-Caveat Lector-
From
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1687000/1687918.st
m
}}}>Begin
Sunday, 2 December, 2001, 13:26 GMT
Church concern over 'Satan's Grotto'
The display opens in two weeks (mock-up image)
Religious groups are appealing to parents to keep their children away
from a new visitor attraction called "Satan's Grotto".
The Christmas display at the Edinburgh Dungeon opens to the public on
15 December and features "elves impaled on spikes and robins roasting
on an open fire while Santa gently boils in a witch's cauldron".
But religious leaders have branded the site, which shows Satan
sitting on a throne surrounded by books on Devil worship, as
"blasphemous" and "dangerous".
A leading psychologist also said "there are dangers" in allowing
children as young as eight to see the display.
We have turned the nice idea of Santa's Grotto into something bad but
we are not out to offend anyone
Scott Williamson, Edinburgh Dungeon
The marketing company behind the grotto announced its plans on Sunday 2 December -
the first Sunday of Advent.
Merlin Entertainments said actors playing Satan would ask children who enter the
grotto if they have been bad and offer "nasty presents" instead of sweets.
A coffin pulled by skeletons will be erected in place of Santa's usual sleigh and
reindeers.
The display will add to other attractions at the Edinburgh Dungeon near Waverly
Bridge, which features the lives of Scotland's most macabre crimes and criminals,
including the Galloway cannibal Sawney Bean and bodysnatche
rs Burke and Hare.
But Edinburgh Dungeon manager, Scott Williamson, 24, said the event was just harmless
fun.
Devil worship
"From a holier-than-thou perspective, I can see why the churches are upset," he said.
"We have turned the nice idea of Santa's Grotto into something bad but we are not out
to offend anyone.
"It is aimed at adults and children. We leave it to parents' discretion to allow young
children.
Glorifying and promoting the occult as a Christmas attraction is not only very
tasteless but sad and very dangerous
Colin Hart, Christian Institute
"There is a slight occult idea behind it, but we are not trying to promote Devil
worship."
This view however was not shared by church groups and a leading psychologist.
Jim Cowie, convener of the Church of Scotland's Board for Social Responsibility, urged
parents to keep their children away from the display.
He said: "This could become the focus of an anti-Christ view of Christmas.
"Christmas for most people is in the realms of the commercial world where there are no
moral values and this is a very sad example of it.
"The organisation will doubtless say that there is nothing religious in what they are
doing but they are of playing on the idea of torture and evil.
'Bizarre and blasphemous'
"It is very dangerous to highlight the dark and evil side at Christmas, and aim it at
children. It is terrible to use the image of glorifying Satan to make money."
Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, called for Edinburgh City Council to
ban the grotto.
He said: "This is bizarre and blasphemous. Glorifying and promoting the occult as a
Christmas attraction is not only very tasteless but sad and very dangerous."
Operating this grotto runs completely contrary to the virtues that Christmas is about,
such as sharing and goodwill
Dr Geoff Scobie, Glasgow University
Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Roman Catholic, said that Christmas
should be about celebrating the birth of Christ.
Glasgow University psychologist Dr Geoff Scobie said the display
could be easily played down but there were "dangers" in letting
children see it.
"What one really has to be careful of is giving children the
impression that being bad or evil gets you gifts," he said.
"It is very dangerous to reward children for being bad. It could
encourage them to be violent, aggressive and intimidating to others.
"Operating this grotto runs completely contrary to the virtues that
Christmas is about, such as sharing and goodwill. It extols the
virtues of being bad."
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
