BPR Mailing List Digest: 11/16/99

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
November 16, 1999

Digest Home | 1999 | November, 1999

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Church's new creed has Virgin cohabiting
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 07:04:02 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

Church's new creed has Virgin cohabiting

BY RUTH GLEDHILL, RELIGION CORRESPONDENT

A PROPOSED change to the Creed in the new Church of England
prayer book will make it sound as if the Virgin Mary is
"cohabiting" with the Holy Spirit, members of the General Synod
were told yesterday.

The synod will today debate what version of the Nicene Creed
should appear in its new service book, Common Worship, which
succeeds the 1980 Alternative Service Book next year.

At a special meeting at Church House, Westminster, yesterday,
called to debate the Creed, members of the laity challenged the
bishops to justify why they wanted to amend the text regarding
the conception of Jesus. Currently, the Church uses a version of
the Creed that emerged from the Council of Constantinople in
381, which states: "By the power of the Holy Spirit he became
incarnate of the Virgin Mary." The bishops favour a version that
says Jesus was "incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin
Mary".

Full story:
http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/11/16/timnwsnws01001.html?999

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Open, shut approaches to religion
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 08:14:10 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

Monday, November 15, 1999
San Jose Mercury News

Open, shut approaches to religion

Gore speaks freely of his faith, while Bradley refuses to comment

BY JODI ENDA
Mercury News Washington Bureau

MEMPHIS -- When it comes to God and politics, the Democratic
presidential candidates are worlds apart.

And it's not necessarily because of what they believe.

Both Protestants who say they've had intense religious
experiences, Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. Bill Bradley
display sharper differences on religion than on perhaps any
other subject. While the two struggle to distinguish themselves
on health care, poverty and education, it is their near-opposite
approaches to God in the public arena that offer the starkest
contrast to date of their personalities and leadership styles.

Bradley, a onetime evangelical Christian who proselytized his
basketball teammates, won't discuss religion at all except to
say that he believes in God. His soul, he says, is nobody's
business.

Gore, who once attended divinity school, is willing, even
eager, to discuss how his beliefs shape his life and intersect
with his public duties.

Full story:
http://www7.mercurycenter.com:80/premium/nation/docs/religion15.htm

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Weekend News Today items (11/15/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 09:21:39 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

U.S. showcases $50 million Y2K
Center

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Kelly Pagatpatan
                         Source: Reuters

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- The White House formally presented on
Monday a $50 million operations centre designed to sort out
information on potential multiple crises during the Year 2000
calendar rollover. The Y2K Information Coordination Centre (ICC) --
in old Secret Service premises two blocks from the White House --
will help U.S. decision-makers sift through possible simultaneous
problems at home and abroad that may require U.S. action,
officials told an open house for reporters.

"We continue to be very confident that the basic infrastructure in
this country will function effectively" as computer clocks tick over
to 2000 in 46 days, said John Koskinen, President Bill Clinton's top
Y2K adviser. "But on the other hand, it's our obligation to be
prepared, to ensure that we know on an up-to-date basis what's
happening," he said. "And if there is an appropriate federal
response, that you can do it efficiently and effectively."

Jokingly dubbed the "Y2K bunker" by congressional staff
members, the facility will gather, analyse and summarize a stream
of updates from the government and the private sector on system
performance across the country and around the world. The
resulting Y2K status reports will be sent to federal decision-makers
and to the public as updates on the www.y2k.gov Web site. The
ICC, run by the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, is
not a policy-making entity. Koskinen and others, including industry
representatives, will brief reporters every few hours starting early on
Dec. 31 from the state-of-the-art centre.

On Wednesday, Clinton said he expected "no major national
breakdowns" to be caused by Y2K, but voiced concerns about the
readiness of some developing countries that he did not identify. The
ICC will kick into high gear early on Friday, Dec. 31, when New
Zealand and Australia become the first major industrialised
countries to enter the new year.

