10AR15-26

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Apologia Report 15:26 (1,031)

July 15, 2010

Subject: Why vampires are still hot

In this issue:

MEYER, STEPHENIE - an overview of the vampire fiction genre and what makes the "Twilight" series so popular

ORIGINS - new book offers "a history of attempts to restrict teaching evolution"

PROTHERO, STEPHEN - interesting summary of God Is Not One

SCIENTOLOGY - concerns over members' coerced abortions gain broad media attention

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MEYER, STEPHENIE

"It's Twilight Time Again" by Joonna Smitherman Trapp --

interestingly, Trapp (who is a Christian and university chair of

English and foreign languages) is also "part of a group of enthusiasts and scholars of vampire literature. ...

"Virtual conversations among the group have explored why the

Twilight series [1] has so fascinated young girls." And while most

agree on their criticisms of the series, "What we often don't agree

upon is the root cause of the current trend." Trapp broadens the

context: "Add to this [interest in Twilight] the increasing popularity

of dark romance and fantasy generally ... and one might be inclined to label the trend a social movement."

After some speculation, Trapp does everything but confirm her sense that current tastes in romantic fiction drive Twilight's popularity. She adds that in a visit to any large bookstore's romance section "You'll find the shelves bulging with gothic-looking tomes decorated in lurid pictures that often feature strong dark men, dripping blood, frightened women, and yes, vampires."

Trapp is familiar with most of the vampire genre and is quite

favorable toward Anne Rice's erotic Vampire Chronicles series

<www.tinyurl.com/2ajc7gx>. She ends her essay with a review of what Twilight readers are missing thanks to their typical disdain for the more serious vampire literature and the redemptive elements to be found therein. Perspectives, May '10, pp10-14.

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ORIGINS

God vs. Darwin: The War Between Evolution and Creationism in the Classroom, by Mano Singham [2] -- Publishers Weekly opines (Jun 15 '10) that "the book is a history of attempts to restrict teaching evolution. The story begins with the 1925 Scopes trial in Tennessee. Since that time, opponents have tried, first, to ban the teaching of evolutionary theory, then 'balance' it with biblical stories of creation, then teach 'creation science,' and currently to undermine evolutionary 'theory' altogether and introduce an alternative called 'intelligent design.' Every attempt has been unsuccessful because the opposition inherently has a religious motive, violates constitutional principles, and in no way offers a credible scientific view that depends on experiments, collected data, hypotheses and predictions for investigation, and published findings in reputable scientific journals. The attempt to restrict teaching evolution in schools now is 'almost exclusively [a] public relations effort.' This slim book is remarkably helpful in understanding how and why teaching religion in public schools has been vexed throughout history. An appendix reprises court cases that relate to teaching evolution in schools and, more generally, the connection between religion and public education."

Library Journal adds (Jan 1 '10, p117) "Those who read this with an open mind, from either side of the controversy, should better

understand the value of separation of church and state. Readers

unaccustomed to legalese may have difficulty wading through some of the court cases discussed."

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PROTHERO, STEPHEN

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World - and Why Their Differences Matter, by Stephen Prothero [3] -- Thane Rosenbaum begins his review: "In an age in which it has become fashionable to demonize those with whom we disagree, there is still a contradictory impulse to remain politically correct. This is particularly true when it comes to religion. ...

"Yet, Prothero argues that these feel-good, all-inclusive notions

of religious parity have imperiled the world by ignoring the clashes

among religions, and the idiosyncratic ways in which all religions, in fact, differ. Sameness is admittedly seductive, he says, but the

blithe belief that all religions share the same values and want the

same things is foolishly romantic and unreal. ...

"And how different are they?

"Christians regard sin as the problem and see salvation as the

solution. Muslims define the problem as pride that can only be

conquered by submission. Buddhists seek to overcome suffering while Christians regard suffering as ennobling, which is why Christians aren't trying to achieve nirvana. Buddhists, unlike Christians, aren't looking for salvation since they don't believe in sin. Neither do Confucians. And while Jews and Muslims speak of sin, they are not all that interested in salvation from their sins.

"And there's more.

"Jews believe in one God, Buddhists believe in no God, Hindus

believe in many gods. Christ is regarded as a God among Christians, whereas for Muslims, Muhammad is very much a man who achieved perfection as a prophet, political leader, military general and family patriarch. And when it comes to the diversity in denominations among the world's religions, Christianity is king. ...

"Throughout this enormously timely, thoughtful and balanced book, Prothero fears a world blinded to the consequences of religious ecstasy, but he is also mindful that religions have been forces for good as well, and that science has shown there to be evolutionary benefits that come from religion: Indeed, belief and practice may be fundamentally human.

"It is in this way that Prothero debunks not only the fallacy of

religious sameness, but also the 'New Atheists' who have, lately,

become so pervasive and culturally relevant. Atheism can take on its own religion, one dedicated entirely to disparaging the god-fearing, and, in doing so, become as nasty, hostile and ill-informed as the religious fanatics they so thoroughly condemn." Los Angeles Times, Jun 9 '10, <www.tinyurl.com/2awmbf6>.

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SCIENTOLOGY

"Scientology and Coerced Abortions" by Jamie Kapalko -- as significant for the source as it is for its content, this report begins: "The Church of Scientology coerces women working for its central management organization into getting abortions, a disturbing new investigation from the St. Petersburg Times alleges. The two-part story profiles several former members of Scientology's highest religious order, Sea Org, who tell stories of intimidation, isolation and forced manual labor for pregnant women who decided to continue their pregnancies. Scientology has no official position on abortion, but if these alarming allegations are true, they place the organization firmly in the anti-choice camp.

"The accounts in the story come from several women who became pregnant while they were Sea Org members during the 1990s. Sea Org provides its 6,000 members with housing, food and medical care, and in exchange they perform jobs ranging from cleaning to communications to 'auditing,' or serving as spiritual counselors. Scientologists who join Sea Org sign billion-year contracts indicating their intention to serve the church throughout this and future lifetimes (commitment-phobes need not apply). Salon, Jun 14 '10, <www.tinyurl.com/2cxpzer>. The article concludes with links to additional coverage in other news outlets including The Washington Post as well as the original Times items referred to above.

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SOURCES: Monographs

1 - The Twilight Saga Collection, by Stephenie Meyer (Little & Brown, 2008, hardcover, four volumes, 2560 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/yawb582>

2 - God vs. Darwin: The War between Evolution and Creationism in the Classroom, by Mano Singham (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009, hardcover, 192 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/2fq2gy4>

3 - God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World - and Why Their Differences Matter, by Stephen Prothero (HarperOne, 2010, hardcover, 400 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/yjfppww>

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