BIBLICAL CRITICISM
"Introduction: Exegesis, Eisegesis, Intergesis" by George Aichele and Gary A. Phillips -- in their technical discussion of "intertextuality" I found this interesting citation: "Pressure coming from feminist, poststructuralist, and posmodernists quarters has catalyzed in change in the dominant critical paradigm, which has succeeded for the most part in excluding ideological and cultural considerations from the critical reading of the Bible." Semeia, 69/70 - 1995 (behind schedule, received Oct '96), p7.
BUDDHISM
"Hollywood's Love Affair With Tibet" by Richard Bernstein -- reviews related events over the last year. New York Times, Mar 19 '97, pB1.
CHANNELING
"Channeling the Man from Atlantis: Scholars Study New Age Guru JZ Knight" by Joan Connell -- reports that J. Gordon Melton invited "14 scholars" to Ramtha's ranch in Yelm, Washington. Includes the note that "80 percent of the 540 students [at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment] surveyed were well-educated women who had left successful careers in search of spiritual fulfillment." Connell says "who and how legitimate Ramtha and JZ Knight really are remain a mystery, not only to scholars, but to critics both outside and within the New Age movement." Religion News Service, Feb (date missing) '97. *Special thanks to Marty Butz for e-mailing me the full text of this item.*
DISCERNMENT
"How to Become a More Discerning Christian" by David K. Clark -- a brief, general, and popular treatment. The Standard, Jan/Feb '97, p18.
ECUMENISM
"Gas from the Ecumenical Trenches" -- this in a regular column titled "From the Allied Front." Responds negatively to A Cry for Renewal: Let the Voices Be Heard, "a document calling for a renewed political vision, energized by new efforts on the part of Christians to overcome the dysfunctional language and solutions of the political right and left" issued by "a group of religious leaders from Evangelical, Roman Catholic, and mainline Protestant churches." Religion & Society Report, Nov '96, p8.
ETHICS
"Islam and the Comparative Study of Religious Ethics: Review of Selected Materials, 1985-1995" by John Kelsay -- Lengthy. Religious Studies Review, Jan '97, p3.
"Self-denial or Self-actualization? Therapeutic Culture and Christian Ethics" by Kurt Remele -- says the author, "I believe that the opponents of the therapeutic culture are right ... I don not doubt for a moment that there is too little solidarity and concern for the common good and too much greed and egoism in Western societies." Theology Today, Jan/Feb '97, p18.
HEALING
"The Gospel Miracles and Modern Healing Movements" by Martyn Percy -- more philosophical in approach than comprehensive in its overview, but significant just the same. Theology Today, Jan/Feb '97, p8.
HOMOSEXUALITY
"At 10, Act Up Doesn't Much, Anymore" by Frank Bruni -- cites "the deaths of many of its leaders, infighting, the seemingly inevitable mellowing of any radical movement" and people moving on with their careers as reasons the movement has quieted down. New York Times, Mar 21 '97, pA16.
ISLAM
"Islam and the 'Community of Destiny'" by Harold O.J. Brown -- here "Community of Destiny" refers to an ideal behind Muslim nationalist affections in France. Religion & Society Report, Oct '96, p1.
MORMONISM
"So Far, So Good: A Brief Assessment of Mormon Membership Projections" by Rodney Stark -- with "the first 15 years of projected rates of Mormon growth, 1980-2080, are compared with the actual growth of the church. As of 1995, Mormon growth exceeds my hightest projection by almost a million members." Review of Religious Research, Dec '96, n.p.
NATION OF ISLAM
"Chronology of Louis Farrakhan's 'World Friendship Tour' to Africa and the Middle East and Compilation of Quotes" by Maize Woodford. The NOI is the theme of this issue. Black Scholar, Fall/Wtr '96, p35.
NEO-PAGANISM
"Clues Scarce in Slaying of Neo-Pagan" -- covers the murder of Duane Adam Rostoker, former member of the Church of All Worlds, an affiliate of Green Egg magazine. A pagan friend of the victim describes neo-paganism as "a resurgence of Wicca - modern-day, good witchcraft - combined with Druidism, which is Celtic in origin and has to do with following the Earth, keeping in tune with the spirit of the Earth, much like Native Americans or the pre-Christian pagans of Europe." Los Angeles Times, Mar 16 '97, pB1.
NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
"That Old-Time Religion?" by Carol McGraw -- "Many now-popular beliefs once faced scorn as Heaven's Gate now does. What separates the bizarre from the mainstream?" Includes a substantial offering of examples and quotes numerous authorities on new religions, but predictably falls well short of providing guidelines. Orange County Register, Apr 13 '97, p1 (Accent).
NEW TESTAMENT CRITICISM
"Feminist Approaches to the New Testament" by Philip H. Towner -- uses 1 Tim 2:8-15 "as a test case." From the abstract: "Towner considers two categories of feminist biblical scholars. The first is dedicated to the construction of a feminist biblical hermeneutic, committed to the liberation of women from androcentric teaching and patriarchal structures. ... The second category of feminist can be distinguished from the first in that she or he maintains an optimism toward the usefulness of the biblical text(s) usually discussed." Jian Dao, Jan '97, p91.
OCCULTISM
"Interest in Psychic Networks in USA" -- this brief entry in a statistical hodge podge reports that the most common callers are "women in 30's and 40's" and that the typical question content is about relationships. AD 2025 Global Monitor, Sep/Oct '96, p7.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
"Tampa Bay's 'Virgin Mary Apparition'" by Gary P. Posner -- gives a skeptic's reaction to the "several hundred thousand" visitors that came to see the reflective glass exterior on the south wall of the Seminole Finance Corporation building in Clearwater, Flordia during the Christmas season of 1996. Following this item is "Those Tearful Icons," by Joe Nickell, which gives some chronology to reports of "weeping, bleeding" effigies around the U.S. in the last three decades. Free Inquiry, Spr '97, p4.
"The Apologetic Moment in Evangelization" by Stephen Blaire -- offers a conservative but generic discussion. Origins, Feb 13 '97, p557.
SCIENTOLOGY
"A Religion, a Cult, or a Confidence Game?" by Harold O.J. Brown -- reflections on the German attitude toward the group. Religion & Society Report, Oct '96, p6.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
"Demolishing Satan's Strongholds" by Benjamin P. de Jesus -- has a focus on the "10/40 Window" in world missions strategy. Alliance Life, Feb 12 '97, p6.
UFOs
"Redeeming the Extraterrestrial" by Marvin Bolt -- responds to the question, "How could God be at work with intelligent life on other planets?" A serious examination. Banner, Feb 3 '97, p16.
VALUES
"Absolutes for a Relative Age?" by Harold O.J. Brown -- a review (pro, not con) of The New Absolutes: How They Are Being Imposed on Us, How They Are Eroding Our Moral Landscape, by William D. Watkins (Bethany House, 1996). Religion & Society Report, Dec '96, p2.
