The Independent Baptist:

"Plains Baptist Challenger"

January 2002

Year 2001 Bible Conference Cassette Tapes

News & Views, January 2002 - Edited By E. L. Bynum

Harry Potter, Witchcraft and the Bible - By E. L. Bynum

Islamic Religion Taught in California Schools - By E. L. Bynum

Franklin Graham Got it Right - By E. L. Bynum

Salvation or Coercion? - By Bill Mosley

It is amazing how easily the devil deceives people into having a favorable attitude toward books and movies that promote sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult. Of course it is carefully packaged into fun and entertainment that appeals to children and even adults. It is time for Bible-believing Christians to stand up and expose something that goes against the strong teaching of the Word of God.

In both the Old and New Testaments, sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult are condemned over and over again. Let us look at a few of these Scriptures.

I. WITCHCRAFT CONDEMNED IN O. T.

God's people were commanded to destroy witches. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Ex. 22:18) "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them" (Lev. 20:27). This does not mean that we should kill witches today, but it is a sin to promote this evil. When wicked Pharaoh wanted to keep Israel as slaves, he called for the sorcerers and magicians to help him. "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments" (Ex. 7:11).
God instructed His people not to allow those involved in the occult to live among them. "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer" (Deut. 18:10-11).

Here is a brief description of the occult professions and practices mentioned in the above verses of the Bible. A witch is someone that practices witchcraft and practices sorcery and enchantment. One who has a familiar spirit attempts to communicate with the dead and participates in witchcraft. A wizard practices sorcery and witchcraft. A sorcerer practices witchcraft, wizardry, magic, divination and enchanting. A magician was a diviner, astrologer, and used magic. The use of enchantments involved spell casting, charms and communication with the spirits. Those who used divination were fortune tellers, and who claimed to divine into the unknown. The observer of times consulted the stars because they believed that the heavenly bodies had a ruling influence over the world. A charmer was one who cast spells and used sorcery. A necromancer was a person who revealed future events by communication with the dead. All of these practices are the work of Satan and fall under the occult practices.

No Christian or any sane person should have anything to do with any of these practices. They are evil and should never be used for entertainment, amusement, or education.

God has never changed, and cannot change, in His condemnation of sorcery, and witchcraft. We do not say that every child who watches the Harry Potter movie will engage in witchcraft. What the devil is doing is instilling a favorable attitude toward this evil practice.

They try to tell us that these books and the movie will never induce anyone to take up witchcraft. Right! Neither will the advertisements of the Ford Motor Company on television ever induce anyone to buy a Ford automobile. They just spend all of those millions of dollars because they don't have anything else to do with their money. When the Super Bowl airs, companies will spend millions of dollars for a few seconds of time to advertise their products. Of course they know it will not influence anyone to buy their product. Right? Wrong! They believe that their advertising dollars will pay off. Then we are supposed to believe that movies that portray and demonstrate sorcery and witchcraft will not influence anyone to look with favor upon these occult practices. How gullible do they think we are? We may not be very smart, but we are not stupid!
Witchcraft was one of the great peace-destroying sins of Jezebel. "...What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many" (2 Kings 9:22)?
God's judgment came upon Babylon because of their " . . . sorceries, and for the great abundance of . . . enchantments" (Isa 47:9). They were deeply involved in enchantments, sorceries, astrology, etc. (See Isa. 47:12-13). None of these evil practices could save them from destruction.

King Manasseh brought judgment upon Jerusalem by tolerating and practicing the very things that Harry Potter promotes. "And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger" (2 Kings 21:6).

The Old Testament prophets were united in their condemnation of all of these evil practices. "And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers" (Mic 5:12). "They have seen vanity and lying divination....(Ezek. 13:6).

When King Saul was trying to do right, he ordered all those who practiced witchcraft out of the land. "...And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land" (1 Sam. 28:3). Then when he had turned against God and judgment was impending, he turned to a woman with a familiar spirit. "Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor" (1 Sam. 28:7). (Familiar spirit means a necromancer, one who romances the dead).

One of the reasons why King Saul died in disgrace, was his appealing to a woman who practiced the occult. "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it" (1 Chron. 10:13).

