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END-TIME
CHURCH / PLURALISM
- GREETINGS
- -----
- QUICK VIEW OF UPDATED INDEXES
http://cephas-updates.cephasministry.com
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-
But
of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that
I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they
shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon
them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape.
-
- But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief.
-
- (Notice that Christians
are mutually exclusive from the world, that is why I cannot accept
the post tribulation Rapture which happens after the mark of
the Beast is offered.)
Ye are all the children
of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us
watch and be sober. (Present tense)
-
- For they that
sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken
in the night.
-
- But let us, who are of the
day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not
appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who died for us, that, whether
we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also
ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour
among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And
to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
-
- And be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort
the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man;
but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and
to all men.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench
not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-
- Faithful is he that
calleth you,
who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren
with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle
be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-28)
(kjv)
- <<The first epistle
to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.>>
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- : We believe every word in the KJV Bible and believe it is
the Word of God and that Jesus is the Christ, God Himself, who
spilled His blood on the cross for our sins and rose again to
prepare a place for those who repent and accept 'His' righteousness
as their righteousness and repent of their sins. They are those
who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, Jews first
and then Gentiles. "Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with me." We invite you to take this
opportunity to say 'yes' to Jesus and commit your life to Him
only by clicking on this link: Salvation
- Luke 12:20,21 "But
God said unto him, "Thou fool,
this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall
those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth
up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
We pray the Lord will bless you with a thirst for truth and a
desire to serve Him exclusively, in Christ Jesus, Cephas Ministry
/ Cephas Library.
- For the updated (red sparkles) main index go to http://www.cephasministry.com/index2.html
- -----
- We at Cephas Ministry cordially invite you to subscribe
to our free newsletters for controversial News Updates regarding
Church / Global Issues / Israel, edited by Rita
Williams, Cephas News Pulse and Rapture Watch by
Jamma Mokhriby at http://www.cephasministry.com/mail/
- If you have questions you might check out related websites:
- http://rapturewatch.cephasministry.com
- http://rock-to-salt.cephasministry.com
- http:/www.cephasministry.com/index2.html
- http://www.cephasministry.com/index_news.html
- GREETINGS to all and the newcomers to this list. We'd like
to introduce ourselves. George and Rita Williams founded this
ministry. We were Mormons (Temple Mormons) for 20 years. We prayed
to God in 1992 to allow us to do a ministry speaking out against
Scientology. Six months later God led us to the truth: out of
the cult of Mormonism. We did not know at the time we were in
a cult. No-one had witnessed to us in 20 years.
- The Holy Spirit brought us to information about all the cults
and the present development of the New World Order. We began
bringing our research to you. Because all the research was already
done, we decided to build a library within Cephas Ministry. Our
newsletters are not designed to provoke
anger which is strictly prohibited in Scripture. It is to shed
light on activities by those who would deceive those who are
recorded in the Book of Life by devious methods and systematic
plans.
- We are Bible students and have left all worldly organizations.
We attend church if the message is from the authorized Bible.
The focus of these newsletters is to prove why we had to leave
the world system. We are called 'Watchmen on the Wall' which
God always had during the Old / New Testament Times.
- To understand what is happening, one has to know the Bible
to compare notes.
- The first section is about the church.
The news about churches is unedited unless indicated by Ednotes.
The church as we knew it, is undergoing disintegration. This
began on a fast track in the early nineteen sixties when the
Catholic Church produced liberal Vatican II to replace Vatican
I.
- The trend since then has been ecumenical which is truly what
the word 'Catholicism' means: a universal religion all
inclusive and multicultural. The Bible calls for a final church
which doesn't resemble what Jesus taught. The Word of God has
undergone many changes to fit the present mode. The Bible calls
for a falling away from the truth before Jesus
comes back for His Bride, the true believers are called 'Ekklesia.'
Our newsletters prove this fact and prove that the Bible is true
from beginning to end.
- The second section is about globalism
where we bring your attention to the social, political and global
trend, so called democratizing what is left. One third of the
world still remains to be taken over. It again proves that we
are moving to closure of the times of the Gentiles prophesied
in the Bible.
- The third section compliments End Time
teachings with what is happening in Israel. We describe and watch
for signs of the coming Tribulation to confirm that we are moving
into that space of time.
- Watchmen on the wall do not solicit memberships. We have
an email group that gets information when we upload new information
and a newsletter whenever it is possible time wise. We love the
Lord with all our hearts and minds and we love all people God
has created but especially those who love our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. Our Statement of Faith is at http://www.cephasministry.com/statement_of_faith.html
- To email go to: http://www.email-cephas.com
- To subscribe or unsubscribe go to: http://www.cephasministry.com/mail/
-
 TODAY'S 'HOLY SCRIPTURES' STUDY:
MERCY'S DAY WILL SOON BE GONE - The following is from H.A. Ironside's
commentary on Revelation: "I would remind my hearers that
time for us is flying by quickly. If any of you is unsaved, it
is well for you to remember that mercy's day is quickly gone.
Gospel light already seems to be vanishing from the earth;
the darkening apostasy is making rapid strides; a famine for
hearing the Word of the Lord will soon be here. Oh, that now,
in this day of grace, men would heed the testimony of the Scripture
of truth, receive the virgin-born Son of God as Saviour and Lord,
and spurn the lies of every Antichrist."
- But friends in Christ, do not be discouraged by any of this.
It is God's will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3)
and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. These
things remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be
ready for the coming of the Lord. Are you sure that you are born
again? Are you living for Christ day by day? "And that,
knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:
for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night
is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put
on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly,
as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering
and wantonness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil
the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:11-14). Compliments of Dave
Cloud of Way of Life Literature - http://www.wayoflife.org
-----
- [Ednote: IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER, LISTEN TO THIS MP3 OF STAN
MONTEITH AND BARRY CHAMISH. IT IS THE MOST REVEALING I HAVE WITNESSED
ABOUT ISRAEL. THE POPE WANTS MOUNT ZION AND HENRY KISSINGER HAS
BECOME HIS CLOSE ADVISOR]
- STAN MONTEITH OF LIBERTY RADIO INTERVIEWED BARRY CHAMISH
12.15.2006 WE MAY HAVE CELEBRATED THE LAST HANUKKAH
IN 2006
- Stan Monteith Radio Liberty
- Interview
with Barry Chamish 12.16.2006 He tells how close we are!
