Workers unearth huge fossil cache in California

All you do is make empty assertions over and over and over again. It’s becoming boring.

And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors.
-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

Golly. Is that the best you can do?

Here. Try this:

__________________________________________________________________
Early Years
The First Charter of Virginia (granted by King James I, on April 10, 1606)
• We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God…
Instructions for the Virginia Colony (1606)
Lastly and chiefly the way to prosper and achieve good success is to make yourselves all of one mind for the good of your country and your own, and to serve and fear God the Giver of all Goodness, for every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out.

William Bradford
• wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
• 1) "a better, and easier place of living”; and that “the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]“
• 2) “The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world"
The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620 | Signing of the Mayflower painting | Picture of Compact
“Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”
______________________________________________________________________

John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]

John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
–John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." --October 11, 1798

"I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen." December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson

"Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to be mentioned in polite Company, I mean Hell." [John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, April 19, 1817] |
.......click here to see this quote in its context and to see John Adams' quotes taken OUT of context!

Samuel Adams: | Portrait of Sam Adams | Powerpoint presentation on John, John Quincy, and Sam Adams
“ He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all… Our forefathers opened the Bible to all.” [ "American Independence," August 1, 1776. Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia]

“ Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.” [October 4, 1790]

John Quincy Adams:
• “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?" “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity"?
--1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

“The Law given from Sinai [The Ten Commandments] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code.”
John Quincy Adams. Letters to his son. p. 61

Elias Boudinot: | Portrait of Elias Boudinot
“ Be religiously careful in our choice of all public officers . . . and judge of the tree by its fruits.”

Charles Carroll - signer of the Declaration of Independence | Portrait of Charles Carroll
" Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." [Source: To James McHenry on November 4, 1800.]

Benjamin Franklin: | Portrait of Ben Franklin
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

“In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered… do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” [Constitutional Convention, Thursday June 28, 1787]

In Benjamin Franklin's 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."

In 1787 when Franklin helped found Benjamin Franklin University, it was dedicated as "a nursery of religion and learning, built on Christ, the Cornerstone."

Alexander Hamilton:
• Hamilton began work with the Rev. James Bayard to form the Christian Constitutional Society to help spread over the world the two things which Hamilton said made America great:
(1) Christianity
(2) a Constitution formed under Christianity.
“The Christian Constitutional Society, its object is first: The support of the Christian religion. Second: The support of the United States.”

On July 12, 1804 at his death, Hamilton said, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I look to Him for mercy; pray for me.”

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests." [1787 after the Constitutional Convention]

"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man."

John Hancock:
• “In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, …at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness… Resolved; …Thursday the 11th of May…to humble themselves before God under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them, to implore the Forgiveness of all our transgressions, and a spirit of repentance and reformation …and a Blessing on the … Union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights [for which hitherto we desire to thank Almighty God]…That the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation…for the redress of America’s many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.
"A Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, with a total abstinence from labor and recreation. Proclamation on April 15, 1775"

Patrick Henry:
"Orator of the Revolution."
• This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”
—The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.”

John Jay:
“ Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Source: October 12, 1816. The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed., (New York: Burt Franklin, 1970), Vol. IV, p. 393.

“Whether our religion permits Christians to vote for infidel rulers is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received either from the clergy or the laity. It appears to me that what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat about his attachment to Ahab ["Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord?" 2 Chronicles 19:2] affords a salutary lesson.” [The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, 1794-1826, Henry P. Johnston, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1893), Vol. IV, p.365]

Thomas Jefferson:
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”

“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”

"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” (excerpts are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in the nations capital) [Source: Merrill . D. Peterson, ed., Jefferson Writings, (New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.]

Samuel Johnston:
• “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
[Elliot’s Debates, Vol. IV, pp 198-199, Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the North Carolina Ratifying Convention]

James Madison
“ We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart.”

“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia]

• I have sometimes thought there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion or against temporal enjoyments, even the most rational and manly, than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments and [who] are rising in reputation and wealth, publicly to declare the unsatisfactoriness [of temportal enjoyments] by becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ; and I wish you may give in your evidence in this way.
Letter by Madison to William Bradford (September 25, 1773)
• In 1812, President Madison signed a federal bill which economically aided the Bible Society of Philadelphia in its goal of the mass distribution of the Bible.
“ An Act for the relief of the Bible Society of Philadelphia” Approved February 2, 1813 by Congress

“It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.”

