To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Irish saint 'predicts new pope and end of world'
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 04:58:26 -0000
Irish saint 'predicts new pope and end of world'
By Desmond O'Grady in Rome and agencies
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0101/03/pageone/pageone4.html
The 900-year-old prophecies of an Irish saint have suddenly become
new year's reading among Roman Catholics wondering who might be the
next Pope - and worried about Armageddon.
Bishop Malachy O'Morgair had a vision on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1139
which prophesied that the successor to the current pontiff, John Paul
II, would be the second last to reign before the world ends.
Although not as widely known as Nostradamus, credited with foreseeing
major events including the rise of the Beatles and the assassination
of John F. Kennedy, Bishop O'Morgair has developed a huge following,
including several Web sites.
The current Pope is the 110th nominated in the Malachy Prophesy, in
which Bishop O'Morgair named 112 popes, the last of whom would reign
as the world came to an end.
Adherents say the prophecy is moving into its final phases, triggered
by plans by John Paul to prepare for his successor.
He will appoint 25 new cardinals as early as next month, bringing the
number of "red hats" to 120 - the number required to elect a
successor to the 80-year-old Pope, who has Parkinson's disease and
may be forced to step aside.
Each pope identified in the prophecy had a mystical title, with the
110th described as De Labore Solis - "from the Labour of the Sun" -
and is taken by many to allude to the fact that John Paul II is the
son of a labourer, or a reference to his globe-circling missions, or
even that he was born on a total eclipse.
John Paul II's successor was described by Malachy as Gloria Olivae,
The Glory of the Olive. Wags link this with one of the front-runners
for the next election, the 73-year-old Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal
Carlo Maria Martini (Martini and Olive on the Rock - of Peter, that
is).
But some who believe in the prophecy relate it to the Mount of Olives
in Jerusalem and hence point to the Jew who is Archbishop of Paris,
Cardinal Jean Lustiger, 74.
Others claim it indicates an olive sprig bearer, a peacemaker, such
as John Paul's global troubleshooter, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray,
another Frenchman, who is 78.
Still others see it as a reference to the Olivetan branch of the
Benedictine religious order.
The Prophecy says the 112th pope will be named Peter II and his reign
will coincide with Armageddon.
Malachy was a 12th-century monk who reformed the church in Ireland,
linking it more closely with Rome.
He presented his vision to Pope Innocent II, but the prophecy was
suppressed or forgotten and was first published in Venice in 1595.
Like those of Nostradamus, it is in code, and sceptics claim they are
fake.
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Subject: [bprlist] Alexander Hislop
From: owner-bpr@philologos.org
Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 11:19:11 -0000
Hi guys...
Does anyone on the list have an updated/modern copy of Hislop's "The
Two Babylons"? If so, would you care to check for any biographical
info on him that the editors may have included? Would appreciate any
info forwarded to me.
Thanks!
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Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) DEAD SEA DEPTHS - reveals "city" blocks
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 08:41:29 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "Michael S. Sanders"
To: "Mysteries" <subscribers@biblemysteries.com>
Subject: DEAD SEA DEPTHS - reveals "city" blocks
Date sent: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 18:33:43 -0800
Organization: Mysteries of the Bible
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The first ever video of the bottom of the Dead Sea showing
"city" blocks. Taken from mini-sub Delta. Dr. Zvi Ben
Avraham, Director Dead Sea Research Center at Tel Aviv
University. With full written commentary.
http://www.biblemysteries.com/ZvisWallsV.html
1650 Map of the Dead Sea showing "city" in the exact same
spot as the video above. Area also matched the "square"
anomaly on the satellite image.
Ever
Mike
Mike.Sanders@BibleMysteries.com
http://www.biblemysteries.com
"The Greatest thing you'll ever learn,
is just to Love and be Loved in return" (Eden Ahbez)
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Three-Dimensional Image Greets Shoppers At New York Store
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:04 -0500
Computer Image Beams Into Reality
Three-Dimensional Image Greets Shoppers At New York Store
NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2000
(CBS) Computer-generated characters are common in movies and video
games and on the Internet. But imagine walking into a store and seeing a
virtual model hovering in front of you, even welcoming you and selling you the
latest makeup or clothing styles.
CBS News Correspondent Russ Mitchell reports on a New York-based
technology
company bringing virtual characters one step closer to everyday life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cameron has been turning heads at Hugo Boss in New York. "Hi there, my
name is Cameron. Welcome to our new showrooms," says the virtual image.
He's a digital model projected into free space. Star Wars fans will recall
R2D2 beaming Princess Leah into free space. But Cameron is in a real
environment, not on a movie screen.
Cameron's highly realistic three-dimensional presence is completely
computer-generated. He's the product of Virtual Characters of New York City.
"We can beam characters into your living room," says Lloyd Nathan, CEO of
Virtual Characters. "We can have a character greet you when you come
through the door."
"We have a series of optics that we've designed that can take a computer-
generated image and project it onto a point in space where your eye is
trained to focus," Nathan. "What we found is that consumers see this image,
and they immediately want to walk up and put a hand through it and see
what this is."
Retailers and advertisers, always on the prowl for the new, new thing, are
flocking to see virtual characters on display. "We have major cosmetic firms,
major fashion firms coming in and saying we want to present our cosmetics,
for example, to a consumer in an original attention-grabbing way," Nathan
says.
Columbia Business School marketing professor Bernd Schmitt says novelty
enables companies to break through the clutter of today's mass messages:
"Customers are increasingly interested in having experiences in the store in
addition to just buying the product, and this new approach fits right into that
experiential strategy."
But will an eye-catching virtual model compel a shopper to buy? Says
Schmitt, "I'm not sure that the customer will really fully identify with that
person because it is not a real person; it is a virtual character. But at the
same time it will link that character to the brand and thereby build the brand
image."
Imagination is the only limit at Virtual Characters. The company plans to tap
the location-based entertainment market, and information kiosks are another
target. "I could do a computer-generated Russ Mitchell that I could have
hovering in free space," Nathan quips. "I could then control what you say
effectively."
Copyright 2000, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved.
http://cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,259208-412,00.shtml
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Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: PA did not help refugees in Gaza Strip
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 01:54:59 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: PA did not help refugees in Gaza Strip,
wants $550 billion compensation from Israel for starters
- trillions more later
Ha'aretz: PA did not help refugees in Gaza Strip, wants $550 billion
compensation from Israel for starters - trillions more later
By Ze'ev Schiff Ha'aretz 3 January 2001
Here is a riddle: The lives of how many families - out of a total of 420,000
residents of the Gaza Strip still living in refugee camps - have been
improved with the large sums of money that the Palestinian Authority has
received from donor states, since the signing of the Oslo agreement in 1993?
Answer: None.This fact proves that the Palestinian leadership is basically
no different from the leaders of the Arab states who, for several
generations, have placed at the top of their respective agendas the desire
to perpetuate the plight of the Palestinian refugees, but not the desire to
end or even alleviate their suffering. The only difference is that the
refugees living in the PA are the Palestinian leaders' own flesh and blood,
and are living under their regime.
However, the essentially indifferent attitude of the PA's leaders towards
the plight of the Palestinian refugees does not, of course, stop Palestinian
representatives at the multilateral conference on refugee affairs that was
set up after the Madrid peace conference from demanding more and more
contributions in order to "help improve the lives of the refugees."
Here is another riddle: What is the total amount that the Palestinians are
demanding as an overall compensation payment for the refugee situation that
was created by the War of 1948? Answer: Approximately $550 billion! This
sum, which is targeted at a number of different issues, was arrived at by
representatives of leading Western nations at a multilateral conference on
the refugee question after they had calculated the Palestinians' claims. One
Palestinian leader, Abu Mazen (a.k.a. Mahmoud Abbas) is defined as one of
the more "moderate" members of the Palestinian leadership. Abu Mazen, deputy
to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, said after the last Camp David summit, that
the compensation payments to the Palestinians should be made by Israel alone
and should not come from any international compensation funds. In short,
Israel must sell everything it possesses while other nations must set aside
huge sums of money from their gross national capital in order to satisfy the
Palestinian demands for compensation.
But the story does not end here. Recently, Arafat's economic adviser, Dr.
Mahar Al-Kurd declared that, in addition to compensation for the refugees,
the Palestinians would demand "compensation for damage incurred by the
[Israeli] occupation since 1967." This separate "bill" even includes
compensation for the "exploitation" of both the Palestinian beachfront on
the Dead Sea and the underground water that Israel has pumped out, as well
as the return of direct and indirect taxes, including those related to
tourist activity, that Israel has collected from the Palestinians. Although
this additional list of demands sounds like a joke, Al-Kurd claims that he
and several of his colleagues heard Israeli experts give their indirect
consent to it.
Regarding the matter of experts, one should beware of Israeli "experts" who
make promises but have not been authorized by anyone to do so - because the
problem of the Palestinian "right of return" is not really a problem. These
experts rely on their own common sense, not on that of the Palestinians. It
would be a good idea to compare what Palestinian leaders say today with what
they said after the signing of the Oslo agreements. After the Oslo
agreements had been signed, these leaders said that the refugees were not
really interested in returning to Israel and that the issue was merely the
granting of the right to return, and not the exercising of that right. Thus,
the only demand Palestinian leaders made regarding the Palestinian refugee
issue was that Israel issue a declaration recognizing its responsibility for
the creation of the refugee problem. No credence should be given to these
ingratiating words. In private conversations, responsible Palestinian
leaders say - off the record - that nobody really knows how many Palestinian
refugees want to return to Israel. According to these responsible leaders, a
very large percentage of the refugees in Lebanon, where successive
governments have never been interested in their remaining there, will
undoubtedly want to return to Israel's Galilee region.
The Palestinian position on this issue today is summed up in an official
document that they submitted at Camp David. Until that document is rendered
null and void, it must be taken very seriously. The document is so extreme
that it could be regarded as a joke - were it not for the fact that it
appears to be a formula for destroying Israel from within. Here are a few
examples: Israel will also compensate states (such as Syria and Jordan) that
have provided the refugees with asylum; the Palestine Liberation
Organization will receive compensation for public Palestinian property that
has remained in Israel; the refugees who will return to Israel must not be
settled in areas that could endanger their lives or well-being, or that lack
a suitable infrastructure; Israel must amend its laws in order to assist in
the refugees' integration; the refugees returning to Israel will
automatically be granted Israeli citizenship; the right of return will have
no time limit, although the process of registering for return will extend
over a period of five years; and an international committee will carry out
monitoring work in Israel to ensure that the refugees are integrated and
protected.
