Why “God’s Reign and People’s Rule” – Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

In this presentation, Rev. Dr. Raheb explained why the theme of “God’s Reign and People’s Rule” was chosen, and gave an overview of the topics which would be discussed during the coming days.

The overall theme of the series of international, intercultural, interdisciplinary, interfaith conferences taking place at the ICB biannually from 2005-2015 is “Land, People and Identity”. The particular idea of shaping communities in times of crisis (such as the current situation in Palestine, where there is not only the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to consider, but also intra-Palestinian struggles among Fatah, Hamas, and other political and religious entities) was important when this year’s topic was chosen in 2005, but increases in importance in the context of the drafting of a Palestinian Constitution. Rev. Dr. Raheb reminded us that this week would be not just about having a conference, but about starting a process and having real discussion about the issues which face Christians here in Palestine and abroad. He expressed his hope that from the discussions and debates at the conference, a shared body of knowledge would accumulate, from which the ability and resources to influence politics and society would emerge, and which could, in turn, result in real change.

Rev. Dr. Raheb pointed out that this year’s conference would have a more global context, discussing religion and state in Europe (especially the use/absence of God in the European Constitution), the USA (regarding the experience of African Americans vis-à-vis slavery, sacred texts and the US Constitution), India (the world’s largest democracy, with a large degree of religious plurality), as well as in Palestine (where issues of Church and State are sometimes matters of life and death, as both religious and national identities are in a state of crisis). To increase participation among the local community, Friday’s sessions would be centred on Palestinian issues, and the sessions would be held in Arabic, in order to allow local individuals to join and fully participate in the proceedings.

The meaning of the Arabic for “God’s Reign and People’s Rule” (Haqimiyyeh t’Allah wa Houb Minas) was discussed, highlighting the peculiarity of the first part of the phrase. Translated into English, it does mean “God’s Reign/Rule”, but it has the connotation of society being destined to be governed by God, and the additional connection to the founder of the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt, a group currently at the center of religious debate in the Middle East for its alleged connections to Hamas in Palestine and Hizbollah in Lebanon. What is at stake here, Rev. Dr. Raheb was keen to mention, was pluralism in the Middle East, and values of liberty and equality.