Please
let us know any ideas you have for how
to improve the service. October 2 2004 | Teddy
Roosevelt quote in courthouse 'too Christian'; must be covered up
How
sad that instead of defending freedom for all, cultural diversity through religious
pluralism, the ADL prefers freedom for none in order to foist their secularist
vision of what America should be on the rest of us. October 1 2004 | Pennsylvania
parents challenge state's home schooling requirements
It's
not clear whether the state is requiring a specific curriculum or it's providing
suggested ones. This case sounds difficult for the plaintiffs but bears close
scrutiny. September 30 2004 | Modern
theatrical musicals said to be teaching churches religion
Is
this getting things in reverse logic? I would have sworn that it was the churches
that inspired the musical play (and its predecessor, the operetta) in the first
place. That notwithstanding, there's something to be gained in reminding both
the producers of musicals and the churches' ministries how much common ground
they cover. September 29 2004 | 'Religious
hardball' will debut this Saturday in prime time on Pax-TV
Finally,
Pax-TV begins to fulfill some of the promise I thought it showed when it first
went on the air. I've seen some of Strobel's work and feel this shows strong potential. September 28 2004 | Christianity
Today studies would-be President John Kerry's 'open mind'
This
is a succinct recapitulation of previously reported positions taken by John Kerry.
Some evangelicals who feel some religious rootedness in the Democratic Party (as
I did for much of my life) may take heart in their hero, Jim Wallis, saying, "I
think the Democrats in the last few decades have been controlled by secular fundamentalists
who are concerned about any religious or even moral talk." But, "That's changing.
There's a big conversation going on in the party about this." Of course there's
likely to be such talk going on where ever Wallis goes. What else are "secular
fundamentalist Democrats" going to talk about around him? But anyone who follows
the media is surely even more convinced that the secular fundamentalism and hatred
of Christianity and its values is continuing to dominate and grow in the liberal
side of the American political spectrum this year, as never before. September 27 2004 | Dylan autobiography
seems to leave the elusive genius still beyond touch
Being
only a year younger than Bob Dylan and involved with youth journalism from age
15 to 40, I often marvelled at the adulation descibed in this piece, and wondered
where it was rooted. Every new album in the period described was a new birth not
only for Dylan, but his fans. Other
coverage of the autobiography describes it as exposing his own reaction to that
as being as incredulous as mine or other less ardent fans who were also followers
of the pop culture of the era. He seems to transcend being famous for being famous,
but why and how remains as enigmatic as ever. September 26 2004 | Author:
Disney gospel has evolved, but never transcends 'secular toonism'
I
wrote in my Message of the Movies some 30 years ago that the Disney "gospel"
was dangerous to Christian faith. I was less clever than author Mark Pinsky, however,
in labelling Disney's religion romanticism rather than "secular toonism."