Admittedly, Israel's position on the return of the refugees to Israel proper
has become tougher, in the wake of the riots in which Israeli Arabs
participated. This "achievement" can be credited to Balad (National
Democratic Alliance) Member of Knesset Dr. Azmi Bishara, whose supporters
encouraged the riots. However, more needs to be done. Israel must clarify
once more that, in relation to the right of return, there can be no
compromise and that, if Israel must choose between making concessions on
this issue and going to war, it would be preferable to risk the possibility
of a violent confrontation. It is doubtful whether there is any room for
significant concessions on other questions as well when the Palestinians are
pushing towards a confrontation over the right of Palestinian refugees to
return to Israel proper
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Gene-Altered Catfish Raise Environmental, Legal Issues
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
Tuesday, January 2, 2001 | Print this story
Gene-Altered Catfish Raise Environmental, Legal Issues
Science: Modified plants and animals could wipe out other species, experts
fear. Oversight is 'full of holes.'
By AARON ZITNER, Times Staff Writer
AUBURN, Ala.--A few miles outside this college town, down a gravel road
that runs through rolling woodlands, Rex Dunham has turned a set of muddy
ponds into a high-security prison for fish.
Electric wire keeps the raccoons at bay. Netting blocks the herons from
swooping in. Filters stop the fish from slipping out with the waste water.
Federal officials asked Dunham to protect the local environment from the
catfish he grows here because nothing like them has ever cut the waters of
the Earth. These catfish have been laced with DNA from salmon, carp and
zebrafish, which makes them grow as much as 60% faster than normal. That
could help farmers feed more people for less money and boost efforts to end
world hunger.
But there also is a chance that fast-growing fish might touch off an
environmental disaster, according to scientists who have studied the matter.
Their greatest fear is that Dunham's catfish will escape and wipe out other
fish species, as well as the plants and animals that depend on those fish to
survive.
And now, some scientists and government officials are raising a second
and equally troubling concern: that the federal government has limited legal
authority to protect the environment from Dunham's catfish--or from some of
the dozens of other genetically modified plants and animals now being
readied for market.
"Here we are on the brink of remaking life on Earth through genetic
engineering, and we do not have a thorough process for reviewing the
environmental impacts," said William Brown, science advisor to Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt. "The system is full of holes."
"My sense is that the current system is not going to be OK and that
there are going to have to be changes--or a whole new system put in," said
Bill Knapp, a senior fisheries official with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
This view is far from universal. But concerns about the government's
legal authority are significant enough that President Clinton ordered
federal agencies in May to review the relevant laws and probe for holes. The
review is due to be completed early this month.
Americans already eat modified corn, potatoes and other crops. Soon to
come are the first such animals: disease-resistant shrimp, meatier chickens
and fast-growing salmon. Thanks to mouse DNA, a new pig produces a less
harmful manure. New crops include a rice, mixed with daffodil DNA, that
includes more nutrients.
Dunham, an Auburn University researcher, already has started seeking
federal approvals to sell his fish. And he could be among the first to win
approvals to sell a genetically modified animal to American consumers.
Although there has been great attention paid to whether these foods are
safe to eat, Brown and others say the potential risk to the environment
could be an even bigger concern. And, the government is stretching outdated
laws to cover the gene revolution, they say, as if using 19th century
railroad laws to regulate airlines.
Some warn that genetically modified plants and animals could move into
the wild and breed disruptive traits into local species, similar to the way
African "killer bees" escaped a Brazilian research facility in 1957 and
spread their aggressive traits. Others fear an opposite scenario: that
instead of thriving, the modified plant or animal could interbreed with its
natural cousins in ways that would destroy the species entirely.
Scientists call this the "Trojan gene" effect, because the modified
organism is undermined by the new genes that it takes in. William M. Muir, a
geneticist at Purdue University, has used a mix of laboratory observation
and computer modeling to show that it could happen with gene-altered fish.
Fast-growing fish might enjoy a mating advantage in the wild, Muir
says, yet produce young that are ill-equipped to survive. "This could
locally take a population to extinction," he said.
And yet, federal officials say that no law requires people who alter
fish genes to keep the fish isolated and away from local waters. The
Agriculture Department was able to ask Dunham to build his "fish prison"
only because his research is backed by federal funds.
Moreover, officials said, it is unclear whether any federal law
penalizes a person who releases genetically modified animals into the wild.
More troubling to some critics is that certain species may escape
federal regulation entirely.
For example, at least one company is altering the genes in creeping
bentgrass, a common golf course turf, so that it is more resistant to weed
killers. That would allow lawn managers to use herbicides without harming
the turf. But it could also make the grass, which already invades lawns and
gardens, harder for homeowners to control.
Officials are divided over whether the government has the authority to
regulate genetic changes to the grass. The Agriculture Department claims
authority over all "plant pests" and potential pests, and it is using that
authority to supervise the company working on creeping bentgrass genes.
But
Brown and others disagree, saying that the legal definition of plant pests
clearly excludes the grass. The department has overstepped its legal
authority, Brown says.
Similarly, several teams are working to modify algae as a food and
laboratory substance, said Anne Kapuscinski, a fish geneticist at the
University of Minnesota. Algae is not a plant pest, she said, "so who is
going to have authority over it? There's been no public statement on that."
The confusion arises because the government, starting with the Reagan
administration, decided that decades-old food and agriculture laws could be
stretched to cover genetically altered species.
For example, some corn and potato varieties already on the market have
been genetically modified to produce their own insecticide. Because the
Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction over insecticides, it takes
a lead role in regulating these crops.
For other crops, the Agriculture Department claims a leading role
because scientists commonly use bacteria and viruses to modify the crop
genes. The agency already regulates those bacteria and viruses as plant
pests, and it claims jurisdiction over the crops as well.
Jane Rissler, senior staff scientist with the Union of Concerned
Scientists, called this rationale "an awkward stretch of the laws" that does
not cast a broad net over all gene-altered plants. The mere fact that genes
have been engineered should be enough to bring a plant or animal under
federal scrutiny, she said.
Besides, scientists now are modifying genes in ways that do not rely on
bacteria or viruses but that should not release them from federal
regulation, Rissler said.
In regulating fish, some people believe the laws are being stretched in
equally awkward ways.
Dunham had spent years using traditional breeding techniques to modify
the channel catfish, which is by far the most farmed fish in the United
States.
Then, in 1982, American scientists created one of the first transgenic
animals--mice that grew to twice their normal size, thanks to rat and human
genes that produce growth hormone. The mouse experiment prompted other
scientists to start manipulating traits in a range of species. Many
researchers saw the new technology as a way to help farmers produce more
food with less resources.
"If we can grow more fish in less space, that decreases pressure on the
environment," Dunham said. "And we will never be able to catch more fish
than we do now from the natural environment. Yet world demand for fish is
increasing."
Normally, catfish stop growing in the winter, when the genes that
produce growth hormone all but shut down. Dunham and his team began
producing catfish that had an extra copy of a growth hormone gene. They
also
added a piece of DNA from salmon, carp or other species that acts like a
year-round "on" switch for the gene.
The result: Dunham's catfish grow to their market size of about 2
pounds within 12 to 18 months, rather than the normal 18 to 24 months.
Dunham and his research partner, Zhanjiang "John" Liu, hope to turn the
fish into a commercial product. Several fish geneticists believe the Auburn
catfish could be the second genetically modified animal to reach American
consumers. A/F Protein Inc., a Massachusetts firm, is expected to be first.
It is seeking approval for a fast-growing salmon that it is developing in
indoor tanks in Canada.
Dunham and Liu also have begun researching how their fish would behave
in the wild. So far, they say, they have found no cause for concern.
One published study found that the fish have slightly less ability to
avoid predators than do native catfish. Two other studies, not yet
published, determined that the Auburn catfish do not have a competitive edge
over native fish for food and have equal reproductive ability.
"What it points to is that these fish have no environmental advantage,
or maybe are a little handicapped in the natural environment," Dunham said.
"But the principal point is that we need more research to determine what the
environmental risk is."
If Dunham and Liu commercialize the catfish, the lead regulator would
be the Food and Drug Administration--but not because the fish would be a
food. Instead, the agency considers the fish's extra growth hormone to be a
drug.
But some wildlife experts say that, although the FDA is well-equipped
to assess drugs, it is the wrong agency to rule on whether genetically
modified fish pose a risk to the environment. "People understand intuitively
that this is asking a lot of the FDA, asking it to become a wildlife
regulatory agency," Brown said.
FDA officials say they are routinely called on to consider
environmental effects. John Matheson, senior review scientist for veterinary
medicine, noted that, when the agency recently reviewed a growth hormone
for
cows, it studied potential changes in land-use patterns, soil erosion and
methane levels.
Critics of the system raise another complaint about the FDA's role: It
operates under a federal law that aggressively protects company trade
secrets, and an often anxious public cannot learn what genetically modified
plants and animals are on the road to winning federal approvals.
"If there was a chance to look at the process and contribute to the
decision-making, it would be a lot easier to win over the trust of the
public," Kapuscinski said. "You'd still have some criticism, but you'd have
more trust."
Search the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories about:
Catfish, Genetic Engineering, Environment - United States, Food And Drug
Administration (U.s.).
You will not be charged to look for stories, only to retrieve one.
Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/front/20010102/t000000275.html
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Subject: [bprlist] Smallest microphone 'can hear a cell growing'
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
Smallest microphone 'can hear a cell growing'
Scientists searching for life on other planets have invented a tiny
microphone which can detect the sound of a single cell growing.
The design of the sensor is based on tiny hairs which line the human inner
ear and transmit sound to the brain.
The nanomicrophone has been developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, California, in conjunction with Nasa.
Team leader Flavio Noca said: "There's a whole world buzzing down there.
Movement is one of the signatures for life."
The tiny sensor may enable researchers to listen to the sound of a swimming
bacterium or hear the gurgling of fluids inside living cells, Business Week
reports.
The artifical ear is built from tubes of carbon so small they are measured
on a scale of billionths of a metre. Like the hairs - or cilia - in the
inner ear, the tiny filaments bend in response to even the slightest change
in pressure.
Last updated: 14:34 Tuesday 2nd January 2001
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_159903.html
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Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Background: Arafat's web of lies - 242/338
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 01:55:31 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Background: Arafat's web of lies - 242/338,
Jerusalem, terror
Background: Arafat's web of lies - 242/338, Jerusalem, terror
By Moshe Landau, Yehuda Blum and Meir Rosenne Ha'aretz 3 January 2001
In view of the Israeli government's silence in the face of Arafat's
fallaciousness, we think it incumbent upon us to comment. Arafat continually
repeats his demand that Israel surrender all territories beyond the "Green
Line," namely, the 1949 borders, because this is, according to Arafat, what
Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 decree. This also seems to be the
premise upon which President Clinton's "alternative-dispute-resolution"
proposals are based, and this is why Israel now has to stand at Arafat's
doorstep begging for crumbs.At least for now, according to his phased plan,
Arafat may be willing throw Israel a few crumbs of land, like a narrow strip
to allow access to Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumin and Gush Etzion.
