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LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

            Recently I wrote an article entitled "Is Dr. Dobson Focusing on Your Family" which documented many items of concern. Some issues discussed in that article included a blasphemous rap tape by the Breakaway staff, and the promotion of New Agers like Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Norman Cousins.

            Since this article was written, many new concerns have come to light. People from a number of states have provided letters, tapes, and other forms of documentation that show a different face to Focus on the Family (FOTF) than most people realize.

            Before I go into more depth, I do want to state that I appreciate the stand that Dr. Dobson has taken in the areas of abortion, pornography, and homosexuality. These are issues that need to be addressed. However, while Dobson does call out against pornography on his radio program, FOTF produced a video entitled Sex, Lies and...the Truth, in which "[v]iewers are forced to look at bikini-clad bodies, G-strings, cleavage, demonic/evil faces and images, etc., to get the point."¹ Isn't this pornographic--or is only hard-core pornography wrong? His October 1995 issue of Focus on the Family magazine advertised a new CD album of CeCe Winans. The picture (which appeared on page 16²) showed CeCe with a very low neck and her bare stomach was completely exposed. Although many people would not necessarily consider this pornographic, you must realize that pornography does start somewhere and pictures of this nature certainly are not pleasing to God--especially in so-called Christian magazines that supposedly are upholding good family values and morals.

            FOTF has also said: "We will spare no effort to be reliable and accurate. If Focus makes a statement, it can be trusted."³ [Emphasis mine throughout article.] My question is, WHAT are we supposed to trust--what Dobson says on the air, what he writes in his books, what he allows FOTF to produce, or what he promotes (through guests, magazines, outreach ministries, etc.)? As we continue this article, I think you'll be able to see that there is a world of difference between what is stated on his radio programs and what is actually promoted through other avenues.

                         DISNEY'S FIRST HOMOSEXUALS COMES TO SCREEN

            For example, while Dobson calls out against the radical homosexual agenda, Focus on the Family magazine had an article in the April 1995 edition that gave an endorsement of the occultic, pro-homosexual, New Age film, The Lion King. As mentioned in my last article: "A homosexual produced parts of the soundtrack, and two 'outcasts' (Timon and Pumbaa) represent homosexuals and the 'intolerant discrimination' they experience in our society. Sodomite Ernie Sabell, the voice of the Wart Hog in the film (Pumbaa) admitted: 'These are the first homosexual Disney characters ever to come on the screen.'"⁴ This is not some biased person's opinion. The homosexual who played this part is the individual who was bragging about this!

            Mike Yorkey, the editor of the Focus magazine stated that the "No. 1 generator of reader mail to Focus on the Family magazine in 1995"⁵ was over The Lion King. They did print a short letter by Carol Peterson which pointed out the homosexuality, witchcraft, and evolutionary theory presented in the movie in the July 1995 issue,⁶ but then turned around and printed a letter entitled "Final Roar" by Jason Lahman who berated and belittled Peterson's comments.⁷ It's almost as though Focus was giving their endorsement to Lahman's unfounded letter instead of acknowledging the facts.

            After I wrote the above section of this article, I received the November 1995 issue of Brio magazine. This is the magazine published by FOTF for teen girls. FOTF has continued to disregard all the facts presented to them about this movie by doing an article entitled "Laura Williams: A Young Voice Roars Big." It's about a 16-year girl who was the singing voice of the young Nala in The Lion King.⁸ It portrays her as a wonderful Christian girl. By doing this, it appears as though FOTF is trying to tell teens that, even though there is controversy over this movie (and they shouldn't watch it if their parents don't want them to), it should be okay because a Christian helped out in it. How many teens will beg their parents to see this movie just because they saw a favorable write-up about one of the characters in FOTF's teen magazine--and how many parents will say "Yes" because they trust Dobson? By the way: "The Disney Senior Vice President who played a major role in marketing The Lion King died in January [1995] of AIDS. His obituary asked that donations be made to a homosexual group."⁹

            Now, let's go back to Dr. Dobson and homosexuality. Dobson states: "Meanwhile, homosexuals are entitled to the same basic rights as other citizens. Focus on the Family stands against any movement to rob them of those rights, persecute them, deprive them of employment or housing, or harass them in any way."¹⁰ While we should not persecute or harass homosexuals, are we to allow them to teach our impressionable children? Are we to accept them as scout masters? Are we to give them jobs where they have access to our young boys? Are we to open our churches to them by offering them teaching positions in our Sunday Schools?

                                             LESBIAN LOVER COMES FIRST

            Just how strong is Focus' stand against homosexuality? Well, the following items may help you understand that Focus on the Family has a double standard. For instance, in the October 16, 1995 Focus on the Family Citizen magazine, there is an article under the heading "Hometown Heroes." Through encounters with Norma McCorvey, Emily Bausch, a 7-year-old, was able to open a door through which Rev. Flip Benham, Operation Rescue's national director, was able to share the Gospel with McCorvey.¹¹ McCorvey is the "Jane Roe" in the abortion case of Roe v. Wade! She supposedly got saved and was later baptized on August 8, 1995 by Benham. The problem is that McCorvey is a practicing lesbian who still believes in first trimester abortions.¹² In fact, McCorvey's baptism was aired on TV, and although I did not see it, I was told that the first person she embraced after coming out of the water was her lesbian lover. McCorvey "has no plans to leave her lesbian partner (10/95 Moody). In the 8/14 Newsweek, she said she would rather give up her newfound faith than abandon her lover...."¹³ While Emily may be considered a hero for being able to open the door to witness to McCorvey, this news item (which places McCorvey in a good light) certainly has no place in a so-called pro-family magazine.

                                       PROMISE KEEPERS AND BLASPHEMY

            Additionally, Dr. Dobson extensively promotes and endorses Promise Keepers, yet a book written by Robert Hicks titled The Masculine Journey: Understanding the Six Stages of Manhood, contains some very shocking and disgusting material. "The book carries the Promise Keepers logo and was made available to every man who attended the ministry's 1993 National Conference in Colorado."¹⁴ In other words, over 50,000 copies of this book was given away at just this one meeting!¹⁵

            What's in this book? Hicks writes:

 "We are sexual beings at our most primary (primal) level. The Bible never pretends or expects us to be otherwise. It meets us and describes us where we are, where we live and have our being. To be male is to be a phallic kind of guy, and as men we should never apologize for it, or allow it to be denigrated by women (or crass men either)...."¹⁶

"On page 56 the author states that men have a 'deep compulsion to worship with our phallus,' and on page 51 he writes, 'Possessing a penis places unique requirements upon men before God in how they are to worship Him. We are called to worship God as phallic kinds of guys, not as some sort of androgynous, neutered non-males, or the feminized males so popular in many feminist-enlightened churches. We are told by God to worship Him in accordance with what we are, phallic men...."¹⁷

            Later on he adds:

"'I believe Jesus was phallic with all the inherent phallic passions we experience as men. But it was never recorded that Jesus had sexual relations with a woman.

"'He may have thought about it as the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" portrays, but even in this movie He did not give in to the temptation and remained true to His messianic course.

"'If temptation means anything, it means Christ was tempted in every way as we are. That would mean not only heterosexual temptation but also homosexual temptation! I have found this insight to be very helpful for gay men struggling with their sexuality.'"¹⁸

            Here Hicks is stating that the pure, holy, undefiled Son of God, Jesus Christ, had both heterosexual and HOMOSEXUAL temptations! Remember, this book has the Promise Keepers' logo on it and they even wrote a 7-page letter defending the book.¹⁹

                                     PRIVATE MATTERS DISCUSSED OPENLY

            While we're on this subject, let's look at a few things that are in the Promise Keepers' study guide. Al Dager informs us:

"One method of breaking the ice in the men's group is to play a game called 'People Bingo.' In this game the men review categories pertaining to certain traits and experiences, and mark a box that contains those elements. They go from man to man asking about those traits and experiences. The first person to complete five in a row in any direction within a set time wins. The traits and experiences are based upon Robert Hick's book, The Masculine Journey, and many center on the men's sexuality. I call it spiritual voyeurism.

"Some of the questions regarding traits and experiences ask if they have been arrested at least once; if they are wearing boxer shorts or biking briefs; if they were neglected or abused by their father; if they have emotional battle scars from a recent family feud; if they have had a circumcision, vasectomy or prostate operation....

"One question designed to get the men to open up is found under the section, 'Exploring the Issues with Other Men:'

"3. Our culture has presented many initiation rites, or passages to manhood, that are associated with the phallus. Which ones have you experienced? Do you have a story to share with other men about one such event?

            "  When I was potty trained and stopped wetting the bed

            "  Pubic hair and growth

            "  An unfortunate experience with pornography

            "  My first dating experience

            "  My first really embarrassing moment with a girl

            "  The wedding night

            "  Conceiving my first child

            "  Other:

"How many wives who are supportive of Promise Keepers would really want their husbands to answer some of these questions, especially pertaining to the conception of their first child or their wedding night?"²⁰

            Dobson continues to endorse Promise Keepers--regardless of the problems surrounding it. In his November 1995 letter, he bragged:

"Think about it. Where did many of you first hear about Promise Keepers, Moms in Touch, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), the 'Angel Tree' ministry of Prison Fellowship [Chuck Colson], Joe White's Kanakuk Kamps, the True Love Waits campaign, Summit Ministries, the National Day of Prayer, DC/LA '94 youth gatherings, Gary Bauer's Family Research Council, Larry Burkett's Christian Financial Concepts, Alan Sears' Alliance Defense Fund, Don Wildmon's American Family Association, Tony Evans' Urban Alternative, Dr. Jerry Kirk's National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, and the home schooling movement?

"From the beginning it has been our objective to publicize and generate support for worthy causes such as these."²¹

                                                   FUND-RAISING AT FOCUS

            In this letter he goes on to state: "Focus on the Family is a highly efficient organization. Only 4 percent of our income was spent on fund-raising in 1995, and only 10 percent for general administration. When you make a contribution to this ministry, most of it goes directly to the support of families and for what I've called 'the defense of righteousness.'^"22 Only 4% of the income goes for fund-raising. While 4% does not sound like much, you have to realize that Focus on the Family is an almost $100 million enterprise. That 4% translates into about 4 million dollars spent just for fund-raising! Quite a small amount, wouldn't you say? Also, Dobson claims that they have very little finances on hand as "reserves." However, according to the December 4, 1995 issue of U.S. News & World Report, Focus' "total income" was $10.4 million more than their expenses!²³ Do you consider $10.4 million to be a small reserve?

