Let's Talk 2000


February 15, 1996, Volume 2, Issue 3

The heartbeat of 2000 A.D. from cyberspace"

Topics covered in this issue:

The Millennium Doctor Speaks
News from the Field: Talk from the Forum: New Millennial Sites: Contact Information


The Millennium Doctor Speaks:

"Taking the pulse of 2000 A.D."

I just returned this week from a trip to Israel and Italy which studied the tourism capacity of these two countries for 2000. In Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Rome, people are thinking more about infrastructure now than millennial events. Of all these, Bethlehem's need for civic improvements was the most critical. If there is demand, I'll put up on the Talk 2000 Web the "Bethlehem 2000" feasibility study by Germans. In this bi-weekly issue of "Let's Talk 2000," I have highlighted efforts by various governmental and religious groups to prepare for the advent of the third millennium. Although my recent travels didn't take me down under, note the new web site for Sydney 2000 Olympics. They are going like gang-busters there. For those joining us as new subscribers, keep in mind besides this e-pub, there is also a daily discussion forum, "Talk 2000." Rather than just two pages every two weeks, you can interact every day with a global town meeting on the turn of the millennium. For more information on how to subscribe, write talk2000@rmii.com, and ask for "Talk 2000 Invitation."

News from the Field:

"Here is the latest news on year 2000 efforts"

HABITAT II PREPARES AGENDA 2000
New York, February 13 (UNDP) In calling for "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world," the Habitat II preparatory committee finalized a draft global plan of action to submit to the UN Congress on Human Settlements this June 3 to 14 in Istanbul. The Congress will invite participating States to make statements of commitments they will take by the year 2000 to help some one billion persons plagued with inadequate housing, water and urban traffic. The draft statement of goals and principles finalized this week lists nine key points relating to equality, poverty eradication, sustainable development, livability, family, civic and governmental responsibility, partnerships, solidarity, and international coordination. Source: http://www.undp.org/un/habitat

KOREAN PILGRIMS CELEBRATE ISRAEL NOT CHRIST
Jerusalem, February 11 (BP) More than 3,000 Korean Pentecostals came to the Holy Land last week to "celebrate the 2,000th birthday of Jesus," but ended up commemorating Zionism, not Christ. On the first day of their Congress, Dr. David Yonggi Cho, pastor of Seoul's 100,000 person Yoido Full Gospel Church, preached on how A.D. 2000 points to Christ's Second Coming, while Jan Willem of the fundamentalist Christian Embassy in Jerusalem lectured on why the Jews return to the "promised land" fulfilled prophesy. Noticibly absent on the platform or as participants were Palestinian Christians. In response to fringe groups like this coming to Jerusalem, Hani Abu Deyyah, the owner of the largest Palestinian Tour Agency in East Jerusalem, said, "The year 2000 is to big to be monopolized. It will attract so much attention, the best we can do here is direct the official functions." Abu Deyyah is part of efforts by the churches in the Holy Land to form an official Commission on 2000 which would give an authentic voice to the 2,000th anniversary celebrations. Two weeks before this Korean "Jerusalem Celebration 2000," Jerusalem church leaders issued a statement questioning any promise land ideology "which subverts the dignity of [Christian and Muslim] people under the pretext of an alleged divine mandate." Source: begin@rmii.com

Talk from the Forum:

"Here is a recap of recent conversations"

A NEW MESSIANIC WORLD?
On February 1st, America's premier Millennium Watcher, Ted Daniels put the Talk 2000 Forum on notice that the New York Times carried a full-page ad in which the followers of the late Hassidic Rabbi M.M. Schneersohn claimed he was the Messiah, King of the World for ever. This launched a fasinating discussion on messianic claims and social transformation. For starters, Penelope Boston of Boulder confessed she had a "son of vitch," er she meant, a Lubavitcher follower as nephew. From her perspective, he is no fun at all. She wouldn't trust her Nephew Larry to pick out her socks, let alone a messiah. She will cast her Messianic vote for the man or woman who actually gets us to Jupiter someday. Alan Davidson noted that only some 1/5 of Lubavitchers approve of these claims, and most of Lubavitch's rabbinic leadership publicly denounce these corronations. Finally, Arthur Waskow mentioned the assertion that "the late Rebbe is moshiach (messiah)" is mere cultural envy of a society where the dominant religion has a messiah already arrived. For 2,000 years, Waskow notes Jews have viewed with sardonic irony, not envy, the claim that Messiah has already arrived. "'Look around!' we have said. 'Are the swords beaten into plowshares?'" Waskow thinks the Lubavitch claim will fail. "A messianic claim that does not empower women, affirm kinship with the Palestinians, or make central the healing of the earth, cannot, in my estimation, meet God's demand for a Jewish response to the world we are in. These are not merely socio-political but theological questions." In the context of world upheaval, Waskow notes that Judaism has four options: 1) to turn to an imminent expectation or discovery of the messiah, 2) to assimilate into the materially and militaristic dominant culture, Hellenism 2,000 years ago, Modernity today 3) to militarily defeat the modern occupying power (Masada 2,000 years ago, Israeli militarism today), or 4) to re-make the faith into a holistic Judaism as Rabbinic Judaism sought some 2,000 years ago. Waskow backs option four, and underscores any claim to a new Messianic world must begin with a call for human beings to let God's love and power transform them first.


New Millennial Sites:

"Here are new sites in cyberspace"

SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS: "Meet at the Millennial Games"
Created in association with IBM, Sydney has a great web site up on the Olympic games in 2000. They expects to sell more than five million tickets for those September 2000 two weeks in one of the most technically excellent and culturally enhancing sports events of the modern era.
http://www.sydney.olympic.org/

MILLENNIUM PUBLICATIONS: "A small press on 'fin de siecle' trends"
Millennium Publications' first two books are both by author, John J. Reilly. The first, Spengler's Future, deals with the world history theory propounded by the early 20th century philosopher, Oswald Spengler, of repeating historical cycles.
http://www.entrepreneurs.net/milgroup/spnglr2.htm

MILLENNIUM INSTITUTE: "A Sustainable Future for the Earth"
Can the year 2000 become the turning point for a sustainable future for the earth? A Millennium Alliance is being created to make it so. Check out the Institute's new site and "thinkpapers" by Hillel Schwartz.
http://www.igc.apc.org/millennium/papers/ma_hs.html

Contact Information:

"Your link to the third millennium"

Talk 2000 Forum Home Page: http://humnet.humberc.on.ca/talk2000.htm

Talk 2000 Newsgroup: bit.listserv.2000ad-l

Subscribe to daily Talk 2000 E-mail Forum: listproc@usc.edu
Include this command as the body of your message:
subscribe 2000ad-l <Your first & last name>

Subscribe to this "Let's Talk 2000" bi-monthly letter: talk2000@rmii.com
subscribe letstalk-l<Your first & last name>

Submissions of newsworthy items: 2000ad-l@usc.edu

Publisher & editor: talk2000@rmii.com
Jay Gary , aka The Millennium Doctor
author, The Star of 2000
(719) 636-2000 Phone

Publication keywords: groups, events, society, millennium

LET''S TALK 2000 © 1996 Bimillennial Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

LET''S TALK 2000 is a trademark of Bimillennial Press, Inc.