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In this
issue:
CHURCH
HISTORY - how
reinterpretations of Christian history have penetrated popular culture
HOMOSEXUALITY - debunking
the social-biblical myths of the religious gay community
LIVING STREAM/LOCAL CHURCH -
landmark decision in closely watched libel case against Harvest House
Publishers
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY -
recognizing and responding to dangerous counselors and pastors
THEOLOGY, GENERAL -
"the
most comprehensive overview of Asian Christian theologies in any one venue"
Apologia Report 11:2
January 12, 2006
CHURCH
HISTORY
"God's Word or Male Words? Postmodern Conspiracy Culture and Feminist
Myths of Christian Origins" by David R. Liefeld -- opens with a reference
to the misinformed idea that the early Church suppressed belief in reincarnation.
Liefeld ties this to his theme regarding conspiratorial views of early
Church history. He is concerned with "the extent to which anti-authoritarian,
often feminist, reinterpretations of Christian history have penetrated
popular culture." Throughout his essay, Liefeld refers to The Da
Vinci Code [1] as a prime example of this widespread problem.
Liefeld discusses various myths which retell Christian origins. In his
discussion he finds fault with the Jesus Seminar, Burton Mack, Joseph
Campbell, and certain responses to the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Radical feminist scholarship receives significant attention from Liefeld.
"A major focus of the feminist attack is the biblical canon,"
he reports. (He considers Elaine Pagels on this point in his conclusion.)
"Feminists are aware of difficulties with conspiracy theories and
typically disavow them. Yet, the language of patriarchy is inherently
conspiratorial."
Another section of Liefeld's presentation addresses "historical fiction
and fictional history." Here he discusses the feminist view of Mary
Magdalene by Mary Rose D'Angelo and others. He then notes that "Perhaps
the most sophisticated purveyor of historical conspiracy fiction has been
Umberto Eco, Professor of Semiotics at the University of Bologna."
Liefeld moves on to a discussion of "postmodern conspiracy culture."
He finds that "While nearly all of the recent claims about Jesus
and the early Church have been made in popular novels since the nineteenth
century, what is new is the postmodern culture into which they have been
dispatched." Liefeld observes that "The epitome of our American
conspiracy culture was the television program The X-Files, a show often
popular with the educated. According to [Peter] Knight [2], The X-Files
focused on the viewer's inability to know anything about life with certainty."
The substance behind "Reality" TV programming and similar novels
which purport to disclose "how the world really is" comes under
Liefeld's scrutiny. He finds that "The novels of Robert Ludlum are
proto-typical." A footnote reveals that Ludlum is among Da Vinci
Code author Dan Brown's "favorite writers." In his conclusion,
Liefeld explains that "The current religious conspiracy novels build
upon the legacy of earlier works, such as Irving Wallace's The Word [3],
which portrayed the creation of a fictional gospel, Hugh Schonfield's
The Passover Plot [4], and Jesus Christ Superstar [5]." Journal of
the Evangelical Theological Society, 48:3 - 2005, pp449-473. [11]
HOMOSEXUALITY
"Facts & Fictions about Homosexuality: Debunking the Social-Biblical
Myths of the Religious Gay Community" by Linda L. Belleville -- from
this issue's introduction: "Many Evangelicals feel desperate because
of pro-gay activism's gains in the broader sphere, a point Belleville
highlights. In view of such gains, they fear that claiming that change
is possible or that same-sex unions are wrong will eventually wear the
label of 'hate crimes.' Some gay activists even claim to be Evangelical,
such as those associated with Evangelicals Concerned [ecinc.org], and,
according to Belleville, argue that the Bible says nothing against homosexuality;
it speaks only of God's grace and love. Belleville exhorts Evangelicals
to 'equip themselves with the facts regarding homosexuality' sociologically
and biblically, contending that change is possible, that the Bible does
speak against homosexual behavior, and that Evangelicals must respond
to the person struggling with homosexuality in grace and love."
Belleville begins by lamenting that the homosexual movement's "thirty-three
year-old agenda [is] largely unknown to the average person in the pew."
She reviews the political success of gay-activist efforts and their impact
on American society, the mental health profession, and the church.
She presents the history behind the myth that homosexuality is rooted
in genetic predisposition, explaining that "of all the myths that
need debunking today, this one poses the greatest and most urgent challenge
for evangelicals." She addresses both "Evangelical fictions"
and "pro-gay fictions," giving most of her attention to the
latter. Cultural Encounters, 2:1 - 2005, pp65-86. [9]
LIVING
STREAM/LOCAL CHURCH
"Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Harvest House and Its Authors,
John Ankerberg and John Weldon" -- a corporate statement released
January 6 by the publisher which reads, in part:
"On January 5, 2006, the Court of Appeals for the First District
of Texas issued an opinion in favor of Harvest House Publishers and authors
John Ankerberg and John Weldon, dismissing a $136 million libel lawsuit
that The Local Church and its publishing arm, Living Stream Ministry,
had filed in December 2001 in relation to the book Encyclopedia of Cults
and New Religions [6]. ...
"The Appellate Court's decision, written by Chief Justice Sherry
Radack, ruled that 'the allegedly libel[ous] statements are not defamatory,
as a matter of law,' and, 'We reverse the judgment of the trial court
and render judgment that the [Local] church take nothing from the publisher
and authors.'...
"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 1-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....'
"John Ankerberg and John Weldon, in a joint statement, said, 'We
are thankful that the Court saw the issues with great clarity and ruled
accordingly, because throughout the case, The Local Church has persistently
accused us of making horrendous charges against them and have misrepresented
the contents of the Encyclopedia.' ... The authors continued, 'Though
The Local Church clearly desires acceptance within evangelical Christianity,
suing those who critique their teachings is not the way to gain it, but
rather, dealing with the unorthodox teachings that exist in their publications.'