            As mentioned earlier, I am glad for Dr. Dobson's stand against abortion. He has gone so far as to state that he will not vote for any candidate that supports abortion even if they are the only candidates running. Doesn't that sound like a man of real convictions? However, on December 9, 1988, he aired a speech by the late Senator Hubert Humphrey.²⁴ The description for this program was: "In this speech presented at the Smithsonian Institution, the late Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota discusses how the family is the basic social institution of civilization. He also talks about the need for personal responsibility and morality in family life."²⁵

            How much did Humphrey care about the family institution? That can easily be answered by looking at his voting record.

"Sen Humphrey was one of the leading tax and spend ultra-liberals of the 1960's and 1970's. He was a founder and vice chairman of the Americans for Democratic Action, a group with a clearly socialist agenda. In his 1960 Senate campaign, Humphrey was supported by the National Committee for an Effective Congress, a group which 'since 1952, has campaigned for and financed ultra-leftist candidates for the House and Senate.'"²⁶

            In fact, according to 2 back issues of the Conservative Index voting record for Humphrey, we find that he was given a 0%.²⁷ In 1975 he voted to kill an amendment which would have forbidden Medicaid funds to be used for abortions. (In other words, his vote was in favor of using Medicaid funds for abortions.²⁸) In 1976 he voted in favor of gender-integrated high school gym classes.²⁹ Later that year he voted to approve Federal control of day care.³⁰ He also voted to fund the National Commission of the Observance of International Women's Year, which was pro-abortion and pro-Equal Rights Amendment.³¹ In 1976 he voted to allow tax funding of abortion and in 1978 he again voted to allow Federal funding of abortion.³²

            When the above documentation (in much greater detail) was sent to Focus on the Family, and when they were asked to reconsider the airing of that program, what was their response?

"Our December 9 broadcast featuring the late senator was a recording of a speech he delivered at the Smithsonian Institute in 1976 on the subject of 'Kin and Communities.' In this message, Sen. Humphrey presented a magnificent appeal for the preservation of morality and the reestablishment of the family as the basic and most important unit of society. Drawing from his own memories and experiences, the Senator affirmed that the family must be the highest priority for America....

 "It is our opinion that Sen. Humphrey's personal life was consistent with traditional family values: he spoke for the family, he cared for people, as well as working diligently on behalf of the retarded....

"We will continue to air the views of those who pay attention to and advocate the Judeo-Christian background of this nation."³³

            Two quick questions: How could Humphrey's personal life be consistent with family values when his voting record clearly showed that he did not support these values? and Since when is the pro-abortion view considered to be a Judeo-Christian value? It's quite obvious that Dr. Dobson really has a double standard in many areas. What most people hear on the radio sounds good and moral, but when investigation is made into some of these issues, we see that there is another side to Focus on the Family.

                                   DOBSON'S ADVICE TO YOUNG CHILDREN

            In any given month, there are usually at least 2 (and as high as 7) programs that FOTF warns may have unsuitable contents for young children. This advance warning can be helpful to concerned parents. However, some of what Dobson himself has written for young children is extremely embarrassing to me. I'm ashamed to even write the following paragraphs but I think parents should be aware of what their children may be reading. In his book, Preparing for Adolescence (written in 1978), Dobson writes: "Now we need to talk very plainly about the subject of sexual intercourse. Remember what I told you at the beginning of this book. I'm going to be treating you like adults and withholding no subject that is relevant to you."³⁴ Let me interrupt long enough to ask, "Is intercourse relevant to a person 'preparing for adolescence?'" Of course not!

            Just by the book's title, it seems obvious that this book was meant for children about 10 to 13 years of age. Now, let's continue with Dobson's remarks to these young children. (Since I am too ashamed to print the actual quote from Dobson's book, I will be putting blanks in some places. Remember, however, that Dobson actually printed out the following in full.)

"Sexual intercourse is the name given to the act that takes place when a man and a woman remove all their -------- (usually done in bed) and the man's sex organ (his ----- ) becomes very ---- and --------. He puts his ----- into the ------ of the woman while lying between her legs. They move around, in and out, until they both have a kind of tingly feeling which lasts for a minute or two. It's a very satisfying experience, which husbands and wives do regularly. You probably already know about sexual intercourse as I described it. But did you know that a man and woman do not have intercourse just to have babies? They do it to express love for each other and because they enjoy doing it. In this way they satisfy each other. They may have sexual intercourse two or three times a week, or maybe only once a month; each couple is different. But this is a fun part of marriage, and something that makes a husband and wife very special to each other. This is an act which they save just for each other."³⁵

            Doesn't that description make you want to hurry to the nearest Christian bookstore to buy this book for your favorite niece, nephew, or grandchild? Of course, Dobson does promote abstinence, but he also condones masturbation. Again, quoting from this book, we find: "Let me talk with you about a related subject called masturbation....Masturbation is the act of rubbing your own sex organs in order to get that same tingly feeling that you would have if you were participating in intercourse. Most boys do this at some time during adolescence, and so do many girls."³⁶

            Let's stop here for a moment in order to ask a question. If these adolescent children have not yet had intercourse, how would they know what kind of feeling they were trying to obtain through masturbation? That statement is out of place, unfit, and inappropriate.

            Continuing with Dobson's "advice" for children, we read:

"Many rumors surround this act--scary stories about what happens to people who do it. Some people say that masturbating will make you go crazy....If masturbation made people go crazy, there would be a lot more crazy people in the world than there are!

"Still, the subject of masturbation is a very controversial one....I will tell you what I believe, although I certainly do not want to contradict what your parents or your pastor believe. It is my opinion that masturbation is not much of an issue with God. It's a normal part of adolescence which involves no one else. It does not cause disease, it does not produce babies, and Jesus did not mention it in the Bible. I'm not telling you to masturbate, and I hope you won't feel the need for it. But if you do, it is my opinion that you should not struggle with guilt over it."³⁷ [Italics in the original; Boldface added.]

            Notice that Dobson insinuates that masturbation is extremely common, so much so that he claims it is "a NORMAL part of adolescence...." Also, most of what he said about masturbation can be applied to other issues as well, but just because it doesn't produce babies and it doesn't cause disease, certainly doesn't make it right.

            Focus on the Family also has a "Family Resource Library" which they sell to ministries and other companies. In an article in the April 1995 Focus on the Family, we find:

"Wal-Mart has one at its national headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. So does Rockwell International's automobile division in Troy, Mich. Just down the road from Rockwell, the United Auto Workers have their own at the UAW-GM Human Resource Center. And Frito-Lay just brought one into their corporate headquarters.

"What do these well-known companies have in common? The Family Resource Center from Focus on the Family. It's a corporate library filled with 170 different Focus on the Family books, videos, audiocassettes, booklets and magazines....

"The Family Resource Center appears to be just what the Dr. (Dobson) ordered for the nearly 250 companies that have brought these resources into their places of business. Employees can choose from 86 audiocassettes, 27 videos, 40 books, 14 booklets and seven magazines produced by Focus on the Family."³⁸

            One of the booklets offered is "The Facts of Life: Teaching Your Children About Sex." It is listed like this: "Specific guidelines for talking to 10- to 14-year-olds about normal changes in the body. Addresses masturbation, wet dreams, pregnancy, dating, premarital sex, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases."³⁹

                                                                  HYPNOSIS

            Another serious concern is Focus on the Family's promotion of occultic techniques such as hypnosis, progressive relaxation, visualization, imagery, etc. These techniques are sometimes promoted subtly. For instance, in the March 1995 issue of Breakaway, a magazine produced by FOTF for teen boys, a reader wrote in and asked if hypnosis was a sin.⁴⁰ The answer included the following:

"I'm no professional therapist, and I don't know much about hypnotism. But I do know that in the hands of a well-qualified Christian therapist, hypnotism can be a way of helping people control agonizing pain, irrational fears and other difficulties.

"I'm not aware of any Scriptures that actually mention hypnotism, and I certainly can't think of a passage that specifically or indirectly forbids it....Depending on the situation, it could go either way."⁴¹

            Shades of "situation ethics"!

            Since Duffy Robbins from FOTF thinks hypnosis is okay, it would do us good to take a brief look at its origins--both ancient and modern. Actually, hypnosis can be traced back thousands of year--not as hypnotism but as a part of the religious beliefs of primitive people. One example would be where Chippewa Indian boys were lulled into a magic sleep by the witchdoctor's chants. Another example is the sleep-temples of ancient Egypt.⁴² Here the sufferers would be put into a trance by the priest. While in this state, the priest would give healing suggestions to them and their favorite gods or goddesses would also appear to help them through their suffering.⁴³ During the Middle Ages those who practiced hypnotism were viewed as witches, and frowned upon by the Christian Church.⁴⁴

            The modern history of hypnosis started in the 18th century with Franz Mesmer, a Mason. His theory was called "animal magnetism" or "mesmerism," and his sessions were called "SEANCES"! Modern scientific studies on hypnotism can be dated back to him.⁴⁵

            Hypnosis, by the 19th century, still had the overtones of mysticism, and was mainly considered to be a technique used by charlatans and stage magicians. In fact, one hypnotist, Sidney Petrie, admits in his book What Modern Hypnotism Can Do For You that as recently as two centuries ago hypnotism was the EXCLUSIVE property of witch doctors, Greek oracles, Persian Magi, and Hindu fakirs."⁴⁶

            An article in the July 1985 New Age magazine, Prevention, states: "Like alchemy and astrology, the practice of hypnosis once belonged to the world of the occult."⁴⁷ One book on hypnotism, entitled simply Hypnotism, states: "In later pages we will cite hypnotism as an explanation of the trance state of the medium, also of such phenomena as automatic writing, crystal gazing, automatic speech, even talking with the dead." This book also tells us: "In this same class, of course, comes work with the ouija board...." ALL of these items are a form of DIVINATION! This author also states: "We have repeatedly said that the subject in hypnotism is not 'asleep'. He is very much awake, but is a different personality." Under hypnosis a person takes on ANOTHER PERSONALITY! No wonder the Bible tells us not to have anything to do with contacting the spirit world. One can actually become possessed through hypnosis, as well as many other activities.

            Could hypnosis really be as wrong as it sounds? After all, the AMA has approved it. Yes, it does have the medical profession's approval, but, then, so does abortion. Do we accept abortion because of the AMA's approval?

            Although the AMA had endorsed hypnosis in 1958, the hypnotic sessions have still been referred to by hypnotists themselves as "seances" as little as 19 years ago. When I was reading The World Book Encyclopedia's article on "Hypnosis," I noticed a very interesting fact. Although hypnosis is supposed to be a valid MEDICAL procedure, the list of related articles DID NOT include "Medicine." Under the related articles for "Medicine," "Hypnosis" WAS NOT mentioned. However, "Hypnosis" is listed under "MAGIC" as a related article! The entire listing under "Magic" is as follows: Astrology, Clairvoyance; Divination; Evil Eye; Exorcism; Hypnotism; Mesmer, Franz; Mind Reading, Necromancy; Psychical Research; Shaman; Spiritualists; Suggestion; Superstition; Telepathy; Trance; Voodoo; and Witchcraft.⁴⁸ Do you think that this list sounds very "scientific?"