- Barry's Books at a2z Book Depot http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/israel_bookx.html
- Barry's Books at LuLu http://www.lulu.com/
- Barry's Website: http://www.thebarrychamishwebsite.com/
- More programs by Stan Monteith: http://www.soundwaves2000.com/radio%5Fliberty/
- -----
- THE BONDAGE MAKERS - AN IMPORTANT BOOK
- January 24, 2007 - The following is an excerpt from "The
Bondage Makers: How the Unbiblical Spiritual Warfare Movement
Is Enslaving Believers" by Ignacio Rovirosa. This important
book is an expose of the doctrinal errors and spiritual dangers
of the popular contemporary spiritual warfare philosophy as promoted
through books such as "The Bondage Breaker" by Neil
Anderson.
- Ignacio Rovirosa, a native Cuban, is a missionary to the
people of Cuba. He has pastored Hispanics and worked with national
pastors in Peru, Mexico, and Cuba. His home church is Emmanuel
Baptist in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, one of our favorite
churches. He is currently traveling extensively to raise support
for his burden to teach the people of Cuba.
- The chapter titles of "The Bondage Makers" are
as follows:
- Chapter 1 - Sharing Personal Experiences of Spiritual Warfare
Chapter 2 - Biblical Spiritual Warfare vs. Modern Day Spiritual
Warfare
Chapter 3 - Who Can and Cannot be "Demonized"
Chapter 4 - The Devil Made Me Do It
Chapter 5 - An Epidemic and the Real Enemy
Chapter 6 - The Cure and the Consequences
- The back cover describes the book as follows:
- "The so-called modern day spiritual warfare movement
has invaded the local church. It has come in quietly and has
done great damage to many sound churches. This truly unbiblical
teaching has come in the form of self help programs. Christian
Psychology, addiction programs, and many others. Is spiritual
warfare valid today? In the true biblical sense it is, but in
the modern day version it is nothing more than an attempt to
channel demons as well as another way to blame others for our
own actions. There have been lives lost as a result of this teaching
and many others who have been spiritually, emotionally, and physically
harmed. Has this teaching invaded your local church? This book
will prove that the teachings of the modern day spiritual warfare
movement truly are Bondage Makers."
- "The Bondage Makers" is available from --
- www.Christianbook.com / www.xulonpress.com / or directly
from Ignacio Rovirosa, P.O. Box 292, Lattimore, NC 28089 (email
jn155@juno.com) Click on the link for an excellent article relating
to the book by David Cloud of http://www.wayoflife.org - http://www.cephas-library.com/evangelists_book_the_bondage_makers.html
- -----
- POPE: CATHOLICS RESPECT ISLAM
Vatican City - January 20, 3007 - Pope Benedict underlined in
a message to Turkey on Friday his respect for the Islamic faith,
which many Muslims believe he portrayed as violent in a speech
in 2006, and called on all religions to denounce violence. The
pontiff, welcoming Turkey's new ambassador to the Vatican and
recalling his fence-mending trip there in 2006, hailed Turkey
as a "bridge" between East and West but stopped short
of backing its aspirations to European Union membership. "During
my memorable journey I showed repeatedly the respect the Catholic
Church has for Islam and the esteem in which the Pope and the
faithful hold Muslim believers, especially on my visit to Istanbul's
Blue Mosque," he said in a speech. ... Full story:
- http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_World&set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1169217901644B213
- -----
- RICK WARREN JOINS CHUCK COLSON IN A NEW VIDEO PRESENTATION
- Church News, January 26, 2007 - Southern Baptist pastor Rick
Warren of Purpose Driven Life fame has joined Chuck Colson in
a new video presentation entitled "Wide Angle: Framing Your
Worldview." The two "tackle some of the key issues
of our day: truth vs. relativism, creationism vs. Darwinism,
tolerance, terrorism, etc." Chuck Colson is one of the most
radical ecumenists of our generation. He is the founder of Prison
Fellowship, of which more than 70% of the chaplains are Roman
Catholic. In his foreword to Roman Catholic Keith Fournier's
dangerous book entitled Evangelical Catholics, Colson said, "But
at root those who are called of God, whether Catholic or Protestant,
are part of the same Body. ... It's high time that all of us
who are Christians come together regardless of the difference
of our confessions and our traditions." In his book The
Body, Colson wrote, "The body of Christ, in all its diversity,
is created with Baptist feet, Charismatic hands, and Catholic
ears--all with their eyes on Jesus." On March 29, 1994,
Colson joined Catholic priest Richard John Neuhaus and other
Protestants and Roman Catholics as originators of a statement
called "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian
Mission in the Third Millennium." The document stated: "We
together, Evangelicals and Catholics, confess our sins against
the unity that Christ intends for all his disciples." After
meeting Pope John Paul II in 1995, Colson described him as a
friend of Christian orthodoxy. What blindness! The only orthodoxy
the late Pope stood for was the heretical orthodoxy of Roman
Catholicism. Pope John Paul II had "Totally Yours"
in Latin embroidered on his papal robes, testifying of his complete
devotion not to Jesus Christ but to Mary! A large M was inscribed
on the Pope's coffin. When is the allegedly biblically conservative
Southern Baptist Convention going to rise up and demand that
Rick Warren leave the denomination? I would like to see it, but
I am not holding my breath. http://www.wayoflife.org
- -----
- FROM RUNNING AGAINST THE WIND
- Brian Flynn: "... As I walked into the sanctuary of
a local Lutheran church with a few friends of mine one Sunday
evening, I realized we should have come a little earlier. The
place was filling up quickly. The special guest speaker was Thomas
Keating, a Catholic monk considered one of the main individuals
responsible for introducing contemplative prayer into the mainstream.
While I knew quite a bit about Thomas Keating's beliefs and teachings,
I was not prepared that evening to hear the disturbing and haunting
remarks made by this priest in an evangelical church. The event
was sponsored by the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach. Their
newsletter states that over a recent twelve-month period, they
have:
- * Served over 44,000 people through 3000 programs.