II. WITCHCRAFT CONDEMNED IN N. T.

God did not change when we come to the New Testament. Witchcraft is placed in the same class of sins as idolatry and murder. God never has approved of any kind of occult practices, and He never will. I find it very strange that some Christians try to justify this awful sin when God so severely condemns it. "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:20-21).

In the city of Ephesus, Paul encountered the forces of darkness. This city was given over to idolatry, exorcism and many other forms of the occult. The power of God intervened and these workers of darkness were completely defeated. This resulted in people being saved and turning their backs upon evil. "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver" (Acts 19:18-19).

John Gill comments on the "curious arts" by saying, "Many also of them which used curious arts, &c., Magic arts, soothsaying, necromancy, conjuration, and the like, being convinced of the folly and wickedness of them: brought their books together; by which they had learned these arts. Ephesus was famous for this sort of learning . . . " In commenting on this verse, G. Campbell Morgan said that this city was "full of magic . . . incantations and excorcism . . . " He further said that the books that were burned belonged to the Church members who burned their books teaching the black arts.

The Pulpit Commentary says that the "curious arts" refers to "that which is forbidden, and specially magic arts and occult sciences." This is how Christians reacted to the occult in the days of the Bible. Christians today should reject Harry Potter and all forms of witchcraft, sorcery, and the evil works of darkness.

In the city of Philippi, Paul encountered a girl who was indwelt by an evil spirit. She made a lot of money for her owners by divination and soothsaying. "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying" (Acts 16:16). When God used Paul to deliver her from this bondage, angry people beat him and cast him into prison. It is always dangerous to oppose the evil forces of darkness, but we thank God for those who dare to stand for the truth.

One of the things that points to the end of the age is sorcery, witchcraft and all kinds of magic arts. The Tribulation period described in Revelation 6-19, will feature widespread use of various forms of magic. "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts" (Rev 9:21).

The "sorceries" referred to in Revelation refers to "witchcraft, sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it." We are told that "by thy sorceries were all nations deceived" (Rev. 18:23).

Recently we read a church ad saying, "Harry Potter Is Going to Hell." If Harry Potter was a real person, instead, of a fictional character, that would certainly be true. Certainly those that practice witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery and the occult are going to hell. The only hope they have is to repent of this wickedness and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

The Bible plainly states that sorcerers will be shut out from the presence of God. "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Rev. 22:15). The above scripture in Revelation reveals that God puts "sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters," all under the same classification. Why? It is because they are all wicked and abominable sins in the sight of God, and will receive the same judgment.

III. WITCHCRAFT A REAL DANGER TODAY

Other voices have been raised against Harry Potter books and the movie. In the remaining part of this article, we shall give some quotations from some of these. The following quotations are taken from a Baptist Press release by Tobin Perry.

Millions of children strolling into the new Harry Potter movie will get a crash course in occultism, said Richard Abanes, author of "Harry Potter and the Bible," released last January by Horizon Books. "We will have millions and millions of kids getting their first look at the occult" at what otherwise may seem to be a "very endearing, fun and stimulating movie," Abanes said. Abanes has been studying the occult for much of the past decade, writing almost a dozen books on the subject.

Besides getting kids hooked on the occult, Abanes has two other major concerns about the Harry Potter series: the series teaches children moral relativism and desensitizes children to profanity and off-color humor.

The following was taken from an article by Phil Boatwright in BP.

The live-action Warner Brothers adventure tells the story of a boy who learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Invited to attend "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. At Hogwarts, he finds the home and the family he has never had.

While studying how to develop his powers as a wizard, Harry and his pals have several adventures. Some of these escapades are amusing, such as a rugby match on flying broomsticks, while others are a bit more scary, such as a final confrontation with the villain, a snake-like demon who once killed Harry's parents and now wants to destroy him.

Many, including this reviewer, believe that Harry Potter is far more than mere children's fantasy. In truth, there are millions of practicing witches worldwide. Members of Wicca teach a philosophy that embraces no absolute truth or sin, replacing the patriarchal male creator God of the Bible with a belief in both male and female gods. It instructs its members to embrace spirits and how to use spells and curses to control their lives and the lives of others.

