The ELS college
at Mankato present both creationism and evolution, but only prefers creationism.
Also, a couple LCMS Concordia Colleges have the same view. Moreover, Issues Etc
has Riddlebarger and other Reformed professors on their show a lot, and they
believe in theistic evolution, just like their main seminary
does.
No,
what is a bit more bothersome to me is how Dowd says he was convinced of
evolution by conservative Christians who believed Darwinian evolution is
compatible with the Christian faith because, as they said, "all truth is God's
truth." Sadly, I hear this sort of muddled apologetic coming from Greg Koukl,
whom I happen to like, Kim Riddlebarger and Ken Samples, and of course Hugh
Ross.
It looks like the money for recently completed Honsey Hall at Bethany in Mankato must have come 100% from their endowment fund. It was begun in 2008 and completed by Fall 2010, but between 2008 and 2009, Bethany's endowment fund dropped in value by $17 million, the exact cost of the new building:
1 Jacksonville University $23,268,585 -59.7%
2 Southern Connecticut State University Foundation $7,050,102 -42.8%
3 Bethany Lutheran College $28,729,702 -37.6%
------------
The $17,305,000 drop in Bethany's endowment fund from 2008-2009:
I leave the comments fairly open because people need a place where they can discuss issues safety, without someone retaliating against them. That also helps people across the synods see that they are not alone in experiencing the horrors of apostasy.
I do not mind people taking whacks at me because they hate Luther's doctrine. That just makes the blog more interesting.
But I loathe people who use their anonymous freedom to launch personal attacks against others. Eventually everyone will find out who the writers are. If not, God knows.
Notice how muted the fake Icha-blogger is, now that everyone knows he is WELS Pastor Tim Glende, another Church and Changer. It is one thing to lob anonymous stink bombs behind the scenes, as he loves to do. It is quite another to have someone attach a name to the stink bombs.
Poor Tim thinks he has to watch my blog. That is his only job. Like ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster, he has the same nasty message every two months.
Look over the fake Icha-blog and see how funny it really is, especially coming from a known bully and Groeschel addict, as shown by a carefully written letter from a lawyer. I have linked Glende's blog so everyone can see how seldom he writes. He should have lots of time since he has a free sermon-writing service, but he manages to blog every other month. I can hardly wait for the next time he unburdens his soul.
I think really there are two issues here...one, I don't think there is any 'artistic' property being stolen here. They aren't taking the song as their own. This kind of stuff has gone on for decades. Is it wrong? Probably in the narrowest sense, but if no one is getting sued over it and losing, the general consensus is who cares? Its (sic) not much different than you changing lyrics of songs for parody when poking fun of synod officials here. Do you ask permission to do this?
The bigger issue to me is the choice of material and the way they carry on in the video. The Bethany vid is tame in comparison to the WELS one, but still....is this prudent behavior for Christian students many of whom are destined for ministry.
***
GJ - One could also call this the Moral Equivalence fallacy. For example, a Marxist nun excused Liberation Theology by saying "America had a revolution." Sure, we killed British women and children in their beds, threw bombs into inns. I heard in one class that the Boston Tea Party "might have been called terrorist" at the time.
"Everyone does it" is another fallacy (ad populum), the one used by DP Englebrecht to excuse the plagiarism in his benighted district.
When I publish my delightful song parodies, I am not copying the songs themselves but using their themes to make a point. For example, "Let It Snow" lends itself to a Global Warming parody during a ferocious blizzard. I use the rhythm of the lyrics and count out syllables so the words fit the music. I was writing them long before Weird Al, who is a genius at it, but I never monetized them.
I am quite sure Weird Al gets permission, because he uses the licensed music. Long ago, one TV show ("That Was the Week That Was") used song parodies. I remember them not singing their "Goldwater" song because they could not get permission to use the "Cold Water" music to it.
One concept involving this issue is the reference. Joe is probably quite aware that original music can "quote" other pieces. Recently, Men At Work suffered a huge loss for using too long of a quotation from Kookabura, which is still under license. I believe some nogoodniks bought up that company just to sue MAW, and the bad guys won big time.
Even when I use a few words in a row during a parody I am not doing more than quoting it. Besides, I am not turning it into 100% theft and calling it mine, as WELS pastors Ski and Tim Glende do on a regular basis.
