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LifeSiteNews.com – Thursday February 4, 2010
Air Force Academy Cross Over Incident at Pagan Circle
By Peter J. Smith
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has established a pagan circle in the woods on its campus with plans to dedicate it officially in March. However, the site has generated new controversy as Air Force staffers have revealed that a large wooden cross was found at the site, with some calling the placement of the cross a “hate crime.” The population of self-styled pagans is a tiny percentage of the Academy’s 4,000 cadets. Tech. Sgt. Brandon Longcrier told the Associated Press that he has eight to ten cadets that regularly attend their weekly Monday meetings, of which six or seven he describes as devout pagans. An additional 15 – 20 cadets he described as interested. Although neo-pagans claim to have a connection to the old pagan religions that once dominated Europe before the rise of Christianity, their revival did not begin until the Twentieth Century, especially in the post-World War II era. Wicca – the religion of modern witchcraft – took off in England in the 1950s following the repeal of witchcraft laws, before spreading to other parts of the English-speaking world. Neo-Druid organizations also began appearing at the same-time as the cultural upheavals of the sexual revolution were taking place in the Western world. The Air Force Academy has defended its policy to make a place for witchcraft on its campus as an expression of its commitment to cadet’s freedom of religion. However, critics have replied that the move represents a further rejection of the United States’ Judeo-Christian heritage, and makes little sense given that the numbers of actual neo-pagans at the Academy is miniscule compared to other followers of non-Christian faiths, such as Islam.
But the fact that a large wooden cross was placed anonymously at the neo-pagan circle several weeks ago has provoked an uproar at the Academy. The pagan site features two concentric circles of large stones that were installed on a wooded hill within the campus. The circle has a tentative dedication date of March 10. Air Force Academy officials – who do not yet know who placed the Christian symbol at the pagan site – have condemned the act, and are investigating the matter as a “hate crime.” “I consider this no different than someone writing graffiti on the Cadet Chapel,” said Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould in a prepared statement. Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and a 1977 Academy graduate, broke the story, saying one of his clients found the cross made of railroad ties at the site. He compared the presence of the cross at the pagan circle as the equivalent of a swastika in a Jewish center.
But Catholic League President Bill Donahue decried the reaction from Academy officials as “boilerplate” and stated that they were going way too far by treating the incident as “hate speech.” Donahue stated that if he found another religious symbol placed at a Catholic site, he would complain. However, Gould’s comparison of a “cross at a pagan site as the equivalent of graffiti on a church” struck him as offensive, since the Academy superintendent saw “no difference between neutering a religious symbol and defacing religious property.” “This is more than overkill — it is grossly insulting to Catholics and Protestants,” said the Catholic civil rights leader. Instead of Wiccans and other neo-pagans experiencing persecution at the Academy, Donahue said that a 2005 Academy report revealed that Catholics and Protestants instead had reported experiencing religious intolerance. “These remarks have added to the chilling atmosphere that Catholics and Protestants must endure,” said Donahue. He added that he was going to take the matter to the members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, just as he had done in 2005. “We need to know why hypersensitivity to non-Christians has evolved into insensitivity to Christians.”
Public date: February 5th, 2010Categories: News
Tags: air force, Bill Donahue, Christian persecution, Colorado, Satanism, Wicca
February 5, 2010
What gets me is this — a Pagan site was defaced with a Christian symbol, and the Catholic League is saying that Christians are the victims here? What part of that makes any sense whatsoever?
February 5, 2010
the “christians” aren’t the victims: the “christians” are the majority, imposing their beliefs on people who only want to be left alone and worship their Gods in peace. the “christians” are the terrorists, in this case, and this hate crime should be punished with the full extent of the law which provides for freedom of ALL religions, regardless of how tiny or “satanic” they might seem to people who refuse to understand.
February 6, 2010
The placement of the cross hardly “defaced” anything, you are grasping at straws. It is attitudes like yours, Phoenix Blue, which allows religious freedoms, providing your religion isn’t Christian. People like you call good evil and evil good and all the while thinking you make sense. Pretty much everything goes in your world doesn’t it? except that which made it such a great society, Christianity. Just another example of the intolerant bigotry of the far left liars.
