to webmaster TOM:
Competing Religions are responsible for many wars.
A house(nation) divided can not stand.
Either the basic principles are based on one
religion or the conflicts will be the source of it failure.
GOD the creator of Man ,the Earth and the Universe,has given to us the Bible, as principles to guide our lives by.
It is to our advantage to use GOD's wisdom, as the Basis of our basic law, a new constitution.
To ignore GOD's instruction is foolish,and reckless at best and guarrantees failure.
The question now goes to Mr. Skousen.
Will the Bible be the Basis of the new constitution?
YES or NO
Then please explain your answer.
without a YES or NO you will not have given a FULL
answer.
And who gets to decide what religion is the official religion of the state? What happens to everyone else? Are they not allowed or will they be subjected to discrimination and violence by the government sanctioned majority?
Ask Mr. Skousen.
Violence certainly not.
Discrimination certainly not.
DISCRIMINATION:"In constitutional law,the effect of a statute or established practice which confers
particular privileges on a class..."
Black's Law Dictionary third edition
Earl,
If you look at most religions, there are common basic principles, usually stemming from a concept of overarching moral truth, from which follows a code of right and wrong. (Sometimes the similarities are more than just conceptual: Hinduism has a story that closely mirrors the story of King Herod and the Baby Jesus.) So, a nation can be based on simple principles that just about every religion shares: no stealing, no murder, etc.
Within the nation founded on these simple principles, there can be established covenant societies made up of like-minded (or like-religion, if you'll excuse the liberty of language) individuals. So, within a nation of ethical and moral people, who for the most part live in covenant societies according to that with which they're most comfortable, there will most likely exist various Protestant societies, Catholic societies, Hindu societies, Moslem societies, Buddhist societies, etc.
My answer is NO--the new constitution cannot and should not be based upon the Bible or any other religion. I say this even as a believer in the Bible. The Bible was never intended to be a complete legal structure for secular law.
Clearly we must develop a fair and universal legal structure that allows all men to exercise their religious liberty as long as they do not infringe upon the fundamental rights of others.
If you have taken time to read my proposed system you would see that I have allowed for covenant societies to form separate, protected governments under the general umbrella of the Constitution--but this must be done by initial unanimous consent of those forming the covenant society. In this way they are not guilty of imposing their religion on others by majority rule. If you will read the Old Testament carefully, you will see it was obvious that God established a covenant religious society--not a secular universal which would have to force all others to comply. Since God does not force any man to believe, but relies on voluntary conversion, so should we.
As to the enforcement of God's laws, those laws of God which concern violations of the basic laws protecting fundamental rights can and will be prosecuted by the state (ie. murder, theft, rape etc) but those that are only sins against God's law, but violate no one's fundamental rights can only be prosecuted within covenant societies that agree to these higher standards. Citizens who hold to these higher laws will also be free to discriminate and disassociate with sinners, since the right to discriminate is a fundamental right--a right we have nearly lost in our present system.
Naturally, as Christians, it is our belief that God himself will judge and punish those guilty of moral violations at some future time and place, of His choosing.
Joel Skousen
To Joel:
Generally, I agree with you.
How do you feel about a system based on the Seven Noahide Laws as described in Genesis and the Jewish Talmud? While this system has basic secular tenets it hinges on the belief that in order to properly observe these laws, one must accept that these laws are immutable since they were transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai (the same as the 10 Commandments).
The idea of the Noahide system is as follows:
When G-d created Adam, the first man, He gave him six commandments to live by. If the people of the generations that followed had kept these laws, the world would have been filled with justice and peace.
But most people did not obey these laws. They became so wicked that G-d destroyed them all in a great Flood.
Only Noah, a righteous man who lived in those times, was chosen by G-d to survive the Flood. Noah, together with his family, took from all the creatures in the world and loaded them into a gigantic ship he built, called the Ark.
After the Flood, G-d commanded Noah to obey the six commandments which were given to Adam. Additionally, G-d gave Noach a seventh commandment. Noah and his family then rebuilt the human race.