Such reomantic notions as finding your strength in yourself alone obviously mitigates
having to turn to God for spiritual sustenance. This article is good food for
thought as is, I would guess, the book it's highlighting. September 25 2004 | Pro-abortion
group asks IRS to revoke tax status of anti-abortion group
Of
course the idea that political choices are not religious choices, whether chosen
for the left or the right, is bogus at its root, and should be removed as a litmus
test for charitable tax exemption. The left is using the IRS to impose its agenda
on the rest of us, as fascists and other types of totalitarians or "unitaries"
always try to do. September 24 2004 | Catholic church
calls sex-ed materials in Scotland schools 'pornography'
It's
ironic, I think, that even in liberal societies where there is an established
church, there is still a lack of social and moral guidance. No doubt it's about
the triumph of secularism. SBCGlobal,
our Internet service provider, was out of service
September 21-23, delaying
our updating of pages for those days. September 23 2004 | Nationally,
public school teachers twice as likely to choose private schools
Maybe
they know something? September 22 2004 | Jewish
players' production ridicules evangelical Christian youth outreach 'hell houses'
Can
you imagine if the shoe were on the other foot and that Christians were ridiculing
a Jewish youth program? Though
the whimsical headline refers to "putting fun in fundamentalim," it's
admitted to really be about making fun of Christian fundamentalists. Have you
ever seen a more blatant claim that it's alright to perpretrate hatred toward
American Christian "fundies" than some of the spokesmen for this play
are giving? September 21 2004 | Columnist's
plea for 'fewer labels' misses the point of fair, accurate reporting
I
believe I've found some of Tammeus' columns useful, but this strikes me as innane;
nonsensical. Did he learn the "five w's" in journalism school—who, what,
where, when, why? There's a reason these are needed in every report, and the more
permutations of each of them—the more "labels"—in every report, the
more informative the report will be, and the more understanding it will provide
for the public, if the labels are fair and accurate. What's more annoying than
to read that a church has celebrated a hundredth anniversary, or has been victimized
by arson, or been sued by a disgruntled former parishioner, or broken ground for
a new 10,000-seat sanctuary, with no mention of what its denomination or jurisdiction
is, a problem in more and more "church news" stories these days? It
may take some digging, and some asking of questions to uncover the right "labels."
And the same principle pertains to individuals. Let them describe themselves,
let their positions and their works assist, but don't leave them unlabeled! What
might you be trying to hide, and why? As
for the Rev. Tony Campolo's questions.... The point at which "evangelicals" or
any other stripe of believers in the Judeo-Christian God became "anti-" anything
is the point at which the Prophets of the Lord said, in Scripture, that God condemns
self-aggrandizing "mesm," of the feminist or any other stripe, and gay
or other destructive sexual practices. If Tammeus reads him to us properly, one
has to wonder why Campolo doesn't just come out and ask, "when did evangelicals
become anti-sin?" Or, considering the alliance that has made him most famous,
"when did evangelicals become anti-abortion?" It should go without saying
that if anyone is "anti-feminist person" or "anti-gay man
or woman," that's not evangelical; it's sub-Christian. But neither is
being silent about the sins besetting our cul\ture and being preached by those
trying to destroy our culture evangelical or Christian. Labels seem to go both
ways. Talk
about misuse of labels: Campolo's comparison of the Christian Coalition with the
National Rifle Association while providing no support of particulars is a bit
of a stretch, wouldn't you say, Mr. Tammeus? I walk on two feet most of the time,
favor use of my right hand most of the time, and weigh too much, which mades me
uncomfortably similar to all too many atheists and Communists. Or are you referring
to other things members of the NRA and Christian Coalition have in common? And
if so, what would those be? And if not, isn't this guilting by association? If
you are not being paid by the word and already over your quota, why didn't you
tell us? Why throw around your own unsupported "labels"? And
why in the world would you label Tony Campola an "evangelical
leader"? Couldn't you have been a little more accurate, and fair to your
readers? September 20 2004 | Yet
another look at Bush's religion calls it 'soft, loving' and not fundamentalist
The
San Francisco Chronicle? First the Washington Post and now the San Francisco
Chronicle features an article defending (at least from a liberal perspective)
President Bush's religion? Could this be raising questions about flagging support
of Kerry at some of the highest levels? September 19 2004 | Washington
Post study: Bush is openly religious, but [only] to a point
While
showing that Bush takes his Christian profession more seriously (at least publicly)
than Kerry, apparently he is not as bound by his evangelical commitment as his
critics have been trying to argue. Methinks the main impact of this piece is that
it shows Bush as more complicated than the transparent simpleton his critics love
to believe he is. And that, considering the source, is rather amazing. September 18 2004 | School
disciplined Christian student for wearing shirt expressing 'prejudice'
Since
when can any American interest group declare a "Day of Silence" to silence
the objections of those who don't want to be silent?