I quote entire blog posts verbatim and give credit. I do my best to distinguish between my words and the words of another. I have run into trouble only twice. One blogger wanted to be paid for her post, so I deleted it. Another blogger said I was short-circuiting the trip to his URL, which was a fair objection. After that I simply linked his post and added a few words.
The "fair use" doctrine means I can use material for scholarly purposes and commentary. If I had ads, that would limit me. Besides, I cannot imagine blogging against unionism and having an ad for Fuller Seminary show up. Or - "Get an online theology degree here!"
If the WELS or ELS students wanted to show creativity, they could perform public domain music or ask for written permission. Ripping a sound track and stealing it is bad enough. Picking an orgy-themed video, as the Bethany students did, is even worse. I had trouble watching the original, trying to pick up what it said with words and images. My impression was that the girl was reflecting the same attitude back at the rapper. However the video is interpreted, the choice is bad.
I find it strange that Lutheran college students find garbage like this worth so much lame labor. The secular culture of hedonism does not need more cheerleaders. They still have Hef at age 84.
Need I say it? The rap culture is heavily involved in violence and hard drugs. Objecting to that makes me unhip, not cool, and legalistic.
"It's by rapper Taio Cruz warning a girl that he will break her heart. When that happens, it is not his fault since he warned her. It's been up on youtube for awhile..."
Narrow-minded Lutheran has left a new comment on your post "Bethany Rap Video:More Proof That Straight White G...":
Thanks for posting the lyrics above, since I'm an old, grumpy Lutheran who can't understand this new "music." I would be so proud as a parent to see my kid portraying such a healthy message about relationships for my $27,580 per year. "Karma" must come from the NIV translation.
When are girls going to learn that this culture portrays them as "ho's" and cheap pieces of meat? Since the "Lutheran" synods want to be so relevant about applying the Bible to our daily lives and relationships, how 'bout a study of Ephesians 5?
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Bethany Rap Video:More Proof That Straight White G...":
Narrow-Minded makes a good point.
The Bethany Values listed above, "Pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking...comprise the essence of your Bethany experience and what we will strive to establish and bolster within you", is similar to the WELS MLC statements.
Yet, exactly who is watching over and taking care of these kids when they are hundreds if not thousands of miles away from their parents?
The words of the song used by Bethany are predatory. The video published by MLC was homoerotic.
All from the "Most conservative Lutheran Synods in the world" reaching the lost for Jesus even if they have to sin to do it.
I am sure the Bethany Lutheran College (ELS) students asked for written permission to borrow the entire soundtrack.
Or did they follow the example of Martin Luther College (WELS)?
Long ago, I cloned the lavender cross logo WELS was using and put it on my website. I immediately got a ferocious email (with Lutheran misspelled) from The Love Shack. The email stated that the lavender cross was the WELS trademark. I could not use it without permission. Since I did not have permission, I had to remove it.
I sought legal counsel from Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe on the trademark issue. My attorney said, "They have to identify the trademark with a tm in a circle or with the words trade mark. That is how a trade mark is protected. If they do not use one indication or another, they have no claim." I am sure The Love Shack knew this. Yet they put forward a spurious claim about their rights, which they gave up. Let's face it. A cross with a trade mark sign is rather tacky, even for WELS.
WELS/ELS - very stuffy about doing things correctly. They insist on a gentle, sit-down Come to Jesus meeting when they are publishing false doctrine all over the world, but they never correct their errors. They retaliate by trashing pastors and members behind their backs.
If someone takes the time to write a letter, which they urge constantly, the letter is not answered or even acknowledged.
The next time they write a letter, asking for money to "reach out with the Gospel," (trans - pay salaries and settle meritorious lawsuits), ask them why their colleges are engaged in stealing music to make bad videos of dubious value.
Doesn't this Bethany video send a nifty message to young people everywhere - a message of unrepentant hedonism with the young woman playing a willing victim? I am dabbing my eyes right now.
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[Ludadris intro]
Now I might not be the worst of the best but you gotta respect my honesty so let me break your heart but I dont think theres anybody as bomb as me so you can take this chance and everybodys gonna be wonderin how you feel you might say this is Ludacris but Taio Cruz tell her how you feel.