Later, when G-d gave the Jewish people the Law and all the 613 commandments at Mount Sinai, He also commanded that the nations of the world ensure to keep the Seven Commandments.
According to the Bible these 7 Laws apply to all people, regardless of their religion.
They are:
1. Not to believe in or worship idols.
2. Not to blaspheme or curse G-d.
3. Not to murder.
4. To lead a moral family life.
5. Not to steal.
6. To establish courts of justice to enforce the 7 Laws.
7. Not to eat the Limb (meat or blood) of an animal while it is still alive.
Those who keep these Seven Laws because G-d commanded them so, are called the "righteous amongst the nations of the world" and will be rewarded by G-d and have a portion in the "World to Come."
Where does one find this list of 613 commandments? Most of us can't keep up with the 10 we know about.
Jack,
I believe the 613 commandments Michael mentioned are also known as the "Law of Moses," which devout Jews still live today. A lot of it can be found in Leviticus in the King James Version of the Bible.
The 10 commandments are a general overview of the 613 commandments. As "Patriots Mother" says, they are what the Israelites were commanded. According to the Bible, non-Israelites were also commanded a creed in order to grant them a status as citizens in a "G-dly" world - The post Siniatic world. Keeping these "Seven" general commandments really means keeping many more specific ones. As Joel explains, mankind has a lot of input regarding doing and legislating the "right thing" otherwise there would be no divine "reward and punishment".
But keep in mind that the Hebrew bible does not mean that all mankind has to convert to become a Jew. In fact the Judaism is the only creed where conversion is not the only way to "salvation."
Michael,
You're missing the point. The Bible, or any other religious text, cannot be used as a basis for secular government. The violations to freedom of religion, including the freedom to interpret religious texts according to one's own conscience, cannot be tolerated. You mentioned that your system "hinges on the belief that in order to properly observe these laws, one must accept that these laws are immutable since they were transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai (the same as the 10 Commandments)." This irrefutably casts the system into the realm of religious observation (based essentially on faith) rather than a viable secular law. Also, most of the 7 laws you describe, despite your claim that they apply to all peoples, are religious in essence and subject to interpretation. (Who determines what it means to blaspheme, or to lead a moral life? Wars have been fought over such questions.)
Despite how any of us may feel about the sanctity of the Bible and the truth of our beliefs, the government of a free society must be built on a foundation outside the realm of any religious tenet or book of scripture. Joel's proposed system is based on the recognition of certain "fundamental rights" -- which can be and are defined without reference to any specific book of scripture or religious tenets. From the recognition of those rights, he goes on to propose a government with powers only to defensively prosecute against violations of these fundamental rights. This does not translate into building an amoral society, just a free society -- where actions against others are punishable under the law, but regarding himself a man is free to act, accountable only to the inherent rewards and punishments of the free market system, and to the judgment of his Maker. We must leave people this freedom, if only to protect our own freedom to recognize and interpret scripture according to our beliefs.
You cannot impose restrictions on a person's actions that do not violate your fundamental rights, without actually violating the other person's rights. In a majoritarian system, such as a national government, this is wrong. In a covenant society, on the other hand, a person cedes certain individual rights to act as part of the contract that is the basis for the society. Then, as Joel said, the society is free to prosecute on the basis of their more stringent laws (which can be religious in origin and essence) because such consequences were part of the covenant. You see, a covenant society formed by unanimous consent is free to legislate morality; a majoritarian government is not -- it can only legislate defensively regarding the violation of fundamental rights.
It would be hard to conform interpretations and applications of the principals of the Bible into a set of Constitutional Provisions that apply and respect all of Mans beliefs. Since there are thousands of different sects and religions that stake their claim in having the proper interpretations of the meanings of the scriptures. You could associate this with how the Constitution itself is now interpreted and manipulated to fit into different views of those who read it. Some interpret the Bible as it was written in and applied in it's time and attempt to interpret it literally while another can see it as parables of a moral of the story approach in giving a guideline to apply into present and future events. Some believe the covenants instrumented by Aaron or Moses as still applicable while others view them to be waxed away. Perhaps the only one or ones who can interpret the Bible correctly is the author or the authors themselves. Does any man have this authority to do this and even if a man does would his wisdom and word be trusted in so doing? For did not many during the time of the Bible disregard the word of God?
