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R.C. Sproul: Schiavo's Death Marks America's Move Toward 'Neo-Barbarism'
Agape ^ | Ap 5 05 | Allie Martin, Bill Fancher, and Jenni Parker

Posted on 04/05/2005 12:54:09 PM PDT by churchillbuff

A leading pastor and theologian says last week's state-sanctioned death of Terri Schiavo marks a turning point for America, and it is crucial for the Church in this country to wake up and mobilize against euthanasia and other signs of the times.

Author and Bible teacher Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. His teaching can be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast on more than 300 radio outlets in the U.S. and throughout 60 countries. Recently his attention was focused, like that of much of the nation, on the tragic and disturbing events of the Terri Schiavo case.

After all that happened to the disabled Florida woman, particularly in the final weeks of her life, Sproul feels the Church in America needs to wake up and recognize the serious threat to life and liberty that is operating in the very midst of the nation's system of government.

"I think it's time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence again," the theologian says. "We have some serious problems with the fundamental structure of government in the United States, and there need to be some serious changes. And my prayer is that this is what happens."

What needs to take place, Sproul contends, is what often happens in the history of society faced with one or more pivotal occurrences like the killing of Terri Schiavo. "Cultures change, governments change, usually when a single event provokes a crisis," he says. "It brings matters to a head. But we have an ethical crisis in this country, one that's not going to go away, with respect to the sanctity of human life."

The Christian author and minister believes the manner of Terri Schiavo's death reflects changes that have taken place in American culture since the 1960s. He notes, "Many years ago, Harold Lindsell described American culture after the revolution of the 60s as a 'neo-pagan culture.' I think now what Terri Schiavo's death marks is the transition to a neo-barbarian culture."

Barbarians, according to various encyclopedia sources, are defined by sociologists as those social parasites who prey upon civilization, sometimes enslaving others or looting and plundering, in order to survive at others' expense. And according to Sproul, America's "civilization" is beginning to look more and more like that.

"I think that's where we are," the minister says. "We've become barbarians, because what we've just witnessed is the willful starving and dehydration of a living human being." And lamentably, he adds, even many Christians believed it was right for the state to sanction the brain-damaged Florida woman's death.

Sproul says the Church needs to rise to the occasion of this crisis and fulfill its role as the conscience of the nation, before it is too late. He is urging Christian citizens to take a stand against euthanasia -- against the barbaric "culture of death" that threatens to overwhelm the mainstream America's ethical sensibilities.

Taking Terri's Struggle Forward Take a stand -- that is exactly what many of those pro-life supporters who were involved in the fight to keep Terri Schiavo alive are trying to do now as they enter what they call "Phase Two" of their effort. At a Washington, DC, press conference last weekend at Capitol Hill, Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition said those who fought to prevent the court-ordered starvation death of the disabled woman have moved on from the first part of their campaign -- designated "Terri's Voice" -- and are mobilizing in a new direction.

"The next part of the campaign is 'Never Again," Mahoney says, describing the effort to raise awareness about euthanasia, disability concerns, and other sanctity-of-life challenges, and to ensure that all disabled people are treated with dignity and respect.

"We're going to address these issues," the pro-life spokesman says, "and begin to take those first steps from the struggling and painful death of Terri into moving this forward in a positive way."

And one of the ways the Coalition plans to do this, he adds, is by addressing misinformation about the amount of public support for the court-ordered starvation of the 41-year-old hospice patient.

A number of mainstream media outlets have cited polls claiming most people favored the removal of Schiavo's feeding and hydration tube and also that a majority, by a wide margin, opposed a law mandating federal review of her case. But later this week, Mahoney says the Coalition will be unveiling what the group contends is a more accurate poll of the nation's views on the Schiavo case.

Now that Terri is gone, the Coalition members are concentrating their attention on the fight to honor Terri's memory by safeguarding against any similar tragedies in the future. "We must now work to ensure that this never happens again," Mahoney says, "that Terri's legacy will be remembered, and to ensure that all those with disabilities -- all the weakest in our society -- are protected."

Meanwhile, Terri's family and the volunteers of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have vowed to focus the efforts of the Foundation that bears her name on assistance to other desperate families seeking to protect similarly vulnerable loved ones.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; US: Florida; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: blackthursday331; euthanasia; georgefelos; judicialhomicide; schiavo; sproul
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To: Ff--150

Examples please. Don't go spreading baseless accusations.


41 posted on 04/05/2005 6:00:30 PM PDT by P8riot (Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.)
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To: churchillbuff

INTSUM


42 posted on 04/05/2005 6:21:37 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (The radical secularization of America is happening)
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To: keeper53; Ff--150
From what I have gathered from his/her other posts, Ff is apparently of the opinion that if you are not into tongue speaking, chandelier swinging, aisle rolling, or the prosperity gospel; then you are a heretic. This is evidenced by the names of the people he continually cites as being his spiritual mentors.

