Worldviews
The Newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center
March/April/May 2003

LOCAL EVENTS

Preparing the Graduates
ARC will conduct our annual summer seminar for students just graduating from high school (often college freshmen come as well), to help prepare them for the moral, spiritual and intellectual attacks they will face in college.

We will have the sessions July 22, 29, August 5, and 12 from 7-9 p.m. at the home of Tom and Pam Buck, 1140 Winchester Drive in Vestavia. Call our office (403-0102) for directions.

The topics are: (1) Reality Check (Rom. 12:1-2); (2) Vision Casting (Matt. 6:33-35); (3) Work and Vocation; (4) The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth – Responding to Relativism; (5) How Can Christ Be the Only Way – Then What About…?; (6) Is the Bible Outdated, Irrelevant - Does it Contain Errors?

Apologetics Equipping
We are in the process of going through our 2003 training in apologetics. We teach in subject blocks as some people are interested in certain sessions rather than the entire program.

We are about to move into our answering common objections to Christianity section. We will cover the objection to Christian exclusivity and the issues of relativism; if God is good and all powerful, how can there be evil and suffering; evolution and creation; accuracy of the Bible; Is there really a God; Don’t all religious roads eventually lead to God, etc. These sessions will begin Monday nights, June 30 at the home of the Branches, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Call the office (403-0102) for directions. Christians can bring seekers or non-Christians to these sessions.

Currently, we are addressing the subject of salvation and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, as well as how they are distorted by heresy.

CULTURE WATCH
On a recent Sunday, the Briarwood Presbyterian Church pastor hit the nail on the head when he observed that in the last four decades in America, the culture has continued its decline in its view of the meaning and significance of TRUTH. Those of us old enough to remember, have seen the issue of Christianity and truth move from the question, “Is Christianity true?”, to “How can one say only Christianity is true?”, to “Anyone who claims to have truth is a narrow-minded bigot”, to today when the mantra is “You have your truth and I have mine.”

The Apologetics Resource Center is here to train and help you answer skeptics and relativism in a way that is reflective and responsive to their skepticism, as well as redemptive. The Church must own up to her responsibility to be salt and light bearers in the world for which we are called.

Research continues to dramatically point out this decline. A 2003 Harris Poll registered only 82% who believe in heaven and it drops to 71% of those between the ages of 25-29. 31% of the general public believes in astrology, while of those aged 25-29, 43% believe astrology is true.

27% of the overall population now believes in reincarnation, while 40% of those aged 25-29 do.

The decline in an emphasis on sound doctrine, personal ministry and evangelism, and a failure to understand the Biblical call to redemptively engage the culture and its institutions have left the Church in the West vulnerable and susceptible to being conformed to a materialistic, hedonistic, narcissistic and relativistic world-view.

George Gallup echoed this observation this spring at a luncheon in Dallas. He stated that “Americans’ level of Biblical literacy has significantly declined,” leaving people “vulnerable to cults” and has produced “a great deal of fuzziness in spirituality.” Such superficiality has led people to believe in almost anything, simultaneously claiming to be born again and yet practicing “channeling” with spirits.

The General Society Survey of the National Opinion Research Center found that “it has become common for the recent and projected growth of alternative religions and their current prominence to be described as revolutionary and as having transformed American Society…The religious landscape of America has changed radically in the past 30 years.

Many Christian thinkers have noted that America is going the direction of England and Canada - an almost utter secularism and paganism. While currently Americans are about twice as “religious” as Canadians and far more interested in spiritual matters than England, we are steadily moving in their direction.

Only 21% of Canadians attend religious services regularly and that number is inflated, because of the large and growing number of Muslim, Sikh and Hindu immigrants. America, too, is experiencing an escalating growth of immigrants from other faiths, which feeds the pluralistic and relativistic sentiments of our postmodern culture. In Canada, a religious scholar summed it up, “This is a society where religion no longer wields cultural authority.”

