
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/04/2008

DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP.
Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. 

Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission.


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

Intelligent Design foes no match for Stein in 'Expelled'
by Michael Foust
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Actor, commentator and comedian Ben Stein promises he hasn't lost his mind. Well, he says with his famous dry monotone humor, at least not in this instance.

On the contrary, Stein -– whose documentary film "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" opens in two weeks, April 18 -- believes he's involved in one of the leading cultural and political battles of his life: the fight for academic freedom against an establishment that teaches Darwinian evolution as fact. Intelligent Design (ID) -– the belief that certain aspects of the world are so complex that they are best explained as having been created by an intelligent being, instead of by a random process –- deserves a place at the academic table, he says.

"I think I'm engaged in a struggle that's very much uphill in which the establishment is very much against me," he said in a recent telephone conference call with reporters. "But I'm a rebel to my core ... and happy to be in an uphill struggle, as long as the cause is right."

Obviously, conservatives and supporters of Intelligent Design don't believe Stein has lost his mind. Rather, they believe "Expelled" –- one of the year's most controversial films -– has a chance to change dramatically the landscape in the ongoing struggle between evolution and Intelligent Design (ID). In the film, Stein travels the globe, interviewing scientists, philosophers and doctors who believe in evolution and those who believe in Intelligent Design. In case after case, Stein recounts the story of ID supporters who lost their jobs or couldn't get tenure because of their supposed controversial beliefs.

The documentary, rated PG for thematic material and very brief language, ends in a climactic scene with Stein interviewing one of the world's leading backers of evolution, atheist and author Richard Dawkins.

Stein's humor is on display throughout the film, although supporters of evolution likely won't find it too funny. Christian conservative leaders are on board, supporting it. The film was shown at the recent National Religious Broadcasters meeting. It's also scheduled to be the topic of an upcoming Focus on the Family broadcast.

ID supporters, Stein and the film assert, are facing staunch opposition in the academic world, in the media and in the courts.

"The case we're making," associate producer Mark Mathis said, "is that there needs to be freedom in science, that we have highly qualified scientists who are being persecuted for unscientific reasons &#91;and&#93; are being driven &#91;away&#93; by a philosophy. That is the core content of the film -– the persecution of scientists needs to stop."

A secondary theme is that evolution, taken to the extreme, can have deadly consequences. In one part of the documentary that likely will stir controversy, Stein tours a Jewish concentration camp and interviews an expert who argues that evolution was a contributing factor to the Holocaust. For Stein, who is Jewish, the moment was personal.

Some critics will say the documentary unfairly links evolution to the Holocaust, but Stein believes the film showed restraint. One person in the film says evolution was a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of the Holocaust.

"If I had my way about this movie -- which I didn't, because I was not one of the producers -- I would have had much more of it &#91;be&#93; about Nazi Germany," Stein said. "The unequivocal nature of the evidence that Darwinism had a big part to play in rationalizing the Holocaust for the Nazis is so painful and so horrible that I think we touched on extreme, extreme restraint."

The film, Stein says, is not saying evolutionists are Nazis.

"What we're saying is that the Nazis thought they were carrying out Darwinian ideas in the sense of eliminating inferior races and making mankind healthy and so forth," he said.

Although the Nazi element might get the media's spotlight, the majority of the documentary focuses on the ongoing fight for academic freedom by supporters of Intelligent Design. 

Stein interviews, among others, Guillermo Gonzalez, a supporter of ID and an astronomy professor at Iowa State University who was denied tenure, as well as Caroline Crocker, a biology teacher at George Mason University who was forced out because she questioned Darwinian evolution and introduced Intelligent Design in the classroom. Stein also speaks with Richard Sternberg, a biologist who was ridiculed and harassed by his peers at the Smithsonian Institution for allowing the publishing of a pro-Intelligent Design paper in an academic journal. Sternberg's plight received national attention in 2005-06 and even led to a congressional investigation that found top officials had desired to make Sternberg's "life at the Museum as difficult as possible and encourage him to leave." 

Stein also interviews Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary philosophy professor William Dembski, one of the nation's leading supporters of Intelligent Design.

Getting involved in the project, Stein says, wasn't a difficult decision.

"I was always interested in Darwinism because I never thought it gave a particularly coherent explanation of how life originated and developed," he said. "... I also was extremely concerned about the social implications of Darwinism and the moral, ethical and human costs of Darwinism, because I knew Darwinism was one of the main props under the national socialist regime of Adolf Hitler and that the Holocaust was commenced in large part to satisfy social Darwinists' aims of eliminating so-called inferior races. That was my starting point."

As he got involved in the project with the documentary's producers, Stein said, he began seeing it as a free speech issue. Stein and the producers conducted the interviews over a period of two years.

In addition to Dawkins, the film includes interviews of several prominent backers of evolution, including biologist PZ Myers, a biologist and atheist at the University of Minnesota Morris, and Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education.

Some of the pro-evolution scientists and philosophers in the film have claimed the interviews were conducted under false pretenses -– a claim Stein and the producers reject. Mathis said he contacted each person, telling him or her they were working on a film about the cultural intersection of evolution, religion and Intelligent Design.

"&#91;We said,&#93; 'You, Mr. or Mrs. Scientist, are an outspoken person on this topic. Would you like to do an interview with us on this film? And you'll be paid.' And they said, 'Sure, we'd love to,' because they do this sort of thing all the time," Mathis said.

In some instances, he said, questions were sent to people in advance. After the interview was done, the person signed a form giving the producers the rights to use the footage as they deemed necessary. Those who believe in evolution, Mathis said, are given ample time in the film to explain their position. The producers didn't tell anyone the name of the film, he added, because the film didn't yet have one.

"We think we were very above board with them," Mathis said. "... The people who want to attack the film are raising some issues that are really kind of irrelevant issues –- side issues, diversionary issues -– and not addressing the content of the film." 

The content, Stein agreed, should be the focus. Asked how he could question Darwinian evolution when those in academic leadership say it's been established as fact, Stein gave one of his patented half-serious, half-joking answers.

"The intelligentsia often is wrong," he said in a serious tone. "I'd say they're wrong at least as often as they're right. We aim to show them that they're wrong again. We're sick of being pushed around by the intelligentsia."

Then he added jokingly, in his famous monotone voice, "Even though I am one of the intelligentsia, we don't like to be pushed around; we don't like to be pushed around by other members of the intelligentsia, and I don't even like pushing myself around."

Mathis said the "biggest part" of the debate over evolution isn't about science but rather about a worldview.

"If you acknowledge this idea that design can be detected scientifically in the universe, then you open up the door to saying, 'Maybe this atheistic view isn't true,' &#91;and&#93; the entire worldview of people who are atheists crashes down around them," Mathis said. "This is a foundational concept for people who believe this way. So they defend it with incredible vigor."
--30--
For more information visit www.getexpelled.com or www.expelledthemovie.com. Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press.


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

Dembski: 'Expelled' exposes hypocrisy
by Benjamin Hawkins
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--A controversial documentary set for release nationwide April 18 could foster a cultural shift "equivalent to the fall of the Berlin Wall," says William Dembski, research professor of philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

The seminary hosted a private screening of "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (PG) in early March. In the film, host Ben Stein tracks down scholars who have been "expelled" by the academic community for their support of intelligent design (ID), a research program that flies in the face of Darwinism. Dembski is featured in the documentary. 

"This film exposes the hypocrisy of an academic and cultural elite who pretend that they value freedom of inquiry and expression but in fact suppress it when it clashes with their deeply held materialistic convictions," Dembski said. He and other proponents of ID have suggested that the universe shows signs of having been designed by an intelligent being.

Many fields of study within modern science involve intelligent design, including archeology, forensics and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), Dembski said. An archeologist, for example, examines the evidence -– such as a curiously shaped stone -- to determine whether it might be the product of a human intelligence.

"These sciences, however, are uncontroversial because any intelligence detected through them could be an 'evolved' intelligence," Dembski said. "Most of the action with ID, on the other hand, centers in biology, so that any intelligence involved with the emergence of living things is likely to be an 'unevolved' intelligence. ID therefore challenges materialistic theories of evolution, such as Darwinism."

Unlike biblical creationism, ID does not begin with the Genesis account of creation, nor do its proponents attempt to describe the nature of the intelligence that designed the universe. Despite this fact, Dembski noted, "ID is friendly to Christian theism in a way that materialistic forms of evolution never have been."

"One of the biggest obstacles to people coming to Christ in Western culture is the impression that science has disproved the Bible and Christianity," he said. "ID therefore helps to correct this false impression by showing that our best science supports belief in a higher intelligence responsible for life. ID does not give you the Christian God as such, but it puts you in the right ballpark."

Dembski's trials at Baylor University -- which describes itself as "the world's largest Baptist university -- from 1999-2005 are not documented in the film. Among other things, he drew the wrath of the science, philosophy and religion departments early in his tenure there when it was learned that he was heading up an ID think tank on campus. Dembski's role in the documentary is mainly as someone explaining Intelligent Design for the audience. 

