90 years ago--Association of National German Jews urges support for Hitler

I should have posted this a few months ago on the actual anniversary, but better late than never...On August 19, 1934, 17 days after the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, a referendum was held in Germany on whether to merge the posts of Chancellor and President. 95.65% of registered voters went to the polls, with 89.93% voting "Yes" to the following:

The office of the national president is united with that of the national chancellor. In consequence, the former powers of the national president pass to the leader and national chancellor, Adolf Hitler. He appoints his deputy. Do you, German man, and you, German woman, approve of the arrangement made in this law?

The 10.07% "No" vote was reported in Western newspapers as a triumph for the opposition to Adolf Hitler, who had been Chancellor for less than 19 months. However, that view proved to be inaccurate, as combining the offices of head of government and head of state had the effect of allowing Mr. Hitler to take the title Führer und Reichskanzler (Führer and Reich Chancellor), consolidating his dictatorial power as leader of the Nazi regime.

While looking for contemporary newspaper accounts of the referendum, I came upon the following article, published as "Special Cable to the New York Times and Montreal Gazette," published in the Montreal Gazette, August 18, 1934 (bold, capitals in original):

GERMAN JEWS TOLD TO VOTE FOR HITLER

-----

Berlin League Says Suffering Necessary to Mend Harm Done

-----

Berlin, August 17--The League of National German Jews, a small Jewish organization in Berlin, issued today a summons to all German Jews to vote for Chancellor Hitler in the plebiscite Sunday. The league declared the Jews' suffering in Germany had been necessary in order to clear away the damage done by "un-German elements." The statement reads:

"We members of the League of National German Jews, founded in 1921, have always, in war or peace, placed the good of the German people and the German Fatherland above our own good. Accordingly, we greeted the national uprising of January, 1933, although it brought rigors for us, for we saw it as the only means to clear away the damage done in fourteen unhappy years by un-German elements.

"We agree fully with the political testament of Reich President and Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who called the accomplishment of Reich Chancellor Hitler and his movement a decisive step of major historical importance and stated that reconciliation which will include the whole German Fatherland must follow the national awakening and unification of the German people.

"To the German Fatherland belongs body and soul that portion of the Jews who, like ourselves, know no other fatherland than Germany. In the spirit of the dead Reich President's testament, we support the unification of the offices of Reich leader and Reich Chancellor.

"We urge all Jews who feel themselves Germans to vote "yes" on August 19."

Until coming across this article, I had never heaerd of the Verband nationaldeutscher Juden (Association of National German Jews aka League of National German Jews). It was founded by Max Naumann in 1921 and was anti-Zionist, while favouring assimilation of German Jews into the German Volksgemeinschaft (folk community). The Association regarded the anti-Semitism of the early months of the Nazi regime as merely an attempt to stir up the masses. As to the likely future for Jews in Germany as a result of their support for the "Yes" vote in the referendum, it might have become apparent immediately if the following was any indication, as reported by Associated Press, and published in The New York Times, August 20, 1934 (bold in original):

Mueller Hails Hitler's Victory Over Jews: Says Anti-Semitism Is Christian Campaign

Berlin, Aug. 19--Five thousand members of the German Christian Society celebrating Chancellor Hitler's victory tonight heard Reichbishop Ludwig Mueller call anti-Semitism a Christian campaign.

His words left no doubt in the minds of his hearers that the German Protestant church under his leadership will be a racial institution.

"Hitler's fight is a fight for Christendom against Jews, the most savage enemies of Christianity," the Bishop asserted. "The German people, united today, may go through bitterness and distress but will win this campaign for Christianity even if the Jews get together and determine to destroy the nation."

Drawing a parallel between Christ and Chancellor Hitler, the Reich Bishop said:

"As in the days of the old Christians, faith is equal to confidence. Jesus, preaching the gospel, pleaded for confidence. So did our leader when he put the plebiscite as a question of confidence to the nation. We as true Christians had to give him our 'ja,' as only our consent gives him the right to defend our religion."

Bishop Mueller said the election result was "the beginning of the whole nation's Christianity, since it had the courage to vote for and stand behind the leader in his fight against the Jews."

Walter Kinder, Nazi radical church leader, closed the meeting, held in the Friedrichshain Convention Hall, with the German Christian society slogan:

"With God, under the leadership of Hitler, we will march on."

Richard Steigmann-Gall, in his book The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945 (2003), refers to Reich Bishop Mueller as "a theological moderate among the German Christians" (p. 159).

How did the Association of National German Jews' policy of appeasement and assimilation work out for them? Not too well: the Association was declared illegal and was dissolved on November 18, 1935, and Mr. Naumann was arrested by the Gestapo the same day, and interned at Columbia concentration camp. He was released after a few weeks, and died of cancer on May 18, 1939 at the age of 64. Most other members of the Association were exterminated by the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II.

The Verband nationaldeutscher Juden wasn't the only Jewish organization in Germany that supported the Nazis; Der deutsche Vortrupp. Gefolgschaft deutscher Juden (The German Vanguard: German Jewish Followers) was founded in February 1933--almost immediately after Mr. Hitler took office as Chancellor--by Hans-Joachim Schoeps, a professor of religions and religious history at the University of Erlangen. The German Vanguard was basically a youth movement of intellectuals, with a membership of 150 students, and regarded itself as a Jewish political movement within a resurgent German nationalism, while disdaining Eastern European Jews, Zionism, Marxism, and liberalism.

The German Vanguard was dissolved in December 1935, the month after the dissolution of the Association of National German Jews. Professor Schoeps, a monarchist, fled to exile in Sweden late in 1938, and spent World War II in that country, while his parents were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp in June 1942, and his father died there six months later. Professor Schoeps returned to western Germany in the autumn of 1946, resuming his position at the University of Erlangen in 1950. He died on July 8, 1980 at the age of 71.

70 years ago--Archbishop of Canterbury pessimistic about immediate ecumenical unity

Ecumenical speculation from the leading cleric of the Church of England is nothing new, as exemplified in the following item reported by Canadian Press and published in the Calgary Herald, October 12, 1954:

WINNIPEG - The Archbishop of Canterbury said Sunday night the world's churches are getting nearer to one another but he does not anticipate any general reunion of the separated churches into one articulated body, governed by one constitution.

Most Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, who recently attended the World Council of Churches in Evanston, Ill., and toured Canada, spoke on "Prospects for unity." His address was recorded during a visit to Winnipeg for broadcast in the C.B.C. program, "Our Special Speaker." Dr. Fisher arrived back in England Oct. 4.

"We are all sinful men with our share of wilfulness and wrongheadedness," he said. "This truly shows that every church in Christendom has erred in matters of faith; and that liability to err remains, will remain.

"If there were but one church, its errors would bring final disaster to all. We need our various traditions to continue within the whole church catholic, so that as occasion needs, the insight of one may correct the error of another; and one may hear what the Holy Spirit speaks to the church when others are temporarily deaf to it."

Then, as now, the World Council of Churches was apostate, but the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke as though liberal churches were actually Christian. His skepticism regarding churches uniting into one body has so far been correct; if they do unite, it will likely be under the umbrella of the Roman Catholic Church.

Bad fruit from false prophets in Malawi leads government to consider regulating religious practices

Unquestioningly accepting the pronouncements of alleged prophets instead of being a Berean and checking them against the Bible (Acts 17:11) is always a bad idea. If religious freedom ends up being restricted in Malawi, it will be because of the words and actions of the false prophets. It doesn't say much for the discernment of the followers of these false prophets that they're less able to recognize false teachers than are government authorities. Perceptive readers can't help but notice a disproportionate number of women among the false prophets mentioned in the following articles.

As reported by Thomas Kachere in the Malawi Times News, July 12, 2024:

Fifty-two-year-old Ebel Manyamul has been paralysed for almost his entire life.

His facts of life are that when he was aged three, he suffered from leprosy.

From then on, he has been physically challenged.