* Supported over 120 Chapters in 30 countries.
* Reached 12,000 people through Centering Prayer Introductory
programs.
- In Keating's "Transforming the Heart of the World"
brochure, he states, "Contemplative Outreach aims to transmit
the experience of Divine Love to the global community."
Keating began the evening's service by leading the more than
300 in attendance through a twenty-minute centering prayer meditation.
When the meditation time ended Keating proceeded to share his
views on contemplative prayer. He said that by practicing this
mantra-style prayer on a regular basis, the practitioner can
erase the causes that affect unwanted, negative behavior. (This
is an excerpt from Brian Flynn's Running Against the Wind. http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/raw11.pdf
- -----
- INFORMATION WARFARE IN THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE OVER GOD'S HOLY
WORD
- http://endtimepilgrim.org/infowar.htm
- -----
- A PURPOSE DRIVEN PLAN
by Roger Oakland - Have you noticed that Christianity is undergoing
a major transition? "Purpose Driven" pastors are producing
"Purpose Driven" churches that are filled with "Purpose
Driven" believers. Further, the gospel message that reminds
man their need for a Savior has been replaced by the idea that
the kingdom of God can be established on earth by human effort.
Why is this?
- Christianity has always undergone times when new ideas, trends
or fads are promoted in the name of Jesus Christ. While proponents
of these ideas claim they have discovered a new formula or plan
that will produce a new and better brand of believer, we must
always test these ideas authored by man with the Scriptures.
- In the past, many genuine believers have been led astray,
believing that the "new enlightenment" was the ultimate
answer to the world?s problems that had previously been hidden
in the Bible until recently uncovered or rediscovered.
- However, the Bible commands that faith in God must be based
on the Word of God. When man?s word does not line up with God's
Word, we should always stick with God's Word.
- History reveals this has not always been the case for many
sincere professing Christians. Numerous are the examples of spiritually
shipwrecked churches and families who followed spiritual leaders
who led unsuspecting believers away from the Scriptures. http://www.understandthetimes.org/commentary/c56.shtml
- -----
- CHRISTIAN CHAPLAIN DISMISSED, MUSLIM CHAPLAIN PROMOTED
- By Chuck Baldwin - January 23, 2007. Chaplain Lt. Gordon
James Klingenschmitt has been court-martialled and dismissed
from the US Navy. His crime: Praying in Jesus' name in uniform
outside a chapel. You read it right. After 15 1/2 years of exemplary
service, Lt. Klingenschmitt is being drummed out of the Navy.
. .
- "[T]he Pentagon recently promoted a Wahhabi-trained
Muslim chaplain who catered to al-Qaida detainees at Guantanamo
and fought to establish the first Mosque in Marine Corps history".
. . Full story: newswithviews.com
- http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin343.htm
- -----
- BEWARE OF CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE HYPOCRISY
- Paul Proctor: "....Want a shock? Go to your favorite
Christian website, more specifically, to the page where they
sell books. Type the names of known heretics and false teachers
into the site's search engine; names of authors from the church
growth movement, emerging church movement, Word Faith movement
and even the New Age and see what pops up on the screen for sale.
Brace yourself though, because you're probably going to be surprised.
Believe it or not, some Christian bookstores are even selling
the published works of homosexuals, pagans and occultists! But
that's not all."
In a follow-up column, I published an open letter to American
Family Association's, Tim Wildmon, questioning some rather disturbing
contradictions between what he publicly opposes and what AFA
offers for sale in their American Family Resource Center online.
In the open letter article entitled, Dear Mr. Wildmon, one of
my questions to him was: "Why do you interview authors like
Brian Flynn on your Worldview Weekend radio program about the
dangers of new age mystical practices like Contemplative Prayer,
as if you oppose it, when you've been selling the books of New
Age and Contemplative authors from your American Family Resource
Center all along?"
http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor110.htm
- -----
 "THE PEOPLES
OF THE WORLD ARE PLUNGED INTO A "STRONG DELUSION"
- Using Proven Principles of the "Six Step Attitudinal
Change Plan", James Cameron (33rd Degree Mason) introduces
new documentary arguing that Jesus' bones have been discovered!
- This insidious and invisible change plan changes many people's
minds simply by being publicly aired and debated -- even if the
defendants of the status quo argue brilliantly against the proposed
change!
- Is this End of the Age prophecy about to be fulfilled?
- "Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence,
a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe
what is false..." (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
- Jesus’ burial site found - film claims
- New film documents discovery of Jerusalem cave containing
ten caskets believed to hold remains of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene
and others Ariella Ringel-Hoffman Published: 02.23.07 / Israel
Culture
- The cave in which Jesus Christ was buried has been found
in Jerusalem, claim the makers of a new documentary film.
- If it proves true, the discovery, which will be revealed
at a press conference in New York Monday, could shake up the
Christian world as one of the most significant archeological
finds in history.
- The coffins which, according to the filmmakers held the remains
of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother Mary and Mary Magdalene will
be displayed for the first timeon Monday in New York.
- Jointly produced by Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker
Simcha Jacobovici and Oscar winning director James Cameron, the
film tells the exciting and tortuous story of the archeological
discovery.
- The story starts in 1980 (EDNOTE:WHY EXPOSE
IT NOW?) in Jerusalem’s Talpiyot neighborhood, with the
discovery of a 2,000 year old cave containing ten coffins. Six
of the ten coffins were carved with inscriptions reading the
names: Jesua son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Matthew, Jofa (Joseph,
identified as Jesus’ brother), Judah son of Jesua (Jesus’
son - the filmmakers claim).
- Decades of research The findings in the cave, including the
decipherment of the inscriptions, were first revealed about ten
years ago by internationally renowned Israeli archeologist Professor
Amos Kloner.
- Since their discovery, the caskets were kept in the Israeli
Antiquities Authority archive in Beit Shemesh, but now two have
been sent to New York for their first public exhibition.
- Although the cave was discovered nearly 30 years ago
and the casket inscriptions decoded ten years ago, the filmmakers
are the first to establish that the cave was in fact the burial
site of Jesus and his family.