Dembski told the Southern Baptist TEXAN that those who most need to see the movie are "parents of children in high school or college, as well as those children themselves, who may think that the biological sciences are a dispassionate search for truth about life but many of whose practitioners see biology, especially evolutionary biology, as an ideological weapon to destroy faith in God."

Robert Marks, who holds the title of "distinguished professor of engineering" at Baylor University, also appears in the film as one of the "expelled" academics. Although he remains at Baylor as a tenured professor, Baylor officials last year forced Marks to return grant money it received related to ID research and forced his ID research website to an off-campus server.

"I sat there and I laughed," Marks said of his reaction watching the film. "I laughed because I have seen this atheistic, big-science mafia squad come out and kill the careers of many of my friends. Guillermo Gonzalez, who I knew at the University of Washington. Richard Sternberg, who I recently met. And to see their motivation and goals so clearly exposed in a Ben Stein sort of dry humor was incredible. I really, really enjoyed the movie. I think it is going to have an enormous impact. I hope it does."
--30--
For more information visit www.getexpelled.com or www.expelledthemovie.com. The movie is rated PG for thematic elements and very brief language. Based on reporting by Benjamin Hawkins, a writer for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Jerry Pierce, managing editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN newspaper.


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

Students: Thumbs up to 'Expelled' preview
by Jeff Robinson
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Some 200 students at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recently got a free sneak preview of the upcoming documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," and they gave it high marks.

Running nearly 100 minutes, "Expelled" documents the stranglehold that Darwinian evolution holds on contemporary science, particularly as it exists within major research universities. The documentary's on-screen host, Ben Stein, shows how even the slightest departure from the Darwinian party line in favor of alternate theories of human origins such as Intelligent Design often brings swift academic and personal discredit upon the scientist proposing an alternative view. It opens in theaters April 18.

"Frankly, I thought I would be bored stiff watching a 100-minute documentary and I couldn't imagine anyone watching a 100-minute documentary in a theater," said James Parker, professor of worldview and culture at the seminary. "But the movie holds your attention to the very end. One of the great strengths was the candid interviews it had with many atheists. For example, &#91;evolutionist&#93; William Provine went down the list of implications of atheism.... His candidness was shocking and appalling in one sense, but in another sense, it was great because it gave you a feeling for the implications of atheism.... The movie also made a great appeal for academic freedom."

Throughout the film Stein interviews philosophers and scientists who were fired from academic positions or denied tenure for proposing a possibility of intelligent design in human origins. He also interviews noted evolutionists such as Provine and Richard Dawkins who mock Intelligent Design and Creationism. 

Callie Nolen, a master of arts student from Mt. Juliet, Tenn., said "Expelled" challenged her to a deeper study of the Christian worldview and its chief competitor, Darwinian naturalism. 

"This film deeply moved me," Nolen said. "The global implications of the Darwinist worldview presented in the movie shocked me regarding its gross devaluing of human life and confronted the subtle prejudices of my own heart. I came away challenged to study in more arenas of science and to add my voice to those challenging the Darwinist grip on science academia."

David Schrock, a master of divinity student from Mendon, Mich., said the film clearly demonstrates the worldview thinking present within the enterprise of science -- a reality that makes science an important venue for Christian influence. 

"Ironically, Stein points out that science is as much a worldview-shaping belief system as any major religion, Christianity or otherwise," Schrock said. 

"Stein not only exposes the academic elitism of the modern academy and their slanted unwillingness to admit theories that propose design, no matter how anonymous the designer may be, &#91;but&#93; he also extends the argument to include the social and political ramifications that this kind of worldview fosters and has historically created." 

Courtney Tarter, a master of divinity student from Minneapolis, Minn., said the movie helped her to understand more clearly the arguments made by evolutionists and reminded her of the importance of being able to engage cultural issues biblically. 

"My initial impression of the movie was sadness, especially when I heard Richard Dawkins talk about the ignorance of those who believe in Intelligent Design and Christianity," Tarter said. "It made me realize that the god of this world really has blinded the minds of people to think that God is only for the ignorant. It gave me a greater desire to see people come to Christ and to know the God who created them.  

"I thought that it was a very engaging movie, which I think will draw people in regardless of their belief on creation. It also made me realize that, as Christians, it is so important for us to know the arguments, to engage with those opposed to us, but most importantly to know and believe our Bibles."

Parker does not expect the movie to exercise a deep impact upon the elite scientists who safeguard the Darwinian franchise, but he does hope it will sound an alarm to the culture at large as to the closed-mindedness of the scientific establishment. 

"It's not going to affect the Richard Dawkins and the William Provines," Parker said. "But I think it will help inform the culture at large as to what is going on. That could have a trickle-down effect in applying corporate public pressure to open up the universities to be more open-minded about other approaches. Only time will tell." 
--30--
The movie is rated PG for thematic elements and very brief language. For more information visit www.getexpelled.com or www.expelledthemovie.com. Jeff Robinson is a writer for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.


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

Final Four: Faith touches the hardwood
by Art Stricklin
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

SAN ANTONIO (BP)--NCAA college basketball is closing one of its most suspenseful seasons in scenic San Antonio with a Final Four of college basketball royalty: North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas and Memphis.

Saturday's two semifinal games will match UCLA against Memphis and Kansas against North Carolina. The two winners play Monday night for the 2008 NCAA Championship.

Among the crowds in San Antonio will be a sizable representation of coaches and players who, on the basketball court and beyond, see Jesus Christ as life's ultimate champion.

"I'm always honored to be part of so many of my fellow Christians at this great basketball gathering," said TNT announcer Ernie Johnson who will be emceeing the 13th annual Legends of the Hardwood breakfast Saturday morning sponsored by Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Former North Carolina and NBA star Hubert Davis will be awarded the John Wooden Keys to Life Award as a man of faith on and off the court.

Several prominent college players and coaches will be featured at the breakfast, which is expected to draw a crowd of 1,500 people just hours before the Final Four semifinal games at the nearby Alamodome.

While Wooden, a devout Christian and former UCLA coaching legend who won 10 NCAA titles, will be unable to make the banquet because of a recent fall and hospital stay, the Keys to Life award will be presented to Davis by Wooden's daughter, Nan Wooden Muehlhausen.

CBS lead announcer Jim Nantz described Wooden as the perfect choice by the two Christian organizations for honoring basketball's faith-filled coaches and players.

"He &#91;Wooden&#93; had always a saintly aura, someone who lived at such a high level morally and ethically," Nantz said.

"I came to realize that when all of sports is over and spoken, how you are as a man and the life you live in and out of the spotlight is all that really counts," Nantz said.

The Saturday breakfast also will feature USA basketball's 2008 Olympics top executive, Jerry Colangelo, chairman and CEO of the Phoenix Suns.

Nantz, who will be broadcasting his 17th straight Final Four, said he is happy to spotlight the many positive stories in this year's semifinals and championship game.

One of the stories Nantz and his CBS team likely will tell is of a preacher's kid who made it to the sport's ultimate weekend as a head coach. UCLA coach Ben Howland's dad, Bob, was the longtime senior pastor of one of the largest Presbyterian churches in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Kansas head coach Bill Self and several member of his Kansas team have professed their faith in Christ in the past and will have the opportunity to voice it anew in the national spotlight.

Another big part of the Final Four faith activities will be Friday afternoon's Athletes in Action Coaches Forum. Among those expected to speak are Baylor's Scott Drew and Washington State's Tony Bennett who led their teams to outstanding seasons and postseason NCAA play.

Also scheduled to speak at the forum will be former Baylor head coach Dave Bliss, who was forced to resign for covering up illegal payments to basketball team members in 2003 and for his part in attempting the hinder the investigation of the murder of a Baylor team member.

Bliss, who is out of coaching and living in Denver, has stayed out of the spotlight for most part since then. But in a Colorado media interview earlier this winter he said he wants to say he's sorry to the coaches for the hurt and stain he left on the college coaching profession.

"Dave Bliss will be talking about the ethics and pressures of college coaching," Athletes in Action spokesperson Katie Campbell said.

Several evangelistic groups will use the NCAA Hoop City public basketball carnival as a chance for street witnessing in downtown San Antonio, and several local churches are planning special Final Four services, testimonies and outreach on Sunday. And Christian alternative metal band Flyleaf will play at the NCAA World's Largest Pep Rally, a free event near the Alamodome that will include spirit squads from each Final Four school.
--30--
Art Stricklin is a correspondent for BPSports, on the Web at www.BPSports.net.


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

CULTURE DIGEST:  Survey -- Journalists admit liberal leanings, lack exposure to faith
by Erin Roach
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Just 6 percent of national journalists describe themselves as conservative, compared with 36 percent of the overall population, according to an annual survey released in March by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

The State of the Media report said 2 percent of the journalists and news executives surveyed consider themselves very conservative, while 53 percent of national journalists described themselves as moderate, 24 percent as liberal and 8 percent as very liberal.

