For God, Queen, Country and Israel
Christian Zionism and the Australian Christian Democratic Party
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.24439Keywords:
Christian Zionism, morals campaigners, conservative Australian politics, ANZACAbstract
The Christian Democratic Party was formed in 1977 with the aim of ensuring that Australian laws, institutions and mass media were consistent with Christian values. This article considers whether the strong support and practical aid that the party provided to the state of Israel from 2002 were relevant to its stated concerns. It is argued that the immediate cause of its enthusiasm for Israel was hostility towards Islam, which it came to see as a threat to Australian ‘Christian Nationhood’. The party subsequently adopted, but also adapted, Christian Zionist ideas and language, and incorporated support for Israel into its longstanding beliefs about and conduct of ‘spiritual warfare’.
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