Just that, as a member of a Christian fellowship, Manyamula held on to the faith that, one day, he would walk again.

Ans the 'good news' he had been waiting for came on Tuesday, April 16, this year when Manyamula, who comes from Mangirani Village in Chriadzulu District, heard that a servant of God from Nsanje, Prophetess Jersey Window, would be in his village for a night-long prayer session.

Scriptures were recited and songs of praise sang.

Before long, some of the congregants started testifying about what God had done to their lives, changing their lives from bad to good.

When it came to Manyamula's turn, the prophetess prayed for him, surrounded by some congregants who were trampling on his feet, as ordered by the Prophetess.

This is according to the version from the court that handled the case.

A medical report in our possession shows that, after the activities of April 16 this year, Ebel had 12 stitches for wounds on both legs.

According to Ebel's brother Joseph, Ebel became physically challenged when he was...3.

"We were saddened with the development," he said.

Times, which was the first media house to break the story online--nmely on Times 360 Malawi--managed to engage the prophetess on the issue before she was arrested and taken to court.

In that interview, Window indicated that she was ready "to die for Jesus Christ."

Before long, Chiradzulu Police Station officers arrested her.

The prophetess was remanded to Blantyre Prison, also known as Chichiri, as confirmed by Edward Kabango, spokesperson for South East Region Police.

They also arrested two more suspects, namely 32-year-old Veronica Wyson and 30-year-old Marita Wyson from Mangirani Village, Traditional Authority Nchema, in Chiradzulu District for causing grievous bodily harm to Ebel.

Then on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Chiradzulu First Grade Magistrate Smart Maruwasa convicted the three and ordered them to pay K150,000.00 each.

He ordered that the money be used for compensating the victim.

Meanwhile, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance Executive Director Victor Mhango has condemned men and women of God who go beyond limits.

"Justice should be seen to be done, even on people of God who go beyond the limits," Mhango said.

As reported by Pemphero Malimba of the Malawi Times News, August 14, 2024:

Amid troubling incidents involving harm or death in the name of religious healings and exorcisms, the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) has renewed calls for the government to regulate practices of religious leaders in the country.

Last month, a four-year-old child, who was purportedly a prophetess in Kasungu, allegedly instructed her 40-year-old mother, Ireen Banda, to flog four children who had sickle cell anaemia and Down syndrome as a supposed cure.

Banda, who remains in police custody, is alleged to have severely beaten the children all over their bodies, leading to their deaths.

In April this year, police in Chiradzulu arrested a 74-year-old female preacher, Jessie Window, for allegedly directing members of her ministry to straighten the legs of a man with a physical disability in an attempt to heal him through "prayers."

The man sustained injuries and was hospitalised for several days.

These incidents, among others, have ignited debate about regulating religious practices while respecting the freedom of worship.

In an interview Tuesday, Chreaa Executive Director Victor Mhango said such regulation would help alleviate the challenges some Malawians face due to the misconduct of certain religious leaders.

"Many Malawians are being deceived and some have been assaulted, harassed and even sexually abused by so-called men of God.

"We believe the government is aware of these issues; so, we are calling on it to ensure that these religious institutions are regulated," Mhango said.

He added that many people in the country accept whatever comes from religious leaders as the true word of God.

"It is high time Malawians recognised that many of these individuals are false prophets, merely advancing their own agendas," Mhango charged.

Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) General Secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire supports these calls.

Mkandawire emphasised the need for increased dialogue between the government and religious bodies.

"Regulation is unavoidable at this point. The government must implement it.

"However, we recommend that if regulations are introduced, there must be extensive consultations with religious bodies to address the issues," Mkandawire said.

He cautioned that failing to consult may infringe on the rights of legitimate religious groups.

"If the government introduces regulations without consultations, it may impose restrictions on religious bodies that are operating properly," he added.

Public Affairs Committee Publicity Secretary Bishop Gilford Matonga prefers self-regulation within the religious sector.

Matonga said if all churches or institutions were affiliated with religious mother bodies, such as the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, the Malawi Council of Churches and EAM, these organisations could discipline members who act contrary to religious teaching.

"At present, people can choose whether or not to join these bodies," Matonga said.

He also highlighted the need for a dedicated government ministry for religious affairs.

"Currently, we have only a presidential adviser on religious affairs, which is inadequate. A ministry that could formulate policies would be more effective if the policies were developed with input from the community," Matonga said.

Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said the government would consider calls for the regulation of religious practices, provided it does not impact legitimate spiritual practices.

"Any criminal activity by a pastor or an ordinary person is punishable by law. If a sector, perceived as sacred, requires regulation to prevent it from evading legal scrutiny, we need to address it.

"However, if the regulation does not affect genuine spiritual practice, we should engage in that conversation," Kunkuyu said.

Religious divisions show up in 2024 U.S. presidential election

As reported by John Longhurst in the Winnipeg Free Press, November 16, 2024:

The U.S. election is over. How did religious people vote?

Exit polls from news outlets found a majority of those who identify as Christians voted for Donald Trump, including 63 per cent of Protestants and 58 per cent of Catholics. For white Protestants, that figure was 72 per cent, while for white Catholics it was 61 per cent.

For Catholics, that was a jump of eight per cent over 2020, when 50 per cent favoured Trump while 49 per cent supported Biden. Some of that increase may be because of the increase in support for Trump among Hispanic voters, with 53 per cent voting for him in 2024 compared to 28 per cent in 2020. (Trump also saw a surge among Latino Protestants, from 48 per cent in 2020 to 64 per cent this year.)

Unsurprisingly, 81 per cent of evangelicals overall also voted for him, similar to the figures for 2016 and 2020.

Jews went the other way, with 78 per cent voting for Kamala Harris. So did those who claim no religious affiliation — 71 per cent of the “nones” voted for her. A majority of Muslims voted for her as well (63 per cent), with 32 per cent voting for Trump. Four per cent of Muslims voted for a third-party candidate such as Jill Stein.

About six in 10 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supported Trump, while about eight in 10 Black Protestants supported Harris.

It may be too early to tell exactly why people voted the way they did. But Robert Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute suggested that it might come down to economics for Hispanics, while Trump’s message about being tough on immigration and crime may have appealed to some white Christians. Harris’s support for reproductive rights may have caused Conservative Christian voters to vote for her opponent.

For Jones, the 2024 election once again showed the close allegiance between white Christians and the Republican Party. “They have not moved a centimetre,” said Jones. “And they get out and vote.”

Not all religious people supported Trump. Some lamented his victory, worried that he will implement a Christian nationalist agenda by giving Christians a privileged position in the government and the country and that he will flout the separation of church and state.

They base that fear on comments from Trump himself, who told a Christian group in October “the more powerful you become, the better the country is going to be.” In February he told evangelical Christian broadcasters they would experience “power at a level that you’ve never used before” if he was elected.

According to prominent evangelical supporter Lance Wallnau, Trump’s win would give Christians in America an opportunity to tear down the “gates of Hell” in the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service. “We have to see these strongholds come down,” he said. “God’s giving us a chance to see it happen.”

For Christian nationalist leader Joel Webbon, Trump’s victory paves the way for the church “to instruct civil authorities regarding their identity and duties,” he said.

Trump did nothing to tamp down that kind of speculation. On the campaign trail, he pledged to “protect Christians in our schools and in our military and our government” and in “our public square.” Meantime, while the Republican platform pledged to protect the right to “pray and read the Bible in school” — no other holy scriptures or forms of prayer were mentioned.

Comments like that prompted Andrew Whitehead, author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, to wonder if those who do not embrace that expression of Christianity will “feel marked as not truly American.”

Whitehead, who is also an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University Indianapolis, went on to ask if that Christian nationalist view might result in a pro-Christian stance that includes restrictive immigration policies against non-Christian immigrants in the name of protecting traditional American culture — something along the lines of the first Trump administration’s ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries.

But Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas and one of Trump’s most prominent evangelical supporters since 2016, tried to squelch those worries. “People who are not Christians are unduly worried he’s going to institute some kind of oppressive theocracy,” said Jeffress. “He has no interest in doing that.”

As for Donald Trump himself, in his victory speech he stated that “God spared my life for a reason,” referring to the two assassination attempts he survived on the campaign trail. “And that reason was to save our country and restore America to greatness. And now we’re going to fulfil that mission together.”

Over the next few years, we will see how that turns out for everyone in that country — religious and non-religious alike.

It's worth noting that while the majority of those who identified themselves as Christians voted for Donald Trump, the majority of Jews voted for Kamala Harris, in larger numbers than even those who profess no religion, providing yet more evidence that there is no such thing as "Judeo-Christian" values; Judeo values are not Christian values. Since Mr. Trump is much more pro-Israel in his views than Ms. Harris and incumbent Preisdent Joe Biden, whom she succeeded as the Democratic Party candidate, one might wonder why Jews insist on voting the way they do.

As for the 80% of black Protestants who voted for Ms. Harris, it's quite apparent that they were voting for reasons of race rather than principle. As flawed a candidate as Donald Trump is, I don't understand how any true Christian could possibly vote for Kamala Harris, who has made it quite clear that the Lord Jesus Christ and His people are not welcome where she is.

Quebec religion wants Canadian government to approve the use of magic mushrooms in its ceremonies

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Revelation 9:21

According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the Greek word for sorcery in Rev. 9:21 is pharmakia (or pharmakeia), from which we get the English word pharmacy...

...primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery...mentioned as one of the "works of the flesh..."

...In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.

We live in an increasingly drugged society--yet another end-time prophecy that's being fulfilled before our eyes. As reported by Darryl Greer of Canadian Press, October 21, 2024:

A Quebec-based religion is taking the minister of mental health and addictions to court, claiming Health Canada is dragging its feet on a decision whether to allow its members to use magic mushrooms in their ceremonies.

Gratitude Sanctuary, known as Sanctuaire de la Gratitude in French, and its “Reverend Superior” Alain Menier, filed an application in Federal Court claiming its members need to consume magic mushrooms to practice their religion.

The application was filed by the religious non-profit in early October in Ottawa, and says the group believes people receive “their own teachings when entering the sacred space opened by the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms.”

The application says ceremonies must be done safely and legally, but Health Canada hasn’t decided on the group’s request for an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which was first submitted in March 2022.

“An important tenant of the religion is that the mushrooms should be consumed in the safest way possible, which requires that they be consumed under strict health and safety protocols, in a controlled environment, and under trained supervision,” it says.

In response to the request, the application says Health Canada sent two questionnaires to Menier with 41 questions in total, but months went by without a response.

The religious non-profit’s lawyer sent a “demand letter” in September to Health Canada seeking a response to the exemption request within 30 days, and “Health Canada confirmed receipt but did not provide any of the responses requested nor demonstrate that it was taking steps to further the processing of the exemption request.”

It wants to compel the agency to decide on the exemption, saying it “cannot conduct their religious ceremonies without” it.

Menier and Gratitude Sanctuary claim in court that their “religious freedom rights are being infringed by the lack of an exemption,” and they want a judge to compel the minister of mental health and addictions to either decide to grant or refuse the request.

“No harm will result from the minister continuing to process the exemption request,” the court application says.

“Rather, it will result in either the minister granting the request and allowing the applicants to practice their religion or the minister notifying the applicants about what more information that is needed or of the minister’s intent to refuse the request.”

Health Canada said it was looking into a question about religious exemptions from the act.

Health Canada’s website outlines how exemption requests are decided on a “case by case basis,” and processing times vary depending on the purpose of the exemption.

The agency’s website says it strives to “assess requests in a timely fashion,” aiming for 45 days for clinical studies, 70 days for scientific research, but for “non-routine exemptions, there is no set time period for receiving decisions.”

“The review time varies depending on the complexity and completeness of the request,” Health Canada’s website says.

A lawyer for Gratitude Sanctuary did not immediately respond to an email and voice mail seeking comment.

Youth "ministry" in at least two churches in Winnipeg (and one in Providence) now includes Dungeons & Dragons

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14: 12 (also Proverbs 16:25)

I've never played or had any desire to play Dungeons & Dragons or any other fantasy role-playing game, but I remember when the game was at the peak of its popularity in the 1980s. One of the few times I ever watched Sally Jessy Raphael's tabloid television show was when she had an episode on D&D in 1989. One of her guests was Paul Valentine, founder of the World Church of Satanic Liberation, and even he said that Dungeons & Dragons could be dangerous for players if they had an evil Dungeon Master. Christians warned against the game in those days, but now there are at least two churches in Winnipeg that use D&D as part of youth "ministry."

There's an old saying, attributed to various people, "What you win them with is what you win them to," or "What wins them is what keeps them." If you use Dungeons & Dragons to attract young people to church, that's what you're winning them to, and what will keep them in church. When I read of the nonsense described in the following article, it makes me more grateful that the Lord saved me when He did. As reported by John Longhurst in the Winnipeg Free Press, October 16, 2024 (photos by Mr. Longhurst):

Fifty years ago, a new game appeared on the scene: Dungeons & Dragons.

Soon after being introduced, the fantasy role-playing game, with its magic, wizards, sorcerers and warlocks, was criticized by many Christian leaders who saw it as a portal to the demonic — a way for Satan to steal the souls of unsuspecting youth.

That was during the time of the so-called “satanic panic,” when some Christians saw the devil everywhere they looked, from heavy metal music to graffiti.

One religious tract that circulated at the time said the game — in which players embark on adventures in a fantasy setting, directed by a dungeon master — was a form of “intense occult training” that caused young people to become witches and even to kill themselves.

In at least two churches in Winnipeg, D&D is seen in a very different light.

At River East Church, which is affiliated with Mennonite Church Manitoba, the game is seen as a great way to engage youth.

That’s the view of associate pastor Aaron Thiessen, 35, who runs a twice-monthly D&D game night at the church for as many as 25 youth from grades 7 to 11.

Thiessen hadn’t played the game himself growing up.

“It’s not that my parents were against it; I just thought it wasn’t for me,” he says.

When he discovered many young people in the church were into D&D, Thiessen decided to start some informal game nights in 2017. It went so well, he made it an official youth activity in 2019.

“The first time we tried it, 10 young people showed up. Now we have trouble keeping up with all who want to play,” he says.

The pandemic put a dent in the game — though they kept playing it online — but it came back stronger than ever when COVID abated.

Many of the youth who come to game nights aren’t from the congregation.

“For some, it’s the one connection they have to a church,” Thiessen says, adding it enables him to engage youth he had not met before, in a different way.

For him, the game nights build community and provide him with opportunities to have natural conversations with youth. He especially likes to see introverts open up as they play.

As for who comes, it’s a good mix of male and female players.

“It’s not just for guys anymore,” he says.

Thiessen begins each session with a story from the Bible or a story of a saint. On an evening in October, it’s the story of Moses going up a mountain, where he saw a burning bush and heard the voice of God.

“Mountains were special places where people could run into a deity,” Thiessen tells the youth about that Bible story. “I’m curious about what stories you will tell tonight.”

For Thiessen, incorporating stories such as this is a way to include a bit of spiritual teaching.

“The Bible is a book of stories, stories that continue to impact us today, stories that shape us as people, just as D&D is about stories,” he says.

The game also gives him and the adults who volunteer as dungeon masters to run the games a way to explore issues outside the games themselves.

“It gives us chances to explore why things happen the way they do in a game, the moral choices characters make,” Thiessen says.

After the games, there can be a time to debrief and talk about what happened.

Nathan Christmas, 18, is a volunteer dungeon master at River East. For him, D&D is a core way to bring youth together in a fun activity.

“It’s a space where youth can get together and tell stories. It builds conversation, improv and critical thinking skills,” he says.