If Harry Potter were only a fantasy novel that conveyed the positive character traits of bravery, loyalty, and friendship it would be one thing. However, that Rowling mixes witchcraft and occult practices with her fantasy is what many find disturbing. The occult symbols and practices found in Rowling's writings were not birthed in her imagination. Her knowledge of such things had to come from research or experience. (BP)

Robert McGee wrote the following concerning Harry Potter in BP.

After having seen a pre-release screening of the first Harry Potter movie, I left wondering what it was going to take for the church to wake up. The movie appears to be directed to children 13 and younger. For those Christian parents and pastors who have wanted to believe that the Harry Potter books are really not about witchcraft, they are going to be disappointed. Using witchcraft is the way Harry, a child who grew up in an abusive situation, gains power and fame.

Harry and his friends communicate with spirits of dead people. The book explains death as just the next great adventure, a direct allusion to reincarnation, which is a tenant of witchcraft.

Those who want Harry to be a role figure for our children may be concerned that Harry breaks the rules, goes against authority, lies and yet suffers no negative consequences and in fact is often rewarded for rebellious behavior. Those who are not witches are called Muggles, which is a variation of an English slang term Mug that corresponds to a fool. Muggles do not live lives worth anything, are stupid and mean and show gross ignorance because they reject witchcraft.

If you think that we will somehow weather this and it will be a distant memory, you do not understand the plan. There will be three more Harry Potter books, six more movies after this one and a video game that is supposed to become the most popular game ever.

Phil Boatwright writes again in BP and voices some of the concerns of a person well acquainted with the evils of witchcraft.

Marcia Montenegro, once a renowned astrologer and now a Christian author and speaker, understandably is concerned about the new movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." She is uneasy that the movie's preoccupation with sorcery may cause children and teenagers to nonchalantly experiment with mystical arts.

"Although Harry Potter attends the `Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,' what is really being described in the book is sorcery," Montenegro said in an interview. And what exactly is sorcery? "Contemporary sorcery is based on a belief of accessing and manipulating energy through various methods, such as the use of potions, incantations, rituals and communing with spirits," Montenegro explained. "Sorcery is nothing less than the attempt to replace God, since it is one's will that is primary in practicing sorcery."

Montenegro certainly is more sensitive than others to occult issues after spending years studying astrology, channeling, reincarnation and other such beliefs. While Harry Potter defenders -- including a few church leaders -- find the symbolism of names, the actions and the allegorical use of the Harry Potter character merely a representation of good versus evil, Montenegro said it is more than harmless fantasy. The occult is real, she stated, and the books present an occult worldview and some practices that are approximate to real occult techniques.

Montenegro is not alone in her assessment. Christian film reviewer Holly McClure notes in her book, "Death by Entertainment," "Although Harry represents good, he uses lies and deception and magic to triumph over evil, so the roles of good and bad are blurred."

"Anytime the dark side of the supernatural world is presented as harmless or even imaginary, there is the danger that children will become curious and find too late that witchcraft is neither harmless nor imaginary." Their concerns reflect the warnings from Scripture, such as Deuteronomy 18:10, Leviticus 19:26 and Galatians 5:20.

And of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Montenegro said, "Much is made of the fact that the author wrote while on welfare on scraps of paper at a cafe. This makes it sound like everything is totally from her imagination; however, she did not imagine alchemy, charms, astrology, the dark side or many other occult concepts and information represented in the books and film. Harry Potter, far from teaching against the occult, gives a rousing cheer for it."

The above quotations are given to show that opposition to Harry Potter books and movies is widespread. If God condemns something as strongly as He condemns the occult, we should beware! The devil will use the glorification of sorcery to induce some to enter into this darkness. At the very least it will produce a tolerant attitude toward something that God has promised the severest judgment upon.

