wfn.org | Media Interest in Biblical Topics Welcomed by Adventists

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

October 22, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Media Interest in Biblical Topics Welcomed by Adventists

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. (ANN/APD)  Current media interest 
in Biblical topics was welcomed by a spokesman in the Seventh-
day Adventist Church's Communication Department.

"With the media often portrayed as completely secular and anti-
religious, recent media items reflecting on the Bible and religious 
faith in general are to be welcomed," states Jonathan Gallagher, 
news director for the Adventist World Church. "The most recent 
example-the report in U.S. News and World Report (October 25) 
"Is the Bible True?"-at least invites the question. While we do not 
endorse all the conclusions in the article, it does mark a more 
balanced approach to evidence that undoubtedly does support 
the historic aspects of the Bible."

The report by Jeffrey L. Sheler looks at archaeological and other 
evidence to support the Bible's historical accuracy, concluding "it 
has been firmly fixed in a context of knowable history, linked to 
the present by footsteps across the archaeological record."

"Such a conclusion is far more valid than some of the speculative 
positions of the past," comments Gallagher, "with the Bible being 
seen as a fictional account written under drug-induced visions, or 
the record of past visits by extra-terrestrial aliens. The Bible is 
demonstrated to be accurate in its record of the times it 
mentions, something often rejected by the higher critics of the 
past. Our position is that the Bible is not only historically true, 
but also spiritually true. That is the more important decision we 
all need to make, and I'd like to hope this renewed media 
interest would encourage more to consider seriously the Bible's 
claims."