The Israel and Hamas war has revealed a generational rift among U.S. Christians and their perceptions about the conflict and combatants.
By Aaron Earls
The current war between Hamas and Israel has exposed a generational rift among U.S. Christians and their perceptions about the conflict.
A Lifeway Research study sponsored by The Philos Project explored the attitudes of self-identified Christians in America about Israel, Palestinians, and the fighting happening in their region.
The study found several factors, including gender, ethnicity, and church attendance frequency, influence how American Christians view the situation. One of the most striking factors, however, is age. In general, younger Christians hold a more negative or skeptical view toward Israel, while older believers are generally more positive.
In general, younger Christians hold a more negative or skeptical view toward Israel, while older believers are generally more positive. Share on XSpecifically, U.S. Christians aged 65 and older are the most likely to say they have a positive perception of the country of Israel today (78%). Those aged 18-29 are the most likely to say they have a negative perception (42%). We can see this divide play out in several issues and in the overall attitudes of those age groups.
Older Christians’ views
Self-identified Christians living in the U.S. who are 65 and older are the most likely to say they have been following the events of the current war between Israel and Hamas closely since it began (56%). They are the most likely to say Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians (75%) and that Hamas took 240 hostages (77%).
They are among the most likely to view Hamas negatively and advocate for an aggressive response from Israel toward the group. More than 4 in 5 older Christians say Hamas is an extremist group that is isolated from most other Arabs who live in Israel and neighboring countries (83%) and Hamas appears to consider civilian casualties justified in the pursuit of its military goals (85%). They are also the most likely to say Hamas is backed by Iran (68%).
Furthermore, older Christians are the most likely to say their perception of Israel is positively influenced because Israelis have the right to defend and protect their state (72%), Israel is the United States’ closest ally in an unstable region (63%), and Jews needed a refuge after the Holocaust (35%). They are also the most likely to say Christians should advocate for Israel to fight until Hamas surrenders (43%).
Despite their strong opinions about Hamas, Christians 65 and older are the most likely to say Christians should advocate for strong measures to minimize civilian casualties in the current war (63%) and a self-governing Palestinian state outside of Israel (37%). They are the least likely to disagree that Palestinians have the right to determine their own statehood and government (8%).
Older Christians are the most likely to disagree that the Palestinian people in Gaza are responsible for the attacks carried out by Hamas (61%). They are the most likely to say the optimal outcome of the conflict would be for Israel to subdue Hamas and resume negotiations with other Palestinian leaders on a permanent political solution to disagreements (37%). They are also among the most likely to believe lasting peace in the region requires a mutually agreed upon political solution between Israel and Palestinians (92%).
Younger Christians’ views
For their part, self-identified Christians living in America who are between the ages of 18 and 29 are more critical of the U.S. and Israel than their older counterparts. They are the most likely to say the U.S. does not do enough to solve the world’s problems (33%) and the U.S. does not do enough to help Israel (29%).
Less than half (48%) say they believe Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
U.S. Christian adults under 30 are the most likely to say Israeli control of Gaza and the West Bank is an illegal occupation of another country (55%). Share on XChristian adults under 30 are the most likely to agree that Israeli control of Gaza and the West Bank is an illegal occupation of another country (55%). A majority (59%) believe the armed rebellion of Palestinians against Israel is a natural response of people who have been mistreated by the state of Israel. They are among the most likely to say Palestinians can achieve their national aspirations solely through violence (37%). More than 3 in 5 (62%) say Israel’s blockade of goods and people in and out of Gaza since 2005 has oppressed Palestinian people who have no option of leaving.
They are the least likely to say Israel must take bold measures to defend itself against Hamas’s decades-long campaign of terrorism against Israel (66%) and the least likely to believe Israelis have a right to defend and protect their state (39%). They’re also the most likely to disagree that Hamas is an extremist group that is isolated from most other Arabs who live in Israel and neighboring countries (28%). The youngest age range is the least likely to say Christians should advocate for Israel to fight until Hamas surrenders (17%).
Younger Christians are specifically less likely than Christians 65 and older to support the goal of a two-state solution in which two states exist—Israel and Palestine—that are self-governing with national borders that are respected by all (77% v. 84%). The 18-29-year-olds are the most likely to disagree that Israelis have the right to determine their own statehood and government (23%). They are the least likely to say their opinion of Israel is positively influenced because Israelis have a right to defend and protect their state (39%), Israel is the historic Jewish homeland (29%), and Israel is the United States’ closest ally in an unstable region (27%).
They are among the most likely the say that news stories of the events in the Israel-Hamas war often oversimplify why the events occur (66%). And they are the least likely to say mainstream media outlets’ coverage has been skewed toward anti-Israel views in their reporting (12%).
Moving forward in your congregation
While many pastors are aware of potential political differences within their pews, they may not recognize the differences of opinions that exist across generations on the nation of Israel and the current war with Hamas.
“Pray for innocent lives to be spared and God’s justice to roll in Jerusalem, Gaza, and around the globe.” — @WardrobeDoor Share on XAs pastors and church leaders speak about the issue, they should note that disagreements may exist about the proper application of biblical truth while stressing areas of agreement around those principles. One such area is the defense of the innocent. The oldest and youngest Christian adults are among the two groups most likely to say Christians should advocate for freedom from oppression for innocent Palestinians (45% for each group).
Instead of assuming everyone in your congregation shares the same opinion on the conflict, ask people from various generations to hear their opinions and reasoning. Work to build relationships across differences. Pray for innocent lives to be spared and God’s justice to roll in Jerusalem, Gaza, and around the globe.
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
