Providence Theological Seminary: New Covenant Theology based

Providence Theological Seminary was started specifically to educate pastors from a New Covenant Theology perspective, since there was no seminary that catered for NCT.

Providence Theological Seminary from Jerry Downs on Vimeo.

To learn more about New Covenant Theology (NCT), start with this introduction.

Do you need good Biblical training, for free?

If you are like me, you constantly want to expand your Biblical knowledge, but (and this is a big BUT), you would like to know that your knowledge of the Bible is growing in the right direction and that you are interpreting the Bible incorrectly. This is where solid Biblical training is very important. There simply are too many Christians, and I am sad to say pastors too, who have never studied the Scriptures in a structured format (or they very rarely do).

This is where Biblical Training comes in. BiblicalTraining.org is a service to the Christian community which endeavours to bring Biblical training up to the seminary level, to the ordinary Christian, FOR FREE!

BiblicalTraining.org has three levels of training available.

1. Foundations
Here the brand new Christian is helped to take his first steps in His journey with Christ. Subjects like the following are taught:
The Story of Jesus by Dr. Robert Mounce
Now that I Believe. Your First Steps with God by Dr. William Mounce

2. LAMP
This level of training is for those interested in being educated laypersons or lay-leaders in the church. Some of the classes available are:
New Testament Survey by Dr. Craig Blomberg
Systematic Theology by Dr. Bruce Ware
Church History by Dr. Gordon Isaac
How to Study Your Bible by Dr. Mark Strauss
History of Philosophy and Christian Thought by Dr. Ronald Nash

3. Advanced Studies
Most of the LAMP classes have a seminary-level counterpart in the Advanced Studies level. Some of the courses available are:
Old Testament Theology by Dr. Paul House
New Testament Theology by Dr. Frank Thielman
Biblical Greek by Dr. William Mounce
Christian Apologetics by Dr. Ronald Nash
Advanced Worldview Analysis by Dr. Ronald Nash

What is so great about these classes is that they can either be listened to online or they can be downloaded in MP3 format. Many classes come with outlines, transcripts, etc. If extra reading is necessary, you will be informed which books are necessary (these you have to purchase yourself).

Some of the lecturers are of the best on the planet. Men such as: Dr. John Piper, Dr. Bruce Ware, Dr. Craig Blomberg, Dr. William Mounce, Dr. Ronald Nash, and many others.

You will not get better Biblical training than this, and on top of it all, it is FREE!

So, don't delay! Visit BiblicalTraining.org NOW!

U.K. Parents to face court for removing children from gay classes

Read more about it here.

Dad, your son is watching you!

Professor says Christians are religiously insane

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Dr. Lee Carter, an atheistic, soup-to-humans believing professor, said that Christians are religiously insane, that Christian students' parents lied to them and that Christians would nail Jesus to the cross if He ever came back. In fact, he is such an insulting man that he actually said that Christians "would be the ones who would be nailing that son of a bitch back to the cross."

Finish reading the press release here.

Tomorrow's People School

My wife, Charlaine, bless her heart, is a teacher for grade 3s, and also head of department for the junior phase (grade 0-3) at her school, Tomorrow's People Primary School, here in Pretoria, South Africa.

It is a Christian school for disabled children of all types. They accept normal children, children with learning disabilities, ADD, autistic, Down Syndrome, and up to children with cerebral palsy.

The idea behind the school is to normalise their education as much as possible, and even to get some to progress to the standard of normal schools. Obviously it depends very much on the individual child.

Obviously, schools like these are not cheap to run and they are always in need of one thing or another.

DISCLAIMER: I was not asked or approached by anyone from the school, not even my wife, to garner support for the school. I simply have noticed a need in the school.

A school like this needs finances to buy specialised computers with special software, for those that do not have the ability to write with their hands and therefore needs to be able to do class work on these special computers with special keyboards.

As a Christian school, Biblical principles are followed in their treatment of children. No child is seen as just another student.

My wife had only 6 children in her class this year (2007), as they were the difficult children in terms of abilities and disabilities. So many times my wife came home thinking that she was not making an impact on these children, just to be amazed a few days later at what they actually achieved.