For Kiana, one of the youth playing the game, it’s an opportunity to be with friends and “be in a different world.” For Jaden, it’s about “creating new worlds and stories with friends.”

Another congregation using D&D is FaithWorks, an independent church that meets on the campus of Canadian Mennonite University.

It’s organized by Christopher Neufeld, 42, who wasn’t allowed to play the game as a child, owing to some sort of “ambiguous evil” that was said to surround it.

In high school, he started to play with friends. Today he uses it as a way to engage young adults in the congregation; he hopes to start another game for youth in the church, too.

“It’s a connecting point with the church for some of them. Something in common we can do together,” he says.

Kiana (left) and Nori play Dungeons & Dragons at River East Church.

Anton Klein serves as a dungeon master during game night at River East Church.

I remember the "satanic panic" in the '80s, which included accusations of "backmasking" in rock music recordings in the early years of the decade, and accusations of satanic ritual abuse and murder toward the end of the decade. The latter peaked from about 1988-1992, and faded away when evidence mounted that many of the accounts were the result of false memories. I believe the concerns about Dungeons & Dragons, however, are legitimate. A good book on the subject from a Christian perspective is Playing with Fire by John Weldon and James Bjornstad (1984).

December 30, 2024 update: This isn't happening only in the capital of Manitoba, but also in the capital of Rhode Island; as reported by Jonny Williams of the Providence Journal, December 28, 2024 (bold, links, photos in original):

PROVIDENCE – On a recent overcast afternoon on the second floor of a brick building on Bassett Street, a fierce battle raged. Fireballs soared across the room, magic zipped through the air and sharp claws ripped at people’s clothes and flesh.

This was, of course, no ordinary battle. Fire was not actually involved – no sprinklers went off, thankfully – and though spells were chanted, no supernatural forces invaded the space.

This was Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a tabletop role-playing game where players suspend reality and for a few hours take on a fantastical identity as a barbarian, a bard, a ranger, a rogue, a warlock or a wizard – to name a few of the classes players can choose – and go on intrepid adventures.

A few minutes into the battle, however, the group paused the game and did something unusual: They bowed their heads and prayed. One of the party’s members had to step out of the skirmish to help care for a family member who was sick. Before he left, the group wanted to pray for him and his family.

Origins of Dungeons & Dragons 50 years ago

If the battle was unusual, the setting was odder still. The venue was not a crowded kitchen table but the administrative offices of an evangelical church in Providence. D&D, created 50 years ago in the basement of a game designer in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has not always enjoyed a cordial relationship with Christianity.

The game began as a niche pastime among war gamers – people who played battle simulations with figurines – but it exploded in popularity during the Satanic Panic, a period of time in the 1980s filled with paranoia over rumored satanic rituals. D&D got swept up in the panic, gaining notoriety among conservative Christians who associated the game with the occult. What was often left out of the discussion was the fact that D&D’s creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, were both Christians themselves.

These days, however, D&D has shed much of the stigma associated with it, and some churches are turning to the game as an outreach tool to bring in nonbelievers.

Sanctuary, a church that meets at 15 Hayes St., is one of them. Mike Valdes, a lay leader at the church, says he and others were – in this case truly – supernaturally compelled to experiment with D&D as a form of ministry.

“We felt like God was actually kind of leading it. It wasn’t merely an idea, but something he wanted us to pursue,” Valdes said.

From left, Hannah Enos, Dungeon Master Mike Valdes, David DiPilato and Autumn Beaudoin play a game of Dungeons & Dragons at the Sanctuary church office in Providence. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

An entry point for those uncomfortable with religion

For some people, church may not be a place where they feel comfortable or welcome, but a D&D game can break some of those barriers.

“Seeing that there are many people who would not want to step into the walls of a church but would totally be down to play D&D, we just saw a couple pieces coming together,” Valdes said. “This could be a way to create a community space for people to be in the room with people of faith but in a way that felt safer or more accessible.”

The ministry is still in a beta-testing phase, though about 50 people have expressed interest in participating. Valdes and other dungeon masters – who organize the game sessions, play side characters and guide the story – hosted two separate campaigns with a few players this year. The storylines eventually merged in a Marvel Cinematic Universe-style grand battle in the feywild, a parallel plane infused with magic and inhabited by sylvan creatures.

Dungeons & Dragons game pieces in play on the board. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

An ogre game piece in Dungeons & Dragons. Providence's Sanctuary church is beta-testing the game as a way to welcome people who might not be comfortable in a traditional church setting. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

Not just fun and games

People who play the game often see potential for more than just a fun time.

Jocelyn Bell is one of the players who has been beta-testing the idea. She plays as a level-four water genasi, a type of elemental genie. Like many Christians, she grew up in a religious community where D&D was taboo.

“I was in a church environment as a kid that equated Dungeons and Dragons with [the] demonic,” Bell said.

Bell is now a fan of fantasy, and she even found a way to incorporate D&D in her work. A sociology professor, she uses D&D and fantasy as tools to teach her students about social justice.

Gabrielle Neel is another player who has helped Valdes with the beta-testing. A librarian, Neel has used D&D as a therapeutic tool to help children with autism and special needs express themselves. Research has shown that playing D&D can have salubrious effects on a person’s mental health.

Some Christians may still not feel entirely comfortable playing D&D. The game has fiendish monsters and dark magic, elements that have been frowned upon in more conservative religious circles.

But Valdes said the group has taken its time to explore these aspects of the game in a safe way, and the leaders are always praying for wisdom on how to best use D&D as an opportunity for ministry.

This much was evident in the upper room on Bassett Street. As the game started, Valdes prayed, “[God], be another player at the table, and we dedicate this time to you and invite you to be present and active among us.”

The Dungeons & Dragons player handbook. Once condemned by conservative Christians for its association with the occult, the game has since shed much of its former stigma. (Photo credit: Kris Craig, The Providence Journal)

I don't know if Dungeons & Dragons has changed over the last 40 years--I suspect not--but what has changed is that Evangelicalism has noticeably become more worldly and less discerning.

This was how demon-possessed criminals were dealt with in the Canadian Arctic in the 1920s

This has long been one of my favourite headlines; as reported in the Edmonton Bulletin, October 2, 1929 (capitals, bold in original).

ESKIMO GETS RELIGION AND SLAYS THREE

---------------------

Insane Native Then Pushed Through Hole In Ice By Tribesmen

Canadian Press

OTTAWA, Oct. 2--Believed by the authorities to have been a victim of the wave of religious mania, which swept over this lonely land about ten years ago, a young Eskimo inhabitant of the interior of the southern portion of Baffin Land became demented and shot and killed his two parents and a young woman relation. He shot at but missed his brother. The Eskimo tribe of which he was formerly a law-abiding member, kept him in close confinement through a long winter but in the spring, after he had twice escaped their vigilance, pushed him through a hole and drowned him beneath the ice of the sub-Arctic.

The story, almost unbelievable in its complications forms a part of a routine report of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers at Lake Harbor, Baffin Land, and will be incorporated in the annual report of the R.C.M.P. now being prepared at headquarters here.

Sergeant J.F.C. White in charge of the detachment at Lake Harbor reported that last winter, accompanied by Constable P. Dersch he made a long patrol through a section of southern Baffin Island where white men were unknown before the great war. He learned the story from the tribe in which the tragedy occurred.

Heard Voice From Heaven

The report stated that Mako Gliak, a young man became obsessed with the idea that he was a purifier of his race. He told his relatives he had heard a voice from Heaven telling him to kill all his people. He promptly proceeded to put this mission into operation.

The names of those he murdered were not ascertained by the police, although they were told Mako's parents and a young woman related to him were shot before the rest of the tribe overpowered him.

