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Fundamentalist Dr. LaVerne Blowers Speaks Out
Though the subject of current research for Dr. LaVerne Blowers is Latin American New Religious Movements and Liberation Theology, this professor at Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana admits she only has a "fair level of information" about occult, New Age and Wiccan religions in America. She has an impressive combination of degrees from Seattle Pacific University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary and Trinity Divinity School. She is an ordained minister in the Free Methodist Church. Yet, she is not an "expert" on religions which her church, and others, seem to see the need to repress, viewing them as a threat.
Dr. Blowers has taught at Bethel College - itself affiliated with the Missionary Church - for 13 years. Her courses include Introduction to Christianity, World Religions - New Religions, and Hermeneutics. Yet, Wicca and Paganism do not qualify as religions, in her estimation, merely "pervasive" movements, "impacting such areas as health care, psychology, ethics, science, politics, education and business and, as such, [raising] the level of spiritual questions to a different position which many see as a threat."
The increasing popularity of Wicca and Paganism stem from "a type of spiritual vacuum in much of Western civilization," according to Dr. Blowers. This vacuum "cries for some form of spiritual resolution to the issues of life, coupled with disenfranchisement from traditional forms of spirituality." Those who follow this path are considered to be "at least misled and in need of spiritual conversion," she adds.
This, of course, is a particularly narrow view from someone who admits to not being an expert on the rich traditions of the Earth religions. The view is shared by other fundamentalists, as well. These churches see the need for "pro-active youth groups to nurture inner personal and spiritual growth, and develop approaches to spiritual formation from very early in life," exclusively in their own tradition.
Dr. Blowers acknowledges, however, "There are areas of common ground," between Pagan and Christian religions. These are "ecology, rejection of classical humanism, patriotism, and issues of human rights and social justice." No mention was made of how the Christian churches discriminate against Pagans and Wiccans on religious grounds, completely disregarding these very issues of social justice and regardless of the individual's human rights.
More emphasis is placed, it seems, on the "basic problems" Dr. Blowers cited "in the areas of mysticism, relativity/tolerance, the concept of a personal God, especially in dealing with the person and uniqueness of Jesus Christ." Because Wicca and Paganism are "opposed to biblical Christianity and susceptible to spiritual deception/delusion", the only hope - from her perspective - is to subject these non-Christians to a thorough re-education, for the salvation of their very souls.
It would be hoped that the students participating in Dr. Blowers' "Missions - World Christianity" course learn a more tolerant way of dealing with people whose faith is as personally valuable as their own.