Because one class could have children of such vastly different capabilities, teachers need to be acutely aware of how to handle each child's education. This calls for teachers with special abilities. That, in turn, leads to higher salaries, which the school can't afford, as their budget does not allow for it, since the school tries to keep school fees as low as possible to keep it affordable for the parents.

It would be nice to find sponsors for this school to be able to buy the specialised computer equipment for these special children, and also to be able to attract specialised teachers into the school.

If you have contact with anyone that may perhaps help in sponsorship, it would be greatly appreciated. Simply point them my way, and I will put them in contact with the owners of the school. It really doesn't matter if the sponsorship comes from within or from outside of South Africa.

Thanks for your time!

Grace Seminary for Women

A new seminary, called Grace Seminary for Women has started.

Like me, you probably asked the question, "Why a seminary for women only?" This is their answer:

"The Apostle Paul commended Lois and Eunice for teaching and training Timothy in the faith. Later, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he instructed Christian women to train their children as well as younger women in both doctrine and practice in order to better follow the Lord Jesus. The goal at Grace Seminary for Women is to equip and enable Christian women everywhere to hold the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God in one hand being enabled to defend the faith while hold the hand of a child or guiding a young woman in the faith, teaching and training them in the fear and admonition of the Lord."

An Interview with Dr. Wayne Grudem

I have long been an admirer of Dr. Wayne Grudem, well known for his Systematic Theology. It is one of the best written systematic theology textbooks I know of. To purchase this volume in South Africa, visit Kalahari.net, and to purchase it in the USA, visit Amazon.com.

Anyhow, Adrian Warnock has done an interview with Dr. Grudem, and so far has posted four parts of the interview.

Visit the links below for the four parts of the interview:
INTERVIEW - Wayne Grudem, Part One
INTERVIEW - Wayne Grudem, Part Two - Systematic Theology and Controversy
INTERVIEW - Wayne Grudem, Part Three - Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism
INTERVIEW - Wayne Grudem, Part Four - Ethical Trajectories, Feminism, and Homosexuality

Academic Steroids

It seems to me that the day is closer than we thought when Anti-Doping agencies will have to do random testing before and after academic tests and exams. Parents are starting to dope their children in order to perform better academically.

Dr. Al Mohler reports on this new phenomenon in which parents attempt to improve their children's academic performance by feeding them pills!

Just thinking...

Christian Information - 03 July 2006

Christian Information

03 July 2006 

 

Contents

Sexual Depravity

New Study Seen to Support 'Born Gay' Theory
Commentary: Media provides cover for assault on traditional marriage (Must read! )
From Homophobia to Homofascism
If Gay Brother Research is Correct It Shows Homosexuality is Abnormal (Must read! )

Science

Hidebound Nonsense
The blood-stained 'century of evolution'
Fossil evidence for alleged apemen—Part 1: the genus Homo

 

Education

Valedictorian Complains of 'Hollow' Public School Education (Must read!)

Theology/Philosophy

Is Romans 7 the normal Christian life?
Adam's Fall and Mine

 

Heresy

The Trinity, the Definition of Chalcedon, and Oneness Theology ( Must read!)

Pro-Life Issues

Hey Kids, I Didn't Think We Were Getting Enough Time Together, So I Killed Your Baby Brother
Gates-Buffett Linkup Troubles Pro-Life Activists
Anne Lamott Publicly Confesses to Murder (Excellent!)

Sermons/Inspirational

Weber the Friendly Geist
I'M ON A MAN HUNT (Must read!)
Fools
The whole "pearl of great price" or just some of it?

Liberals

Planet of the Apes (Must read!)
Congress, Attorneys Scramble to Defend Historic Symbols of Faith

Politics

Explore Importance of Voting Your Values
So what if I gained from affirmative action — it's still wrong (Must read!)
The second wrong

 

Miscellaneous

Keeping pastors accountable (Must read!)
Website of the week...

Quote of the week...

 

Sexual Depravity

New Study Seen to Support 'Born Gay' Theory
by Patrick Goodenough

A new study on homosexuality is being used to back up the contention that sexual orientation is determined in the womb and not by sociological factors.

North American researchers say a study of almost 1,000 Canadian men found a link between homosexuality and the number of older brothers a man has. Such an association has been reported before, but in the past left open the possibility that both biological or sociological factors may play a role.
Read more...