- The film, which documents the stages of the discovery, is
the result of three years labor and research. It will be broadcast
on the international Discovery Channel, Britain's Channel 4,
Canada’s Vision and Israel’s Channel 8, which also
took part in the film's production. According to the filmmakers,
the film’s claim is based on close work with world-famous
scientists, archeologists, statisticians, DNA specialists and
antiquities experts.
- http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3368731,00.html
- http://cuttingedge.org/news/n2192.cfm
- -----
- FILMAKER SHOWS RELICS FROM DISPUTED JESUS TOMB
- Right on schedule, the film maker of this documentary, James
Cameron held a news conference in New York City to promote the
thesis of his new documentary, i.e., that archeologists had discovered
Jesus' bones in an ancient ossuary! But, why should we be surprised
that Cameron would want to discredit Christianity to its very
core? Mr. Cameron is
 a 33rd
Degree Freemason (R.A. Coombes, author of "America,
The Babylon: America's Destiny, Foretold In Biblical Prophecy"
-- in an email dated 2/25/2007)
- Let us review this Cameron's conference.
- NEWS BRIEF: "Filmmaker shows relics from disputed Jesus
tomb", By Christine Kearney, Reuters News, February 26,
- "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hollywood director James Cameron
displayed on Monday artifacts that he said might have come from
the tomb of Jesus, which once contained his remains, those of
Mary Magdalene, and possibly their son, Judah ... Cameron and
a team of scholars showed two stone ossuaries, or bone boxes,
that he said might have once contained the bones of Jesus and
Mary Magdalene. The findings are the subject of a documentary
he produced called 'The Lost Tomb of Jesus' and a book 'The Jesus
Family Tomb'."
- "The two small caskets were part of 10 found in 1980
during construction in South Jerusalem. Several had inscriptions
translated as Jesus, Mary Magdalene and 'Judah, son of Jesus',
Cameron told a news conference at the New York Public Library
surrounded by scholars and archeologists ...The documentary comes
on the heels of the huge success of the novel 'The Da Vinci Code',
which contends that Mary Magdalene had a child with Jesus ...
After they were discovered, the bones were reburied according
to Orthodox tradition, leaving just the boxes with inscriptions
and human residue to be examined though ongoing DNA testing."
[There is no way DNA of Jesus can be tested since He went
back to the Father in Heaven in full bodily form and sits at
His right hand today.]
- -----
- [EDNOTE: HOW SOCIAL ENGINEERS GET THE CHANGE DONE]
- SIX STEP ATTITUDINAL CHANGE PLAN
- Step 1. Some practice so offensive that it can scarcely be
discussed in public is advocated by a RESPECTED expert in a RESPECTED
forum.
- Step 2. At first, the public is shocked, then outraged.
- Step 3. But, the VERY FACT that such a thing could be publicly
debated becomes the SUBJECT of the debate.
- Step 4. In the process, sheer repetition of the shocking
subject under discussion gradually dulling its effect.
- Step 5. People then are no longer shocked by the subject.
- Step 6. No longer outraged, people begin to argue for positions
to moderate the extreme; or, they accept the premise, challenging,
instead, the means to ACHIEVE it.
- This insidious method of changing the deeply-held attitudes
of people is being successfully directed toward the American
and world population as a whole. Millions of people are experiencing
attitudinal changes on a wide variety of subjects today. This
attitudinal change is essential to achieving the New World Order.
- Nothing seems so repugnant to most people than the idea that
some force is manipulating and changing their life silently,
invisibly. People react so negatively, it seems they feel almost
violated, almost raped. Back in the early 1960's, as I recall,
the American people learned that a process of 'invisible' advertising
had been successfully developed and tested in theaters, called
Subliminal Advertising.
http://cuttingedge.org/news/n2192.cfm
- -----
- FILMMAKER SHOWS RELICS FROM DISPUTED JESUS TOMB
Feb 26, 2007 By Christine Kearney - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hollywood
director James Cameron displayed on Monday artifacts that he
said might have come from the tomb of Jesus, which once contained
his remains, those of Mary Magdalene, and possibly their son,
Judah.
- But others said it was just a publicity stunt backed by the
man who made the movie "Titanic" and "The Terminator"
to promote a documentary and a book, and likely untrue.
- Cameron and a team of scholars showed two stone ossuaries,
or bone boxes, that he said might have once contained the bones
of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The findings are the subject of
a documentary he produced called "The Lost Tomb of Jesus"
and a book "The Jesus Family Tomb."
- Reuters Pictures
- The two small caskets were part of 10 found in 1980 during
construction in South Jerusalem. Several had inscriptions translated
as Jesus, Mary Magdalene and "Judah, son of Jesus,"
Cameron told a news conference at the New York Public Library
surrounded by scholars and archeologists. "This is the beginnings
of an ongoing investigation," Cameron said. "If things
come to light that erode this investigation, then so be it."
If true, the revelations are likely to raise the ire of Christians
because the discovery would challenge the belief that Jesus was
resurrected and ascended to heaven. The documentary comes on
the heels of the huge success of the novel "The Da Vinci
Code," which contends that Mary Magdalene had a child with
Jesus. Continued at...
- http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=
- 2007-02-26T234554Z_01_N26319137_RTRUKOC_0_US-JESUS-TOMB.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
- -----
 [Editor: "NOTICE
666 ON THIS COFFIN?? (six points in left and right circle
and six cicles in the middle. Circles represent eternal life
among other things."]
- SCORN POURED ON DIRECTOR'S COFFIN OF CHRIST' THEORY
- 25.02.07 Archaeologists and biblical scholars have poured
scorn on a Hollywood film director's sensational claim that he
has discovered the coffin of Jesus Christ.
- Oscar-winning 'Titanic' director James Cameron's assertion
that the bones of Jesus and his family were hidden for centuries
in a Jerusalem tomb caused an outcry in the Holy Land. Srory
continued at: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23386857-
- details/I%27ve%2Bfound%2Bthe%2Bcoffin%2Bof%2BJesus%2C%2Bsays%2Bfilm%2Bdirector/article.do
- -----
- THE END IS HERE?
