BPR Mailing List Digest: 06/02/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
June 2, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | June, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("John in NZ")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 13:55:12 +1200

Funny isn't it? Or is it? We westerners have no real concept of a
relationship between sin and the weather. How paltry our thinking is, how
narrow our understanding of relaity is. How ignorant we who are so educated
are.

2SAM 21:1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three
successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It
is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the
Gibeonites to death."

DEUT 32:15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy
and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his
Savior.

DEUT 32:16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him
with their detestable idols.

DEUT 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, which are not God- gods they had not
known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.

DEUT 32:18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who
gave you birth.

DEUT 32:19 The LORD saw this and rejected them because he was angered by
his sons and daughters.

DEUT 32:20 "I will hide my face from them," he said, "and see what their
end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are
unfaithful.

DEUT 32:21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their
worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I
will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.

DEUT 32:22 For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the
realm of death below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set
afire the foundations of the mountains.

DEUT 32:23 "I will heap calamities upon them and spend my arrows against
them.

DEUT 32:24 I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence
and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the
venom of vipers that glide in the dust.

John in NZ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shophar_Sho_Good" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Sent: Friday, 2 June 2000 5:18 am
Subject: [BPR] - Unnatural Disasters

> Unnatural Disasters
>
>
http://www.oneworld.net/anydoc2.cgi?url=http://www.tve.org/earthreport/thisw
> eek/index.html
>
> The three fold increase in the number of disasters over the past ten years
> has set alarm bells ringing.
>
> They used to be called "Acts of God", now more and more people are
beginning
> to wonder whether the Almighty is really the culprit.

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Tim")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 06:31:53 -0500

> DEUT 32:24 I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence
> and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the
> venom of vipers that glide in the dust.

The famine being experienced now.

Amos 8:11, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a
famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of
hearing the words of the LORD:"

Amos 8:12, "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even
to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and
shall not find it."

Tim

----- Original Message -----
From: "John in NZ" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2000 8:55 PM
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters

> Funny isn't it? Or is it? We westerners have no real concept of a
> relationship between sin and the weather. How paltry our thinking is, how
> narrow our understanding of relaity is. How ignorant we who are so
educated
> are.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russian Parliament Considers Putin's Controversial Regional Plan
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 08:35:12 -0400

Russian Parliament Considers Putin's Controversial Regional Plan

MOSCOW, Jun 1, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Russia's State Duma
lower house of parliament on Wednesday began to consider controversial
legislation that will hand President Vladimir Putin much greater power over
the country's regions.

The three laws, which the Kremlin hopes to rush through the Duma by July
7, would notably give Putin the right to sack regional governors and
assemblies and strip local chiefs of their seats in the upper house of
parliament.

Together with a decree appointing seven "super envoys" to enforce central
authority across Russia's 11 time zones, the proposals mark the biggest
shake-up of government since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"This is an historic session," said deputy Yelena Mizulina from the Yaboloko
liberal opposition party, as the president's representative in the State Duma,
Alexander Kotenkov, presented the first of the three draft laws.

She expressed support for the measures, which Putin says are necessary to
rein in Russia's 89 regions. They obtained considerable autonomy under
former President Boris Yeltsin, often thumbing their noses at directives from
Moscow.

"We have to vote today for Russia's unity, for a federal power that is closer to
the regions," said the deputy.

But Putin's move to re-establish Kremlin control over the provinces, launched
within days of his inauguration on May 7, has evoked concerns that the
former KGB colonel is bent on authoritarian rule.

Five of the officials who will monitor the regions' compliance with federal laws
have been chosen from the ranks of the army or the security services.

Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, a key power-broker under Yeltsin, sent an
open letter to Putin warning him that his policy was undemocratic and
marked a throwback to Soviet times, Interfax news agency reported
Tuesday.

Putin has already alarmed Western governments by his attitude to the
media, after a heavy-handed tax police raid on the country's top independent
media group, MEDIA-Most, which has been critical of the Kremlin chief.

The Duma must approve three readings of the legislation, which will then go
to the upper house Federation Council, where it could face stiff opposition if
governors try to resist losing their seats.