Commentary: Media provides cover for assault on traditional marriage (Must read!)
A Commentary for CNN
by Dr. James Dobson

On June 7, the U.S . Senate voted for a second time on an amendment to define marriage in the U.S. Constitution as being exclusively between one man and one woman.

Again this year, the amendment failed to pass by a wide margin, falling 18 votes shy of a required two-thirds majority. The final tally was 49 in favor, 48 opposed.
Read more...

From Homophobia to Homofascism
by S. Michael Craven

For those of you familiar with my thoughts and writings on this subject you know that I am very cautious in regard to the manner in which Christians express their opposition the homosexual agenda. I have always been very careful to distinguish between the "homosexual agenda," or the political movement, and the person, made in the image of God, who is trapped in the sin of homosexuality. I never want to be perceived as a "grace-less" Christian who opposes hurting people that desperately need the love of Christ. However, we are increasingly witnessing a subtle but dangerous transition from what was once supposedly an appeal for "equal and fair" treatment to what can now only be described as the tyrannical demand of submission to the homosexual agenda.
Read more...

If Gay Brother Research is Correct It Shows Homosexuality is Abnormal (Must read! )
by John-Henry Westen

The mainstream media resurrected the specter of the 'gay gene' theory this week in covering a Canadian study on the origin of homosexuality.  "Homosexuality influenced by biological factors, Canadian researcher says," proclaimed the CBC, the first to break the story on Monday. CNN was quick to jump on the bandwagon with "Study: Sexual orientation of men determined before birth."

In reality, however, the study was most intriguing for what the mainstream media failed to cover.  Namely that, if true, the study suggests that homosexuality is a congenital abnormality, and shares its origins with other disorders developed in the womb.
Read more...

 

Science

 

Hidebound Nonsense

Christianity and the Origins of Science

by Charles Colson

 

Earlier this year, Britain's Channel Four aired a two-part special entitled "The Root of All Evil." No, it wasn't about money, greed or materialism. Nor was it about racism and other forms of hatred. The "root" was religion, specifically Christianity.

 

The special featured Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, arguably the most famous apologist for the Darwinian worldview. While Dawkins may be an expert on Darwin, it's clear that he knows little about history, especially the history of Christianity.

Read more...

The blood-stained 'century of evolution'
by Carl Wieland

Those attacking Christianity sometimes point to the many religious wars and atrocities perpetrated in the name of Christ and the Church. They forget that not everyone self-labeled 'Christian' truly follows Christ. Also, that many times more people have been killed this century, most by their own governments, than in all religious conflicts, ever.1 And this slaughter happened because of philosophies openly hostile to biblical Christianity, and flowing directly from evolutionary belief.

Nazism openly proclaimed its dependence on Darwin.2 It was right and moral for the strongest race to survive; to have pity for the weak was to defy nature's laws. It is doubtful whether this brutal ideology would have so captivated the nation that gave us Bach and Luther if not for the 'scientific' underpinning of evolution.
Read more...

Fossil evidence for alleged apemen—Part 1: the genus Homo
by Peter Line

Paleoanthropologist Milford Wolpoff writes: 'In my view, "objectivity" does not exist in science. Even in the act of gathering data, decisions about what data to record and what to ignore reflect the framework of the scientist.' Evolutionists John Gribbin and Jeremy Cherfas acknowledge: '… we must admit that the history of palaeontology does not read as a shining example of the pursuit of truth, especially where it was the truth of man's origins that was at issue'. They later say: '… we do know that the popular image of the scientist as a dispassionate seeker after the truth could not be further from reality'.
Read more...

Education

Valedictorian Complains of 'Hollow' Public School Education ( Must read!)

by Kate Monaghan

The valedictorian of a Blue Ribbon-awarded high school in New Jersey has left teachers and administrators with a sour taste in their mouths after using his June 20 valedictory speech to describe his education as "hollow" and one filled with "countless hours wasted in those halls."

"I felt like the most important questions were not asked." said Kareem Elnahal, the top rated student at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, N.J. "Things like ethics, things that defined who we are, were ignored so in that way I thought it was hollow." he told Cybercast News Service Wednesday.
Read more...

