Columbian “Devil’s Breath” (scopolamine) is regarded by many as the most dangerous drug in the world - pure evil by some. Not convinced of the reality and destructiveness of evil? Then watch this report from VBS.TV. (Caution: Viewer Discretion Advised. Disturbing and Explicit. Not suitable for children.) Interestingly, it was a referral from CNN to took me to this multi-part report. It’s interesting to see the connection to Satanism with “Demencia”, the columbian drug dealer they get the stuff from. It’s also interesting to see the spiritual connection; i.e., it’s called the “Devil’s Breath” for good reason. Note the dealer’s reference to the “ghost” being let out when the drug is unwrapped. Note also his apparent devotion to Satan.

Michael Patton has a great blog on a topic that I’ve also been personally wrestling with recently - why “Evil” is such a problem today. I think he’s on the right track when he points out that the technology today that permits instant and constant access to virutally every/any part of the world, also brings a problem not faced in any previous generation. The technology is unquestionably powerful with great potential for good. But it’s a double-edged sword as many are now finding themselves enslaved to constant information overload … and much of it is often bad news. Don’t think you’re enslaved? Try going without your cellphone for a week.

I’m halfway through NT Wright’s book on evil. In it he emphasizes a couple of points:

(1) ignoring evil or pretending it doesn’t exist merely makes more room for it
(2) it’s a mistake to think that western-style democracy is the answer

I think he’s correct on both points.

Wright contends that (1) puts us in a position such that when evil reappears on a massive and undeniable scale, we tend to react in an immature and unwise manner to it (i.e., indescriminately lobbing bombs.) Ask the neighbors in Conn. where the horrific home-invasion and multiple murders tragically occured this week. I saw on the news yesterday that their local gun store is sold out of shotguns and has a backlog of applications for pistol permits. Many in that previously-quiet community are now convinced of the reality of evil. But while everyone in Conn. certainly has the right to own a firearm, I suspect the vast majority of them have no business owning one … having no training in its use, no capacity for safely securing the weapon, no knowledge of the local law regarding the use of deadly force, etc. The local reaction on the part of some residents to the manifestation of such pure evil in this case has been unwise.

Last night I took a break from the new book on the deity of Christ and plowed through the first chapter of NT Wright’s book on Evil and the Justice of God. Wow. Really good stuff. (With each additional book of NT Wright that I read, my estimation of him rises.)

Ravi Zacharias has some insightful, hard-hitting thoughts on the Virgina Tech murders. Well worth reading and pondering.

“In all of the commentaries dealing with the tragedy of Cho Seung-Hui, there is a question lurking in the shadows that we refuse to answer.”

Thanks for not backing away from answering it, Ravi.

Bob

Spiritual Warfare - Seeing The Forest

We often sadly fail to see the forest because of the captivating beauty of an individual tree. It’s usually much harder to get the “big picture” than it is to focus on isolated components. But if we concentrate solely on the individual instruments, we will never hear the grandiose beauty of the full orchestra.

We do this all the time in Scripture to our detriment.

Here is Part 2 of Michael Patton’s blog on evil.

Bob
Fides Qauerens Intellectum