Antidisestablishmentarianism (edit title/settings)

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• John Adams: American patriot and founding father, said when defending the British soldiers at the Boston Massacre," Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Of Thomas Paine he said, "I am willing you should call this the Age of Frivolity ... would not object if you had named it the Age of Folly, Vice, Frenzy, Brutality, Daemons, Buonaparte, Tom Paine, or the Age of the Burning Brand from the Bottomless Pit, or anything but the Age of Reason. I know not whether any man in the world has had more influence on its inhabitants or affairs for the last thirty years than Tom Paine. …Never before in any age of the world was <anyone> suffered by the poltroonery of mankind, to run through such a career of mischief. Call it then the Age of Paine."
• Nimrod: “Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a tyrant in the earth. He was a tyrannical hunter in opposition to the Lord. Thus it is said, ‘Nimrod the tyrannical opponent of YHWH.’” Genesis 10:8-9, as translated by Dr. David P. Livingston. Various scholars identify Nimrod with the Akkadian/Sumerian/ Assyrian/Babylonian part-god/part-human Gilgamesh, the Akkadian human king Sargon, Babylon’s King Hammurabi, the son of a god Hercules (Roman), or Herakles (Greek), the “king of the Indus Valley” Erekles (India) and the predynastic pharaoh and god of Egypt Osiris. Perhaps Nimrod was one of these figures, perhaps he was none of them or perhaps he was all of them. However he is identified, all other ancient kings built on the foundation for an establishment of religion laid down by Nimrod. Each of these names represents a foundation for an establishment of religion in different cultures.
• Thomas Paine: Benjamin franklin said of the Age of Reason: “I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundation of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion that ... the consequence of printing this piece will be a great deal of odium <hate> drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits into the wind, spits in his own face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? ... Think how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue. ... I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person. ... If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it? I intend this letter itself as a proof of my friendship.”
• Benjamin Franklin: “How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?” 13Franklin was a man of science, experimenter, discoverer, inventor, and yet he acknowledged that “… God governs in the affairs of men. …Is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? ‘Except the Lord build … they labor in vain...’” 13 Franklin even feels free to quote and refer to Scripture in a government meeting. “ …Without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: …Mankind may hereafter … despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.” 13 Note that Franklin believes in the power of human wisdom, but insists it needs God’s guidance to understand how Natural Law should work.
• Richard Dawkins: “Most people, I believe, think that you need a God to explain the existence of the world, and especially the existence of life. They are wrong, but our education system is such that many people don’t know it.” “Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but, we thought, if people needed a crutch for consolation, where’s the harm? September 11th changed all that. Revealed faith is not harmless nonsense, it can be lethally dangerous nonsense. Dangerous because it gives people unshakeable confidence in their own righteousness. Dangerous because it gives them false courage to kill themselves, which automatically removes normal barriers to killing others. Dangerous because it teaches enmity to others labelled only by a difference of inherited tradition. And dangerous because we have all bought into a weird respect, which uniquely protects religion from normal criticism. Let’s now stop being so damned respectful!”
• Charles Darwin: “He who has seen a savage in his native land will not feel much shame, if forced to acknowledge that the blood of some more humble creature flows in his veins. For my own part I would as soon be descended from that heroic little monkey...as from a savage…”“Tis the crown & glory of organic science that it does thro’ final cause, link material to moral; … You <Charles Darwin> have … done your best … to break it. Were it possible (which thank God it is not) to break it, humanity in my mind, would suffer a damage that might brutalize it -- & sink the human race into a lower grade of degradation than any into which it has fallen since its written records tell us of its history.”

Quotes edit see section history

• “The Bible Is a Book of Science. Secular Humanism Is a Religion of Mythology.”

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Secular Humanism is America's Established Religion.: Describe this theme.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Michael J Findley (Author)
2. Mary C Findley (Author)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This is an important books but may be too difficult for younger readers. It contains history, science and culture from a biblical viewpoint that can have may educational applications for older children or young adults.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Science › Earth Sciences › Geology
• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences
• Books › History › World

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Findley Family Video Publications: Educational, History, Science, biblical perspectives on culture, disestablishing secular humanism as America's established religion.

Movie Connections edit see section history

• Teaser for this title available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9QeGhinvvE