• A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest, while we are building ideal monuments of renown and bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven. [Letter by Madison to William Bradford [urging him to make sure of his own salvation] November 9, 1772]

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison proposed the plan to divide the central government into three branches. He discovered this model of government from the Perfect Governor, as he read Isaiah 33:22;
“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver,
the LORD is our king;
He will save us.”
[Baron Charles Montesquieu, wrote in 1748; “Nor is there liberty if the power of judging is not separated from legislative power and from executive power. If it [the power of judging] were joined to legislative power, the power over life and liberty of the citizens would be arbitrary, for the judge would be the legislature if it were joined to the executive power, the judge could have the force of an oppressor. All would be lost if the same … body of principal men … exercised these three powers." Madison claimed Isaiah 33:22 as the source of division of power in government
See also: pp.241-242 in Teaching and Learning America’s Christian History: The Principle approach by Rosalie Slater]

James McHenry – Signer of the Constitution
Public utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses, and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience.

Jedediah Morse:
"To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."

John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg
In a sermon delivered to his Virginia congregation on Jan. 21, 1776, he preached from Ecclesiastes 3.
Arriving at verse 8, which declares that there is a time of war and a time of peace, Muhlenberg noted that this surely was not the time of peace; this was the time of war. Concluding with a prayer, and while standing in full view of the congregation, he removed his clerical robes to reveal that beneath them he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental army! He marched to the back of the church; ordered the drum to beat for recruits and over three hundred men joined him, becoming the Eighth Virginia Brigade. John Peter Muhlenberg finished the Revolution as a Major-General, having been at Valley Forge and having participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stonypoint, and Yorktown.

Thomas Paine:
“ It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.”
“ The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal.” “The Existence of God--1810”

Benjamin Rush:
• “I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them…we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this Divine Book, above all others, constitutes the soul of republicanism.” “By withholding the knowledge of [the Scriptures] from children, we deprive ourselves of the best means of awakening moral sensibility in their minds.” [Letter written (1790’s) in Defense of the Bible in all schools in America]
• “Christianity is the only true and perfect religion.”
• “If moral precepts alone could have reformed mankind, the mission of the Son of God into our world would have been unnecessary.”

"Let the children who are sent to those schools be taught to read and write and above all, let both sexes be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education”
Letters of Benjamin Rush, "To the citizens of Philadelphia: A Plan for Free Schools", March 28, 1787

Justice Joseph Story:
“ I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society. One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is a part of the Common Law. . . There never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying its foundations.”
[Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States p. 593]
“ Infidels and pagans were banished from the halls of justice as unworthy of credit.” [Life and letters of Joseph Story, Vol. II 1851, pp. 8-9.]
“ At the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of the amendment to it, now under consideration [i.e., the First Amendment], the general, if not the universal sentiment in America was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the state, so far as was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience, and the freedom of religious worship.”
[Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States p. 593]

Noah Webster:
“ The duties of men are summarily comprised in the Ten Commandments, consisting of two tables; one comprehending the duties which we owe immediately to God-the other, the duties we owe to our fellow men.”

“In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”
[Source: 1828, in the preface to his American Dictionary of the English Language]

Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. . . . If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws. [Noah Webster, The History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie and Peck, 1832), pp. 336-337, 49]

“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” [Noah Webster. History. p. 339]

“The Bible was America’s basic textbook
in all fields.” [Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5]

“Education is useless without the Bible” [Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5 ]

George Washington:

Farewell Address: The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion" ...and later: "...reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle..."

“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”

“What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” [speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779]

"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian" [May 2, 1778, at Valley Forge]

During his inauguration, Washington took the oath as prescribed by the Constitution but added several religious components to that official ceremony. Before taking his oath of office, he summoned a Bible on which to take the oath, added the words “So help me God!” to the end of the oath, then leaned over and kissed the Bible.

Nelly Custis-Lewis (Washington’s adopted daughter):
Is it necessary that any one should [ask], “Did General Washington avow himself to be a believer in Christianity?" As well may we question his patriotism, his heroic devotion to his country. His mottos were, "Deeds, not Words"; and, "For God and my Country."