If vetoed by the Federation Council, the laws would need to be approved by a
constitutional majority of 300 in the 450-member Duma to enter the statute
book. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=164949&text

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - 'Zen Judge' Brings Peace to Courtroom
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 08:47:15 -0400

Thursday June 1 8:29 AM ET

'Zen Judge' Brings Peace to Courtroom

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Aromatherapy? Soft lights? Soothing string
music? It sounds like a new age seance, but it's the new way of doling out
justice, Brazilian-style.

``Most courtrooms are battlefields, but with aromatherapy, music, diffused
lighting and a little light green paint on the walls, we have turned it into a
place of peace,'' Judge Roberto Portugal, also known as the ``Zen Judge'',
said of his courtroom.

He told Reuters the peaceful, calm atmosphere was helping feuding parties
in the civil court in Brazil's southern city of Curitiba reconcile their
differences.

About 70 percent of litigants settle out of court now compared with 50
percent before he performed the makeover.

``I sit down with these people and serve coffee and cookies and we talk their
fights through in a calm environment,'' Portugal said.

Colleagues have adopted some of Portugal's ideas and may ask the city to
transform all courtrooms with new lighting, fresh paint and stereo systems.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000601/od/zen_1.html

Link via:
http://www.newsviewtoday.com

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Bev")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 12:10:16 -0400

John.
You might be interested in the book by John McTernan.: Gods Final Warning .
It is about all of the earthquakes and the tornadoes and all of that .
The Rabbi"s in Jerusalem are calling for prayer because Israel did not keep
their treaty with Lebanon and they said in the times of the old testament
that when they did not keep a treaty they had drought for 3 years and that
goes along with all of the water giveaways Barak has done.
Just a thought
Beverly

[Moderator: For more info on McTernan's book see
http://philologos.org/guide/books/mcternan.john.1.htm ]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2000 7:31 AM
Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters

> > DEUT 32:24 I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence
> > and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts,
the
> > venom of vipers that glide in the dust.
>
> The famine being experienced now.
>
> Amos 8:11, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a
> famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of
> hearing the words of the LORD:"
>
> Amos 8:12, "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even
> to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and
> shall not find it."
>
> Tim
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John in NZ" <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> To: BPR Mailing List <bpr-list@philologos.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2000 8:55 PM
> Subject: [BPR] - Re: Unnatural Disasters
>
>
> > Funny isn't it? Or is it? We westerners have no real concept of a
> > relationship between sin and the weather. How paltry our thinking is,
how
> > narrow our understanding of relaity is. How ignorant we who are so
> educated
> > are.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Real World News - 06/02/00
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 11:40:14 -0500

Selected Items from
Real World News
06/02/00

NUDE SWORDSMAN 'NOT GUILTY BUT INSANE'
A naked man who attacked members of a church congregation with a
Samurai sword is found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of
insanity. Eden Strang, 26, attacked worshippers at St Andrew's
Roman Catholic Church in Thornton Heath, south London, because he
believed they were demons. Eleven churchgoers, including an
elderly nun, were seriously injured when they were slashed with a
sword and a knife.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_774000/774576.stm

CHRISTIAN URBAN LEGENDS ABOUND ON THE NET
Every urban legend provokes an emotional response in those who
believe it, be it horror, hilarity, disgust or outrage. The best
ones "hit us where we live," one of the reasons they persist in
spite of their falsity. There are several long-running legends of
this kind among Christians. A few of them are noted here.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/library/weekly/aa05
31
00a.htm

STUDY: AMERICANS SPIRITUALLY ROOTLESS
A new statistical portrait paints Americans as spiritually
rootless. Americans are a deeply religious people, but they are
not a theological people, according to sociologist Alan Wolfe.
Wolfe, who interviewed a cross-section of Americans to determine
their spiritual "temperature," said public opinion polls show that
more Americans believe in heaven than believe in hell. "They don't
think that the specific doctrines of specific denominations are all
that
important to them," he said. "That's one reason why they often switch
from one religion to another." This "religiosity" promotes tolerance
and has become increasingly hostile to evangelical Christians,
according
to Tom Pedigo, who heads the National Association Against Christian
Discrimination. "When I say 'evangelical Christians,' (I mean) those
of
us who believe the Bible and have a set of absolutes and believe in
right and wrong," Pedigo said.
http://www.lifelinenews.net/candm/candm1/candm1.html

