RESEARCH PAPER: WILLIAM E. BLACKSTONE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
William Eugene Blackstone is a largely forgotten figure of 19th century American life, but his particular brand of Christian faith subsequently helped to launch an important movement of evangelical America in the 20th century, namely, Christian Zionism. A unique mix of traditional evangelical piety, Bible prophecy, dispensational eschatology (end times teaching), and a belief in (facilitating) the restoration of Jews back to their ancestral lands (in his day then known as Palestine), WEB combined all of these elements to become a public humanitarian voice for Jewish relief from persecution in Europe (Russia in particular) and full restoration to Palestine. Once engaged in this process, he would spend the rest of his adult life lobbying important American public and political figures to save Jews and promote their restoration. Your task in this assignment is to explain the ideas, beliefs, and events that would shape his life and influence as a Christian Zionist, including his impact on the Jewish Zionist movement that would find its most popular base of American support, like today, among evangelical Christians like him. You are also encouraged to comment on what you believe are some of the more important consequences of his thought and theology on US foreign policy in the Middle East today.
INSTRUCTIONS
• Length: 5-7 double spaced pages (not including additional pages for title and references). You may write more pages if necessary.
• Format: in current APA format
• Citations: At least 7 sources must be used and may include the course text, Bible, and scholarly articles.
• Answer the following 3 prompts below separately in a single document.
What religious ideas, beliefs, and historic events motivated him to support Jewish restoration? Be specific enough to help the reader understand what he believed and why.**Caution: Do not confuse this William Eugene Blackstone with the famous English jurist, Sir William Blackstone.
What were some of the longer-term consequences of his beliefs and policy recommendations for Diaspora Jewry on the one hand, and USFP in the Middle East on the other? Be critical here—does it seem that WEB really understood the consequences of his ideas for the Palestinian locals—Jewish, Muslim, or Christian?
Are his beliefs and policy recommendations still relevant to USFP today? WEB clearly left a legacy in the US and Palestine. Can you talk about this whether positive, negative, or both?
