Posted on 12/26/2009 1:06:10 PM PST by Colofornian
CHICO —
Changes in the curriculum at Crosspoint Academy have some parents, including prominent radio host Delilah Rene Luke, concerned the private Christian school in Chico is straying from its biblical focus.
But school leaders defend the changes, saying the new materials will grow the school’s 290 students into the next generation of Christian leaders.
“The idea that Crosspoint is still fundamentally rooted in strong Christian values and delivers a curriculum with a Christian perspective in mind has not changed and that has never changed in this process,” said Eric Rasmussen, superintendent of schools for Crista, the Christian ministry organization that owns Crosspoint.
The school, formerly known as King’s West, announced this fall that it had a new plan for a curriculum focused on leadership and on five pillars: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, contemplation and cultural competency. Much of the work has been based on “The Leader In Me,” a program for students from Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
The emphasis on Covey’s work is what most concerns Delilah. She recently disenrolled three of her children from Crosspoint.
“I would like to say that I am merely ‘deeply concerned’ about a recent addition to the school’s teaching philosophy, but instead, I am forced to admit I am actually HORRIFIED by the recent addition of a book by Mormon author Steven (sic) Covey,” she wrote in a Nov. 24 open letter to Crosspoint parents.
Further, she wrote that she believes in freedom of religion and does not object to Mormon beliefs or the yoga-type, Eastern religion activities Covey advocates. She said in a recent interview, however, that the materials don’t belong in a Christian school.
“It’s not about being intolerant. It’s about being true to my faith,” she said. “I don’t have a problem with Stephen Covey and businesses that use it. I don’t have any problem with people who want to sign up for yoga classes or attend the church of Satan if they want to. That’s their right. But I can’t imagine someone paying money to send their kids to Brigham Young University so they can get a good basis in Mormon faith and then having their kid come home and saying his new teacher was a Catholic priest teaching the Apocrypha.”
After her letter circulated, Delilah held an informational meeting in Port Orchard for Crosspoint parents. About 30 attended. She also received many supportive e-mails. But the parents contacted by e-mail by the Kitsap Sun about the controversy either declined to be interviewed or did not respond.
Covey has denied in recent years that his leadership materials are repackaged Mormonism. But Delilah is concerned that the leadership materials introduce Mormon tenets in a way that is palatable to non-Mormons.
“He intends to indoctrinate the world with his theology by wiring it in a way that people can accept,” she said.
Delilah questioned whether Crista and Crosspoint leaders were aware of Covey’s beliefs before they adopted the materials. But Rasmussen said the bigger question is whether Crista schools only take materials from Christian publishers. The schools draw from a wide variety of materials and “we will continue to seek and find the best resources and put them in the hands of outstanding Christian educators,” he added.
Additionally, Rasmussen said teaching at Crosspoint goes well beyond “The Leader In Me” to focus on the five pillars. For example, he said, the core value of contemplation means to be “people of reflection.”
“From a Christian standpoint, that means kids would meditate on their faith and the significance of biblical truth in their life, or they would read and think contemplatively about great literature.”
“We believe leaders do these core things, that kids should be contemplative in life and think about next step, about what God has in store and in place for them.”
Delilah said smaller issues have led her to believe Crosspoint is trying to rebrand itself to attract families familiar and comfortable with Covey, but not perhaps with Christianity. A plaque with the Ten Commandments was recently moved from a prominent spot in the school’s main hallway to a not-so-prominent classroom. A “Seven Habits” poster advocating meditation was put up at Crosspoint, with a Bible verse taped to it “as if to make Eastern religion acceptable to the Christian,” Delilah wrote in her Nov. 24 letter.
“They even changed the school’s name to take the Lord’s name out,” she said.
Further, school leaders did not properly inform parents of the changes until the beginning of this school year, giving them little time to understand or react, she said.
But Rasmussen said the school’s changes are not about rebranding, rather it’s trying to improve on past success in academics and extracurriculars.
“We’re thrilled in terms of where we’re going and moving forward to make this great school better to be really intentionally focused,” he said. “We see the need in terms of this world for good intentional Christian leaders who will lead in their churches and their communities and their homes.”
That was a weak hit and run.
Is yellow your favorite color to wear or the road you travel?
Come’on back the wood pile and let’s exchange thoughts. Mormons are fine people but doctrinaly we are at odds and they truly believe they are superior in their relation to God while all others are apostates.