But in return for these "concessions," the American "mediator" offers Arafat
the wide expanses of the Halutza dunes, leaving Israel's border with Egypt
completely defenseless, and turning Israeli towns in the western Negev into
an isolated enclave at Arafat's mercy. Going by this methodology, Israel is
to uproot all its towns in the Jordan Valley, so that the future Palestinian
state will have uninterrupted sovereignty all the way from Tul Karm to the
boundaries of the Jordanian Kingdom.
Lies thus rule the roost, while the voice of truth, for some inexplicable
reason, remains unheard. Well, the truth, according to the principles of
international law, is as follows: (a) One of the purposes of Security
Council Resolution 242 (and Resolution 338, adopting 242) was to put an end
to the belligerency between the sides that fought in the Six-Day War. The
applicability of this resolution to the areas of Judea and Samaria that were
under Jordanian rule between 1949 and 1967, is a matter of controversy among
jurists. In any case, Arafat's PLO terrorist organization, which then
started launching its violent activities, had no legal status under that
resolution. It is also an established fact that the authentic language of
Resolution 242 did not require Israel to withdraw from all the territories
over which it had gained control as a result of its defensive efforts in
1967, but only from some of them.
(b) Moreover: Resolution 242 stipulates that "secure and recognized
boundaries" must be established in the region. At the time, Israel only had
the cease-fire lines (not to be confused with boundaries) which were
violated by Arab aggression in June 1967. These lines - dubbed the
"Auschwitz borders" by Israel's then foreign minister, Abba Eban - were
anything but "secure boundaries."
(c) There is no need to expand on the "creative" ideas for relinquishing
sovereignty over Temple Mount, the Mount of Olives and the Old City. No one
disputes the fact that the arrangements recommended by the UN General
Assembly in 1947, on the eve of Israel's statehood, to turn Jerusalem into a
separate entity ("corpus separatum"), were to expire within 10 years, by
force of provisions within these arrangements themselves. Today, even the
U.S. Congress openly recognizes Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. In the
Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act, Congress ordered the relocation of the
U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But President Clinton, in a
generous farewell gift, once again exercised his veto right and curbed the
implementation of this act in the "impartial" spirit of today's American
administration.
(d) In order to exert violent pressure on Israel, Arafat lets his people
continue with rampant terrorism, while negotiations on "the end of the
conflict" go on. This is the place to mention that in his letter to Yitzhak
Rabin of September 9, 1993, Arafat had undertaken that any future
differences would be resolved in a peaceful manner. Israel's willingness to
sign the Declaration of Principles on September 13, 1993 ("Oslo Agreement"),
was contingent upon this undertaking.
And yet despite this overwhelming set of facts, neither the negotiators
assigned by the Israeli government nor the government's PR mechanism lift a
finger to tear down Arafat's web of lies and give truth the credit it
deserves. Why?
Moshe Landau is former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Yehuda Blum is a
professor of international law at the Hebrew University and formerly served
as ambassador and permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations.
Meir Rosenne formerly served as ambassador to Paris and to Washington and
served as legal adviser for the Foreign Ministry
--------------------------------------------
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Church opens cell bank to fight cloning
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
Church opens cell bank to fight cloning Source: Daily Mail Publication date=
:=20
2001-01-02=20=20
SCIENTISTS opposed to the cloning of human embryos for research have=20
opened a research facility to provide an alternative.=20=20
The Roman Catholic Church has opened a bank storing stem cells from the=20
placenta, which it says could be engineered to develop into a wide range of=
=20
tissues, including bone, cartilage, fat, tendon and muscle.=20=20
Experts say that work with stem cells could allow them to regenerate parts=
=20
of the body damaged in conditions including Alzheimer's, heart disease or=20
organ failure.=20=20
Though the richest source of stem cells is human embryos, critics believe=20
'cannibalising' early human life is ethically unacceptable.=20=20
The Pope has led criticism of using embryonic cells, with the Vatican's=20
official newspaper describing the move as a gross violation which would 'st=
ain=20
the blood of innocents'.=20=20
Work using adult stem cells, which persist in bone marrow, the skin and the=
=20
nervous system, or in the placenta, is less controversial.=20=20
Publication date: 2001-01-02 =A9 2000, YellowBrix, Inc.=20=20
http://newsreal.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=3D17029566
&ID=3Dnewsreal&scategory=3DAP+Top+Headlines
via: isml@egroups.com
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Rising hatred for the West is scaring away
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:05 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 01:56:34 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Rising hatred for the West is scaring away
investors from Egypt - economy in trouble
Ha'aretz: Rising hatred for the West is scaring away investors from Egypt =
-
economy in trouble
By Zvi Barel Ha'aretz 3 January 2001
[Excerpts]
When the British supermarket chain Sainsbury purchased the Egyptian Edge
chain last year, the Egyptian Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade was
bursting with pride. There was talk of "Egyptian magnetism" and of "the nex=
t
bright step in Egypt's business world." Sainsbury, the ministry thought, wa=
s
only the harbinger.Sainsbury directors also believed this was Aladdin's cav=
e
of hidden treasures. In April 1999, the chain's turnover was =A351 million,
and projections for April 2000 quoted =A3100 million. "Originally we though=
t
it would take five years before we made much in the way of profits, but we
are way ahead of the original plan. There is no competition here, with no
other multinationals present. It is a very fragmented market where the
skills we have can add a lot of value," John Rowe, chief executive of
Sainsbury Egypt, told Reuters. Sainsbury purchased Edge's 63 stores,
followed up the move into Egypt with the acquisition of another local
company, ABC Supermarket Expo, with five more stores in Cairo, and planned
to open another 100 new locations.
Aiming to open another 100 branches, Sainsbury invested 500 million in the
deal and declared its intent to invest another 500 million to develop the
chain. Sainsbury Egypt has thousands of Egyptians on its payroll.
But the Sainsbury miracle seems to be more of a mirage. Although management
has not yet officially announced that they were closing shop and selling ou=
t
to Egyptian businessmen, a source in the Egyptian chamber of commerce said
that "It seems they have no choice. Our radical friends did a thorough job
this time."
Since the start of the Palestinian Intifada and all the more so after the
Arab League summit, the campaign boycotting American, British and of course
Israeli products has been gaining momentum. Sainsbury is one prominent
example. Extremist clergy alleged that the chain was owned by Jews, and tha=
t
it earmarked some of its earnings to help Israel. Sainsbury's managers made
public announcements in the Egyptian press declaring that the chain was not
assisting or being assisted by Israel, financially or politically, but to n=
o
avail. The boycott, dubbed in the Egyptian press "the supermarket war,"
evolved quickly with industrious help from the clergy, who issued religious
broadsides against the chain.
Egyptians would not set foot in Sainsbury stores. The windows of the Maadi
neighborhood branch were shattered, and other stores were painted with hate
graffiti. As activity slumped, the chain started to count its losses. Last
week chain managers denied caving in to the Egyptian boycott. The financial
difficulties, they explained, stem from administrative problems, from
falling back on the original schedule for opening new stores and from
difficulties in obtaining licenses in time. But this reasoning does not
coincide with the chain's original success. In any case, no one in Egypt is
buying either Sainsbury's goods or its explanations.
"Sainsbury Egypt may be the most recent victim of the Palestinian Intifada,
but it is certainly not the last," a member of the Egyptian chamber of
commerce says. "Wait until the parliament session on Wednesday [today] to
hear how deep the Intifada has seeped." He is referring to the queries and
demands that several parliament members are planning to present. These
include demands to revoke the citizenship of Egyptians married to Israelis,
forbid Jews to visit the grave of Rabbi Abu-Hatzeira, have Egyptian
Agriculture Minister Youssuf Walli submit a detailed report on the scope of
agricultural normalization between Israel and Egypt, and instate regulation=
s
against Israeli imports and against American and other foreign products and
companies that operate in both Israel and Egypt.
...
According to data from the Egyptian Justice Ministry, more than 60,000
bad-check cases are now pending, 70 percent more than last year. Egypt's
domestic debt is about 21 billion Egyptian pounds, and unpaid taxes reach 7=
1
billion pounds. The real estate sector is almost paralyzed, without buyers
for thousands of luxury units in Cairo's satellites. The banks, which
extended loans for real estate projects without suitable collateral, are no=
w
having serious liquidity problems. According to publications in the Egyptia=
n
press, the banks made loans at 1:25 and even 1:1000 on the assurances
provided. Although the government has managed to sell 145 companies as part
of the privatization effort, these are mainly small companies. The big ones
are still waiting for buyers and investors.
--------------------------------------------
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========
To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] BNI.PriorityNews 1,2,3,4 (1/3/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 09:18:06 -0500
1. Taxi driver found wounded near Ginot Shomron=09
2. Names of Telmon residents wounded in shooting attack=09
3. Residents block road following terror attack=09
4. Female sustains light injuries from shooting in Hebron=09
5. Gun battle near Bituniya during the night=09
6. IDF use tanks to divide Gaza into three=09
**************************
3-JAN-00 =96 6:43am
**************************
1. Taxi driver found wounded near Ginot Shomron
BNI-JAN.3) An Israeli taxi driver was found stabbed near the northern
Samarian community of Ginot Shomron early Wednesday morning. He was
transported to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba where he died of his wounds.
Police assigned to the Shai (Shomron-Yehuda) District are investigating
but stated it appeared the stabbing attack was criminal and not terrorist
in nature.=20=20
++++
2. Names of Telmon residents wounded in shooting attack
(BNI-JAN.3) Yossef Baruch, 35, of Telmon, was the victim seriously wounded
in the Tuesday night shooting attack on Route 443. He sustained gunshot
wounds to his head and chest and remains in very critical condition in Tel
HaShomer Hospital. Doctors explain they are doing everything to save his
life. Baruch was one of three passengers in the car that was attacked by
gunfire.
Aaron Kubrialov, 29, another Telmon resident, was wounded moderately in
his chest and was transported to Assaf HaRofeh Hospital in Tzrifin. He too
was a passenger. The third occupant of the vehicle, the driver, escaped
injury.=20=20
++++
3. Residents block road following terror attack
(BNI-JAN.3) Residents of the communities of Dolev and Telmon took to the
street at about midnight, closing down the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road near
the Latrun Interchange in protest of the shooting attack that left two
persons wounded by terrorist gunfire.=20=20
++++
4. Female sustains light injuries from shooting in Hebron
(BNI-JAN.3) A female was lightly injured by shards during the night as a
result of gunfire aimed at the Givat HaCharsina area of Hebron from the
nearby PA autonomous area. IDF soldiers returned fire.=20=20
++++
5. Gun battle near Bituniya during the night
(BNI-JAN.3) At about 2:30am, IDF forces found themselves in the middle of
a gun battle, responding to heavy shooting directed at them from the
nearby PA autonomous areas, including from the PA military position at the
nearby border to the PA areas. There were no reported injuries among IDF
forces. A tank was deployed against the PA gunfire.