- Alpha and Omaga Report - February 24, 2007: A film is in
production to "prove" that Christ didn't resurrect
and Jesus' Body found. A photo of the entry
way into traditional tomb site within the RCC Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. The church campus encompasses both the tomb and crucifixion
spot. It was built originally in 335 A.D. by Emporer Constantine
after first tearing down a temple dedicated to the Mother of
the Harlots - Venus (aka Ishtar, Chief Goddess of Babylon) Story continued:
http://www.cephasministry.com/davinci_code_the_end_is_here.html
- -----
- MITT ROMNEY, ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MORMON CHURCH, JOINED THE
RACE FOR
- THE WHITE HOUSE.
- Even long before Mitt Romney officially joined the race for
the White House, he faced questions about his faith
- Romney is an active member of the Mormon Church - a religious
movement widely considered by mainstream Christians to be, theologically,
a cult of Christianity. [Note the differences between theological
and sociological definitions of the term ‘cult’]
- After all, Mormon theology - on subjects ranging from Jesus
Christ to Salvation, and from the veracity of the Bible to whether
or not God keeps changing his mind (he does according to Mormonism)
- is vastly different from that of Christianity. Evangelical
Christians form a large voting block in the US, and in one recent
poll a large percentage of people said they would not even consider
voting for a Mormon candidate. Mormons, meanwhile, insist that
they are Christians - often pointing to the official name of
their church, “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”
as proof. They - and others - usually do not take into account
that Mormons and Christians use the same terminology, but with
vastly different meanings. We have a large collection of research
resources on Mormonism, and we invite Mormons, Christians and
others alike to study them.
- Meanwhile, JesusNotJoseph.com
- a Christian ministry - has produced an informative video titled,
“Mitt Romney and Mormonism.” The video - which focuses
more on Mormonism that on Mitt Romney - uses an interview Romney
had on the Charlie Rose show as a springboard for conversation
that includes Christian apologists Bill McKeever, Timothy Oliver,
Matt Slick and others.
- -----
- ROMNEY'S FAITH DRAWS REGENT CAMPUS' IRE
AP, via the Chicago Tribune, USA - March 2, 2007 - Sonja Barisic
- NORFOLK, Va. — Some students and alumni at an evangelical
Christian university founded by Pat Robertson are upset with
the commencement choice of Republican presidential candidate
Mitt Romney, a Mormon. “My initial reaction was, how could
they do this?” said Lynne Gilham, a Columbus, Ohio, minister
and former reporter who had posted a comment denouncing the choice
on a ministry blog. She said she earned a master’s degree
in journalism from the school, Regent University, in 1992.
- Gilham said Friday that she understands “evangelicals
in an academic context need to be exposed to other viewpoints.”
But she fears inviting a speaker of the Mormon faith “would
confuse young Christians who are not so firmly grounded in Christian
doctrine.” Continued on: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17616/mitt-romney-2
- http://www.chicagotribune.com
- -----
- DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FILED BY HANK HANEGRAAFF THROWN OUT OF
COURT
Religion News Blog, Netherlands - March 2, 2007 - Anton Hein
- The defamation lawsuit filed by Hank Hanegraaff against Christian
apologist Bill Alnor has been thrown out of court. In January,
2005, Alnor posted an editorial in his online magazine, The Christian
Sentinel, regarding a fundraising appeal by Hanegraaff - the
controversial President of the Christian Research Institute.
Hanegraaff’s memo, archived here, read:
- Dear Friend of CRI, I never imagined having to send an urgent
memo like this to you. A bizarre error by the U.S. Post Office
has cost the Christian Research Institute and Bible Answer Man
broadcast an unknown amount of income — at a time when we
could least afford it. We don’t know how much we lost, but
we know it was substantial –perhaps in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars. Here’s what happened . . .
- Over the last three months, a time when our ministry receives
17 percent of its yearly income from supporters, newly hired
U.S. Post Office employees in Rancho Santa Margarita accidentally
routed CRI envelopes with contributions and requests for materials
to the wrong post office box. To make matters worse, the business
to whom the envelopes were sent threw many of the envelopes into
the trash!
- Only by God’s grace did we discover this error before
more damage was done. Praise God for His intervention!
- Our local U.S. Post Office has accepted full responsibility
for this error and has fixed the problem. You can be assured
that all mail is now being handled correctly! We bear them no
ill will and believe this was an honest mistake by novice postal
employees. But much has been lost. Source: A Letter From Hank,
archived by archive.org
- The letter further stated that CRI had set up a “special
hotline,” and encouraged people to call to see whether their
“gift or product order ever arrived.”
- An appeal for a “sacrificial gift” was also made
“to help CRI and the Bible Answer Man broadcast keep ministering
at the high-impact level to which we are committed.” Given
the controversies surrounding Hank Hanegraaff, including having
been chastised for his ministry’s financial practices, it
was no susprise that someone would look in to Hanegraaff’s
“Urgent Memo.” Bill Alnor is one of many former CRI
employees who are critical of Hanegraaff. In his online magazine
Alnor wrote: [T]he officer in charge at the post office where
CRI receives its mail by maintaining PO Box 7000, disputes Hanegraaff’s
allegation. The officer in charge, who identified himself as
“Gus,” claims it never happened, and referred the incident
to the United States Postal Service’s Inspector General’s
Office, which has begun looking into the case. Three other Rancho
Santa Margarita postal employees contacted over the next several
days also said it never happened.
- A mail fraud report was filed in connection with the case.
“We have no record of any misdelivery complaints involving
The Christian Research Institute and PO Box 7000 or of any missing
mail and incidents of that nature,” said “Gus”
who also identified himself as the acting postmaster at the facility.
Continued at: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17614/hank-hanegraaff-bill-alnor
- [Ednote: This is not an isolated incident. Cephas Ministry
has been through similar problems to a point where we resorted
to a private postal service. We recently moved to Colorado and
this mail to the private post office could not be forwarded because
the address is the private post office. We were not notified
of anything and the mail began piling up in the private post
office. I called to see what was going on and was told they would
put it in a box and ship it. I am still patiently waiting. My
personal PO Box has been locked up twice at the new post office
and my mail returned to my previous address and I am told to
be patient that this matter would be resolved on its own because
everything is done by machines and they cannot communicate with
machines. It is automatic. My bills got mangled in this process
and money I sent to pay was put into the wrong account. Taking
people out of the process doesn't work. Come Jesus and get it
over with. All we do now is untangle one mess after another!
