CHARISMA
The Charismatic Movement: A Guide to the Study of Neo-Pentecostalism with Emphasis on Anglo-American Sources, by Charles Edwin Jones (Scarecrow Press, 1995) -- published in conjunction with the American Theological Library Association, this weighty two-volume bibliography is without equal as a source. Reviewer Cecil M. Robeck Jr. concludes "if you can't find it [here], it probably doesn't exist." *With nearly 11,000 entries, I guess not!* Pneuma, Spr '97 (rec'd Sep 23), p130.
"Benny Hinn's Move Into Necromancy" by G. Richard Fisher with M. Kurt Goedelman -- reports that regular contact with the late Kathryn Kuhlman has given the Orlando celebrity "new direction for his ministry." Quarterly Journal, Oct/Dec '97, p5.
CULTURE
"Debating Patriarchy: Discursive Disputes over Spousal Authority among Evangelical Family Commentators" by John P. Bartkowski -- <bartkowski@soc.msstate.edu> -- acknowledges the current culture wars and observes that "conservative Protestants are not unanimous in their support for a patriarchal family structure." Dispute is seen as stemming from "prominent biblical feminists and a growing coterie of egalitarian evangelical commentators." Mentions Focus on the Family and others. Technical presentation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sep '97 (rec'd Oct 29), p393.
HUMAN POTENTIAL MOVEMENT
"Profile: Landmark Education / The Forum" by Paul Derengowski -- yet another entry in Watchman Fellowship's already impressive fact sheet archive covering multiple topics related to new religious movements. Besides the initial outline mentioning connections to est and creator Werner Erhard, other affiliated names such as Transformational Technologies, Breakthrough Foundation, Mastery Foundation, the Hunger Project, and the Education Project are mentioned. Includes a historical and doctrinal summary. Concludes with an evangelical response. Watchman Expositor, 14:4 - 1997, p11.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
"The Watchtower's Secret Manual for Elders" by Jason Barker -- a look at Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock. "Jehovah's Witnesses live under the dread of being summoned to trial by their congregation Elders. ... Recently, the Elders Manual governing such trials was made public on the Internet. Former Witness Jason Barker provides insight into some of the more important elements of this manual." Watchman Expositor, 14:4 - 1997, p3.
JESUS SEMINAR
"When the Jesus Seminar Meets Jesus Under Fire: On Whose Side Does History Fall?" by Darrell L. Bock -- Dallas Seminary prof and contributor to Jesus Under Fire (Michael Wilkins and J.P. Moreland, eds. [Zondervan, 1995]) responds to Roy Hoover, an editor of The Five Gospels (Polebridge, 1993), a Jesus Seminar publication. Here Bock replies to a review of Jesus Under Fire by Hoover in The Journal for Higher Criticism (#3, 1996, p310). We view it as one of the best evangelical works on the JS to be found in a theological journal. Princeton Theological Review, Oct '97, p3. (Page 23 includes a positive review of Jesus Under Fire by Jay Wesley Richards, executive editor of the Princeton Theological Review and a Princeton Ph.D. candidate.)
JUDAISM
"Refuting the Rabbi's Refutation" by Arthur F. Glasser -- third in a series responding to the teaching of Rabbi Tovia Singer, "director of Outreach Judaism, a national organization 'dedicated to countering the efforts of Christian groups and cults that specifically target Jews for conversion.'" The lectures in question are from a cassette package produced by Singer with a goal to "help Jews understand why Judaism does not accept the Christian Messiah." The first two articles in this series by Glasser, Dean Emeritus of Fuller Seminary's School of World Mission, "have described [Singer's] handling of biblical passages relating to the Messiah." Singer's first tape to which Glasser responds is titled "How do Missionaries Paint Jesus into the Jewish Scriptures?" The second tape covers sin and atonement. With this third article "we will see how he explains Isaiah 53." Also covers the Trinity (specifically Isaiah 9:5,6 and Zechariah 12:10) and the contrast between the Law of Moses and the New Covenant. Excellent material. Missionary Monthly, Oct '97, p13. (MM had its 100th anniversary in 1996.)
MORMONISM
"Doctrine of Deity" by Timothy Oliver -- reviews the controversial recent remarks of LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley in media news interviews. Watchman Expositor, 14:4 - 1997, p23.