Bituniya is located west of Ramallah in Samaria, near the Jewish community
of Nachliel.=20=20
++++
6. IDF use tanks to divide Gaza into three
(BNI-JAN.3) IDF forces during the night deployed three tanks to cut Gaza
into three sections in an increased effort to restore security to the area
following increased attacks over past days.=20=20
----------------
1. Mortar shells land in northern Israel=09
2. Suspect in custody in murder of Israeli taxi driver=09
3. MK Landau: Barak is running a fascist government=09
4. Netzarim residents forced into safe rooms during the night=09
5. Zo Artzeinu planning to take to the streets again=09
6. Likud calls upon court to stop Oslo process=09
7. Minister of Health Milo to resign=09
**************************
3-JAN-00 =96 07:31am
**************************
1. Mortar shells land in northern Israel
(BNI-JAN.3) A short time ago, mortar shells landed in the Har Dov area of
northern Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Area
communities have not been placed on alert at this time.=20=20=20
++++
2. Suspect in custody in murder of Israeli taxi driver
(BNI-JAN.3) Police announced that a resident of Ginot Shomron is under
arrest, suspected of involvement in the pre-dawn stabbing murder of an
Israeli taxi driver near the community.
As reported earlier, the driver was found early Wednesday morning near the
entrance of the northern Samarian community with multiple stab wounds to
his upper torso. He died en route to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba.=20=20=20
++++
3. MK Landau: Barak is running a fascist government
(BNI-JAN.3) Speaking to a solidarity mission from atop the newly formed
Mevo Ofra, near the site of the Sunday morning terrorist attack which
killed Rabbi Binyamin and Talia Kahane, veteran Likud MK Dr. Uzi Landau
explained that Prime Minister Ehud Barak was conducting himself as a
fascist administration.
Landau explained to the group of twenty persons from the NYC area, led by
activist Rabbi Avi Weiss, that Barak has dismissed criticisms from his IDF
chief of staff, director of the General Security Service (GSS/Shin Bet),
state attorney general and other senior members of the political and
security establishments while insisting on continuing in his path against
their advice. =93This is fascism=94 explained Dr. Landau.=20
=20
Landau added that one needs only to visit southern Jerusalem=92s Anafa
Street and one will see the newly installed concrete =93ghetto=94 walls aim=
ed
at protecting Gilo residents from PA gunfire. "We're being pushed into
ghettos in our own country," he explained, adding that one does not need
walls to be in a ghetto which may also be a state of mind, condemning
Barak=92s policies which he added would compel the Jewish state to defend
all that is precious to it and the Jewish people.=20=20
++++
4. Netzarim residents forced into safe rooms during the night
(BNI-JAN.3) Residents of the Gaza community of Netzarim were compelled to
enter safe rooms during the night as heavy gunfire was directed at their
homes. There were no reported physical injuries. Soldiers returned fire. =
=20
++++
5. Zo Artzeinu planning to take to the streets again
(BNI-JAN.3) Leaders of the Zo Artzeinu (This is Our Land) organization and
other nationalistic organizations met on Tuesday night in an emergency
assembly to decide what action must be taken in response to the increase
in terrorism and threats of major land concessions by the administration,
including in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
Zo Artzeinu leader Moshe Feiglin announced that Israelis from across the
country will on next Thursday, January 11, converge on the capital and
attempt to make their way to the Temple Mount. Persons will be encouraged
during the coming week to participate in the event and are being requested
to get into cars at 4:30pm and head for the capital at 25 KPH (15 MPH),
bringing traffic across the country to a virtual halt.=20
At 5:00pm, supporters are called upon to stop their vehicles and stand
outside on the street, wherever one may be in the country, as a sign of
protest over any planned concessions to the PA involving Jerusalem and the
Temple Mount.
During the years of the Rabin administration, Zo Artzeinu was successful
in bringing tens of thousands to the streets in opposition to the policies
of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his Oslo process.=20=20
++++
6. Likud MK calls upon court to stop Oslo process
(BNI-JAN.3) Likud MK Avraham Herschson on Tuesday petitioned the High
Court of Justice to order Prime Minister Ehud Barak to cease the Oslo
process with the PA since he does not enjoy a mandate entrusting him to
make decisions or sign an agreement that would have a profound impact on
the future of the state.
The petition comes a day following an opinion by State Attorney General
Elyakim Rubinstein in which he stated that although Barak is within his
legal authority to negotiate with PA Chairman Yassir Arafat, he is advised
to refrain from doing so since he does not enjoy a mandate from the nation
or the Knesset and it would be fitting for such talks not to continue
under present circumstances.=20=20
++++
7. Minister of Health Milo to resign
(BNI-JAN.3) Center Party Minister Roni Milo on Tuesday indicated his plans
to submit his resignation at the upcoming Sunday cabinet meeting. Prime
Minister Ehud Barak met with Milo in an attempt to persuade him to change
his mind but without success.
Milo has been among the increasing number of politicians expressing his
opposition to the prime minister=92s policies, particularly reports that
Barak is willing to place the Temple Mount under PA sovereignty.=20=20
The resignation would be seen as an increasing decline in support for
Barak even among his dwindling cabinet. He no longer enjoys a majority in
the parliament. An election poll released on Tuesday shows Sharon leading
by 49-32 percent, with seven percent of voters being undecided. The
remainder of the voters indicated they plan to boycott the election.=20
----------------
1. Route 60 remains closed north of Eli in Samaria=09
2. Tviya Kahane showing signs of improvement=09
3. Small explosive device detonates at El Al office in Switzerland
4. Foreign Agencies: Israel fired over 50 artillery shells=09
5. Clarification=09
6. Gunfire directed at IDF forces in southern Gaza=09
***********************
3-JAN-00 =96 10:49
***********************
1. Route 60 remains closed north of Eli in Samaria
(BNI-JAN.3) Route 60 north of Eli, in the Gush Shilo area of Samaria,
remains closed at this time. The area=92s main north/south road has been
closed since about 8:00am when a powerful explosive device was discovered
on the road.
Bomb demolition teams are working to safely neutralize the powerful device
which appears to be somewhat complicated, explaining the long delay.
At about 10:30am, officials on the scene indicated they expect the road to
remain closed for another two hours.=20=20
++++
2. Tviya Kahane showing signs of improvement
(BNI-JAN.3) Tviya Kahane, 4=BD, who was injured in a Sunday morning terror
attack in which her parents were killed, continues to show signs of
improvement.=20
On Tuesday, she was moved from an intensive care unit of a pediatric ward
as she continues to recover from her head injuries. Doctors confirmed that
she has still not been informed of the death of her parents, Rabbi
Binyamin Ze=92ev and Talia Kahane, but social workers intend to tell her as
soon as the medical team decides the time if appropriate.
Tviy=92a four sister=92s were also hospitalized following the attack with l=
ess
serious injuries but they have already been released.=20=20
++++
3. Small explosive device detonates at El Al office in Switzerland
(BNI-JAN.3) A small explosive device was detonated during the night in
front of the El Al Israel Airlines office in Zurich Switzerland. There
were no reports of injuries or significant damages.=20=20
The organization claiming responsibility for the blast called for a
cessation of the massacres in Turkey, Kurdistan and Palestine.=20
An El Al spokesperson reported the blast was detonated at about 1:00am=20
and
it did cause minimal damage to the doors of the office.=20
++++
4. Foreign Agencies: Israel fired over 50 artillery shells
(BNI-JAN.3) Foreign news agencies quoting Lebanese sources are reporting
that Israel on Wednesday morning fired over 50 artillery shells into
Lebanon.
The Office of the IDF Spokesman has confirmed that in response to a mortar
attack in the Har Dov area of northern Israel, artillery shells were
fired. In addition, helicopter gunships were deployed over the area of the
attack.=20
There were no injuries or damages in the early morning mortar attack.=20=20
++++
5. Clarification
(BNI-JAN.3) Regarding the earlier report of Thursday=92s Zo Artzeinu
demonstration, persons are requested to head towards Jerusalem at 4:30pm
from all over Israel, and only begin driving at 25 KPH (15 MPH) after
5:00pm.=20=20
At 5:00pm, event organizers are calling upon motorists to stop their
vehicles and stand on the street wherever they may be for two minutes, and
then begin driving slowly towards the capital.
++++
6. Gunfire directed at IDF forces in southern Gaza
(BNI-JAN.2) IDF forces operating near the Rafiach border to Egypt cam
under fire earlier in the day. There were no reported injuries to Israeli
forces that returned fire.=20=20
-----------------
1. Lebanese sources: Hizbullah not connected to Har Dov mortar attack
2. Tapuach resident indicted for stone-throwing attacks=09
3. Route 60 remains closed north of Eli=09
4. Terror cell apprehended two weeks ago=09
5. Fund established to assist Kahane orphans=09
*************************
3-JAN-00 =96 12:44pm
*************************
1. Lebanese sources: Hizbullah not connected to Har Dov mortar attack
(BNI-JAN.3) Lebanese sources have indicated they do not believe that
Hizbullah was behind the Wednesday morning Har Dov mortar attack in
northern Israel. Three mortar shells landed in the Galilee. There were no
injuries. There were reports of damages near the Sheeba Farm area.=20
Lebanese sources also reported Israel fired over 50 artillery shells into
Lebanon in the retaliatory raid. There was not mention made of casualties.
++++
2. Tapuach resident indicted for stone-throwing attacks
(BNI-JAN.3) Aryeh Batat, 20, of the community of Tapuach in Samaria, was
indicted on Wednesday morning in the Tel Avid District Court for
intentionally endangering the live of another person.
Batat was among Tapuach residents who on Tuesday morning blocked the
intersection in front of their community and threw stones at Arab cars in
protest and anger over this week=92s murders of community residents Rabbi
Binyamin Ze=92ev and Talia Kahane by PA soldiers by the village of Ein
Yabroud. According to Israeli security force commanders, the PA soldiers
fired 52 bullets at the Kahane vehicle, killing the parents and wounding
five children who were in the family van.=20
As a result of the attack, six children were orphaned, ages 2-months to
12-years-old.=20=20=20=20
++++
3. Route 60 remains closed north of Eli
(BNI-JAN.3) At the time of this report, Route 60 remains closed in the
Gush Shilo area of Samaria, north of the community of Eli. Bomb demolition
teams a short time ago detonated a controlled explosion in dealing with
one large device.=20
The teams have been working since the roadway was closed at 8:00am. They
are now working on additional explosive devices found at the scene of the
area=92s major north/south road.=20=20
The closure has resulted in serious delays in public bus service to the
Gush Shilo area as well as areas north of the closure.=20
++++
4. Terror cell apprehended two weeks ago
(BNI-JAN.3) A gag order has been partially lifted permitting the
publication of the fact that a terror cell was apprehended by security
forces about two weeks ago involving efforts of police, the General
Security Service (GSS/Shin Bet) and other special units.