            Modern hypnotists tell us that hypnosis is very valuable if we wish to see into future events or develop our psychic potential. In fact, we are told by hypnotists that automatic writing, clairvoyance, ouija boards, table tilting seances, crystal gazing, speaking in tongues, and shell hearing are CLOSELY RELATED to hypnosis, and hypnosis is used as the MEANS (in many cases) to bring about these phenomena.⁴⁹ The ouija board, crystal gazing, automatic writing, etc. are forms of DIVINATION, from which the Bible EXPLICITLY warns us to abstain (see Deuteronomy 18:10-14; II Kings 17:17; Ezekiel 12:24; Acts 16:16-19). Duffy Robbins says that the Bible doesn't specifically or indirectly mention hypnosis, but this, of course, is not true. The Bible does not specifically mention automatic writing but this phenomenon is included in the general area of divination, which is definitely forbidden by the Bible. The same thing could be said about a host of other occultic practices. Look at Deuteronomy 18:10-12a:

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter [hypnotist!], or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD."

            One New Age magazine had a survey form on the last page. A survey was being taken of NEW AGE SUBJECTS and included the following: Astrology; Divination and crystal ball reading; Dowsing; Wicca (Witchcraft); Occult; Herbal magic; Meditation and relaxation; Yoga; Astral Projection and out-of-the-body experiences; Tarot and Tarot books; Herbal healing; UFOs and monsters; Palmistry; Sex magic; and, oh, of course, HYPNOSIS!⁵⁰

            Another openly acknowledged occult outlet has a book for sale entitled WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC & OCCULTISM by W. B. Crow. What does this have to do with hypnotism? Well, the description given for the book tells us that no serious occult student should be without the book. It then listed some of the occult sciences as: witch-doctors, medicine men, Druids and Fairies, the Black Mass, Palmistry, Yoga, the cult of fire, Magical Fraternities, the Kabalah, Alchemy, The Rosy Cross, Auto-Suggestions, Satyrs, and yes, HYPNOTISM!⁵¹

                                                        HERE COMES YOGA

            Focus on the Family not only says that hypnosis could be used for good in the hands of a "Christian" therapist, but they also promote other New Age techniques such as visualization and progressive relaxation. For instance, in the November 1995 issue of Focus on the Family, there is an article entitled "My Child Isn't Learning!" by Dr. Grant Martin. His book dealing with this subject was published by Focus on the Family and offered in this issue. Some of his advice is about teaching your child how to relax. He states: "Try the following: (a) have him realize what is bothering him; (b) get him to relax his forehead, eyes, nose, mouth and neck; and (c) have him take a long, deep breath and then exhale slowly, letting his jaw go limp.⁵²

            What Dr. Martin has just described is an occult technique known as progressive relaxation! One book which is full of weird and occultic techniques even mentions that this type of relaxation exercise is "the Yoga method of tightening and tensing each major muscle and then letting that part of the body flop down in relaxation...."⁵³

            Yoga is a technique which comes from Hinduism, a pagan religion that worships literally millions of gods. In fact, yoga teaches us that we are a god ourselves. A book entitled, Siva's Cosmic Dance, states: "Hinduism contains the Deities and the sanctified temples...yoga and the disciplines of meditation." There are many different forms of yoga such as: Kundalini Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Transcendental Meditation (TM), etc. Another book by a yogi (one who practices yoga) tells us that we can develop occult powers through yoga. Incidentally, Aidan Kelly, a neo-pagan (witch) has stated that witchcraft "is the yoga of the West."⁵⁴ Just a little "coincidence"?

            While Dr. Dobson and his staff may claim that they are only endorsing relaxation, the facts prove otherwise. As just mentioned, the method listed above is definitely an occult practice. Furthermore, on the 12/15/94 Focus on the Family radio program, FOTF offered a book, The Healing Journey for Adult Children of Alcoholics, by Daryl Quick. The book was highly recommended at the end of this program and it was stated that people could get this book from Focus.

            Occultic techniques are propagated within the pages of this book. Most of Chapter 10 is devoted to visualization (p.114-125). Visualization is a form of creating your own reality. Llewellyn New Times, a New Age magazine which openly promotes witchcraft and all kinds of occultic practices, writes: "Visualization is the essence of the ABILITY OF BENDING REALITY to will. Do you know people who have extraordinary luck? Things always seem to work out for them. That is because whether they are conscious of it or not, they CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY with Creative Visualization."⁵⁵

                                        VISUALIZATION AND SPIRIT GUIDES

            Another issue of this magazine reminds us that visualization "is a simple yet potent form of MAGICK. All it requires is the use of your mind."⁵⁶ Also, visualization (or imagery) is actually a form of HYPNOSIS! In fact, Daniel Kohen, M.D., informs us that: "The ACTIVE INGREDIENT in HYPNOSIS is IMAGERY."⁵⁷ Prevention magazine states: "The better you are at letting your imagination run loose, it seems, the better your chances are of being hypnotized. 'The MAIN THING is the imagination,' says Ernest Hilgard, Ph.D., a Stanford University professor and a pioneer in this field."⁵⁸

            It is through visualization that spirit guides are contacted. Dr. Bernie Siegel, an advocate of visualization, uses the following technique with his cancer patients to relieve their pain. He tells them to construct an IMAGINARY bridge. You are to cross this bridge and then walk down some steps. After you enter and exit an old house, Dr. Siegel continues:

"As you walk out along the path, I'd like you to see, way off in the distance, a very bright white-yellow light. Coming out of that light, you'll see someone. As this person gets closer, you'll begin to see his or her appearance. Finally, this person will be close enough for you to ask his or her name, and know that this person is a guide for you, someone you can always call on to help you....

"Sit down for a moment with your guide along the path, and question your guide about some conflict or problem, and see what advice you get....

"When you have completed that conference, I'd like you to follow me again....Know that you can always call upon your guide at any time."⁵⁹

            This is the same type technique that Daryl Quick uses! In fact, he even has the person start to "breathe slowly and take deep breaths of air. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Take several breaths and each time you breathe out say the word relax or calm."⁶⁰ [Emphasis in the original.]

            This is PRECISELY the SAME way the OCCULTISTS have you start OCCULTIC MEDITATION techniques! Besides, Quick adds: "Bring into your scene your image of God or Christ. Make him as real as you can....Have him give you whatever gift you need. Hold the image as long as you need. His very PRESENCE is healing....End the time with a prayer, thanking him for his PRESENCE and asking him for direction to guide your needs."⁶¹

            Did you notice that both the OCCULT practice of visualization and the so-called "Christian" technique call a PRESENCE or a guide into being?! Both procedures have this entity give advice. In both exercises the IMAGE that YOU CONJURE UP ends up TALKING TO YOU! This is nothing less than demonic spirit communication. Quick isn't just having you imagine a REAL situation, either. He unequivocally remarks that "you can build your own scene if you can't remember any."⁶²

            What is interesting is that a DEMON SPIRIT GUIDE, named Soli, tells us (like these so-called "Christians") that it DOESN'T MATTER how we visualize them for "However YOU PERCEIVE of us in the spirit dimension, THAT is how WE SHALL APPEAR to you."⁶³

            Romans 8:24-25 plainly tells us: "For we are saved by hope: but HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? BUT IF WE HOPE FOR THAT WE SEE NOT, then do we with patience wait for it." Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:7 that "we walk by faith, not by sight." Visualization is just the OPPOSITE OF THIS: Walking by SIGHT instead of by FAITH! Matthew 6:27-34 reminds us that we should "take NO THOUGHT, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed?...for your heavenly Father KNOWETH that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and ALL these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore NO THOUGHT for tomorrow...."

            In addition to this, the Bible says that God is preparing a place for His children that "EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4). Visualization is supposed to create the "good things in life" but God has something in mind that even the IMAGINATION of man CANNOT fathom. We don't need visualization to "create" our heaven for us. Another verse that shows the futility of visualization is found in Ephesians 3:20: "Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we ASK or THINK, according to the power that worketh in us." Our thinking cannot begin to comprehend what God can do for us if we just trust and obey Him.

            Quick then gives this "advice": "If you begin to feel bad, fear or depressed, your visualization is probably working."⁶⁴ If visualization is supposed to be so wonderful, why would a person become depressed because of it? The simple fact is, visualization is not wonderful! It is a doorway into the occult world and that is why people can become so depressed through this practice.

            You have just been given a few examples where Focus has promoted or endorsed hypnosis and visualization. Sadly, their promotion of these techniques gets worse. We will return to this issue shortly, but first we need to look at what is being offered at FOTF.

            At present, FOTF is offering a number of Certification programs for the employees. Their material states:

"These Certification programs require you to complete fifteen hours of core courses and complete certain final requirements to ensure that you have acquired a level of competency....These programs will help you to create a development plan in an area that is of importance to your effective functioning as a FOF employee, and add new competencies that are essential to your career growth and productivity."⁶⁵ [Emphasis in the original.]

            The employee, along with his or her manager, is to select the program that will best meet their developmental needs.⁶⁶ At the end of the course descriptions is a list of books which are located in the FOTF Human Resource Library. They are told to: "Please check out books through Cheryl Foxworthy X1002." Here's where a BIG problem arises. There are 17 books listed but we will just look at the contents of one of these books entitled The Encyclopedia of Group Activities by J. William Pfeiffer. This book is over 400 pages long, so we will only be able to cover a small fraction of what is contained in it, but I think you will be shocked.

                                        VALUES CLARIFICATION ENDORSED

            This book has 150 activities that "facilitators" are to use with their groups. These activities deal with fantasy, sensory deprivation, gestalt, psychodrama, "values clarification," and many other controversial issues. It was Louis Raths who introduced the term "'values clarification,' in the late 1950s while teaching at New York State University. Raths [used] situation ethics techniques like the 'fallout shelter' scenario where students have to decide who would live and die in a hypothetical situation."⁶⁷ We will give an example of the "fallout shelter" scenario in this book (under a different name) a little later on.

