Special Edition Monthly, News for Greenfield and Hancock County Indiana

It seems CNN is trying to send a message. What message? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tracy Gray   

Consider three CNN Specials titled, “God’s Christian Warriors,” “God’s Jewish Warriors,” and “God’s Muslim Warriors.”  These specials ran from August through December of 2007 and were the sole subject matter of “CNN Presents” for 5 months.  The following section of dialogue that I’m going to share with you appears at the beginning of each program as an introduction.
Imagine sitting there with your popcorn, watching TV when “CNN Presents” comes on with the following introduction (highlighted, of course, by very ominous music in the background):
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The scripture is the blueprint to life and living.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are sure of their mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our role is to redeem the entire world.
AMANPOUR: And the stakes are high.
(on camera): Do you really wish that you could have been martyred?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, martyrdom was my biggest wish.
AMANPOUR: What they have in common...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God promised we would return to this land.
AMANPOUR: Jews, Christians and Muslims...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the ultimate sacrifice, to give your soul as a gift to God the creator and the country.
AMANPOUR: They say God is the answer.
REV. JERRY FALWELL: I would like to see America become the nation under God again.
AMANPOUR: But their battle to save the world has caused anger, division and fear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe that Islam is a real threat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something’s gone wrong. We have too closely fused politics and our faith.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I fear from those individuals who feel that they will go to heaven by killing. I fear for my life.
AMANPOUR (on camera): Jerusalem -- the ancient city filled with sacred meaning for three great religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
I’m Christiane Amanpour.
For the last 30 years, religion has exploded as a powerful political force, with an army of followers who share a deep dissatisfaction with modern secular society and a fierce determination to bring God and religion back to the seat of power.
We call them “God’s Warriors.”
[end of intro]
And just like that, CNN lumps Christians, Jews, and violent Islamic terrorists all into one category - fanatics who will stop at nothing (including killing others) in order to propagate their faith.
CNN then proceeds to take the next hour or so to fully indoctrinate its audience on the dangers of religion - especially Christians voicing their opinions on political issues.  This, in my opinion, is what really is behind this little smear by the good folks at CNN.

Apparently, to CNN, being a Christian disqualifies you from having any say in what laws are passed in this country.
I think this is perhaps one of the most vicious attacks on people of faith in this country I’ve ever seen.  How anyone could possibly equate Christians (or Jews for that matter) who want to protect that which our Founders considered to be our nation’s greatest underpinnings (morality and religion) with those who would strap bombs to themselves and run into a crowd of people or fly planes into crowded buildings is just simply warped.  Period. 
And for a news organization to do so - exposing millions of people to such untruth - is pure propaganda. 
“Propaganda [from modern Latin: ‘propagare’, literally “extending forth”] = a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people.”
Just how important was it to get this message across?  Consider the schedule for “CNN Presents” at the end of last year.  If you go to the following link: 
…you will get no less than 15 airings of the message that religion is dangerous.
Hmm...contrast that with:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars…”  George Washington
Be aware America!  Fundamentalism, be it Jewish, Christian, or Islamic could kill you!!  Sorry folks - it’s hogwash!  In no way can you equate Christian martyrs throughout history with the Bin Ladens and Zarqawis of the world.  Read through Foxe’s Book of Martyrs - “Father forgive them” was the last cry of many a Christian martyr beginning with Stephen in Acts 7.  A Christian praying for forgiveness for those who are killing him is a far cry from an Islamic radical terrorist killing himself in the process of murdering innocent people.
Nice try CNN.  But, unfortunately, you don’t get it.
Christian fundamentalism is simply believing the Bible to be literally true - the Word of God to His people.  I believe in the 6 literal days of Creation - NOT evolution.  I believe in Jesus’ virgin birth; I believe in His death, burial, and resurrection just as described in the Bible.  Apparently that is supposed to create strong urges in me to go looking for dynamite and duct tape and start shaving my chest in preparation for uh… “spreading” my beliefs.  It’s insane.
Why am I treating this in an article dedicated to the defense of the reliability of the Bible?  Because, unfortunately, these same “prophets” at CNN also put out little gems throughout the year such as “The Mystery of Jesus,” “After Jesus - the First Disciples,” and “The Two Marys” - all of which spread the same message:
You can’t trust the Bible’s account of the historical Jesus.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you can.
As this is meant to be an article on the defense of the Scriptures, I’m not going to deal at length with “God’s Warriors.”  We’ll just leave CNN in the corner on that one - whipping up on the straw man they think Christianity is.  After all, the attack wasn’t on the credibility of the Bible per se; just a vicious attack on those who claim to believe in it. 
However, as for the other two specials, “The Mystery of Jesus” and “After Jesus: The First Disciples,” it’s “gloves on.”  The types of off-hand dismissals of scriptural reliability by CNN’s “experts” in each of these programs make perfect fodder for the discussion of the Bible’s reliability.  My plan over the next couple of months is to answer some of the assertions presented in each of these programs.   So...
Game on, CNN.

Tracy Gray
About the author:

The Anvil   The Anvil of God’s Word

Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door,
And heard the Anvil ring the vesper chime,
And looking in I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of time,

 “How many Anvils have you had”, said I,
“To wear and batter these hammers so.”
“Just one”, said he, and then with twinkling eye,
“The Anvil wears the hammers out, you know,”

And so, thought I, the Anvil of God’s Word,
For years skeptics’ blows have beat upon,
And though the sound of falling blows was heard,
The Anvil remains unchanged, the hammers gone.

 

                                                Author Unknown

 

For more articles by Tracy Gray, please visit the Original Intent and Anvil Archives

 

 



 
Joomla Templates by Joomlashack
Joomla Templates by JoomlaShack