Eutychus and His Kin: January 13, 1978

On Feeling Cooped Up

The morning news told of a woman in these United States who had her name changed from Coopurman to Coopurpurson.

I can understand why.

There must have been zillions of people who made jokes like, “Where’s Clark Kent?” or “When did Clark make you an honest woman, Lois?” (A recent column by Russell Baker in the New York Times documented the American public’s tolerance of living arrangements outside marriage for at least fifty years in the comics: Tarzan/Jane, Buck Rogers/Wilma, Clark Kent/Lois.)

With the upcoming movie on Superman, Ms. Coopurman must have become rather desperate.

So I understand her desire to change her name.

What I don’t understand is why she chose Coopurpurson. It sounds a lot like a caged tomcat, or a hemorrhaging rooster.

I suggest that Ms. Coopurman rethink the whole business before the judge’s decree becomes final. For alternatives, I suggest Coopurmarket, Coopurstar, Coopurbowl, or Coopurhuman. Or, if she feels unwanted, Coopurnumerary or Coopursensitive. If she intends to marry, she might consider Coopurunion.

EUTYCHUS VIII

Where Thanks Are Due

I do not take the time with sufficient frequency to give thanks where thanks are due, either to God or man. Let me take this moment of your time to do so on this occasion.

The November 18th issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY was excellent. Although I have been noting improvement in the quality of the periodical right along, that issue was worthy of special note. The Owens article on “The Price of Praise,” the Leggett Refiner’s Fire on “Of Heroes and Devils: The Supernatural on Film,” the Johnston review in Books of the Authority/Theology issue, the Linder news report on GDR tensions, and the Bockmühl essay on natural law were all thought-provoking and significant. Thank you again for exciting reading.

MICHAEL R. ROTHAAR

Christus Victor Lutheran Church

Dearborn Heights, Mich.

Virginia Stem Owens’s article was one of the most thought-provoking bits of reading that I have done recently. When I finished the article, I had to bow my head and ask forgiveness of my Creator for ignoring his marvelous creation and at the same time ask for grace to take time to see what he has given to me and all men in this great universe.

DAVID R. CHRISTENSON

Bethel Lutheran Church

Fergus Falls, Minn.

I just finished reading “The Price of Praise” by Virginia Owens. It is a touching article with great depth of truth. Thank you for printing it.

ERROL D. BOSLEY

First Baptist Church

Centralia, Ill.

One word describes Paul Leggett’s evaluation of the Gothic cinema: superb! Despite some glaring miscalculations (Terence Fisher is, by no stretch of the intellect, “the greatest director in the history of film”—his bloodletting is no substitute for the mood and atmosphere found in the older movies directed by James Whale and Tod Browning), Leggett has written the finest, the most levelheaded, and objective critique of fantasy films I have ever read by a Christian.

He correctly traces the roots of Gothic literature and cinema back to the medieval morality plays. And Leggett astutely observes that current films in this genre have betrayed their purpose—now evil conquers good. The author’s depth of understanding is a welcome departure from the shallowly pious remonstrations against “horror movies.” I trust CHRISTIANITY TODAY will offer us more from this fine writer.

MARK MARCHAK

Conservative Baptist Home Mission Society

New York, N.Y.

An Education Eye-Opener

Thank you for including Robert C. Sproul’s tremendous contribution (“You Can’t Tell a School By Its Name,” Nov. 4). It may open some fast closing eyes. We hope some of us are not too late.

JAMES R. BLACK

The Milledgeville Brethren Church

Milledgeville, Ill.

We Believe In …

San Francisco Theological Seminary dissociates itself completely from the statements concerning Jesus’ resurrection and divinity attributed to Dr. Edward Hobbs in the September 7, 1977, issue of the Los Angeles Times (Editorials, “What Seminaries Don’t Believe,” Nov. 4).

First of all, the nine schools of the Graduate Theological Union are totally independent and autonomous institutions, all but one being directly related and responsible to their several ecclesiastical bodies. Each has its own program and faculty, and differ considerably from each other. It is a strictly agreed upon policy that no one can or should undertake to speak for the GTU schools in general. Therefore Dr. Hobbs should have spoken only for himself as an individual. A number of the heads of the GTU schools have personally assured me that their faculties adhere firmly to belief in Jesus as the Incarnation of the Son of God and in Jesus’ bodily resurrection.

Members of the Faculty of San Francisco Theological Seminary, meeting on September 20, 1977, agreed unanimously that the Times article in no way represents their teachings, and drew attention to the fact that they stand by their ordination vow of commitment to our church’s tradition of a firm belief in the Incarnation and Resurrection. It should be pointed out that “resurrection” in Christian doctrine implicitly means “bodily,” as distinguished from the Greek concept of immortality of the soul.

It may also be of interest that Dr. Edward Hobbs has claimed that the Los Angeles Times article misrepresents his views and has asserted his belief in the Trinity, Incarnation, and bodily Resurrection.

ARNOLD B. COME

President

San Francisco Theological Seminary

San Anselmo, Calif.

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