Arab League equates currency with
sovereignty

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel-
Meguid issued a statement on Saturday indicating that the planned
PLO Authority (PA) issuing of its own currency is an act symbolic
with Palestinian sovereignty. "Having a national Palestinian
currency is a symbol of identity and independence besides being a
legitimate right of each country and every people," Abdel-Meguid
told a conference in Cairo. Israel has recently indicated it would not
oppose a move to issue PA currency, something that was opposed
by the former Netanyahu government.

Iran concerned over Israeli blasting in
Dead Sea

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- Iran on Saturday expressed concern over
explosions carried out by Israel in the Dead Sea last week in which
scientists were creating fake earthquakes to enhance their ability
to monitor quakes in the future. According to a Reuters report
quoting the IRNA News Agency, the blasts are feared to be related
to nuclear weapons testing by Iranian officials. As reported earlier
by IsraelWire, scientists, in cooperation with agencies including
the National Infrastructure Ministry, detonated three controlled
blasts involving five tons of explosives last week.

More settlers arrested near Havat
Maon

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- The IDF yesterday arrested more settlers
hiding in the caves surrounding the dismantled Havat Maon
settlement. Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Levy
complained to Prime Minister Ehud Barak yesterday that the IDF
"desecrated the Sabbath" by arresting and driving settlers out of
the area on Friday night. Levy said he spoke to Barak about this
before Saturday. He said Barak was also surprised to hear that the
evacuation continued into the Sabbath, and ordered an
investigation into the matter.

German Wise Men see 2.7 pct growth
in 2000-paper

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Kelly Pagatpatan
                         Source: Reuters

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- The German government's economic advisory
panel, commonly known as the Five Wise Men, forecast a rise in
German gross domestic product of 2.7 percent in 2000, the
Saarbruecker Zeitung newspaper said on Monday. In an advance
copy of an article due for publication on Tuesday, when the panel
releases its annual report, the paper said unemployment was
forecast to fall by some 218,000 on average next year.

                         Bill introduced to Knesset to deny
                         Israel's status as a state of Jewish
                         people

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: Ha'aretz

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- Knesset legal advisers attorneys Zvi Inbar and
Shlomo Shoham have called on the body's presidium to invalidate a
private law bill by MK Mohammed Baraka (Hadash) calling for the
negating of the state of Israel as the state of the Jewish people.
The bill, which carries the name "Fundamental Law: The Equality of
the Arab Population", was signed by Baraka and the two other
Hadash party MKs, Issam Mahoul and Tamar Gozansky. The bill's
second article states that "the goal of this Basic Law is to protect
the dignity and liberty of the state's Arab citizens as Israeli
citizens, and as an Arab-Palestinian national minority, in order to
anchor in the Basic Law the values of the state of Israel as a multi-
cultural democracy."

In a legal opinion, Inbar said that he saw both the Knesset Speaker
and his deputies as "authorized to exercise their authority not to
allow the proposed legislation as long as the second article is not
either removed or amended in such a way that it would no longer
contain the demand for negating the existence of the state of Israel
as the state of the Jewish people." Baraka said in response that he
was surprised at the uproar caused by the bill, and that the bill
primarily deals with the issue of equality, not semantics. "I don't
deny existing descriptions at all", Baraka said, "but there is
definitely room to add to them.

Syria threatens continued attacks
against Israel

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- According to the Al Hayat newspaper, a
unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the security zone of southern
Lebanon would not bring an end to Syrian supported attacks
against Israel. The newspaper quoted Syrian President Hafez el-
Assad who was meeting in Damascus with French Foreign
Minister Hubert Vedrine. As Israel continues to speak of an
imminent withdrawal from the security zone with or without Syrian
cooperation, Damascus is growing increasingly concerned it may
miss a last opportunity for negotiating a deal which would yield
Israel's agreeing to give away the Golan Heights which was
liberated in the June 1967 Six Day War.

Rabbis protest changing of wedding
invitation wording

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- A recent trend toward altering the wording of
Jewish wedding invitations, at the expense of both personal
modesty and religious faith, has come under attack by the
Bostener Rebbe of Boston and Har Nof (Israel), Grand Rabbi Levi
Yitzchok Horowitz. The target of the Rebbe's displeasure is the
replacement of the traditional phrase, "Im Bas Gilo" (to the woman
of his destined fate), with the far more objectionable, "Im B'Cheeras
Leebo" (the choice of his heart).