“ O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father; I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin, and they stand in need of pardon.”
“ I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have contemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not. I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment, and broken my vows and promise. I have neglected the better things. My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.”
[George Washington; from a 24 page authentic handwritten manuscript book dated April 21-23, 1752
William J. Johnson George Washington, the Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, New York & Cincinnati, 1919), pp. 24-35.]

"Although guided by our excellent Constitution in the discharge of official duties, and actuated, through the whole course of my public life, solely by a wish to promote the best interests of our country; yet, without the beneficial interposition of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, we could not have reached the distinguished situation which we have attained with such unprecedented rapidity. To HIM, therefore, should we bow with gratitude and reverence, and endeavor to merit a continuance of HIS special favors". [1797 letter to John Adams]

James Wilson:
Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Supreme Court Justice appointed by George Washington
Spoke 168 times during the Constitutional Convention

"Christianity is part of the common law"
[Sources: James Wilson, Course of Lectures [vol 3, p.122]; and quoted in Updegraph v. The Commonwealth, 11 Serg, & R. 393, 403 (1824).]

________________________________________________________________________
Public Institutions
Liberty Bell Inscription:
“ Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof” [Leviticus 25:10]

Proposals for the seal of the United States of America
• “Moses lifting his wand and dividing the Red Sea” –Ben Franklin

• “The children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.” --Thomas Jefferson

On July 4, 1776, Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams "to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America." Franklin's proposal adapted the biblical story of the parting of the Red Sea. Jefferson first recommended the "Children of Israel in the Wilderness, led by a Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night. . . ." He then embraced Franklin's proposal and rewrote it

Jefferson's revision of Franklin's proposal was presented by the committee to Congress on August 20, 1776.

Another popular proposal to the Great Seal of the United States was:
" Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God"; with Pharoah's army drowning in the Red Sea

The three branches of the U.S. Government: Judicial, Legislative, Executive
• At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison proposed the plan to divide the central government into three branches. He discovered this model of government from the Perfect Governor, as he read Isaiah 33:22;
“For the LORD is our judge,
the LORD is our lawgiver,
the LORD is our king;
He will save us.”

Article 22 of the constitution of Delaware (1776)
Required all officers, besides taking an oath of allegiance, to make and subscribe to the following declaration:
• "I, [name], do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration."

New York Spectator. August 23, 1831
“ The court of common pleas of Chester county, [New York] rejected a witness who declared his disbelief in the existence of God. The presiding judge remarked that he had not before been aware that there was a man living who did not believe in the existence of God; that this belief constituted the sanction of all testimony in a court of justice: and that he knew of no cause in a Christian country where a witness had been permitted to testify without such belief.

New England Primer:
Used in public and private schools from 1690 to 1900 second only to the Bible
Some of its contents:
A song of praise to God
Prayers in Jesus’ name
The famous Bible alphabet
Shorter Catechism of faith in Christ

Wow! Nice quote mining - and you didn’t even have to do it yourself - just cut ‘n’ paste the out of context collection passed on from Eads Home Ministries. You “Young Earthers” really have all the answers! I’ll leave you with this:

“Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.”
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

The kind of inane distortions about the founders that folks like you post are so trite and silly and repetitive and unoriginal, you’re not worth much of anything but a quick cut and paste job in response.

Samuel Adams

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the American Revolution

“And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again; that wars may cease in all the earth, and that the confusions that are and have been among nations may be overruled by promoting and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace.”

—As Governor of Massachusetts, Proclamation of a Day of Fast, March 20, 1797.

James Madison

Father of the U.S. Constitution and 4th U.S. President

“Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.”

John Quincy Adams

6th U.S. President

“The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made ‘bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God’ (Isaiah 52:10).”

George Washington:

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”

John Adams

2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.”

John Adams:

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

Thomas Jefferson

3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever...”

If you want "inane distortions", take a look at the "Science" page at your resource http://www.eadshome.com/Science.htm. It's a hoot! I especially like the comment from noted humanist Werner von Braun, "Scientific concepts exist only in the minds of men. Behind these concepts lies the reality which is being revealed to us, but only by the grace of God." Nice talk, Werner - so was it the "grace of God" you were dispensing at Peenemund? Of course, there's plenty of props to slavery in the Good Book^TM (especially when the slaves are a different religion), and we all know he was "just following orders", and the good news is more people died building V-2s than were killed by them, but come on! "Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down? That's not my department," says Wernher von Braun.