'THIRD WAY' GETS WORLD HEARING
The set of political ideas, known loosely as "The Third Way" will
have its widest airing yet with world leaders in Berlin on
Saturday. For President Clinton, who has only a few months left
in office, this meeting offers a chance to establish himself as the
father of a new global political model. The meeting is being billed
as
a discussion of "progressive governance in the 21st century". For
advocates of the Third Way, it is a chance to move beyond the old
dichotomy of left and right towards a progressive new political
philosophy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_771000/771608.stm

BARAK VOWS JERUSALEM WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED
Prime Minister Ehud Barak said last night that Jerusalem will
remain united under Israeli sovereignty and will never be divided.
Barak, speaking on Ammunition Hill, at the official celebrations to
mark
yesterday's Jerusalem Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the
city's 1967 unification, said that the Holy City should not be
compared
to other territories captured during the Six Day War. "Only he who is
cut off from Israel's heritage could allow the thought of dividing the
city to pass his lips," said Barak.
http://www.virtualholyland.com/channels/israel_n/haaretz7.htm

NO MIDEAST PEACE WITHOUT JERUSALEM AS PA CAPITAL
There can be no peace in the Middle East unless Jerusalem becomes
the capital of a Palestinian state, Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat has warned. Arafat's comments were published in a
Saudi Arabian newspaper on Thursday, as Israelis celebrated the
33rd anniversary of the unification of their disputed capital and
as talks on final status issues reportedly resumed in the Middle
East.
http://www.virtualholyland.com/channels/israel_n/cns6.htm

---

REAL WORLD NEWS 06/02/2000

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See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russian Church Says Rifts With Catholicism Remain
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:48:50 -0500

Russian Church Says Rifts With Catholicism Remain

http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=165434

MOSCOW, Jun 2, 2000 Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Vatican
next week is unlikely to lead to the first visit to Russia by a reigning
Pope for nearly 1,000 years, the Russian Orthodox Church said on Thursday.

A spokesman for the church was reacting to rumors in the Vatican that next
week's trip there by Putin could pave the way for a trip to Moscow by
80-year-old Pope John Paul.

But he said tensions with the rival Catholic faith meant the first visit by
a reigning Pope since the Great Schism into Eastern and Western Christianity
in 1054 still looked remote.

"The main problems (between the churches) remain unresolved," said the
spokesman for the Orthodox Church's Danilov Monastery headquarters in
Moscow.

"By all appearances, no," he added, when asked whether the Pope could visit
Moscow before the problems were resolved.

Relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church have
been strained since the end of the Cold War, but have begun to warm more
recently.

The Russian Orthodox Church, which boycotted a number of Vatican ecumenical
events in the 1990s, has sent representatives to several recent papal
events.

Putin is due to meet the Polish Pontiff for the first time on Monday.

The spokesman said the Orthodox Church opposed what it saw as efforts by the
Roman Catholic Church to poach congregations in Russia and other ex-Soviet
republics, especially Ukraine, home to five million eastern-rite Catholics.

He also repeated Orthodox concerns over Ukraine's Uniate Church, based
mainly in the west of Ukraine, which recognizes the Pope as its spiritual
leader but holds Orthodox-style services mostly in the local language.
The church, founded in 1596 but banned by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin,
returned to life after perestroika in the late 1980s. It started claiming
church buildings from the pro-Moscow Orthodox Church after the collapse of
Communism in 1991.

"All of this is spoiling the possible solution to our problems," the
spokesman said, adding that dialogue between the two Christian faiths
remained open.

Both former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and former Soviet President
Mikhail Gorbachev invited the Polish Pontiff to Moscow, but while he is keen
to go he would also need an invitation from the Russian Orthodox Church
itself.

Putin told a Moscow ceremony attended by Russian Patriarch Alexiy II that
Orthodoxy, undergoing a strong revival after decades of persecution, would
continue to flourish.

"In the 21st Century our country Russia will turn to its traditional roots
and in the new century and the new millennium is moving towards a return to
its spirituality," he said.

The former KGB spy was baptized as a baby into the Orthodox church, wears a
crucifix given to him by his mother and attends important church
celebrations such as Easter.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia's Putin to Meet Pope at Vatican
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:50:15 -0500

Russia's Putin to Meet Pope at Vatican

http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=164990

VATICAN CITY, Jun 1, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Russian President
Vladimir Putin will meet Pope John Paul II in the Vatican on June 5, an
authoritative Vatican source said Wednesday.