What has been cleared for release are the facts that the terror cell was
conspiring to perpetrate attacks inside the =93Green line=94 with the
assistance of Israeli Arab citizens who supplied some of the ingredients
necessary for the construction of the explosive devices.
Security forces were involved in apprehending some of the members of the
cell in Samaria two weeks ago, leading to a pursuit during which Sa=92ad
Haruf, a resident of the PA autonomous city Nablus was killed. He was
identified as one of the commanders of the terror cell. A second terrorist
was wounded by gunfire and is currently in the custody of the GSS.
The ongoing investigation also has led to the rest of an Arab resident of
eastern Jerusalem who is alleged to have supplied the terrorist with
bomb-making ingredients.
Also cleared for release was the information that about one-month ago,
Amwar Hamran, another cell member, was killed in a shootout with IDF
soldiers. The cell is believed affiliated with the Islamic Jihad.=20=20
Additional arrests of Israeli Arab citizens are expected in the coming
days.
++++
5. Fund established to assist Kahane orphans
(BNI-JAN.2) As a result of the fatal Sunday morning terror attack near
Ofra, the six children of Rabbi Binyamin Ze=92ev and Talia Kahane, ages
2-months to 12-years-old, are left to fend for themselves.
The family of the late parents are doing their utmost to assist care for
the orphans during their time of grief and to assist them, a fund has been
established to provide financial assistance to the children.
One may send contributions to:
Bank Mizrachi
Old City Branch (Jerusalem) =96 Branch number 460
Account Number =96 111615
The families of the victims have also asked to notify the public that the
women children will be observing the seven-day shiva morning period in the
home of the victims, in the community of Tapuach in Samaria. The males
will be sitting shiva opposite the Prime Minister=92s Residence in the
Rehavia section of Jerusalem.=20=20
++++
++++
News items published by BNI (=93BreakingNews-Israel=94) and/or =93BNI.Elect=
ion=94
lists, may be distributed, copied, posted providing the websites and other
forums carrying the stories display the footer below instructing readers
how to subscribe in plain view on the same page with the news.=20=20
++++
1. To subscribe to the BreakingNews-Israel list, send a blank email
message to 44828-subscribe@listbot.com=20=20=20
2. To subscribe to the BNI.Election list, providing election coverage,
send a blank email message to=20
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3. To subscribe to the BNI.PriorityNews list, providing news of
importance, send a blank email message to=20
BNI.PriorityNews-subscribe@listbot.com
4. To contact the owner of BNI lists, send an email to
BNI1@netvision.net.il=20
++++=20=20=20
If you feature =93BreakingNews-Israel,=94 =93BNI.PriorityNews,=94 or
=93BNI.Election=94 reports in your newsletter or on your website, please le=
t
us know so we may add your name to the list below.=20=20
++++
BNI reports are now featured by:
1. The USA Jewish website - http://www.usajewish.com/=20=20=20
2. Israel News - http://www.morashanetwork.com/=20
3. United Jerusalem.com http://www.unitedjerusalem.com/=20
4. Efrat - http://www.efrat.org/=20
5. Shosh's Gleanings Daily - Suwomyn26@aol.com=20
6. Breaking News - http://www.folksites.com/waisobiken/=20
7. Dateline Israel - http://www.datelineisrael.com/=20
8. "In Depth News-2000!" - inhislove@triad.rr.com-
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9. atp_us_news http://www.egroups.com/members_add/atp_us_news
10. The Matzav - sherer@actcom.co.il=20
11. Virtual Holyland =96=20
http://www.virtualholyland.com/channels/israel_n/index.htm
12. Noahide_News@egroups.com email list=20
http://www.egroups.com/list/Noahide_News/
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========
To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@egroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Israel simply has no right to exist
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 12:20:13 EST
Israel simply has no right to exist=20
Peace might have a real chance without Israelis' biblical claims=20
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,417125,00.html=20
Special report: Israel and the Middle East=20
Faisal Bodi=20
Wednesday January 3, 2001=20
Several years ago, I suggested in my students' union newspaper that Israel
shouldn't exist. I also said the sympathy evoked by the Holocaust was a ver=
y
handy cover for Israeli atrocities. Overnight I became public enemy number
one. I was a Muslim fundamentalist, a Jew-hater, somebody who trivialised t=
he
memory of the most abominable act in history. My denouncers followed me,
photographed me, and even put telephone calls through to my family telling
them to expect a call from the grim reaper.=20
Thankfully, my notoriety in Jewish circles has since waned to the extent th=
at
recently I gave an inter-faith lecture sponsored by the Leo Baeck College,
even though my views have remained the same. Israel has no right to exist. =
I
know it's a hugely unfashionable thing to say and one which, given the curr=
ent
parlous state of the peace process, some will also find irresponsible. But
it's a fact that I have always considered central to any genuine peace
formula.=20
Certainly there is no moral case for the existence of Israel. Israel stands=
as
the realisation of a biblical statement. Its raison d'=EAtre was famously
delineated by former prime minister Golda Meir. "This country exists as the
accomplishment of a promise made by God Himself. It would be absurd to call
its legitimacy into account."=20
That biblical promise is Israel's only claim to legitimacy. But whatever Go=
d
meant when he promised Abraham that "unto thy seed have I given this land,
from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the Euphrates," it is doubtfu=
l
that he intended it to be used as an excuse to take by force and chicanery =
a
land lawfully inhabited and owned by others.=20
It does no good to anyone to brush this fact, uncomfortable as it might be,
under the table. But that has been the failing with Oslo. When it signed th=
e
agreement, the PLO made the cardinal error of assuming that you could bury =
the
hatchet by rewriting history. It accepted as a starting point that Israel h=
ad
a right to exist. The trouble with this was that it also meant, by extensio=
n,
an acceptance that the way Israel came into being was legitimate. As the
latest troubles have shown, ordinary Palestinians are not prepared to follo=
w
their leaders in this feat of intellectual amnesia.=20
Israel's other potential claim to legitimacy, international recognition, is
just as dubious. The two pacts which sealed Palestine's future were both
concluded by Britain. First we signed the Sykes-Picot agreement with France=
,
pledging to divvy up Ottoman spoils in the Levant. A year later, in 1917, t=
he
Balfour Declaration promised a national home for the Jewish people. Under
international law the declaration was null and void since Palestine did not
belong to Britain - under the pact of the League of Nations it belonged to
Turkey.=20
By the time the UN accepted a resolution on the partition of Palestine in
1947, Jews constituted 32% of the population and owned 5.6% of the land. By
1949, largely as a result of paramilitary organisations such as the Haganah=
,
Irgun and Stern gang, Israel controlled 80% of Palestine and 770,000 non-Je=
ws
had been expelled from their country.=20
This then is the potted history of the iniquities surrounding its own birth
that Israel must acknowledge in order for peace to have a chance. After yea=
rs
of war, peace comes from forgiving, not forgetting; people never forget but
they have an extraordinary capacity to forgive. Just look at South Africa,
which showed the world that a cathartic truth must precede reconciliation.=
=20
Far from being a force for liberation and safety after decades of suffering=
,
the idea that Israel is some kind of religious birthright has only imprison=
ed
Jews in a never-ending cycle of conflict. The "promise" breeds an arrogance
which institutionalises the inferiority of other peoples and generates
atrocities against them with alarming regularity. It allows soldiers to def=
y
their consciences and blast unarmed schoolchildren. It gives rise to
legislation seeking to prevent the acquisition of territory by non-Jews.=20
More crucially, the promise limits Israel's capacity to seek models of
coexistence based on equality and the respect of human rights. A state base=
d
on so exclusivist a claim to legitimacy cannot but conceive of separation a=
s a
solution. But separation is not the same as lasting peace; it only pulls ap=
art
warring parties. It does not heal old wounds, let alone redress historical
wrongs.=20
However, take away the biblical right and suddenly mutual coexistence, even=
a
one-state solution, doesn't seem that far-fetched. What name that coexisten=
ce
will take is less important than the fact that peoples have forgiven and th=
at
some measure of justice has been restored. Jews will continue to live in th=
e
Holy Land - as per the promise - as equals alongside its other rightful
inhabitants.=20
If that kind of self-reproach is forthcoming, Israel can expect the
Palestinians to be forgiving and magnanimous in return. The alternative is
perpetual war.=20
Faisal Bodi is a Muslim journalist.=20
=20
=20
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To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@egroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Millennium renews concerns about cult
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 12:22:25 EST
Millennium renews concerns about cult
http://www.denverpost.com/news/news0101b.htm
By Kevin Simpson
Denver Post Staff Writer
Jan. 1, 2001 - The millennial madness of 1999 passed without incident, but as
2000 drew to a close, observers of the reclusive religious group Concerned
Christians wondered if the violent, apocalyptic prophesy of Monte Kim Miller,
the group's Colorado-born leader, was merely postponed, according to an avid
cult watcher.
They were all asking, "Is it going to happen now?" according to Mark Roggeman,
a Denver police officer who stays in touch with relatives of those in the
group. "It's like the anniversary of everything that was supposed to happen
but didn't happen last year."
Miller, spiritual leader of the Concerned Christians, disappeared from Denver
with about 70 followers in September 1998 on the heels of his prediction that
the city would be destroyed by an earthquake the following month.
People literally walked away from jobs, houses, financial obligations and
relationships to follow the now 46-year-old, self-professed prophet, who grew
up in the farm community of Burlington and later left a marketing career to
speak out against the New Age movement and cult activity.
Eventually, he developed his own brand of Christianity. Miller had no formal
religious training and claimed his knowledge to be divinely inspired. He ran
Denver area Bible study groups, squeezed worried relatives of his followers
for money, showed a fascination with numerology and claimed that he spoke with
the voice of God - even asking one woman to pray for his investments.
Part of Miller's prophesy was that he would die on the streets of Jerusalem in
December 1999 and then be raised from the dead three days later. That
pronouncement ultimately fizzled, but it worried Israeli authorities - and
relatives of Miller's followers - as the millennium approached.
In January 1999, Israelis rounded up 14 members of the group who'd settled in
Jerusalem - Miller was not among them - and deported them to Denver. The group
dodged waiting family members at Denver International Airport, holed up in a
downtown hotel for more than three weeks, then left for Greece.
The following October, Israel turned back members of the group - again, no
Miller - who were trying to enter the country. Sixteen others were rounded up
last December by Greek authorities and sent back to the United States, where
they met only briefly with some family members who traveled to New York to
meet their plane.
But since then, the only news of what is now believed to be about 100
Concerned Christians has been a mixture of rumor, hearsay and occasional
e-mails as members of the group have been reported to be anywhere from south
New Jersey to Pittsburgh to Mexico to England to Greece.