Atheism in Canada and Britain has grown 44% in 10 years, from 12% to 16%. Protestants have dropped from 35% to 29%. Evangelicals number only 2.6% in Canada.

Less than 50% of American churches 10 years old have more than 150 in worship. 33% of Protestant denominations average fewer than 55 in attendance.

American Idolatry
So what was it that not only captured the attention and interest of the American people, but went even further than that – created an almost obsession? What was it that moved millions to place almost 300 million votes, 24 million in less than a day?

Was it a presidential or congressional candidate that could help shape the contours of our lives over the next four years and beyond? Was it support for researchers who were committed to finding a cure for cancer, diabetes, or AIDS? Or was it a rally to support really brining an end to world hunger, abortion, or drug abuse?

No, it was to vote for the American idol – Reuben or Clay. And what is the American Idol? It isn’t anyone attempting to do any of the above or even a Nobel peace prize winner. It is an entertainer.

The interest and excitement generated by this show demonstrates both the raw power of the media and the proclivities of a superficial and banal culture.

First, let’s look at the issue of the power of the media to create and shape ideas and behavior. André Agassi said it succinctly years ago in a Canon commercial, “Image is everything.” As Christians, we must counter, “No, truth is everything.”

The real driving force in almost everything the media does (and Americans as well) is the “consuming Passion.” It’s all about the love of money and power and what it purports to deliver – meaning contentment, and fulfillment.

Not everyone agrees that this trend is destructive. George Mason University professor Tyler Cowen, in his new book, Creative Destruction: How Globalization is Changing the World’s Cultures, argues that this shift is actually brilliant rather than banal.

He believes that “diversity” reflects the “cutting edge of creativity that offers consumers of the world a cultural menu of ever increasing choices.” Cowen writes, “If we haven’t been happy, don’t worry, new choices are no doubt on the way.”

Is this drivel what our college students are being exposed to? Are Christian students equipped and prepared to think through these deceptions and even better to appropriately respond to challenge these ideas? In most cases – no.

Here are two more examples of how the media shapes or determines the news—the Petersons and the Smarts. There are many, many incidents of spousal disappearance, murder, and abductions of children every day. Yet the media chooses to focus on these particular incidents and then the competition for dramatization and ratings begin.

I do find it interesting to step back and look at these situations from God’s sovereign perspective (Eph. 1:21). It appears to be an application of God’s truth in 1 Cor. 1:27, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the [so-called] wise,” in the Peterson case.

The emotions of anger and empathy of the American public have been harnessed to the death of Conner Peterson, the unborn son, as well as Laci. This definitely weakens the ground of the “pro-choice”, permissive abortion side of the debate. The legal charge seems to be a double homicide. Indeed, this is schizophrenic with the current law.

Examine Ourselves
What are we to learn from this? First, we must take seriously the implications of God’s command to us in Romans 12:1-2. We need to be equipped beyond the “elementary principles of Christ and press on to maturity” (Heb. 6:1). There are questions we must ask ourselves in a spiritual inventory:

Are we prayerful daily to be sensitive in what we watch, say, and do – surrendering and trusting in the love, direction, and power of God for us?

Are we willing and intentionally choosing those things to make us, and collectively our churches, salt and light bearers to those around us?

Are we brutally honest with ourselves about the depravity of the culture, yet sensitive to those things and people who are still made in the image of God?

Are we engaging by letter, phone calls, conversation, personal modeling, (avoiding patronizing), and even in some cases, legal activism, the many abuses of truth and goodness in our culture?

85% of American parents believe they are responsible for teaching their children about values and religious matters, yet a majority do not spend any time in a typical week taking care of that responsibility. How are you doing?

Church of Oprah
A major indicator of where we are in our culture is the radical influence of the media on the thinking and thus lifestyles of Americans.