Putin, who will be on a working visit to Italy on June 5-6, will officially
invite the pope to visit Moscow during the meeting, the Catholic weekly
Famiglia Cristiana newspaper said.

But the Russian Orthodox church has already reacted coolly to the report,
saying it would not take any part in organizing such a visit since the
"patriarch has issued no invitation to the pope" said a church spokesperson
in Moscow.

Ecumenical experts in Rome said that despite the Roman Catholic pontiff's
wish to visit Moscow and improve relations with the Russian Orthodox church,
it would be unlikely that he could so without the approval of Russian
orthodox leaders.

According to Famiglia Cristiana, Patriarch Alexis II said during a recent
visit to Japan that "discussions continue, but no date has yet been fixed
for a meeting".

The paper said Alexis said there were areas of disagreement between the two
churches that needed to be ironed out before a papal visit to Moscow could
take place.

John Paul II was invited to Moscow by former Soviet president Mikhail
Gorbachev and later by Russian president Boris Yeltsin when they each
visited the Vatican. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - China Arrests Eight Tibetan Monks for Alleged Plot to Kill New "Living Buddha"
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:52:49 -0500

China Arrests Eight Tibetan Monks for Alleged Plot to Kill New "Living
Buddha"

http://www.insidechina.com/news.php3?id=165310

BEIJING, Jun 2, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) China has arrested eight
Tibetan monks on suspicion of plotting to kill a two-year-old boy whom
Beijing enthroned as a reincarnation of a "Living Buddha," a Tibetan rights
group said Thursday.

The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy said in a statement
released in Beijing that the arrests happened on May 17, the same day monks
of the Reting Monastery in Tibet protested against the illegal selection of
the boy by Beijing.

The Center cited information from a former Reting Monastery monk who fled
Tibet and arrived in neighboring Nepal recently.

Following the arrests of the monks, no tourists or other common people were
allowed to enter the Reting Monastery, the Center said.

An unconfirmed report also indicated two German tourists were detained
following the incident, but later released, the Center said.

China in January enthroned Sonam Phuntsok -- or Soinam Puncog by Chinese
spelling -- as the new Reting, also known as the "Living Buddha."

The move was seen as an attempt by Beijing to increase its control over
reincarnations of Tibetan lamas and to legitimize its rule over Tibet.

The enthronement followed the escape of the 14-year-old Karmapa Lama to the
Tibetan exile government headquarters in Dharmasala, India in December.

As one of the four most important Tibetan spiritual leaders and one
recognized by both Beijing and the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa Lama's escape was
a major embarrassment for Beijing.

Beijing's selection of the new Reting lama was met with protest from the
exiled Tibetan government.

The Center said there are unconfirmed reports the eight arrested monks might
be detained in Taktse County or Gutsa Detention Center. The names and
details of the monks are not available.

The position of Reting Rinpoche is one of the most important in Tibetan
religious hierarchy.

The fifth Reting Rinpoche was once the regent of Tibet. Appointed by the
Dalai Lama, the highest-ranking lama, a regent's role is to assume
responsibility in the absence of the Dalai Lama or at the time of his
infancy.

The fifth Reting Rinpoche played an important role in identifying the
present or 14th Dalai Lama, who was enthroned in 1940, the Center said. ((c)
2000 Agence France Presse)

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Dalai Lama Responsible For Rape, Cannibalism, Murder, Says Beijing
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:54:33 -0500

Dalai Lama Responsible For Rape, Cannibalism, Murder, Says Beijing

http://www.insidechina.com/news.php3?id=164927

BEIJING, Jun 1, 2000 -- (Reuters <http://www.reuters.com>) China Wednesday
launched a vitriolic attack against exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the
Dalai Lama, accusing him and his followers of rape, murder and child
cannibalism.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted the Tibet Daily as saying the Dalai
Lama, while still in Tibet, had presided over a system that was "the most
gloomy, cruel, and uncultured in the history of mankind".

The commentary, harshly worded even by Chinese standards, comes ahead of the
50-year anniversary of China's October 1950 invasion of Tibet, which spelt
the beginning of the end of the Dalai Lama's rule.

The commentary depicted Tibetan society under the Dalai Lama as an
antiquated feudal system where monks and nobles acted as dictators and serfs
were traded and were "usually cruelly tortured or killed".