            In 1974, Dr. Sidney B. Simon, professor of Humanistic Education at the University of Massachusetts, wrote a book entitled Meeting Yourself Halfway. He dedicated it to:

"Louis E. Raths, Merrill Harmin, and Howard Kirschenbaum, Director of the National Humanistic Education Center....In pointing out the spiritual nature of values clarification he states: 'Values clarification is a process which helps people arrive at an answer. It is not concerned with an ultimate sets of values (that is for you to decide), but it does stress a method to help you determine the content and power of your own set of values. It is a self-audit, and an inventory of soul and spirit.' After Dr. Simon reveals that values clarification is an audit of the soul and spirit, he continues by explaining that it is part of the humanistic movement when he states: 'Values clarification is part of a much larger humanistic movement, one of a number of individually directed psychological and sociological theories that also embrace Re-evaluation Counseling and what has become known as Encounter or Interaction Groups....These standards of valuing are based on the seven processes defined by Louis Raths, who was my teacher, a leader in the progressive education movement and an admirer of the great educator John Dewey.'"⁶⁸ [Emphasis in the original.]

            John Dewey is called the "Father of Progressive Education." He was a leader in the Intercollegiate Socialist Society (later called the League for Industrial Democracy). Dewey was also the co-author of the 1933 Humanist Manifesto.

                                                 WHICH ANIMAL ARE YOU?

            Now that we have an idea what values clarification is, let's see what some of the activities are like in The Encyclopedia of Group Activities (the book in FOTF's Human Resource Library. Let's start with the exercise called "Animal Journey." The goal is supposed to be to "help the participants gain insight about themselves."⁶⁹ The facilitator then:

"...asks the participants to spread out within the room and then gives the following instructions:

"'Close your eyes and imagine an animal that you relate to in some way. [Pause for about one minute.] Imagine the animal's surroundings. Try to get in touch with the animal's needs and desires. [Pause for a couple of minutes.] Now become that animal. Try to associate yourself with its movements, posture, and temperament. If you feel comfortable in doing so, physically assume your animal's posture.'

"2. After pausing for a few minutes, the facilitator gives further instructions:

"'Slowly come out of your fantasy. Leave your imagined animal and become yourself.'"⁷⁰

            After the participants come out of their fantasies, they are asked a number of questions about what animal they became and what happened during their fantasy. Any knowing person who has even briefly studied the New Age or occult phenomena would quickly recognize that this fantasy involves an altered state of consciousness and possibly even an out of body experience. Notice that the participants are told to "BECOME that animal," then to "come out of your fantasy," and finally to "BECOME YOURSELF" again.

            Moreover, becoming an animal is called lycanthropy. According to The Complete Book of Witchcraft and Demonology, lycanthropy is a "form of insanity in which a human being imagines himself to be an animal."⁷¹ In the Dictionary of Mysticism we are told this word means: "The belief that certain human beings, under certain conditions, can change into animals."⁷² The World Book Encyclopedia mentions that lycanthropy "is a certain form of mental illness in which a person imagines himself to be a wolf."⁷³ Looking at an ad for the book, A Treasury of Witchcraft, also gives some revealing information: "Source book of the magic arts covers the history and practice of witchcraft in all of its forms, incl. divination and astrology, lycanthropy and necromancy, more. Complete with specific spells, charms, invocations, satanic pacts and descriptions of occult practices."⁷⁴ Please take notice that one form of witchcraft is lycanthropy, yet this is what is being presented in a book that is in Focus on the Family's Resource Library and which the employees are encouraged to check out!!

                                                        THE WISE OLD MAN

            Let's look at another activity in this book called "Fantasy Exploration." Two of the goals of this activity are: "1. To use fantasy as a means of discovering the participants' values" and "2. To demonstrate how fantasies can be an indicator of values."⁷⁵ It is also stated that this particular "fantasy is adapted from psychosynthesis."⁷⁶

            Before we look at what takes place in this exercise, let's find out what psychosynthesis is. One definition states:

"Psychosynthesis--a psychological/occult method of personal enlightenment developed by psychiatrist and occultist Roberto Assagioli, a colleague of Freud and Jung. Assagioli studied Eastern and Western philosophy and the occult and was the Italian director of the occult movement founded by New Age leader Alice Bailey: the Arcana/Lucis Trust. Psychosynthesis advertises itself as 'well suited to psychology, education and medicine, and also to religion, the social sciences, philosophy and all other aspects of society in which the consciousness of the individual human being plays a role.'"⁷⁷

            Now let's continue with the "Fantasy Exploration." The facilitator has the participants to lie down on the carpet, close their eyes, and become aware of their breathing. The book tells the facilitator that if "the group seems to be tense, the Yoga method of tightening and tensing each major muscle and then letting that part of the body flop down in relaxation is very helpful."⁷⁸

            Following the yoga exercise (progressive relaxation), "the facilitator begins the fantasy of climbing the mountain to meet the wise old man."⁷⁹ The "wise old man" is actually a spirit guide! After the participants are instructed to climb a mountain, they are told:

"...you see that there is a bench and someone sitting on it. Instantly you realize that it is a very wise old man [spirit guide]. You feel comfortable and safe in approaching him. Look closely at the wise old man; notice his clothes, head, face, nose, mouth, eyes, and so on. Sit down next to him. You know that you can ask any question you want and he will be able to answer you. Form a definite question in your mind. Ask your question; be silent, be still; listen, listen to the wise old man."⁸⁰

            After five to fifteen minutes of silence, the facilitator continues: "You are at the top of the mountain. You have been listening to a very wise old man. It is time to leave. Say good-bye, take one final look, and turn and walk away....Take a minute to slowly open your eyes and sit up at a comfortable pace."⁸¹

            This is precisely the method that the occultists, witches, and New Agers use to contact demonic spirit guides, yet here is a book in Dr. Dobson's Human Resource Library that is being recommended! Unbelievable! Incredible!

            There is so much more that is in this book. I've only given 2 illustrations so far and there are 150 such activities. One exercise is entitled "Pressuring for Self-Disclosure." The book states:

"The facilitator tells the participants that they are about to participate in an activity desiged (sic) to facilitate self-disclosure and then gives the following overview:

"'Each of you will answer one question posed by another group member of your choice. The questions must be designed to elicit self-disclosing data. We don't want to find out things that you would tell anyone at any time.'"⁸²

            This is nothing less than an invasion of privacy.

                                               HONESTY OR HUMILIATION?

            Yet another exercise is called "Honest-Dishonest." Cards are made up with the following instructions on them:

             "# Do a pantomime representing the most meaningful event in your life.

            # Sing a song about the person in the group whom you feel the most for.

            # Make up a poem that expresses your feelings about your body.

            # Tell us which members the group could do without and why.

            # Tell us which members are essential to the group and why.

            # Tell us if you are an asset or deficit to the group and why.

            # Write your own epitaph.

            # Rank the group members in subgroups of three according to any characteristic similarity (except physical similarity). Then explain why you grouped people as you did.

            # Take away a weakness from each group member and replace it with one of your own strengths.

            # Choose the member whom you have the most negative feelings toward. Look this person in the eyes and tell him or her why you are experiencing these feelings.

            # Do something you have wanted to do in this group but have not done so far.

            # Rank the members in the group according to your life or dislike for them."⁸³

            These cards are passed out randomly and each participant is to follow the instructions on the card which he or she received. Then as each participant carries out the directions, each member of the group holds up a card displaying the word "honest" (if he felt the participant was honest) or "dishonest" (if he felt the individual was dishonest). Exercises like this are humiliating and degrading. Why, then is a book like this in Focus on the Family's library?!

                                                   ARE YOU READY TO DIE?

            Let's look at yet another activity in this book before moving on to another area. In "Consensual Commandments" (like the "fallout shelter" scenario mentioned earlier), the group is told:

"You are a member of a civil defense committee appointed by the President to make decisions on fallout-shelter occupancy. War has been declared. It appears that only the occupants of a fallout shelter in Death Valley have a good chance for survival. The Death Valley civil defense director has wired Washington that at present ten people are occupying the shelter. A computer has calculated that the shelter can guarantee survival for only six people. Your committee is to decide which four are to be excluded from the group. Four must go so that six may live to rebuild a society....

"Your committee has thirty minutes to inform the President of the four people who are to be excluded. A decision must be reached."⁸⁴ [Emphasis in the original.]

            The ten people are:

            "1. A thirty-six-year-old female physician who is known to be a confirmed racist;

            2. A Marine drill instructor;

            3. A biological researcher who is a black militant;

            4. A biochemist;

            5. An Olympic athlete;

            6. A Hollywood starlet;

            7. A third-year medical student who is a homosexual;

            8. A sixteen-year-old, pregnant, high school dropout of questionable I.Q.;

            9. A thirty-year-old Catholic priest; and

            10. A thirty-eight-year-old carpenter and all-around 'fix-it' man who served seven years for pushing narcotics and has been out of jail for seven months."⁸⁵

            A related exercise is labeled "Survival of the Fittest."

"1. The facilitator asks the participants to fantasize that they are stranded on a desert island and that, in order to survive, four members of the group must be eliminated. The participants are told that majority vote is allowed and that failure to eliminate four members will mean everyone's destruction due to serious shortages of food and water.

"2. The participants are instructed to take turns offering rationales for their continued existence in the group (reasons that they should not be among the four who are eliminated).

"3. After all rationales have been offered, the group spends thirty minutes selecting four members to be eliminated. The facilitator states the only stipulation: no member may make a self-sacrifice."⁸⁶

            Remember, these activities to eliminate (murder) several members of a group is in a book at Focus' library, yet Dobson claims to be such a proponent of family values and against euthanasia, abortion, etc. Does this really make sense? If, perhaps, Dobson is not aware of what is in this book, then he should be more careful of those he puts in charge because someone at FOTF seems to have a high regard for this book!

