Daphne Anson: Gone Missing: Sizer's Books

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Sunday, 20 November 2016

Gone Missing: Sizer's Books

Over at Harry's Place, John Bevan has written several posts about Stephen Sizer. His latest concerns Sizer's British publisher IVP's "encouraging" recent decision to withdraw his titles from their lists.

The American publisher has not yet done so, and, suggests Bevan in the course of his must-read piece, "If you’re based in the US, why not contact them?"

Observes Bevan, inter alia, and with the relevant links:

'...though it may seem churlish, questions can surely be asked about IVP’s initial role in editing Sizer’s books, particularly Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon? (2004). How was it that they missed the following things?

- On pp. 21-22 of Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon? Rev Sizer approvingly cites the late Dale Crowley, who was strongly linked to Holocaust denial and the American far right. Rev Sizer refers to him simply as a “religious broadcaster” and omits any reference to his unsavoury connections.

- On p. 234, Rev Sizer claims that, in the 1930s, various Zionist leaders collaborated with the Nazis. This is similar to Ken Livingstone’s notorious claim that Hitler was “supporting Zionism” in 1932 – a statement for which Ken Livingstone remains suspended from the Labour Party. Interestingly, both Ken Livingstone and Rev Sizer rely on the same “source”, Lenni Brenner. The claim and the source are demolished here (briefly) and here (at greater length).

- Footnote 170 on p. 251 insinuates that Israel was complicit in 9/11.

- Rev Sizer has an unfortunate tendency to misrepresent other Christian writers, notably Zhava Glaser and Walter Riggans.

Whilst some of those things might not be immediately obvious to those unfamiliar with the American far-right or the nature of contemporary anti-Zionism/antisemitism, they can be uncovered with just a little research. On the other hand, the misrepresentations of Zhava Glaser and Walter Riggans should have been easy to spot...'

Hat tip: Ian

4 comments:

Anonymous20 November 2016 at 22:17
Isn't there saying about closing the door when the steed has bolted - this man's book has gone into Korean ffs
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James23 November 2016 at 03:41
Apparently IVP USA have now followed suit:

http://blog.camera.org/archives/2016/11/breaking_intervarsity_press_in.html
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Daphne Anson23 November 2016 at 08:43
Thanks for the update, James.
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Daphne Anson23 November 2016 at 12:58
Just posting these links because I like to keep posts about the Rev. "Nine Lives" Sizer handy.

http://blog.camera.org/archives/2016/11/breaking_intervarsity_press_in.html

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_print=1&x_context=8&x_nameinnews=399&x_article=2851

http://blog.camera.org/archives/2015/02/church_of_england_lowers_the_b.html

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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9685/britain-little-lies

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Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world.
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The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas “A”, “B” and “C” was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords.
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