The theology of territory and power
The idea that land is a “God-given” right has been the ultimate trump card for rulers, conquerors, and elites for centuries. Whether through feudal oaths, biblical covenants, or nationalist manifestos, the claim of divine or hereditary entitlement has shaped empires, sparked wars, and left millions dispossessed. This article traces how these narratives evolved—from medieval Europe’s fiefs to the Zionist Promised Land, from the Doctrine of Discovery to modern ethnonationalism—and asks: who really benefits from heavenly real estate deals? ...