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Show ThuiMiuv Religion: steal government documets. The year between the two events has not been a good one for the new religions that sprang up on the spiritually thirsty American soil in the 1960s. Even before the bizarre and grisly events that resulted in the murder of and the mass Rep. Leo Rvan. of the followers of the Rev. Jim Jones at Jonestown, Guyana, some religious leaders were saying the new religions were peaking. George Gallup Jr., in his most recent survey of the state of religion, said that it did not appear that "either unconventional religions or cults are registering any large gains in popularity" in the United States. At the same time however, he said both young adults the age group most attracted to unconventional religions and adults of all ages "are eager to 'feel fulfilled' and are flirting with a wide variety of parareligious and movements and activities." "Young people appear to be spiritually restless; they want a strong religious faith, but at the same time they find organized religion to be spiritually lifeless," Gallup said. "As a result they are intrigued by the paranormal and by unconventional religion and cults." The result has been the of some of the new religions, such as the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church and a peaking and even decline in the popularity of other unconventional religious groups such as satan worshipping cults and Jesus people communes. suicide-executio- n lyTs THK HFHAI.I). Church news, Moon's Unification church, for example, has taken a low profile in the past year and some observers such as J. Gordon Melton of the Institute for the Study of American Religion believe that the Moonies are beginning to in- stitutionalize. "They have begun to form a congregational life and are returning people to society to take jobs in the secular world and raise families," he said. But the attention fccused on Jonestown, as well as the revelations involving the Church of Scientology's infilration of the government has intensified both the legal and extra-lega- l opposition to unconventional religious sects. Critics of the new religions point to Jonestown and the Scientology case as examples of the dangers of all the . , r I'tah-P- ate . 1 Nuns Fulfill Commitments In Convent lt prove. The proposal has raised a storm of protest among mainline religious and legal groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union. The Rev. Dean Kelley of the National Council of Churches, speaking on behalf of the ACLU, has warned that "the abhorerice of events at Jonestown should not blind citizens to the serious constitutional questions raised by demands for governmental investigations of "cults."' "The remedy to be applied if one's adult child adopts a religious principle e or repugnant to one's own is not self-hel- p criminality (deprogramming) and interference with constitutional liberties," Kelley said. "The remedy lies in attempting to understand, to sympathize and to per- The lrsuline house in Alton, III., houses 68 nuns and is much like any other convent It is unusual because as the years wear on, fewer and fewer of the nuns go out and teach. They live a life in the convent and find little reason to leave. More than half of the inhabitants of the convent are retired or confined to the infirmary. It is a place of peace and praver for them especially for the nuns whose working days have ceased long ago and who are spending their last years of life preparing for death. Much of the nuns' time at the convent is spent in prayer (above). With their rosaries, the sisters spend countless hours in their chapel. Even when not worshiping, articles around the convent remind them of their constant commitment to God. rsuline convent is a big house situated on a hill outside downtown Alton. One of the nuns is always on duty in the reception room (below). People go to the convent for reasons ranging from music lessons and visiting with the sisters to delivering a package. (UPI Telephotos) - Because of fears of First Amendment violations, however, the result has put some mainline church groups in the curious of position of trying to counter the cults with their educational material while supporting their First Amendment rights. suade." Focus of the concern has been the increased phenomenon of "deprogramthe forcible removal of an ming" adult believer from a religious group and then holding the person until he or she recants their belief. Dr. Ross Bartlett, president of the Alliance for the Preservation of Religious Liberty, has estimated that about 40 forcible deprogrammings are started in the country every day. And the evidence indicates that Mr. and Mrs. Fay (Grace W.) Fielding of Sundeprogramming is going beyond the Pavson will speak at their farewell meeting at 2 p.m. in the Payson Fifth Ward, 200 S. 400 fringe sects to more established day Arkansas-LittlRock E. They will serve in the religions including efforts to Mission and will enter the Missionary Training and Center Nov. 29. An open house will be at their deprogram Baptists Episcopalians life-styl- l Missionaries Plan Meetings ism jf Sunday e Catholics. On Capitol Robert Dole, Hill, meanwhile Sen. has already held two informal hearings that Poelman to Preside At Stake Conference Ronald E. Poelman, member of the LDS First Quorum of the Seventy, will preside over the Provo Central Stake Conference Saturday and Sunday. A priesthood leadership meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the stake center, 450 N. 1200 W. All stake and ward adult home in Payson meeting Canyon after the Sunday David Michael Nielsen, son of Mr and Mrs D.vid LeRoy Nielsen of 1507 N. 2040 W Provo. will speak Sunday at 1 p m in the Provo 30th Ward. 1550 N. 1350 W Provo. He will serve in the France-Pari- s Mission An open house w ill be at the Neilsen home after the meeting. Tim Gurr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray D Gurr of Pleasant Grove will speak in sacrament meeting Sunday at 6 p m. in the Grove Ward He will enter the Missionary training Center Dec. 13 prior to . Louis Mission. leaving for the Missouri-StKevin D. Ass, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ash of Pleasant Grove, will speak in sacrament meeting Sunday at t p.m. In the Grove Ward. He has been Mission and will enter the called to the Italy-Rom- e Missionary Training Center Dec. 6. , - wvm&. 