The ultimate in hypocrathy and a afront to all religions

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Bankers Turn To Clergy To Help Calm Y2K Fears By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eager to calm Year 2000 jitters and head off any apocalyptic cash hoarding, the American Bankers Association has found religion.

The trade group has delivered a model ``Y2K Sermon'' aimed at reassuring worshipers that government and industry -- particularly U.S. banks -- will be ready when computer clocks make the big flipover in 130 days.

``Whatever you do, don't bury your money in the backyard,'' says the text, sprinkled with allusions to Moses leading the children of Israel into a ``bright, hopeful future'' with God's help.

``ABA has developed this generic Y2K Sermon for bankers to share with members of the clergy as a way to calm people's concerns over the Jan. 1 date change,'' the bankers group said in a note to members.

ABA members, representing 90 percent of U.S. banks, were urged to pass on the five-page sermon to their ministers, priests and rabbis. Their words, the ABA said, ``will carry much clout'' with congregants.

``I'm not worried about America's ability to solve the technical problems of Y2K,'' says the sermon, written by a bankers association speech writer and made available earlier this month.

``But there is something that does worry me: misinformation'' and ``the kind of panic that comes from not knowing. Not understanding. Not getting it.''

``It's especially important that we -- as members of our community, believers in God and members of the family of faith -- set the example.

``We want to go into the new Millennium with hope, eagerness and faith in this new century of promise. We don't want to be crouched in our basements with candles, matches and guns.''

The text says money is ``safest in the bank, where it is protected and insured by the federal government.''

``Banks will keep your money safe. They're backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.,'' it adds. ``So in preparing for Jan. 1, 2000, do what you can. Trust God...and take a few practical steps.''

The sermon explains the original Y2K ``sin,'' a coding glitch that could cause system-wide failures in networks that have not been fixed in time.

It compares Y2K doomsaying with that sparked by Orson Welles' 1938 broadcast of ``War of the Worlds'' that panicked listeners who missed the lead-in that had said it was a fictional radio drama. The radio dramatization was based on H.G. Wells' story of an invasion from Mars.

But the bankers group, in line with U.S. government policy, suggests that consumers prepare for the 2000 transition in the same way they would for a weekend snowstorm.

That means keeping ``a few days worth of cash on you'' along with some extra food and water, candles and flashlights with fresh batteries. It also warns against scams.

The bankers group, which has taken its message to newspaper editorial boards across the country, does not expect spiritual leaders to use the text word-for-word but as a ``template,'' said John Hall, a spokesman in Washington.

``It's a matter of reaching out to the religious community because ministers have a great deal of influence over their parishioners,'' he said.

The keep-the-faith message warns against panic and old-think, citing the Pharaoh's men being swallowed up by the Red Sea.

``We want to go into the next century as God intended, with hope, knowledge and the promise of a bright future,'' the sermon reads.

-- justme (justme@justme.net), August 25, 1999

Answers

Do NOT put on a lifejacket. Do NOT get into a lifeboat. Do NOT help lower lifeboats into the water. Do NOT help to row the lifeboat away from the giant whirlpool.

Do NOT live to tell the tale.

-- well DUH (thankyou@captain.smith), August 25, 1999.


I saw a reply to another post last week on this board that fits even better here.............

Ya know it's bad when the Money Changers dictate the Sermon to the High Priest. I have a bad feeling about this...never forget what they did to the Person who drove them out!

-- Beached Whale (beached_whale@hotmail.com), August 25, 1999.


want a good example as to THE REAL REASON THE FOUNDING FATHERS CREATED A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE--it wasn't to protect the STATE--it was to protect the CHURCH from being dictated to regarding policy/matters of faith. although this may not officially be "the Government" it seems a bit like what the GOVERNMENT would do if ppssible. STAY AWAY FROM THE CHURCH BANKERS. YOU DON'T GET Y2K AND YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T GET MATTERS OF "FAITH" EITHER.

-- tt (cuddluppy@woohoo.com), August 25, 1999.

Hmmm...I can't wait to see if my pastor uses the ABA "sermon" as we get closer to the rollover. Whether he does or does not will speak volumes about where he and the Methodist Church are coming from. Oh and also, our church has already changed Y2K to Y2J...Yield to Jesus in church bulletins and mailings. Anybody else seeing this?

-- jeff (jeff@home.now), August 25, 1999.

It would be interesting to get some feedback with regard to what % of the clergy used the information verbatim from these folks.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 25, 1999.



This stinks to high heaven of despairation.

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), August 26, 1999.

I have three bankers in my church. We continually clash on y2k. This angers me. I think I'll print it out, highlight it, and tell them why I disagree with their suggestions, and ask what business banks have in the pulpit. I really know how to bond don't I?

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), August 26, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I wonder when they recommend it be used. All simultaneously? I think this has the potential to backfire really bad, especially if the timing is off or late. You have to know they tested this on a representative stratified (variety) sample of churches.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 26, 1999.


as the great beat poet William S. Bourroughs said..."if you're doing business with a religious bastard,GET IT IN WRITING.His word don't mean shit,not with the good lord telling him how to screw you over.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), August 26, 1999.

Funny, I never saw that before. Zoo please confirm. Take care, Joe.

-- Joe Boivin (jboivin@globalmf.org), August 26, 1999.


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