The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Under Attack

10.27.08 @ 6:01AM

(Page 4 of 4)

I took Cameron S. Jackson’s prompt and checked out the website of the American Episcopal Church. Its “A-Z Directory” did not have any entry regarding any creed(s) as one might suppose. However, when I placed a search for the Nicene Creed and it did indeed turn up over a hundred “discussions”. Actually, it read more like a glossary; but that was OK by me. Nothing worse than reading a bunch of ignoramuses yapping about and “sharing” their opinions on whether we “in the modern context” can be held accountable to a creed written by a bunch of men who never had seen an airplane or an indoor toilet.

Unfortunately, the very first item to pop up was “inclusive language”. This was followed by “filioque” and then by another but different “inclusive language” entry. “Jesus Christ” came in a baffling 23rd. That being said, there were a number of well written entries answering curious points about the creed and the faith. There are also a number of entries concerning subjects with little relation to the creed. (Oddly, one such entry is about Gene Robinson’s election as the diocesan bishop of New Hampshire.)

Perhaps the Episcopal Church is not quite as “off the subject” as Mr. Hillyer had suggested. On the other hand, it gives pause when Mr Jackson himself asks "...did you know that the Episcopal Church teaches that the Holy Spirit emanates from both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son?” Anyone who has paid attention while reciting the Nicene Creed is familiar with its profession: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.” This profession is of profound historical significance and is one of the points of disagreement between the Western and Eastern Churches.

I do not know if this point in the Nicene Creed was indeed news to Mr. Jackson or if he was simply being provocative. But it is very likely that many young mainline Christians have been brought up through worship and instruction by clergy who felt doctrine and study of Scripture were old hat and more relevant issues were at hand. The problem is that, not only have entire generations not worn the “old hat,” they’ve never seen the “old hat.” They will know, though, that the Church gets all full of itself about hunger, racism, sexism and “peacemaking.” Young congregants may not be able to name the four Gospels; but they do know the Church employs advocates (lobbyists) to “speak truth” to the members of Congress and will bend the President’s ear every time they get a chance.

Christianity is exploding in Africa and Asia bringing thousands under Lord Jesus. Thousands of Christians are suffering persecution and death across the world; yet the Church in America and Europe is fading away content that they are right on the issues. We may actually need missionaries from the new Churches to come to our lands and proclaim the Gospel anew.
-- Mike Dooley

YOU OR THE BEAR
Re: Eric Heidenreich's In Praise of PETA:

So someone wakes up to the fact they have created this problem of not killing bears in self defense and wonder why this happened. Can it be their complete lack of common sense when it comes to protecting wild life? This brings to mind the protesters standing in front of a fence meant to keep the hogs in the area so as not to be in the traffic and not get harmed until they could be processed for human consumption. The fence came down MMM? I wonder if one of the idiots that were killed in the stampede broke it so as to let the hogs out of captivity. You see there is no logic involved in being a P.E.T.A. person you just have to have skill enough to stand in the way of stampeding bulls or hogs. I was amused at the ones who were captured and we didn't know if the Japanese were going to let them go or not. It was funny seeing them lined up against the bulk head of the ship looking like deer caught in the head lights of a car at night. The entire organization is lame brained. I am for ethical treatment of animals I have two dogs two cats and a rabbit , I make sure they are treated well but I would not sacrifice a human to save one of them. I guess I am racist in as I go with my own kind: human beings.
-- Ken Roberts
Lebanon, Ohio

Well, I have mixed feelings about the article about PETA:  first, I feel insulted that all people who have concerns about animals and their welfare are lumped together by the author as intolerant nuts.  Secondly, I feel PETA was "damned by faint praise" by the author, as PETA does so very much to investigate and promote causes that a single person does not have the wherewithal to pursue, such as wholesale cruelty of dogs in China for their fur, the inhumane treatment of cows in the Slaughterhouse Industry, etc. They have had a huge impact on assuring compassion toward sentient beings in the world, and their nonjudgmental approach to individual cases is legendary, notwithstanding the acts of a minority of rabid individuals who are part of any organization.
 
Maybe the author should do a little research into PETA's mission and past accomplishments before writing a silly article about a single silly case. You do no service to those readers who may need to be educated about the larger issues involved in animal rights, and much harm when you castigate an organization you know nothing about.
 
I'm so glad that Eric was pleasantly surprised at PETA's nonresponse; as a reporter, perhaps he should have used this opportunity to look with more objective eyes into animal cruelty and its links toward victimization and generalization to vulnerable beings as a whole (the aged,  children) everywhere.
-- Dr. Glenda Berg
Seattle, Washington

WRITTEN LIKE AN ADULT
Re: Judah Friedman's Almost Grown:

Mr Friedman's latest piece is vulnerable and undeniably accurate. Thank you for publishing it.
-- Mark Stern

SILVER LINING
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s The Shoddiest Coverage Ever:

At least the Democrats found a way to bring down the price of gas.
-- Mike Showalter
Austin, Texas

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