"You'd think, with all the people looking for Kim Miller, somebody would have
come up with him by now," says David Cooper, whose brother remains with the
group. "But for all intents and purposes, nobody's found him. It appears Kim
is never really with this group. Every time they're captured or deported,
there's no Kim Miller."
As 2001 approached, relatives of the members of Concerned Christians wondered
whether Miller had altered his take on the apocalypse by simply altering the
calendar.
"I was hoping this would have been resolved in 1999, at the end of the year,"
says Sherry Clark, whose daughter and her family disappeared with the group.
"But on some calendars, this is the beginning. Kim Miller likes to change
things."
Clark recently returned from a trip to Israel, where hostilities have
escalated in recent months.
"If Kim Miller is, in fact, in Jerusalem, he could easily be killed, and very
noticeably so," Clark says, referring to the prophesy. "If he is there, that
could surely happen easier than it could a year ago."
The combination of whole family units within the group, and the fact that most
members are believed to be more or less isolated outside the United States,
could help Miller withstand any challenges to his unfulfilled prophesy,
Roggeman says.
"Usually, when things haven't happened, people start walking away," he says.
"I'd give a million dollars just to know how he corrected the false doctrine
he made. He had to do something."
Bill Honsberger, the Conservative Baptist missionary who has tracked the group
for years, hesitates to put himself in Miller's shoes and venture a guess at
how he might continue to hold sway over his followers. But he allows that the
millennium controversy could offer an explanation.
"How best to explain what didn't happen last year except to say it will happen
this year?" he says. "He has the benefit of blind trust, so he doesn't have to
rationally explain things. But if I were in his shoes, that would be something
to say. Even some secular Y2K fanat ics say the same thing." Although concerns
about the group have centered on the possibility of some kind of suicide pact
playing off Miller's prophesy, not all family members believe that threat is
real.
David Cooper, whose brother, John Cooper, is believed to be helping to finance
the group, says he has listened to Miller's audiotapes and studied his
doctrine. And while he allows that Miller's prophesy foretells a violent end
for the leader himself, Cooper doesn't necessarily see that as foreshadowing
death for the rest of the group.
"Initially, I was convinced he was a dangerous guy," says Cooper. "But from
ongoing e-mails with my brother, I was much less inclined to think so. It was
pretty clear that the prime objective there was not a suicidal end. It
might've been martyrdom for Kim Miller, but suicide and ending the cult in
that manner was not to be found anywhere in anything I read, and my brother
basically confirmed that, saying suicide is not a Christian virtue.
"For Kim Miller to live that prophesy, that's fine. I have some real questions
whether he has that type of commitment, but I don't know him. Maybe the guy is
just far enough down the road that, as far as he's concerned, whatever he has
to do to make that happen he will do. That's always a possibility." Thirteen
months ago, Cooper was briefly reunited with his brother, now 66, in New York
after some of the Concerned Christians were expelled from Greece. He realized
it might be their last meeting.
"I considered it my resolution," says Cooper. "I saw him one more time. I got
to talk to him for a minute, express my feelings for him. But in a way, I felt
this was what I had to do, put a certain level of closure on things. I think
about my brother, but realize I may never see him again alive." Norm Smith
traded e-mails with his adult son, Terry Smith, several times before the tone
of the responses simply became too harsh to bear. Still, Smith sent his son a
Christmas message a week before the holiday.
"I pray for them almost every day," Smith says. "I'd like to see him again,
but if I don't, I don't. He's in God's hands."
____________________________________________________________________
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========
To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@egroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Did Christ really write 2,000-year-old letter?
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 12:23:36 EST
Did Christ really write 2,000-year-old letter?=20
=20=20
http://www.manilatimes.net/2000/dec/31/weekend/20001231wek4.html=20
By Art C. Sampana=20
=20=20
=20=20=20
Your life, Martha, will be long and happy.=20
The end of the world will not come for 2,000 years, when men will find the
world a difficult place to live.=20
In these days of diseases, war and crime, my Father will be merciful and ta=
ke
His people up to heaven.=20
These words (on the "end of the world") belonged to Jesus Christ, according=
to
some scholars, who had excerpted these from the fragments of His supposedly
2,000-year-old letter that had been found reportedly in the mountains east =
of
Jerusalem.=20
Jesus Christ's letter-believed to have been written two or three days befor=
e
crucifixion-was addressed to Martha who, biblical experts believe, was the
sister of Lazarus to whose family Christ was very close and often stayed wi=
th
when He was in Bethany (He once raised Lazarus from the dead). The letter i=
s
considered by biblical scholars as: "An inspirational message for our troub=
led
times!"=20
It is considered as part of the hundreds of Hebrew and Aramaic scrolls
(sectarian compositions, apocryphal works, and biblical scrolls) that have
been discovered since 1947 near the Dead Sea in systematic archaeological
excavations. These scrolls were found in 11 caves at Qumran, "some in jars =
and
almost complete, but other materials were fragments, often very difficult t=
o
read," according to an Oxford book on the Bible, which also says the scroll=
s
are now kept in the Rockefeller and Israel Museums in Jerusalem, and only t=
he
"major ones" are shown to the public.=20
We learned about this Jesus' letter from some Bulacan-based religious leade=
rs
in a recent meeting held by the Samahang Katandaan, a Roman Catholic laity
that takes care of one of Bulacan's most popular chapels, the Santisima
Trinidad (Holy Trinity). This chapel is located in Barangay Barihan, Malolo=
s
town, to which thousands of devotees flock on Fridays, because this place o=
f
worship is regarded as "a House of Miracles."=20
Florentino Dayao and Jesus Valerio, the Samahang Katandaan president and vi=
ce
president, respectively, also showed us a photocopy of a part of the said
letter, plus a copy of a US-based widely circulated weekly periodical where=
an
article about this "holy letter" appeared. This periodical is well known fo=
r
its reports on biblical scrolls updates and on some "secrets" kept by the
Vatican.=20
The article said that, "Fourteen religious experts concluded that the said
missive was penned by Jesus Christ himself." But two-thirds of the letter's
text had already been destroyed and "even much of what remains is
indecipherable," the article also said. However, "there is enough of it tha=
t
exists to give us a sense of what it says."=20
Dayao and Valerio said that a devotee of the Santisima Trinidad furnished t=
hem
the photocopy along with the manuscript of a brief discourse on the Essenes
community of the "sons of light" at Qumran on the Dead Sea, who had gained
access to Jesus' letter.=20
A member of the group who found the letter gave the tattered scroll to
authorities. It had been stuffed into an ancient wooden chest made of cypre=
ss
and preserved there since the time of Christ.=20
A noted historian-archeologist, Dr. Yoel Abu-Zuluf, said: "We're incredibly
excited by this find! We felt certain it's authentic. The age of the paper =
is
consistent with the era of Jesus. It was found in the Mt. Olives area where=
He
spent lots of time during His final days. It's signed 'Christ Jesus, Son of
Man'-as He often referred to Himself. And, most revealing, His signature on
the letter matches the one on the temple rosters."=20
The "temple rosters" are two classic artifacts found on Mt. Olives 50 years
ago. In Jesus' time, men who spoke at local Hebrew temples always signed a
scroll as they entered.=20
Two of these rosters-signed by Jesus-were discovered in 1948 and are now be=
ing
held in the Harakevet Museum in Dimona, according to the information we hav=
e
gathered.=20
A Bible scholar, Rev. Hachman Mozes, was quoted as saying that: "I have no
doubt as to the letter's authenticity. Even if the handwriting wasn't such =
a
perfect match, I am convinced it's genuine because the tone, language, word
patterns, and content of the message are just like these of Christ as quote=
d
in the New Testament."=20
Following are two more translated excerpts from the said letter of Jesus
Christ:=20
On Non-Christians...=20
"As the end draws near, I'm concerned that people will use my teachings
to...(words illegible)... and separate themselves from non-believers. This =
is
not good.=20
Every one deserves love, even those who don't know about God.=20
How can we show people that God is loving if we, who claim to possess His
spirit, treat them harshly?"=20
On Human Qualities...=20
"No matter how talented a person is,=20
or how much money he makes,=20
or how attractive he is, what matters most=20
is our kindness to our neighbor=20
and our willingness to subject our will=20
to that of our Heavenly Father."=20
On Getting to Heaven...=20
"Heaven is a gift from my Father. No one has to be perfect.=20
All that matters is to love God and do our best to please Him.=20
If only people would realize heaven is here and now for those who honor Go=
d
and their fellow human beings."=A8=20
____________________________________________________________________
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========
To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@egroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Green Goddess (not the dressing)
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 13:00:47 EST
December 30, 2000
Outsider religion gains in Las Vegas
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2000/dec/30/511236601.html
By Stacy J. Willis
<willis@lasvegassun.com>
LAS VEGAS SUN
The witches are chanting: Green Goddess, Green Goddess, Green Goddess.
Two dozen of them, vying for space around a bonfire in the desert,
monotonously repeat one another's names: Crimson Tiger, Crimson Tiger, Crimson
Tiger. And then, "Mike, Mike, Mike."
Mike is wearing a fishing hat and jeans, has brought his wife and child and,
like most of the others, is smiling.
It is yule, the winter solstice, and they have come to this tiny temple 50
miles northwest of Las Vegas to welcome the birth of the sun god.
This spooky affair, it turns out, consists mainly of a black-robed,
61-year-old woman passing around a 2-foot yule log and asking each person to
share his or her gratitude and hopes for the new year, punctuated by the
phrase, "I am happy."
"I am thankful for my family, and I hope they stay healthy," says a little
girl, maybe 6 years old, bundled in a ski jacket and snow cap. "And I am
happy."
The group cheers. She blushes and hands the log to the next pagan. Each person
follows suit with warm wishes for family and friends, a few hope for "an end
to corporate dominance" or "a new worldwide awakening to the pagan ways."
After the ceremony, they mosey across the desert to a second bonfire, this one
warming pots of bean soup and herbal tea. Here the conversation will range
from vacation plans to a deep dissatisfaction with Judeo-Christian
experiences, from gluten-free cookie recipes to the ills of patriarchy, until
late in the night.
Although some religious scholars have dubbed paganism "the fastest growing
religion in the nation," reliable numbers of pagans in the United States -- or
in Las Vegas -- are difficult to assess as pagans are a loosely knit group.
Some estimates put the U.S. pagan population at 500,000; local pagans estimate
that there are about 3,000 in the Las Vegas area.
What makes the task of characterizing paganism's place in today's culture that
much harder is that few agree on exactly what paganism, or neo-paganism, or
"the Craft," actually encompasses.
Apparently it's many things: It's different things to different people, and
appealing specifically because it is different from mainstream Judeo-Christian
religions, from churchy traditions and from the status quo.
