11/08/2005

'Bible Literacy Project' Makes a Mockery of Biblical Literacy

NEWS ADVISORY, Nov. 8 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The Bible faces a rising onslaught of ridicule, and legal assaults. Its most vocal antagonists include People for the American Way and the ACLU. Why would such opponents applaud a textbook titled, The Bible and Its Influence? Why such support for a revolutionary curriculum published by the Bible Literacy Project?

The answer may lie in the word revolutionary. This new curriculum fits into a set of social and political changes that would try to affect every American. Joseph Farah, founder of WorldNetDaily, summarized it well in his exposure, of a "political movement" called Communitarianism, "which places the importance of society ahead of the unfettered rights of the individual."

"I still believe in old fashioned freedom" Farah concluded, "In the inalienable rights of the individual and the limited powers of the state, these are concepts at odds with Communitarianism."

General Ben Partin shares that concern. In a recent conversation (11-2-05), he recalled that, "The 1928 Program of Third International calls for disarming the citizenry as a final step in the 'preparatory phase' of a Communist 'War of National Liberation.'" Not surprisingly, the 1991 Communitarian Platform calls for domestic disarmament. What is the difference between "disarming the citizenry" and "domestic disarmament?"

Amitai Etzioni, founder of the Communitarian Network, is a member of Mikhail Gorbachev's World Political Forum. The Forum website introduces Etzioni as "Director of the Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies." Etzioni's agenda fits Gorbachev's modernized Communism well. Dialogue (Marx's dialectic process) is essential to both.

The Bible Literacy Project's textbook illustrates the process. Inviting speculation and new interpretations, it instills new meanings in student's minds:

1. Prompts students to question God's character: "Do you think Adam and Eve received a fair deal as described in Genesis?"

2. Undermines Christianity: "Jesus was also seen as an example of self sacrifice that can be imitated." ... "...find examples of such Christ figures in literature, film or even music."

3. Ridicules Biblical warnings: "You've probably seen cartoon or movie depictions of the prophet of doom, a shaggy bearded individual in ragged robes, ranting from a soapbox..." "Try your hand at doing some apocalyptic writing."

Many people closely involved with the Bible Literacy Project are members of the Communitarian Network and share it's mission. They serve on the Bible Literacy Project Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Some of these are:

Charles Haynes, a contributor to the BLP textbook, speaks both for the Bible Literacy Project and for the Freedom Forum, formerly the Gannett Foundation (the liberal Gannett media). Not only involved with the Communitarian Network, he also serves on the Advisory Board of The Pluralism Project', which includes Margot Adler, a Wiccan priestess. As senior scholar at the Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center, Haynes works closely with its lawyer Oliver Thomas, who co-authored "The Right to Religious Liberty," the "basic ACLU Guide."

Os Guinness has worked with Charles Haynes for over 15 years. Quoted by Amitai Etzioni, he is signatory to two Communitarian papers. David Blankenhorn (Board of Directors of BLP), Mary Ann Glendon and Jean Bethke Elstain (Advisory Board of BLP) are also signatories to the Communitarian Platform.

Communitarian ideals sound noble to those who don't remember the terrors of last century's experiments with collectivism. The Bible Literacy Project will spread those ideals and make a mockery of true Biblical literacy.

More at http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/bible-literacy.htm