I think the authors of the Constitution were trying to establish as best they could a way in which to try and protect and preserve the rights and liberties of those who the provisions protect. Even most of them could see how without moral principals that the Constitution could be convoluted and manipulated. I think it is important to try and work out the many different scenarios that could develop in order to propose safeguards in preserving a core document as the Constitution symbolizes. Who would have ever of thought the Constitution would be used in ways to justify the procedures of abortions yet those with this intent it has been perverted to do just that.
Perhaps there is no such thing as a perfect Constitution as long as the ways of men exist. In fact is there really any perfect doctrine, laws or beliefs? For just as we would do our diligent best in trying to provide a set of principals that all good men can live by there will be those who will find ways to twist and turn them into falsehoods. The task is perhaps one of the most challenging throughout time and even as the Bible prescribes mankind will eventually fail until it will finally succeed by nothing more or less than our faith in a Savior. Sorry if that sounds pessimistic yet the Bible only reflects as does human nature reflect that which is inevitable. We will fall to the Babylonian rule and men themselves will not be able to save mankind. Are our efforts in vain to try and save humanity if we really only believe that our Lord and Savior is the only one who can save us? And what were the lessons and guidelines he taught us? That we really only waste our time and his by playing into the game of men. If man was to follow the teachings of Christ he would not be concerned with the paradigms and structures of men. He would cast away all those idol and coveted things and replace them solely with love and spirituality. Yet are any of us truly capable and willing to do just that? Perhaps it is a simple solution yet impossible for a mortal man of the world. Quite the Snafu it can create and leaves one wondering if one should just tune out the ways of men or disregard the teachings of Jesus. The harder we fight against evil the more it spins us in it's web.
It would be to hard to consider principals and teachings of the Bible and trying to apply it to a paradigm of government. For me only God himself can answer these questions and not any man.
On the topic of religion, (Protestantism, in this case), the following appeared in CURRENT THOUGHTS & TRENDS, March 1999. They polled 7,441 Protestant ministers who were asked if the resurrection of Christ actually happened. The percentages below reflect those who do NOT believe in the resurrection as an historical event.
Methodists--51%
Episcopalians--35%
American Baptist--33%
Presbyterians (PCUSA)--30%
American Lutherans--13%
Like the old saying goes, "The times--they are a-changing!"
This is astounding. Not to mention unsettling.
Thanks for the stats, Eden.
Bush’s Moral Message Losing Legitimacy
By Matthew Riemer
(YellowTimes.org) -- On December 19th, 2002, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press released a report entitled "Wealthy nations ... U.S. stands alone in its embrace of religion." The report begins, "Religion is much more important to Americans than to people living in other wealthy nations. Six-in-ten (59%) people in the U.S. say religion plays a very important role in their lives. This is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans' views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations." Countries with a similar percentage to the United States were Venezuela, Mexico, and Turkey.
Such data can perhaps shed light on the public's view of things like politics and war and the criteria used when analyzing information and events. President Bush is a self-proclaimed religious man and this forwardness (as well as its subject) reverberates throughout much of his constituency. This is potentially one of the reasons why he is so revered by a great many people: he doubles as a spiritual everyman. Played out in rhetoric, this tends to lead to the "moralization" of one's activities so the United States' principles, goals, actions, and intentions are placed in a moral context, presented and explained in a we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident manner. The concepts of "good" and "evil" figure predominantly in the exercise of logic.
Essentially, the argument for war in Iraq was -- as is almost everything else -- a moral one. As time goes on, and as other means and methods of logic fail moderate scrutiny, the moral argument that the world is better off without the evil Saddam Hussein is inevitably fallen back upon, revealing its fundamental place within the ideology advanced by pro-militarism advocates.