 

Theology/Philosophy

 

Is Romans 7 the normal Christian life?

by Phil Johnson

 

This excerpt is from "The Fainting Warrior," a sermon preached January 23rd, 1859, at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens. I chose this excerpt today because Spurgeon's text here was Romans 7:24-25, and I'm preaching on Romans 7 this weekend.

 

Of course, one of the tough questions people always raise about that passage is whether Paul was describing his experience as a mature apostle—because if he struggled with sin the way he describes here, there's little hope any of us will attain any kind of perfection in this life. If Paul was calling himself "wretched" as a believer, this text more or less deals a death-blow to perfectionist doctrine of every kind.

Read more...

Adam's Fall and Mine
by R.C. Sproul

ANOTHER difficult question that shrouds the doctrine of predestination is the question of how our sinful nature can be inherited from Adam. If we are born with a fallen nature, if we are born in sin, if we are born in a state of moral inability, how can God hold us responsible for our sins?

We remember that original sin does not refer to the first sin but to the result of that first sin. The Scriptures speak repeatedly of sin and death entering the world through "one man's transgression." As a result of Adam's sin, all men are now sinners. The Fall was great. It had radical repercussions for the entire human race.
Read more...

 

Heresy

The Trinity, the Definition of Chalcedon, and Oneness Theology (Must read!)
by James White

[Editor's Comment: James White here writes about people that most of you know and perhaps even think are wonderful preachers or worship leaders. Some of them are: T.D. Jakes, Tommy Tenney, Gwen Shamblin, Philips, Craig and Dean. If you deny that the issue of the Trinity is fundamental and essential to who God is, then you assume that the very nature of God is unessential! I am sad to say that too many charismatics have fallen for these false teachers! ]

The doctrine of the Trinity requires a balanced view of Scripture. That is, since the doctrine itself is derived from more than one stream of evidence, it requires that all the evidence be weighed and given authority. If any of the foundational pillars of the doctrine (monotheism, the deity of Christ, the person of the Holy Spirit, etc.) be ignored or even rejected, the resulting doctrinal system will differ markedly from the orthodox position, and will lose its claim to be called "biblical." For centuries various small groups have rejected the doctrine of the Trinity. In modern times these groups have frequently attracted quite a following; Jehovah's Witnesses as the modern heirs of Arius have over 3 million people actively engaged in their work; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) are heirs of ancient polytheism and mystery religions, and nearly 10 million adhere to their teachings. A smaller number of people, however, cling to the third-century position of modalism - the teachings of men such as Sabellius or Praxeas or Noetus. Though fewer in number, it is this position, popularly called the "Oneness" teaching, that prompts this paper's clarification of the Biblical position regarding the doctrine of the Trinity and the Person of Jesus Christ. Oneness writers strongly deny the doctrine of the Trinity.
Read more...

 

Pro-Life Issues

Hey Kids, I Didn't Think We Were Getting Enough Time Together, So I Killed Your Baby Brother
by Freeman Hunt

This is the strangest editorial I've read in a long time. It begins thus:

The conservative politics of the Bush administration forced me to have an abortion I didn't want. Well, not literally, but let me explain.

Oh, please do...

My husband and I both work, and like many couples, we're starved for time together. One Thursday evening this past March, we managed to snag some rare couple time and, in a sudden rush of passion, I failed to insert my diaphragm.

Hey, wait a minute. . . I thought that this was going to be the Bush administration's fault. . .
Read more...

Gates-Buffett Linkup Troubles Pro-Life Activists
The billionaires' combining of forces almost certain to mean millions more for abortion, population-control groups.
by Pete Winn

Billionaire financier Warren Buffett announced this week he is going to leave 80 percent of his estate — more than $35 billion — to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It's a donation that is troubling to the pro-life community, according to Joseph D'Agostino of the Population Research Institute.

"It's very scary," D'Agostino told CitizenLink. "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has very close ties and gives a lot of money to pro-abortion groups, such as Planned Parenthood, and for population control around the world."
Read more...

Anne Lamott Publicly Confesses to Murder ( Excellent!)
One of the Emergent Church's Darlings
by Ron Gleason

Anne Lamott belongs to the elite. She writes novels that people who are in psychotherapy read while they're in their analyst's waiting room (Hard Laughter, Rosie, All New People, Operating Instructions, Bird by Bird); she has published two books ostensibly dealing with faith—any resemblance between what she writes and what the Bible says is purely coincidental (Traveling Mercies; Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith)—, and the apostate Christianity Today describes her as "Jesusy." Cute. The word "Jesusy" applied to someone like Anne Lamott makes you wonder where CT is getting its journalists.
Read more...