End of note.]
- -----
- GOD'S WORD, PLUS STATIC, ON CALVARY SATELLITE NETWORK
- Los Angeles Times, USA - February. 28, 2007 - Christopher
Goffard - Amid accusations over sex, money and control, Pastor
Chuck Smith is about to surrender much of the evangelical radio
empire to a man he calls morally unfit for ministry. When Chuck
Smith, founder of the worldwide Calvary Chapel movement, decided
to invest big in radio, the Orange County evangelist joined forces
with a pastor he trusted. Mike Kestler was one of his proteges,
a folksy preacher with a ponytail who had ridden the Calvary
phenomenon to a pulpit in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- Smith had presided at Kestler’s wedding. He’d helped
Kestler keep his job after a churchgoer complained that Kestler
had begged her to run away with him. Now, the pastors would be
business partners. Kestler knew how to run a radio station. Smith
had money and a famous name. They shared a vision of FM radio
as a megaphone for God’s word. Bolstered by $13 million
from Smith’s Costa Mesa church, Calvary Satellite Network
grew into a spectacular recruiting tool for the evangelical movement.
In listening areas across the nation, Calvary Chapels proliferated.
But relations between the two pastors deteriorated. In 2003,
Smith cut off funding for the radio network, precipitating a
crisis that continues to roil Calvary’s leadership. It sparked
a war for control of the network on terrain Smith had preached
against for years: the earthly courts.
- The two sides have hurled accusations of lust and greed,
betrayal and embezzlement. As part of the battle, Smith funded
a lawsuit against Kestler by a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader
who said he had fired her from her radio job for rebuffing his
sexual advances. Now, after a year of hugely expensive legal
sparring, the 79-year-old Smith is so eager to settle the case
that he is willing to do so at a staggering loss. He is about
to surrender much of the radio empire to Kestler, a man he calls
morally unfit for ministry. Smith says that by walking away,
he is making a Christian gesture. Lori Pollitt, the former cheerleader,
said Smith told her he had hoped his legal maneuvers would bring
Kestler to repentance. “But it appears it won’t, so
I think they just want to wash their hands of the whole thing,”
Pollitt said. “He said basically it was just time to turn
Kestler over to Satan.” Continued at: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17612/calvary-chapel
- -----
- X-RATED CHRISTIAN STORE'S TROUBLES TRACED TO AMAZON
- WorldNetDaily: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54057
- ----
- CHRISTIAN' BOOKSTORE FEATURES X-RATED FLICKS
- Columnist raises question of just what makes retailer biblical
- February 1, 2007 - By Bob Unruh
WorldNetDaily.com - When NewsWithViews.com writer Paul Proctor
wrote in a new column that parents should make sure their kids
are out of the room and the door is locked before going to a
Christian Heritage Bookstore website, he was serious.Because
among the items featured at the "Christian Heritage Bookstore"
along with 14-karat gold cross earrings and the like are the
X-rated "Playboy: X Mates, Vol. 1 – BMX/Wakeboards,"
and an adult 4-pack of "classics" titled "Debbie
Does Dallas," "Deep Throat," "Behind the
Green Door," and "The Devil in Miss Jones." Continued:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54038
- -----
- "THE DEVIL INSIDE "
The Jeff Harshbarger Testimony Watch the videos
http://www.freecdtracts.com/testimony/jeff_harshbarger.htm
- -----
- OPRAH WINFREY DOING A FOLLOW UP ON THE FILM "THE SECRET"
- February 16, 2007 - Today, Oprah Winfrey will be doing a
follow up on last week's show on the film, The Secret, due to
overwhelming public response .... Oprah's
Message Board Because Oprah, who is one of the most influential
people in the world right now, is giving The Secret a huge thumbs
up, this could potentially accelerate the paradigm shift we are
going through, which is racing the world into such deception
as never seen before and what the Bible predicts will take place
before Jesus Christ returns. And with contemplative spirituality
(just another form of the same spirituality being promoted through
The Secret) now being embraced by so much of Christendom, the
words of occultist Alice
Bailey may indeed come true, when she said that the Age of
Aquarius (that time when humanity realizes its divinity) will
come not around the Christian church, but rather through it.
The Secret is pure undisguised metaphysics and is the total manifestation
of what the apostle Paul describes as seducing spirits (Abraham)
and doctrines of devils (The Secret). Incidentally, the word
occult means secret or hidden.
Today, when millions of viewers are watching Oprah and more of
The Secret, may God protect those who are sincerely hurting and
looking for answers and truth. And may Christian leaders who
have succumbed to contemplative spirituality repent and turn
back to the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, and may they speak publicly
about their repentance and quickly warn believers to also turn
back. Newsletter http://www.lighthousetrails.com
- -----
- BEWARE OF THIS MINISTRY THEY BELIEVE THAT THE TRINITY
IS FALSE
- The message was posted by Sasa (from the ip address 208.127.17.18).
- Subject:IMPORTANT END TIMES INFORMATION
The hourglass is nearly empty. The culmination of End Times is
upon us and the Great Tribulation is just around the corner.