Christianity and the Origin of Modern Science

by Dr. John Millam

All of us in modern society recognize the impact that modern science has had on our lives. Few, however, know about the Christian origin of modern science. In our contemporary culture, Christianity is often portrayed as being antithetical to science, yet if we examine our history books, we find that modern science was birthed, nurtured, and flourished in Europe under the influence of the Christian worldview.

It was Christianity that decisively shaped science and provided an intellectual framework in which science could operate. Even scientists are typically unaware of this connection because scientists are trained to follow the scientific method but are given little or no training in the history or philosophy of science.

For most people (scientists and non-scientists alike), the fact that science simply works is sufficient reason to accept science and so feel that there is no need to explore where modern science came from or why it works.

The practice of modern science is a relatively new phenomenon and has only been around for about 350 years. Modern science is distinguished from ancient science by its use of the scientific method, which emphasizes experimentation, verification, falsification, and quantitative (rather than qualitative) analysis. Many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians, Chinese, and the Greeks, investigated the natural world and gave rise to many advances in mathematics and astronomy yet their practice of science was hindered and never developed the sophistication or vitality found in later European science.

In each case, the absence of the scientific method as well as certain specific beliefs about the universe hindered the birth science. The advent of modern science represented a fundamental shift in how people viewed and explored the natural world and was not simply an increase in technology or level of sophistication. Since the birth of modern science represents a change in the philosophy of science, we need to examine the historical development of science from a theological and philosophical point of view.

Judeo-Christian Scripture and Christian Worldview Gave A Basis for Modern Science to Emerge and Flourish.

Science today is commonly taught as a methodology or process without reference to the presuppositions that are required for science to operate. Few scientists are equipped or encouraged to contemplate the philosophy of science that is the very basis for their work. As a result, most people (scientists and non-scientists) do not recognize that modern science is grounded in philosophical and theological ideas. Typically, when scientists are asked to explain the basis for science, they simply argue “science works.” This answer is unsatisfactory and we must recognize that there are some basic presuppositions that provide the framework for modern science. Charles Hummel identifies six basic presuppositions:

1) Order in nature. Nature has an underlying order, shown in patterns and regularities that can be discovered. Such knowledge is attainable and human intellect is capable of acquiring it, even though infinite variation exists.

2) Uniformity of nature. The forces of nature are uniform throughout space and time. What happens here in one laboratory also occurs in other countries around the world (in both the past and present) under the same conditions.

3) Validity of sense perceptions. Reliable data can be obtained by using the human senses or their extensions (for example, by reading a thermometer or voltmeter).

4) Principle of simplicity. If two theories or explanations fit the data, the simpler is usually to be preferred. For example, although Copernicus’ system did not provide a better fit than that of Ptolemy to the available data, or make more accurate predictions of celestial phenomena, it was mathematically simpler; it was preferred because it could account for the observations with a less complicated scheme.

5) Moral responsibility. All scientists are expected to report honestly the results of their experiments so that others can have confidence in their data and the use of those results in their own research.

6) Consensus of acceptance. Scientists around the world engaged in research in the same discipline, using similar procedures and equipment, test research results and give them relative objectivity. Acceptance is based on the agreed competence of experts, a group of trained, skilled observers.

How does Christianity provide a basis for these basic presuppositions? Christianity rests on the foundation of a very specific understanding of God—one that is distinct from other religions. Some fundamental aspects of the Christian view of God are that (a) God is infinite, (b) God is eternal, (c) God is righteous, (d) God is a personal creator and sustainer, (e) God creates ex-nihilo (”out of nothing”), and (f) God transcends (is separate from) the universe. This understanding of God gives rise to three principles that form a rational basis for the six basis presuppositions of science.

a) Physical material world exists as an objective reality. Since God created the world, the reality of the world flows naturally out of the reality of God. Since God is eternal, infinite, and unchanging, this must naturally be true uniformly over both time and space (presupposition 2).