It is this ideological and moral stratum that unwaveringly supports the Bush administration. To these individuals, the issue of forged documents pertaining to uranium sales, over-hyped stories about aluminum tubes, and the absence of quantities of chemical and biological weapons consistent with Washington's "irrefutable" claims is a moot point. For many Americans, the simple destruction of "evil" is a solid enough pretext for large-scale military intervention, while innocents killed and all the other inevitable crimes and wrongs perpetuated during wars of "liberation" are chalked up to maxims such as "freedom isn't free" and the "price of freedom."
This, however, is not the mindset throughout much of the world, and it is here where the distinction between America and the rest of the first world on religion and moral explanations is useful to look at. The majority of Europe, not to mention the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and South America all opposed Washington's preemptive war and are far less convinced by political theories articulated through moral logic and imperative. It is this large swath of the planet's people and governments for which the Bush administration must satisfactorily explain its actions, even when they may be overlooked domestically.
These two political relationships -- the domestic and the international -- while separate do interact very subtly, forcing the Bush administration to strike a fine balance in its rhetoric and propaganda. The international community and intelligent opposition in the U.S. will demand a more internationalized approach and level of accountability from the Bush administration than the traditional domestic bastion of support found most predominantly in rural America.
But now President Bush is beginning to receive criticism from an increasing number of quarters, whether about how to handle the Niger flap, or how to proceed in Liberia or in Iraq, or how secretive his administration is. This has led to a decline in the believability and legitimacy of a moral explanation for one's every move, as a growing number of people are no longer willing to just accept the Bush administration's statements at face value.
A year ago -- when much of the complex network of lies now being revealed was being laid -- moral politics had a greater currency with the American people who were repeatedly told by government officials and the corporate media about the incomprehensibly evil Saddam Hussein. One event -- Saddam's use of chemical weapons during an attack on the Kurdish village of Halabja -- was emphasized throughout the build-up to war to highlight Saddam's ruthlessness and efficiency as a killer.
The 20th anniversary of this massacre happened to be this past March 15th. In his weekly radio address to the nation, Bush invoked the memories of that day: "This weekend marks a bitter anniversary for the people of Iraq. Fifteen years ago, Saddam Hussein's regime ordered a chemical weapons attack on a village in Iraq called Halabja."
It must be remembered that this was an event that took place under the watchful eye of the Reagan administration, which, at the time, had nothing much to say about the incident, let alone ironically using it as a conduit for propaganda.
The emphasis on Halabja was not only an example of how the Bush administration's main message was the evilness of Saddam Hussein, but also, more importantly, the implicit conclusion drawn from such emphasis: that it is morally obligatory to remove Saddam Hussein from power. In other words, there is no debate in this matter; there is only one way to think.
But now the Bush administration is being forced to act in a more candid manner, and it's having troubling doing it. No one in the administration seems to be terribly frank. Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice don't even appear capable of acting civil. And there's a merry-go-round of blame revolving around who's responsible for the purchase-of-uranium-from-Niger line in the State of the Union address. However, the stepping-down of Ari Fleischer is a positive change. His replacement, Scott McClellan, is far less cynical and is actually willing to engage reporters in dialogue, occasionally saying too much.
Until this point in his tenure, George W. Bush has been able to rely on morality and the American public's response to that as the foundation for his rhetorical platform. The recent approach now being taken by critics on all sides, though, lessens the legitimacy of the traditional methods of justifying his and his administration's actions. The Bush administration's supposed professionalism and prowess are really propped up by a vast network of lies, deception, and complicity on behalf of influential organizations. For example, the Center for Security Policy (CSP) recently said that critics of the Bush administration may be fueling resistance to American forces in Iraq and that to criticize Bush is petty and partisan. So, in a sense, CSP is calling for a moratorium on debate regarding incredibly contentious issues, while invoking the specter of national security and the "safety of our troops" as its compelling reasons.
