American Family Association concludes week-long campaign to spread the gospel of creationism and other religious right causes at public schools

"Our goal this week is to give away at least 62,000 Bibles. We need your help to reach our goal," wrote the American Family Association's president, Don Wildmon, in an action alert email issued earlier today.  Today marked the end of a week-long campaign to distribute bibles to "unsaved" public school students across the nation in an event called "Truth For Youth" week.  The 11th annual event was co-sponsored by the American Family Association and Revival Fires International.

"Very simply, we are giving away Bibles to all teenagers who commit to give the Bibles to their unsaved friends in school. Parents can order a Bible on behalf of their teens too!" Wildmon explained in his action alert, which encouraged members to purchase "Truth For Youth" bibles consisting "of the New Testament in the God's Word translation, along with 100 pages of powerful full color comic stories that are packed with 'absolute truth' regarding issues young people are faced with."

Comics about the "absolute truth" issues include stories about "sexual purity, evolution, pornography, secular rock music, abortion, homosexuality, drugs, drunkenness, peer pressure, school violence, sorcery and witchcraft," and include "the plan of salvation … incorporated into each story."

Samples of the comics are provided on the "Truth For Youth" bible sales page.

In the evolution story, a comic strip is titled "Somebody's Monkey: The Truth About Evolution," and features two teenage boys talking.  At page 5:

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER: "I'm afraid somebody's making a monkey out of you, dude. Turning a frog into a prince should only be reserved for fairy tales."

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER'S FRIEND: "What you say sounds so right!! But why aren't they teaching us creationism in schools?"

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER: "Because most evolutionists see creationism as being primarily a religious issue ... and to them religion doesn't belong in our public schools."

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER: "But what they don't realize is that they are letting their own religious belief of atheism override their examination of the facts! It's impossible to ignore the spiritual component to this!"

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER'S FRIEND: "Hmmm ... I hate to admit it, but this actually is starting to make sense!"

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER'S FRIEND (pointing to other students playing): "But I don't think it will make much sense to our ignorant tree-swinging friends over there. I don't think they're open to rational discussion!"

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER: "Well, that's a pretty decent example of just what I'm talking about."

CHRISTIAN TEENAGER: "Two people can hear the exact same evidence and yet come to opposite conclusions! Shows us there's more than just science involved when considering the origin of the universe! At our core, it's hard to be truly objective!"

The comic concludes with the Christian teenager's friend converting to Christianity.  "God, thanks for creating the heavens and the earth," he prays.  "I'm sorry I turned my back on you by believing in man's theories instead of your truths.  I'm placing my trust in Jesus from now on!  Thanks for your forgiveness and for saving me…for all eternity."

The "Born That Way:  The Truth About Homosexuality" comic focuses on a skinhead type of teenager bullying gays and condemns that type of hatred;  but goes on to show a bullied teenager who thinks that he is gay learning from a medic that homosexuality is a choice — that people aren't born that way — and is told that he can change his sexual orientation with God's help.

The Truth For Youth website states that the program is "enthusiastically endorsed by Michael Reagan, T.D. Jakes, Rod Parsley, Actor Dean Jones, Pat Boone, David Ring, William J Murray, the late Bill Bright, the late Jerry Falwell, the late Billy Joe Daugherty, the late Art Linkletter and many other prominent spiritual leaders."

D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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