12AR17-07

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Apologia Report 17:7 (1,099)

February 23, 2012

Subject: Survey suggests America retains Christian orientation

In this issue:

BELIEF - survey gets the question right; the respondents, well...

ISLAM - liberal critic with Forbes taunts New York Times for being Islamophobic

MORMONISM - Washington Post prints dissident LDS criticism

STATISTICS - America 80% Christian? 92% believe in God here?

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BELIEF

"Americans intrigued but wary still of Mormon beliefs" by Cathy Lynn Grossman -- tucked deep inside this item is a brief, but stunning entry related to belief, statistics and theological uncertainty. After touching on a number of serious concerns over contrasts between traditional Christianity and Mormonism, the writer points out an even greater area of contrast: "On Pew Forum's 2010 U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey, which asked 32 questions on the Bible, major religious figures and core beliefs and practices, the average score was 16 correct. Just 19 percent of Protestants knew the basic tenet that salvation is through faith alone, not actions as well. Who scored best? Atheists, Jews and Mormons."

If ever one would like to question the process behind statistical analysis, this is such a case. Regardless, please note the staggering spectrum of tragicomic irony here - from mainline Christians who most-likely fit the "Protestant" label above to the LDS who are known for adding the flip-flop "after all we can do" to Ephesians 2:8 seen in the Book of Mormon's twist (2 Nephi 25:23) - a passage which, for many critics of Mormonism, speaks for itself. USA Today, Jan 27 '12, <www.tinyurl.com/6wtbr7c>

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ISLAM

"The Third Jihad Debate: Is the New York Times Islamophobic?" by Abigail R. Esman -- this Forbes magazine op ed piece begins: "In case you somehow missed it ... the New York Times spent an enormous amount of ink excoriating a film entitled 'The Third Jihad' [www.thethirdjihad.com], and denouncing the fact that it had been shown to officers-in-training at the NYPD [www.tinyurl.com/7y8fppb]. Financed in part by the Clarion Fund, a right-wing non-profit whose board, the Times notes, includes a former CIA official, the film describes and warns of the activities and aims of a number of Islamists and radical Islamic groups in America.

"Much of what the Times objects to is a group of clips from You-Tube videos in which Islamist leaders speak of taking over the United States, of their dream of flying the flag of Islam from the White House, of the importance of destroying the infidel. The Times, however, in describing the film as 'hateful,' does not mean that these clips themselves are hateful; no, they mean that allowing the NYPD to see that they exist is hateful. In other words, they have no problem with the video clips themselves; but with those who expose them. ...

"In fact, in an editorial, the Times, sounding appalled, says 'the film shows some of the grisliest terrorist attacks in recent years and argues that the real agenda for Islamists in America is to infiltrate and dominate the country.'

"Yet interestingly, that's what many Muslims say, too - Muslims who are not extremists, Muslims who are integrated into Western life, Muslims who are at much at risk of death and destruction from these same Islamist leaders - and, indeed, the Muslim who narrated 'The Third Jihad,' Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser. ...

"That the NYPD, which is responsible for maintaining public safety in the world's top target for Islamic terrorists, should happen to be provided this information, however, is apparently not only unnecessary, but egregious. ...

"Mr. Powell failed to - or chose not to - mention the very pronounced disclaimer at the beginning of 'The Third Jihad.' Consequently, millions of Times readers were informed that the film claims, 'This is the agenda of Islam in America.' It does not. In fact, to the contrary, 'The Third Jihad' opens with the statement, 'This is not a film about Islam. It is about the threat of radical Islam. Only a small percentage of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are radical.' ...

"I consider myself a liberal, largely tolerant, except of racism and extremism, dishonesty and hate. And that's exactly the point. There is a line at which tolerance becomes intolerance, and open-mindedness becomes stupidity. It is essential not to cross it.

"The New York Times just did." Forbes, Jan 30 '12, <www.tinyurl.com/82snldt>

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MORMONISM

"A Mormon church in need of reform" by Carrie Sheffield -- a study in conflicting messages amidst the call for change. "Mormons account for 57 percent of Utah residents yet some 91 percent of Utah state legislators self-identify as Mormons. The state that's home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has elected only two non-Mormon governors in nearly 116 years and has sent just one non-Mormon to Congress in the past five decades."

Sheffield notes that "last year [LDS] church leaders expanded a multimillion-dollar image campaign begun in 2010 that is nearly identical to the 'I Am A Scientologist' campaign from a year earlier....

"Former Mormons know the family estrangement and bigotry that often come with questioning or leaving the church." Sheffield points out that the LDS church "values unquestioning obedience over critical thinking. ...

"I was born into an multi-generational Mormon pioneer family. ...

"I struggled after realizing that Mormonism's claims about anthropology, history and other subjects contradict reason and science. While many faiths' irrational claims are obscured by centuries of myth and rubble, the LDS church lacks the moderation and scholarship of its older peers. It also stifles efforts to openly question church pronouncements, labeling such behavior as satanic.

"Critics of Mormonism include geneticists, Egyptologists and even the Smithsonian Institution, which stopped Mormon apologists from claiming the institute viewed the Book of Mormon as a factual document.

"While studying at Brigham Young University, I spiritually imploded after learning these things and other facts outside official church curriculum. ...

"Many other dissident Mormons find themselves discouraged from voicing doubts and ostracized if they do. Those whose spouses leave the church are sometimes encouraged to get divorced and remarry a faithful Latter-day Saint. Non-Mormons are not allowed to attend family members' weddings in Mormon temples. ...

"Mormonism needs a Luther of its own." Washington Post, Jan 29 '12, <www.tinyurl.com/6qpnjwp>

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STATISTICS

Ready for another course of uncertain survey soup? The January 25 issue of Christian Century reviewed (p14) a December 19 report from the Pew Research Center on "Global Christianity." The report, "billed as the broadest and most reliable study to date," noted that since 1910, "when two-thirds of the world's Christians lived in Europe," now only one in four reside there.

"'In two out of three countries in the world, the majority of the population identifies as Christian,' said Conrad Hackett, lead researcher on the report." Christianity's followers account for 32 percent of the global population with Islam at 23 percent. Under "other Christians," Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, among others, are said to account for "about 1 percent."

Sub-Saharan Africa has gone from 9 percent Christian in 1910 to 63 percent today. "Today, 76 percent of Europeans self-identify as Christian.

"'Many people may have the impression that a smaller percentage of Europe claims to be Christian' than is actually the case, Hacket said." A sidebar, "Nearly 80 percent of Americans are Christian," adds that although 15 percent of the people in the U.S. are in the "none/atheist/agnostic" camp, "Gallup found in 2011 that 92 percent of Americans said they believe in God, which suggests that a lack of religious identity is not necessarily linked to atheism."

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