Is Zionism a religious movement or a political movement?

I've been pondering this issue lately. According to the Torah, by divine decree the Jewish people are to remain in exile until all mankind unites in brotherly service of the creator. Therefore it would seem the very ideology of zionism goes against the Torah itself, and is not only aggressive and oppressive to the Palestinian people, but blatantly goes against Jewish law.

Source:
http://www.nkusa.org/aboutus/mission.cfm

How can the zionists justify what they have done to the land of Palestine? I realize that the holocaust was a major rationalization in the justification for this movement but in effect did the Zionists not take out their aggression on the arabs, reigniting a centuries old culture/religous war? I agree that nothing the Zionists have done can ever compare to the atrocities witnessed during the holocaust, however I must admit that I feel that what the Zionists have done is quite similiar to the ideology espoused by the Third Reich in that they are establishing a racially/religously pure state.

If you feel it is ok to take over land that has been inhabited by another people for many many centuries, just because they claim it as their homeland would you feel the same way if in 100 years the native americans and latinos took back land that belongs to them, gave you Rhode Island for your people, put up a fence to keep you out and then periodically attacked Canada for percieved hostilities?

So what do you think, is Zionism a righteous religous movement that should be given precedent, or is it a political movement designed to conquer and divide human beings for reasons other than religion?

 

Its neither, it's essentially a word created by people that won't be at all effected by the situation at hand.

 

Can you elaborate on that? I don't understand what you mean.

 

what is the difference ?????

whats the difference between religion and politics ????-

 

Zionism isn't religious but it grows out of a religious belief. Anti-Zionism is used sometimes by some as a code word for Anti-Semetism though I think.

 

Anti-semitism is a political movement that revolves around the idea of a Jewish homeland. Many Orthodox Jews are againist zionism, so does that make them anti-Semites?

 

What the hell are you talking about. Confusing your conspiracy theories again? Its not hard when they make so little sense.

 

I meant zionism, asshole. Zionism is a POLTICAL MOVEMENT.

 

I honestly don't see why people are so hung up on Zionism.

It is no longer relevant.

There is a Jewish homeland, in which there is still some religious influence... but it's very weak in current politics.

Zionism is in the past, Israel is in the present.

 

Zionism is week in current politics? Is that what you said? Pavel, the current foreign policy of this country is based around Israel. Look at PNAC. Look at AIPAC. Look at JINSA.

 

Today's Israel and Zionism have little to nothing to do with each other.

All the Zionists are in retirement homes.

All this generation wants to do is to live. Israel has the most liberal people out of every other country I've ever been to in this damn world.

 

Then how do you describe people such as Richard Perle and William Kristol?

 

Perle worked with the Likud, the fairly right wing party with its fanatic leader Natanyahu... how is he relevant? He's just a dumbfuck fat conservative.

I know nothing of Kristol...

I care not for your neocons!

 

How is he relevant? He's at the head of PNAC and is one of the leading minds behind the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq... and the coming war with Iran.

 

Maybe he's the anti-christ.

You better run, run, run, run, run, take a drag or two.

 

Yes Rat, the jews conspire to run America for Israel's interest. But you're not anti semetic.

 

It goes higher than "the Jews." The majority of Jews are being used as pawns by these elitists. But there are many people who do believe Israel runs US foreign policy, and at a certain level it does. You can deny it all you want. It does not make a person anti-Semitic. The facts are facts.

 

It really pisses me off that anytime anyone questions zionism, or israeli policies they are automatically labeled anti-semetic............fucking ignorant.

 

Those damn Jews.

Put them back in the ovens...

Ehh Matt?

 

If that's what you want to think. I know the true history of Israel, and I don't associate it with the Jewish people. Many orthodox Jews are against zionism as well. Does that make them self-hating Jews?