 

Sermons/Inspirational

Weber the Friendly Geist
Christianity and the Rise of Capitalism
by Charles Colson

A century ago, the German sociologist Max Weber wrote The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. In it, he argued that the "manner of life well adapted to the peculiarities of capitalism" was the product of certain Reformed ideas.

Weber's thesis was popular with secular academics and among some Christians who cited his arguments as part of their cultural apologetic for Christianity.

It's an elegant theory, but only in part true. Much good, of course, like the Protestant Work Ethic came out of the Reformation.
Read more...

Fools
by R.J. Rushdoony

The root of the fool's trouble is spiritual, not mental. The fool loves his folly, and he keeps returning to it, no matter what one does to keep him away from it. "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly" (Prov. 26:11). Fellowship with fools is destructive: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Prov. 13:20).
Read more...

I'M ON A MAN HUNT (Must read!)
by Dave Daubenmire

We can win you know?

I'm not talking about Iraq. I'm talking about America, the cultural war, the fight for the soul of this nation, the war against Christianity. The battle for our country.

I'm convinced we can still win.

Unfortunately, very few of us believe it. But, like the Marines, I'm looking for a few good men. Men of the cloth, men of Faith, men who will stand on the Word, men who will fight for the Truth, men who will fight for their children, men who will not blink, men who have not sold out to the government, men who identify themselves as Christians rather than Republicans.
Read more...

The whole "pearl of great price" or just some of it?
by William Dicks

I was listening to The Listener's Bible (ESV) on my way to work this morning. The reading was a very familiar part of the Bible. John 3!

It struck me how many people who read this chapter or preach on it switch off after verse 17.
Read more...

 

Liberals

Planet of the Apes (Must read!)
Spain leads a long-time-in-coming legal revolution.
by Richard G. Stevens

After a quiescence lasting half a millennium, Spain has distinguished itself by a return to the legal genius demonstrated by Francisco de Vitoria and Francisco Suarez in the 16th century. An eminent member of the Green party, and so of the Socialist Coalition now governing Spain, Francisco Garrido (note the name — is this the hand of God, or what?) has proposed legislation that would make Spain the first nation in the world to "give chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and other great apes some of the fundamental rights granted to human beings." Read more...

Congress, Attorneys Scramble to Defend Historic Symbols of Faith
How much longer will America be "One nation under God?"
by Pete Winn

The upcoming 4th of July Independence Day holiday finds pro-family groups working hard against uphill odds to protect important symbols of America's heritage and faith.

'One Nation Under God'

Members of the House Wednesday passed and sent the Senate the first piece of what they are calling the American Values Agenda -- H.R. 42, the Freedom to Display the Flag Act, sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md.
Read more...

 

Politics

 

Explore Importance of Voting Your Values

by Wendy Cloyd

 

"Values voters" heavily influenced the 2004 election, not only returning President Bush to office but passing 11 marriage-protection amendments and electing seven new pro-lifers to the Senate.

 

To help even more Americans join the influential ranks of these ballot-casters, Focus on the Family has launched its iVoteValues.org Web site. Its goal: to motivate people concerned about the moral issues at play in the culture to be involved in getting values-oriented candidates elected to public office.

Read more...

So what if I gained from affirmative action — it's still wrong ( Must read!)

by La Shawn Barber

"…We have seen the High Court of the country declare that discrimination based on race was repugnant to the Constitution, and therefore void." — President Lyndon Johnson, 1965

On Monday, June 23, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court disregarded the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and upheld the University of Michigan Law School's race preference policy.
Read more...

The second wrong
Why affirmative action cannot lead toward racial reconciliation
by Marvin Olasky

California referendum, Texas case, Congressional legislation-affirmative action is being debated among God's children throughout the land once again, with learned discourses on both sides. I'm not a very good "briefer," as they say in Washington, because I tend to throw complications at politicians who want simple answers, but on this issue I can keep it simple.

