In this episode of Across the Divide, co-host Abeer has a conversation with Dr. Ben Norquist about the pivotal role of higher education in empowering communities within conflict zones, particularly in the Palestinian territories. They discuss how education acts as both resilience and resistance in these high-pressure environments, and explore Ben’s involvement with academic initiatives that bridge cultural and political divides.

In their extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Abeer and Ben delve into the themes of Ben's upcoming book, which examines the narratives American Christians hold about land and their impact on social and environmental policies. To access this extended conversation and others, consider supporting us on Patreon.

Dr. Ben Norquist is a scholar and director at the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East and has worked extensively with Churches for Middle East Peace. His research focuses on higher education in conflict zones, particularly within the Palestinian context, exploring the interplay between education and empowerment. Ben is also preparing to publish his book, Every Somewhere Sacred, which discusses the relationship between American Christians and their cultural ties to land, aiming to challenge and inspire new perspectives on justice and environmental stewardship.

If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide

Follow Across the Divide on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠

Show Notes:

To register and learn more about the NEME forum, please visit https://www.neme.network/forum. We at Across the Divide will be there and excited to meet you!

Ben’s website: https://www.bennorquist.org/

Consider supporting NEME’s mission: https://www.neme.network/donate