Years ago, a Gallup poll revealed that Oprah Winfrey was ranked 4th among women for most respected and influential women in history. A Harris Poll, released in March, revealed that Oprah captured again (as in 1998, 2000) the top spot as America’s favorite TV personality (men and women).

In Texas, a liberal United Church of Christ pastor teaches a class titled “The Church of Oprah” at Abilene Christian University. It overflows in attendance. The pastor rightly ob-serves, “Oprah is one of the most in-fluential spiritual leaders in America and represents three of the most significant characteristics of American postmodernism - deeply interested in spirituality, not interested in the established church, and believe many paths lead to God.”

Why do I write about this? I do so to awaken Christians to the need to take seriously the pervasive influence of television and the media on the younger generation and us. As the Bible warns, “Bad company corrupts good morals and character” (1 Cor. 15:33). We must cut off, filter, respond by letter and phone, boycott, discuss with other believers, enter into these fields and influence, and most importantly - be as Paul when he beheld a city full of idols (Acts 17) and engage people with the gospel.

Let us help you. We continue to provide information packets, documentation, coaching, interventions, links, etc. for people who contact us. Yet we can help so many more if you will engage. Call or email us at 205-403-0102.

Media Bias
We, like everyone else, watched with intense interest the televised events of the U.S. and Britain’s war against Saddam Hussein’s regime. But in addition to the news on the war itself, we also watched with great interest the style, content, and strategy of the various networks. What did they choose to show, what was emphasized, what was the commentary.

There was quite a spectrum. We had Fox News on one end and CNN on the other, with most of the other networks leaning to the left with CNN. But, bottom line, the bottom line was the bottom line. It is all about money and propaganda.

The styles were decidedly soap opera-ish, quick sound bites, visual, and little patience with detailed reflective analysis. Ironically, on my cable, the station in between Fox News and MSNBC was VH1. For those with no children, VH1 is like MTV, the showpiece station for the music/sexual revolution and anti-Christian morality-rebellious young (and terminal hippies from the 60’s). Stopping to watch what young people are exposed to made me somewhat sympathetic with the views (not their responsive actions) of the conservative Muslims who are so negative about what American influence can bring.

But I digress. And radio is the same. National Public Radio chooses to have liberals as their interviewers on one end, while Rush and Shawn are on the other. I find both ends to be unproductive. Even though I agree with much of the political conservative message, the method of ridicule and bombasticism is not helpful - even childish.

But the agenda pattern of the liberal media is relentless. For example, the constant message from both sides is that Islam is a religion of peace. Our war is not against Islam, but is against terrorism. Our goal is to establish a peaceful democracy in Iraq as a model and subtle threat to other Muslim countries in the Middle and Near East.

Some of this spin is for political and war expediency. But expediency is for the short term. In the long run, it tends to inoculate us and those in government to the truth and can seriously undermine our efforts.

The truth is that it is not just the extremist factions (terrorists) of Islam, it is the general propensity of historic and Koranic Islam to advance Islam by aggression (See my Veritas article from our Journal on Islam posted on our website, www.apologeticsresctr.org.) And Islam is not the only serious religious threat. Hinduism is becoming very militant in India and adjoining countries, attacking and killing Christians by the thousands.

Christians must again become readers and raise their level of discernment and knowledge/wisdom so that we are more protected from the massive propaganda of the liberal dominated media, and so we can better speak the truth in love with those inside and outside the faith about the truth.

The media biased directly against Christians has become horrific. Typical of CNN, Larry King ran a special on Religion and War. He had five panelists - A Muslim leader, Deepak Chopra (New Age), a very liberal Catholic Priest (universalist), a liberal rabbi (Harold Kushner) and one historic Christian, John MacArthur. My point is that to be more representative (40% of the U.S. population claim to be “born-again” Christians, the panel was disproportionate, four against one.

But the worst is a story about a Time magazine cover story in the works which will focus on the “flood of Christian missionaries to Muslim countries,” who have a “more radical view of proselytizing, those who proclaim the gospel of Christ.” The Time editors want to zero in on their tactics to avoid detection by authorities, called “tentmaking.”