There are a total of TWO things that you need in order to obtain
Eternal Life and Man-Made Religion is not one of them. (1) A
Good Heart Condition. (2) An Acceptance of Christ as Lord and
Savior. We urge those who wish to obtain Eternal Life in Christ's
Kingdom to read the following very important message:
- An Important End
Times Message For additional End Times information also visit:
End
Times Truths Revealed And for Free End Times Newsletters
visit: : Free End Times Newsletters We don’t aim to twist
arms or convince anyone of anything they aren’t ready or
willing to believe as their hearts will ultimately dictate what
they perceive to be truth. However, it is also our responsibility
to warn those who do not accept this Truth, will face Judgment
at Armageddon. For this reason we pray that the eyes and hearts
of all who read our message are opened to the Truth whether that
is now, or in the near future when our words come to pass. Check
this: http://www.chosen.moonfruit.com/4f0
- http://www.thekingdommessage.moonfruit.com/4f0
- -----
- CRI’S HANK HANEGRAAFF SUPPORTS A CULT OF CHRISTIANITY
- By Don Veinot, The Crux, newsletter
of Midwest Christian Outreach. October 9, 2006 - In a move that
has Christian apologists and countercult experts puzzled and
upset, Hank Hanegraaff - the already controversial president
of the Christian Research Institute - has come out in support
of the Local Church. The Local Church - known to insiders as
“The Lord’s Recovery” - is widely considered to
be, theologically, a cult of Christianity. Sociologically the
movement has problems as well. The Local Church has a history
of legal attacks against Christians who critique the movement.
Its most recent attack was a $136 million libel lawsuit against
authors and apologists John Ankerberg and John Weldon, as well
as their publisher, Harvest House. Ankerberg and Weldon included
a brief entry on the Local Church in their Encyclopedia of Cults
and New Religions (Harvest House, 1999). After the Local Church
filed its lawsuit, Harvest House explained why the Local Church
was included in the Encyclopedia. In their suit, The Local Church
claimed that the Encyclopedia accused their group of criminal
and immoral conduct. However, Harvest House and the authors have
contended all along that the book does not and never intended
to attribute such activity to The Local Church. Rather, the authors
included the 11/4–page chapter on the Local Church’s
teachings in the Encyclopedia based on the book’s definition
of a religious cult: “a separate religious group generally
claiming compatibility with Christianity but whose doctrines
contradict those of historic Christianity….”
- Though The Local Church insisted this case was not about
being labeled a “cult,” they contended that by their
mere inclusion in the Encyclopedia, and because the Introduction
mentioned misdeeds committed by some unspecified cults, their
group stood accused of any conduct that happened to be mentioned
in the Introduction. Thus, they alleged, the book was libelous.
Source: Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Harvest House and Its
Authors, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Harvest House Publishers,
USA, Jan. 6, 2006
- In January, 2006. the suit was dismissed by the Court of
Appeals for the First District of Texas.
- [T]he Court pointed out that the Encyclopedia centers on
doctrinal and apologetic issues, and “that being labeled
a ‘cult’ is not actionable because the truth or falsity
of the statement depends upon one’s religious beliefs, an
ecclesiastical matter, which cannot and should not be tried in
a court of law.”
- As for the criminal conduct mentioned in the Introduction,
the Appellate Court decisively ruled, “No reasonable reader
could conclude that the book accuses the [Local] church…of
rape, murder, child molestation, drug smuggling, etc… The
allegedly libelous statements in the Introduction are not ‘of
and concerning’ the [Local] church and are not actionable.”
- Source: Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Harvest House and
Its Authors, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Harvest House Publishers,
USA, Jan. 6, 2006
- In response, the Local Church has filed a petition with the
Texas Supreme Court to hear the case and reverse the Appellate
Court’s decision. Hank Hanegraaff Supports the Local Church.
Continued: http://www.cephas-library.com/apologetic_hank_hanegraaff_supports_christian_cult.html
- -----
- EXCLUSIVE BOOK SAYS BUSH JUST USING CHRISTIANS
‘Tempting
Faith’ author David Kuo worked for Bush from 2001 to
2003
- Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction
by David Kuo
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Free Press (October 16, 2006)
English
ISBN: 0743287126
- More than five years after President Bush created the Office
of Faith-Based Initiatives, the former second-in-command of that
office is going public with an insider’s tell-all account
that portrays an office used almost exclusively to win political
points with both evangelical Christians and traditionally Democratic
minorities. The office’s primary mission, providing financial
support to charities that serve the poor, never got the presidential
support it needed to succeed, according to the book. Entitled
“Tempting Faith,” the book [has been released] Oct.
16, 2006. MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”
has obtained a copy. “Tempting Faith’s” author
is David Kuo, who served as special assistant to the president
from 2001 to 2003. A self-described conservative Christian, Kuo’s
previous experience includes work for prominent conservatives
including former Education Secretary and federal drug czar Bill
Bennett and former Attorney General John Ashcroft.
- Kuo, who has complained publicly in the past about the funding
shortfalls, goes several steps further in his new book.
- He says some of the nation’s most prominent evangelical
leaders were known in the office of presidential political strategist
Karl Rove as “the nuts.”
- “National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles
in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described
as ‘ridiculous,’ ‘out of control,’ and just
plain ‘goofy,’” Kuo writes. More seriously, Kuo
alleges that then-White House political affairs director Ken
Mehlman knowingly participated in a scheme to use the office,
and taxpayer funds, to mount ostensibly “nonpartisan”
events that were, in reality, designed with the intent of mobilizing
religious voters in 20 targeted races. Nineteen out of the 20
targeted races were won by Republicans, Kuo reports. The outreach
was so extensive and so powerful in motivating not just conservative
evangelicals, but also traditionally Democratic minorities, that
Kuo attributes Bush’s 2004 Ohio victory “at least partially
… to the conferences we had launched two years before.”
With the exception of one reporter from the Washington Post,
Kuo says the media were oblivious to the political nature and
impact of his office’s events, in part because so much of
the debate centered on issues of separation of church and state.
- In fact, the Bush administration often promoted the faith-based
agenda by claiming that existing government regulations were
too restrictive on religious organizations seeking to serve the
public.
- Substantiating that claim proved difficult, Kuo says. “Finding
these examples became a huge priority.… If President Bush
was making the world a better place for faith-based groups, we
had to show it was really a bad place to begin with. But, in
fact, it wasn’t that bad at all.”