                                       PARADIGM SHIFT OCCURS AT FOCUS

            What else is going on at Focus? Well, as I already mentioned the employees are now required to take courses. One course that was offered in 1995 was entitled "The Fine Art of Managing Change." What's the stated objective of this course? "To understand the PARADIGM SHIFTS that are occurring in the business world and at Focus on the Family."⁸⁷

            David Harris comments on this course:

"Recently we saw a sample of the literature Dobson, and the managers he employs, are using to brainwash their laborers. One, titled THE FINE ART OF MANAGING CHANGE, is so very similar to the old Lou Tice/Pacific Institutes seminar manual that there is no change of any substance. The old New Age talk about 'paradigm shifts' is straight out of New Age author Marilyn Ferguson's book THE AQUARIAN CONSPIRACY, published by Tarcher in 1980, which brought the Satanic, Luciferic New Age Movement out of the dark occult closet into the dazzling spotlight of glitzy pop and repackaged educational psychology made palatable for the taste of the 80s."⁸⁸

            The New Age phrase "paradigm shift" occurs numerous times throughout this course.⁸⁹ Additionally, the "hundredth monkey" concept is presented in disguised terms (i.e., a cup being filled up). The "hundredth monkey" concept is frequently referred to in the New Age. The concept goes like this: A colony of monkeys was given sweet potatoes to eat but they were hesitant to eat them because they were covered with dirt. One day a particular monkey washed her potato in a stream. Progress was very slow but eventually other monkeys also starting washing their potatoes before eating them. Supposedly, when the one-hundredth monkey washed his potato something clicked within the minds of all the other monkeys and SUDDENLY almost all of the monkeys started to wash their potatoes.⁹⁰ In New Age thought, when enough people get together, there will eventually come a time when something will register within the minds of the mass of people which will cause most everyone to have the same type consciousness. Alan Morrison states:

"Dr. [Peter] Russell refers to the fulfilment of the 'Hundredth Monkey Concept' as the moment of 'Critical Mass,' when a crucial number of people engaged in 'consciousness-altering' activities on the planet has been reached. In this moment, a universal change of consciousness will be effected throughout the species, bringing unprecedented effects across the globe."⁹¹

            Peter Russell, by the way, is a New Ager, but this is precisely what is presented in the Focus on the Family course. In fact, one of the headings in the course is "The Concept of Critical Mass."⁹² Under this heading we find:

"Ë In transition times, it is important to remember that we can't make change all at once! Change will not happen overnight!

Ë We make change little by little--building to critical mass.

Ë It is analogous to a cup that is filled with liquid. Early in the process, the cup is only a fraction full. All we can do to move toward change is to continue to find ways to add 'drops to the cup'--do things that contribute to the process. We call this a build to critical mass.

Ë Again like the cup, as it fills up, it will be even with the rim. Then one more drop causes it to go above the rim of the cup. Another drop, another drop, and finally it goes over! This point is called a critical mass shift. At this point, the change has happened. The organization is a different organization!

Ë The important thing to remember is not to become discouraged during the transition time. Many people who do not understand this concept become disillusioned. They feel that everyone is talking about change but nothing is different! They give up thinking the change isn't really going to happen! They don't understand the time that it takes to build to critical mass before the real changes can be realized!"⁹³ [Italics added; boldface in the original.]

            Reference is also made to "unfreezing" and "refreezing."⁹⁴ The purpose is to get people to let go of the "old ways" and learn new ones. In order to do so, the individual is expected "unfreeze" his thoughts, change them to adapt to the group's ideas, and then "refreeze" his new thoughts. In fact, this course consistently reminds the Focus employee that he or she must get rid of the "old ways" or the "old paradigm."⁹⁵ For instance, they are told: "Change occurs when something ends and something new or different starts. The period between these two points is transition. This is where people have to learn to let go of the old and embrace the new.'"⁹⁶

            Again, there is far more in this course than I have time to cover, but suffice it to say that what is presented is indeed New Age in technique and terminology. Jan Baller and Jeannie Binkley were the teachers for this course. By the way, Jan Baller is the teacher for a number of the other courses that are being, and will be, taught at FOTF!

                                                 KARATE COMES TO FOCUS

            There's still more that needs to be pointed out about Focus on the Family. For example, in the November 1995 issue of FOTF's Health and Wellness News they list several "On-Site Opportunities." There's Weight Watchers, Massage Therapy, Aerobics, Karate.... Wait a minute! Karate? Yes, that's right! Every Tuesday and Friday they offer 2 sessions from 6:30 - 7:30 pm and 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Now, for those who may not know what karate is, let me just briefly say that it is a martial art. This heading takes in numerous forms of so-called "self-defense" techniques. It applies to all forms of combat training, which include (but are not limited to) the following: karate, aikido, judo, jujitsu, fencing, boxing, archery, kung fu, gung fu, wu shu, pa kua, tai kwan do, hapkido, Okinawa-te, ch'i kung, jin shin, jin shin do, wu-wei, tai chi, tai chi chuan, hung gar, wing chung, tae kwon do, qigong, shen, taijiquan, we, etc., etc. Although the martial arts are a physical type of activity, their philosophy has its root in a system that is completely opposite of Christianity. For example, karate (which is a generic term that encompasses all kinds of styles that utilize different hand and foot blows) was handed down by a Zen Master to a Buddhist monk by word of mouth.

            Everything that is done in karate can be traced back to some principle of Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a pagan religion which believes in reincarnation, no hell, meditation, yoga, special breathing exercises (taken from yoga), and many other ideas that are foreign and contradictory to the Biblical teachings. Yet, this technique is being promoted at Focus on the Family!! I don't care if they say a "Christian" is teaching the technique, either, for the roots of karate are based in paganism and you cannot Christianize paganistic practices. Besides, this "Christian" (or one of his or her teachers) had to have learned it from a pagan source.

                                                     DOBSON AND LAMAZE

            Many of the techniques that FOTF is promoting and endorsing such as visualization, hypnosis, karate, fantasy, etc., are related to each other in that they all involve an altered state of consciousness. Another similar technique is Lamaze. It, too, involves a form of mind control as well as an altered state of consciousness. Lamaze uses the "yoga method" of progressive relaxation.⁹⁷ Of course, this is also condoned by Dobson--so much so that he served on the Board of Consultants of the Genesia Childbirth Educators. They are supposed to be "a group of born-again Christian Lamaze instructors...."⁹⁸ Dobson also wrote an endorsement for the front and back covers of this book.

            Some of the recommended authors include Fernand Lamaze, Frederick Leboyer, Robert Mendelsohn, Ashley Montagu, and Francis Moore Lappe. I don't have time to explain these people to you, but many of you will recognize that some of the names represent New Agers. What is also quite disturbing is that the yin/yang symbol appears on the front cover (it is incorporated into the title) as well as a few other places throughout the book. A well-known witch, Sybil Leek, said that the yin/yang theory is "an idea that inspired such things as Chinese boxing, breath control [used in yoga, meditation, karate, Lamaze, hypnosis, visualization, etc.], the use of special herbs, and some rather erotic sexual exercises designed to nourish the Yang with the Yin."⁹⁹

            In Black Magic, White Magic, we read: "Another ancient magical sign called the yin-and-yang first appeared sometime before the 3rd century B.C. in China. This emblem became a favorite of sorcerers and mystics throughout the Orient because it, too, embodies so many possible meanings."¹⁰⁰

                                                    NEW AGE RECORDINGS

            There's still more about Dobson and FOTF. In the September 1995 issue of Brio, the Focus magazine for teen girls, we find an ad from Columbia House. The deal is to get 10 music CDs for 1 cent and then buy 6 more in the next three years. Some of the featured artists are Amy Grant (who has swum in the nude with a friend¹⁰¹ and thinks it's fun to use foul language with friends¹⁰²) Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and Bing Crosby.¹⁰³ As you can see, some of the featured artists aren't even Christians. Additionally, "A Winter's Solstice IV" was featured with various artists and produced by Windham Hill--a New Age producer!¹⁰⁴ (By the way, a "solstice" is a pagan holiday for witches, etc.) Not only are these teens being seduced into purchasing New Age recordings (probably unknowingly), but once Columbia House has their name, they will continue to send them advertisements. Some of the ads that I've received from Columbia House were quite disturbing.

            For instance, on October 25, 1995 I received a computer mailing from Columbia House. What were some of the computer CDs offered? One was "Dr. Ruth's Encyclopedia of Sex." Another one was "Doom II: Hell on Earth." It is described like this: "Battle deadlier demons and mightier monsters with powerful weapons." "Dark Forces" is another one: "Join the rebel alliance in its relentless battle against evil in the universe! All the detail and storytelling perspective from creator George Lucas gives this adventure a compelling sense of reality." "King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride" will let you "Guide Princess Rosella through a magical land in danger of destruction." Yet another one is "Harry and the Haunted House." "Inside a spooky old house, Harry and his pals find a skull that tells skeleton jokes, dancing furniture, a phone that answers itself, and lots of learning fun." This last one is for ages 3-8!¹⁰⁵ Do you want your children being exposed to ads like this? If so, just keep subscribing to Dobson's teen magazines!

                                            IS VULGAR LANGUAGE MORAL?

            Focus on the Family also has a bookstore. One of the books purchased there was Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories. It sounds like a great book, right? If so, why do the authors give the following warning?

"Choose books that are in keeping with your own values....

"Context is crucial. Character-building books are not simply about good people doing good things. Moral books may deal with immoral behavior. The question is not whether unethical behavior is present but how it is presented....

"Context is also crucial in making judgments about rough language. Many contemporary authors use 'street' language to give an authentic flavor to their stories. You need to weigh the redeeming elements of the story against the coarsening effect of overexposure to vulgar language. Is the language truly necessary to the story? Or is it there just for shock value or to demonstrate the author's hipness? A few vulgar expressions here and there may add a certain realism to a story, but too many may simply have a desensitizing effect."¹⁰⁶

            Did you catch that? Vulgar language can add realism to a story! Do you want your child reading books that contain this kind of vocabulary? I might add, Dobson isn't the only one promoting this book. Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries has given his endorsement to this book as well. But some the books don't just have crude language, they promote occultism and other unscriptural viewpoints.

            One recommended book is Tales from Silver Lands. The description goes like this:

"Filled with giants, witches, fairy folk, talking animals, and wizards, some of the stories in this collection are close to the traditions of the fairy tale and the cautionary tale. 'A Tale of Three Tails' relates how the mouse used to have the tail of a horse and how he lost it as a punishment for his deceitfulness. Other stories have the flavor of myth and legend. In 'The Magic Dog,' Tlapa, the witch of the Shaking Mud, casts a spell that brings hatred and strife to the once happy kingdom of the Sea-shell King. Only the king's beautiful daughter can restore peace and harmony, by becoming a servant of the man she loves."¹⁰⁷

            Other books that are recommended are books by J.R.R. Tolkien (an occultist) and Madeleine L'Engle (a New Ager and one who denies many Biblical concepts). Even Frankenstein is recommended.

                                               IS CREATION ONLY A MYTH?

            Then there's the book In the Beginning: Creation Stories. This book is explained like this:

"Virginia Hamilton was careful to call this collection of myths 'stories.' Why? Because, like all good fiction, myths are less concerned with factual realism than with the moral realm of the human soul. Contained within its pages are twenty-five ancient and contemporary creation myths from around the world; while each story uniquely reflects the culture out of which it grew, there are many similarities that unite the stores. In his heart man has always wondered, What brought sin and death into the world? The ancient Greek myth of Pandora's box (or jar) and the Old Testament story of Adam and Eve seek to answer this question allegorically. Who created the universe? In these creation stories God has many faces and names: Yahweh, Zeus, Ra, Ulgen, Ta-Aroa."¹⁰⁸

            This book certainly does nothing to promote good morals or to build character. In fact, it degrades and mythologizes the Bible. Notice that all the stories (including the "Old Testament story of Adam and Eve") are called "myths." It is further explained that "myths are less concerned with factual realism than with the moral realm of the human soul."¹⁰⁹ Additionally, this book is teaching that God has many names: "Yahweh, Zeus, Ra, Ulgen, Ta-Aroa."¹¹⁰ This is nothing short of blasphemy!

