In the News 12/97
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Excerpt from: Time 12/15/97
The
religious aspect of Christmas has never fit very well with
television, so every year at this time, when the holiday specials and
Christmas-themed episodes of regular shows crowd the schedule, it's
almost impossible to find programs that actually treat the event
supposedly being celebrated -- the birth of Jesus Christ. Of course,
the secularization of Christmas is a process that is already far
along... Yes, many Christmas customs are pagan in origin, but does
that justify a special Christmas episode of Melrose Place in which
Jennifer tries to blackmail Lexi, who ODs? ...
Even when a Christmas program is really supposed to be about
Christmas, the Christ part gets downplayed. The Soul of Christmas, a
special on PBS features Thomas More, the author of Care of the Soul,
and a group of Celtic musicians. With this show, Moore wants us to
see Christmas as an occasion that can be celebrated by "people
of all faiths or no faith." No one wants to be a spoilsport and
criticize such ecumenism, but you wonder at what point a religion's
symbols become so generalized that they lose all meaning.
Music can Influence
Based on a report in Canadian On Line News (Canoe), AP 11/12/97
When
psychologists hosted an experiment to see if music could influence
purchases they were surprised to find out that it -- overwhelmingly
-- did. By varying the style of music along nationalistic lines, they
could influence people to buy alcoholic beverages of the
corresponding nation. The effect was not a minimal change either. For
example, German music caused people to prefer German beverages on a 2
to 1 basis. Of the people surveyed, after their purchase, less than
14% felt their purchase had been knowingly influenced by the type of
music being played. Obviously many other were influenced without
knowing why. All this confirms what many researchers have known for
years, music is a powerful tool with the ability to influence. So
much for most teens common claim, "it's only music, it doesn't
influence me."
Persecution
Excerpts from Religion Today, 11/24 & 25/97
Christians
in Nepal face loss of work and legal persecution for telling people
about Christ. Hinduism is the state religion in the Himalayan
country, and Christian proselytism is forbidden. ... four Army
officers converted to Christianity and were promptly removed from the
service for leaving the Hindu faith... one of the men opened a small
shop ... but local Hindus filed a legal action against him because he
was preaching about Christ and had converted several people. Police
close the man's shop... Other Hindus are using the man as an example
to threaten other Christians.
State and national authorities in India are cracking down on Hindus
who become Christians. In Orissa, where conversions are illegal, the
government has directed revenue inspectors to visit homes. If the
inspectors see a cross, Bible, or picture of Jesus they are to
immediately cancel basic citizenship privileges... (and it has
already happened). A member of the Indian parliament has introduced a
bill requiring people who convert to register with the government.
The Compulsory Registration of Religious Conversion Bill says that a
person "desirous of conversion will be required to register 60
days before public affirmation of the conversion." (And must
provide all details of who will participate, plus when and where.)
In our cozy western world it is good to be reminded that believers
are suffering for their faith around the world. Just imagine for a
moment what persecution would do to (or for) the church in North
America. How many would be quick to call themselves Christians if it
could cost them their livelihoods and even their life? "Yes, and
all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)
Abortion Stats
Excerpts from Religion Today, 12/05/97
There
were (in the U.S.) 1,210,883 abortions in 1995, the last year that
nationwide figures are available... But state figures for 1996 show
that numbers are increasing (after a few years of moderate declines).
Written by Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries. (c) 1997.
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