Generally "paganism" is accepted as an umbrella term for Wiccans, Shamans,
Druids and an assortment of others whose spiritual beliefs are polytheistic
and nature-oriented, or in some way focus on "magick" (spelled with a "k" to
distinguish the belief in using the "universe's energy" for spiritual purposes
from the magical illusions performed by entertainers.)
Like the paganism dating from ancient times, it incorporates a mix of gods,
goddesses and superstition. But today's paganism draws from a larger selection
of spiritual traditions from various continents and eras, combined with the
modern-day politics of gender equity and environmentalism.
The Sekhmet Temple in Cactus Springs -- where the yule ceremony was performed
-- houses dozens of icons, from a sculpture of Greek goddess Athena to
Egyptian goddess Isis to an American Indian mother to the "Venus of
Willendorf."
Instead of being promulgated through weekly church services, paganism is
mainly distributed through metaphysical bookstores and the Internet.
"My personal belief is ... I see God as one being, which is multifaceted. Each
facet is a different god or goddess," witch Julie Weiner, aka Snowden, said.
"Then there is the belief in spirits and energy. The energy in rocks, trees,
plants, flowers and animals tends to take on a personality ... This is one of
the biggest touchstones of the pagan religion. It is a matter of loving the
spirit ... inside of everything and everyone."
Pagan Jim Jacobson, 22, a United Parcel Service technical-support employee,
has similar beliefs and practices his faith in the privacy of his home.
Disconnected
"Las Vegas has a really strong pagan community, but we're disconnected,"
Jacobson said. "You kind of have to check things out and see where you fit in.
Just like in Christianity, some people are wackos, and some are sincere in
their beliefs." Best known among the pagan population today are Wiccans, who
get their name from a 1952 book "Witchcraft Today" written by Freemason Gerald
Gardner. Wicce is an Anglo-Saxon word for witch, and a witch is defined as
someone who "seeks to control the forces within him- or herself that make life
possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in
harmony with nature," according to the Wiccan Religious Cooperative of
Florida, a nonprofit organization founded in 1992.
Gardner set up eight holy days for Wiccans -- roughly based on old pagan
solstices. He also incorporated some Freemason traditions and personal
spiritual preferences.
Contrary to popular belief, Wiccans say they do not cast "evil" spells -- in
fact, the main tenets of Wicca are "do what ye will and harm none," and the
belief that one's actions -- good or bad -- will come back three-fold.
Since the publication of "Witchcraft Today," subsets of Wiccans have emerged
-- gay and feminist and a host of other disenfranchised groups whose social
position has ebbed and flowed on the outside of mainstream culture since the
1950s.
Sitting in a comfortable chair in the corner of her Cactus Springs trailer,
Patricia Pearlman lights a cigar and explains that she has always known she
was a witch.
"My family was always very superstitious," she says, puffing a little cloud of
smoke into the den. "We went to church, but we were very well-versed in the
Old Ways, too."
Pearlman has all of the props of witchcraft in her home: a broom by the door
and a black cat that brushes up against visitors' legs. And she keeps a
trailer in back of her own for anyone who needs a place to "take a break from
everything."
"(Paganism) does appeal to a diverse group," Pearlman said. At the yule
ceremony, participants ranged from a homeless man and a woman who lives in a
school bus to a corporate banker and a suburban homemaker.
Pearlman's story is an example of the eclecticism found among today's pagans
-- her life is steeped in old witchcraft traditions but rich with modern
influences, from feminism to anti-establishment, anti-nuclear activism to an
affiliation with the American Indian community.
Pearlman is a retired sex therapist from New Jersey.
She moved to Cactus Springs to take care of the Sekhmet temple, which was
built in 1993 by a group of activist women called CHAOS -- Cooking Housing and
Other Stuff -- and named after the creator goddess Sekhmet. The temple was
built on 22 acres purchased by anti-nuclear activist Genevieve Vaughan, who
had been protesting at the Nevada Test Site. When it became apparent that the
temple would only require 2 acres, she gave the other 20 to the local Shoshone
tribe.
Pearlman and her boyfriend live on the land and care for the temple, one of
few open temples in the secluded pagan community.
"We welcome everybody to the temple. Some groups are very theatrical, they
have robes and accoutrements, and some are more practical. It's just like
Christianity's denominations. The Catholics have their robes and the holy
water, other churches don't.
"But we all believe in the 'power within,' rather than the patriarchal
religions' belief in the 'power over.' And we believe in going with nature,
not against it.
"Here you don't have to pay anybody. There are no middlemen. If you want
something from the goddess, go ask her. More experienced people will help you
if you need help, but it is really between you and the goddess.
"There is no devil worshipping here. We are tapping into the energy of the
universe," Pearlman said. "And we are having fun."
Misconceptions
Paganism has suffered some bad press, according to those gathered around the
yule bonfire.
"The main misconception about it is that people think we worship Satan and
sacrifice animals, which we do not," said Jacobson, who is a former
Pentecostal Christian and has been a practicing pagan for six years. "My
mother is convinced I'm going to hell. But it's a harmless religion."
In fact, most pagans see themselves as members of a class of historically
persecuted spiritualists. They readily offer up stories of pagans being not
only eschewed by Christians but executed in centuries past, driving followers
underground to worship in secret groups called covens.
Las Vegas pagan Kalynda Tilges' 8-year-old son wears a pentagram pendant to
school, but has learned to hide it under his shirt because other kids called
him a "devil worshipper," she said.
"It bothers him because he doesn't even understand the concept of devil
worshipping. That is a construct of the Christian Church, not paganism,"
Tilges said.
The pentagram is a general symbol of witchcraft and symbolizes humankind
reaching toward the environment. It is worn for protection or luck.
Today's pagans believe that Christianity is largely responsible for slandering
pagan beliefs and co-opting some of the ancient pagan rituals to eliminate
pagan proliferation.
"Christians said that paganism is about Satanism to scare people away from
pagan beliefs," Jacobson said. Paganism and Christianity have common elements
from the use of chalices, candles and poetry, to similar iconography. For
example, images of Catholicism's Virgin Mary and baby Jesus are remarkably
similar to earlier Egyptian iconography of the goddess Isis nursing her
offspring. "I know some very dedicated Christians whom I have a lot of respect
for," Jacobson said. "But the thing that turned me off the church was the pure
bigotry -- the idea that there is one idea that is right and everybody else is
wrong.
"Paganism doesn't judge, and it doesn't discount anything," he said.
Pop culture
For all the misconceptions and ostracism, pieces of paganism seem rather
ubiquitous in 21st-century popular culture. From "Harry Potter," the juvenile
witch in a series of British children's books, to TV's "Sabrina, the Teen-age
Witch"; from evergreen fantasy games such as "Dungeons and Dragons" to movies
such as "The Craft," pagan rituals have found a market as an entertainment
commodity if not a respected religion.
While schools in Kansas and Colorado have banned "Harry Potter" books because
of parents' fears of witchcraft, Hollywood is busy making a movie based on the
series. In England, the Pagan Federation last year appointed a youth
administrator to deal with the flood of "Harry Potter"-inspired inquiries.
According to the federation, there are more than 10,000 initiated witches and
100,000 pagans in England. In contrast, there are only about 4,000 Buddhists
in England.
But many practicing pagans would like to see their beliefs respected by
someone other than marketers. In the 1990s some pagan groups began trying to
organize more formally, take censuses and participate in multifaith events.
In 1999 the president of a pagan organization called Covenant of the Goddess
wrote a letter to the Parliament of World Religions saying, "The Wiccan
community has continued to mature and stabilize. As we accrue a body of elders
who have practiced our faith all of their adult lives, and we also see our
children who have been raised within our faith now stepping up into leadership
positions, there has been a broadening and deepening of the very structure of
our religion itself."
And some strides toward acceptance have been made. For example, Wiccan
services have been held on more than a dozen U.S. military bases, and U.S.
military chaplains have been given guidelines to assist the Wiccans among
their troops.
"It's still something some people feel they have to be discreet about,"
Pearlman said. "But it is surviving. It has always survived."
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Subject: [bprlist] Western world must repent of "unchristian" support of Zionists
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 13:01:32 EST
Western world must repent of "unchristian" support of Zionists
thr 029
http://www.irna.com/newshtm/eng/12142821.htm
Press-New Year-2001 /NSR/
Western world must repent of "unchristian" support of Zionists:
Tehran, Jan 1, IRNA
-- `Kayhan International' in its viewpoint column
on Monday hoped that the Western world would do some real
soul-searching this new year and earnestly repent of its "unchristian"
support for the illegitmate state of Israel and its crimes agianst
humanity.
The English-language paper was vehemently criticizing the
Christian world for indulging in all sorts of "revelries" on this New
Year's day without giving a slightest thought to what is going on
in the holy land of Palestine, which is also believed to be the
birthplace of Jesus (AS).
The very manner in which Christians celebrate their new year,
i.e., "committing the oldest vices in the newest form and style and
without any inhibitions," sums up the tragedy of the Western society,
hit out the paper describing the society as one which is steeped in
"drugs, promiscuity, AIDS, violence and support for the oppressors."
In view of this, as well as the fact that the world Christian
community is "far removed from the values which Jesus (AS) preached
and for which he was mercilessly persecuted by the Isreaelites two
millenniums ago," it is anybody's guess whether Prophet Jesus (AS)
is really pleased with those who claim to be his followers.
It is because Jesus (AS) never ever preached what the Western
world practices so religiously today in the fields of politics,
economy, culture or environment, believed the daily.
Each calendar year adds on to new woes to the oppressed and
deprived nations of the world, further tightening of trade and
economic tentacles against them, greater depravity of morals as well
as further destruction of the world's fragile ecology, it lamented.
However, it goes without saying that the Messiah did not at all
spread this kind of message, believed the paper.
If Jesus had indeed preached violence, oppression and moral
corruption, then the Zionists would have honored and idolized him
instead of having him handed over to the paegen Romans, blasted
the paper.
In light of these facts, there appears to be no cause for any
"true christian" to rejoice on the new Gregorian year or any other
day of 2001, as long as Judas holds court in Palestine, and as long
as the Zionists continue to massacre the very countrymen of Prophet
Jesus (AS) in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Qods and other towns and cities,"
berated the paper in conclusion.
FH/RR
End
::irna 02/01/2001 14:28
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Subject: [bprlist] Faith healers' success in Holland
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 13:02:53 EST
29/12/2000 09:42 - (SA)
Faith healers' success in Holland
http://news.24.com/News24/World/Europe/0,1113,2-10-19_959546,00.html
Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands - The blue-robed faith healer spread her arms
over the operating tables and told the patients that white phantoms using
invisible surgical equipment were healing them.
"Do you feel them? Do you feel those hands at work inside you?" she asked the
dozen patients on stage in this southern Dutch town as TV cameras rolled and
an audience looked on.
The 52-year-old former ballet dancer, who goes by the name of Jomanda, is one
of a host of healers, New Age and other, who are using radio and television
and making inroads into Holland's deeply Calvinist society.