This kind of expose will absolutely put all Christian missionaries in significantly further risk of deportation, prison or death.

The Iraqi war demonstrated that the American media consider themselves basically a separate sovereign “nation” which elevates “freedom of the press/speech” to a level, which jeopardizes lives, and the national security of our country.

Islam
Terror Alert High. More homicide/suicide killings in Israel. Daily newscasts regarding the growing quagmire in Iraq’s reconstruction. And now we have leading Muslim organizations saying its time for Americans to stop using the phrase “Judeo-Christian” when describing the values and character that shape or define the United States.

Groups like the American Muslim Alliance, CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), the Muslim American Society, and the American Muslim Council all support to change the expression to “Judeo-Christian-Islamic” values, indicating a commonality with all three religions and representative populations.

Even the head of the liberal National Council of Churches supports the change. But what about evangelicals? Franklin Graham and Jerry Falwell publicly assert that Islam is evil and terroristic.

And earlier in May, the National Association of Evangelicals met to discuss Christian-Muslim relations and called on evangelicals to tone down the negative rhetoric and negative judgments regarding Islam as they “put lives and livelihoods at risk for Americans and Christian (including missionaries) in Muslim countries.”

Then again, Christian and secular experts state that Islam has a very long history of advancing its cause by the sword and suppression of individual freedoms (especially religions) via a totalitarian theocracy.

Yet the rhetoric we continue to hear is, our aim is to establish some kind of democratic form of government in Iraq and that could produce a domino effect in the Middle East. Many hope to reproduce a country akin to Jordan or Turkey. But those are not democracies.

In fact, no Muslim dominated country is a democracy. Because of the historical reality of differing schools of interpretation of Islamic law (Shariah), there have been differing expressions. There are autocracies, dictatorships, some sort of a parliamentary system, rulers with a council of imams (jurists).

But historical, fundamentalist Muslims all deny that there exists today a true Islamic state within those existing systems. So, is the Taliban the model, or is Jordan the model? This is the unsettled and volatile situation within Islam today.

Democracy is the antithesis of Islam. A separation of Church and State is impossible in Islam. Christianity in its true evangelistic/evangelical form is not tolerated in Islam. Our civil liberties are not acceptable in Islam. Women’s rights (even though Christians are at odds with the extremes of the women’s lib movement) are at odds with Islam. Freedom of conscience is an important dictum for Christianity and the U.S. Whereas we lobby for, try to persuade and try to uphold Biblical values and laws that reflect those values, we do not believe in forcing or coercing others. God’s kingdom, in this world, is not a theocracy.

So let us engage individual Muslims locally. We must intentionally reach out to and befriend them, earn the right to be heard, listen and explore the realities of our faiths. Less than 5% of Christianity’s entire missionary force is directed toward Islam, the second largest religion (third if you count Catholicism) in the world!

Become informed on Islam and Muslim evangelism. Begin with our journal (Vol. 2, No. 4). Order any of our books, Answering Islam, Muslims and Christians at the Table, What You Need to Know About Islam and Muslims, and Islam: Its Prophet, Peoples, Politics and Power. Visit www.ird-renew.org for “Guidelines for Christian-Muslim Dialogue.”

Culture vs. Christ
1. A school district in Pennsylvania has suspended a Christian school teacher for wearing a cross necklace (shades of the Taliban). The teacher has enlisted the services of the American Center for Law and Justice. The school district’s director believes the policy is reasonable and is based on firm legal ground.

This issue has been tested by various courts and by legislature acts. There is no real consistent application. One vein of decisions is to protect people of various faiths or no faith from being offended. Example, what if the teacher was a witch and wanted to wear witchcraft paraphernalia?

The other side is reasonable accommodation of religious faiths. When should Christians make a “Federal case” out of an issue, or submit in situations in order to build bridges?