As the situations facing the Bush administration grow more complex and the presidential election and the campaigning filth it inherently brings draws nearer each week, it's unlikely that the CSP's wishes will be met. The idea that President Bush is literally beyond criticism is likely to offend more than it is to persuade -- especially if one is in disagreement.
http://www.yellowtimes.org
http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=1518&mode=thread&order=0
Church Doesn’t Think Like Jesus
Survey shows only 9% of Christians have biblical worldview
More at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35926
The seven noahide laws are laws based on ancient jewish books the religious leaders at the time wrote. These laws are not in the torah. In addition the first two laws attack the right to religious freedom. Every person should have the right to religiuos freedom. For example - I believe Jesus Christ is to be worshiped and he is the Lord of all lords. Under the noahide laws, if enforced I would be committing idolatry, since the jews do not believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore under their laws, I would be guilty of breaking a law and would be executed by beheading. I have studied these laws extensivly and have had some communication with a jewish web-site concerning the death penalty in their law. The person I communicated with did not think that all people should have religious freedom. They made it clear that their god is the only God and if I disagree, then I should pay the price. They even told me in their email that Jesus Christ is considered an idol under their laws. I tried to explain to the person that you can't force religion or God on a society that it is a personal choice. All my efforts seemed wasted. The person was determined that I was a law breaker. It is scary that extreme religious people want to force their beliefs on the whole world and don't mind killing people who do not bow to their ignorance.
" They made it clear that their god is the only God and if I disagree, then I should pay the price."
But, doesn't christian theology also makes it clear that those who disagree shall pay the price ? Doesn't christian theology also teach that their god is the only God ?
Yarmouth,
Christianity does believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and that he is the only true God. Also, they teach that in the end God will judge all of us. Those who believe and those who don't believe. But Christianity does not claim that God wants Christians to impose this belief or punish people that choose not to believe. Christianity believes God will be the judge. We as mere humans have no authority to say who will or will not have eterenal life. We are commanded to preach the truth of Jesus Christ and True Christians want people to accept Jesus Christ as thier Lord and Savoir so that person can have eternal life. Because true Christians care about thier fellowman. The seven Noahide Laws, which come from the Jewish Talmud, demands a person be beheaded if they do not believe in the same God of the Jewish religion. Being Jewish is to belong to the religion of Judaism, not to belong to a certain race of people. Visit Noah's covenant web-site and see for yourself. I emailed this web-site and was told firmly, that the beheading of Gentiles that worship Jesus Christ or any other God was a command from God. I have searched the Holy Bible and cannot find this command anywhere. This command is found in the Talmud. You can do research on the internet and find all this information.
Religious Freedom is a God given right for all people. When the time comes we shall all know if we made the right decision.
The seve noahide laws were recogniezed by congress as the basis of all civilized countries in March 26,1991. It was done under the deception of public law 102-14 Education Day USA. It's amazing what our government does without the approval of the American people.
Moon Over Washington
Why are some of the capital’s most influential power players hanging out with a bizarre Korean billionaire (Sun Myung Moon) who claims to be the Messiah?
Should Americans be concerned that on March 23rd a bipartisan group of Congressmen attended a coronation at which a billionaire, pro-theocracy newspaper owner was declared to be the Messiah – with royal robes, a crown, the works? Or that this imperial ceremony took place not in a makeshift basement church or a backwoods campsite, but in a Senate office building?
http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=131
The Young Put Their Faith in Mysticism
Young people have more faith in mysticism than in the Church and the Bible, according to research which suggests a revival of the "Age of Aquarius". Nearly two thirds of 18- to 24-year-olds believe in the power of horoscopes, compared to just over a third who swear by the Bible, a survey of 3,000 people has found. While over-45s remain loyal to the Bible, with 71 per cent saying they believed in it, half of those under 45 years old prefer giving credence to astrology. People in Northern Ireland were the most attached to the Bible, with 92 per cent saying they regarded it as an article of faith, compared with just 16 per cent who turned to horoscopes. In the North-East, however, only 28 per cent said they were confident in the Bible.