            Twenty and Ten is another book. This "is a story that reminds us that, no matter what our religious convictions, we are all children of God."¹¹¹ Obviously, this is the teaching of universalism where everyone will be saved no matter what they believe.

            The Power and the Glory is about a "whisky priest," who has fathered a child. "As the novel progresses, the reader comes to the realization that, for all his many failings, the whisky priest does show compassion and risks his life to bring others the message of salvation. It is his very humility, his searing honesty about his own faults, that convinces us that he has indeed achieved a kind of holiness."¹¹²

            This "whisky priest," who died in a drunken and unforgiven condition, "achieved a kind of holiness" and brought "the message of salvation." Are these the kind of "morals" and "values" that you want your children to read--and perhaps emulate? If so, don't forget to stop in at Focus on the Family and secure your copy of Books That Build Character. Of course, this book is not only in Focus' bookstore but it was highly promoted in the May 1995 issue of Teachers in Focus. The back cover stated: "HERE'S A SUPER RESOURCE FOR OUR TIMES. 'BOOKS THAT BUILD CHARACTER' IS A HELPFUL PAPERBACK CATALOG OF CLASSIC NOVELS, CONTEMPORARY FICTION, MYTHS AND LEGENDS, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY, FOLKTALES, BIBLE STORIES, PICTURE BOOKS, BIOGRAPHIES, HOLIDAY STORIES AND MANY OTHER BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE VIRTUES AND VALUES."¹¹³ [Emphasis in the original.] The book was also mentioned several times throughout this particular issue.

                                                ALL RELIGIONS ARE EQUAL

            There are so many other books listed that I would like to share with you, but I'll stop with just one more example. Perilous Pilgrimage is a story which is set in the thirteenth century during the crusades.

"When the noble-born Alys and her brother, Geoffrey, learn that their father is to remarry, they determine to run away and join the crusade. But their confidence in Stephen's mission is shattered by his failure to part the seas between France and the Holy Land, and by the realization that they have been sold to slave traders by Stephen's evil adviser, a jester who enticed the children to follow them by playing his flute. Aided by their faithful tutor, Brother Gerard, who has followed them to the Holy Land, Alys and Geoffrey come to learn, among other things, that the 'pagan' Muslims, like their own Christian countrymen, are composed of good and bad alike and that prejudice based upon the color of skin or the difference of religion is evil and invariably leads to tragedy. A wise story with plenty of adventure to engage the young reader."¹¹⁴

            Such a story basically is saying that every religion is equal--there's good and bad in all religions. It appears to teach tolerance for all religions and that we need to look at different religions and find out what we all have in common. While each person is free to worship as he or she wishes to do so, and while we should not persecute another person for his beliefs, we cannot and must not accept all religions as equal or valid. As Dr. Dennis Cuddy has wisely and astutely stated:

"We should never respect those views which the Bible teaches are morally wrong. They are from Satan....

"Today, Christians are asked to 'respect the views' of those who practice other religions, or we are considered intolerant....

"It is not what we have in common with other religions that is important, but what Christianity has that is different which is essential to salvation. It is the death of Christ for our sins and His resurrection which are important, and we must tell those of other faiths this fact, because without their acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior, they will not be saved....

"The Word of God, given us in the Bible, is the only religious 'view' a Christian should respect, for it is the only Truth, and there can be no other."¹¹⁵

            Dobson, however, seems to believe that we should respect other religions. In the April 22, 1993 issue of the Gazette Telegraph, we are informed that a "Covenant of Mutual Respect" was signed. Who are some of the 18 signers? Terry P. McGonigal, Director of the Institute of Youth Ministries, Young Life, Dr. Howard Hirsch, Rabbi, and the Most Reverend Richard C. Hanifen, Bishop of Colorado Springs. Oh, yes, and...Dr. James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family was also among the signers.¹¹⁶ What does this "Covenant of Mutual Respect" involve? It begins like this: "'We, the undersigned, have entered into the following covenant with each other...the diversity of our religious perspectives may lead us into areas of possible disagreement. It is our hope to address those areas of difference with an attitude of openness...'"¹¹⁷ If the Catholics, Protestants, and Jews are joining together now, it won't be long before the Muslims, Buddhists, and other groups will be added. In fact, Pope John Paul II has already tried to bridge the gap between the Catholics and the Muslims. "He has often said that Muslims, Jews, and other non-Christians worship the true God and can get to heaven without a saving knowledge of Christ."¹¹⁸ The new Catholic catechism also declares that Muslims have salvation--even though they have never been born again. Of course, this "departure from Christian teaching is necessary if Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians are to merge into the prophesied one-world religion."¹¹⁹

                                                    QUEST INTERNATIONAL

            There's so much more that could be said about FOTF but I'll cover only one more area: the Quest program. When a concerned person wrote to Focus over the Quest program, this is the reply she received:

"Dr. Dobson does not deny the positive features of the Quest curriculum. He realizes the several prominent Christian psychologists have had a hand in devising and developing it. He knows that the works of reputable Christian authors are to be found among its recommended resource materials. He believes that many of the morals it teaches (termed 'values' or 'social skills') are fully compatible with a Christian perspective. He applauds Quest's emphasis on the importance of communication between family members and peers. And finally, he is a personal friend of Rick Little, the developer of the Quest program.

"In spite of all this, Dr. Dobson cannot offer a general endorsement of Quest. The program has its problems; and, in the final analysis, he feels this is a case in which the bad outweighs the good. The authors of Quest have generally attempted to incorporate the work of secular humanists into their curriculum, thus introducing elements clearly unacceptable to Christians. In some instances they have prescribed group exercises and techniques closely resembling those employed in psychotherapy--a risky practice in the absence of professionally trained leadership. Even on these points where the 'values' promoted by the program are potentially compatible with Christian mores, interpretation and application are completely subject to the individual instructor's personal biases. This means that Quest could become a vehicle for communicating some distinctly un-Christian values.

"It is true that Dr. Dobson authored a chapter in the original Quest textbook (1979). It remains there today in spite of the direction in which his opinions on the program have developed. Once given, he has decided not to attempt to withdraw the chapter. But it should not be understood to imply any endorsement of Quest on his part."¹²⁰

            Just what is the Quest program? It goes by different names in different places such as Skills for Adolescence, Skills for Growing, and Skills for Living, among others.¹²¹ According to Quest International's own material, we find:

"Founded in 1975 [by Rick R. Little] with initial funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Quest International is a nonprofit educational organization reaching more than two million young people each year throughout the world. Quest International's programs and services unite schools, families, and communities to encourage the healthy development of young people."¹²²

            "All of Quest's programs promote higher-order thinking skills, discussion, cooperative groupwork, and active learning."¹²³

            "The role of the teacher is that of planner, initiator, presenter, instructor, guide, facilitator, remediator, and evaluator."¹²⁴

            Notice: the role of the teacher is anything but a teacher--which is what outcome-based education is promoting.

            "Furthermore, the programs encourage active parent involvement in shared homework assignments, on the Implementation Teams, on School Climate Committees, as adult leaders for the service learning projects, and as classroom helpers and resources."¹²⁵ This brings in the idea of lifelong learning for adults since the parents are supposed to share in the homework assignments.

            Citizen magazine reports:

"Quest units dealing with drug, alcohol and tobacco use also contain many messages about the harmful side effects of the substances.

"But even with the information that drugs are illegal and harmful, some parents say that other lessons Quest teaches give students the impression that decisions about drugs should be based on consequences instead of whether it's right or wrong.

"'Instead of telling children, "Some things have already been decided for you because they are illegal," Quest tells them to decide whether or not it's worth the risk,' said Linda Patarozzi.

"Patarozzi pointed to a lesson in the junior high curriculum that puts negative behaviors such as drug use in the same 'risk' category as making an acting debut."¹²⁶

            In fact, "the earlier Skills for Adolescence program has been shown to have the potential to actually increase drug use and also has had its philosophy and methodology criticized."¹²⁷

            "Another exercise titled 'Thinking About Taking Risks,' tells students to list the positive and negative consequences of risks such as shoplifting."¹²⁸ Is there really a positive side to shoplifting?!

            Not only are "positive" views of shoplifting discussed, but the parents are referred to in derogatory terms. It mentions that parents "suddenly seem like nosy prison wardens." Another place refers to "pusy parents."¹²⁹

            There are "Twelve Rules for Getting along with Your Parents." One of the rules advises the "wise teenager...to give in, at times, so parents will be more likely to co-operate when it's some big deal that you really care about."¹³⁰ Another rule is: "'Ask for your parents' advice now and then on something big enough to make them feel important.'"¹³¹

                                          OCCULT TECHNIQUES ENDORSED

            Quest also utilizes the techniques of visualization and guided imagery¹³² (which we covered in detail earlier). One of the earlier Quest editions had an exercise called "Elevator." Teachers are to "'establish a quiet, contemplative mood.' Teachers then tell students 'you are in an elevator.' Each button in the elevator represents an age. When students push a button, the elevator will take them back to experiences they had at that age. 'Be sensitive to those who may have stopped on an unpleasant floor,' the book tells teachers."¹³³

            Does this occult practice disturb Dobson? Of course not! He just stated that these techniques could be "a risky practice in the absence of professionally trained leadership." In other words, if these techniques are used by professionals, they are okay.¹³⁴ He further added: "I hope you understand that I'm not condemning Quest. I'm sure there are many schools and classrooms in which it's being put to good use."¹³⁵

            We've already seen where Dobson claims that several prominent Christian psychologists have had a part in the Quest literature. Also, in his October 27, 1981, letter to Rick Little at Quest International, he said:

"I know you love the Lord and are trying to serve Him. I have never questioned your motives and consider you to be a trusted Christian friend. I'm sure that Quest is doing some good....However, I believe you made one fundamental error, and that was bringing professionals into your organization who do not share our Christian faith. That put us all in bed with the enemy, so to speak, and helped to undermine your very noble and Christian purposes."¹³⁶

            I don't know which individuals Dobson thinks are Christians, but he is incorrect to infer that non-Christians professionals were brought in later. According to a paper from the Sagamore Institute, we find this about the Quest program: "This nationally acclaimed, research-tested program is sponsored and administered by The Quest International Center of Columbus, Ohio and was originally written by Sagamore Institute's Howard Kirschenbaum and Barbara Glaser."¹³⁷