Here goes: God is our father. I'm a father too. And although I can in no way fathom the depths of God's mind, I can know what God thinks about race from reading the Bible. I can get a sense of his emphasis on the importance of evenhanded treatment for all his children from the way my children-created in God's image-explode when they believe they have been treated unfairly.
Read more...

 

Miscellaneous

Keeping pastors accountable (Must read!)
by William Dicks

It always amazes me that in the church, where people are to be the safest possible, one can find some of the most horrendous abuses of the very people that the church is to keep safe!

Just look at the sexual abuse cases in the church, from Roman Catholic to Independent Baptist. It makes me sick to the stomach that men who were trusted by the church, family, friends and little children could sink so law as to molest little children.
Read more...

 

Website of the week...

Grace and Truth Audio Sermons

 

Quote of the week...

"The theologian's task is not to divert the ears with chatter, but to strengthen consciences by teaching things true, sure, and profitable."

John Calvin,
Institutes of the Christian Religion 1.14.4

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"My 'top notch' school education was not good enough"

This is what a valedictorian, Kareem Elnahal, told his teachers and administrators in his valedictory speech on June 20 at one of America's top 1,200 schools, Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, N.J.

He said he felt that his education was hollow and that most important questions were not even asked!

On the other hand, Daniel Loggi, superintendent of the Atlantic County, N.J., School District, said he felt that Elnahal went about saying what he did in the wrong way. According to him, the administration never had a chance to look at Elnahal's speech beforehand, to either approve or disapprove. That is the whole crux of the matter! This speech would not have been approved. THAT is why the administration was upset with Elnahal. He did not tow the line!

I wish more people would stand up to all this low grade education like Kareem Elnahal did.

Read more here.

Just thinking...

Coocoo University

Ever heard of coocoo university? Al Mohler tells us all about it!

 

Just thinking...

 

Proud dad!

Two nights ago we attended my daughter's annual awards evening for her phase in school.

 

Before we left for the event, my wife clearly spelt out to my daughter that we love her no matter what. We do not love her because of awards she may or may not get and that no matter what, she will still be our daughter and we will always love her. My wife was trying to prepare our daughter for an evening in which we really thought that she would not get any awards.

 

Well, the evening progressed and the first awards (Merit Award for Academics) handed out for each class in the phase (senior phase for primary school - grades 4 - 6) were for those kids that received an average of 75% or higher in their academics for the year. We were not that surprised when Nicole received this award since we thought that she would at least fall into this group.

 

When all the grades were done with the Merit Award for Academics, it was anounced that the next awards were what the evening was really about since these were the top awards to be handed out. It was the Order of Merit Award for Academics. This is handed out to the top three students in each class. The top three were called in the first class and we all applauded enthusiastically! They called them out with the third student in order of merit first. Next came my daughter's class.

 

"Third in order of merit is... Nicole Dicks!" I almost fell off my chair! The parents sitting around us laughed at me and my wife that we were so surprised! We didn't expect this, so our camera was not even ready. We ended not getting a picture of the principle handing out the certificate to her. My daughter's best friend was first in their class.

 

The reason why we were so surprised is that at the end of the third school term a list was released via the school newsletter of the top three students in each class. Our daughter was not on that list! She must have worked really hard this last term and overtook the person that was third after the third term!

 

All I know is that my wife worked really hard with my daughter in this last term, especially on my daughter's assignments to make sure that Nicole knew exactly what was expected of her. My wife also helped Nicole to study and to memorize important facts. I on the other hand, helped Nicole with maths, science and history.

 

So, all in all, Nicole did it! She made her parents proud!

 

She accomplished something that I never accomplished at school! To me school existed so that I could participate in sport.

 

Congratulations, Nicole! You certainly accomplished more than your daddy ever did!

 

Just thinking...

South Africa and Communism

Communism has long been shown as a dead dog! It is a system that goes against human dignity in that it does not see people as individuals created by God as individuals. All that Communism sees are a bunch of workers/revolutionaries that can forward its own deceptive and underhanded purposes, or the opposite bunch that must be conquered and subjected to the same deceptive and underhanded purposes.

 

It seems to me that the communistic ideals of the ANC here in South Africa are starting to rear its ugly head more and more. Of all places, it is showing itself in what must be the most vulnerable division of government... public schools. In a news article called Mpuma shames 'dunce' schools, education MEC for Mpumalanga Siphosezwe Masango voiced his opinion about what he sees as proper education in South Africa.