- In fact, when Bush asks Kuo how much money was being spent
on “compassion” social programs, Kuo claims he discovered
the amount was $20 million a year less than during the Clinton
Administration. The money that was appropriated and disbursed,
however, often served a political agenda, Kuo claims, with organizations
friendly to the administration often winning grants. More pointedly,
Kuo quotes an unnamed member of the review panel charged with
rating grant applications as saying she stopped looking at applications
from “those non-Christian groups,” as did many of her
colleagues. “Tempting Faith” contains several other
controversial claims about Kuo’s office, the Bush White
House and even the 1994 Republican revolution in Congress. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15228489/
- -----
- RELIGIOUS MYSTERY OF THE ALPHA EFFECT
Express & Star, UK - September 27, 2004 - Peter Rhodes -
www.expressandstar.com
The latest religious revival to hit Britain has more to do with
pasta than pastors. Peter Rhodes reports on the astonishing success
of the Alpha Course. The numbers are puzzling. On the one hand,
church congregations are in freefall. On the other, three million
folk have eagerly followed the Alpha Course. Across the world,
more than 30,000 of these astonishingly successful courses are
in progress. Two of the latest are being held in a Black Country
chapel and a Wolverhampton pub. Does the Alpha Course work? Sharon
Phillips, a 40-year-old teacher from Merry Hill, Wolverhampton,
has no doubts. She says: “The course had the biggest impact
I have ever known. It changed my life.”
- She is one of the organisers of the new course at the Bradmore
Arms in Wolverhampton which will follow the trade-mark programme
of all Alpha courses. After a weekly series of meals, talks and
discussions in the pub, members will be invited on a “Holy
Spirit Weekend.” Good food and good company are vital to
the Alpha Course. It’s more about pasta than pastors. The
name itself stands for:
- A - Anyone interested in the Christian faith
- L - Learning and Laughter.
- P - Pasta, the symbol of eating together.
- H - Helping one another.
- A - Ask anything. No question is off-limits.
- Alpha, founded at a “happy clappy” evangelical
church in London and developed over the past 20 years, is easy,
approachable, informal and free, apart from a donation towards
the food.
- Thousands, including disgraced Tory Jonathan Aitken and former
topless model Samantha Fox, claim it had brought them closer
to God. But there is a darker side. Critics accuse Alpha of distorting
the Biblical message and dabbling in mass hysteria, particularly
on residential courses. Some Alpha participants have reported
instances of members falling down, quaking, barking like dogs
or laughing uncontrollably in the aisles. Some clergy have condemned
Alpha as a cult. Continued: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/8837/religious-mystery-of-the-alpha-effect
- -----
- CHRISTIANS MUST LET GO SOME BELIEFS FOR SAKE OF PEACE, THEOLOGIAN
SAYS
The Tennessean, USA - November 29, 2006 Anita Wadhwani - www.tennessean.com
To live peacefully with Muslims and Jews, Christians must put
aside the notion that their faith requires the creation of a
Christian kingdom on Earth, a Lipscomb University theologian
told an interfaith gathering at the university.
- “We are not going to get very far in our relationship
with Jews or Muslims if we do not let go of this idea,”
Lipscomb professor Lee Camp said at Tuesday’s conference.
- The unusual gathering of several dozen clergy and lay people
was devoted to resolving religious conflict in Nashville and
around the world. “We need to forsake the Christendom model,”
Camp said. “The most basic Christian commitment … is
that we say we believe in the Lordship of Jesus. But, if we claim
that, how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the
Lord of all Lords?”
- Co-sponsored by the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt
University, the daylong conference was prompted by a desire to
begin a dialogue about global religious conflict. After five
years of rising gas prices, disturbing privacy issues that followed
the September 11 attacks and the fear of terrorism, it became
apparent that everyday life in Nashville is directly affected
by religious conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, conference
organizers said.
- “We felt like the larger community is calling for this,”
said Larry Bridgesmith, executive director of Lipscomb’s
newly established Institute for Conflict Management. Panelists
representing different faiths presented their own views on how
to begin to bridge the religious divide.
- http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16683/christians-must-let-go-some-beliefs-for-sake-of-peace-lee-camp-says
- -----
- RABBI CALLS FOR UN OF RELIGIONS
BBC, UK - March. 20, 2006 - Danny Wood - news.bbc.co.uk
The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, has called for the creation
of a world body with representatives from the major religious
groups. Rabbi Metzger was addressing the International Congress
of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville, Spain. He called for
the formation of a “United Nations of religious groups”.
The Imam of Gaza, Imad al-Faluji, said politicians lied but religious
leaders had a different objective - to work towards a higher
good.
- The imams and rabbis at this conference, which opened on
Sunday, say the world is in crisis and it is time they acted
to restore justice, respect and peace.
- Straight talking
- The delegates have made it very clear that now is the time
for concrete initiatives. At the opening ceremony Rabbi Yona
Metzger said his idea of a “United Nations of religious
groups” could “bring a bridge between religions to
help the bridge of the diplomatic way”. That plan has broad
support from key participants like Frederico Major, the co-president
of the Alliance for Civilisations, the lobby group for international
conflict resolution, supported by the United Nations and initiated
by Spain’s Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The speeches at this conference rather than using polite, diplomatic
language have at times been brutally direct. When the Rabbi Metzger
harangued mainstream Muslims for not standing up to Osama bin
Laden, Islamic leaders nodded in agreement.
- Both Muslim and Jewish leaders have shown a preparedness
to take criticism.
Funding has come from a mixture of sources, including a start-up
grant from the Home Office. There have also been strong expressions
of opposition to any killing in the name of religion. At the
end of the opening ceremony, the Muslim delegation sang an oration
to the Prophet Mohammed before resuming discussions about the
ideas they plan to present to their Jewish counterparts http://www.religionnewsblog.com/14030/rabbi-calls-for-un-of-religions
- -----
- WILL POPE BENEDICT BECOME A MORMON AFTER HE DIES?
- Reuters, via The Mail & Guardian, UK - February 5, 2007
- Tom Heneghan - www.mg.co.za
Pope Benedict was baptised at birth and will most likely be
baptised again one year after his death, not by his Roman
Catholic Church but by a Mormon he never met.
- The Mormons, a United States-based denomination officially
named the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS),
encourage members to baptise the dead by proxy in the belief
they are helping the deceased attain full access to heaven. Church
members are told to focus on their ancestors, a rite understandable
in a relatively new denomination founded in 1830. But so many
now perform the rituals for celebrities, heroes and perfect strangers
that the practice has spun out of control.
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