Jennifer Harper, a writer for The Washington Times who analyzed the report, said there are more conservatives in broadcast media than in print -- 10 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Among online journalists, 8 percent said they were conservative.

Overall, only 8 percent of journalists at national media outlets said they attend church or synagogue weekly.

Almost two-thirds of the journalists in the survey admitted that their political leanings impact their reporting as the line between reporting and commentary is blurred.

Cliff Kincaid, editor of Accuracy in Media, told Family News in Focus that he believes the number of conservatives in the media seems lower than 6 percent.

"There are very few," he said. "This is based not only on the surveys but personal experience. The fact is that conservative students tend not to go into journalism. Liberal students want to change the system. They see journalism as a tool to accomplish that."

NewsBusters.org, a blog that claims to expose the liberal bias in the media, said the Pew report "confirmed the obvious -- that compared to the views of the public, conservatives are under-represented in national journalism while liberals are over-represented."

"Only 19 percent of the public consider themselves liberal. And it's not much of a leap to presume many of the 53 percent &#91;of journalists&#93; who describe themselves as 'moderate' are really quite liberal," Brent Baker wrote on the blog.

To read the Project for Excellence in Journalism report, visit www.journalism.org. 

AFA ENDS FORD BOYCOTT -- The American Family Association has ended its two-year boycott of Ford Motor Company, saying its supporters are free to purchase Ford vehicles again after the company met the conditions of an agreement to stop supporting homosexual causes.

Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, said the support of more than 780,000 people who signed the boycott petition "played a key role in convincing Ford to cease its significant support of the homosexual agenda."

Wildmon also wrote in an e-mail to supporters that during the 24 months the boycott was in effect, Ford sales dropped an average of 8 percent per month. Wildmon conceded the boycott was not entirely responsible for the drop in sales but said it played a significant role.

AFA asked Ford to agree that the company "would not renew current promotions or create future incentives that give cash donations to homosexual organizations" and that Ford "would not make corporate donations to homosexual organizations that ... engage in political or social campaigns to promote civil unions or same-sex marriage."

The agreement also specified that Ford "would stop giving cash and vehicle donations or endorsements to homosexual social activities such as Gay Pride parades" and that Ford "would cease all advertising on homosexual Web sites and through homosexual media outlets."

"A few minor issues remain, and we will continue to bring these to the attention of Ford," Wildmon wrote. "But basically Ford has met the terms of the agreement. We are therefore suspending the boycott." 

Forbes magazine, though, said AFA is taking credit for something that can more accurately be attributed to a downturn in the U.S. economy. Ford said its principles haven't changed but the company has reduced overall advertising and charitable spending because of losses in North America, Forbes reported. Ford lost $2.7 billion in 2007, with U.S. sales down 10 percent compared to 2006.

AFA and more than 30 other conservative groups launched the boycott in March 2006, urging Christians not to buy cars from Ford or its seven other brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Mazda.

NEWSPAPER CALLS ON 'LAPSING CATHOLICS' -- The Journal News, a newspaper covering the Lower Hudson region of New York, is preparing for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States by asking online readers to respond to a peculiar survey.

"Are you a lapsed Catholic?" the survey asks. "As part of The Journal News' coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to New York &#91;in April&#93;, we're hoping to interview Roman Catholics who consider themselves lapsed or non-practicing on their views about the pope's visit. If you're willing to be interviewed please contact Ernie Garcia at elgarcia@lohud.com."

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, countered that his organization is returning the favor by sending a survey to 134 of the newspaper's employees whose e-mail addresses they've obtained.

The survey reads:

"Protestants: Given that no religious group switches denominations more than Protestants, can you tell us what it feels like to bounce around from one contiguous neighborhood to another in search of the ideal church?

"Jews: Given that the vast majority of Jews do not attend synagogue and that 52 percent of them intermarry, can you tell us what it feels like to be a non-Jewish Jew?

"Muslims: Given that Muslims who convert may be murdered, can you tell us if you've at least fantasized about converting?"

Pope Benedict will visit Washington April 15-17 before traveling to New York April 18-20.
--30--
Erin Roach is a staff writer for Baptist Press.


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

Cedarville trustees uphold prof's firing
by Staff
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

CEDARVILLE, Ohio (BP)--Trustees of Cedarville University, meeting in special session April 4, voted unanimously to uphold the termination of David Hoffeditz, a tenured professor in the school's biblical studies department.

In July 2007, Hoffeditz and another tenured professor in the same department, David Mappes, were notified that their contracts for the upcoming school year were being terminated. While Mappes chose not to appeal the action, Hoffeditz took the decision to a five-member faculty grievance panel. In March 2008, that panel concluded, on a split vote, in Hoffeditz's favor.

The university's appeals process called for the panel's findings to be forwarded to Cedarville President William E. Brown, who in turn relayed his recommendation, along with that of the grievance panel, to the academic committee of the school's trustees.

In a statement released after the trustee vote, Cedarville spokesman John Davis said:

"After carefully reviewing the university's policies and procedures, the report of the Grievance Investigative Panel, and the recommendation of the president, the board of trustees concluded that there were clear grounds for the severance of Dr. Hoffeditz and that the university's guidelines related to this personnel matter had been followed. This decision by the Board was unrelated to any theological issues. 

"Therefore, the board of trustees voted unanimously to accept the recommendations of both the president and the Academic Committee of the board of trustees and to uphold the termination of Dr. Hoffeditz."

The faculty panel's original findings in favor of Hoffeditz were leaked to The Chronicle of Higher Education, which reported in a March 7 article that the panel cited "administrative missteps" as part of its rationale for supporting Hoffeditz.

The faculty panel said it "understands the university position to be that Dr. Hoffeditz insisted that his colleagues adhere to doctrinal positions that are not in the &#91;university's&#93; doctrinal statement," The Chronicle of Higher Education reported.

To explain the terminations, the university posted a lengthy statement on its website that said, in part: "For some time now, departmental and university attention has been distracted and energy diverted from work that is central to our mission -– equipping students for lifelong leadership and service through an education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth. University administrators, with the full support of the board of trustees, have been involved in a process to return the department of biblical education to its heritage of collegiality and academic dialogue. After carefully and diligently following university processes and procedures, it became necessary to take action in order to restore a healthy team spirit and to refocus our attention and energies on our mission."

The issue involved a debate over the degree to which Christians can be certain in their knowledge of truth. A statement adopted by university trustees in August 2006 says:

"At the turn of the 21st century, both the truth of Scripture and objective truth in general are being questioned. Individuals in society are sometimes skeptical of the ability to know anything about the world or the Bible. These issues have risen to such a level that they cannot be ignored and have prompted Cedarville University to affirm our position on truth and its knowability with a statement that places the institution firmly within the bounds of historic Christian orthodoxy."

Hoffeditz and Mappes considered themselves theologically more conservative on the issue than their peers in the department, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education article.

The statement released after the trustee meeting said Hoffeditz's conduct "had violated guidelines found within his contract, which includes the Faculty Handbook." It also affirmed that "the university's commitments to its conservative theological heritage, to its historic doctrinal position, and to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture have not changed, nor will they."

The university's doctrinal statement is posted online at www.cedarville.edu.

The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio voted in 2002 to recommend Cedarville to the state's Southern Baptists, and the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, with which Cedarville had historically been related, voted in 2006 to sever ties with the university because of perceived liberalism in the SBC.

Cedarville University does not receive any funds from the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio or through the Cooperative Program, the unified budget of the Southern Baptist Convention.
--30--
Compiled by Mark Kelly, an assistant editor at Baptist Press.


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

Architecture survey: Unchurched prefer traditional styling for churches outside, in
by Tobin Perry
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--People who don't go to church may be turned off by a recent trend toward more utilitarian church buildings. By a nearly 2-to-1 ratio over any other option, unchurched Americans prefer churches that look more like a medieval cathedral than what most think of as a more contemporary church building.

The findings come from a survey conducted by LifeWay Research for the Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN), a group of church-focused facilities development firms. The online survey included 1,684 unchurched adults -– defined as those who had not attended a church, mosque or synagogue in the past six months except for religious holidays or special events.

"Despite billions being spent on church buildings, there was an overall decline in church attendance in the 1990s," said Jim Couchenour, director of marketing and ministry services for Cogun, Inc., a founding member of CKN. "This led CKN to ask, 'As church builders what can we do to help church leaders be more intentional about reaching people who don't go to church?'"

When given an assortment of four photos of church exteriors and given 100 "preference points" to allocate between them, the unchurched used an average of 47.7 points on the most traditional and Gothic options. The three other options ranged from an average of 18.5 points to 15.9 points.

"We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer," Couchenour concluded. "While multi-use space is the most efficient, we need to ask, 'Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?'"

"Quite honestly, this research surprised us," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and LifeWay Christian Resource's missiologist in residence. "We expected they'd choose the more contemporary options, but they were clearly more drawn to the aesthetics of the Gothic building than the run-of-the-mill, modern church building."