Most pastors at one time or another, while giving the invitation, have experienced a church member responding being unsure of salvation. The decision he makes to pursue the situation is of eternal consequences. Is the person lost, or are they simply unlearned about biblical security in Christ? It could be that sin has entered into their life causing doubt. The first eight verses of 2nd Peter records steps of successful growth in Christ. Verse nine reveals the consequences of neglecting this instruction. "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." Yet they may have indeed made a false profession and need eternal salvation. It is certain the pastor cannot pronounce a person either lost or saved. Evaluation of their life definitely reveals some idea, but to be sure, the Word of God must reveal it to the one in question. Consequently, the divine plan of God to save sinners must be explained.

Generally such a setting could have been avoided if the person in question had originally received proper instruction. All too often even dedicated discerning pastors hurry past the critical point of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Others often feel the need of adding numbers to their church roll rather than the salvation of souls. After all it would look better on the associational report.

Decision time is the principal focus of modern evangelism. Although a decision must be made, the decision constitutes more than walking an isle, shaking the preacher's hand, or agreeing with some counselor. Ecumenical evangelistic crusades use every religious adviser available that they may be more widely accepted. Catholic, protestant, and Baptist counselors are used in the Graham crusades and festivals. (True Baptist are not protestant in that they did not break away from the Catholic church in the 16th century, or at any other time in history). The church that Jesus built while here on earth preaches the same truth as John the Baptist, Jesus, the apostles, and all their successors. Salvation is by grace through faith, as a result of repentance of sin against a Holy God and faith in Jesus Christ, the One Who came to save sinners. (Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15) Jonah came to this conclusion in the belly of a whale: "Salvation is of the Lord." (Jonah 2:9) Not only was this true for Jonah, it is also true for every sinner of all time. Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus was not just for him alone, but for every fallen descendent of Adam. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Every pastor, preacher, teacher, and other soul-winner must realize the `must' that precedes entrance into the kingdom of heaven. "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7) It is not enough to be born into a godly family, or to become a church member. But it is a must to be born into the family of God. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Pet. 1:23)

During His ministry on earth Jesus made it clear that lost humanity needed proper instruction unto salvation. Religion was not the answer nor would a fleshly decision to improve produce safety. Only sweeping and garnishing an empty house opens the door to deeper trouble. (Matt. 12:43-45) Jesus said to the scribe in Matt. 12, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." The result of being `not far from' is an eternity away from `being in' the kingdom of God. Converting another to one's own belief is not necessarily conversion of the soul but may be a coercion to a system.

I am indebted to James A. Smith's article found in the Baptist Press (12/27/01) for presenting the importance of proper instruction concerning salvation. Although I do not know Mr. Smith, nor his convictions in other areas, he is certainly right in this matter. I would pray all the graduates of his alma mater and former place of ministry, Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY, would share his convictions on proper instruction to a lost sinner. Hell is no joke and eternity too long to indulge in self-gratification in numbers.

While eating in a restaurant the Smith's entered into conversation with their waiter. The conversation soon was turned to Jesus Christ and whether or not the waiter was saved. The waiter spoke of a "decision" a preacher brought him to earlier in life. He had "prayed the prayer" but felt no security or satisfaction, and it was of no real significance to him. Mr. Smith's comments, so adequately expressed in the quotes below on such evangelization, is of grave importance. He refers to this that happened to the waiter as "manipulative evangelization." Mr. Smith writes:

"Coercive evangelism is wrong on at least three counts: ethically, spiritually and theologically."

"Manipulative evangelism is ethically wrong. Pressuring people to verbally assent to deeply significant spiritual truths that they have not really accepted is a violation of their religious liberty. Each person has the right [and duty] to accept or reject Christ for themselves. Christians should not force people to mouth a `prayer' that they do not own as their own expression.

"This is especially true for children. An office colleague told me recently of having been forced to pray to accept Christ as a 3rd grader in Vacation Bible School. Without seeking to discover the spiritual condition of the children, the adult made each child repeat a prayer after him. Not surprisingly, the parents of my colleague were quite upset by the incident."

The energies of the flesh in many instances undermines truth. VBS has long been the focal point of `additions to the church.' It is common to hear pastors at various meeting rehearsing how many were saved in their VBS. There is no doubt that some are saved during such sittings, but it is the result of Bible teaching not painting, pasting, and playing. The worth of a soul can only be appraised by the purchased price. (1 Tim. 2:5,6) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." The saved are bought with a price and no longer own themselves. (1 Cor. 1:19)

Mr. Smith further declares this about manipulative evangelism.