Full article at
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/18/nmyst18.xml
Spirited Away: Why The End Is Nigh For Religion
Christianity will be eclipsed by spirituality in 30 years, startling new research predicts . . . Twice as many people believe in a “spirit force” within than they do an Almighty God without, while a recent survey hailed a revival of the Age of Aquarius after finding that two thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds had more belief in their horoscopes than in the Bible. More at 7-1342587%2C00.html,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-1342587,00.html
Mexico Becoming a Less Faith-Oriented Nation According to Survey
A recent survey conducted by the World Values Survey, which took place in 81 countries shows that Mexico, like several other countries, is growing in number of people who stop practicing religion. http://www.christianpost.com/dbase/americas/80//1.htm
Spiritual Britain Worships Over 170 Different Faiths
Britons follow more than 170 different faiths or belief systems, according to newly-published official figures which suggest that spirituality is thriving. The huge range of belief, much of it exotic or New Age, has been revealed by the raw statistics collated during the 2001 census, the first national count of religious affiliation. The headline findings released last year showed that the overwhelming majority in England and Wales – 71.1 per cent – still regards itself as Christian, with Muslims making up the second largest religious group. http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/13/nfaith13.xml http://makeashorterlink.com/?R5C32360A
The United States has a greater number of religious groups than any other country in the world, and Adherents.com has literally thousands of adherent statistics for the U.S. This page provides some summary lists of the largest religious groups in the United States:
Twenty Largest Religions in the U.S.
Largest Branches of Christianity in the U.S.
Ten Largest Denominational Families in the U.S.
Largest Denominational Families, based on church attendance
Top 10 Largest Religious Bodies in the U.S.
Gallup Polling Data over the Last Ten Years
Top 10 Religious Bodies with Most Churches
Most Ubiquitous Churches in the U.S.
Religious Bodies which are the Largest Church in One or More States
Washington Post report on extensive year 2000 study: Faith Communities in the United States Today
Barna Poll on actual religious beliefs - shows diversity in belief among American Christians: mainline Protestants, Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Latter-day Saints, Pentecostals, etc.
The above and more at http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#religions
Big-Business Religion
Corporations and parishioners are increasingly coming together to spread the word of God and make money. All across the country, churches — once intimate places of spiritual interconnectedness — have been replaced by stadiums of worship that utilize advanced technological innovations to awe, edify and rip off those in attendance.
Full commentary at
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/2/25/150558.shtml
State Churches?
Supreme Justices Rehnquist, Scalia, and Thomas believe the U.S. Constitution allows States to establish official Churches. Is this our future?
Full commentary at http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1028
Approximately 100 Million American Church Members Have Very Little to No Understanding of Bible Prophecy
By Bill Koenig, Jan. 17, 2005
Today there are approximately 100 million American church members who have very little to no understanding of Bible prophecy. These church members are from replacement theology churches that don’t teach Bible prophecy and who look at prophetic scriptures as allegorical and not literal. Consequently, they do not understand the importance of Israel to the God of Israel or God’s redemptive plan for Israel and the nations...
These church members also have no understanding of the biblical significance of what is transpiring today in Israel, Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and in other Middle East nations. They are also not aware of the significance of the formation of the European Union, new ID technologies and much more.
I have shared the biblical significance of our times with some of these people and almost all of them can’t process the information mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And due to fear they do not want to hear more. They also have no point of reference in which to start if they had interest.
The good news is those who understand Bible prophecy are fully aware of the significance of Israel, God’s time clock, and are watching the times with great interest and expectancy...
Below is a list of the 25 largest churches in America. The churches [#s 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24]...are confirmed replacement theology churches. We are still attempting to confirm a few of the smaller church positions.