During an insurgency against Chinese rule in 1959, "aimed to protect feudal
serfdom", the Dalai Lama and his followers committed crimes ranging from
temple looting to rape and killings, according to the commentary.

In one instance, they cut open the belly of a nine-year-old boy, ate his
heart, chopped him to pieces, and had the body parts hung from a tree, it
claimed.

The rebellion ended in failure and led to the Dalai Lama's decision to flee
Tibet and go into exile.

He now lives with 100,000 followers in Dharamsala, India, and has become a
high-profile figure on the international stage, advocating a greater degree
of autonomy for the Tibetan people.

The Tibet Daily commentary argued that even in exile the Dalai Lama has
continued to do damage to his nation and prevented its development, seeking
to stop aid to Tibet offered by the World Bank and governments in the
developed world.

This shows the threat posed to basic human rights by separatist activities,
the commentary argued.

The Dalai Lama is now the "head of overseas separatist forces, a tool of
western anti-China forces and the arch criminal who splits the motherland",
the commentary concluded.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Oxford don says Iraqi skeletons are ancient Jewish princesses
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 12:19:16 -0500

Oxford don says Iraqi skeletons are ancient Jewish princesses

By David Keys, Archaeology Correspondent 31 May 2000

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/World/Middle_East/2000-05/skeleton310500.s
html

Two skeletons have been identified by a British historian as the only human
remains of the ancient Israelite royal family.

The bones, which are believed to be in storage in Baghdad Museum in Iraq, or
one of its annexes, appear to be those of two princesses from Jerusalem who
married the monarchs of the Middle Eastern super-power of the time, Assyria.

Research by an Oxford University historian, Dr Stephanie Dalley, suggests
the skeletons probably belonged to the daughters of the Biblical kings
Uzziah and Jotham.

They were rulers in the 8th century BC of the more southerly of the two
ancient Israelite states, the Kingdom of Judah, which was ruled from
Jerusalem. Although the skeletons were unearthed in Iraq 12 years ago, the
full academic publication of them - and the spectacular gold treasures found
with them - took place only last year.

It is only in recent weeks that research by Dr Dalley - a leading authority
on the ancient Middle East and the author of a recent book on the region,
The Legacy of Mesopotamia - has begun to reveal the Israelite identities of
the two individuals.

The key pieces of evidence are the names of the two princesses, Yabaa and
Atal-ya. Dr Dalley realised that both names were almost certainly Hebrew.
Language experts believe that Yabaa probably means "He [the Lord] brings
forth," while Atal-ya almost certainly means "Yaweh [God] is exalted." The
latter name, sometimes spelt "Atalia," occurs in the Bible as the name of a
queen of Judah who had lived several generations before the lifetime of the
Atal-ya unearthed in Iraq.

The skeletons were buried in the same stone coffin in the same tomb in the
ancient Assyrian capital, Nimrud. Found lying next to them were a gold bowl,
a rock crystal jar and an electron mirror, all bearing inscriptions that
read "belonging to Atal-ya, Queen of Sargon, King of Assyria".

The two queens were interred with a spectacular treasure - 157 precious
items including 79 gold earrings, 30 gold finger-rings, 15 gold plates,
bowls and flasks, six gold neck-rings, four gold arm-rings, four gold
foot-rings, two diadems and a crown.

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Methodists closer to unity with Anglicans
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 12:37:18 -0500

Methodists closer to unity with Anglicans

BY RUTH GLEDHILL, RELIGION CORRESPONDENT
http://www.the-times.co.uk/

THE Methodist Church in Britain took a significant step closer to unity with
the Church of England yesterday with a report that calls for the creation of
Methodist bishops.

Such a step would remove one of the chief obstacles to unity with Anglicans,
allowing two of Britain's three largest denominations to come together in a
church representing more than 26 million people.

The Methodist equivalent to a bishop is known as "district chairman", a term
described in the report as unintelligible to most people outside the Church.

The report, to be debated by the Methodist Conference in Huddersfield later
this month, concedes that it would not be right simply to substitute
"bishop" for district chairman. If Methodists do opt for bishops, they must
do so in the context of a unity scheme.

The report comes as Methodist and Anglican leaders meet to discuss how they
can move towards full unity. A common statement is expected to be published
next summer.