"Manipulative evangelism is spiritually wrong. One of my former pastors would say in almost every invitation time, `Don't accept Christ because I ask you to. Anything I can talk you into, someone else can talk you out of.' Persons who have experienced manipulative evangelistic techniques are less likely to be open to proper evangelism, having equated Jesus with pressure tactics.

"Additionally, it seems likely that such persons will be driven to false religions and even cults, or to reject spiritual things altogether. John [the waiter] told us of his interest in books which promote New Age spirituality."

The New Age religion is little if any different from Hinduism and Yoga. Such magic and occult beliefs are becoming more acceptable in the U.S. Harry Potter books, which now are movies, are making witchcraft, charms, and tricks to become more acceptable. It's product is similar to the 60's flower children's use of marijuana and other mind-altering drugs. The writer proceeded to explain another error in manipulative evangelism.

"Manipulative evangelism is theologically wrong. Most important of all, manipulative evangelism turns the Gospel upside down. Rather than emphasizing God and His amazing grace, such methods exalt man and his ability. While God uses human beings as a means, we are saved because God gave us new hearts through the spiritual rebirth. Is it possible that coercive evangelism reflects a fundamental lack of trust in God?

"It is the witness of all of Scripture that God-not man-saves sinners. After Jesus fed the 5,000, the people asked, `What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?' In response, Jesus said, `This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent' [John 6:28-29]."

It takes salvation in Christ to make a difference between eternal life and eternal death, between heaven and hell. Youth camps too often become as harmful to some souls attending as it is helpful to others. No doubt many have been saved at youth camp. But when young people are pressured to come forward for the sake of filling the front, much damage can be done. Youth having been more interested in their new found `love' at camp very often hear little of a gospel message, if such is given. Yet when the invitation is given many are moved more by constraint than by Christ . . . more by the speaker than by the Spirit. Some travel down the aisle laughing with no evidence of a repentant heart.

Boys and girls are sometimes seen embracing at the `altar,' maybe while the carnal spirit of humanity prevails. Some will be angry at this writing, but as a pastor I have witnessed too often the emphasis at youth camp misplaced. Biblical preaching and teaching has given way to playing and entertainment. "Are we having fun yet?" has given way to "Have you been saved yet?"

When salvation in Christ is experienced there is a definite change in life-style. (2 Cor. 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Jesus said whosoever commits sin as a way of life is the servant of sin. (John 8:34) John further writes in 1 John 3:8: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." When the old man has been crucified with Christ, sin is destroyed, and the new-born person is no longer the servant of sin. (Rom. 6:6) "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Jesus' saying to the scribes, Pharisees, and religious hypocrites might well be applied to manipulative evangelism. (Matt. 23:15) "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte [convert], and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Simply another numerical notch in an over zealous evangelist's belt may quell his spiritual appetite, yet an unwary soul my perish in hell without proper instructions. Walking the aisle, making a pledge, signing a form, shaking the preacher's hand, will never replace repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. A person being sorry they got caught falls too far short of godly sorrow that works repentance. (2 Cor. 7:10) "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

The waiter referred to above was fortunate enough to meet someone who really cared for his soul. Whether or not he was saved is a matter between him and the Saviour. He now knows the difference in being coerced into making a `decision' and being focused in the right direction. Salvation is a work of God in the repentant heart of man. (Eph. 2:10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Not only are we His workmanship, now we are His workers. (2 Cor. 6:1) "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

It is not often that we find ourselves in agreement with Franklin Graham. All too often he walks in the ways of his father, Billy Graham. This time Franklin got it right and he is to be commended for it.

He said on a national news program that Islam is "wicked, violent and not of the same god." "I don't believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion," Graham said. "When you read the Koran and you read the verses from the Koran, it instructs the killing of the infidel, for those that are non- Muslim." Asked by NBC News to clarify his statement, Graham stood his ground.

