Signs and Wonders: Islam, Mormonism, charter schools, and Tim Tebow

Religion of peace? In an interview on Dutch TV, a group of teenage Turkish Muslims said they approved of the Nazi extermination of Jews. The interview aired on Nederland 2 and has since been posted on YouTube, subtitled in English. One of the boys says, "Hitler should have killed all Jews." Says another, "I’m satisfied with what Hitler did with the Jews. I am being really honest. … What Hitler said about Jews is that there will be one day when you see that I am right that I killed all the Jews. And that day will come." The video has led to an investigation of anti-Semitism in Dutch schools.

Mormonism revised. The Mormon Church has revised its scriptures yet again. The move is not unprecedented, but according to The Salt Lake Tribune, “It marks the first time in more than 30 years that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has updated its four books of scripture—the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price—and the changes are generating lots of buzz among members, scholars, and bloggers.” Among the changes are revisions to what the church teaches on polygamy and race. Some LDS Church watchers say such revisions could eventually bring the Mormon Church closer to biblical orthodoxy. Perhaps, but not yet. The LDS church still claims to be “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” with which the Lord is “well pleased.”

Your tax dollars at work. Those who think charter schools are the answer to our education problems should consider this, as reported by CBN News: “Students at a Massachusetts charter school will perform a biblical play of Genesis with gay characters, despite objections from many who say it's offensive to Christians." The play is a 1998 comedy called The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. In a letter to parents, administrators at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School said it was consistent with the school's philosophy and appropriate for a high school audience. But officials did admit receiving email petitions and phone calls describing the production as "blasphemous and hateful." According to some of the messages, opponents said they planned to organize protests through local churches.

Who’s bullying whom? Gay rights activists often complain about being bullied by what they sometimes describe as the “dominant heterosexual culture.” But they’ve done their fair share of bullying lately. They demanded Tim Tebow back out of a speaking engagement at Liberty University just two weeks after pressuring the New York Jets quarterback to cancel an appearance at First Baptist Church of Dallas. More than 10,000 people signed a petition demanding Tebow cancel the college speech. But Tebow, didn’t cave. He addressed the conference at Liberty, called Wildfire, and told the students, “Don’t be normal. Be a leader.” Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality warned that such bullying will likely continue. "Their goal is to marginalize and to discredit Christians," LaBarbera said.