The Church
U.S. Membership Denominational Ranking: Largest 25 Denominations / Communions -- 2004 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches
1. The Roman Catholic Church - 66,407,105
2. Southern Baptist Convention – 16, 427, 736
3. The United Methodist Church - 8,251,042
4. The Church of God in Christ - 5,499,875
5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 5,410,544
6. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - 5,038,006
7. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. - 5,000,000
8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. - 3,500,000
9. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - 3,407,329
10. Assemblies of God - 2,687,366
11. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - 2,512,714
12. African Methodist Episcopal Church - 2,500,000
13. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America - 2,500,000
14. Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc. - 2,500,000
15. The Episcopal Church - 2,333,628
16. Churches of Christ, Corsicana, Texas - 1,500,000
17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - 1,500,000
18. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. - 1,500,000
19. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. - 1,484,291
20. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - 1,430,795
21. United Church of Christ - 1,330,985
22. Baptist Bible Fellowship International - 1,200,000
23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, Joplin, Mo. - 1,071,616
24. Jehovah's Witnesses - 1,022,397
25. Church of God, Cleveland, Tenn., - 944,857
http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=64261&rtn=/articles.html&showsubj=1&mcat=1
Witchcraft Continues Extraordinary Growth Among Young
Teen witch caught up in spells
by Melissa Wickham
At age 11, he cast his first spell. Now at 18 years old, Jason (not his real name) professes to be a practicing witch.
It is the latest craze among teenagers not only in the United States and Europe but also right here in Barbados. Jason is just one of a growing number of youngsters who has rejected Christianity and is embracing witchcraft as a way of life.
They cast spells to pass exams, predict the future by communicating with the spirit world and even place curses on others. If you think your son or daughter could never be one of them, think again.
Most of the teenagers in Jason's circle of friends have parents who are devout Christians and who have no idea of what they're up to.
Jason, a student of the Barbados Community College gave the SUNDAY SUN a glimpse into his world of spells, rituals and divination.
It started when he was eight years old. He recalled seeing the spirit of his paternal grandmother who had been dead for a number of years. And, at age 17, he predicted the death of his other grandmother. Soon after, she died.
From there, he got curious about the supernatural, researched it on the Internet, read books and chatted with other practitioners around the world. Now, he's well versed in the teachings of witchcraft.
His gifts or abilities, he says, are in the realm of dreams, premonitions and empathy – the ability to take on how others around him are feeling.
Jason's parents are Christian-minded and aren't pleased in the least about his chosen path. However, he said they didn't interfere even though they objected.
He grew up in a Methodist family but when he attended church he said he felt nothing. It was only when he tapped into the supernatural that he felt "connected".
"To me there is less judgment in witchcraft and more acceptance and freedom than in Christianity. I see it as a tyrant religion. I feel more of a connection to witchcraft than Christianity. I would sit in church and just be there because I was sent there," he said.
While he believes in God and Jesus, it is not in the same way Christians believe.
"I believe there is a spirit for everything in this world. I also believe that smaller spirits or angels are responsible for different things.
"I don't believe in the devil as in giving him that much power, or acknowledging him. A great misconception is that witches worship the devil; in fact, that was why many of them were killed in the past," said Jason, adding:
"Witchcraft is nature-based. It is a form of spirituality. It is about the love of nature, being solely confident and using your own will to get things or make things happen. It is working with energy. The whole world is energy – trees are energy, flowers and human beings are energy."
But this "energy" which he classifies as white magic also has a dark side. A side he crossed over to in the past, though he stays clear of it now.
"When I was 11, I was just getting into it. I gathered my cousins and instructed them to stand in a circle. I didn't know anything really but I had seen it in a movie called The Craft and I repeated something I heard from it.
"There was this boy our age who lived next door and I didn't like him much, so I got a needle and made them prick their fingers, smeared the blood on a piece of paper and, in my mind, I visualized him being punished in some way.
"In the evening, he was out on his bike, he fell off, landed on some 'galvanize' and cut himself up badly. I stopped because I didn't really want to harm or kill anyone," he recounted.
There was also another time when he placed a hex on a bully at his secondary school using what those in the world of witchcraft would call "the evil eye", where a witch just looks upon someone and curses them in that moment.
However, he only does this if he's really angry with someone to the point where he wants to physically beat that person. Instead of carrying out the action, he uses the same energy to put a curse on the individual.
"Persons I've tried hexing have either ended up being sick or harmed.
"The guy who was harassing me at school, my best friend and I placed a hex on him just by looking at him (the evil eye). He became ill for about a week," he disclosed.
There were no set rules as to how long a hex would last, he said.
