Embedded Files
( - previous issue - )
Apologia Report 14:27
July 15, 2009
Subject: The theological underpinnings of Iran’s new revolution
In this issue:
FEMINISM - has the feminist revolution "delivered women to greater unhappiness"?
HOMOSEXUALITY - evangelicals respond to "unprecedented aggression from
the gay-rights movement"
ISLAM - the theological substance behind the Iranian revolt
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES - "six times more likely to die in childbirth"
PSYCHOLOGY - "evo psych" gets blasted in Newsweek
SCIENTOLOGY - current exodus of top leaders brings what may be its
worst press ever
---
FEMINISM
"Women: The Happiness Gap" (no byline) -- notes that "a new study by
University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin
Wolfers found that over the past few decades, women's self-reported
happiness has actually decreased, 'both absolutely and relative to
men.' ... Whatever the explanation, the reality is that the feminist
revolution has 'delivered women to greater unhappiness.'"
One of the responses to the study covered here stands out when it
observes that "today, 'expectations are so much higher'" for most
women. The Week, Jun 26 '09, p17. [2]
To read the study itself ("The Paradox of Declining Female
Happiness"), see <www.tinyurl.com/36t7pr>.
HOMOSEXUALITY
"When Soulforce Calls: Responding to the Claims and Tactics of a
Religious Gay Activist Group" by Joe Dallas -- the contents page
summary reads: "Styling itself as a faith-based civil rights
organization and maintaining that the traditional Christian position
on homosexuality is wrong, harmful, and must be silenced, the gay
advocacy group Soulforce sponsors demonstrations at denominational
conventions and churches. Soulforce demands dialogue opportunities
with pastors and Christian leaders...." Before Soulforce comes
calling, it would be wise to learn from Dallas first.
Soulforce contends that "Religious leaders are the primary source
of misinformation that leads to suffering and death for sexual and
gender minorities." Christian leaders who don't agree with them have
experienced interruptions of business and/or church activities by
Soulforce activists who may trespass and refuse to leave until their
demands are met.
Citing "unprecedented aggression from the gay rights movement,"
Dallas responds by showing how "Soulforce premises are erroneous."
Christian Research Journal, 32:2 - 2009, pp34-43. [1]
ISLAM
"Religion of Peace" by Bret Stephens -- briefly reviews the
theological substance behind the revolt now going on in Iran. This is
accomplished in part through a profile of Mohsen Kadivar, a disciple
of Mir Hossein Mousavi who now heads the movement to oust Iranian
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Stephens explains that "Mr. Kadivar's chief claim to fame rests on
a three-part work of political philosophy titled 'The Theories of the
State in Shiite Jurisprudence.' At heart, it is a devastating
theological critique of the Ayatollah Khomeini's notion of 'the rule
of the jurist' (Velayat e Faqih), which serves as the rationale for
the near-dictatorial powers enjoyed by the Supreme Leader."
Kadivar simplifies the conflict: "There are two interpretations of
Islam. The aggressive Islam of [Iranian president Mahmoud]
Ahmadinejad, or the mercy Islam of Mousavi. ...
"[T]he demonstrators are taking on the regime on its own terms.
Part of that challenge is to Iran's republican pretensions....
"Those pretensions were mostly a farce to begin with, given the
nature of a system rigged to produce an 'Islamic' result. But they
also served as a thin edge of the wedge, creating the opening through
which a theocratic state can be challenged on theological grounds. In
so doing, they exposed what might be described as the twin paradoxes
of the Islamic Revolution.
"The first is that any revolution carried out in the name of God is
also susceptible to being challenged in the name of God - and God has
many names. As with the Communist revolutions of the 20th century,
which were ultimately answerable to the verdict of History in which
they placed so much stock, the ideological foundation of the Islamic
Revolution rests with the prevailing views of a Shiite clerisy. Thanks
to people like Mr. Kadivar, those views now tilt increasingly against
the regime: So far, he notes, two of Iran's four major seminaries have
refused to endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 'victory.'
"The second paradox involves the nature of revolution itself. All
political revolutions involve liberation, at least from whatever came
before. ... [W]hat the demonstrators in Tehran's streets seek is to
join the liberationist impulses of the regime's founding with the
liberal aspirations of the revolution's children." Wall Street
Journal, Jun 24 '09, pA12. <www.tinyurl.com/kk5pkx>
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
"Study: Jehovah's Witnesses more likely to die in childbirth" by
Daniel Burke -- "Pregnant women who are Jehovah's Witnesses are six
times more likely to die during childbirth and three times more likely
to have serious complications than the general population, according
to a new study by Dutch researchers.
"All of the cases of death examined by the researchers were caused
by major obstetric hemorrhage, according to the study, and the refusal
of red blood transfusions by the women was found to be 'an important
factor' in the deaths.
"'Jehovah's Witnesses, by refusing blood transfusion, expose
themselves to a serious risk during childbirth,' said Jos van
Roosmalen, supervisor of the research and chairman of the National
Maternal Mortality Committee of the Netherlands Society of Obstetrics
and Gynecology." USA Today, Jun 15 '09, n.p., <www.tinyurl.com/nl34p6>
For the study itself, "Maternal mortality and serious maternal
morbidity in Jehovah's witnesses in the Netherlands" by van Roosmalen
et. al., see <www.tinyurl.com/cv5wj9>
PSYCHOLOGY
"Why Do We Rape, Kill and Sleep Around? The fault, dear Darwin, lies
not in our ancestors, but in ourselves" by Sharon Begley -- close, but
no cigar, this essay is a rather triumphant indictment of evolutionary
psychology, and the longest feature in a newsweekly that we can
remember. Begley marshals criticism against the genetic or "evolution
made me do it" excuses for criminal behavior such as rape and
infanticide. Out goes the old, in comes the new: behavioral ecology -
only to become the next generation's target, no doubt. However, the
one system least likely to be in vogue with a majority of academics
remains consistent: traditional Christianity. Newsweek, Jun 29 '09,
pp52-62. <www.newsweek.com/id/202789>
SCIENTOLOGY
A lengthy new investigative series has been produced by the St.
Petersburg Times, located in Florida near Clearwater, one of
Scientology's main operational bases. Part one of three, "The Truth
Rundown" by Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin (Jun 21 '09), reviews
multiple reports of extreme authoritarianism, manipulation, and
physical abuse by Scientology's current top official, David Miscavige.
Much of it delivered randomly, the Times story notes that Miscavige's
attacks have been focused on "executives who for decades were key
figures in Scientology's powerful inner circle. Marty Rathbun and Mike
Rinder, the highest-ranking executives to leave the church, are
speaking out for the first time.
"Two other former executives who defected also agreed to interviews
with the St. Petersburg Times: [Tom] De Vocht, who for years oversaw
the church's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, and Amy Scobee, who
helped create Scientology's celebrity network, which caters to the
likes of John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
"One by one, the four defectors walked away from the only life they
knew. That Rathbun and Rinder are speaking out is a stunning reversal
because they were among Miscavige's closest associates, Haldeman and
Ehrlichman to his Nixon.
"Now they provide an unprecedented look inside the upper reaches of
the tightly controlled organization." In addition to revealing
repeated physical violence, the story reviews the history of
Scientology’s virtual takeover of the Clearwater, Florida community;
how Miscavige rose to power; and much more. <www.tinyurl.com/mjcnfv>
Part two, "Death in slow motion" covers the Lisa McPherson case and
"events leading to her death" <www.tinyurl.com/nfz8qx>. Part three,
"Scientology: Ecclesiastical justice" discusses what it's often like
to leave this controversial group, describing the act as "a huge step"
( - next issue - )
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse