Posted on 04/11/2003 5:14:00 AM PDT by Asher
Genetic evidence links Jews to their ancient tribe
By Judy Siegel
JERUSALEM (November 20) - Genetic evidence continues to provide additional proof to the claims that the Jewish people are descended from a common ancient Israelite father: Despite being separated for over 1,000 years, Sephardi Jews of North African origin are genetically indistinguishable from their brethren from Iraq, according to The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
They also proved that Sephardi Jews are very close genetically to the Jews of Kurdistan, and only slight differences exist between these two groups and Ashkenazi Jews from Europe.
These conclusions are reached in an article published recently in the American Journal of Human Genetics and written by Prof. Ariella Oppenheim of the Hebrew University (HU) and Hadassah-University Hospital in Ein Kerem.
Others involved are German doctoral student Almut Nebel, Dr. Marina Faerman of HU, Dr. Dvora Filon of Hadassah-University Hospital, and other colleagues from Germany and India.
The researchers conducted blood tests of Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Kurdish Jews and examined their Y chromosomes, which are carried only by males. They then compared them with those of various Arab groups - Palestinians, Beduins, Jordanians, Syrians and Lebanese - as well as to non-Arab populations from Transcaucasia - Turks, Armenians and Moslem Kurds.
The study is based on 526 Y chromosomes typed by the Israeli team and additional data on 1,321 individuals from 12 populations. The typing of the Jewish groups was performed at the National Genome Center at HU's Silberman Institute of Life Sciences.
The Fertile Crescent of the Middle East was one of the few centers in which the transition from hunting-gathering to permanent settlement and agriculture took place. Genetic studies suggest that migrating Neolithic farmers dispersed their technological innovations and domesticated animals from the Middle East towards Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia.
Studies of Y chromosomes have become powerful tools for the investigation of the genetic history of males, since these chromosomes are transmitted from fathers to sons.
Surprisingly, the study shows a closer genetic affinity by Jews to the non-Jewish, non-Arab populations in the northern part of the Middle East than to Arabs. These findings are consistent with known cultural links that existed among populations in the Fertile Crescent in early history, and indicate that the Jews are direct descendants of the early Middle Eastern core populations, which later divided into distinct ethnic groups speaking different languages.
Previous investigations by the HU researchers suggested a common origin for Jewish and non-Jewish populations living in the Middle East. The current study refines and delineates that connection.
It is believed that the majority of today's Jews - not including converts and non-Jews with whom Jews intermarried - descended from the ancient Israelis that lived in the historic Land of Israel until the destruction of the Second Temple and their dispersal into the Diaspora.
The researchers say that a genetic analysis of the chromosomes of Jews from various countries show that there was practically no genetic intermixing between them and the host populations among which they were scattered during their dispersion - whether in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal or North Africa.
A particularly intriguing case illustrating this is that of the Kurdish Jews, said to be the descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel who were exiled in 723 BCE. to the area known today as Kurdistan, located in Northern Iraq, Iran and Eastern Turkey. They continued to live there as a separate entity until their immigration to Israel in the 1950s. The Kurdish Jews of today show a much greater affinity to their fellow Jews elsewhere than to the Kurdish Moslems.
(Source: The Jerusalem Post Newspaper)
Christian Identity
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Christian Identityaka: Identity Movement, Anglo-Israelism, British-Israelism, white supremacy
First posted: Sep. 1, 1996
Adherents believe present day Anglo-Saxon people are direct descendants of the ancient Israelites, and have thus inherited all God's promises to Abraham and his descendants. The movement consists of a number of groups, most of which promote hate by considering whites to be the superior race (''white supremacy'').
Examples: Aryan Nations, National Alliance, and some patriot / militia groups.
Identity followers believe that white Anglo-Saxons - not Jews - are the real Biblical ''Chosen People;'' that Jews are descendants of a sexual union between Eve and Satan; that the white race is superior to others, and that Blacks and other nonwhite races are ''mud people'' on the same level as animals, and therefore have no souls.
The Identity Church movement promotes the view that Christianity, when properly understood, supports anti-Semitic and racist beliefs and extremist violence. In actuality, of course, the Identity version of Christianity completely distorts traditional Christian teachings.
This system of beliefs is called Christian Identity, and adherence to it is probably the single greatest common denominator among all the various fragmented factions of the radical right wing in America. It is practices by the neo-Nazis of the Aryan Nations, by the leaders of the Militia of Montana, and by remnants of the Ku Klux Klan in the South.
Its foremost preachers is the Reverend Pete Peters, a Colorado-based minister whose 1992 gathering in Estes Park - drawing such liminaries as John Trochmann, Ku Klux Klan leader Louis Beam, and onetime Pat Buchanan adviser Larry Pratt - is often credited with bring the chief formative event behind the militia movement. The core beliefs of Christian Identity are so far astray from those of mainsteam Christianity - and so repellent to average Americans - that they induce in the religion's followers a cult-like closed mindset: a sense of persecution coupled with self-righteousness that is supported by the group's social peers. True believerfs - often drawn from the ranks of the disenfranchised - will not be dissuaded by any amount of logic and reason. They live in a kind of alternative universe, complex and wholly unlike anything in mainstream life. It is populated by soulless non-humans, satanic conspirators and a handful of true Christians who abide by ''God's law.'' By closing off the other world, they reinforce each other's beliefs in the confines of their tight social circle. In God's Country : The Patriot Movement and the Pacific Northwest, by David A. Neiwert, Washington State University Press, 1999, pages 11-12
Religion has been used for thousands of years to mask hate and prejudice. ''Spirituality'' still serves as a convenient excuse for violence and other forms of antisocial behavior. All that is needed is a little false piety; coupled with liberal doses of self-induced ignorance and blind devotion to ''the truth.'' Even the most loathsome attitudes and barbarous acts can then be attributed to ''serving God.''
This holds especially true for believers in Christian Identity (also simply referred to as Identity), a twentieth-century amalgation of racism and pseudo-Christian ideas. It is a complex doctrinal system that emerged in the 1940s and reached theological maturity by the 1970s throughout the rural areas ''of the West and South - such as the Ozarks, and mountain areas of the Pacific Northwest.'' According to J. Gordon Melton, a nationally recognized chronicler of religions in America, ''Identity is a religion by sociopaths, for sociopaths. It turns their sickness into virtue.'' Identity now claims approximately 20,000 to 3,000 adherents nationwided. It is not a religious sect. Neither is it an authoritarian cult, nor a mainstream denomination. It has no single leaders and is not governed by a core of spiritually elite individuals. It does not even have a definitive set of beliefs that a peson must embrace in order to be accepted as a follower. Identity is a social, political, and spiritual movement composed of religiously inclined racists from the ranks of the neo-Nazi community, the KKK and other white supremacist organizations. Although their views may differ on a few peripheral issues - e.g., whether or not Hitler should be idolized, what should be done with non-whites (exportation vs. extermination), the merits of violent action as opposed to the benefits of nonviolent political activism, etc. - most Identity believers agree on five basic premises:
Attempting to paint an easily recognizable picture of Identity's disjointed network of independent churches and self-styled leaders is extremely difficult. ''Rivalries among leaders, organizational splits, and the extinction of old and the creation of new groups all make the 'mapping' of Identity a frustrating undertaking.'' Nevertheless, its dangerous tenets and increasing popularity suggest that the public should be given at least a general overview of Identity doctrines and structure. Moreover, many Christian Identity leaders and followers are closely affiliated with patriot movement groups and various militia spokespersons. American Militias: Rebellion, Racism & Religion, Richard Abanes, InterVarsity Press, Downer's Gover, Illinois, 1996. Pages 154-155.
The beginnings of the patriot / militia movement are inseparably interwoven with the violent Christian Identity movement (CIM). This network of churches and independent leaders began forming in the 1940s as racists defected from mainstream Christian denominations to organize their own churches. Although they retained a few Christian doctrines, especially those concerning the end times, they adopted additional beliefs built around prejudice and hate. Identity believers, for example, hold that today's Caucasians are the true descendants of Abralum, Isaac, and Jacob. Thus they are God's chosen people.
What of the Jew? Identity teaches that Jews resulted from a sexual union between Eve and ''the serpent'' (Gen. 3), which is usually identified as either Satan in physical form or a demonic representative in human flesh.[29] This teaching known as the ''Serpent Seed'' doctrine asserts that Cain was conceived by Eve and Satan, while Abel was conceived by Eve and Adarn, who were supposedly the first white people. Cain allegedly then fathered the Jews by intermarrying with preexisting nonwhite races known as ''mud people'' or ''beasts of the field.'' Identity leader Bertrand Comparet comments, ''The Bible makes it unmistakably clear that we are not all descended from Adam and Eve, for there were other races on earth, already old, already numerous, when Adam was created.''[30] (Cf. , which says Eve became the mother of all the living.) Long before today's militias, these white supremacists / CIM followers were calling themselves ''patriots.'' One Aryan Nations newsletter (c. 1982), for instance, lists Aryan Nations founder Richard Buller and racist leader Dan Gaymen as ''Christian patriots.''[31] Several racist fundraising letters from the 1980s, such as those produced by KKK Grand Wizard Don Black, were addressed to fellow ''White Patriots.''[32] By the 1980s, white ''patriots'' were also forming paramilitary groups similar to militias. For example, in the mid 1980s a militia-like group of racists called the Arizona Patriots were arrested and convicted of plotting to bomb several targets, including federal buildings in Phoenix and Los Angeles.[33] America's Patriot Movement: Infiltrating the Church with the Gospel of Hate, by Richard Abanes, Christian Research Journal, Winter, 1997.