"It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't Lutherans," Graham told NBC. "It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith."

If we think that Islam is a peaceful religion, it shows that we are ignorant of 1,300 years of human history. We certainly believe that some Muslims are peaceful, but they do not represent the basic teaching of Islam. The radicals who are trying to destroy Western civilization, more closely resemble the real heart of this pagan religion. They do not worship the God of the Bible, but a false god.

If you think Islam is a peaceful religion, you should ask the persecuted and martyred Christians in Indonesia, Philippines, North Africa, and the Muslim countries such as Syria.

The teaching of the Islamic religion would have been shocking before 9-11. Since 9-11, it borders on the unbelievable that any public school in the United States would teach this dangerous doctrine.

The ACLU and others of their ilk have labored long and hard to drive the last vestiges of the Bible and the Christian religion from the schools. Leaders of the public schools in order to be politically correct have bowed to the wishes of the radicals in this country. Courts have often sided with the anti-God liberals who hate the Bible and all that it stands for. At the same time, these same people seem to be very open minded toward other religions.

Imagine what would happen if public schools required students to read the Bible, memorize verses, and take biblical names. There would be a great uproar and the liberal news media would beat the drums day and night. The ACLU would file suit, and the schools would feel the pressure and most certainly have to stop the practice.

We are told that the students studied about Mohammed, the founder of Islam. It is doubtful that they studied about the many wives of Mohammed. Muslims are limited to just four wives today, but he had no such limitation. He was given his youngest wife when she was six years old, but he was such a kind gentleman that he did not consummate the marriage until she was nine years old.
It seems like these schools are trying to produce some copies of John Walker Lindh. After all, Osama Ben Ladin needs more recruits for his Islamic terrorist army.

The following article is reprinted from the WorldNetDaily of Thursday, January 10, 2002.

In the wake of Sept. 11, an increasing number of California public school students must attend an intensive three-week course on Islam, reports ASSIST News Service.

The course mandates that seventh-graders learn the tenets of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their own jihad. Adding to this apparent hypocrisy, reports ANS, students must memorize many verses in the Koran, are taught to pray "in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful" and are instructed to chant, "Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation."

"We could never teach Christianity like this," one outraged parent told ANS. Elizabeth Christina Lemings, a teacher in the Byron, Calif, Union School District, was unaware of the course until her seventh-grade son brought home the handouts. Obtained by ANS, the handouts include a history of Islam and the life of Mohammed, its founder. There are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied.

"We can't even mention the name of Jesus in the public schools," Lemings laments, "but . . . they teach Islam as the true religion, and students are taught about Islam and how to pray to Allah. Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools, and if we tried to teach about the contributions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Apostle Paul? But when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People for the American Way or anybody else. This is hypocrisy."

ANS reports that students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own jihad via a dice game and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of 30. When asked what they thought about the course, students described it as "fun," while others described Islam as "a pretty culture." Joseph Lemings, 12, told ANS, "the jihad was like playing a video game."

The "fun" description disturbs Elizabeth Lemings, who sees the course as a tool, not only to engender sympathy and support for the Muslim cause, but for recruitment. "This is not just a class of history of examining culture," she said. "This course is entirely too specific. It is more about indoctrination."

Nancy Castro, principal of Intermediate-Excelsior School of Byron, told ANS that the Islam course (included within "History of Culture") reflects California educational standards. Castro maintains the course "is not religion, but ancient culture and history. We do not endorse any religion; we just make students aware." Castro further emphasized the course textbook is in use throughout California. The textbook used for the Islamic course, "Across The Centuries," is published by Houghton-Mifflin and has been adopted by the California school system. In it, according to ANS, Islam is presented broadly in a completely positive manner, whereas the limited references to Christianity are "shown in a negative light, with events such as the Inquisition, and the Salem witch hunts highlighted in bold, black type." ANS notes the portrayal of Islam leaves out word of "the wars, massacres, cruelties against Christians and other non- Muslims that Islam has consistently perpetrated over the centuries."

Asked if there was any response from parents about the Islam course, Castro told ANS, "Oh, a couple of parents called to express concerns, three to be exact."