Dear Rev. No-wit-et-al,

Please read the attached article from the Chicago Tribune - Sunday, November 11, 2007 in the World section, entitled "Technology lets Bible be fruitful, multiply" and for which here is a brief summary: (Christian groups are using the Scriptures to teach literacy in some of the most out of the way places in the world. Little children as well as adults by the thousand and perhaps millions are learning to read and hearing the name 'Jesus' for the first time, using the bible combined with high tech gadgetry).

... then please explain (spin) the following quotes from two of your previous articles:

Nov. 4th you wrote: "It strikes me as sad that the fantasies of childhood have been invaded by the agenda of a group that grinds a relentless/moral political agenda."  (Please see: the Vatican.)

Nov. 11th you wrote: "It is the very essence of the demonic : the stronger will devouring the weaker. Imperialism... is demonic whether it is perpetrated by Nazis, jihads, our own government or anyone else."

I hope your head isn't spinning too much or you may end up looking like that poor little girl in that very scary movie.

Waiting with bated breath,

Tom Enchique

Again with the Harry Potter! I had no idea it would cause so much trouble! 

First of all these marvelous translators and teachers of the Bible aren't dealing with fantasy. That was the point of my three week tirade, which is now in its fifth week. Even I am getting tired of it. People are looking for supernatural fantasy and all the time missing supernatural reality. 

The Bible isn't fantasy no matter what some pseudo scholars say. It is the history of the intervention of the supernatural kingdom of God in this all too natural world of death and sorrow. It isn't a fantasy. There is, as far as I can see from the article you presented, perhaps a moral, but certainly not a political agenda in the offer of Scriptures to the world. For heaven's sake, it's a two thousand year old text! It has nothing to do with politics, except that it is the foundational text of our culture. 

And as for your comment on the Vatican, I know that you conspiracy nuts are convinced that the Vatican is behind everything from the oil crisis to saturated fats. If the Catholic church had a fraction of the power that you wackos assign us, things would be different around here, but they’re not. Those groups pushing this Bible and literacy program are probably not very fond of the Vatican. 

However, as a far right, stick in the mud, traditional Catholic that I am, I still applaud the relentless efforts of my separated Christian brethren to share the Gospel. St. Paul says that he doesn't care about the motive for the preaching, just Christ be preached. My suspicion is that if people come to know Jesus they will eventually come to know his bride the Church. But! You can't pin this one on the Magisterium or the Vatican. 

(By the way, Magisterium is a Latin word that means teaching authority of the Church in its catholic theological sense. It has nothing to do with Philip Pullman and his hatred of the Catholic Church.)

As to your second point: Imperialism. The word imperialism is of course a Latin word derived from the word imperium, or military command. To offer someone a book is not imperialism nor devouring, even to offer someone a Harry Potter book is not imperialism. Imperialism says do as I tell you or I will kill you. Believe as I do or I will cut off your head.  Admittedly, Catholic’s have been involved in some unfortunate incidents in the past, and regarding this I would ask you to go to read my brilliant articles about the Spanish inquisition dated May 20th and May 27th, 2007. Our Founder is truly non-violent even if some of us His followers have been a shade less than perfect.

Some, not all, fantasies come closer to seduction than imperialism. Seduction, however is the more devious little brother of imperialism, and is another form of devouring. My problem with all this is the element of fantasy. I know I will get in trouble for this as did Socrates. Some pastor or other said that if a person is well versed in the faith and of sufficient age, the Harry Potter series is not a danger. Well, perhaps. It is the blurring of fantasy and reality that happens in young and unformed minds that becomes dangerous because fantasy so easily becomes the lie masquerading as truth, an idea that conspiracy nuts might want to ponder. 

The Bible never claims to be fantasy. It is 2000 years of truth. 

Therein lies a huge difference.

As ever,

Rev. Know-It-All

PS No more Harry Potter. Enough already!