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Welcome to our first edition
of Crossing Currents, the
Crosswinds Foundation E-Letter, in this new
format. We hope you will find it both useful and
informative as you interact with an ever
changing culture.
Each issue will include articles and
information about current trends and movements
in the culture that may be impacting
your corner of the world. These are meant to be
informative, but also to provide helpful tips
and resources for you to use in engaging the
culture where you are.
This new format will allow us to
provide our subscribers with more information,
such as the CultureTracks segment, which will be
a regular feature. CultureTracks will give you
just the facts about the cultural footprints
that Americans are leaving behind.
Eventually, these E-letters will be linked
to our website, so past issues can be viewed and
utilized in your research. We will also include
a segment with letters from our readers, so be
sure and let us know your opinion - whether you
agree, or not.
We look forward to your input and hope you
enjoy your subscription. With Best
Regards, Bob Waldrep President,
Crosswinds Foundation
PS. You can use the convenient forward link
at the end of this letter to share it with your
friends. |
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Coming
Soon to a Bus Near You?
by Bob Waldrep
 Atheism, the belief there is no
God, is still a view held by few Americans. In
fact, according to a June 2008 survey by the Pew
Forum, only 1.6 percent of Americans identify
themselves as Atheists. However, though small in
number, this is becoming an increasingly vocal
group with an apparent interest in growing their
number.
In October, British
atheists announced a plan to place advertising
posters on London buses proclaiming, "There is
probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy
your life." A website was set up to take
donations and within a very short time over
$80,000 had been donated to the
effort.
Richard Dawkins, an Oxford
Professor and author of the bestselling The God
Delusion, pledged to match all donations up to
5,500 pounds (approximately $9,300). Dawkins,
who is a member of the British Humanist
Association (atheists also refer to themselves
as humanists), said, "This campaign to put
alternative slogans on London buses will make
people think - and thinking is anathema to
religion."
Hanne Stinson, chief
executive of the British Humanist, describes the
message as a positive one that is not intended
to bring in new recruits but to communicate it
is okay not to believe in God and to dispel the
idea presented by the religious that atheists
will burn in the "lake of fire". According to
Stinson, "It's about
reassurance."
Despite the
protestations otherwise, it sounds more like it
is about "recruitment". Could you imagine, for
example, a Christian organization placing a
billboard proclaiming, "God is real - Trust
Jesus" and saying it is only for the purpose of
reassuring believers? Of course not, any such
claim would be viewed as ludicrous by
humanists.
Whatever one believes
about their real motivation, they plan to start
the campaign in January, 2009. Not to be undone,
their American brothers have also jumped on the
bandwagon, or maybe we should say the band
"bus".
On November 11, members of
the American Humanist Association held a press
conference at the National Press Club in
Washington D.C. and announced they will be
placing advertisements on... |
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Culture
Tracks
Statistical
data reflecting some of the findings
regarding the cultural footprints of
Americans.
American's
views of evangelical
voters
(polling done in relation to the
2008 campaign)
59% said
evangelicals will have a significant
influence/effect on the election outcome
59% siad evangelicals will cause the
political conversation to be more
conservative
59% said evangelicals will spend
too much time complaining and not enough time
solving problems
56% said they believe
evangelicals will be misunderstood and unfairly
described by the news media
52% felt
evangelical voters would focus primarily on
homosexuality and abortion.
47% said
evangelicals will minimize social justice
issues
47% believed that evangelicals will
vote overwhelmingly Republican.
44% believed
evangelicals will not approach the election with
an open mind.
From Barna Reseach,Sept 2008
Report |
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From
the Mailbag
 Thanks
for the articles you've written for the Alabama
Baptist. You are doing good work to build
up the faith of believers. I especially
appreciate you recommending Reasons to
Believe. I've been the president of the
Huntsville chapter of Reasons to Believe from
1997 - 2007, so I applaud you for that
recommendation.
I had tears of
joy in my eyes as I read your e-mail.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
It makes me feel so good to know we our using
the money God has so richly blessed us with to
help ministries lilke yours that grow the
kingdom of
God.
Thanks for article on
Christian Science in The Alabama Baptist last
week. Are you doing all of these? I have to
admit I did not keep 1,2or 3 but want to hold on
to these.
I have enjoyed your
"Spiritual Buffet" articles and have found them
to be very informative. I need a copy of
the article on [Nation of] Islam. I have
tried to retrieve from the Alabama Baptist on
line site but was unable to get the older
articles. If you can send per e-mail would
be great if not please let me know how I may
obtain this article.
(Editor's Note: See
QuickLinks to view some of these articles. If
you cannot find one you are looking for email us
and we will see if we can't help you with a
link, or email a copy to
you.) | |
Thanks to all of you who have made a
financial investment in the work of Crosswinds.
Your support enables us to take advantage of the
opportunities we are afforded to engage the
culture.
If you would like to be
part of our support team please make your check
payable to the Crosswinds Foundation. Our
mailing address for donations
is:
Crosswinds Foundation
P.O.
Box 12143
Birmingham, AL
35202
If you would like to give by
credit card (MC,Visa, Discover) please
contact us and the necessary
information for making your gift will be
sent to you.
Please let us know if
you have any questions or of we might be of
assistance to you. If you would like an
information packet on a particiular subject or
issue just send us an email identifying your
request. | | |
