Welcome to HolyLandResources.net your ALTERNATIVE gateway to the lands of the Bible.
(We used to be called HolyLandAlternatives.net)
This site provides you with resources that will lead you to information and experiences that are alternatives to mass tourism and mass media. It offers you a broader and fairer understanding of the people and places in the land of the Bible, especially the land that was called Palestine since Roman times. Its emphasis is on Christianity in the Holy Land and it offers you tools to continue your understanding and study.
Resources are pr
ovided in several categories:
Travel - Instead of the standard travel agent itinerary you can meet Christians and visit live churches. Planning a trip; while you are there; when you return (To be revised as country opens up again.)
Resources at home - Getting information beyond the smoke screen of the mass media
Resources in Israel/Palestine - rights groups, development organizations, etc.
Information - Commonly Asked Questions, Religions, vocabulary
Alternative destinations - Personal notes on the rest of the Bible Lands
Helpful hints about where some things are:
A guide to speaking about your experiences is under "travel - When you return."
A study guide on Israel/Palestine is available under "Information."
Who is in charge here?
I am the Rev. Dr. Betty Jane Bailey, a United Church of Christ clergyperson. Information about me and the sight are available on the page called "Information."
My book, Living Stones Pilgrimage with the Christians of the Holy Land contains information to help you connect with the Christians and their issues. It is available at American for Middle East Understanding AMEU@aol.com or www.AMEU.com for $14.50 including postage. All royalties go to the Middle East Council of Churches. Although written earlier, much of the descriptions of Churches, etc. is still correct.
Wm. B. Eerdmanns has published my new book Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? Again, all royalties go to the Middle East Council of Churches. The book can be ordered from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 for $20 or from AMEU (see above)
You can reach me by Email at BJBailey1@aol.com (don't forget the 1 after the name)
Just a short note
One should never, of course, begin with an apology. On the other hand most of this material was written before the March/April 2002 incursions by the Israelis into the West Bank and Gaza. The accuracy of phone numbers, Faxes numbers and Email addresses in that area need to be verified because organizations have been put out of business, hotels have been destroyed, and the whole of Palestinian civil society has been badly damaged. Wanton destruction of computers and the data in them was reported along with the destruction of other buildings. So, have patience as you use the resources in the Israel/Palestine section. We are checking them out and changing them as best we can.
The website was written from the United States and for use primarily by people in the United States. Therefore, the phone numbers in the USA and Canada do not have a country prefix and addresses in the USA do not list a country at the end. When a phone or Fax number has a + sign in front of it, use the international access code from your own country.
You are welcome to make copies of pages to help educate people and to prepare groups for travel in the Middle East. The best way is to block a page or part of one; click EDIT and click COPY. Open a new page in your Word documents and click EDIT and then PASTE. You can doctor it up a bit before you print it. If you have a different program, use whatever works.
Now go ahead and click on SiteMap up top
