Pentecostal Pastor Fears Barney Is A Devil Leading A Children's Cult

While some people think Barney is obnoxious, most believe he's harmless. But not Rev. Joseph Chambers, who worries that Barney is a New Age demon.

In his new booklet, "The Purple Messiah," the reverend cites an episode in which Barney conjures up Mother Goose - who pops out of a book of nursery rhymes - by uttering "Shimboree, Shimborah," a common expression heard on the show. This sequence, Chambers claims, is a seance.

"I'm not on a crusade," said the Free Pentecostal pastor, who heads Paw Creek Ministries in Charlotte, N.C. "They transcend the real and get into New Age philosophy. It's absolutely antithesis to the Bible."

For instance, families never appear, leaving Barney to provide the "comfort, joys and instructions" of everyday life. "Mama is kept apart, so (Barney) is a secret. The real family is excluded," he said.

As he writes in his booklet, "when you mix captivating entertainment, catchy songs and emotionally satisfying music with a message that glorifies the creator of all of it, you have the making of a cult. Barney has become the leader of a children's cult."