As Mako was obviously under a devilish spell, the Eskimos did not know what to do with him. The nearest post, Lake Harbor, was 500 miles away, and they had no means of making such a long journey with a madman. They bound him up with thongs of sealskin and kept him under guard in an igloo all winter. About March of the following year (1926) members of the group decided that they could not keep him any longer. They told police the men of the tribe were all worn out, by this time in maintaining a sharp vigilance lest Mako should escape and continue his crazy plan.

Pushed Through Ice

They summoned him before a meeting of the whole family one day, and told him he had to die. The gave him his choice of the manner of death. He could be shot, stabbed, or drowned--whichever he preferred.

But Mako did not widh to die, they told police. However his end was decided upon, and a hole was made in the ice. He was pushed through this and river currents carried him to his death.

No official action is contemplated, officials of the R.C.M.P. said. In making public the report from the north.

It is believed that the Eskimo tribe was actuated by motives of self-defence. Such occurrences are not unknown in the territory patrolled by Canada's silent watchmen of the North.

The district in which the deaths occurred is on a river which runs from Adjuak Lake into Nellfilling Lake in southern Baffin Land. The first white man to cross this lonely land was a German, and two years after the Great War it was penetrated again by Major L.T. Burwash, noted Canadian Arctic investigator of the Yukon and Northwest Territories branch. Occasionally since that time, R.C.M.P. officers have patrolled the district but no white man has visited the scene since the fall of 1925 when the youth went mad.

R.C.M.P. officials said a religious mania of this nature is not uncommon among the semi-civilized peoples of the north.

This freak is a product of an Evangelical university in Canada

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:24-32

Anyone who thinks that Evangelical universities and colleges are actually Christian isn't paying attention. Lighthouse Trails Research Project published the following letter from a reader on June 27, 2022 (link in original):

I am a Westmont grad from the early 70s, and, with my husband, a Multnomah University alum as well. I grew up in a church closely associated with Multnomah when its slogan was: “If you want Bible, you want Multnomah.” But no longer. We live near the school and have seen the apostasy firsthand. It breaks our hearts.

Westmont was beginning to crack while I was there. Most of the older faculty were still OK but the administration was caving in to vocal students who were very rebellious, especially toward the Christian stance of the school.

We sent a daughter to Trinity Western University in Langley BC in 2000, back when I still believed printed doctrinal statements. She went from respecting the Word of God and loving her parents to becoming a radical socialist activist who excises out of her life anyone who doesn’t support her current values, including us. I don’t know of any of her friends from there who haven’t followed the same path, either becoming indifferent to, or antagonistic toward biblical Christianity. She goes to a social justice episcopal church.

My niece, a pastor’s daughter, went to Texas Christian University, graduating around 2006. She became a Unitarian a few years ago.

The daughter of my husband’s boss is an enthusiastic Biola grad. She is also a shaven head goth who spoke at her grandfather’s funeral, calling up his spirit and having a lovely visit with him over a glass of wine!

We pray for their salvation. I believe the reason our other children still walk with the Lord is because they eschewed college (and debt) for other kinds of career training. The Lord is blessing them.

Colleen

I responded with several comments:

Back in the 1980s, Herbert Schlossberg was quoted as saying that the real mission field was the evengelical colleges, which had largely lost the idea of confronting the world, and instead had largely accommodated it.

I’ve been saying for years that doctrinal statements are often useless; there are many churches, schools, and evangelical organizations that have good-looking statements of faith, but they don’t follow them in practice.

If you want to know how “Christian” an “evangelical” college is, don’t look at its statement of faith; look at the student newspaper and blogs. They’re often full of apostasy, and it’s an indication of the school’s apostasy that they even allow such content to be published. (June 27, 2022)


Further to my comment above, look at any issue of Mars’ Hill, the TWU student newspaper. Glance at any issue, and I dare you to find anything distinctively Christian.

As an example of the apostasy to be found in any issue is in the October 6, 2021 issue. Go to page 12, and you’ll find an article promoting animism.

The arts and culture editor (2020-21) and managing editor (2021-22) of Mars’ Hill was one Carter Sawatzky, a drag queen who occupies several letters on the alphabet pervert spectrum, and is appearing with “gay Christian” Greg Coles at a Preston Sprinkle-hosted conference .

If TWU were actually Christian, characters like this would have been kept out, and Mars’ Hill wouldn’t be allowed to be published (November 30, 2023).


Further to my most recent comment, this is what Carter Sawatzky looks like now [in his profile as a graduate student at the University of British Columbia] (bold in original) (September 25, 2024):

Carter Sawatzky
They/Them
MA Student

RESEARCH AREA Critical Race Studies And Black Studies | Gender And Sexuality Studies | Rhetoric

PERIOD/NATION RESEARCH AREA
Contemporary Literatures

About
Carter Sawatzky (they/them) is a first-year MA student in the Department of English Language and Literatures at UBC with research interests in queer/trans studies, HIV/AIDS literature, and medical humanities. They received their BA Honours English from Trinity Western University where they wrote their Honours thesis on queer strategies of coping with disease and dis/ability through various forms of resilience and resistance in contemporary American literature on HIV/AIDS. Beyond academia, they are also the communications director of One TWU, the independent coalition of LGBTQIA2S+ students, alumni, and allies at TWU.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what your “Evangelical” universities are producing.

Progressive Jews use holiday for animals to promote vegetarianism

As reported by Sharon Chisvin in the Winnipeg Free Press, August 31, 2024:

Exactly one month before Jews worldwide gather in synagogues to commemorate the major holiday of Rosh Hashana and the start of a new Jewish calendar year, a smaller contingent of mostly progressive members of the faith are gathering online to celebrate a lesser-known Jewish holiday.

That holiday is Rosh Hashana L’Behemot, the New Year for Domesticated Animals. Rosh Hashana L’Behemot occurs each year on the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul, and, as a result, is also referred to as Ehad b’Elul. This fall, that date corresponds to Sept. 4.

Rosh Hashana L’Behemot dates back to the days of the ancient holy Temple in Jerusalem when it was customary to tithe every tenth animal in a flock and offer it up as a sacrifice to God. Tithing, and animal sacrifices, like many of the ancient rites and customs associated with the Second Temple, came to an end with the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. and the subsequent dispersion of the Jewish people into exile. Commemoration of Rosh Hashana L’Behemot, naturally, fell into decline as well.

The day itself, however, according to Aharon Varady, director of the Open Siddur Project—a grassroots initiative that digitizes diverse Jewish liturgy and texts—remained “documented but dormant, just waiting for the right moment to be revived.”

That moment has been taking its time to arrive, but Rosh Hashana L’Behemot has gradually begun to gain traction again. In recent years, the holiday has primarily evolved into a day on which Jewish community members are encouraged to pause and consider both their relationship with and their responsibility towards domestic animals.

“As Rosh Hashana L’Behemot is still evolving there is no usual way (to celebrate),” explains Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, Executive Director of the Jewish Initiative for Animals (JIFA), “but common elements include some type of reading, prayer, teaching, or the blowing of the shofar.”

“Most congregations,” he adds, “do not do anything. We are trying to change that!”

JIFA’s determination to make that change is the reason it is partnering for the first time ever with the organization, Jewish Veg, in presenting the on-line, Alep B’Elul, Rosh Hashana L’Behemot celebration on Wednesday morning.

Similar to JIFA, Jewish Veg encourages compassion for animals and the adoption of plant-based diets — which, significantly, also will help alleviate the climate crisis — through the lens of Jewish teachings and values. The organizations’ shared hope is that their Zoom event will increase awareness about and actions aligned with their shared goals.

The 90-minute event will be hosted by Bernard and features a keynote address by Dr. Beth Berkowitz on the topic of “Making Animals a Part of the Jewish Family.” Berkowitz is a Jewish and religious studies scholar at Barnard College and the author of the book What Animals Teach Us about Families: Kinship and Species in the Bible and Rabbinic Literature.

The online event also will honour Dr. Richard Schwartz, a life-long animal rights activist, the founder of Jewish Veg, and a co -founder of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians.

