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Old 7th November 2001, 00:20
A_Nun A_Nun is offline
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Linguistic Terrorism: Words Become Frontline Weapons in War For America’s Future

by Frederick Meekins

Contemporary Evangelicals often lament the decline of Christianity’s influence over American culture. Sadly, often this influence is surrendered without much of a fight.

After nearly 100 years, Wheaton College, a Christian institution of higher education near Chicago, will be changing the name of its basketball team from that of "the Crusaders" to that of "Thunder", according to the religious news website the Maranatha Christian Journal. The reason: capitulation to the forces of political correctness.

The name is being changed because "Crusaders" brings to mind images of the series of wars during the Middle Ages when Christians tried to retake the Holy Land militarily with less than holy methods or results. You see, Muslims find this period of world history offensive. And with the same spineless tolerance and multiculturalism characterizing the remainder of American society, a number of Evangelicals are ready to cave before the opposition, no doubt causing Charles Martel and those who saved the West from Islamic takeover at the Battle of Poitiers to role over in their graves.

Recently a group of Christian leaders from various denominations agreed to no longer use the term "crusade" in reference to evangelism efforts in a move to placate the criticism of Islamic activists.

It seems Christians just can’t win. For while wishy-washy Christians fall over left and right salivating over the insights provided by the enemies of the West be they from abroad or from within our own borders, the forces of Islam seem to have no problem making their strength felt around the world through what has come to be known as "jihad" or holy war. It is sheer hypocrisy for Muslims to criticize Christians for using the word "crusade" when they themselves resort to propagating their faith through violence. For when was the last time you remember Billy Graham or George Beverly Shea planting a car bomb?

Presbyterian Minister D. James Kennedy has astutely pointed out that in the rush to heap condemnation upon Western civilization and its accompanying history it has been forgotten that the first Crusade was not in fact spawned by marauding Christian fanatics by rather by Islamic armies seeking to spread their own faith through the power of the sword through the conquest of areas beyond their Arabian homeland.

However, this strategy has not confined itself to history books or Discovery Channel documentaries. For while Christians stand around wringing their hands as to whom they might have offended, Muslims have certainly been busy as of late enthusiastically spreading their faith with little regard for the consequences.

One wonders if those so quick to condemn the ancient sins of Christianity will raise the ire of their condemnation against recent Islamic atrocities transpiring in the Middle East such as the lynching of the Israeli soldiers or the terrorist bombing of the U.S. naval vessel in Yemen.

I Corinthians 9:22 tells us to be all things to all men so that some might be saved. But while some Christians stand around taking this Biblical injunction to ridiculous levels in an effort not be offensive to anyone, there are forces at work in the world who would like nothing better than to destroy our precious faith and to undermine our nation built upon this foundation. And if we cave so readily before them now, what sacred truths will we end up denying when they lay siege to our very doorsteps?

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Old 7th November 2001, 00:42
rikbe rikbe is offline
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AT long term religion is doomed. It will be replaced by reason.
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Old 7th November 2001, 00:57
mastodon mastodon is offline
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The article says a lot of nothing about nothing.

So the college wants to change their mascot name - let them.
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Old 26th November 2001, 15:33
Somniferous Somniferous is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by rikbe
AT long term religion is doomed. It will be replaced by reason.
That mantra has been chanted for centuries. And what?
Religion has survived the Nuclear Age, Space Conquest Age and will survive any other to come. Reason as a substitute for religion is the same as water a substitute for breathing air.
As history has shown, man needs both to live.
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Old 26th November 2001, 23:39
rikbe rikbe is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Somniferous
Quote:
Originally posted by rikbe
AT long term religion is doomed. It will be replaced by reason.
That mantra has been chanted for centuries. And what?
Religion has survived the Nuclear Age, Space Conquest Age and will survive any other to come. Reason as a substitute for religion is the same as water a substitute for breathing air.
As history has shown, man needs both to live.
Come to Europe and take a look at the churches falling to dust. The few that are still in use are converted to touristic information centers and similar.
I really don't see why religion is necessary to live and where does history shows that??? In the religion wars? In whiping out other cultures and killing the infidels?
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