Some militias go beyond a distrust of the UN and anxiety over gun control issues, the FBI said.
FBI director Freeh explained in a statement to Congress in 1999: ''Most of the militia movement has no racial overtones and does not espouse bigotry; there are some black and Jewish militia members. However, the pseudo-religion of Christian Identity, as well as other hate philosophies, have begun to creep into the militia movement... Christian Identity is a belief system that provides both a religious base for racism and anti-Semitism, and an ideological rationale for violence against minorities. This pattern of racist elements seeping into the militia movement is a disturbing trend, as it will only strengthen the radical elements of the militias.'' The militia lurking in your backyard, The Thomaston Express, Dec. 21, 2000
America's Patriot Movement: Infiltrating the Church with the Gospel of Hate, by Richard Abanes, Christian Research Journal, Winter, 1997.
Christian Identity Chapter in the FBI's "Project Megiddo" report. The Christian Identity Crisis : Extremism in the name of Christ by Neil Earle Christian Patriots At War with the State by Paul de Armond Identity: A "Christian" Religion For White Racists by Viola Larson Identity Church Movement Brief overview by the Anti-Defamation League Identity Movement Keyed "yellow" because the article written is by J. Gordon Melton, who is widely seen as a cult apologist.
American Militias: Rebellion, Racism & Religion, [Out of print] By Richard Abanes, InterVarsity Press, Downer's Gover, Illinois, 1996.
In God's Country : The Patriot Movement and the Pacific Northwest, by David A. Neiwert Religion and the Racist Right, Origins of the Christian Identity Movement by professor Michael Barkun. Barkun is professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and is considered an expert in Christian Identity theology.
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The theory of British Israelism was once a main doctrine of the Worldwide Church of God, begun by Herbert W. Armstrong. The current leadership has since discarded this teaching as biblically incorrect. However, many offshoot groups of the WCG have clung to all the doctrines held by the late Herbert W. Armstrong, and so still accept this teaching. Some Christians are also influenced by this teaching, and need to take a closer look at it. The book, "The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy" outlines the teaching that Britain and the United States are the lost ten tribes of Israel. In this teaching of "British Israelism", the tribe of Ephraim becomes Great Britain, Manasseh is the United States, and the throne of David is the throne of England. Herbert W. Armstrong published this theory as his own special revelation from God. Recent evidence has surfaced that shows plagiarism from J. H. Allen's book, "Judah's Scepter and Joseph's Birthright", a 375-page book published in 1902 and copyrighted in 1917. This book was written a full thirty years before Armstrong claimed to have made an "exhaustive" study of the British Israelism issue.
ONLY A THEORY The theory teaches that when God's people returned to Palestine after the captivity, only the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi really returned. The "House of Israel", meaning the ten lost tribes, scattered. By Jesus' day, supposedly only three tribes were represented. According to the theory, the "House of Israel" was missing.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS The Apostle Peter was, however, unaware of British Israelism teaching, since he uttered these words at Acts 2: 36, "Therefore let all the HOUSE OF ISRAEL know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." In the B-I theory, the judgments against Israel naturally become directed towards the United States. We thus find the belief that America will cease to be a nation, and her citizens will be removed, finding themselves in captivity.(Plain Truth, July 1959, p. 16). The Bible teaches that a prophet is false when his words fail to come to pass. (See Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Time has already run out for this prophecy, since it was foretold for 1972 in the publications of Herbert W. Armstrong. The theory of British-Israelism falls with the prophecy, and the prophet.
ARE "ISRAEL" AND "JEW" ALWAYS DIFFERENT? Armstrong taught that "Israel" and "Jew" were two separate nations. "Jew" always meant "The House of Judah", and "Israel" meant "the lost ten tribes". 2 Kings 17:18-23 is a favorite passage of British-Israelism devotees, so let's consider it. "So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah. Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced. And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight. When He had torn Israel from the house of David,they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the LORD, and made them commit a great sin. And the the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day". Notice the last phrase of this scripture. Israel went as far as Assyria until this day! They relocated, but not far away, certainly not across oceans! Certainly not scattered far afield!
THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM IN NEHEMIAH'S DAY According to the British-Israelism theory only Jews should have been participating in rebuilding Jerusalem since the house of Israel was "long gone". Yet Ezra uses the words "all Israel" several times in the account. (Ezra 2:70; 6:17; 8:25,35; 10:5; Nehemiah 7:73; 12:47). Evidently the terms "Jew" and "Israel" were used interchangeably, thus spoiling the unsupported theory of British-Israelism.
THE TEN TRIBES IN CHRIST'S DAY If the ten tribes were gone by Christ's day, how does the B-I theory explain that Anna the Prophetess was of the tribe of Asher? (Luke 2:36). Paul mentioned all twelve tribes. (Acts 26:6,7). James mentioned all twelve tribes. (James 1:1). The book of Revelation tells of 12,000 people from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Revelation 7:4-8). All Israel shall be saved, eventually. (Romans 11:26). Upon consulting a Jewish rabbi, he assured me the list in Revelation was a literal one, as are the other lists in the Bible, although they differ from one another for various reasons. The Revelation list is not "figurative" or "spiritual" allowing for interpretation to apply to some other nation, but applies to literal Israel.
CONSIDER THE APOSTLE PAUL The Apostle Paul was addressed in three ways 1. As a Hebrew. (Phil. 3:5). 2. As an Israelite. (2 Cor. 11:22). 3. As a Jew. (Acts 21:39; 22:3). Obviously, Paul recognized no such distinctions as invented by this theory. All terms interchange.
CHRIST THE KING Since Christ had a sign over his head on the crucifixion reading "King of the Jews", are we to assume that He was King for Judah only? No, for the scriptures are plain that Christ was the promised Messiah for all Israel. The disciples understood this when they questioned Him in Acts 16, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to ISRAEL?" Obviously, "Jew" and "Israel" were used interchangeably in Christ's day. After putting up the sign "King of the Jews", His mockers then said, "He is the King of Israel'; Let Him now come down from the cross and we shall believe in Him". (Matthew 27:42). Again, the terms interchange.
PROBLEMS WITH THE STONE British-Israelism claims that the stone under the Queen of England's coronation chair is the very "pillar stone of Jacob" which was first transported by Jacob, and finally by Jeremiah to the British Isles, via Egypt. The scriptures know nothing of this invented event! We would expect, if the theory is correct, that the English coronation stone could be analyzed and found to be of the type found in Israel. The stone has been analyzed and "The Marson Report, " page 128, records. "The stone in Westminster Abbey has been analyzed and shown to be a calcareous type of red sandstone of Scottish origin".
CONCLUSIONS ON BRITISH-ISRAELISM British-Israelism is not a revelation from God as some teach. Rather it is a theory that cannot stand up to Biblical or scientific examination. It should be rejected by those professing Christianity.
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http://www.macgregorministries.org/cult_groups/british_isralism.html
As you can see the forst part of their beliefs is clearly origined in the mentality of colonialist societies of the late 19th century early 20th century. The latter part about the EU and Israel was Armstrong's addition to this cultist beleif.
As we can see today and as your post mentioned--it has mutated and spread to mainstream Evangelical movements as well as to the fringe.
Surprisingly? God might as well have put it up in neon lights:
GEN 21:14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.Ishmael literally means, "God hears."GEN 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
GEN 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
GEN 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
GEN 21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
This describes a lot of people in hollywood, the liberal media, enviromentalists, socialists, and sadly some on the right like the skinheads, brigadiers, free market people, anti free market people, etc. and some freepers.
Basically, you close your eyes to contradictory evidence and only associate with those who share and reinforce your beliefs.
Surrounding your self with "yes" men is a sure prescription for a failed view of the world.
Luther's German bible added and removed words from the Greek New Testament to suite his world view too. Any religious movements based on this initial inspiration is bound to be flawed.
Maybe I did not understand you--I thought you were trying to prove that the Armstrong was somehow right about his ideas. Taking words written in books that are centuries apart in origin to somehow prove a conclusion (I did not understand what you were trying to prove) indicates a weakness in the conclusion itself, IMHO.
That is where the word Caucasian came from.
The House of Judah (two tribes) went into captivity to Babylon.
The two Houses have not been rejoined.
There is no proof or basis to claim that the Kurdish Jews are the Ten Tribes.
Where is the evidence, either genetic or linguistic, that European Caucasians are descended from the Ten Lost Tribes?
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