The author of significant writing on the topic of animal advocacy and the Jewish plant-based movement, Schwartz has repeatedly argued that veganism and vegetarianism is the highest manifestation of the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut.

This is yet more evidence that Judeo values are not Christian values. In contrast to JIFA and Jewish Veg, the Bible does not promote vegetarianism. Although God gave man "every herb bearing seed...and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed" for food (Genesis 1:29), by the time of Noah and his sons, God says to them, "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." (Genesis 9:3). By the time of Moses, God commands the people of Israel to eat the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:8-11); vegetarianism was not an option. Addressing the Jews of his time, the Lord Jesus Christ said,

“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:18-19 (NIV)

One of the signs of the end times is the command to abstain from certain foods (I Timothy 4:3), although "every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving" (I Timothy 4:4). The only dietary restrictions given to Christians are those in Acts 15:20: ...that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

South Africa's Chief Rabbi blasts Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby for their unbiblical positions on Israel

In striking contrast to Evangellyfish, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa calls a spade a spade; as reported by Etgar Lefkovits of Jewish News Syndicate, August 27, 2024 (photo, bold, links in original, added by blogger):

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby exchanges gifts with Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 2, 2024. Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images.

The head of the Catholic Church and the leader of the Church of England are effectively rejecting the Bible by supporting policies that negate the connection of the Jewish people to the Holy Land, the chief rabbi of South Africa said on Sunday.

The blunt theological critique comes after the archbishop of Canterbury endorsed a ruling by the International Court of Justice last month that Israel’s presence in the “occupied Palestinian territories” is unlawful, and as the pontiff has sought to thread the needle and maintain strict neutrality during Israel’s war against Islamist terrorists in Gaza.

“At a time when Europe’s future hangs in the balance, its two most senior Christian leaders—the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the head of the Church of England, Archbishop Justin Welby—have abandoned their most sacred duty to protect and defend the values of the Bible,” South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein wrote in a post on X.

The world is locked in a civilizational battle of values, threatened by terrorism and jihad, the rabbi said.

“Now is the time for religious leaders to come to the defense of society, to speak up for Western values and freedom,” Goldstein said. “Instead, Pope Francis and the Anglican archbishop are silent: indifferent to the murder of Christians in Africa, and to the threat of terrorism throughout Europe, and outright hostile to Israel’s attempts to battle these jihadi forces led by Iran.”

Does the archbishop read the Bible?

The Jewish leader said that the head of the Church of England’s remarks put him in “direct opposition” to the Bible.

“Does the archbishop believe the accounts of the Bible are mere myths?” Goldstein ponders in a 15-minute video address attached to the X post. “How can anyone who believes in the Bible say that Israel is an illegal occupier of the Temple Mount?”

After the U.N. court ruling, Welby said that ending “Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is a legal and moral necessity.”

Goldstein continued, “If the archbishop reads his Bible, he should know that Jerusalem existed before London and was the capital of Israel before anyone heard of Britain.”

Imploring his fellow religious leaders to “go back to the Bible,” the South African rabbi said that denying Israel’s biblical claims to the Land of Israel was a threat to both the United Kingdom and Europe at a time of rising Islamic extremism.

“Jihadist ideology that seeks to destroy Israel is a clear and present danger to the future of Europe and its value system,” Goldstein said. “If Israel is abandoned to jihadi forces, Europe is next.”

False gods exact a high price from their devotees

When a mere man is worshipped as God, the results are never good; as reported by Elena Salvoni and Agence France-Presse in the London Daily Mail, July 2, 2024:

Around 100 worshippers have been crushed to death at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India, government medics have said.

The death toll has risen to 107, with scores of others injured, according to a senior government official. There are fears the number of dead could increase further.

A large crowd had gathered near the city of Hathras, Uttar Pradesh state, for a sermon by a popular preacher but a fierce dust storm sparked panic as people were leaving.

Many were crushed or trampled, falling on top of each other, with some collapsing into a roadside drain in the chaos.

'The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a melee and the subsequent tragic incident,' said Chaitra V., divisional commissioner of Aligarh city.

Unverified videos show people crammed together as panicked shrieks and sirens ring out. Separate footage shows bodies piled up on the ground outside a local hospital in the aftermath.

Indian president Droupadi Murmu said in a statement on X: 'The news of the death of many devotees including women and children in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending.

'I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.'

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his thoughts were with the bereaved families and he ordered an urgent investigation into the incident.

'Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured,' he wrote on X.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he has spoken to Adityanath regarding the tragic incident.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government 'is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims.'

'My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this,' he added, 'Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured.'

Crowds had been massing to celebrate the Hindu deity Shiva in the town of Sikandrarao, some 120 miles (200km) southeast of New Delhi.

Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that it was 'a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate.

'Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organisers.'

Deadly accidents are common at places of worship in India during major religious festivals.

At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a huge explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu new year.

The blast ripped through concrete buildings and ignited a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state, where thousands had gathered.

Another 115 devotees died in 2013 after a stampede at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh.

Up to 400,000 people were gathered in the area, and the stampede occurred after a rumour spread that the bridge was about to collapse.

About 224 pilgrims died and more than 400 others were injured in a 2008 stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur.

Perceptive readers will notice that the devotees were gathering to worship Shiva. Shiva is a major deity in Hinduism, and is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu. The destruction resulting from this incident was reported by Cherylann Mollan of BBC News and Dilnawaz Pasha of BBC Hindi, July 3, 2024 (bold, links in original):

The number of people killed in a crush at a religious gathering in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has risen to 121, making it one of the deadliest such disasters in more than a decade.

The incident took place during a satsang (a Hindu religious festival) in Hathras district on Tuesday.

Police said the number of people present at the venue was three times the permitted limit and most of those who died or were injured were women.

A case has been registered against the event's organisers.

The tragedy has sparked outrage in India, and has led to questions about lapses in safety measures.

What happened?

The crush took place in Pulrai village, where a self-styled godman called Bhole Baba was holding a religious gathering.

Officials said the event was massively overcrowded.

Authorities had given permission for 80,000 people to gather but around 250,000 people attended the event, according to the first information report (FIR) lodged by the police.

Chaos broke out at the end of the event as the preacher was about to leave in his car.

The police report said thousands of devotees ran towards his vehicle and began collecting dust from the path in an act of devotion.

As crowds swelled, several of those sitting and squatting on the ground got crushed.

The document added that some people tried running to a patch of mud-filled fields across the road, but were forcibly stopped by the organisers and were crushed.

Police have registered a case against a man who they say was the event's main organiser and a few others on several charges, including culpable homicide.

On Tuesday, distressing images from the site were circulated online.

Some videos showed the injured being taken to hospitals in pick-up trucks, tuk tuks and even motorbikes.

Other clips showed distraught family members screaming outside a local hospital as they tried to find their loved ones among rows of bodies left at the entrance.

Bunty, who uses only one name and comes from the state's Aligarh district, said he was devastated at the loss of his mother.

He saw her body lying outside a hospital on a news channel on Tuesday evening.

"But when I went there, I could not find my mother and have since been trying to locate her body," he told BBC Hindi.

Others expressed anger over the incident.

Ritesh Kumar, whose 28-year-old wife was among those killed, said his life had been upended.

“My family has been destroyed. The government should see to it that we get justice,” he said.

Who is Bhole Baba?

The self-styled godman's original name is Suraj Pal but he reportedly re-christened himself Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari. His devotees call him Bhole Baba.

He hails from Bahadurpur village in Kasganj district, which is about 65km (40 miles) from Hathras.

Sanjay Kumar, a senior police officer in the state, told BBC Hindi that he was a constable in the police but was suspended from service after a criminal case was lodged against him.

He was reinstated in the force after a court cleared him but left his job in 2002, Mr Kumar added.

Details about his life are sketchy, but Mr Kumar says that after leaving the force, he began to call himself Bhole Baba.