The Rebbe declared that the Jewish wedding has always been
associated with significant traditions and that those who want to
make such an unwholesome change in this important phrase strike
at the very core of two fundamental Jewish concepts. The Rebbe
explained that the original Talmudic phraseology ("Im Bas Gilo")
"expresses not only our faith in HaShem (G-D) and the plans that
He has for us, but also signifies that the two individuals are pre-
destined for each other even prior to birth and are divinely tied
together. Replacing this beautiful idea with a base one of virtual lust
should offend decent sensibilities, especially considering that
declarations of love in Jewish society have always been kept
private. Furthermore, how are we to react to the inherent arrogance
of proclaiming that this most serious decision can be made without
the A-Mighty playing any role?

"Making matters worse, the feminist movement has inspired some
to insert 'Im B'Cheeras Leebah' (the choice of her heart). This
reflects the widespread amnesia regarding the One Who makes
our choices, while taking into account that a woman's choice
should (according to this reasoning) thus be no less important that
a man's." The Rebbe urged "all who are contemplating marriage, or
who have friends who are doing so, to refrain from using this
offensive term that American society has incorporated in the text of
the wedding invitation."

                         PA's UN observer envisions
                         Palestinian statehood by Christmas
                         2000

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- In an address to the United Nations General
Assembly on Wednesday, the PA permanent observer, Nasser al-
Kidwa, told the forum that he was confident that Christmas 2000
would be celebrated in Bethlehem, in an independent Palestinian
state. The session was dealing with issues pertaining to the project
known as Bethlehem 2000. Al-Kidwa stated that progress on
Bethlehem 2000 was significant, "despite the presence of Israeli
occupations forces."

Israel's charge d'affaires Aaron Jacob said Israel invested close to
$1 billion to make the event as fulfilling as possible for the pilgrims,
a majority of whom were likely to be hosted in Jerusalem hotels, a
few miles from Bethlehem. But Jacob expressed regret at what he
called "some unfortunate terminology" in the resolution, such as its
reference to Bethlehem as a "Palestinian city." "Although
Bethlehem was, during the time of Jesus, a Judean city, the
political and legal disposition of the city today is still pending the
negotiated permanent status agreement between the sides," he
said.

More drought measures in Israel
being implemented

                         Weekend News Today
                         By Andra Brack
                         Source: IsraelWire

Mon Nov 15,1999 -- Water Commissioner Meir Ben-Meir has
announced there will be a 40 percent cut in water allocations to
farmers this winter as a result of the current drought situation. For
the second consecutive year, the winter is off to a dry start with the
level of the Kinneret, the nation's main water supply;
continuing to drop, now well below the "red line".

http://www.upway.com/cgi-bin/went

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Daywatch News items
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 12:21:41 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

CALIFORNIA -- A burgeoning ballot initiative in California could
effectively outlaw abortion if voters there approve of a plan to
change the state constitution"s definition of life to include
"an unborn person," meaning that of "an unborn child from
fertilization until live birth." The California life initiative
relies on language used in the Declaration of Independence
regarding "inalienable rights," applying those rights to unborn
"created" human beings.
Full Story: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3627.htm

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A two-tablet prescription for America's
schools that supporters say will help cure all kinds of social
ills is causing headaches for some community leaders. It is the
widening campaign to place the Ten Commandments back in the
classroom, which is the focus of a national initiative later
this week.
Full Story: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3628.htm

ARIZONA -- Regardless of religious beliefs or social background,
most people around the world agree that the family is the center
of life -- and governments should leave it alone. That is the
conclusion of an international study commissioned by the Howard
Center for Family, Religion and Society that questioned almost
2,900 adults from across the planet.
Full Story: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3629.htm

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Wicca Infiltrates the Churches
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 12:31:34 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

[BPRnote: as an interesting footnote, I just read a statistic from
Tal Brooke's book "The Conspiracy to Silence the Son of God"
which claims that "eighty thousand nuns have left their orders
within the last 20 years" and have joined wiccan covens.
They are now "involved in crystal reading, dream work, tarot
cards, various New Age techniques, and especially forms
of witchcraft." This statement is based on the work of a
Roman Catholic journalist who "documents how radical
feminism...has infiltrated the church to an extent few realize."
(page 61)]

--------------

Published Date November 12, 1999, in Washington, D.C.
http://www.insightmag.com

Wicca Infiltrates the Churches
By Catherine Edwards

Feminist proponents of Wicca, or modern-day witchcraft, now can
be found within the clergy promoting the cult of the Goddess in
many mainline Christian denominations.