While church affiliation has plummeted to a record low of 25 percent, a recent
study by the state-supported Social Cultural Planning Bureau found that belief
in the supernatural has grown, especially among the young. It said more than
half of respondents born after 1960 believe in miracles, an afterlife and
heaven and hell.
Although faith healers are nothing new to Europe, the decline of mainstream
religions and the rise of deregulated, commercial broadcasting have made
Holland fertile ground for people like Jomanda.
Wouter Hanegraaff, a lecturer at Amsterdam's Protestant-based Free University,
says the establishment Roman Catholic and Reformed Protestant churches are
losing adherents because they "are focusing too much on doctrine and
politically correct beliefs".
"People react much more strongly to symbols and rituals, if these provide a
context which gives a deeper meaning to what may seem meaningless in human
life, such as suffering and illness," he said in an interview.
Jomanda uses traditional Christian symbolism to strong effect.
She strikes a crucifixion pose, wearing attire designed to evoke the Virgin
Mary. Believers line up for blessings and a splash of blessed water.
Her most famous symbol is "beamed water" - tap water to which she ostensibly
imparts healing properties. She claims people can get its benefits simply by
staying home and placing a glass of water in front of a television or radio
during her programme.
"People tell me I am filling a gap left open by the churches," Jomanda said in
an interview in her dressing room before the show. "It's true in part. People
need a place where they can accept and be comfortable with themselves."
Born Johanna Damman into a Roman Catholic family, she says she discovered her
powers when she was in her 30s and her dancing career had failed. A fellow
ballerina injured her back but was able to dance again after Jomanda touched
the injured place, she says.
Peter van Zoest, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference, said
the churches see Jomanda less as a threat than as a challenge to renew their
own message.
"She uses the churches' symbols. They may not like it, but she's not really
offending anyone," he said.
Van Zoest noted that mainstream Dutch churches are incorporating elements of
alternative spirituality, such as Eastern meditation techniques and flower
rituals, into their own worship.
Gerrit LeRoy, a Belgian electrical technician who was paralysed in a 1987 car
accident, says Jomanda turned his life around. Even though his condition has
barely changed since he started coming to her sessions in a wheelchair nine
years ago, he has learned to live with his handicap.
"I'm more relaxed," he said in an interview. "Gradually I've learned to accept
my physical reality and be satisfied with what I have."
Ewald Vervaet, a well known psychologist, says he investigated 40 purported
cases of cured illnesses and could verify none.
Still, devotees keep coming by the thousands to Jomanda's shows, at $6 a head.
Although she didn't solicit contributions during a recent show, brochures at
the door advertised a "sun, sea and healing" package vacation with Jomanda to
the Caribbean island of Curacao.
Sociologist Jos Becker thinks Jomanda's fans turn to her because they find
modern medicine too impersonal.
"With Jomanda, you get personal attention," he said. "Your emotions are
addressed. You are listened to."
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Subject: [bprlist] Why a B.C. academic believes in the Virgin birth
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 13:03:54 EST
Why a B.C. academic believes in the Virgin birth
http://www.vancouversun.com/newsite/news/001223/5067649.html
Douglas Todd Vancouver Sun
Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun / Professor Phillip Wiebe, whose belief in the
Virgin birth of Jesus was reinforced by his academic studies of the Shroud of
Turin
Trinity Western University Professor Phillip Wiebe considers himself a
Doubting Thomas.
Like the famous New Testament apostle, he refuses to believe Jesus Christ is
divine unless he can prove it.
That's why Wiebe has spent the past 20 years studying everything to do with
the mysterious Shroud of Turin, which many believe is the bona fide burial
cloth of Jesus.
But the philosophy professor at the Christian university in Langley had an
experience this year with the shroud that not only convinced him Jesus was
actually resurrected, but that the Virgin birth of Jesus -- which Christians
celebrate at Christmas -- was for real.
The findings of Wiebe, who has become an internationally recognized expert on
the shroud, will be detailed in a scholarly book he is working on for
prestigious Oxford University Press, titled God and Other Spirits: Intimations
of Transcendence in Christian Faith.
Wiebe describes himself as a skeptical Anglican. That's why he was stunned by
the feelings that overwhelmed him when, after decades of studying the shroud
and other paranormal Christian phenomenon, he actually viewed the original
four-metre cloth this year in Italy.
"I saw this thing, and I thought: Holy smokes! The resurrection is real. I was
shocked at the confidence I felt. It made me realize I had had doubts about
the resurrection," Wiebe said Friday.
"And then I thought: If Jesus had such a strange ending to his life, maybe he
had a remarkable beginning? Suddenly the difficulty of accepting the Virgin
birth was overcome for me."
Wiebe employs a different methodology for studying the Shroud of Turin, and
the Virgin birth, than most researchers.
His approach grows out of the doubts he felt about Christianity as a young man
after growing up in a Mennonite household in Manitoba, where he was pressured
to blindly believe in Jesus' resurrection and miraculous birth by a Virgin
mother, Mary.
Wiebe went on to earn a secular PhD from Australia's University of Adelaide,
where he specialized in the arcane philosophy of confirming evidence. He
became an epistemologist, one who studies the theory of knowledge and its
validation.
He began devoting his career to probing claims of Christian miracles. Along
the way, he wrote a respected 1997 academic book on everyday people, including
British Columbians, who have had visions of Jesus.
Although some claim the Shroud of Turin, which bears the image of a man
showing signs of crucifixion, is an elaborate hoax, Wiebe has concluded from
his encyclopedic study of all the scientific tests of the shroud that it is
physical evidence of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
"I really try to be honest about it. It's absurd to take Christianity's
historical claims on faith. That's crazy. I often say to my students, 'If
Christian claims aren't true, I want to be the first to know,' " Wiebe said.
"Everything I ask about the shroud, and the Virgin birth for that matter, is
very arduous. I've found no one piece of evidence to do with the shroud is
decisive. But the cumulative effect is impressive. That is what turned my
skepticism around."
Even though the shroud had been venerated by Catholics as the burial cloth of
Christ since at least 1357, the Vatican officially says only that it's an
important relic. Intrigue about the shroud has grown even more intense in the
past century because the human image on the cloth was not fully revealed until
1898, when a photographer, in a darkroom, found that a negative revealed the
thin face of a man with long hair, a mustache and a beard.
Since then, more than 30 different types of scientific analysis have been done
on the shroud -- by everyone from chemists to forensic pathologists, botanists
to anthropologists.
Wiebe has thoroughly catalogued and compared all of them, presenting his
findings this year at key shroud conferences around the globe. Since Wiebe has
come to accept the shroud is almost surely authentic, he counts himself among
those scholars who have serious questions about the validity of the 1988
carbon-dating tests that suggested it was created in the medieval era, not
2,000 years ago.
"I think the shroud is evidence of someone who disappeared and was brought
back to life," Wiebe said.
"And if it's the case that Jesus disappeared in a cloud of subatomic
particles, then he had a very strange ending that no one else in history had.
That means Jesus really is God, or the manifestation of God. And such evidence
of the resurrection for me sheds light on the Virgin birth."
Is Wiebe, after he's finished with the shroud, going to turn his formidable
research and epistemological skills to proving the authenticity of the virgin
birth?
"I don't know if I'd have anything new to add," he said with a laugh. "The
Virgin birth is a much more difficult claim to study, because it's all
anecdotal."
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To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Saddam 'may be dead' - Egyptian Intelligence
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 13:47:15 -0500
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 11:56:05 -0500
From: hblondel
Subject: Saddam 'may be dead' - Egyptian Intelligence
January 3rd 2001
http://www1.sky.com/news/world/story7.htm
SADDAM 'MAY BE DEAD' - EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE=20
Saddam Hussein has had a major stroke and may even be dead, according
to Egyptian security sources.=20
The Iraqi dictator has not been seen since a New Year=92s Day parade
when he was shown on Iraqi TV firing his gun into the air. Reports say
he was taking the salute from his military when he collapsed.=20
Sky News sources in Baghdad say that while all is quiet on the streets
of the Iraqi capital there has been increased troop movement around
Saddam=92s presidential palace.=20
Showing off
The military parade on Sunday was the biggest since the Gulf War and
was a chance to show off sophisticated surface-to-surface,
anti-aircraft missiles plus over 1,000 modern Russian-made tanks.=20
None of the missiles violate UN arms control restrictions imposed
after the Gulf War when Iraq invaded neighbouring Kuwait.=20
Saddam has survived more than a decade of UN sanctions against Iraq
for the invasion, but the country=92s infrastructure has been severely
damaged.=20
Death
The Iraqi government claims that more than 10,000 people, most of them
children, have died as a result of sanctions.=20
The UN does allow the sale of some of Iraq=92s oil in exchange for
medicine and food, but Saddam has been accused of spending the cash
earned from oil on building presidential palaces and rebuilding his
war machine.=20
Successor
If reports of Saddam=92s demise are true his likely successor is his
eldest son Uday who survived an assassination attempt four years ago.=20
Uday is known to be as ruthless as his father. He was wheelchair-bound
for years after the attempt on his life but has gradually been given
more and more control of key government institutions by Saddam.=20
Opposition=20
There are several opposition groups in exile who say they would be
prepared to go back and take control of the country. But the various
factions are not thought to be unified enough to govern and analysts
have warned of civil war in the country without a strong leader at the
helm.=20
The United States has invested a large sum of money in the Iraqi
opposition to help it remove Saddam from power.
------- End of forwarded message -------
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To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@egroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] A Soviet song to the glory of God
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 3 Jan 01 17:20:56 America/New_York
Commentary: A Soviet song to the glory of God
UPI, Tue 2 Jan 2001
http://www.worldnews.com/?action=display&article=5095013&template=worldnews/search.txt&index=recent
NETTO, UPI religion correspondent WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- All comparisons
hobble, says a German proverb. With that caveat, let's try a limping analogy.
Imagine a former Gestapo officer had been elected Chancellor of West Germany
in 1949. Imagine he had revived the tune, though not the lyrics, of the "Horst
Wessel Lied," National Socialism's belligerent hymn. Imagine he had slipped in
the name of God and made it the national anthem. The entire world would have
been in an uproar. Yet something similar has just happened in Russia. The
president, Vladimir V. Putin, is a former KGB lieutenant-colonel. With the
stroke of a pen, he turned the old Soviet anthem into a new Russian one --
albeit with new lyrics. The second stanza ends with the words, "Native land
protected by God." These are strange words to a tune that until recently
glorified the first state whose ideological objective was the elimination of
religion. In the 1920s and 1930s it had virtually all of the Russian Orthodox
clergy and many of its believers shot or exiled to gulags. Before the 1917
Russian revolution there were more than 50,000 churches; of these all but 500
were destroyed or closed by the Soviets between 1917 and 1939. The Soviet
regime mad