-- more --

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - What's New at BPR?
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 16:07:12 -0500

Bible Prophecy Research
Additions and updates made since May 17, 2000
Issue #46
June 2, 2000
===================

Hi everyone,

We have a couple of new files to mention as well as book
and video reviews:

> Added: What Was; What Is, and What Is To Come
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Misc_Studies/ms064.htm

When John was given the 'Revelation' on the Isle of
Patmos, he was told, in Revelation 1: 19 "Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter" - what was; what is, and
what is to come. Many Bible prophecies are presented in
this sequence. The prophet tells what was, then what is
and, lastly, what is to come.

By BPR member, Charles Baker.

-----
> Added: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be..."
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/t010.htm

The following is taken from the Midrash Rabbah on
Ecclesiastes and Ruth where the Sages discuss Moses as the
proto-type for the future Messiah. "There is nothing new
under the sun" and therefore all future events to be
associated with their "second" Redeemer has thus occurred
in the past with Moses, their "first" redeemer. The
Rabbis, of course, used the Tenach (Old Testament) as their
proof texts for this belief. I, in addition, have inserted
New Testament texts which I believe lend support to their
argument, although I doubt the Rabbis would agree with or
approve of my additions.

-----
> Added: The Winds in Revelation
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Misc_Studies/ms065.htm

This is by John Brough, a BPR list member who has shared
notes with us from his personal study of Revelation. This
particular segment deals with the idea that the "four
horsemen" are the "four winds" in Revelation chaps 6 & 7.

-----
> Updated: The Four Beasts
http://philologos.org/bpr/files/f002.htm

===================
BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Living Emblems: Ancient Symbols of Faith
by John D. Garr, Ph.D.

From the back cover:

"Biblical emblems were designed by God and by his people
Israel to emphasize divine truths and to call believers to
remembrance of their opportunity and responsibility to
worship and honor their Creator. Failure to understand the
implications of these important symbols has robbed millions
of Christians of spiritually-enriching information."

Available from
Holy Land Gifts
1-800-564-4659

--------

The Hem of His Garment
by John D. Garr, Ph.D.

Explores what Jesus was wearing when the diseased were
healed after touching it. Goes into the Biblical
specifications on how it was to be made and the reasons
behind it.

This book is packaged with a tape: The Mystery of Jesus'
Prayer Shawl by Dwight A. Prayor (Center for Judaic-
Christian Studies) #BKC1005 $9.95 from Holy Land Gifts 1-
800-564-4659. The tape is a WONDERFUL addition to this
fascinating subject. It is also great for those wanting to
hear Hebrew spoken along with a translation of each phrase.

Available from
Holy Land Gifts
1-800-564-4659

Please see The BPR Reference Guide for more info:
http://philologos.org/guide

===================
VIDEO RECOMMENDATION

Quest for the Lost Tribes
shown on A&E April 16, 2000
available at http://www.AandE.com

In the end times Judah will be reunited with his exiled
Israelite brothers and await Messiah. Just who Judah's
brothers are is the focus of this fascinating documentary.
"Quest for the Lost Tribes" explores the traditions of
little known enclaves of people who consider themselves
children of Israel as well as larger communities whose
backgrounds are overwhelmingly Jewish even though they
don't consciously admit it.

The tribe of Dan is identified with the Falasha Jews of
Ethiopia as per Israeli Rabbis who ruled in their favor
before the 1991 airlift; Manasseh is located amongst the
Menmasseh people on the Indian/Burmese border; Issachar and
Naphtali are to be found in the area of Bukhara,
Uzbekistan; Zebulon is hidden within predominantly Hindu
India in the area of Bombay. By far the greatest number of
these lost sons seem to be those within the Pathan
population of Afghanistan/Pakistan who are said to be of
the tribes of Reuben, Levi, Simeon, Gad and Ephraim. The
tribe of Asher seemed to be one that eluded all efforts to
identify but in the course of the search a small community
of Cohen priests was discovered on an island off the coast
of Tunisia.

Recent DNA testing has made world-wide headlines regarding
the identification of the priestly class but this video
makes no scientific claims and instead goes in search of
the "Jewish soul" along the ancient Silk Route. What's
uncovered makes a compelling case for where the lost tribes
are to be found: "The lost tribes of Israel are no longer
lost; the lost tribes of Israel have never been lost. What
was lost is our consciousness, what was lost is our
sensitivity to parts of the world which are not Western. We
were lost to them; they've never been lost to themselves."