2. The case of Lawrence v. Texas, which attacks the Texas homosexual sodomy law, is expected to be the Roe v. Wade of the homosexual rights movement. If the homosexual lobby prevails, it could significantly redefine the definition of family and marriage.

3. The Catholic League and Thomas More Law Center are suing the New York Education Department over a new ruling which allows Christmas Trees as a symbol of Christmas, but not a Nativity Scene.

4. The Matrix Reloaded - Pop-culture hit The Matrix predictably has a sequel and a third on the way. The complex, high tech, spiritual films continue on in the same vein.

There were multitudes of analyses done on the themes and messages of The Matrix – many in conflict with one another.

Some scholars and observers saw Buddhist parallels, some Jewish, some Christian, some Gnostic. Probably the most accurate analysis is that the trilogy is a potpourri, a mixture of several religious systems.

These movies are thought provoking and popular so it would be wise for Christians to see it and become conversant with the issues it raises in order to discuss it and point out the redeeming message that Christ offers.

Request our free information packet on The Matrix.

Cultism News
1. Jehovah’s Witnesses – There continues to surface more and more charges of sexual molestation among Jehovah’s Witnesses, including elders. The publicized instances have prompted/empowered a growing number of victims who have stepped forward. They have begun to organize into a group found at www.silentlambs.org.

This phenomena is perpetuated by several of significant factors. First, Jehovah’s Witnesses is a religion without the Holy Spirit. Second, you have a highly controlling, authoritarian religion where the leaders represent God and the consequences of disobedience are catastrophic. Third, you have an internal rule that requires two witnesses or accusers to even bring a charge. Fourth, you have a religion who sees itself as a world of its own, hostile to outside authorities and is obsessive about protecting itself from any negative exposure.

We are excited to have one of the people we’ve taught respond to two Jehovah’s Witnesses encountered. Pray with us as we together reach out to Marilyn and Tamika. We have begun to engage them in dialogue.

2. Another highly controlling more contemporary cult is in the news. The International Church of Christ, originally the Boston COC, has seen the resignation of its founder (Nov. 6), Kip McKean.

McKean founded the church in 1979 and developed its heavy controlling discipleship programs and legalistic heresies that have brought the ruin of many thousands of souls and lives.

Thousands have left the ICOC. Some set up websites exposing the false teachings and abusive practices (examples www.rightcyberup.org and www.reveal.org) and pressure was brought to bear on its dictator, McKean, to resign.

McKean’s daughter, Olivia, had left the church about four years ago, claiming that “the only place to find true freedom would be outside the church.” McKean had previously issued an edict that when a member’s child “fell away” that there were sinful dynamics within that family and the head needed to repent.

McKean resigned November 6, citing his own arrogance and family problems. Since then, there has been a restructuring, a decentralizing movement and some individual churches are showing signs of doctrinal reform. The church statistics indicate 185,000 members in 430 churches in 170 countries. Now is a good time to reach out to ICOC members!

3. Bill Gothard – Christianity Today recently (3/5) published a review of a new book by a respected apologetics organization detailing strong criticisms of Bill Gothard’s ministry. The organization, Midwest Christian Outreach, (MCO) documents a number of serious charges of heretical teaching and a pattern of abuse, cover-ups and failing to live up to his own standards.

The book, A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life, is written by Don and Joy Venoit and Ron Henzel. An often attempted, often evaded by Gothard, mediation meeting between MCO and Gothard finally took place recently, mediated by Dr. Norman Geisler and Eric Landry of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

Both mediators indicated Gothard’s failure to repent of his legalisms, his misuse of Scripture and his mistaken views on authority (chair of command and umbrella of protection).

Other problems such as Gothard’s support of alternative medical quackery were not addressed there. Many of the 2.5 million that have attended Gothard’s seminars have been helped in some ways, but the effect of the bad teaching continues to be a problem.