Again, your Democratic institutions and officials are out to curb your First Amendments
guarantees of free speech and religion. September
17 2004 | BBC, again,
scrutinizes the role of religion in American political life
This
is similar to yesterday's linked article from MSNBC, but without the frontal attacks
on American Christians. In
my Postcard feature
for yesterday I quoted Mohandas Ghandi to the effect that "Those who say religion
has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." And I added that
they don't know what politics is, either. And lest anyone misunderstand, of course
I do not believe any authority of any religious institution should have any power
over any political entity (unless he or she is elected--despite being a member
of the clergy--to public office). But I also believe that the religion of Christianity
and several other monotheistic religions are preferable to the "principles" of
atheistic or agnostic humanism, which rules by default if Christians, Jews, Muslims
are barred from bringing their scruples to the tasks of public justice. On
another issue from the linked article, I find it incredible that—or if—Pastor
Ted Haggard of the New Life Church of Colorado would say, "let's say an unmarried
boy and girl decide to have sex in their car as they're leaving the church parking
lot. I don't believe the police officer directing traffic should be able to arrest
them for that." If Colorado law allows sex in cars in public places, it's the
only place I've heard of to be that far gone back toward our pagan roots! And
I used to live in Hollywood! And if Pastor Haggard condones it or says it's no
one's business, well, that's just astounding. September
16 2004 | MSNBC
series caricatures Christian faith to dissuade 'religious' voters
No
one takes the Bible "literally"; this charge is always used by the enemies of
those who try to take the Bible seriously as a guide to every facet of their lives.
Who takes literally Jesus words, from the Bible, for example, "He who has two
tunics, let him give to him who has none"? Taking it literally would mean one
would not be permitted to own two coats because, even as Jesus himself says elsewhere,
the poor are always with us; there are always more neighbors in need. We take
it principially, seriously, and we interpret passages like this one as meaning
we need to look out for our neighbors, be generous, find reasonable and real ways
to meet needs, but no Christian community takes it to the "literal"
extreme that would hold one can't have a warm-weather coat and a cold-weather
coat. Remember, only the enemies (virtually, there are always kook fringes) of
the Bible and Bible-believing use the term "literally" this way. Likewise,
no reasonable person sees everything in black and white terms. Who sees more "grey"
in America's posture vis a vis Saudi Arabia, for example, than the President and
his administration. This distortion, too, is a red herring the enemies of Christianity
throw out to dissuade belief or taking seriously the claims of Christianity. Some
fundamentalists have black and white views of Israel, perhaps (I think even Pat
Robertson, not near the extreme wing of the evangelical spectrum, is too one-sided
on American-Israel policy). But here, too, the administration's policies are always
shaded a multihued spectrum of greys. In general, Israel is our best friend in
that part of the world. But it doesn't have the right to do everything it wants
to do, even to Yasser Arafat, its prime nemesis in the district. Some
issues are black and white. Some issues are clearly pitting righteousness against
evil. But most are not, not even in the thinking of the most hidebound fundamentalists,
and certainly not in a man like George W. Bush. Only
an idiot would hold the positions MSNBC decribes on Scripture and on seeing everything
in black and white. And only an idiotic news organization would expect Americans
to be taken in by such deceptive, straw-man "reporting." We
should be raging against CBS News for its outrageously one-sided, biased and false
reporting on the current political scene, but we should not miss what NBC News
is trying to do to us, either. Can
I get an Amen? September
15 2004 | Previewers
say PBS' 'Question of God' series treats Christian views fairly
As
usual, Chuck Colson says it best: Watch. Check
this web page for the
program time in your area. Enter your zip code to find PBS stations in your area.
Here's
the PBS webpage for the program. September
14 2004 | Pope
again stresses the distinction between marriage and civil cohabitation
The
human tendency is to move on to "normalizing" widespread practice rather than
continuing to oppose and reform it. But I must agree with the New Zealand bishop
who described such accommodations as barbarian in their effect. Literally, accommodations
to antinormative patterns are moving back away from societies based on Christian
and humane values to those that prevailed in pagan pre-Christian Europe. September
13 2004 | Gay
and transsexual students, only, may apply for these college scholarships
Catch
23 perhaps: How does one prove he or she is a gay man or lesbian to qualify for
these funds? How
do high school guidance counselors know who to recommend these scholarships to?