February 6, 2010
Whether accepted by we Christians or not; paganism is a recognized religion in U.S. military and has been for sometime. The shear numbers of individuals involved in it’s practices have given it status and recognition. I know that during the late 80′ and early 90’s there was a surge. In my area many teenagers committed suicide related to satanic covens. I have heard of some U.S. bases which have covens, but do not know if this is true. Rev G.S. Deluxe is more of a geek, clown from Washington, who probably doesn’t worship anything more than having some funizism. But when some Christians come off like (Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Swaggart) clowns it certainly does not make the secular think highly of the faith community.
February 7, 2010
Rob, how does the insulting of “(Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Swaggart)” help to “make the secular think highly of the faith community?” One of the secular complaints about us is we shot our own wounded. Oh you don’t like some aspects of what they preach, well neither do I. Does that make them open targets for the firing range? Why do you find it necessary to belittle persons who are also preaching the gospel? You quoted correctly (I believe) regarding the “touch not” bible verse on another post, yet you continue to attack persons who also believe as you do. I suspect their foundational beliefs are exactly what yours are and the differences are things which do not effect salvation. If salvation was contingent on perfect interpretation of the scriptures, then I suspect Glory would be a lonely place. God is merciful to us; should we not also be merciful to others, including those of the household of faith, regardless of interpretational differences? In Mark 9 Jesus tells his disciples not to oppose persons who are not against Him. “38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he follows not us: and we forbade him, because he follows not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
I suspect they (Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Swaggart) would give you a drink of water, in Jesus name, Rob, would you give them one? Your vitriol against them seems to indicate you would not.
February 7, 2010
Ian I do not need to apologize for my comments about individuals who high-light stupidity, adultery, material gain and do great injustice to the cause of Christ. If we are to be light and salt in a lost hurting world we need to call sin, sin. And, judgment starts in the house of faith first. If we are unwilling to recognize sin in those that are machiavellian and masquerade as shepherds, we are domed. And, sir you are duped. It is unfortunate that those who call Christ Saviour are confused as to who is following Him.
February 7, 2010
“And, many shall come in that day, and say: Lord, Lord, did we not cast out demons, heal the sick in your name. And, He shall say, get away from me, I never knew you!” God’s word does not return void, but individuals misuse their position(s) and in this case some of these supposed religious types will be on their way to hell, because they had a form of Godliness but denied Jesus Christ. It does indeed say “many”.
February 7, 2010
Our job is to point the way to Jesus Christ and to encourage individuals to cease from the sin that so easily besets us, not to make excuses for those who have been poor ensamples. The defense of these individuals from Christians is much akin to Muslims backing Jihad, not much intellectualism there. And, neither is there in your feeble argumentation.
February 8, 2010
Rob, the bible says we will know them by their fruits, in Matthew 7:20. You do realize, of course, the bible doesn’t say, we will recognize each other by perfection, don’t you? If it did, I think Joseph would stand all alone, because all the rest of the great people examples in the bible have failed and failed miserably at times, but the God I serve is merciful to His children. (I know Joseph was not likely perfect, but the bible doesn’t record any of his errors) I suspect those examples of the failures among the bible greats are recorded for our benefit, for at least two reasons. 1: So we would not condemn other believers who have failed and 2: so we can also try to forgive ourselves when it is we who fail. Should we look at King David, or Moses, or in the New Testament, Peter who denied even knowing Jesus and the rest of the disciples who all ran away when Jesus was taken. Consider Romans 7:19-20 “For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Rob, Paul struggled with doing that which was wrong and not always doing that which he knew to be right, but if I was to take you at face value it would seem you do not have the same struggles and therefore are justified in condemning those who do. I am fairly certain that is not the message you intended.
You say these men you mentioned have denied Jesus and therefore are going to hell. Do you have proof? The bible records Peter as having denied Him, so do you have the same opinion of Peter, that he will go to hell, or already did? We ARE to judge right and wrong, absolutely, for sure, and that being the reason we come to this No Apologies. We have no need of apologizing for standing up for what is good and holy and proper. Does your castigation of these men (who I believe have repented from their sins) fall under what is good and holy and proper? God’s infallible word says in Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged.” Your judgments, thus far, appear to be very harsh and without mercy, Rob. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Are you not also in that group of those who have fallen short of the glory of God? If yes maybe you could reserve yourself to say sin is sin, but refrain from judging that, which is God’s judgment; the heart.