One, however, must be careful. According to Jason, there is a law or rule in witchcraft which states that if you harm anyone without justification, then you can expect it to come back to you three-fold.
But besides bringing harm, he said he could also use his craft to heal people of sickness and disease. He can use dolls like those used in voodoo to heal different parts of the body.
"Persons who practice witchcraft aren't necessarily evil or dark. It has to do with intent. A person can be either good or bad. Some Christians can be good or bad too. They can pray to God to strike down someone for some reason, for example," he said.
The young witch uses a number of aids in his craft. They can range from tarot cards for practicing divination or candles for use in candle magic, (using candles in rituals and spells).
A red candle, for instance, is used for bringing about passion or romance while white is for purity, black symbolizes evil, loss or discord while a greenish-yellow candle can invoke sickness, cowardice, anger or jealously.
Though he owns one, he shies away from Ouija boards and pointed out that he didn't sacrifice animals nor do seances in any of his rituals.
"I believe the dead should be left alone," he said.
Though Jason works alone, there are more like him throughout the island, he says. They sit in classrooms in secondary and tertiary institutions.
"There are a good few young people I've met both here in Barbados and abroad who are into witchcraft.
"Those from overseas, I communicate with them online. The ones here, I've met at college. I've heard of others at the University of the West Indies," he said.
And, witchcraft can be used to help them succeed in examinations.
"There are spells to pass exams but when you cast them you still have to make an effort. It is just not a case of hocus-pocus," he pointed out.
Some youngsters like Jason are bold, they have no problem talking about their craft, while others prefer to practice in secret.
And, there is a rule – a witch never points out another witch. They usually know each other from wearing symbols like the pentacle – a five-point star with circle. It represents earth, water, fire, spirit and air and is a popular symbol of witchcraft.
Not everyone is accepting of what he does. He found this out on the first day at college.
"I introduced myself as a practicing witch. The classroom got silent and all the students pulled their chairs away from me. But, as they got to know me and not just what I practice, it doesn't matter," he said, boasting that some of his friends are Christians.
Jason intends to keep on developing his craft. He believes there is no one right path or religion; and only God can judge him in the end.
However, Pastor Wesley Dear of Covenant Life Teaching Center, Green Hill, St Michael, said Jason and teenagers like him were playing with fire.
The Bible clearly spoke out against witchcraft and its consequences, he said.
"There is no doubt that people can get results from these types of practices but to their own detriment," the pastor said, adding: "Anyone who seeks out the occult for answers, brings a curse upon their lives, their household and their seed for generations."
He quoted scripture to back up his stance, particularly Deuteronomy 18:10-12 which states:
"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells or who is a medium or spiritist who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord . . ."
Father Clement Paul, Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic Church, said anyone who associated with dark or supernatural powers could bring harm to themselves.
"They are interfering in a world that we don't know much about and therefore a lot of damage can be done to one's mental balance in the long run," he said.
Father Paul said the Church had failed if young people saw Christianity as a tyrannical religion and were turning to witchcraft for answers.
"I think Christianity needs to get out there and listen to people. We need to get into the schools, colleges and any other place where it (witchcraft) exists, hear the problems of young people and find out what leads them into witchcraft."
© 1997-2005 Nation Publishing Company Limited
http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/lead-story161.htm
Pat Robertson is back on the news treadmill after telling his viewers that Islam wants to take over the world and is not a religion of peace, and that radical Muslims are "satanic." Robertson's past comments underscore the fact that nobody other than Robertson himself has done more to desert so-called Christian principles.-Paul Joseph Watson/Prison Planet
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/march2006/140306patrobertson.htm
Gorbachev's Gaia Graphics
Since presiding over the fall of Communism, Mikhail Gorbachev has moved on to a different mode for the imposition of a utopian vision on humanity. Perhaps sensing that religious impulses remain far more powerful than the dreams of Karl Marx, he is working to harness religion to environmentalism, via his new nonprofit vehicle, Green Cross International . Beneath a veneer of conventional do-gooder environmentalism is a pathway to worship Gaia, the earth as a goddess.
Full commentary at http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/lead-story398.htm