Would doing such a recommendation sometimes present a terrible challenge to high
school students, or constitute "sexualizing" underage teenagers (considering
it's usually 17-year-olds who are sorting out their college plans)? And if the
"gay" scholar later marries a member of the opposite sex, does he or
she have to give back the money, or the degree? September
12 2004 | Colorado
Democrats attack policy meant to protect Conservative speech
Yet
another liberal stance on freedom of speech but only their speech or speech that
reflects their prejudices. September
11 2004 | New
book hailed as 'a bold manifesto for the Christian worldview' Even
before the linked article came to my attention, I had heard good reports about
this book. Though I haven't had a chance to read it, it's obvious that it promotes
principles and principals that have long been dear to my heart. In my campus ministry
years, I was widely used to expound and expand on the works of Francis Schaeffer
and my graduate thesis (published as The Reformation of Journalism) was
on the application of a Christian worldview to the mass media enterprise, based
on the thinking of "reformational" scholars like Abraham Kuyper and
his second- and third-generation descendants. I hope to read it soon and am linking
it on Amazon for the convenience of our readers.
September
10 2004 | A
firestorm erupts over Serbian schools minister's anti-Darwin stance
This
would be howlingly funny if it weren't so serious. Already
the Associated Press is saying "some religious people" believe God created
human beings...and the scientists and journalists are proposing that Darwinian
theory is not scientific dogma? Is
it time for another US invasion of Serbia, this time targeting public schools
rather than ancient monasteries? No doubt the scientific establishment would welcome
such. My
vote, however, is for Education Minister Ljiljana Colic, and for at least pluralism
of cultural ideals in educational systems. What kind of "rationalism"
and "science" demands totalitarisnism in children's schools? Leave
it to the American press to quote the only spokesman of Serbia's religious establishment
it could find as warning against anti-Darwinism and still interpreting the education
minister's stance as an instance of church interference with the secular state.
September
9 2004 | Media biggie accused of
going anti-Bush to reassert the 'right'...to smoke
We
all have our priorities. Toby
Young doesn't comment on the fact that on the national level and in California
(where antismoking laws are most "progressive") it has been Democrats, not Bush-type
Republicans who've led the crusade. Still...there's been stranger developments
in the world of politics. September
8 2004 | Antiochian
Christians launch museum to promote Mid-East understanding
The
Antiochian Orthodox Prelate is based in Syria, a nation that many Americans, including
political leaders, consider a state that supports and harbors Muslim terrorists.
The Antiochians defend the Syrian government as supportive of its Christian minorities.
Others say that all Muslim governments require all minorities to pledge
and demonstrate loyalty to their Muslim system in order to have any autonomy within
their borders. Can Gibran (who was Orthodox) unravel the tricky knot? Probably
not, but the museum is a worthy effort in that direction. WE
WERE ON VACATION SEPTEMBER 2-7. September
2-7 2004 | Jewish
author says on an Islamic website that French secularism must reform
So-called
Enlightenment France is the crucible of modernism, which includes the idea of
a unitary "mono" cultural state, as Benbassa calls it. Such "mono" statehood
—aka fascism—is inimical to Christian principles of living in peace
with all people and republican pluralist cultural ideals. September
1 2004 | Letter
from a Reuters editor suggests that the unborn threaten civilization
And
ergo, it would seem, Eastham must think abortion is one of the most civilized
things humanity has ever come up with? Will
the major media follow their own earlier lead in reporting on the scandals involving
the reporting of the New York Times' Jayson Blair and USA Today's
Jack Kelley cases and out this purveyor of hate and death? I'm
not holding my breath. |