You said “The defense of these individuals from Christians is much akin to Muslims backing Jihad, not much intellectualism there. And, neither is there in your feeble argumentation.” Now Rob, why do you really feel it necessary to resort to insults? I wonder if you feel your response proper according to any measure of civility and especially Christianity, which of course is where true civility comes from?
February 8, 2010
Ian your hermemeutics on Paul are questionable, as is comparing these with him. Paul recognized his flesh and the struggle to live in it and live for Christ. He also recognized his position in The Body of Christ as an Apostle, the commission, and chose Christ. If an individual takes his office lightly, chooses wrong publicly, serves sin rather than God, and attempts to manipulate with tears. Indeed, I question his fitness, his integrity and his servitude to both man and God. Bad fruit does not come from a good tree, neither does good fruit come from a bad tree. We must be fruit inspectors Ian, if you want to claim these men are servants of The Most High, go ahead, I call’em the way I see’em!
February 8, 2010
The heart of a man is known by his behaviours, that is how we judge character. Swaggart laid with prostitutes and committed adultery, Bakker embezzled money, lied and cheated on his wife, Benny Hinn lives lavishly, lies and cons widows, Peter Popoff has been successfully prosecuted for tax evasion, electronic fraud and served time in prison. “If one reads the word of God and does not do it, he is like one that looks at himself in the mirror and leaving forgets what he looks like.”
February 9, 2010
Rob, regarding your rant on how I missed the message about Paul. No I didn’t, you did. Paul was not perfect and that scripture proves it. To my knowledge there is no evidence to say he was anything but a rock solid follower the Christ; but not perfect. The comparison of those men you so much dislike with Paul, was to try and get you to think. Are they not at least comparable to King David or Peter? Since none is perfect, at what point do we dismiss them as anathema?
I am not attempting to defend Benny Hinn’s life style or failures, nor would I. I am not trying to defend Swaggart’s failures, and again, nor would I. Did someone leave the door open, because Bakker and Popoff slipped in here when we wasn’t lookin?
You seem to have drawn a line in the sand to determine when someone becomes anathema and I think your line is placed differently than the biblical line. To repent one must, not only ask God for forgiveness, but turn from the path of sin and proceed in a different direction. I have to assume you too agree with that. So in simpler terms, if I was a bandit and God brought conviction to my heart and I prayed and asked forgiveness, but did nothing to change my ways, that would not be repentance. As far as I know the men you dislike, have turned from the areas which brought them scorn. Their actions, we must judge with righteous judgment, but their hearts, only God knows, unless they have publicly cursed God and thereby proven they do not love the Father. Being weak only proves one to be weak, it doesn’t prove they do not love God.
The message I get from your posts is that we Christians ought not be a bunch pansies. I couldn’t agree more and I suspect you think I am just playing pansy Christianity by defending these men. You couldn’t be more wrong.
“We must be fruit inspectors Ian, if you want to claim these men are servants of The Most High, go ahead, I call’em the way I see’em!” So by this, and “Bad fruit does not come from a good tree, neither does good fruit come from a bad tree.” you are claiming that none of the persons brought to Christ and discipled by any of these men are actually Christians? Or are you saying nobody ever came to Christ through them? If you were to meet one, would you change your mind? God’s word will not return unto Him void, as you properly pointed out.
Rob, all I see is men who appear to be serving the Most High. I do not see God haters. I do see and expect to see fallible persons who, are as yet, not perfected. I wish all of us Christians never failed in any way. If there is such a Christian I’d love to meet them.
From you, I perceive a heart not so malleable as I believe a Christian should be. You seem bitter and judgmental and the love of God seems to be non existent, which according to the way you judge, it means you are not a Christian, you are not a servant of The Most High. I don’t think this is truly an indication you are not a Christian, any more than I believe these men are not Christians because they’ve done wrong. All it shows is you seem very harsh, and like all of us, still in need of growing closer to God the Father, through Jesus Christ His Son.
February 9, 2010
I have no idea whether these have turned, repented or are following Jesus today. I hope they are, in quietness. The message of salvation is to all those still breathing. Where I am upset and frustrated is the scar, prohibition and impact these have had on the lost and the secular. I am not claiming perfection, nor being better than these, only that one should very much consider their calling to such positions, before doing damage and hurt to the cause of Christ and wounding those about us.