Order a copy of MCO’s book ($16). It is endorsed by many fine theologians and former board members of Gothard’s ministry. Read and evaluate it for yourself.

4. Taking a page from Scientology, Witness Lee’s Local Church Movement uses the courts to try and silence their critics. In the past, they have sued the courts to financially grind down their opponents.

They did this with the Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Thomas Nelson publishers, and now they are attempting it with John Ankerburg, John Weldon and Harvest House Publishers.

All counter cult critics view the Local Church as a cult due to their heretical view of the Trinity, baptismal regeneration, and other elitist views. But now they have gone to an extreme.

One of their most formidable critics, who they didn’t sue because his information was too well documented, was Jim Moran. Jim died suddenly and the Local Church moved in to take control of Jim’s records and computer files just hours before evangelicals took possession of them.

Several Christians, acting in concert, had gotten permission from Jim’s relatives to obtain and secure the material, but just before that happened, the Local Church agents called and apparently offered a lot of money and/or threatened the relatives with legal action in order to have the archives given to them instead. But much of the material has been copied and stored at sites, which are not governed by U.S. copyright laws.

It is a classic case of religious free speech rights being jeopardized. Haunting questions for the LCM are, if you are a Christian church, how can you justify suing other Christians and on what basis are you harmed financially if you are a church and not a business?

5. Scientology – Many European countries whose laws regarding religion are not as liberal as ours view Scientology more as a business, terrorist or criminal organization, than as a legitimate religion.

For example, French courts just indicted two officials of Scientology there on counts of fraud and “practicing pharmacy illegally.” These charges stemmed from administering so-called “scientific” personality tests for recruitment and the potentially dangerous “purification rundown” on its members.

Also, in Denmark, the Church of Scientology there was found guilty and fined for defamation. Scientology has a policy of attacking its critics, even “manufacturing” things about them in order to try and discredit them as valid critics. In this case, it cost them.

6. Harry Potter – A district school board in Arkansas voted to restrict the Harry Potter series in the elementary schools’ libraries, requiring children to have parents permission before checking them out. The board majority believed that the books supported disobedience to parents and promoted occultism.

But a federal judge ruled in favor of a fourth grader’s parents and ordered the books back into general circulation. The parents and various First Amendment groups claimed the school board decision was censorship and trampling on a student’s right to receive information.

But freedoms always have lines or boundaries. The ideological fight in our culture concerns where those lines exist and who or what informs and sets them. We recommend ordering the book Harry Potter and the Bible ($12 ) and ordering our free information packet on Harry Potter.

7. More cult news in the next issue. Due to space limitations, we will have to cover various important stories in our next issue. These stories include the growing pernicious influence of yoga in our culture, more on Scientology, Christian Science troubles and deception, the UFO craze, Spiritual abuse in martial arts, attempts to make paranormal more normal and acceptable.

Alternative “Medicine”
Because health is the number one priority among Westerners, the occult purveyors have targeted this area to gain ground in the minds and souls of humanity. Postmodernity has affected the Christian Church to such an extent that many church goers are buying into the pseudoscience and claims of alternative (new age) “medicine”.

Quackery energy field therapies such as Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, Polarity Therapy, and Healing Touch are becoming more popular.

A British study continues to reinforce other good studies that homeopathy remedies have no benefit beyond a placebo effect in patients who are ill. The studies were conducted with children with asthma.

And there is even more disappointing news for practitioners of the alternative systems. The country and biggest ally of new age “medicine” is India. Yet India’s Director General of Medical Research has rejected reiki, acupuncture, magnetotherapy, pranic healing, color therapy, reflexology, and electro-homeopathy, as having any merit in healing.

We have uncovered a new wrinkle making its way into the new age field – myofascial release in physical massage therapy. New Age practitioner John Barnes has taken a legitimate form of myofascial release and altered it, making claims of extraordinary healing of most any condition.

Again, please send for information packets on specific alternative “medical” practices.