He does not have much social media presence, but has hundreds of thousands of followers in Hathras and neighbouring districts.

Huge crowds attend his sermons where he is mostly seen in white clothes.

Since the tragedy, the preacher is believed to be hiding in his ashram in Mainpuri, about 100km (62 miles) from Pulrai village.

Shalabh Mathur, a senior official in Aligarh police, said a search was underway to find him and question him.

Police say he runs an organisation called the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, which was also the main organiser of Tuesday's event.

Satsangs are events where people gather to pray, sing devotional songs or listen to a preacher and they are often attended by a large number of women.

Gomti Devi, who was present at the event, said she had a lot of faith in the Bhole Baba.

She said she wears a locket with his photo because he "cures diseases, ends domestic troubles, and provides employment".

Gomti Devi holds up a locket with the religious leader's image

As reported by Reuters, July 3, 2024 (bold, links in original):

A massive gathering addressed by an Indian policeman-turned-preacher, considered an incarnation of God by his followers, turned horribly wrong on Tuesday, as at least 121 people, mostly women and children, died in a stampede.

"Bhole Baba", or the Innocent Elder, is the sobriquet of a self-styled godman who was a police constable before he turned to spirituality and became a preacher. Originally Suraj Pal Singh, he later changed his name to Narayan Sakar Hari. He is currently untraceable, and police in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where Tuesday's tragedy occurred, said they were still trying to trace him.

Here are some known facts about the preacher:

ORIGINS

Bhole Baba was a police constable in Uttar Pradesh for nearly a decade before he resigned and turned to spirituality, Sudhir Kumar, a senior police official said. The preacher is a native of Kasganj village, close to the Hathras area where the stampede took place.

He used to travel across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in India's northern belt, where he has a huge following, and address gatherings, mostly on the first Tuesday of every month, local media said.

A member of India's low-caste Dalit community, Bhole Baba's aim was to create an ideal society, free of superstition and full of compassion, according to a hoarding erected at the site of Tuesday's incident.

ONLINE PERSONA

Posters and videos posted on Bhole Baba's YouTube channel, which boasts of millions of views, show him dressed in either traditional Indian kurta tunics or pristine white suits and ties, often sporting sunglasses, a departure from the spartan image of most godmen.

Holding a microphone in hand, seated on an ornate throne and with his wife by his side, Bhole Baba is seen addressing huge gatherings of mostly women, almost all of whom are sitting on the ground, hands folded in reverence. "Humanity was the true religion, is the true religion and will always be the true religion," he is quoted as saying in a poster.

To protect himself from devotees who would rush to touch his feet and seek his blessings, Bhole Baba had formed a security team known as Narayani Sena, with men and women guards who would escort him to gatherings, an NDTV report said.



Who is Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari?

Suraj Pal Singh, known to his followers as Bhole Baba, was born in Bahadur Nagari village in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district to a farmer. He joined UP police and was a head constable working with the Intelligence Unit for over 18 years. However, his followers say he has also claimed that he worked for the Intelligence Bureau.

In 1999, he took voluntary retirement from the service, changed his name to Narayan Saakar Hari and began holding satsangs. He told his devotees he felt an inclination towards spirituality and world peace and he resigned to begin his spiritual journey.

From Suraj Pal to Narayan Saakar Hari

According to a report, he claimed to live in a hut in his village and travelled across Uttar Pradesh to preach. Narayan Hari also enjoys a large following in neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Unlike most self-styled godmen, Narayan Hari is seen wearing a white suit and tie or a simple kurta pyjama accompanied by his wife Prem Bati. He also claims he does not keep any money offered to him by followers at his satsangs and distributes it among his followers.

Covid Satsang Had 50,000 Attendees

Even though the self-styled godman is known to keep his distance from the media, he has been embroiled in several controversies. In 2022, he held a similar satsang in UP's Farrukhabad even as cases of Covid were on the rise. While the district administration only permitted 50 people to attend the event over 50,000 people reached the site to attend the programme. The large crowd led to the significant traffic snarls in the area.

Seeing the large crowds that turn up for his satsangs, the godman has a security team named "Narayani Sena" that consists of men and women guards who escort him from his ashram to the satsang locations.

As reported by Reuters, July 5, 2024 (links in original):

The chief organiser of an Indian preacher's event where a stampede killed 121 people this week surrendered to police on Friday, a lawyer for the preacher said, after police had launched a manhunt.

Devprakash Madhukar was named a key suspect in an initial report registered by police under charges including attempted culpable homicide. Police had announced a reward of 100,000 rupees ($1,200) for information leading to his arrest.

A.P. Singh, lawyer for self-styled godman Bhole Baba, said Madhukar was the main organiser of the Hindu religious event on Tuesday attended by about 250,000 people in a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. District authorities had permitted an event of only 80,000 people.

"He has surrendered from Delhi. We are not seeking an anticipatory bail," Singh told reporters. He denied any wrongdoing by the event's organisers and said Devprakash was getting medical treatment in a hospital after the stampede.

The preacher said on Saturday he was saddened by the incident and his aides would help the injured and families of the deceased.

"I have faith that anyone who created the chaos will not be spared," he told Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake.

($1 = 83.47 Indian rupees)

Judeo values are on display in New York City during pervert pride month

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:24-32

I stopped using the phrase "Judeo-Christian" about a dozen years ago when I realized that Judeo values are not Christian values. For evidence, look no further than pervert pride month in New York City; as reported by Julia Gergely of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 31, 2024 (bold, links, photo in original):

A marcher waves the Jewish Pride flag during the New York City Pride parade in 2017. (Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)

As June rolls in, so does Pride Month — a 30-day celebration of the LBGTQ community and its long fight for equality.

New York City is home to the largest LGBTQ population in the country, so it’s no surprise that we’re also home to one of the biggest Pride parades. This year’s parade — themed “Reflect. Empower. Unite” — will take place on Sunday, June 30. Last year, the parade drew roughly 75,000 marchers and 2 million spectators, a capstone to a month of events ranging from raucous, late-night parties to documentary screening, drag shows and art exhibits.

The city’s Jewish community — also the largest in the country — is hosting a number of Pride events, too, from family-friendly concerts to galas to special Shabbat services. Scroll down for our roundup of Jewish ways to celebrate Pride New York this June.

Is your synagogue or Jewish organization hosting a Pride event open to the public? Send an email with the details if you’d like us to add it to our list!

Celebration of Eshel featuring Modi

Eshel, an organization that supports Orthodox parents of queer teenagers, is celebrating its 13th anniversary this year with a gala at the Prince George Ballroom (15 East 27th St., Manhattan) on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. The event includes dinner and drinks — the keynote program this year is an interview with comedian Modi Rosenfeld and his husband Leo Veiga. Get tickets, $75, here.

Base UWS Pride Celebration

On June 5 at 7:30 p.m., Base UWS, a new community for Jews in their 20s and 30s led by Rabbi Danny Stein, is hosting an evening of socializing and storytelling in honor of Pride on its rooftop deck overlooking Central Park. Drinks, snacks and ice cream are part of the free event. Location upon RSVP.

Pride Reception and Kabbalat Shabbat with Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Join Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (30 West 68th St., Manhattan) for a Shabbat service and special LGBTQ+ Pride reception on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. Register for free here.

CBE’s Very Queer Pride Party

Party the night away with Congregation Beth Elohim (274 Garfield Pl., Brooklyn) as the Reform synagogue in Park Slope celebrates Pride on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. The party features food, an open bar and performances by The Isle of Klezbos and DJ Plotz. Tickets start at $18. CBE will also co-host a seudah shlishit (the third meal on Shabbat) with several other Brooklyn Jewish groups before Brooklyn’s annual Twilight Pride Parade on June 8. Free; register here.