b) Creation reflects a rational view of God. The universe, as God’s handiwork, must necessarily reflect His character and purpose. The rational nature of God naturally leads to an understanding that the universe is orderly and uniform (presuppositions 1 and 2). Similarly, the simplicity and beauty revealed about God in the Bible must also apply to God’s creation (propositions 3 and 4).

c) Humankind was uniquely created. Man was created by God and was created as separate and distinct from the rest of nature (Genesis 1:26-27). Man, as God’s special creation, can stand apart from the rest of nature and so is able to comprehend the orderliness of nature. Because the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalms 19:1-6) and character of God (Romans 1:18-20), God had to give man the ability to reason and accurately view nature to appreciate His revelation (presupposition 3). Similarly, because man is created in God’s image, man has God’s moral law written on his heart, including the capacity for honesty and integrity (presuppositions 5 and 6).

The bottom line is that the preconditions of science are rooted in Christian theism’s belief in an infinite, eternal, and personal creator who has ordered the universe and has provided man with a mind that corresponds to that universe intelligibly. So, while most of Western society accepts the six basic presuppositions of science, only Christianity provides a reasonable and consistent basis for them.

Virtually All of the Early Scientists Were Devout Christians.

Almost every major branch of modern science can be traced back to 17th and 18th century Europe. If we open virtually any textbook on science and look at the men who founded and dominated each of these fields, we find that almost all were strong Christians. Christianity provided the intellectual framework for science to develop and grow but also motivated people to pursue scientific inquiry. That is, the Christian faith of these scientists made their science possible but it also made it desirable. The list of such scientists is much too long for this paper and can be found elsewhere, so only a few prominent examples are given here.

1) Nicholas Copernicus (Astronomy). Copernicus is most known for his work on establishing the heliocentric model for the solar system in De Revolutionibus. In addition to his scientific work, he served as a canon (religious office) and was an active churchman. He believed that the world “has been built for us by the Best and Most Orderly Workman of all” and so was worthy of study.

2) Galileo Galilei (Astronomy; Refracting telescope). Galileo wrote supporting Copernicus’ heliocentric model and developed the first working telescope with which he discovered the moons of Jupiter, sun spots, and moon craters. Galileo, along with Francis Bacon, played a central role in developing the scientific method. Central to Galileo’s thinking was that God reveals himself in two ways, through the Book of God’s word (Bible) and the Book of God’s works (creation) and so we must study both. He believed that there would never be a contradiction between the facts of nature and the Holy Scriptures.

3) Johannes Kepler (Astronomy). Kepler derived three laws of planetary motion based on observational data, which gave direct support for Copernicus’ heliocentric model. Originally, Kepler wanted to go into Christian ministry but financial problems forced him to pursue mathematics and eventually astronomy. Kepler later realized that this was God’s plan for him and that his work as an astronomer was a way that he could bring glory to God. He believed that the study of science was “thinking God’s thoughts after him” and that astronomers were “priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature.” It was Kepler’s faith that kept him working despite ill health, personal misfortunes, chronic financial woes, persecution, and arduous work.

4) Isaac Newton (Physics; Calculus; Gravitation law; Reflecting telescope). Newton formulated his famous three equations of motion, which were the basis for physics for the next 200 years and are still commonly used today. Newton also developed the law of gravity, revolutionized optics, and invented calculus (along with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz). Newton is unequivocally the greatest scientist of his time. In addition to his science, he was a faithful Anglican, helped plan for the building of churches, and wrote more than 1,300,000 words on Biblical subjects. While some of his beliefs may not have been completely orthodox, he certainly held to a personal God who created the universe and that “natural philosophy” (science) complimented and supported the words of the Bible.

5) Robert Boyle (Chemistry; Gas dynamics). Boyle laid the foundation for modern chemistry and studied the properties of gases. His contributions once and for all overthrew alchemy and established modern chemistry. He may have been the first researcher to confirm by experiment every scientific claim that he made. As a Christian, Boyle opened each day with a prayer and Bible reading, wrote and translated works on the gospels, and wrote books on apologetics. He spent time trying to communicate the advances in science to common folk showing how science gave evidence for the Christian faith. He co-founded the Royal Institute of London, which was the first scientific association in the world. In his will, he left money to found the Boyle lectures for proving the Christian religion.