Stetzer suggested that the unchurched may prefer the more aesthetically pleasing look of the Gothic cathedral because it speaks to a connectedness to the past. Young unchurched people were particularly drawn to the Gothic look. Those between the ages of 25 to 34 used an average of 58.9 of their preference points on the more ornate church exterior. Those over the age of 70 only used an average of 32.9 of their 100 preference points on that particular church exterior. 

The Gothic style was preferred by both unchurched Roman Catholics and unchurched Protestants, according to the survey. The average unchurched Roman Catholics gave the design more than 56 of their preference points.

"I don't like modern churches, they seem cold," said one survey respondent who chose the Gothic design. "I like the smell of candles burning, stained-glass windows, &#91;and&#93; an intimacy that's transcendent." 

More than half of the unchurched indicated the design of a church building would impact their enjoyment of a visit to church. Twenty-two percent said the design of the church would strongly impact their enjoyment of the visit and 32 percent indicated it would have some impact. More than a third said it would have no impact whatsoever on their visit. 

Stetzer noted that despite these survey results, most of the churches that look like a cathedral are in decline. Just because someone has a preference for the aesthetically pleasing Gothic churches doesn't mean they'll visit the church if that's the only connection point they have to the congregation, he said. 

"Buildings don't reach people, people do," Stetzer said. "But if churches are looking to build and are trying to reach the unchurched, they should take into consideration the kind of building. Costs and other considerations will play into the decision, but the preferences of the unchurched should be considered as well." 

The survey also looked at what the unchurched thought about other elements of church design. While still favoring a more traditional look, the preferences of the unchurched were less pronounced on internal elements of church design. Respondents allocated more than a third of their preference points to the most traditional worship space option they were given -– which received more than twice as many preference points as the most contemporary choice.

The more church design mattered to unchurched respondents, the more likely they were to prefer the more traditional and ornate worship setting. Those who said church design would affect their worship experience allocated an average of almost half (47 points) of their preference points for the most traditional worship space.

The unchurched also preferred the traditional-looking church foyer, although the preference allocations were more even for this question. All of the foyers received an average of at least 20 preference points. While older unchurched people (70 and older) were the least likely to prefer the more traditional exterior, they were more likely to prefer the traditional foyer than the youngest segment surveyed. 

Finally, the survey looked into what sociologists call "third place" gathering spots. First place gatherings are where a person lives, Stetzer said, while second place gatherings are where a person works. Third place gatherings are where a person comes "to hang out," he said.

"In the last few years churches have begun creating third place environments where the lost can come and just hang out," Stetzer said. "This study asked the question, what kind of places do the unchurched like to come to do this?"

More than three times as many people chose a sit-down restaurant (47 percent) rather than any other single response. Other locations that topped the list include: a bar or nightclub (15 percent), a local coffee shop (13 percent) and a sporting event or recreational activity (5 percent). 

According to the survey, the reasons they meet with friends where they do is because these places are relaxing (62 percent), casual (55 percent) and fun (29 percent). When asked to describe in their own words design features of the kind of place they'd like to meet a friend, 16 percent of respondents referred to a quiet environment. Another 14 percent mentioned comfortable seating as a factor, while 12 percent said the spaciousness and openness of the setting were important.

"CKN wanted to give churches another tool for churched and unchurched people to connect well to each other," Stetzer said. "One of the things this study revealed is the importance of space in relationships. Insights into these preferences enable churches to include space in which community can be built." 

The online survey was conducted Feb. 4-5, 2008. The representative, national sample was controlled for a variety of factors including age, race, gender and region of the United States. The sample of 1,684 unchurched adults provides 95 percent confidence that sampling error does not exceed 2.4 percent for the total sample.
--30--
Tobin Perry is a writer based in Newburgh, Ind. To listen to an Inside LifeWay podcast with Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and others commenting on the survey focusing on church buildings, visit www.lifeway.com/insidelifeway.


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

Darwinism: The imperialism of biology?
by Ben Stein
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (BP)--Let's make this short and sweet. It would be taken for granted by any serious historian that any ideology or worldview would partake of the culture in which it grew up and would also be largely influenced by the personality of the writer of the theory.

No less a genius than the evil Karl Marx noted that even after capitalism succumbed to Communism, society would still be imbued with the class artifacts and cultural values of the system that preceded it. Much smarter analysts than I have noted that the whole system of Marxism, especially its sharp attacks on capitalists as a class, was motivated by Karl Marx's envy of the much wealthier industrialist/capitalist members of the Marx family.

In other words, major theories do not arise out of thin air. They come from the era in which they arose and are influenced greatly by the personality and background of the writer. (In law, this theory is known as "legal realism". Judges make up their minds on the basis of their prejudices and then rationalize their decisions by pretending to be bound by prior case law. One might call what happens with ideologies "political realism." Persons make up their ideologies based on their times and their life situations.)

Darwinism, the notion that the history of organisms was the story of the survival of the fittest and most hardy, and that organisms evolve because they are stronger and more dominant than others, is a perfect example of the age from which it came: the age of Imperialism. When Darwin wrote, it was received wisdom that the white, northern European man was destined to rule the world. This could have been rationalized as greed -- i.e., Europeans simply taking the resources of nations and tribes less well organized than they were. It could have been worked out as a form of amusement of the upper classes and a place for them to realize their martial fantasies. (Was it Shaw who called Imperialism "... outdoor relief for the upper classes?")

But it fell to a true Imperialist, from a wealthy British family on both sides, married to a wealthy British woman, writing at the height of Imperialism in the UK, when a huge hunk of Africa and Asia was "owned" (literally, owned, by Great Britain) to create a scientific theory that rationalized Imperialism. By explaining that Imperialism worked from the level of the most modest organic life up to man, and that in every organic situation, the strong dominated the weak and eventually wiped them out.

Darwin offered the most compelling argument yet for Imperialism. It was neither good nor bad, neither Liberal nor Conservative, but simply a fact of nature. In dominating Africa and Asia, Britain was simply acting in accordance with the dictates of life itself. He was the ultimate pitchman for Imperialism.

Now, we know that Imperialism had a short life span. Imperialism was a system that took no account of the realities of the human condition. Human beings do not like to have their countries owned by people far away in ermine robes. They like to be in charge of themselves.

Imperialism had a short but hideous history -- of repression and murder. But its day is done.

Darwinism is still very much alive, utterly dominating biology. Despite the fact that no one has ever been able to prove the creation of a single distinct species by Darwinist means, Darwinism dominates the academy and the media. Darwinism also has not one meaningful word to say on the origins of organic life, a striking lacuna in a theory supposedly explaining life.

Alas, Darwinism has had a far bloodier life span than Imperialism. Darwinism, perhaps mixed with Imperialism, gave us Social Darwinism, a form of racism so vicious that it countenanced the Holocaust against the Jews and mass murder of many other groups in the name of speeding along the evolutionary process.

Now, a few scientists are questioning Darwinism on many fronts. I wonder how long Darwinism's life span will be. Marxism, another theory which, in true Victorian style, sought to explain everything, is dead everywhere but on university campuses and in the minds of psychotic dictators. Maybe Darwinism will be different. Maybe it will last. But it's difficult to believe it will. Theories that presume to explain everything without much evidence rarely do. Theories that outlive their era of conception and cannot be verified rarely last unless they are faith based. And Darwinism has been such a painful, bloody chapter in the history of ideologies, maybe we would be better off without it as a dominant force.
--30--
Ben Stein is an author and conservative commentator. His documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," opens in theaters April 18. For information visit www.getexpelled.com or www.expelledthemovie.com, where this column first appeared.


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

A 'pregnant man'?
by Kelly Boggs
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't," the famed literary character Alice quipped. "And contrary wise; what it is wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"

The aforementioned quote from Lewis Carroll's children's classic, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," seems to be nonsense. But if you read it again slowly -– very slowly -– you will see that it adequately sums up the current state of sexual dysfunction in America.

Consider the recent sensational news headline, "Man becomes pregnant," that reverberated around the world. Reading the story, it became very clear that everything was not quite as the outrageous headline made it seem.  

The story indicated that an Oregon female-to-male transsexual was indeed pregnant. But how could this be? I thought that a person suffering from "gender identity" or "gender identity dysphoria" (belief that a person was born the wrong sex) underwent sex reassignment surgery in order to become the "correct" sex -– totally and completely. In the case of the Oregon transsexual, a woman underwent sex reassignment to become a "man." 

Here is where things get bizarre -– if they were not strange enough already. It seems that when the transsexual in question, who goes by the name "Thomas," underwent sex reassignment surgery she did not go all the way. She kept her female sex organs intact because she had a life-long desire to have children. 

Thomas became pregnant via artificial insemination, thanks to donated sperm.