 

He is reported as urging teachers "to indoctrinate pupils with 'revolutionary' zeal and Africanist political ideology." In his own words:

 

"This has to happen because South Africa must produce a truly patriotic intelligentsia that is an unapologetic disciple of the African Renaissance and the New Partnership for Africa's Development... Our education [system] must therefore deliver [pupils] that (sic) cadres who are moulded and baptised in our revolutionary ideas."

 

If teachers embrace the idea of politically indoctrinating pupils, Masango would view them as "progressive" patriots.

 

For those who are so enamoured with the ANC as the rulers of South Africa, this is typical communistic, revolutionary speech! I have never fallen for the idea that the ANC is non-Communistic and that they really have the best for this country in mind. Communism does not think in terms of what is best for the people of a country. It is what is best for those in power.

 

Communism believes in revolution, not in profitable and beneficial change to the people. In communistic revolution, the attempt is to break down in some form or another to make the playing fields even. Make everyone poor, or make everyone stupid! Once they have accomplished this they can start producing non-thinking clones earmarked for what can be called modern "slavery." In this way the masses can be controlled because they have been indoctrinated from young to only think and act based on the government's mould of revolutionary ideas. Free speech will then be seen as a crime against the revolution and will be harshly dealt with. On the other hand, free speech will still be enshrined in the constitution; however, this free speech will come from indoctrinated drones!

 

An education system that does not purposefully strive for students to become thinkers in their own rights, is no education system at all. In this case Masango should be called the MEC for Indoctrination. It will NOT be education! True advancement in education can only come when the students are taught to think for themselves. If all are indoctrinated to think the same, there will be zero growth in academics. South Africa will then lag even further behind the rest of the world than they already are.

 

Just thinking...

South Africa and racism

South Africa has been an example to the world since 1994 on how to deal with different races and so-called racism. This is of course from the rest of the world's point of view.

 

However, the latest issue coming up in South Africa is that a year service may be in the pipeline for new teachers. Teachers are already so well under-paid in South Africa; now with this service year, it will even be worse. I have a major issue with this idea, but that is not what this blog message is about.

 

Racism is alive and well in South Africa. Even in the department of education. Education director-general Duncan Hindle yesterday said one issue in South African education is the "whitening" of the education profession. "Whitening?" One would think that after the big hoo-haa of the "first" democratic elections in South Africa in 1994 that after 11 years of "democracy" statements like these would be on the decrease. Yet, it seems to me that their is no waning of the racist card! Hindle said an increasing number of mainly white female students had studied teaching in the past couple of years. For this he wants some type of balance. The fact is that he is simply making racist comments. If they wanted balance they should have thought of making teaching a viable profession. It is almost impossible for a teacher on his or her own to make a living in this country. Housing and cars are ridiculously expensive while household goods like food and appliances just keep on growing in price. Public transport still remains a dangerous option to consider.

 

With the government's push of people of "colour" above "whites" in many high powered positions, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that someone with no heart for the education of children would want to sit with 40 children--not one's own--with the little pay that teachers are getting. A woman of "colour" would rather go where there is better pay, since she is likely to get such a position instead of the "whiteys," than live on the edge of survival!

 

It takes someone with a heart for children and their education to put up with the hardships of teaching 40 undisciplined children and low pay. I do not know about the ideas of black women, but among white women, teaching has always been a profession of honour and most of these women had a heart for teaching children.

 

Instead of racist remarks like Hindle's, it would be better to give parents the tools of bringing up their children with a love for other people, and so create a culture of wanting to see our children grow up better educated. In this way, among all race groups, youngsters might once again reconsider the profession of teaching, since they would have a heart for others and see the benefits of teaching children.

 

It is time to stop preferring one race over another. As a nation South Africa should work together to create a people that can live together in harmony with high levels of tolerance. By looking for quotas in the workplace, hate will be engendered in the hearts of those who are losing out in the deal. It simply means that not all people are equal in the eyes of the law.

 

The question is: "Does the current ANC government see all its people as equal, or do they with some slight of hand make some people more equal than others?"

 

Just thinking...