...
"Bob Hawkins, Jr., president of Harvest House Publishers, adds, 'We
hope this ruling will encourage other authors, publishers, and broadcasters
to stand strong in their convictions and to continue engaging in responsible
dialogue concerning controversial topics without fear of intimidating
lawsuits.'"
<http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/statement3.cfm>
The text of the full decision can be read here:
<http://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/ HTMLOpinion.asp?OpinionID=82536>
Also see <http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6298587.html>
RELIGIOUS
AUTHORITY
"Spiritual Abuse: The Yeast of the Pharisees" by Edward J. Cumella
-- from the contents page summary: "Dangerous counselors and pastors
are, in many ways, worse than dangerous clients because we are supposed
to exhibit all the safety and helping qualities that are the opposite
of abuse. Recognizing and responding to dangerous helpers is the stuff
of this article."
Cumella notes that "... [A]t its most severe, a spiritually abusive
church is a cult. It has so diverged from solid biblical teaching and
grown so warped in the authoritarian rule of one man, that it has become
a place of idolatry where God is no longer worshiped." He finds that
spiritual abuse can be recognized by any one or more of 12 features, each
of which he briefly explains: authoritarianism, coercion, intimidation,
terrorism, condemnation, classism, conformity, manipulation, irrationality,
legalism, isolation, elitism, and ensnarement. Cumella then outlines how
to assess and treat religious abuse. He ends with a bibliography of ten
books. Christian Counseling Today, 13:1 - 2005, pp34-37. [8]
THEOLOGY,
GENERAL
Asian Christian Theologies: A Research Guide to Authors, Movements, Sources;
John C. England, Janice Wickeri, David Suh Kwang-Sun, John Mansford Prior,
Lily A. Quintos, and Jose Kuttianimattathil, eds. [7] -- reviewer Amos
Young reports that "The 2200+ pages of this three-volume set represent
the most comprehensive overview of Asian Christian theologies in any one
venue."
Young explains its structure: "As a research guide, most chapters
are divided into several basic sections beginning with a detailed table
of contents to the chapter and brief historical overviews of the national
history and the history of Christianity in that country or region. This
is followed, usually, by a sketch of theological reflection in that country,
including historical developments, theological styles, and the roles of
women theologians and laypersons. The largest part of each chapter identifies
prominent male and female theologians by name, sketching their major contributions,
and providing a select bibliography of primary and secondary sources related
to this person's ideas. ... The concluding sections usually highlight
distinctive themes, trends, movements, study centres, and scholarly journals
produced in the country under consideration. Each section of each chapter
includes a fairly developed (often annotated) bibliography (leading to
some overlap), most of the time of materials published no later than the
year 2000."
Examples of categorical distinctions include: "Indian theologies
have had to deal with the long history of religious pluralism of the Indian
subcontinent; Burmese theologies have been influenced by the pervasiveness
of folk Buddhism; ... Thai theologies can be better understood when seen
as apologetic efforts against the Theravada Buddhist tradition; Vietnamese
theologies have responded to the Confucian-Buddhist synthesis and the
recent history of Communism; Chinese theologies have been more creation-centered,
perhaps under the influence of the Confucian Daoist worldview....
"...[T]his is a research guide to more liberal versions of Asian
Christian theological thinking since liberal-conservative dichotomy is
a western construct which may be forced when applied to the diversity
of Asian contexts. But it is surely the case that there are few recognizably
'evangelical' voices throughout these volumes." Evangelical Review
of Theology, 29:4 - 2005, pp372-374. [10]
Sources,
Monographs:
1 - The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown (Doubleday, 2003, hardcover, 454 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385504209/apologiareport>
2 - Conspiracy Culture: From Kennedy to 'The X-Files', by Peter Knight
(Routledge, 2001, hardcover, 304 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415189780/apologiareport>
3 - The Word, by Irving Wallace (Forge, 2004, paperback, 624 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765351129/apologiareport>
4 - The Passover Plot: A New Interpretation of the Life and Death of Jesus,
by Hugh Schonfield (Disinformation Co., 2005, paperback, 40th Annv ed.,
288 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932857095/apologiareport>
5 - Jesus Christ Superstar (Universal Pictures, 1973, directed by Norman
Jewison, staring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen,
and Bob Bingham, rated G, 1 DVD disk)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00028HBIO/apologiareport>
6 - Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, by John Ankerberg and John
Weldon (Harvest House, 1999, paperback, 731 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736900748/apologiareport>
7 - Asian Christian Theologies: A Research Guide to Authors, Movements,
Sources; John C. England, Janice Wickeri, David Suh Kwang-Sun, John Mansford
Prior, Lily A. Quintos, and Jose Kuttianimattathil, eds. (Orbis, 2004,
hardcover, 3 vol's, 2200 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570754845/apologiareport>
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Sources, Periodicals:
8 - Christian Counseling Today, (800) 526-8673, <publications@aacc.net>,
<http://www.aacc.net/Store/cart_3.php?qty=1&prod_id=1337>
9 - Cultural Encounters (Multnomah Biblical Seminary), <http://www.culturalencounters.org>
10 - Evangelical Review of Theology (World Evangelical Fellowship), (800)
633-4931, <100526.3434@compuserve.com>, <http://www.worldevangelical.org/textonly/3tcpubs.htm>
11 - Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, (804) 237-5309, <http://www.etsjets.org>
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