To say Thomas is confused is an understatement. If she was convinced that she was born male, then why not go all the way with the surgery? In my opinion, the medical and mental health "professionals" that helped her in her so-called process are guilty, at the very least, of gross misconduct. I guess these days as long as the customer –- er, patient –- is "happy," that's all that matters.

How in the world did we get to the place that it is perfectly acceptable for a woman to undergo medical treatments so as to create the illusion she is physically a male -– but still retain the biological ability to become pregnant?

In 1973, after a few years of ominous threats, homosexual activists bullied the American Psychological Association into dropping homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Once that occurred, a Pandora's Box was opened that has led to every kind of sexual abnormality and practice being reclassified as normal. The result? Very little is deemed deviant anymore. 

"The tragedy of transsexuals rests squarely with the psychiatric and medical communities who participate in the charade by legitimizing 'gender identity' disorders," wrote Tammy Bruce in her book "The Death of Right and Wrong." She continued, "It also sits squarely with the Gay Elite for creating a cultural environment that makes serious discussion and analysis of psychological problems politically incorrect." 

Ms. Bruce is absolutely correct. 

A person who thinks that taking hormones and having surgery is somehow magically going to transform him or her into the opposite sex is in desperate need of intense counseling and prayer.

Commenting on the Oregon transsexuals' pregnancy, Laurie Higgins, a teacher from Deerfield, Ill., wrote on the Americans for Truth website: "Prior to my mother succumbing to cancer, she had had an oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and mastectomy. Following those surgeries she was no less a woman than I am."

Ms. Higgins continued, "The presence in the pregnant woman of a desire to be a man, a clear symptom of a profound psychological disorder, and even the foolish legal accommodation of this symptom, renders this woman a man only in an illusory post-modern fantasy -- not in reality.

"That is to say," Higgins concluded, "there exists no pregnant 'man.'"

I couldn't have said it any better. 

Just an aside, can you imagine the conversation that will unfold when the child of the Oregon transsexual one days asks the questions, "Mom, dad, where did I come from?" I hope there is not, as I fear there could be, much confusion and years of counseling. 

On a positive note, nine obstetricians would not participate in the transsexual pregnancy. It seems that are still some sane members of the medical community. 

Alice's imagined topsy-turvy world sadly describes the current state of American sexual dysfunction. But no matter how bizarre things might seem to be, rest assured a biological male is not pregnant. 
--30--
Kelly Boggs, whose column appears each week in Baptist Press, is editor of the Baptist Message, the newspaper of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.


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

McDonald's se enlista en programa homesexual
by Por Erin Roach
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Un ejecutivo de McDonald's se ha unido a la junta directiva de la Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Homosexuales y Lesbianas (NGLCC por sus siglas en inglés), una organización de negocios conocida por empujar agresivamente el programa homosexual.

Richard Ellis, vicepresidente de comunicaciones de McDonald's, fue elegido en la junta del grupo de defensa en marzo, de acuerdo a la divulgación de noticias de la NGLCC.

"Estoy encantado de unirme a la Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Homosexuales y Lesbianas y listo para hacer el trabajo," dijo Ellis, de acuerdo con la divulgación de noticias. "Comparto la pasión de NGLCC por el crecimiento y desarrollo de negocios dentro de la comunidad de Lesbianas, Homosexuales, Bisexuales y Transexuales (LGBT por sus siglas en inglés) y ansío tener un papel en el empuje de estas importantes iniciativas."

Justin Nelson, el cofundador y presidente de la cámara de comercio homosexual, dijo el grupo "no podría estar más encantado con la adición de Richard a la junta. Richard trae su amplia experiencia en comunicaciones y en asuntos públicos a un dinámico equipo de líderes."

La Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Homosexuales y Lesbianas, de acuerdo a su sitio Web, "representa los intereses de aproximadamente 1.4 millones de dueños de negocios LGBT en los Estados Unidos de América. A través de su red de afiliados en 45 estados y cámaras locales y organizaciones de negocios, la NGLCC es el más grande desarrollo de negocios y organización económica de defensores LGBT en el país."

En años recientes, Wal-Mart, uno de los detallistas líderes de la nación, también se unió a la cámara de comercio homosexual pero, a raíz de las protestas a través del país, anunció luego que no haría contribuciones corporativas para apoyar u oponerse a "asuntos controversiales extremos a menos que se relacionen directamente con nuestra capacidad de servir a nuestros clientes."

La decisión de McDonald's de poner a un ejecutivo en la junta impulsó a la Asociación Americana de la Familia (AFA por sus siglas en inglés) a circular una alerta nacional vía correo electrónico el 3 de abril, explicando que McDonald's "dio una cantidad de dinero no revelada a NGLCC en compensación por ser reconocido como un promotor principal del programa homosexual." La cámara entonces colocó a Ellis en la junta directiva, dijo AFA.

"Usted tiene que comprar su ingreso a la junta," le dijo el 3 de abril a Baptist Press Don Wildmon, fundador y presidente de AFA. "En otras palabras, McDonald's pagó con dinero el ser miembro de la Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Homosexuales y Lesbianas… Estoy sorprendido de McDonald's, y pienso que esto los va a afectar en forma muy negativa." 

Wildmon dijo que AFA ha tratado de contactar McDonald's en relación con el movimiento pero el jueves al mediodía no había podido hablar con nadie. Dijo que en una situación como ésta "siempre hay posibilidad" de un boicot a McDonald's.

"Creo que lo que planeamos hacer inmediatamente es esperar y ver cómo responde McDonald's," dijo Wildmon. "Si ellos continúan como van, entonces pienso que deberíamos seriamente considerar la búsqueda de un boicot. Después de nuestro éxito con el boicot a la Ford, creo que podemos generar algunos números que podrían impresionar a McDonald's."

En marzo, AFA anunció el fin de dos años de boicot a la Compañía Automotriz Ford en los cuales las ventas en Norte América de la Ford declinaron en un 8 por ciento por mes. Ese boicot correspondió a la promoción de la Ford al programa homosexual.

WorldNetDaily, en una historia con derechos reservados sobre la decisión de McDonald's de unirse al grupo de defensores de los homosexuales, señaló que McDonald's está en la lista del sitio Web de la Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Homosexuales y Lesbianas como un "compañero corporativo y organización aliada," por una contribución financiera no revelada.

Además, en la lista de compañeros y aliados están: Pepsico, Johnson & Johnson, OfficeMax y tres compañías de bienes raíces: ERA, Century 21 y Coldwell Banker, entre otros.

Los oficiales de McDonald's declinaron regresar una llamada de WorldNetDaily que buscaba comentarios sobre la colocación en la junta de la cámara, dijo el artículo, pero la compañía de restaurantes envió un correo electrónico que confirmaba su apoyo a la cámara.

"McDonald's es efectivamente un compañero corporativo y un aliado organizacional de NGLCC. Nuestro vicepresidente de comunicaciones, Richard Ellis, fue recientemente elegido en su junta directiva,", escribió en un correo electrónico enviado a World Net Daily.

McDonald's no respondió la petición de un comentario de parte de Baptist Press el 3 de abril.

El artículo de The WorldNetDaily también se refería a los comentarios en el sitio corporativo de McDonald's atribuido a CEO Jim Skinner, que dijo en mayo pasado en comentarios no relacionados al presente asunto que McDonald's es "socialmente responsable."

"Ser una organización socialmente responsable es una parte fundamental de quienes somos," dijo Skinner. "Tenemos la obligación de usar nuestro tamaño y recursos para hacer una diferencia en el mundo… y la hacemos." 

El sitio Web de McDonald's también describe McDonald's como "el restaurante comunitario del mundo" y dice que "la diversidad en McDonald's es entender, reconocer y valorar las diferencias que hace a cada persona única," dijo en exclusiva World Net Daily.

La Asociación Americana de la Familia está pidiéndoles a sus afiliados que llamen a su McDonald's local y pregunten por qué la compañía está usando su tamaño y recursos para promover el programa homosexual. 

AFA también apremia a los ciudadanos interesados que envíen correos electrónicos a Andrew McKenna, presidente de McDonald's. El texto de un ejemplo de correo electrónico de AFA se lee: "Me sorprende saber que McDonald's ha decidido poner todo su esfuerzo corporativo a la promoción del programa homosexual. Le pido a McDonald's que permanezca neutral en la guerra cultural. Sus esfuerzos deben estar dirigidos a proveer los mejores productos de comida rápida que les sea posible, no a una batalla política -- especialmente ayudando a promover un comportamiento aberrante y destructivo." AFA provee un enlace para enviar el correo electrónico de interés a https://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/TakeAction.asp?id=314.
--30--
Erin Roach is escritora de planta de Baptist Press. Art Toalston, editor de Baptist Press, contribuyó en este reportaje.


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

Barna: Los evangélicos se divorcian menos
by Por Michael Foust
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Los evangélicos se divorcian menos que la población general, aunque uno de cada cuatro evangélicos que está o ha estado casado ha tenido por lo menos un divorcio, según reveló un nuevo estudio hecho por Barna Group.

