These appointments send a strong message that the U.S. will continue to prioritize Israel’s sovereignty, safety, and diplomatic standing. Let’s look closer at Trump’s nominees, their backgrounds, and what we might expect from their leadership.

They fail to acknowledge that Iran’s war against Israel is not a political struggle but a religious war rooted in Twelver Shia eschatology—a theology that exalts death, martyrdom, and the creation of chaos as a path to ushering in the end of the world (Lewis, 2002; Cook, 2005).

These articles delve into various topics, including interreligious dialogue, theology, and Middle Eastern geopolitics—thoughtfully explored from an evangelical perspective. I hope they inspire and challenge you as much as they have me during the writing process!

Imagine an alternate timeline, much like George Bailey’s in It’s a Wonderful Life, where Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was never born.

ran is home to a deeply complex, diverse society with layers of identity that extend far beyond state politics. Iranians are culturally Persian, religiously diverse within Shia Islam, and have long engaged with Western ideas and values.

This deeper exploration seeks to unravel these layers and question how the balance between the two forms of jihad has shifted across different historical and ideological landscapes.

In this analysis, I want to unpack the historical and theological roots of Islamic imperialism and set them against the founding of Israel.

This event was not just a shock to my senses but a pivotal moment that transformed my scholarly focus. I knew then that my academic journey needed to shift from dialogue to dissection, from ecumenical engagement to unyielding intellectual rigor.