LETTERS
I am writing to update you on the progress I am seeing made in Spokane, Washington. As you may remember, I have been challenged to respond to Satan's growing foothold in our medical community in regards to New Age and Occult practices being utilized as medical treatments. The main practices involved here include Meditation, Healing Touch, Reiki, Enneagram use, Guided Imager, Tonglen and Music Thantology (therapy)….And this is a "Christian" hospital who's mission statement reads "to carry on the healing ministry of Jesus."

…To make a long story short (as a positive response), the Lord has had me start the process of raising up a para-church ministry emphasizing Christian ministry for patients at the end of life….Thank you so much. Your articles and the materials that you sent have been so very helpful to me in presenting information and giving talks on the subject.

- Charla F. Bauman, Life Concepts

Greetings from Portland!…I want to thank you so very much for your service to fellow-believers. I learned so much at each session (at Coral Ridge Presbyterian). It made me want to learn more and be better informed. I was both inspired and challenged.

Since I returned home, I have shared some of what I learned with my Bible Study and a number of others from different churches, young and old, and find there is much interest in becoming more educated through the seminars that you offer.

I am sure you have contacts in this area, but If I can be of help, please let me know…May God bless you as you lovingly educate and challenge others to be effective witnesses in their communities. - Portland, OR

Thank you so very much for inviting me to partner with you in ministry at the Coral Ridge apologetics conference. I enjoyed our face-to-face meeting and came away with a strong impression of your team and your leadership.

...I came away a little wistful, Craig. I wish our churches that are committed to teach God’s TRUTH were more passionate to support worldview and apologetics ministries. I wish they could better cast vision, and ignite the people...if you would like to email me when you have a conference, I would be glad to be part of your prayer support. I know first hand how greatly God tenderizes hearts to the TRUTH when we pray. May God prosper your strategic Kingdom ministry.

- Lael Arrington, Texas

Just a short note to let you know how much I appreciate your efforts and kindness toward _____. She seems to be doing well now. Let’s hope she continues in her recovery. Please keep me and the American Family Association in your prayers also. I’ve been working hand-in-hand with them quite a bit for over a year now. They have been a tremendous blessing to me. Indeed, they are fearless! Presently, we are working to inform Christians and concerned parents about the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” and its refusal to remove itself from events that promote porn stars and pornographic materials (see www.AFA.net for “Action Alert”).

Again, thank you for all you do. Your concern is compassionate. Your courage is commendable.

– North Carolina

I am a Spanish teacher in the Public System in Georgia. First of all I need to tell you that English is not my first language, which makes me hard to explain what I need to express I realized that in the school system where I work (this is my 5th year) something has changed since the system hired a group of consultants as the solution for “behavioral problems and declining academic performance” as you said on part #4 of your series. Since the very beginning I realized that something was going on but I did not know what it was. I went to the Internet, did some research and found some information about the “New Age” movement. I found a lot of clarifications on your series...I am very concerned, confused and even lost. We are receiving a very intensive training from these “experts” since the first month of the school year. Once I read your Series I got on the right track. I checked the lesson plans and the booklet over and over and it cannot be more clear. I think the “New Age” philosophy is present in the curriculum...Meditation techniques are supposed to be used by the students in our elementary schools, and we have eight brain gym activities. The final objective of the thematic unit is a “Fantasy Trip to another country.” This idea is to be present every day on the lessons. ...Not to mention the use of the New Age music in every lesson....I do not want to be an instrument of any kind of illegal practice that can be harmful to the children. We are a large group of teachers of foreign language, the majority of them very scared of losing their jobs if we make any kind of complaint. My understanding is that if something is wrong it has to be clarified by an expert. Just let me know if you are interested in this case. I would like to have your book. -email

NOTE: This is an issue all over the country in public schools. It is a strategic battle that can and must be won. If Christians will just become informed and active, God will bless. Order my book, Public Schools: The Sorcerer’s New Apprentice ($15), today.

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