I sincerely hope that I am wrong on that point. I didn't think anyone thought that way anymore.

I am sure glad that the salvation I have received from my Lord is not based on my outward actions, but upon the blood that he shed for me, otherwise I would never get past square one.

43 posted on 04/05/2005 6:24:35 PM PDT by P8riot (Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.)
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To: balrog666

We understand your deep need to dehumanize Terri, but don't expect us to agree with your foolishness. We understand your need to define 'human being' based on your arbitrary level of functioning in the brain, but don't expect us to agree with you when you insult and condescend with your agenda. We understand your deep need to feel superior to those who care about the way Terri was executed, but don't expect me to tolerate your pissant approach to life and death.


44 posted on 04/05/2005 7:09:32 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: MHGinTN
Gosh, thanks, Mr. Rubber-Room. With all that gibberish coming from you, I feel so much better superior.
45 posted on 04/05/2005 7:18:45 PM PDT by balrog666 (A myth by any other name is still inane.)
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To: balrog666
We won't condemn you for not understanding the post. One doesn't expect much from someone who looks at a video of a woman smiling when her Mother speaks to her and proclaim 'she's been dead since 1990'. We expect it from your ilk because we understand your need to dehumanize the less fortunate than yourself, so we don't expect much from you. But please, your nasty meanness is very instructive to lurkers, so continue in your usual frame.
46 posted on 04/05/2005 7:22:43 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: balrog666

He is RIGHT!!!!!!


47 posted on 04/05/2005 7:26:32 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: balrog666
Terri Schiavo was MURDERED!!!!!!!Wanna hear a dead person speak????

http://hail.he.net/~danger/schiavo.mp3

48 posted on 04/05/2005 7:28:18 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: floriduh voter; Pegita; Halls; freepertoo

take a peek at this article


49 posted on 04/05/2005 7:30:10 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: LadyPilgrim
RC Sproul is a wonderful Bible teacher.

You bet he is and he got this right on the mark too!! The Christian community better wake up!!

50 posted on 04/05/2005 7:31:13 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: Ff--150

R.C. Sproul is one of the leading Christian Theologians . The BEST of the BEST. Don't knock this man before you hear him.


51 posted on 04/05/2005 7:33:37 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: balrog666

She didn't die 15 years ago you moron. She had brain damage 15 years ago and was very much alive until she was killed March 31, 2005


52 posted on 04/05/2005 7:53:07 PM PDT by Halls
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To: pollywog

Saw it, good article. I like R.C.Sproul!


53 posted on 04/05/2005 7:54:00 PM PDT by Halls
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To: Ff--150
Who cares what this R. C. Sproal thinks! People of faith will have antennas out for what the Lord says to actual men of God like Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Marcus Lamb etc.

Ha! The true men of god are Benny Hinn and Jimmy Swaggart. Lets not forget Oral Roberts. How many 600 foot Jesus's has your wimpy little Rick Warren seen? Hmmmm?

And as for true women of god of course there's....

54 posted on 04/05/2005 8:39:58 PM PDT by StockAyatollah
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To: balrog666

Well, by your definition, Christopher Reeve was dead in 1995, Dr Mengele. So why was he kept around?


55 posted on 04/05/2005 8:42:48 PM PDT by Tench_Coxe
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To: churchillbuff

Why am I reminded of Asimov's 'Foundation' series?


56 posted on 04/05/2005 8:43:52 PM PDT by Tench_Coxe
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To: Tench_Coxe

Also, Stephen Hawking - "non-personage" and taking up space since 1974.

Please note sarcasm. Often times the only way to deal with absurdity.


57 posted on 04/05/2005 9:40:29 PM PDT by incredulous joe ("Lord, help your poor and faithful servant to remain faithful,...though not necessarily poor.")
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To: Ff--150
Joel Osteen???

Don't make me laugh! He does nothing but preach a gospel of self esteem. Count the time he mentions Christ in any one of his talks. (I can't say I have ever heard him mention Christ) Count the number of time he mentions you have to believe in yourself to be blessed. (every other sentence)

Sounds like self-worship to me.
58 posted on 04/05/2005 10:01:47 PM PDT by Gamecock ("He that knows nothing will believe anything." Thomas Fuller)
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To: Gamecock

"For I resolved to know nothing among you, except self-esteem and material prosperity."


59 posted on 04/05/2005 10:44:27 PM PDT by A.J.Armitage (http://calvinist-libertarians.blogspot.com/)
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To: P8riot
I never heard of the guy, but I liked him a lot from this point on:

"I think it's time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence again," the theologian says. "We have some serious problems with the fundamental structure of government in the United States, and there need to be some serious changes. And my prayer is that this is what happens."

Sounds like he has a little bit of rebel in him. hehehe

60 posted on 04/05/2005 10:55:20 PM PDT by Critter (America, home of the whipped.)
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