La encuesta telefónica encontró que, entre todos los adultos de los EE UU que han estado casados, 33 por ciento se ha divorciado por lo menos una vez. Comparado con éstos, 26 por ciento de los evangélicos que han estado casados se han divorciado. La encuesta no preguntó a los evangélicos si su divorció ocurrió antes o después de su experiencia de salvación. 

El sondeo se basó en una muestra de 5,017 adultos y se condujo durante un año, de enero 2007 a enero 2008. En esta muestra, 3,792 adultos estaban o han estado casados.

El investigador cristiano George Barna dijo que los estadounidenses se han acostumbrado al divorcio. "Parece que ya no hay tanto estigma en relación con el divorcio; ahora es visto como un inevitable rito de iniciación," comentó en un boletín de prensa. "Las entrevistas con jóvenes adultos sugieren que ellos quieren que su matrimonio inicial perdure, pero no son tan optimistas en cuanto a tal posibilidad. También hay evidencia de que muchos jóvenes están adoptando la idea del matrimonio en serie, donde una persona se casa dos o tres veces, buscando una pareja para cada etapa de su vida adulta."

Entre los adultos que han estado casados, la encuesta también reveló que:

-- 28 por ciento de los autodenominados conservadores que han estado casados, se han divorciado, comparado con el 33 de los moderados y 37 de los liberales.

-- 38 por ciento de quienes se asociaron con una fe no cristiana y que han estado casados, se han divorciado.

-- 32 por ciento de los de raza blanca que han estado casados, se han divorciado, 36 por ciento de los de raza negra, 31 por ciento de los hispanos y 20 por ciento de los asiáticos.

-- 28 por ciento de quienes se declararon católicos y que han estado casados, se han divorciado.

Casi cuatro de cada cinco adultos estadounidenses (78 por ciento) han estado casados por lo menos una vez.

"Las estadísticas del gobierno y una gran cantidad de fuentes informativas han mostrado que cohabitar aumenta las probabilidades de divorciarse, y aún así la popularidad de la cohabitación va creciendo," dijo Barna. "Los estudios que muestran la importancia y el valor de prepararse para el matrimonio parecen dar con oídos sordos. Los Estados Unidos se han convertido en una cultura experimental, impulsada por la experiencia. En vez de aprender de la información objetiva y enseñar con base en tal información, la gente prefiere seguir sus instintos y dejar que las astillas vayan cayendo por donde quiera. Dada esta tendencia, podemos esperar que los EE UU conserve la tasa más alta de divorcios entre todas las naciones desarrolladas en el mundo."

Para que los investigadores de Barna consideren a una persona como evangélica, el entrevistado debe decir: que ha hecho un compromiso personal con Cristo y que aún es importante en su vida hoy; que cuando muera irá al cielo porque ha confesado sus pecados y aceptado a Cristo como su Salvador; que tiene una responsabilidad personal de compartir sus creencias sobre Cristo con los no cristianos; que cree que Satanás existe; que la salvación eterna sólo es posible a través de la gracia, y por obras; que Jesucristo vivió una vida sin pecado en la tierra; que la Biblia es certera en todo lo que enseña; y que Dios es omnisciente, omnipotente, el Dios perfecto que creó el universo y aún lo gobierna hoy en día.

Entre los 3,792 participantes incluidos en el sondeo había 339 evangélicos, 1,373 cristianos no evangélicos nacidos de nuevo, 1,488 cristianos nominales, 197 asociados con otras fes no cristianas y 269 gnósticos o ateos. Además, 875 se autodenominaron católicos.

Los participantes describieron sus identidades étnicas como blanca (2,641), afroamericana (464), hispana (458) y asiática (128), y se autonombraron conservadores (1,343), moderados (1,720) y liberales (474) acerca de asuntos políticos.
--30--
Michael Foust es uno de los editores de Baptist Press.


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

COMPENDIO CULTURA: Periodistas admiten tendencias liberales, según reciente sondeo
by Por Erin Roach
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Sólo el 6 por ciento de los periodistas nacionales se describen a sí mismos como conservadores, comparado con el 36 por ciento de la población general, según un sondeo anual que Pew Research Center for the People and the Press dio a conocer en marzo.

El reporte sobre el Estado de los Medios de Comunicación dijo que el 2 por ciento de los periodistas y ejecutivos de noticias entrevistados se consideran a sí mismos muy conservadores, mientras que el 53 por ciento de los periodistas nacionales se describieron como moderados, el 24 por ciento como liberales y el 8 por ciento como muy liberales.

Jennifer Harper, escritora del diario The Washington Times y quien analizara el reporte, dijo que hay más conservadores en radio y televisión que en prensa -- 10 por ciento y 2 por ciento, respectivamente. Entre los periodistas, 8 por ciento dijo ser conservador.

En general, sólo 8 por ciento de los periodistas en las emisoras nacionales dicen asistir a la iglesia o sinagoga cada semana.

Casi dos tercios de los periodistas encuestados admitieron que su tendencia política afecta su reportaje ya que hay una línea muy fina entre el reportaje y el comentario.

Cliff Kincaid, editor de Accuracy in Media, dijo a Family News in Focus que cree que el número de conservadores en los medios de comunicaci+on parece menor al 6 por ciento.

"Hay muy pocos," dijo. "Esto se basa no sólo en las encuestas sino en mi experiencia personal. El hecho es que los estudiantes conservadores tienden a evitar el periodismo. Los estudiantes liberales quieren cambiar el sistema. Ven al periodismo como una herramienta para lograrlo."

NewsBusters.org, una bitácora en línea que dice exponer los prejuicios liberales en los medios de comunicación, dijo que el reporte de Pew "confirma lo obvio -- que comparado con los puntos de vista del público, los conservadores están  menos representados en el periodismo nacional mientras que los liberales lo están de más."

"Sólo el 19 por ciento del público se considera a sí mismo liberal. Y no es una exageración presumir que muchos en ese 53 por ciento &#91;de los periodistas&#93; que se autodenominan 'moderados' realmente son un tanto liberales," escribió Brent Baker en la bitácora por internet.

Para leer el reporte &#91;en inglés&#93; del Proyecto para la Excelencia en el Periodismo, visite www.journalism.org.

AFA PONE FIN AL BOYCOT DE FORD -- American Family Association ha puesto fin a dos años de boicot en contra de Ford Motor Company, diciendo que sus partidarios tienen de nuevo la libertad de comprar vehículos Ford  ya que la compañía cumplió con las condiciones de un acuerdo para detener su apoyo a las causas de los homosexuales.

Don Wildmon, fundador y presidente de AFA, dijo que el apoyo de más de 780,000 personas que firmaron la petición de boicot "jugo un papel clave en convencer a Ford de cesar su significativo apoyo a los intereses de los homosexuales."

Wildmon también escribió en un mensaje por correo electrónico dirigido a sus partidarios que durante los 24 meses que el boicot estuvo en vigor, las ventas de Frod bajaron un promedio de 8 por ciento mensual. Wildmon concedió que el boicot no fue totalmente responsable de las bajas en las ventas pero dijo que jugó un papel importante.

AFA pidió a Ford que acordara que la compañía "no renovaría las promociones actuales o crearía incentivos futuros que dan donaciones en efectivo a organizaciones homosexuales" y que Ford "no haría donaciones corporativas a organizaciones homosexuales que...estén involucradas en campañas políticas o sociales que promuevan las uniones civiles o el matrimonio de personas del mismo sexo."

El acuerdo también especificaba que Ford "cesaría de dar dinero en efectivo y donaciones de vehículos o endosaría actividades sociales homosexuales tales como los despiles del Orgullo Gay" y que Ford "cesaría todo anuncio en páginas de internet para homosexuales y a través de medios de comunicación homosexuales."

"Quedan algunos asuntos menores, y continuaremos poniéndolos delante de Ford," escribió Wildmon. "Pero básicamente Ford ha cumplido con los términos del acuerdo. Por lo tanto, estamos suspendiendo el boicot."

La revista Forbes, sin embargo, dijo que AFA está tomando el crédito por algo que puede ser atribuido más certeramente a una baja en la economía de los EE UU. Ford dijo que sus principios no han cambiado pero que la compañía ha reducido su promoción en general y sus contribuciones de beneficencia dadas las pérdidas en América del Norte, reportó Forbes. Ford perdió $2,700 millones en 2007, con una baja del 10 por ciento en las ventas en los EE UU, comparadas con las de 2006.

AFA junto con más de 30 grupos conservadores lanzaron el boicot en marzo de 2006, instando a los cristianos a que no compraran autos Ford o sus otras siete marcas: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin y Mazda.

DIARIO LANZA UN LLAMADO A LOS ‘CATÓLICOS NO PRACTICANTES’ -- El diario The Journal News, el cual cubre la región Lower Hudson de Nueva York, se está preparando para la visita del Papa Benedicto XVI a los Estados Unidos solicitando a sus lectores que contesten una particular encuesta a través del internet.

