
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991                   TAG: 9103270407
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HERETIC DOESN'T DISPENSE WITH GOD

THE REV. Craig Wilson, quoted recently in your paper, conducted workshops locally in which he spoke about "heretics" and "New Age" groups.

The word "heretic" has a scary connotation. What it actually means is a person who holds a religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrine of the church. Martin Luther was a heretic. He was the "protest" from which the very word "Protest-ant" was born!

Wilson stated: "The basic idea of them all ["New Age" groups] is that you change things yourself so you have no need for God."

Contrast that remark with the following: "I have committed, O my Lord, my spirit and my entire being into the right hand of thy might and thy protection, and I lay my head on my pillow through thy power and lift it up according to thy will and thy good pleasure."

These words are from the Baha'i Faith (one of the many and dissimilar groups mentioned). The Rev. Mr. Wilson, I think, knows little about it.

ELAINE M. KENISTON\ ROANOKE

by CNB