When Kathleen Ward Atchason left Wicca, or witchcraft, to join
the Roman Catholic Church she never dreamed she would encounter
witchcraft within the walls of Christendom. Atchason lives in
Salem, Mass., and still encounters practicing Wiccans in the
community and on the street -- but in the church?

. . . In fact, Atchason positively identified for Insight a
Wiccan practice gaining currency in many churches. It is
documented in two articles in Wellsprings, a defunct journal for
Methodist clergywomen. The articles, "A Croning Ritual" and
"Reflections from a New Crone," were written by the Rev. Nancy
Webb, minister of education and children's education at Foundry
United Methodist Church in Washington -- which the Clintons
attend -- and by the Rev. Mary Kraus of Dumbarton United
Methodist Church in Washington. Webb and Kraus provide details
of the Wiccan croning ritual in the articles from their own
eyewitness accounts.

. . . "I am surprised that they are doing that," Atchason
tells Insight. "A croning ritual is a Wiccan rite of passage."
According to Atchason, "the Goddess" worshipped by Wiccans takes
on three forms: maiden, representing sexual ripeness; mother,
representing birth; and crone, representing old age.

. . . As recently noted by Insight, Wicca is becoming
increasingly popular in the culture (see "Wicca Casts Spell on
Teen-Age Girls," Oct. 25). Although Wiccans differ over
semantics, most agree that Wicca is a pagan, nature-focused
mystery religion. Most Wiccans worship a feminine deity called
"the Goddess" and her consort, "the horned God." According to
Wiccan high priestess Phyllis Currott, the goddess takes on many
forms such as the mythological Greek deities Artemis, Gaia and
Sophia as well as Roman, Celtic and Norse goddesses. Some
Wiccans meet in groups called covens or circles, while others
prefer to practice Wiccan rituals and cast spells alone.

Full story:
http://www.insightmag.com/articles/story2.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Song Promotes Worldwide Tolerance
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 18:36:56 -0500

From: "Moza" <moza7@netzero.net>

02:32 AM ET 11/16/99
Song Promotes Worldwide Tolerance

By CARL HARTMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A song promoting ethnic and religious
tolerance across the globe is to be broadcast to 12 million young
Americans as the start of a yearlong campaign.

The five-minute video of ``One Song, Many Voices'' stars singer-
actress Vanessa Williams. It was composed by Mark Williams _
no relation _ whose companies promote multicultural
understanding.

The video is to be aired on Channel One Network, transmitted by
satellite exclusively to 12,000 schools nationwide.

The song concludes:
``We're singing one song in
``Many voices
``Believing in one world a
``Universal chorus
``One song in many voices
``Believing in one world

A choir of 40 young people organized by Black Entertainment
Television is also to sing ``One Song'' today on the steps of the
Capitol.

It will be performed in New York at a lunch of the Friends of the
United Nations, a private support group which has adopted the
song. Choruses in nine states have promised performances today
and a larger celebration is expected in 2000.

The performances will be part of the United Nations' ``Day of
International Tolerance'' established in 1995 at the suggestion of
the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In Paris,
Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO's new director general, took notice in
a message Monday that nongovernmental organizations were
emphasizing the day in the United States.

The tolerance campaign, to be led by Dorothy Height, civil rights
activist and head of the National Council of Negro Women, will
include meetings across the United States on Martin Luther King
Day, Jan. 17. Del. Donna M. C. Christensen, D-V.I., is promoting
the campaign in Congress.

http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2562101181-653

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

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