“¿Eres un católico no practicante?” pregunta la encuesta. “Como parte de la cobertura de The Journal News en la visita del Papa Benedicto XVI a Nueva York &#91;en abril&#93;, esperamos entrevistar acerca de sus puntos de vista sobre la visita del papa a los católicos romanos que se consideren no practicantes. Si estás dispuesto a ser entrevistado contacta a Ernie García escribiéndole a elgarcia@lohud.com.”

Bill Donohue, presidente de la Liga Católica, argumentó que su organización le está devolviendo el favor al enviar una encuesta a 134 de los empleados del diario cuyas direcciones de correo electrónico han obtenido ya.

La encuesta dice:

“Protestantes: Dado que ningún otro grupo religioso cambia de denominación más rápido que los protestantes, ¿pueden decirnos qué se siente rebotar de una barrio vecino a otro en busca de la iglesia ideal?

“Judíos: Dado que la vasta mayoría de los judíos no asisten a una sinagoga y que el 52 por ciento se casan dentro de su mismo grupo, ¿pueden decirnos qué se siente ser un judío no-judío? 

“Musulmanes: Dado que los musulmanes que se convierten &#91;a otra religión&#93; pueden ser asesinados, ¿Nos pueden decir si siquiera han tenido fantasías acerca de poder convertirse &#91;a otra religión&#93;?”

El Papa Benedicto estará en Washington del 15 al 17 de abril antes de visitar Nueva York del 18 al 20 del mismo mes.
--30--
Erin Roach es una de las escritoras de Baptist Press.



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

Copeland y Dollar no cumplieron con la fecha límite establecida por los senadores
by Por el Staff
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

WASHINGTON (BP)--Dos ministerios por televisión todavía se niegan a cumplir por completo con un sondeo de sus registros financieros ordenado por un comité del Senado de los EE UU.

Los televangelistas Kenneth Copeland y Creflo Dollar no pudieron proveer antes de la fecha límite del 31 de marzo la información que se les pidió, según describe un comunicado enviado por el Sen. Charles Grassley, republicano de Iowa, y líder minoritario del Comité de Finanzas. El Sen. Max Baucus, demócrata de Montana, presidente del comité, y Grassley le habían pedido a Copeland y a Dollar, además de al televangelista Eddie Long, que sometieran a final del mes de marzo la documentación que buscaban.

Long y otros tres televangelistas ya han cumplido con la petición, han comenzado a hacerlo o se han comprometido a cumplir con la petición, describe el comunicado de Grassley. Según dicho escrito:

-- Long proveería información antes del 15 de abril, reportó su ministerio.

-- Randy y Paula White han enviado sus respuestas iniciales, dijo un abogado el 28 de marzo.

-- Benny Hinn sometió una segunda colección de documentos el 28 de marzo.

-- Joyce Meyer ya ha cumplido con la petición.

Grassley dijo que continuaría su diálogo con los ministerios de Copeland y Dollar.

Copeland dijo que su ministerio proveyó 23 páginas de respuestas a las preguntas y 291 páginas de material de apoyo como respuesta a la petición inicial de Grassley en noviembre, pero Baucus y Grassley dijeron el 12 de marzo que la información estaba "incompleta." Dollar no ha provisto ninguno de los materiales solicitados por los senadores.

"Es bueno que la mayoría de los ministerios ofrecen información," dijo Grassley en el comunicado del 31 de marzo. "Reciben un generoso reembolso de impuestos como organizaciones sin fines de lucro. En general, el Ministerio de Hacienda federal renuncia a miles de millones de dólares en impuestos anuales con estos grupos exentos de impuestos. Que los ministerios compartan materiales con el comité del Senado a cargo de la póliza de impuestos muestra un interés en la rendición de cuentas dado su estatus especial de impuestos."

Todos los televangelistas en la mira del comité se identifican con el movimiento del "Mundo de fe," dijo Copeland a través de la página de internet de su ministerio, añadiendo que la petición "provoca preocupaciones significativas"  sobre si están en juego las creencias religiosas. A menudo las enseñanzas de "Mundo de fe" consisten en el llamado "evangelio de la prosperidad" que promete bendiciones físicas y financieras a los creyentes en Cristo. Las acusaciones de que las contribuciones están siendo usadas para apoyar lujosos estilos de vida se han dirigido a algunos de los televangelistas &#91;en específico&#93;.

Grassley primero pidió información a los seis ministerios en una carta fechada el 5 de noviembre. Les solicitó que proveyeran los registros financieros personales y ministeriales, incluyendo estados de cuentas de las tarjetas de crédito, gastos por residencias secundarias usadas por los televangelistas, regalos que los ministerios dieron y una lista de sus autos privados. Las preguntas de Grassley se basaban en cuentas de organizaciones vigilantes y de control, así como reportes noticiosos investigativos, señaló el senador.

El 11 de marzo Baucus y Grassley enviaron una carta conjunta a Copeland, Dollar y Long -- los tres que aún deben decir si cumplirán con la petición -- mucho después de que había pasado la fecha límite del 6 de diciembre. Los senadores expresaron esperanza de que el comité recibiría los documentos "sin tener que recurrir a un proceso obligatorio," una aparente referencia a la posibilidad de un citatorio.

ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) dio la bienvenida al aumento de la cooperación por parte de los televangelistas.

"La transparencia financiera es la piedra angular de la integridad financiera para las organizaciones sin fines de lucro," dijo Ken Berh, el presidente de ECFA, a través de un comunicado por escrito. Mientras que aprecia las preocupaciones sobre la libertad religiosa que algunos han expresado, Behr dijo que cree que los ministerios que cumplan con la reglas "de hecho aumentan la confianza en los donadores de nuestras caridades religiosas."

Ninguno de los seis ministerios es miembro de ECFA.

A inicios de diciembre National Religious Broadcasters expresó su preocupación acerca de la investigación de Grassley, aunque ninguno de los ministerios pertenece a NRB. Frank Wright, presidente de NRB, dijo a través de una carta dirigida a Grassley que estaba preocupado por las "implicaciones más amplias," diciendo que la carta de los senadores "va más allá de una mera petición de registros financieros necesarios para escudriñar la naturaleza caritativa de las operaciones de &#91;una&#93; organización."

A continuación están los nombres de los televangelistas y sus ministerios, además de la ubicación de sus matrices: Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Newark Texas; Creflo Dollar, World Changers Church International, College Park, Ga.; Eddie Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lithonia, Ga.; Joyce Meyer, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Fenton, Mo.; Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn Ministries, Grapevine, Texas, y Randy y Paula White, Without Walls International Church y Paula White Ministries, Tampa, Fla.

Los White anunciaron en agosto que se van a divorciar.
--30--
Compilado por Tom Strode, jefe del buró de Baptist Press en Washington.


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

EDITORIAL: El programa de amnistía de los Holiday Inns
by Por Luis R. López
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Aparentemente muchos viajeros se han beneficiado de las toallas que el hotel pone en cada habitación. La cadena Holiday Inn tiene casi 4.000 hoteles en más de 100 países en el mundo. Según un gerente de la reconocida cadena de hoteles alrededor de 500,000 toallas desaparecen de sus instalaciones cada año. Es decir,  medio millón de tollas desaparecen de las habitaciones cada año.

Hace un tiempo atrás, la cadena anunció un programa de amnistía para todos aquellos que se han llevado las toallas a través de los años. No  pondrán a nadie en la cárcel. No tendrán que pagar multas por reconocer que se han llevado tollas del hotel. ¡Ni siquiera tienen que regresar las toallas! Estos solo quieren conocer 'su historia' y han dado hasta una recompensa o premio por la mejor de ellas.

Un hombre quien ya confesó haber hecho esto dijo que se llevó la toalla de un hotel en Monterrey, México. Aquí fue en donde el y su esposa pasaron su luna de miel, y se la llevó como un 'recuerdo'. "El matrimonio no duró mucho", dijo el hombre "pero la toalla todavía sigue allí colgada".

Un vocero del área de mercadeo de la empresa dice que "el programa es alegre, es una forma de  que la gente nos cuente su historia y libere cualquier culpa que pueda tener  por tener una toalla con el nombre de Holiday Inn en el closet."

Malaquías 3:8-15 nos recuerda del llamado de Dios a honrarle con nuestros bienes. Aún se escucha la pregunta: ¿Robará el hombre a Dios? 

El diezmo es el método histórico de Dios de colocarnos en el camino de dar. Sirve como la puerta al gozo de dar con gracia. No es sano ver el diezmar como el lugar para parar o detenerse, pero como un buen lugar para comenzar. Dicho de otra manera, el diezmo no es el techo para el dar. Es el suelo. No es la meta final. Es el punto de partida. 

El diezmar es como los primeros pasos de un bebé. No son sus últimos o primeros pasos, pero son un buen comienzo. Una vez que usted ha aprendido a andar en una bicicleta, usted no necesita de las ruedas auxiliares de principiante que le ponen para que aprenda a andar. Una vez que usted aprende a dar, el diezmo se convierte en ese punto de partida. Si usted puede andar en bicicleta sin tener que andar con las dos rueditas traseras, ¡excelente!

