June 21, 2018

Religion, Violence, and Evil: A History in 550 Words الدين والعنف والشر: لمحة تاريخيّة في ٥٥٠ كلمة

By Martin Accad The debate about the nature of the relationship between religion, violence, and evil has been rather lively in recent months and years. Between the nauseating treatment of Muslim dissidents and non-Muslims in Syria and Iraq in the name of “Islam,” the continued bloody oppression of Palestinians justified […]
April 12, 2018

The Choice Is Yours! Promoting Healthy Leadership that Contributes to the Common Good الخيار لك! تعزيز القيادة الفاضلة التي تساهم في الخير العام

By Martin Accad Let me start with a confession: At 45 years old, I have never voted in the Lebanese General Elections! As a child of the Lebanese Civil War, I developed a cynical attitude to the possibility that change will come through the current political process. Why would I […]
February 15, 2018

American Evangelical Influence on US Foreign Policy and How It Impacts Us as Middle East Christians نظرة بديلة لنقد الدور الإنجيلي الأميركي في سياسات بلادهم الخارجيّة

By Martin Accad On February 7, 2018, Al-Joumhouriah daily Lebanese newspaper published an article by Ambassador Massoud Al-Maalouf, which denounced the devastating role of American evangelicals in shaping toxic US foreign policies towards the Middle East, particularly towards the Palestinian cause. His depiction of evangelicals in this article is simplistic […]
December 14, 2017

O Jerusalem! If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes… آه يا أورشليم! يا قدسُ! لَيتَكِ عرَفْتِ اليومَ طريقَ السَّلام! ولكِنَّه الآنَ مَحجوبٌ عن عَينَيكِ… بقلم مرتان عقّاد

By Martin Accad These were Jesus’ words of lament, as he entered the city of Jerusalem, where shortly after he would meet his death on a Roman cross. The apostle Luke tells us in his account that Jesus wept over the city. But why did he weep?
July 6, 2017

How Should Arab Christians React to Persecution?

By Martin Accad The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary has just completed its fourteenth Middle East Conference/Consultation, organized by its Institute of Middle East Studies, the highlights of which were presented last week through our blog. Under the overarching concept of “disorienting times,” we explored the four themes of “Persecution and […]
June 1, 2017

Can You Trust Muslim Kindness this Ramadan?

By Martin Accad In post 9/11 anti-Muslim discourse, taqiyya has been redefined as a religious obligation for Muslims to lie to non-Muslims not simply for survival, but in order to serve the expansionist agenda of their religious community. According to the taqiyya-focused strand of the anti-Muslim moral panic, Muslims stand condemned for their […]
May 4, 2017

Biblical Peace begins at Home: Challenging Common Notions of Peace in the Global Church

By Martin Accad In his significant visit to Cairo, Egypt, last week, Pope Francis delicately tackled a whole series of sensitive issues in the gracious way that has become his trademark. Many conservatives, both Christian and Muslim, were nervous about his visit. Christian conservatives feared that he would lean over […]
April 6, 2017

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Were the Culmination of His Life and Teaching: An Easter Reflection

By Martin Accad In the gospel of John, chapter 12 (1-8), we read the story of a woman called Mary, who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume. But who was this enigmatic Mary character, and what was the significance of her act? 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to […]