Chris Sciabarra has pointed out that belief in the Rapture and other tenets of dispensationalism has motivated many evangelicals to blindly support Bush's foreign policy in the Middle East. It appears, however, that increasing number of fundamentalists are questioning this belief.

Particularly important are the "preterists," a movement that asserts that most prophecy in Revelation and other books in the Bible already has been fullfilled in ancient times. Many preterists also argue that the unblinking support for Israel, shown by some dispensationalists, has led fundamentalists to neglect legitimate Arab grievances, including the rights of besieged Arab Christians in the Middle East.

As dispensationalists continue to have egg on their faces because their predictions fail to come true, preterism could have have growing appeal among fundamentalists.

David T. Beito - 11/20/2004

I prefer the John Belushi/Dan Akroyd version, "The Ointment."

Chris Matthew Sciabarra - 11/20/2004

... from your lips to God's ears as they say.

BTW, that photo from "The Omen" --- loved that film! :)