to the more obscure and controversial ideas that had been part of the fringes of religion for a century before. Once these ideas began entering the mainstream of American society via television, shortwave radio stations, and popular religious books written by entertaining authors, few individuals looking for spiritual enlightenment recognized that many of these teachings were not fresh spiritual meat, but rather warmed-over leftovers.
The Wild World on the Airwaves
There is no quicker way to get an overview of the extent of the change in American religion than to turn on a 24-hour religious cable network and just watch the passing parade for a few hours. Since few people without an intense interest in religious matters already would have any interest in spending that much time on the topic, the average American is blissfully unaware of the astonishing variety of religious activity that is promoted over the airwaves these days.
This is one reason for this Field Guide book—to give the uninitiated a brief overview of this increasingly wild world, without the necessity for them to do all of their own research. Just who is that strange man on at 1 AM on the Public Access channel, promoting the idea that the Devil himself had sex with Eve in the garden, and was the actual father of Cain, while Adam was the father of Abel? Is that other fellow on his own prophecy show at 8 PM really an expert in what the Bible says about world events? Should I trust his dogmatic statements that bad times are coming very soon, and if I send money to support his efforts at spreading his teachings, God will snatch me away in the near future up to heaven, while all Hell breaks out here on Earth?
Has that man who seems to keep knocking people over by waving his suit jacket at them (a bit like a football player in a men’s locker room snapping a wet towel at other players!) really been an instrument of God to heal thousands upon thousands of people of ailments, even those as serious as cancer and AIDS? Is there documented proof of his claims? Did that man on another video actually discover, as he claimed, the real Noah’s ark, and the graves of Noah and his wife? Did he really talk to angels in person in a cave under the Temple Mount in Israel, where they were guarding the Ark of the Covenant? And did he, as his promoters claimed so convincingly, actually see and touch the real Ten Commandment stones that were inside that ark … not the imitations touched by Charlton Heston in the movie?
All of these ideas and claims and many, many more are believed not just by small pockets of wild-eyed people on the fringes of society today, but by masses of people squarely in the mainstream of American life. You will meet some of the powerful persuaders of the Wild World in these pages, and get glimpses of how their efforts affect not just the minds and intellectual beliefs of their followers, but some of the most mundane aspects of their daily lives.
In the 1950s, most individuals who actively practiced some type of religious faith had relationships with church leaders in their own hometown. They asked for advice from the pastor of their own local church, they trusted him to teach them about God in his weekly sermons and Wednesday night Bible Study classes. If they watched televised preachers such as Billy Graham, it was just as a supplement to their own local church life.
But in the 21st century, increasing numbers of people look to a man—or a woman—on their television screen as their “pastor” or “mentor.” They don’t study their Bible with a live teacher in a classroom, but with a voice on a tape or CD or DVD in the convenience of their own home. When making deeply personal decisions regarding such private matters as marriage, jobs, and finances, many people who consider themselves Christians may not look for common sense advice from friends, relatives, or local spiritual advisors. They may make such decisions based, instead, on the advice—or even dogmatic orders—on recordings or in written literature from their chosen long-distance spiritual leader. Is that leader a spiritual giant—or a charlatan? Is he or she a humble servant of God—or a strutting, carnal dictator? Many naïve people have never thought to even question whether the individuals in whom they place their long-distance trust are deserving of that trust. For those brave enough to face the possibility of disillusionment, the information in this Field Guide may prove invaluable.
Field guides to natural wildlife are helpful to the person who wants to learn more about the friendly and not-so-friendly—and, in some cases, downright dangerous—creatures out there in the natural wild world. Such books, along with a sturdy flashlight, will allow someone to stay alert and safe in that wild world, even when darkness is closing around them. This Field Guide is intended to provide both data and a source of light, so that the reader may safely explore the contemporary Wild World of Religion. True apostles of Jesus Christ, true prophets of God, and true teachers inspired by God should surely have no fear at all of having light shone on their teachings and works. Such light will only make truly spiritual works shine brighter. It is those who are self-appointed apostles, prophets, and teachers who may have reason to fear light shining on their teachings and activities.
Chapter 2
Habitats of the Wild World
The scene is a courtroom somewhere in the heartland of the USA. The presiding judge for the trial is adjusting his robes so he can sit down comfortably; the prosecuting attorney is at his table checking his notes. Across the room, the defendant has taken his place at the table next to his attorney. And it is now time for the jury of the defendant’s peers to file in and take their positions in the jury box.
There comes the housewife, followed by the retired postal clerk, the auto mechanic, the high school teacher, and the bookkeeper. And next to file by to find their seats are the telephone operator, the Burger King assistant manager, the dental hygienist and the … officer from the Starship Enterprise. She’s in full uniform with insignia, communicator, and phaser gun.
No, this scene is not based on fiction. It is based on an incident at the Whitewater Trial in 1996. Although the occupations mentioned above were not necessarily those of the Whitewater jurors, the presence of the Star Ship Enterprise juror is fact.
Well, it’s not exactly fact. The alternate juror in question was actually a 31-year-old file clerk from Arkansas named Barbara Adams. But she was, indeed, dressed in the full regalia of an officer from the crew of the fictional television show Star Trek. And she wasn’t just pulling a prank for the day … she wore the uniform throughout her stint on the jury. (She was excused from her position fairly early in the trial for talking to a television reporter.) When she went back to her file clerk job, she continued to wear it for special occasions, as she had for a long time.
Ms. Adams is a devout Trekkie—one of those fans of the Star Trek show whose interest in the show goes far beyond just a hobby. This is not merely a person who has collected videotapes, DVDs, action figures, posters, and other memorabilia. This is a person who has immersed herself in a total subculture of people who dedicate most of their free waking moments, outside of work and eating, to a focus on the alternate reality of the Star Trek universe.
Those who inhabit only the normal reality of American life may be totally unaware that such a subculture exists, unless they have seen the amusing and amazing documentary video by director Roger Nygard titled Trekkies. The 1999 video takes the viewer on a safari exploring the world of Trekkies. It covers the regional and national conventions, where they dress up as their favorite characters and rub shoulders with others who share their obsession. It follows them as they buy and swap collectibles—from small action figures costing a few dollars, to authentic props from the Star Trek movies and TV series, which fetch prices in the thousands of dollars. And it explores the private lives back home of some of the most devoted of the breed.
In her home town, Ms. Adams is an active member of one of the Star Trek clubs that meet regularly throughout the country. These are not just casual social clubs where fans swap stories and collectibles. Many model themselves after more traditional fraternal organizations. The members take their crew positions
