eddie Glaude will be coming soon. For sponsorship inquiries, please message me or support Madang Podcast here.