Interesantemente, el diezmo es una palabra que significa décimo. Nunca significa menos del 10 por ciento, ni tampoco más. El pueblo de Dios debe dar el diez por ciento. Algunos preguntan ¿de qué? Moisés dijo,"Y el diezmo de la tierra, así de la simiente de la tierra como del fruto de los árboles, de Jehová es; es cosa dedicada a Jehová" (Levítico 27:30).

Dos cosas importantes:

1. "Y el diezmo de la tierra". Debemos darle a Dios lo que le pertenece antes de hacer el pago de los impuestos, la casa, etc.

2. El diezmo es cosa dedicada a Jehová. La palabra dedicada significa separada para el uso de Dios, el hombre no debe tocarla. Usar cualquier parte del diezmo es robar a Dios. Todo le pertenece a Dios. "De Jehová es la tierra y su plenitud; el mundo y los que en el habitan" Salmo 24.1 Es de Dios. No es cuestión de oración. Es cuestión de fe, confianza y obediencia. Debemos dárselo de regreso sin hacer preguntas.

La ofrenda es lo que uno da por encima del diezmo. No puedes dar una ofrenda sino  después de que hayas regresado el diezmo al Señor.

Dios quiere que le amemos tanto que le demos a El libremente- ambos los diezmos y las ofrendas de voluntad. Dios tiene expectativas de nosotros. El  dar menos de lo que Él espera de nosotros es robarle.

Algunos deciden comenzar a dar diciendo: "vamos a hacer esto gradualmente. Comenzaremos con 5 por ciento." Esto es como decir "Antes yo robaba seis tiendas al año. Este año, por la gracia de Dios, solamente robaré  tres". El punto no es robarle a Dios menos. Es no robarle a El del todo. El no solo ve lo que nosotros damos. El ve también con lo que nos quedamos.

Cuando la gente me dice que no puede diezmar, le pregunto, "Si sus ingresos fueran reducidos en un 10 por ciento, ¿moriría?" Si estos dicen "no", luego digo "entonces ya ha admitido que si puede diezmar. Simplemente no quiere."

No estoy diciendo que es fácil hacerlo. Es mucho más fácil vivir con el 90, el 50 o el 10 por ciento de nuestros ingresos dentro de la voluntad de Dios que vivir con el 100 por ciento de sus ingresos fuera de la voluntad de Dios. No tengo problema cuando la gente dice "nosotros no estamos bajo el diezmo" siempre y cuando no lo usen para justificar el dar menos.

El dar es el antídoto al materialismo. El acto de dar nos recuerda vividamente que todo lo que gira e importa en este mundo es El y no nosotros. El dar dice "Yo no soy lo importante. Él es lo importante. El no existe para mí. Yo existo para Él. El dinero de Dios tiene un propósito más alto que nuestra afluencia. El dar es la entrega gozosa a la persona más grande y al que tiene la agenda más grande. El dar afirma el señorío de Cristo. Nos quita del trono y lo exalta. Rompe las cadenas que nos atan y nos hace más como El.

Piense en algunas cosas que le gustaría dar más: dinero, habilidades, sabiduría, ánimo, talentos, dones espirituales, conocimiento, tiempo, etc. ¿Qué está esperando?

Ahora es el tiempo para dar. Si le preocupa el pasado, hay amnistía para aquellos que desean hacerlo.
--30--
Luis R. López es el Director de LifeWay Español de LifeWay Church Resources en Nashville, Tenn. http://www.LifeWay.com/espanol.


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

EDITORIAL: La Creación es de Dios
by Por Rudolph D. González
Date: April 04, 2008 - Friday

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (BP)--Sin duda todos hemos oído del debate contemporáneo sobre el supuesto aumento en la temperatura del planeta.  Mientras unos científicos—y políticos—insisten que el género humano es la causa principal del aumento en el calor de la tierra, otra parte de la comunidad meteorológica niega que haya tal aumento, o que si lo hay, niega que el hombre pueda tener tal efecto sobre los cambios cíclicos y naturales en el clima.

Lejos de un consenso sobre este asunto, todos corremos el peligro de tomar posiciones reaccionarias o basadas en la intensidad de este debate que no demuestra tener señales de calmarse. Pero aparte del debate, lo que necesitamos como cristianos es ver si Dios tiene algo que decir sobre este asunto. Es una verdadera maravilla abrir la Palabra de Dios y encontrar que él se encaja en los asuntos más dificultosos de nuestros tiempos.  

Si bien, este mundo es el lugar de nuestra residencia, sobre todo le pertenece a Dios. Él creo los cielos y la tierra, y el sexto día descansó de toda su obra (Génesis 1). Desde el primer momento vemos una semana increíble de producción, solo para ver su belleza disminuida por la introducción del pecado. Pero la devastación efectuada por nuestra desobediencia (Génesis 3:17-19) no es el fin de la historia, lejos de ello.

La obra redentora de Jesús, nos dice la Biblia, fue cósmica en su alcance. Si, Jesús murió por nosotros en la cruz, pero su sacrificio abarca mucho más, reconciliando todas las cosas a si mismo (Colosenses 1:15-20; cf. Efesios 1:3-10; 1 Corintios 15:27-28). Esto es razonable pues si Dios consideró su obra buena en gran manera (Génesis 1: 31), podrá nuestro pecado revocar la valorización que Dios vio en la obra de sus manos?

Pensemos, ¿redimirá Dios su creación solo para dejarla en su estado presente, o peor, destruirla? En su carta a los Romanos Pablo revela que la creación misma fue sujetada a vanidad, pero no de su propia voluntad (8:20). Aunque no puede ser culpada, la realidad es que sufre las consecuencias de nuestra rebeldía. Pero el apóstol sigue a decir algo sorprendente: la creación (todas las cosas) fue sujetada en esperanza de su propia glorificación junto con nosotros (vv.20-21, 23).  Empleando la técnica literaria del antropomorfismo, Pablo hace la creación vivir como si fuera una mujer gimiendo como en dolor de parto, esperando con anhelo ardiente su adopción -- la redención de su cuerpo.  

Si, la Biblia enseña que Dios todavía tiene un gran futuro para su maravillosa creación. Tan bella como la es, su estado presente no es su estado final. Pablo, hablando de la gran diferencia entre la existencia presente y la porvenir dice, lo que siembras no es el cuerpo que ha de salir (1 Corintios 15:35-49). Somos sembrados en corrupción, pero, ¡resucitaremos incorruptibles! La creación también espera la misma herencia incorruptible, incontaminada, e inmarcesible del creyente (1 Pedro 1:3-4).

Pedro hace esto evidentemente claro recordándonos que la iniquidad será desecha de sobre la tierra, y nosotros esperaremos cielos nuevos y tierra nueva (vea 2 Pedro 3; cf. Isaías 24:19-23).  La resurrección del cuerpo físico garantiza la renovación completa del polvo del cual hemos sido formados. Esta enseñanza es afirmada en otros textos bíblicos pues la patria celestial que los héroes de la fe anhelaban (Hebreos 11:16), es la nueva Jerusalén que Juan vio descender del cielo a la tierra nueva y glorificada (Apocalipsis 21).  

Hay sectas que enseñan el regreso al paraíso del Edén, pero la Biblia no ve hacia atrás con respecto a la redención. Ve hacia adelante hacia un futuro glorioso imposible de imaginarse. En el Edén hubo matrimonio y todavía lo hay, pero en el cielo, no lo habrá (Mateo 22:30).  Si, es cierto que muchos detalles no han sido revelados, pero podemos estar seguros que lo que el cielo y la eternidad es incluye la creación por completa. Dios ha declarado, seré enaltecido sobre la tierra (Salmo 46:10), lo cual nos debe hacer pensar.

Como la parábola de talentos (Mateo 25:14-30), este mundo ha sido puesto a nuestro cargo por ahora. Y como recurso que lo es, Dios quiere que aprovechemos las riquezas naturales que contiene para el mejoramiento humano pero nunca con irresponsabilidad o desenfreno; la siguiente generación las necesitará también. Este mundo puede producir sobreabundancia, pero necesitamos pólizas sanas, prudentes, y razonables. Como cristianos, debemos insistir en un proceso que pesa en la balanza la necesidad humana contra el eco-sistema mismo.

Recordemos que tendremos que demostrar un buen regreso en la inversión de Dios. No necesitamos las dictas alarmantes y contradictorias de la comunidad secular para saber que al tomar de la tierra, también tenemos que conservarla. Este mundo sigue siendo de Dios y no nuestro. El lo redimió con la sangre de su Hijo, y un día nos llamará a cuentas.
--30--
Rudolph D. González es el decano de la Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary William R. Marshall Center for Theological Studies, San Antonio, Texas. Estudios hispanos, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: http://www.swbts.edu/hispanicstudies/sp/.



