Israel's Original Sin, Volume I

About the Book

WAS THE GOD OF JOSHUA EVER THE GOD OF JESUS?

Marshalling western historical and political evidence, contemporary Biblical scholarship, and Karl Rahner´s theology, this work focuses on the Mid-East conflict with a compelling critique of the theory and practice of Jews, Muslims, and, above all, Christians, for following Joshua more than Jesus.

Pointing to the parallel between the (story of the) Hebrews freed from slavery under the Egyptians becoming victimizers of Canaanites and the Christians freed from (Roman) persecution becoming victimizers of the Jews, pagans, heretics, Muslims, women ("witches"), and so many colonized, the author blames not the New Testament but the Old Testament Deuteronomic theology of Domination (found in the Pentateuch, Historical Writings, the Prophets, and Psalms) for Christian, Muslim, and Nazi peersecution of the Jews, and for the Israeli conquest, displacement, and/or oppression of the Palestinians.

He questions whether Palestine was ever divinely promised because the same Domination theology also claims Yahweh commanded, helped, and then blessed Joshua´s conquest/genocide. He questions whether Jesus´s God could have been responsible.

Neither the original conquest of Palestine, nor the original exile, nor the original return, nor the Roman conquests in 70 & 135 AD., nor the 20th century return and conquest of Palestine by Jews was brought about by any special act of God. God has not been punishing Jews for 1900 years with exile for not believing in Jesus. All three religions have partially misinterpreted God(´s self-revelation).

This unique critical introduction to the Bible, western history, and the Jewish/Christian/Muslim Dialogues, demands a new theology of the Old Testament, Biblical Inspiration, Church History, and Divine Providence over modern Europe, Israel, and the U.S. It criticizes Rome, liberation theology, both Hans Kung´s and Emil Fackenheim´s Judaism, moral theologians, Hiroshima, fundamentalism, Eastern religion, American and European arrogance, and the terrorism of both Israelis and Palestinians, neither of which are simply justified because the terrorist is or is not a recognized legitimate nation/state.

As a memory of misery, the author offers a novel "Litany of History" so his fellow believing Catholics can acknowledge, along with their saints, martyrs, and scholars, their fanatics, block-heads, and power-worshippers, and the great religious outrages as well as the heavenly signs and gifts.

At the height of his business success the author and his companies suffered a total crash. An attorney associate, of national recognition, with several books and monthly columns to his name, embezzled them dry and hid everything in secret foreign bank accounts they could never find, bringing about the largest tax scam in US history. He went to federal prison, the companies went to dry dock, and Mr. Rolwing went to bankruptcy.

It was during his bankruptcy that, after meeting a Palestinian who had grown up in Jerusalem until his large extended family was driven out by Israelis in 1949, he began his first serious study of Israel. He had often taught about the horrors of the Nazi holocaust, and never hesitated to rebuke anyone who made any anti-Jewish remarks, once threatening to ask his own father to leave.

About the Author