6) Blaise Pascal (Hydrostatics; Barometer; Probability theory). Pascal is best known for his development of an adding machine, which would eventually be a forerunner of modern computing. He also made many advances in geometry, mathematics, fluid mechanics, and atmospheric studies. He was a devout Jansenite (a Calvinistic quasi-Protestant group within the Catholic church) and gave frequently to the needy. ?The Bible became his most important reading as he resolved to give first place in his life to the God of Jesus Christ. The laboratory became an upper room in which the Bible held the place of honor. ? His most celebrated non-scientific work is Pensées (”Thoughts”), a work on Christian apologetics that he didn’t finish writing before his death.

7) Carolus Linneaus (Taxonomy; Biological classification system). Linneaus was the son of a Lutheran minister and was raised around plants most of his life. His single greatest contribution was to develop a classification system for identifying plants, which is still in use today. He also developed the binomial nomenclature, where by any living thing is identified by its genus and species. (For example, humans are identified as Homo sapiens.) This replaced the confusing plethora of names that had existed with a single unified naming system. Linneaus was a student of the Bible and drew the term “species” from the Latin word for “kind” used to describe groups of living creatures in Genesis 1:21,24-25. He wrote, “One is completely stunned by the incredible resourcefulness of the Creator” and “I saw the infinite, all-knowing and all-powerful God from behind. I followed His footsteps over nature’s fields and saw everywhere an eternal wisdom and power, an inscrutable perfection.”

The Worldview of Ancient Cultures Hindered and Stifled the Birth of Modern Science

Many ancient civilizations made impressive discoveries about the natural world, yet as eminent historian and philosopher of science Stanley Jaki explains, science remained stillborn and never reached the maturity that occurred later in Europe. Why was science not self-sustaining in these societies? Why didn’t the Chinese, Indians, etc. develop the scientific method long before it came about in Europe? Jaki and others have identified seven impediments in these and modern cultures that stifle the growth of science.

1) Cyclical view of history. According to a cyclical view of history, everything moves in cycles and always comes back to the beginning. There is no opportunity for progress, since things will return to the same point. As such, a cyclical view of history hindered progress, promoted complacency, and gave no basis for cause and effect relationships.

2) Pseudo-scientific explanations for natural phenomena. Pseudo-science, such as astrology, hindered science because it gives false answers while taking away the need or desire to look for scientific explanations, which leads to a passive or fatalistic attitude toward nature. Pseudo-science also lacked any real sense of falsification. If an omen failed in its prediction it would never be discarded but simply assumed that it had not been interpreted correctly or that other omens should have been included.

3) Deification of nature. There are two main ways in which nature can be deified: animism and pantheism. In animism (such as in Native American religions), various portions of nature (such as the sun, rivers, and earth) are believed to be inhabited by or represented by spirits. In pantheism, everything in the universe is viewed as being part of god. In both cases, nature is to be revered or worshiped, not studied.

4) Denial of the existence or orderliness of the universe. Many Hindu beliefs taught the concept of Maya, which holds that the world around us is an illusion. In other cultures, the nature of the universe changed with the whim of the gods and so couldn’t be trusted.

5) Organismic view of nature. In this view, everything including man is part of one giant organism that goes through cycles of birth, death, and reincarnation. Man is viewed as weak and impotent compared to the majesty of nature of which he is a part, which encourages passivity and inactivity toward nature. In this view, man is to contemplate nature but not to study it or to act so as to remain in harmony with nature.

6) Lack of balance between faith and reason. An imbalance in the direction of faith leads to the premature exclusion of naturalistic conclusions and simply assigns God (or gods) the credit. When asked, “Why is the grass green?” this group would reply, “Because God made it that way.” An imbalance in the direction of reason hinders progress by not considering all available possible conclusions. In other words, an unreasonable naturalistic explanation is always preferred over any non-naturalistic explanation. This leads to stagnation when naturalistic explanations don’t fit the evidence.

7) Humankind as a part of nature. If man is a part of nature, then how can he step away from nature to look back and get an objective view of it? To support the idea of man being able to objectively view the world, man must be different in kind (not just in degree) from nature. For example, if man is just the product of just blind natural processes, then how could we trust our brain to able to effectively look for truth? While evolution might be able to explain the origin of intelligence as a tool for promoting our survivability, it cannot explain why man has the ability or desire to grasp truth.