Jewish Family Pride in Brooklyn

In conjunction with several Brooklyn Jewish organizations, The Neighborhood is hosting several events the weekend of June 7-9 to celebrate Brooklyn’s Queer Jewish families, including a Pride Shabbat on June 7 at Hannah Senesh Community School (342 Smith St.), a Rainbow Rockout concert at Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th St.) and a Pride afternoon in Prospect Park. Check out the full list of events here.

Pride Celebration at JCC Mid-Westchester

On Sunday, June 9 at 2 p.m., join the JCC Mid-Westchester (999 Wilmot Rd., Scarsdale) for a Pride celebration featuring rainbow challah-making, crafts and music. There will also be a talk with author Jeff Bender about his book “Apparel Has No Gender.” Register for the free afternoon here.

Pride Shabbat Dinner with Town and Village Synagogue

Town and Village Synagogue (334 East 14th St., Manhattan) is hosting a Pride Shabbat dinner on Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. featuring a conversation with Kate Brooks, the author of “Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World.” Tickets are $30 for adults and $18 for kids under 18.

Jewish Queer Youth Nachas Gala

Jewish Queer Youth is throwing its annual Pride=Nachas gala this year on Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. The event features music, dancing, frozen cocktails, kosher cuisine and will honor two Jewish community leaders. Location upon RSVP. From $90; learn more here.

Pride Shabbat with Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

New York’s pioneering queer synagogue is hosting a Pride Shabbat — seen as a “cornerstone celebration of CBST’s calendar” — on Friday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Masonic Hall. (46 West 41st St., Manhattan). Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum will deliver her final sermon before she steps down. Donations suggested and a livestream will be available. Register here.

Survey indicates that many Canadian "Evangelicals" aren't Christians

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; I Timothy 4:1

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. II Timothy 3:5

I don't share the liberal views of the Winnipeg Free Press's religion writer, but at least he reports on issues that almost all other mainstream media outlest in Canada ignore. As reported by John Longhurst in the Winnipeg Free Press, May 18, 2024:

God as a three-in-one, Jesus as divine, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead — these are traditional church teachings that all Christians are assumed to believe. But a recent study by Cardus and the Canadian Bible Society has found that assumption to be unfounded.

Titled “Still Christian(?): What Canadian Christians Actually Believe,” the study’s author, Andrew Bennett, found the beliefs of many Canadian Christians don’t match up with what their churches teach on these and other doctrines.

For example, when asked to agree or disagree with the statement “there is one true God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” 89 per cent evangelicals agreed, as did 51 per cent of Catholics and 57 per cent of mainline Protestants.

When asked if the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a historical event, 81 per cent of evangelicals said yes, as did 48 per cent of Catholics and 55 per cent of mainline Protestants.

As for whether Jesus was God, 74 per cent of evangelicals said yes, as did 46 per cent of Catholics and 42 per cent of mainline Protestants.

Are all religions equally true? The study found that 20 per cent of evangelicals agreed, as did 54 per cent of Catholics and 57 per cent of mainline Protestants.

When it comes to whether Christian moral teachings should evolve with changes in society, 45 per cent of evangelicals said yes, as did 72 per cent of Catholics and 61 per cent of mainline Protestants.

The study of 2,026 randomly selected Canadian adults was conducted by the Angus Reid Institute in February. Along with questions about doctrines, it also asks respondents for their views on things like abortion, same-sex marriage, heaven and hell and church attendance.

For Bennett, who is program director for Faith Communities at Cardus, the results are startling. “You could say there’s a real problem in the pews,” he said.

While evangelicals are more likely to hold to their denominational doctrines, there is “still some level of incoherence there,” he said, adding that especially for Catholics and mainline Protestants there are hints of “deep fractures” within those groups.

Although many diverged from traditional teachings, Bennett noted they still viewed themselves as Christians. “This fact is significant in itself,” he said.

One surprising finding from the study is that younger Canadian Christians display stronger commitments to traditional teachings compared to older generations. One reason for this, suggested Bennett, is that at a time when Christianity is no longer a cultural norm in Canada, some younger people “may be making deliberate, counter-cultural choices to adhere to the beliefs and devotional life of historical Christianity.”

For Sam Reimer, who teaches sociology at Crandall University in Moncton, the Cardus study mirrors his own research into the disparity between what Canadian evangelical clergy believe and what their denominations teach.

“Even active evangelicals will disagree knowingly with their church’s or denomination’s position on a moral or doctrinal belief,” said Reimer. He thinks this is because what used to be an accepted external locus of authority — church teaching — has been replaced by an internal locus where Christians think each person can decide what they want to believe “based on what works for them.”

Kevin Flatt studies religion at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ont., For him, the results “are not surprising since they are consistent with longstanding patterns and trends in Christianity in Canada.”

What stands out for him is how evangelicals seem to have resisted an erosion of traditional doctrines, compared to Catholics and mainline Protestants — even if that group shows some significant differences of opinion.

“Overall, I would have expected to see secularization having more of an impact on evangelicals as well,” he said, suggesting evangelicals are more resistant to secularization than other groups.

For Andrew Rampton, rector at St. John the Evangelist, an Anglican church in Hamilton, the problem is that denominations like his haven’t done a good job of teaching their members the foundational Christian beliefs.

“We were so very drunk on Christendom for such a very long time,” said Rampton of the Anglican Church of Canada, noting that for a very long time the values of the surrounding culture supported Christian belief and practice — teaching about it wasn’t as necessary.

That led Anglicans to rely on something he called “liturgical osmosis,” or just assuming everyone would figure it out just by being in Canada.

But now that Canada is less Christian — “not a bad thing for the church in my estimation,” he offered — “we have to remember how to be a group who are not the dominant cultural mindset.”

Rampton also has seen evidence of how young people are more likely to hold traditional beliefs. “Most of the young people I know in the Anglican Church are there by choice,” he said, noting they were very deliberate about choosing that option.

As for the study itself, one question it doesn’t ask is whether the beliefs it highlights are still the ones Christians most need to be faithful in the 21st century; is the problem really as big as the study’s author suggests?

Or maybe something is happening in Canadian churches today as people find new ways of expressing and practising faithfulness — ways that go beyond the need to believe certain things in order to be a Christian. For that, we might need a different study.

The full Cardus study can be found at https://www.cardus.ca/research/faith-communities/reports/still-christian/?utm_source=Still+Christian+NR&utm_medium=Cision&utm_campaign=Still+Christian(%3f)

It comes as no surprise to this blogger to see the apostasy of Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants, although Evangelical useful idiots such as Brian Stiller, former president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and currently the Global Ambassador to the World Evangelical Alliance, believe that these apostate churches are part of the body of Christ (yes, he stated that belief in a speaking tour of Canadian churches in 2014 after accompanying other "Evangelical" leaders such as Kenneth Copeland (!) in a visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican).

The increasing apostasy of so-called Evangelicals also comes as no surprise to this blogger; Singaporean Chrsitian leader Samuel Tow presciently warned of this development in 1983 in his address Today's Evangelicals, Tomorrow's Liberals. As for the results of this survey, if all those who identified as "Evangelicals" were actually Christians, 100% would say that there is one God in three persons; that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a historical event, and that Jesus is God, while 0% would say that all religions are equally true and that Christian moral teachings should evolve with changes in society (those churches that do believe that Christian moral teachings should evolve with changes in society are the churches that are dying).

It's laughable that Andrew Rampton, rectum rector of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Hamilton, is cited as an expert on "foundational Christian beliefs." He's the sodomite who, shortly before he assumed his post in Hamilton, occupied the same position at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Winnipeg, which staged an alphabet pervert "reimagination" of Handel's Messiah in 2023 (see link below).

As Paul's warnings to Timothy indicate, the increasing apostasy of professing Christians is more evidence that we are in the latter times preceding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and real Christians should be looking for His coming.

See also my posts: The latest LifeWay survey provides more evidence that many "Evangelicals" may not be Christians (October 30, 2018)

An Anglican "church" in Winnipeg hosts an alphabet pervert "reimagination" of Handel's Messiah (December 22, 2023)