1 1 Coogan commemorates HOLLYWOOD (UPI) Jackie Coogan, who became an overnight star as a child with Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid," will commemorate his 65th birthday and 60th year in show business at Hollywood's Brown Derby later this month. Coogan, who starred in 14 silent movies between 1919 and 1929, recently won an award for outstanding conto youth in films for his tribution involvement with California's child labor laws. Among those attending the celebration will be former child performers Huntz Hall, Jane Withers, Donald O'Connor and Margaret O'Brien. - priesthood leaders may attend. Stake officers invite all adult stake members to a 7 p.m. meeting Saturday. Theme for the meeting will be "Welfare Services: A Plan of Giving Work." The meeting will be in the stake center also. The general session of the conference will begin at 10 a.m. in the Provo Tabernacle, University Avenue and 200 South. The public may attend. Poelman was called to his current position April 1, 1978. He has served in a stake presidency, as a bishop, high councilman, seminary teacher and missionary. He is the father of four children. His wife, the former Claire Stoddard, died May 5, 1979. I i A RONALD E. POELMAN 4 , - ' Churches Speak On Social Issues By DAVID E. ANDERSON UPI Religion Writer The 1970s are often contrasted, especially in the churches, with the social activism o that characterized both religious leaders and grass room church members during the 1960s. The 1970s, according to the contrast, have been a time of lessened social activism when the churches have turned inward: concerning themselves more with internal religious and organization problems than with the secular world. But in recent weeks, both the Roman Catholic Church and the National Council of Churches, the mi jor body of Protestant and Orthodox communions in the United States, have wrestled at length with major issues confronting society and sought to formulate a moral base for action in the world by Christians. The two issues are racism and the criminal justice system. The statement on racism to be issued in the form of a pastoral letter, was approved by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops during the annual fall meeting of the National Conference of Catholic 20 Kodak Camera Outfit Tele-Ektrali- DDDU (Bo I ) Take regular or twice as close telephoto shots. New swing-ou- t electronic flash. Take it everywhere! 6562 0296 regular low price Ji 3997 lfT. 51 Bishops in It explores what it calls a new kind of racism, one based more on economic injustice rather than the old, more blatant forms of prejudice, and finds the new racism operating in employment, housing and education. "Crude and blatant expressions of racist sentiment are today considered bad form." the statement said, "but racism itself persists in a crude way." The statement draws on both the Bible ami Roman Catholic teaching, including statement1; made by Pope John Paul II during his U.S. visit, to condemn racism as a sin and a radical evil. While praising the progress made in both church and society in combating racism, it was also critical of racist elements that still exist in both. - ward clerk; Mark Johnson. (iKV'ULA SECOND STAKE nxi06 'LaBelle's Sale Price Less Mail In Rebate 26.97 5.00 -- r...-i T LaBelle's Photo Processing J J Final Cost 1 j 8x8 or 8x10 color enlargement from t sale 1 7J your favorite negative or slide j Prints from color slides WE WILL EE CLOSED THANKSGIVING OCOEN 41l9RKrdale (801)6210770 Rd. WARD, Dun - Nelson, bishop, Richard tjavis.. (irst counselor; Richard Thornton, second counselor Hav This totally instant camera has automatic motorized print ejection. Features extended time electronic shutter and bright viewtinder. camera uuiru sale 33 Coupon expires November 25, 1979. l.-- J I 1 Special This telephoto camera has hinged camera case to double for handle. Kit comes with tote bag, II frame. flipflash. Kodacolor film and print 6562-028- regular low The $22)84 best things happen at -. We reserve the ngnt to limit quantities. Kelly Lewis, assistant clerks SANfAQUN Kodak Tele Ektra Kodak Colorburst 50 Instant Camera 'Sale price good through 112679. Bishoprics Named CENOLA FIRST WARD. S David STAKE biihop: Ntal Ewell, first counnf lor; Alan 1. Davii. lecond counselor; Kerd L. Shepherd, executive lecrelary: Keith Gwin. 'D mmmimnmmimmnummm featured a number of anti-cuwitnesses and Rep. Richard Ottinger. . has promised another one to look at strengthening laws permitting parents to keep legal control over their adult offspring who become adherents of a religion of which the parents do not ap- For Provo. Jill religion commentaries New Religions Concern U.S. Government Officials By DAVID E. ANDERSON UPI Religion Writer It was almost a year after Jonestown and the terrible mass murder and suicide: Nine Scientologists stood in a U.S. district court room and quietly accepted guilty verdicts for their part in a plot to infiltrate the government and November 22. in the Riverside Center MURRAY 6000 S. State St. PROVO 1400 M. State St. (801)266-424- (801)373-090- 2 ' CIomJ On Sunday DIAL TELELABELLE Phone your favorite showroom & have your order waiting for you. SHOWROOM HOURS Weekdays: 10- -9 Saturday: 10- -6 Sunday: 11- -5 catalog showrooms |