                                                 HUMANISTS WROTE QUEST

            Glaser is Kirschenbaum's wife and both are well-known humanists and they were the original writers of this program!¹³⁸ Kirschenbaum is Director of the National Humanistic Education Center (NHEC). Before its reorganization in 1973, the NHEC was originally called Adirondack Mountain Humanist Center. In 1980 the name once again was changed to Sagamore Institute.¹³⁹ Also in 1980:

"The National Coalition for Democracy in Education [was] founded, comprised of individuals and organizations who support the right to teach humanistic education in schools, educating the 'whole student.' It opposes interference by state legislatures or school boards in teaching of evolution, and it opposes censorship of books in school libraries....The Executive Director is Howard Kirschenbaum."¹⁴⁰

"One of the books he has coauthored is Values Clarification: A Handbook of Practical Strategies for Teachers and Students. In fact, the annotated bibliography and resource list at the end of Unit 1 of Skills for Living lists Kirschenbaum's Values Clarification book and specifically identifies it as the source for the 'group interview,' 'rank ordering,' 'voting continuum,' and 'other activities used throughout this course.'"¹⁴¹

            We've already briefly looked at the origins of values clarification, yet the Quest program is based on values clarification and humanism. "According to the Encyclopedia Associations, the Quest National Center promotes 'Humanistic Education' in our schools."¹⁴² Some of the authors listed in the suggested reading material (for the Skills for Living program) include Sidney Simon (who doesn't believe in right and wrong), Carl Rogers, Rudolf Dreikurs, Thomas Gordon, and Leland Howe. Each one of the above authors is a humanist! Additionally, over 65% of the books listed can be obtained from the National Humanistic Education Center, again showing the humanistic bias of the Quest program.

            The Lions Club is in a joint venture with the Quest program. This association seems to make the Quest program more acceptable. However, we are told: "'Service clubs such as the Lions sponsor sterilization camps that reportedly do 900 operations a week' in Kenya."¹⁴³ Sounds like a real "compassionate" organization, doesn't it?

            "Despite the controversy that surrounds him, Little says he has no regrets about creating Quest.

            "'If I were to do it over again [says Little]...I'd probably end up doing it pretty much the same.'"¹⁴⁴ Knowing what is involved in the Quest program, do you think Rick Little is a Christian as Dobson claims he is?

                                                ANOTHER CONTRADICTION

            Dobson claims that he does not endorse or condemn the Quest program. However, as just stated above, he clearly said that he is "not condemning Quest."¹⁴⁵ Listen also to the words of Tom Minnery, Vice President of Public Policy for Focus on the Family: "Our research on Quest revealed a broader concern: Even the best curricula can be mistaught, but if parents aren't vigilant, how will they know?"¹⁴⁶ Did you catch the insinuation that Quest is a good (perhaps even the best) program but the teachers are the ones who are misusing it? Never mind that humanists were behind it from the beginning. Never mind that humanistic values are stressed. Just blame the teachers for making a good program into a bad one. It is true that the teachers can introduce their own values into a course, but they still use the material as a guideline--and that's where a big problem comes in--because the Quest material itself is not only tainted with humanism but it is actually immersed in it! In spite of this, FOTF seems to think it's a great program.

            Dobson's argument that he is not endorsing Quest because of how some local teachers can misuse it is an extremely lame excuse. Are we to say we cannot endorse the Bible because some people misinterpret it?

            Furthermore, in the Focus on the Family magazine, Teachers in Focus, we find some interesting information. In the March 1995 issue there were several groups mentioned as "Violence Prevention Resources." One of the groups listed was STARS (Students Taking a Right Stand).¹⁴⁷ I wrote to this organization and was quite surprised to find that they actually are selling materials from Quest International. Oh, and they also sell a number of videos produced by Focus on the Family such as Sex, Lies and...the Truth, Adventures in Odyssey and McGee and Me! among others.¹⁴⁸ I think it should be obvious that FOTF actually does promote the Quest material--even if it is in a round-about way.

            Quest International is also "a charter member of the Character Education Partnership [CEP]...."¹⁴⁹ Two of the people on the CEP Advisory Council are Zbigniew Brzezinski and Jesse L. Jackson.¹⁵⁰ Brzezinski was "the first director of the Trilateral Commission...."¹⁵¹ He was also one of the speakers at the State of the World Forum (September 27 to October 1, 1995) which was chaired by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. "Brzezinski warned against 'parochial fundamentalism' and 'narrow cults, ethnicity, national or religious passion.' And he said, 'We cannot leap into world government through one quick step. A consensual global system requires a process.'"¹⁵² "Over 20 years ago he declared in his book Between Two Ages that 'national sovereignty is no longer a viable concept.'"¹⁵³ Also in this book:

"...he explained his view that 'Marxism is simultaneously a victory of the external, active man over the inner, passive man and a victory of reason over belief... [and] the fiction of [national] sovereignty...is clearly no longer compatible with reality... [but] a [world community] cannot be achieved by fusing existing states into one larger entity....It makes much more sense to attempt to associate existing states through a variety of indirect ties and already developing limitations on national sovereignty.'"¹⁵⁴ [Emphasis in the original.]

Brzezinski also called for a new international monetary system.¹⁵⁵

            Another member of the CEP is the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)¹⁵⁶ which is a division of the National Education Association.¹⁵⁷ The ASCD is also an affiliated organization with Kirschenbaum's National Coalition for Democracy in Education (NCDE). Other affiliated organizations are the humanistic Sagamore Institute, Association for Humanistic Education, Association for Humanistic Education and Development, Connecticut Teacher Centers for Humanistic Education, North Carolina Humanistic Education Association, and the N.W. Ohio Humanistic Education Association. Did you notice how humanistic this group is? One of the NCDE's sponsors just happens to be the well-known New Ager, Marilyn Ferguson! These are the type of groups and people Dobson is associated with time and time again.

            In ASCD's 1962 yearbook, Perceiving, Behaving, Becoming, we find: "'We need to de-emphasize tradition and the past....Educators can no longer afford to deplore and resist change. Too many teachers are still insisting that things must be done the "right" way.'"¹⁵⁸ At ASCD's 44th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show (held March 11-14, 1989) the theme was "Educating Global Citizens: Illuminating the Issues." Some of the speakers were Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dee Dickinson, Shirley McCune, and Jean Houston.¹⁵⁹ ASCD's 49th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show (March 1994) also had some interesting speakers. Of course, there was Howard Kirschenbaum, William Spady (father of outcome-based education), Gordon Cawelti, etc. Other speakers were Robert Simonds of Citizens for Excellence in Education and Amy Stephens from...Focus on the Family! The talk was "Religious Conservatives and Public Schools: Can We Find Common Ground?"¹⁶⁰ How can Christians find "common ground" with humanists who are agnostics and atheists? (By the way, Dobson had Amy Stephens on his November 17, 1995, Focus on the Family program.) Incidentally, another member of the Character Education Partnership is Focus on the Family! The connections between FOTF and the humanistic education and the New Age go on and on and on. There really seems to be no end to it.

            As I've stated several times, there's so much more that could be said about Focus on the Family. I didn't begin to cover all the material I have, but I believe enough has been said to show you that there's a double standard lurking behind the "Christian" facade of FOTF. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (II Peter 3:17).

                                                                        --Dr. Cathy Burns

        Additional copies of this article are available for $3.00 each plus $1.00 postage. Write to:

                                                                      Sharing

                                                         212 East Seventh Street

                                                     Mt. Carmel, PA 17851-2211

 FOOTNOTES:

¹ Computer Discernment Notebook (on disk) by Rick Miesel.

² Focus on the Family, "Family Feedback" (October 1995), p.16.

³ Focus on the Family: Our Faith, Values, Mission & Guiding Principles, Colorado Springs, Colorado: Focus on the Family, n.d., p.8.

⁴ Computer Discernment Notebook, op. cit. See also "Disney's 'Lion King' Is Dangerous," Calvary Contender (April 15, 1995); "Disney's 'Lion King' Is Dangerous,' Christian News (April 17, 1995, Vol. 33, No. 16), p.2.

⁵ Focus on the Family, "Family Feedback," October 1995, p.16.

⁶ Focus on the Family, "Family Feedback," July 1995, p.16.

⁷ Focus on the Family, "Family Feedback," October 1995, p.16.

⁸ Elaine Minton, "Laura Williams: A Young Voice Roars Big," Brio (November 1995, Vol. 6, No. 11), p.16.

⁹ Raymond Blanton, "The Lion King," The Perilous Times (October 1995, Vol. 17, No. 8), p.8.

¹⁰ Focus on the Family: Who We Are and What We Stand For (Colorado Springs, Colorado: Focus on the Family, 1994), p.9.

¹¹ "Hometown Heroes: A Child's Faith--and Hugs--Open 'Jane Roe's' Heart," Focus on the Family Citizen (October 16, 1995), p.14.

¹² Calvary Contender (October 15, 1995, Vol. 12; No. 20), p.1.

¹³ Ibid.

¹⁴ Chattanooga Free Press (July 8, 1995), p.B1-2.

¹⁵ Albert James Dager, "Promise Keepers Update: Mormons, Catholics Laud Men's Movement," Media Spotlight (Vol. 16, No. 1), p.8.

¹⁶ Martin and Deidre Bobgan, "Promise Keepers & Phallicism," Psychoheresy Awareness Letter, (July-August 1995, Vol. 3; No. 4), p.1.

¹⁷ Ibid., p.1, 4; Chattanooga Free Press, op. cit., p.B2.

¹⁸ Chattanooga Free Press, op. cit., p.B2.

¹⁹ Media Spotlight, op. cit.

²⁰ Ibid., p.9.

²¹ Dr. Dobson's November 1995 letter, p.1-2.

²² Ibid., p.3-4.

²³ "Sizing Up the Biggest: Stories and Stats of 50 Favorite American Charities," U.S. News & World Report (December 4, 1995, Vol. 110, No. 22), p.93.

²⁴ Focus on the Family, "Coming Broadcasts" (December 1988), p.14.

²⁵ Ibid.

²⁶ Letter on file dated December 9, 1988, p.1.

²⁷ Ibid.

²⁸ Ibid, p.2.

²⁹ Ibid.

³⁰ Ibid.

³¹ Ibid.

³² Ibid.

³³ Letter on file from Focus on the Family, dated December 22, 1988.

³⁴ James Dobson, Preparing for Adolescence (Ventura, California: Regal Books, 1978), p.82.

³⁵ Ibid.

³⁶ Ibid., p.86.

³⁷ Ibid., p.86-87.

