07AR12-29

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Apologia Report 12:29

August 10, 2007

Subject: Muslim creationist book makes a splash in America

In this issue:

CULTURE - the convergence between modern paganism and popular fantasy books

DISCERNMENT - Christian Booksellers Association asks how retailers determine what product to stock

OCCULTISM - orb photography said to be paranormal apparition

ORIGINS - 12-pound Islamic creationist book floods US post offices

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM - evangelicals invited to address SDA conference marking 50th anniversary of Questions on Doctrine

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CULTURE

"Metaphor or Invocation? The Convergence Between Modern Paganism and Fantasy Fiction" by Martin Ramstedt -- the abstract reads: "In this article, I focus on the convergence of popular culture and alternative spiritualities. This convergence is a consequence of the detraditionalization of western religiosity and the resultant emergence of alternative quests for authenticity, in which personal experience becomes the ultimate authority on 'spiritual truth.' In these interrelated processes, I argue, many people have come to perceive the symbols and stories of the traditional religions not anymore as literal truth but as metaphors. This 'metaphorical turn' has facilitated the convergence of Fantasy fiction and Pagan spirituality, or 'mythology' proper and literary fiction. Here, we not only observe a blurring of boundaries between metaphorical interpretation and literal belief. We also witness a collapsing of the categories of ritual and play onto each other. Pointing to frequent instances of intertextuality between Fantasy and Paganism, I zoom in on the parallels between the imaginary modes of Fantasy role-playing and Pagan path-working." Journal of Ritual Studies, 21:1 - 2007, pp1-15.

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DISCERNMENT

"The Theological 'Line in the Sand'" by Kathleen Samuelson -- asks "How do CBA [Christian Booksellers Association] retailers determine which product to stock?" At least the hard questions are being asked, even if conscience and the damage being done due to failures of discernment is never addressed.

The article begins: "For Christian retailers, making buying decisions can be difficult on many levels. When considering doctrinal and theological differences between personal Christian convictions and those of their customers, the decision-making process regarding what to stock becomes even more challenging. We asked independent Christian retailers to explain their theological 'line in the sand' regarding buying inventory. Nearly 100 responded within a few days - the majority obviously spent a great deal of time and thought on their responses. So much so that space, unfortunately, doesn't permit us to print all the responses. The following is representative of the responses we received."

The first question that respondents address is "Do you decide what you stock in your store based on your personal theological beliefs, or do you try to provide product that represents a variety of Christian viewpoints and customers?" Answers to this are as diverse as you might expect.

A manager at the Focus on the Family Bookstore writes that "the decision-making authority of the store must be willing to measure the resources under consideration against the documented standard and make the hard calls regarding what not to carry. This can be difficult when the resource is a proven success in the marketplace. The safety valve to this concept might be that special orders for products not carried may be allowed. This strategy puts the entire buying decision in the customer's court."

Another question posed by CBA is "Do you investigate the content of all materials you stock to ensure it meets your (and your customers') theological expectations, or do you rely on what you know about individual publishers' and manufacturers' theological positions to make those decisions?" Responses again vary widely, but a number indicate they do indeed check *all* materials. (Note: The final page of the article includes an ad for surfer/biker Jesus figurines. The ironic placement reminds us of what Christian retailing has become.) CBA Retailers+Resources, Jul '07, pp92-94. <http://aspiringretail.texterity.com/cba/sample>

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OCCULTISM

So, have you heard of orb photography yet? In "Is this the proof that spirits DO exist?" (Daily Mail [UK], Jul 20 '07) Hazel Courtney describes the "pale but clearly defined circle of light, like a miniature moon, hovering above some of the subjects" (people being photographed with digital cameras). Courtney begins her story with the conversion from skeptic to believer in the person of "Klaus Heinemann, a researcher for NASA." Then she announces that "a growing number of respectable scientists refuse to write off the possibility that these orbs, which are starting to appear on cameras around the world, just might offer a fascinating glimpse into the unknown."

This has already led to "the world's first conference on orbs," which took place earlier this year in the new age Mecca of Sedona, Arizona. The remainder of the story consists of speculation which appears to universally conclude that the phenomenon constitutes some kind of paranormal manifestation.

Stay tuned. Klaus Heinemann's book (with Miceal Ledwith), The Orb Project [1], is due to be published by Simon & Schuster in November. <http://tinyurl.com/37ypca>

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ORIGINS

As one of our readers, if you live in the USA and have not yet seen the 11 x 17 inch, 12-pound, Atlas of Creation [2] with its bright red cover and almost 800 glossy pages, most of them lavishly illustrated - chances are you will, and soon. Most of them are not finding a welcome home.

In "Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World," (New York Times, Jul 17 '07, pD3) Cornelia Dean explains that the book's author is "Adnan Oktar of Turkey, who, under the name Harun Yahya, has produced numerous books, videos and DVDs on science and faith, in particular what he calls the 'deceit' inherent in the theory of evolution." Thousands of copies of Yahya's Atlas are "turning up, unsolicited, in mailboxes of scientists around the country and members of Congress, and at science museums...."

Dean does little to describe where Yahya is coming from, other than linking his Muslim faith and the fact that "he is not among those who assert that Earth is only a few thousand years old." (To do that, visiting harunyahya.com will suffice.) Most of her story is about the universal rejection that the Atlas has received from those who found it in their mail. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/science/17book.html> (Login required.)

We have encountered Yahya before and have learned that he primarily seeks to reach nominalized Muslims whose ideas have been forged under secular governments within predominantly Muslim nations, such as his own in Turkey. This blanket mailing to infidels is a new twist in his approach.

Yahya has a huge following among Muslims, according to Yigal Schleifer in her Christian Science Monitor (August 3) story titled "Islamic creationist group launches glitzy, global blitz." Deep into her report we read: "'Every Islamic bookshop I know of stocks Harun Yahya's material. It is so glossily produced. It is very attractive and very colorful and outclasses everything else,' says Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim British Council, speaking by phone from London." Schleifer provides even more background on Yahya. <http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0803/p01s10-woeu.html>

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SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

Announcing the Questions on Doctrine 50th Anniversary Conference, October 24Ð27, 2007 at the SDA Theological Seminary, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. (QoD was the SDA response to evaluations that the organization received in the 1950s by evangelicals, primarily Walter Martin.) The promotional material for the conference explains that speakers include "scholars, church leaders, and pastors across the theological spectrum of Adventism, along with guest scholars from the evangelical world." Who are those evangelicals? The only one that most in the apologetics ministry community might recognize is Kenneth Samples, formerly with CRI and now with Reasons To Believe. Others may recognize church historian Edith Blumhofer. <http://qod.andrews.edu>

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Sources, Monographs:

1 - The Orb Project, by Klaus Heinemann and Miceal Ledwith (Atria Books/Beyond Words, November 2007, paperback, 208 pages)

<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582701822/apologiareport>

2 - Atlas of Creation, by Harun Yahya <http://tinyurl.com/2dog29>

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