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Originally Posted by
Jason Donaldson
I haven't seen Carlson's specific assertions, but yes, the Scofield Reference Bible, published right at the beginning of the 20th century widely introduced and helped spread a particular approach to the Bible. This approach, known as dispensationalism, has existed in a few different forms, but the Scofield version gained a lot of traction with this publication. One of the distinctions of it that is relevant to this discussion are a very hard distinction held between the (New Testament) church and the nation of Israel. (In the sense of "nation" meaning ethnicity, not meaning a state...) Scofield's view taught that there are unfulfilled Old Testament promises to Israel that will yet come to pass, which are separate from promises to the church in the new (i.e. Christian) covenant.
Scofield's views entail the rebuilding of the Jewish nation, the retaking of the land, the re-establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem, worldwide resistance to the nation, etc. With the foundation of the modern nation state in 1948, most adherents saw this period as an exciting and long anticipated fulfillment. Part and parcel of this is the view that the promise of God to Abraham, "Who blesses you, I shall bless, and who curses you, I shall curse," applies to the ethnic Jews, and to this modern state. With the heavy influence of Scofield's dispensationalism having taken wide hold in what is now sociologically viewed as Evangelical Christianity, and the cultural and political impact of that demographic in the US, this is where you see a lot (though not all) of the American support for Israel, in terms of worldview and thought. To this point of view, blessing the modern Israeli state is aligning with the purposes of God, and will result in the blessings of God on both nations. Likewise, then, to refuse to support the Israeli state would be working counter to God's purposes, and would draw the discipline and curse of God as well.
To be fair, dispensationalism has multiple forms, and not all dispensationalists are Scofield followers. Nor are all American Christians dispensationalists. Not all Israel-supporting Christians are dispensationalists, by any means.
Still, the sociopolitical influence is there, and it remains strong, even though the dispensational structure of thought seems to be declining in recent years. There also remains many forms of cultural Christianity and its influences, including in non-practicing Christians and in the politicians who seek their votes. Furthermore, ideas from one source generally tend to inform other systems of ideas, and the common American default that Israel are the good guys and anyone attacking them are the bad guys has multiple connections both ways.
Cultures are never single variable systems, but yes, it is certainly true that Scofield's dispensationalism is a major factor in US/Israeli politics.
Does that scratch where you itch, Kitsuma?