They, in fact, start from that premise. So it is not us casting the first stone. We are in fact showing others the premise of truth and that your only spiritual relationship, of consequence, is with Jesus Christ.
I prefer to exchange thoughts with people who wish to explain their own religious views and preferences. As an unchurched Episcopalian, I have plenty of grist for the mill about the current state of the Episcopal Church.
But, those who simply wish to diss someone else’s religion, no thanks, I have better things to do with my time.
Well you should been on some of these earlier in the week. Most of the posters here, myself included, had some very good discussions in doctrine.
I learned a lot even about Protestant and Episcopalians.
Sometimes these threads take a while to get off the ground.
Post on.
I have found in speaking to various non-LDS groups in different cultures that we can teach and testify of many gospel principles if we are careful in selecting words which carry our meaning but come from their experience and frame of mind.”
- - - - - - -
IOW, “Lying for the Lord”.
See? Now reaganut has shown up here and will be glad to demonstrate the true word of God without telling anyone they are wrong but instead misled or decieve by a people who one day hope to ascend to the status of god.
The problem with their premise on this issue is it is wholly heretical and well,... not good.
For I am a jealous God
For thou shalt have no other gods before me
Now if God wasn’t keen on ‘ole Belzebub’s plans, what makes anyone think they can ever achieve parity with God?
It seems like he doesn’t care for competitors.
And yet Mormonism states that God was once man and as such, man can become God.
So it makes me ask, where are the Mormon gods that ascended from man and why don’t they reveal themselves?
When do you become a God and on what premise is your gamesmanship improved? Who is the scorekeeper and aribiter of awarding this supreme status.
Can’t be my God, he doesn’t play well others who might one day deem themselves equal.
If God is the Alpha, meaning he existed before anything and the Omega, meaning the end of all things, how can we ever hope catch up to God?
Can you direct me to the thread where people spoke of their different doctrines? I have an interest in learning about different religions, but get put off by these threads because a lot like to bash others’ beliefs rather than discussing their own. Once posted a thread asking about everyone’s religions without the bashing. I got less than ten responses on that.
It would take forever to find it. The people you see on this thread are former LDS, Baptist, Episcopalian and Methodist.
It’ll Get there.
I will tell my take away from this week.
There is an old joke and I always thought it was true.
Methodist are working their way to heaven with their system.
In fact, Methodists are but one of many Christian franchises that sprung from the Protestant movement and the word “Methodist” does not imply working your wsy to or climbing a ladder of hierachy to heaven.
It is in fact very similar to the Baptists(I am Baptist).
Methodist is a term to describe a way of living in daily prayer and a fulfillment of the greatest command of Charity.
Now the next time my Mom says that, I can offer the truth and dispell an old rumor.
How 'bout the ones who go around saying, "I had a burning in my bosom from the Holy Ghost telling me that Joseph Smith is a twoooo prophet of the Lord and I KNOW the church is twooo."?
You think none of these folks had a " had a little dish off to the side"...and what about Joseph Smith's literal "banquet"??
You have just reminded me of a question I need to ask of the Presbyterians next time I get a chance. My husband made notice that there is a symbol on their churches (at least the one he pointed out) that resembles greatly that of the Templars symbol. I would like to know more about its meaning.
Hmmm.... I have never heard that one and my quick research shows that Presbyterians weren’t to keen on Masons and their writings against Masonry date back to the 17th Century.
Ask your husband about this symbol and get back to me.
I was introduced to this book through work years ago, I had no idea who Covey but as I read it, my inner radar screamed something is not right about this....I later found out Covey was a Mormon. Not a bad book,but it does reek of Mormon good works, however Mormons do not believe the same thing Christians do.
I was introduced to this book through work years ago, I had no idea who Covey but as I read it, my inner radar screamed something is not right about this....I later found out Covey was a Mormon. Not a bad book,but it does reek of Mormon good works, however Mormons do not believe the same thing Christians do.
He said he thinks it was Presbyterian. Will have to look next time we drive by. It is a grail with a red bar cross at an angle.
MORMONism has been saying they, too, are Christians.
But WHY; considering the LDS' past history?
“I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother,
Joseph Smith continues: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses, 18:172).President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses, 10:127).James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.196).
Here we go!!
LIke that, but the colors were reversed. It’s just an interest because we do medieval reenactment, so my husband studies the Hospitalers and the Templars.
Can’t find it.
WHen I go past during the day in the next week I will try to remember to get a photo to post. It was just a point of interest for us.
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