Now listen to me baby
Before I love and leave ya
They call me heart breaker
I don't wanna deceive ya
If you fall for me
I'm not easy to please
Imma tear you apart
Told you from the start,
Baby from the start.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart. (x4)
Woah Woah
Theres no point tryin to hide it
No point trying to evade it
I know I gotta problem
By doin misbehaving
If you fall for me
I'm not easy to please
Imma tear you apart
Told you from the start,
Baby from the start.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart. )
Woah woah
Ha
And I know karmas gonna get
Me back for being so cold.
Like a big bad wolf im born
To be bad an bad to the bone.
If you fall for me
Imma gonna tear you apart
Told you from the start
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
I'm only gonna break break ya break break ya heart.
---
Ask students and alumni why they chose Bethany Lutheran College, and you’ll hear them mention two features again and again: small size and Christian atmosphere. Together, these features create significant benefits for students — close, personal attention from faculty and staff, numerous opportunities for participation and leadership, and an environment in which faith is integrated with learning.
At Bethany, every student is regarded as a valued, unique member of the community. Our small size allows for that. Our Christian mission inspires it. We have excellent instructors at Bethany who are committed to your success. Our graduates find jobs at great companies and enroll in top graduate schools.
---
The Bethany experience is more than just what goes on in the chapel, classrooms, residence halls, performing or athletic venues. It’s character, values, morals – it’s the fulfillment of each and every graduate in terms of their academic, social, physical, and spiritual development. It’s who they are and what they stand for.
Bethany is a campus community where students, faculty, and staff unite to create an atmosphere of Christian love and genuine concern for one another. Pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, confidence, leadership, determination, and competitive spirit, trustworthy – these will comprise the essence of your Bethany experience and what we will strive to establish and bolster within you.
Time and again, we hear it from employers, business administrators, and civic leaders – “We want your graduates. We value the Bethany experience.” Hard to support with facts and figures? Yes. So we’ll let others familiar with Bethany tell their story. Looking for evidence?
Published October 04, 2007 12:38 am - A deal signed Wednesday between Bethany Lutheran College and United International College in China will set up an exchange program for faculty and students.
Bethany Lutheran inks exchange deal Student, faculty exchange program set up with United International College in China
By Robb Murray Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — Let the learning begin.
For months Bethany Lutheran College and United International College in China officials have been working toward a student and faculty exchange program.
With a few strokes of the pens of Bethany President Dan Bruss and UIC Executive Vice President Kwok Siu Tong, the deal was sealed.
UIC is a college that is trying to launch the first liberal arts college in China since the 1950s. The school, while probably not fully resembling a Minnesota private college, will emphasize education of the “whole person” instead of teaching skills applicable to a specific occupation.
All that’s left now is the learnin’.
That’s where students such as Eric Anderson and Daniel Tyrrell come in.
For the inaugural run of the exchange program, they’ll — most likely — be heading to China in February along with business instructor Janet Moldstad.
Anderson says he’s excited about the trip.
“I’d love to study abroad,” he said. He hopes that spending several months in China in an academic setting will give him the best perspective possible for learning all he can about China and its people.
He also likes the idea of this trip abroad not being in a “safe” place. He’s been to Europe and Mexico, but those trips, especially the Europe trip, don’t exactly offer an experience that’s far beyond what you can find in the U.S.
He says a trip to China, however, will get him out of his “comfort zone” and help him learn and grow as a person.
“I’m a little nervous, of course,” he said. “It’ll take courage and it’ll take faith.”
Tyrrell has also traveled abroad before, and he also says he’s a little nervous about the China trip.
Over the summer he traveled to Ukraine and western Europe. He used some of his time abroad to teach Bible classes to children.
He said he was approached by the college and asked whether he’d be interested in making the trip to China. He said he’s not 100 percent sure he’ll be going, but said it is likely that he’ll be on a plane to China come February.
***
GJ - There may be some things different in moving from the People's Republic of Minnesota to the People's Republic of China: relentless persecution of religion and a savage campaign against the unborn.
The PRC is clever in getting people to come back to America singing the praises of their enlightened land.
I wonder if Marvin Schwan, for all his faults, wanted Bethany College students to have their brains washed in the PRC.
One dividend - Pope John the Malefactor will have another exotic outpost to visit. I never saw a tinier sect with so much world travel. How the natives must marvel when Pope John raises his predestined and predestinating arms in blessing.