"Still Wide the Divide" by Stephen F. Cannon -- yet another evangelical countercult ministry gives How Wide the Divide, by Craig L. Blomberg and Stephen E. Robinson (InterVarsity, 1997), a negative review. Quarterly Journal, Oct/Dec '97, p1.
NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
New Religious Movements in Western Europe: An Annotated Bibliography, by Elisabeth Arweck and Peter B. Clarke (Greenwood Press, 1997) -- briefly reviewed (more pro than con) by Wouter J. Hanegraaff, who calls it "an indispensable tool for researchers." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sep '97 (rec'd Oct 29), p469.
Radical Religion in America, by Jeffrey Kaplan (Syracuse University Press, 1997) -- "looks at three interacting groupings: the racist Christian Identity belief system and network; the neopagan Odinist-Asatru community, which sees itself as reviving ancient Nordic and Teutonic religion; and the B'nai Noah (Children of Noah), a movement of former fundamentalist Protestants who, convinced of the truth of Judaism, adhere to a kind of 'gentile covenant' that links them with it." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sep '97 (rec'd Oct 29), p470.
ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM
"Oneness and the Trinity: The Theological and Ecumenical Implications of Creation Ex Nihilo for an Intra-Pentecostal Dispute" by Amos Yong -- seeks to propose a "unitive Pentecostal theology of the Godhead" in the interest of "further theological discussion and collaboration." (It doesn't appear that Yong is a Oneness person himself.) Pneuma, Spr '97 (rec'd Sep 23), p81.
REVIVALISM, CONTEMPORARY
"The Intoxicating Spell of Rodney Howard-Browne" by Yves Brault -- "an eye-witness report on the Canadian escapades of the 'Holy Ghost Bartender.'" Quarterly Journal, Oct/Dec '97, p4.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
"Secret Service" by Margaret O'Brien Steinfels -- a review of Beyond the Threshold: A Life in Opus Dei, by Maria del Carmen Tapia (Continuum, 1997). Steinfels reports the book is "a chronicle of disenchantment." The book's author was at one time secretary to Msgr. Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer, "Opus Dei's founding father." Steinfels has more to say regarding global mixed opinion about Opus Dei than she does about the book. New York Times Book Review, Oct 12 '97, n.p.
"The Madrid/Jones Dialogue on Scripture and the Church" -- Patrick Madrid (editor-in-chief of Envoy, a Catholic apologetics magazine) and Douglas Jones (managing editor of Credenda/Agenda, a Reformed magazine) were invited to spar in this issue. Madrid <madrid1@aol.com> asks Jones <credenda@moscow.com> "...can you explain how Scripture infallibly interprets itself and show post-Reformation examples of this?" Jones asks Madrid, "...why do you think the church must be infallible?" Both rebut each other's answers as well. The entire presentation is on the short side. Regeneration Quarterly, Sum '97 (rec'd Oct 20), p26.
SATANISM
Inquiry Into Satanism: Satanists and Anti-Satanists from the 17th Century to Our Day, by Massimo Introvigne (Editions Dervy, 1997) -- a review of the French translation from the Italian (not yet available in English). Reviewer Wouter J. Hanegraaff lauds the historical overview that CESNUR founder Introvigne has produced with this book. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sep '97 (rec'd Oct 29), p469.
"Anton LaVey; Founded the Church of Satan" [no byline] "Anton LaVey, who founded the Church of Satan in 1966 and wrote the 'Satanic Bible' as a guide for international followers, has died at the age of 67. "Relatives said LaVey died of pulmonary edema Oct. 29 at St. Mary's Hospital. "LaVey was cremated Tuesday after a satanic funeral at Woodlawn Memorial Chapel in Colma. "Security concerns led his daughter, Church of Satan High Priestess Karla LaVey, to demand 'absolute secrecy from all who knew of LaVey's death and satanic funeral,' family spokesman Lee Housekeeper said. ... "The last of [LaVey's] five books, 'Satan Speaks,' is scheduled for release next spring. "More than a million copies of his books have been printed. Each has been translated into nearly every major langauge, according to Housekeeper." Los Angeles Times, Nov 8 '97, pA30.
SCIENCE
"Scientism: The World's Littlest Religion" by Huston Smith -- observing Smith in attack mode here makes us wonder if anyone would be able to guess the author's name were it withheld. This reading opens up new insights regarding Smith's worldview. His opening thesis is that "theology should recognize scientism as its principal enemy." Touchstone, Sum '97 (rec'd Oct 30), p12.
