TERRI SCHIAVO - Neo-barbarism revealed!

I think I'm a socio-political coward - I seem to feel a lot more comfortable when my views are supported or reiterated by others, especially recognized spokesmen. That strikes me as a form of cowardice.

Regardless, it is comforting to know someone I greatly respect holds views similar to mine. In an article published by Agape Press, author and founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. R.C. Sproul says ...

Many years ago, Harold Lindsell described American culture after the revolution of the 60s as a "neo-pagan culture." I think now what Terri Schiavo's death marks is the transition to a neo-barbarian culture.

Sproul, a highly respected Christian thinker and theologian, said last week's court-ordered death of Terri Schiavo marks a turning point for America, and it is crucial for the Church in this country to wake up and fight against "the culture of death" a sign of the times. Sproul said ...

I think it's time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence again. We have some serious problems with the fundamental structure of government in the United States, and there need to be some serious changes.

According to Sproul, the manner of Terri's death is reflective of a change that has taken place in American culture since the 1960s. Having lived through the '60s I couldn't agree more. The Agape Press article notes ...

Barbarians, according to various encyclopedia sources, are defined by sociologists as those social parasites who prey upon civilization, sometimes enslaving others or looting and plundering, in order to survive at others' expense. [CRIB Note: Barbarians used fear to intimidate their victims, much as the culture of death uses the courts to intimidate pro-life adherents today.]

And according to Sproul, America's "civilization" is beginning to look more and more like that. "I think that's where we are," the minister says. "We've become barbarians, because what we've just witnessed is the willful starving and dehydration of a living human being." And lamentably, he adds, even many Christians believed it was right for the state to sanction the brain-damaged Florida woman's death.

Sproul says the Church needs to rise to the occasion of this crisis and fulfill its role as the conscience of the nation, before it is too late. He is urging Christian citizens to take a stand against euthanasia - against the barbaric "culture of death" that threatens to overwhelm the mainstream America's ethical sensibilities.

That's what pro-lifers and those involved in Terri's fight were doing, taking a stand.

Leaders in the grass roots movement say they are entering what's called, "Phase Two." At a press conference last weekend, Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition said those who fought for Terri have moved from phase one - designated "Terri's Voice" - to a new direction.

"The next part of the campaign is 'Never Again," Mahoney says, describing the effort to raise awareness about euthanasia, disability concerns, and other sanctity-of-life challenges, and to ensure that all disabled people are treated with dignity and respect.

"We're going to address these issues," the pro-life spokesman says, "and begin to take those first steps from the struggling and painful death of Terri into moving this forward in a positive way."

Wake up America! This "culture of death" is a subtle and deadly sociological cancer; for the sake of future generations it must be stopped ... the only anti-carcinogen is Divine Chemo.