Highly recommended.

Moza moza@butterfly.mv.com

Please see The BPR Reference Guide for more info:
http://philologos.org/guide

===================

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========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Compton's Deorbit Puts Jets and Ships at Risk
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 19:39:42 -0400

Compton's Deorbit Puts Jets and Ships at Risk

By Mary Motta
Senior Business Correspondent
02 June 2000

WASHINGTON – If all goes well when NASA deep-sixes its ailing astronomical satellite next week, the bus-size spacecraft will fall harmlessly into the eastern Pacific Ocean.

But just in case the 17-ton (15,422-kilogram) Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) careens out of control, those vulnerable to its scorching bits of debris --mariners and pilots -- will have been warned.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has started a plan to inform commercial airlines, the Coast Guard and other federal agencies when and where to expect CRGO to reenter Earth's atmosphere.

"We began dialogue about two months ago," said Preston Burch, deputy associate director for space science operations at Goddard.

Because of a failure of one of its guidance systems, NASA has decided to "deorbit" CGRO in an effort to avoid having it fall onto a populated area. The $557 million spacecraft was launched in 1991.

Goddard began warning the Air Force, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's World Wide Navigation Warning Services, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard in April that CGRO was expected to come in over the east central part of the Pacific Ocean.

The agencies received a three-page letter that outlined NASA's plans for nudging the spacecraft out of orbit.

"It is of paramount importance to protect life and property from the hazard of CGRO reentry debris. The CGRO debris is a significant potential threat to the safety of any aircraft or surface vessels in the debris impact area," the letter said.

The impact zone for the so-called "controlled reentry" of the observatory covers a rectangular area 16.1 miles (26 kilometers) wide and 963.7 miles (1,552 kilometers) long. That area is about 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) from any land area.

These "hot and fast chunks" will range from paper-thin debris to 15- to 20-pound (7- to 10-kilogram) chunks that will be falling several hundred miles (kilometers) per hour, Burch said.

That could cause potentially devastating damage to a jet flying en route in the Pacific. The debris could slice off a wing or drill a hole through an airliner's cabin causing the plane to explode. Big chunks could also put a hole large enough in the hull of a ship to sink it.

But the FAA said that the chances of any of that happening are slim.

"Over the Pacific there is so much airspace and so few aircraft that the chances of the debris causing harm is narrow," said the FAA's Bill Shuman.

The number of flights in the Pacific over an 8-hour period is about 200. That compares to about 1,000 flights over the North Atlantic in the same period. And there are even less commercial flights for the area pinpointed for the Compton deorbit, Shuman said.

Still, the agency plans to warn airlines through a "Notice to Airmen," or NOTAM.

This message is delivered via satellite, through e-mail and via fax to carriers around the world who will be flying in that area from June 4-6.

Each day, Goddard will send out a notice describing the location of the hazard area "to minimize loss of usable airspace and ocean area to aircraft and surface vessels," the warning notice said.

There will be a total of eight debris-hazard areas that Goddard will target. These areas will be off limits for about 90 minutes each day, Burch said.

The reentry business is an imprecise one at best because objects can survive and make it all the way to the ground, said Bill Ailor, director for the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies at The Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles.

"Generally speaking, it is not so easy to predict where they are going to come down," Ailor said.

Objects typically enter the atmosphere at a blazing 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) per second and are often incinerated by friction with Earth's atmosphere.

But materials designed to be heat-resistant often can survive the plunge all the way to the ground.

"Typically what we look for are titanium spheres and objects made of stainless steel (to survive)," Ailor said. Glass also can survive.

The bus-sized CGRO is made mostly of aluminum, titanium and stainless steel.

But there is a positive side to this undertaking.

Several U.S. agencies are interested in documenting the fall of the CGRO to better understand such issues in the face of an increasing number of commercial satellite launches.

And if the 110-ton (111,760 kilogram) Mir space station doesn't survive commercially and the Russians decide to take it out of orbit, such information will be critical to ground controllers plotting its reentry zone.

"Mir has so much stuff on it that the debris field will be so much larger and more dangerous," Ailor said.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/compton_reentry_plan_ 000525.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

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