³⁸ "Check It Out: Focus Resource Centers" Focus on the Family (April 1995, Vol. 19, No. 4), p.11.

³⁹ Family Resource Library 1, 1995, p. 14.

⁴⁰ Duffy Robbins, "Yo Duffy," Breakaway (March 1995, Vol. 6, No. 3), p.24.

⁴¹ Ibid.

⁴² G. H. Estabrooks, Hypnotism (E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1957), p.123.

⁴³ Ibid.

⁴⁴ The World Book Encyclopedia (Illinois: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation Illinois, p.428.

⁴⁵ Ibid.

⁴⁶ Sidney Petrie and Robert B. Stone, What Modern Hypnotism Can Do For You (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1968), p.28.

⁴⁷ Kerry Pechter, "When I Snap My Fingers, You Will Be Free of Pain," Prevention (July 1985, Vol.37, No. 7), p.120.

⁴⁸ The World Book Encyclopedia, op. cit. See also The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 12, p.47, 307.

⁴⁹ Stone, op. cit., p.97, 99-104.

⁵⁰ Llewellyn's New Times, #844, p.64.

⁵¹ Catalog from International Imports, p.224.

⁵² Grant Martin, "My Child Isn't Learning," Focus on the Family (November 1995, Vol. 19, No. 11), p.13.

⁵³ J. William Pfeiffer, Ed., The Encyclopedia of Group Activities: 150 Practical Designs for Successful Facilitating (San Diego, California: University Associates, Inc., 1989), p.123.

⁵⁴ Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today (New York: Viking Press, 1979), p.104.

⁵⁵ Llewellyn New Times, (July/August 1986, #864), p.45.

⁵⁶ Llewellyn New Times, (January/February 1987, #871), p.13.

⁵⁷ Pechter, op. cit., p.121.

⁵⁸ Ibid., p.122.

⁵⁹ Bernie S. Siegel, Love, Medicine and Miracles (New York, New York: Harper & Row, 1986), p.234.

⁶⁰ Daryl E. Quick, The Healing Journey for Adult Children of Alcoholics (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1990), p.117.

⁶¹ Ibid., p.121.

⁶² Ibid., p.118.

⁶³ Spirit Speaks: Life in the Spirit World (Issue 7), p.28-29.

⁶⁴ Quick, op. cit., p.122.

⁶⁵ Focus on the Family Training, Fall 1995 Education Calendar, p.3.

⁶⁶ Ibid.

⁶⁷ Dennis Laurence Cuddy, Chronology of Education with Quotable Quotes (Highland City, Florida: Pro Family Forum, Inc., updated 1994), p.22.

⁶⁸ Ibid., p.55.

⁶⁹ Pfeiffer, op. cit., p.49.

⁷⁰ Ibid.

⁷¹ Eric Maple, The Complete Book of Witchcraft and Demonology (Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1966).

⁷² Frank Gaynor, Ed., Dictionary of Mysticism (New York: Philosophical Library, 1953), p.102.

⁷³ J. F. Cronin, "Werewolf," The World Book Encyclopedia (Illinois: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, 1961), p.162.

⁷⁴ Catalog from Publishers' Clearing Bureau, p.25.

⁷⁵ Pfeiffer, op. cit., p.121.

⁷⁶ Ibid., p.123.

⁷⁷ John Ankerberg with John Weldon and Craig Branch, Thieves of Innocence (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1993), p.315.

⁷⁸ Pfeiffer, op. cit.

⁷⁹ Ibid.

⁸⁰ Ibid., p.123-124.

⁸¹ Ibid., p.124.

⁸² Ibid., p.45.

⁸³ Ibid., p.41-42.

⁸⁴ Ibid., p.406.

⁸⁵ Ibid.

⁸⁶ Ibid., p.347.

⁸⁷ "The Fine Art of Managing Change," (Colorado Springs, Colorado: Focus on the Family Presents, 1995), p.1.

⁸⁸ The New Age Adversary Bulletin & Old Time Gospel Advocate (October 1995, Vol. 10, No. 10), p.7.

⁸⁹ "The Fine Art of Managing Change," op. cit., p.1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 18.

⁹⁰ Alan Morrison, The Serpent and the Cross: Religious Corruption in an Evil Age (Birmingham, England: K & M Books, 1994), p.133-134. ⁹¹ Ibid., p.136.

⁹² "The Fine Art of Managing Change," op. cit., p.19.

⁹³ Ibid.

⁹⁴ Ibid., p.20.

⁹⁵ Ibid., p.3, 9, 20, 28, 32.

⁹⁶ Ibid., p.28.

⁹⁷ Joyce Milburn and Lynnette Smith, The Natural Childbirth Book (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1981), p.51, etc.

⁹⁸ Ibid., p.185.

⁹⁹ Sybil Leek, Reincarnation: The Second Chance (Briarcliff Manor, New York: Stein and Day, 1974), p.189-190.

¹⁰⁰ Gary Jennings, Black Magic, White Magic (Eau Clair, Wisconsin: The Dial Press, 1964, p.50.

¹⁰¹ Jeff Godwin quoting from Rolling Stone in Dancing with Demons: The Music's Real Master (Chino, California: Chick Publications, 1988), p.334.

¹⁰² Jeff Godwin quoting Amy Grant from Ladies Home Journal, in Dancing with Demons: The Music's Real Master (Chino, California: Chick Publications, 1988), p.333.

¹⁰³ Brio (September 1995, Vol. 6, No. 9), ad insert after p.8.

¹⁰⁴ Ibid.

¹⁰⁵ Mailing from Columbia House, received October 25, 1995.

¹⁰⁶ William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe, Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories (New York, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p.55-56.

¹⁰⁷ Ibid., p.129.

¹⁰⁸ Ibid., p.134.

¹⁰⁹ Ibid.

¹¹⁰ Ibid.

¹¹¹ Ibid., p.170.

¹¹² Ibid., p.186.

¹¹³ Teachers in Focus (May 1995, Vol. 4, No. 5), Back cover.

¹¹⁴ Kilpatrick and Wolfe, op. cit., p.160.

¹¹⁵ Dennis Laurence Cuddy, An American Commentary (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Hearthstone Publishing, Ltd., 1993), p.4.

¹¹⁶ K.E. Barr, Unholy Alliances 2000 (Kansas City, Missouri: Barr Press, 1994), p.9; Gazette Telegraph, April 22, 1993.

¹¹⁷ Ibid.

¹¹⁸ Calvary Contender (December 1, 1994, Vol. 11, No. 21), p.2; See also: David Crumm, "Pope's World Peace Effort Involves Maida: Interfaith Meetings Eyed in 1999," Christian News (December 12, 1994, Vol. 32, No. 46), p.1, 7; Paper from Bold Truth Press, p.1; "Pope Calls for Mountain Top Prayer," Thy Kingdom Come! (Summer 1994), p.2; C. Lynn Green, A Walk of Reconciliation (Pasadena, California: A.D. 2000 United Prayer Track), p.6; Prophetic Observer (August 1995, L-770), p.1.

¹¹⁹ Endtime (January/February 1995), p.17.

¹²⁰ Letter on file from Bob White, dated January 24, 1990; See also: Michael Ebert, "Parents Split Over Quest: Does a 'Life-Skills' Program Used in 20,000 Schools Nationwide Teach Traditional Values or Immorality?," Citizen (July 20, 1992), p.2.

¹²¹ "What Is Quest?," Citizen (July 20, 1992), p.4.

¹²² Quest International: Frequently Asked Questions (Granville, Ohio: Quest International), n.d., p.1.

¹²³ Ibid., p.2.

¹²⁴ Ibid., p.3.

¹²⁵ Ibid., p.4.

¹²⁶ "Parents Split Over Quest," Citizen, op. cit., p.10.

¹²⁷ John Ankerberg with John Weldon and Craig Branch, Thieves of Innocence (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1993), p.53.

¹²⁸ "Parents Split Over Quest," Citizen, op. cit.

¹²⁹ Marian Harber, A Report on Skills for Adolescence, (1987), p.10.

¹³⁰ Ibid. ¹³¹ "Parents Split Over Quest," Citizen, op. cit., p.11.

¹³² Ibid., p.4.

¹³³ Ibid.

¹³⁴ James C. Dobson, "Where Do We Stand?," Citizen (July 20, 1992), p.2.

¹³⁵ Ibid.

¹³⁶ Copy of letter on file from Dr. James Dobson to Rick Little, dated October 27, 1981.

¹³⁷ Bulletin from Sagamore Institute.

¹³⁸ Harber, op. cit., p.2.

¹³⁹ Cuddy, Chronology of Education with Quotable Quotes, op. cit., p.49.

¹⁴⁰ Ibid., p.66.

¹⁴¹ Ankerberg, Weldon, and Branch, op. cit., p.59.

¹⁴² Harber, op. cit., p.1.

¹⁴³ Ibid., p.4

¹⁴⁴ Michael Ebert, "Quest's Founder Listens to Kids," Citizen (July 20, 1992, Vol. 6, No. 7), p.14.

¹⁴⁵ Dobson, "Where Do We Stand?," Citizen, op. cit.

¹⁴⁶ Tom Minnery, "Don't Be a Stranger," Citizen (July 20, 1992, Vol. 6, No. 7), p.5.

¹⁴⁷ "Violence Prevention Resources," Teachers in Focus (March 1995, Vol. 4, No. 3), p.4.

¹⁴⁸ Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS), 1995-1996 Catalog, p.3, 4, 5, 16, 17.

¹⁴⁹ Overview (Granville, Ohio: Quest International).

¹⁵⁰ Character Education Partnership (Alexandria, Virginia: Character Education Partnership), September 1994 listing.

¹⁵¹ Cuddy, Chronology of Education with Quotable Quotes, op. cit., p.46.

¹⁵² Dennis Laurence Cuddy, "What Caused This Mess?", Christian Conscience (December 1995, Vol. 1, No. 11), p.43.

¹⁵³ "Blueprint for a New World Order," Christian World Report (July/August 1995, Vol. 10, No. 7), p.3.

¹⁵⁴ Dennis Laurence Cuddy, Now Is the Dawning of the New Age New World Order (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Hearthstone Publishing Ltd., 1991), p.244.

¹⁵⁵ David Allen Rivera, Final Warning: A History of the New World Order (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Rivera Enterprises, 1994), p.190.

¹⁵⁶ Diane Berreth, "The Character Education Partnership," Educational Leadership (November 1993), p.8.

¹⁵⁷ Cuddy, Chronology of Education with Quotable Quotes, op. cit., p.23.

¹⁵⁸ Ibid., p.38.

¹⁵⁹ Ibid., p.83.

¹⁶⁰ Brochure from ASCD's 44th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show, March 1994.