How do these seven impediments apply to the great ancient civilizations that preceded the birth of modern science?

1) Mesopotamian cultures. The ancient Mesopotamian cultures made many advances in mathematics and astronomy, yet their belief in pseudo-science (astrology) held them back.

2) India. The Indus valley civilizations represent some of the oldest known cultures on the planet. Some of their advances include “Arabic” numbers and many discoveries in mathematics. The belief in Maya (the world as an illusion), reincarnation (cyclical view of history), astrology, an organismic view of nature, and pantheism prevented their science from developing to maturity.

3) China. The sophistication of the ancient Chinese culture is well known and includes advances in astronomy and medicine as well as the invention of paper and gunpowder. The belief in pseudo-science (yin-yang dualism and I Ching), a cyclical view of history, and an organismic view of nature (Taoism) hindered Chinese science.

4) Egyptians. When we stand in awe of the pyramids or the hieroglyphics of Egypt, we are reminded of the great sophistication of the early Egyptians. They had a well-developed system of astronomy and mathematics, however, their religious system deified nature.

5) Greeks. The Greeks are well known for their amazing advances in astronomy, mathematics, logic, and geometry. Sadly, Greek science was undermined by Greek philosophy. Plato taught that the physical world was just a shallow representation of the true world of ideas. Platonic dualism (emphasis on ideal world instead of the physical world) led them to de-emphasize physical reality and discourage experimental investigation.

6) Muslims. The early Muslims are often overlooked or downplayed in history books, however, they had a vibrant intellectual religious tradition and helped preserve and spread knowledge. They also made many discoveries in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and even argued that the universe must have a beginning (Kalam cosmological argument). Their science, however, was stifled by the view that God could be arbitrary or even capricious. They were also plagued with astrology from the Hindus and Persians and Greek philosophy.

Christianity Provided the Intellectual Foundation for Modern Science

Whereas the worldview of other ancient civilizations hindered the growth and development of science, modern science grew and flourished in the soil of the Christian worldview. What was it about Christianity that succeeded where others had failed? This question has three parts: (a) how did Christianity avoid the pitfalls that plagued other civilizations, (b) how did the Christian worldview specifically lead to the development of the scientific method, and (c) how does Christian theology encourage believers to study nature? To answer those questions, we can list at least 12 ideas fundamentally rooted in Christian theology:

1) Testing, verification, and falsification. The heart of the scientific method is testing, verification, and falsification. These three principles are directly commanded in Scripture in dealing with doctrinal issues. When these principles were transferred from theology to the study of nature, they formed the philosophical core of the scientific method. These principles along with the moral values of hard work, contemplation, reflection, and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom can all be found in the Bible. (See next section.)

2) Biblical Method of Interpretation. Christian scholars throughout church history have all noted that wherever the Bible describes a sequence of physical events, it always prefaces that description with statements of the frame(s) of reference (points of view) and the initial conditions and closes it with statements of the final conditions and conclusions about the physical events. The Scottish theologian Thomas Torrance has both authored and edited book-length discussions on how Christian theology, and Reformed theology in particular, played a critical role in the development of the scientific method and the amazing advances achieved by Western science. In other words, the scientific method is simply the Biblical method of interpretation applied to the natural world.

3) Ockham’s razor (principle of economy). This principle along with the scientific method forms the cornerstone of modern science. Ockham’s razor states that the simplest theory that fits all of the existing facts is to be preferred and plays a vital role in guiding scientific advance in cases where there is insufficient evidence to directly rule out competing theories. William of Ockham (c. 1280-1349) was a Christian philosopher and is credited with this principle although he actually borrowed it from Durandus, who was also a Christian philosopher. For both men, the universe was not an accident but was created and expressed the same simplicity and purposefulness found in the Bible.

4) God as transcendent. God transcends the universe, that is, God exists separately and independently of His creation. Because the creation is distinct from God, it is neither divine nor is it organismic in nature and the deification of nature is expressly forbidden in Scripture. This helped Europe avoid this major stumbling block to the development of modern science.

5) God as the lawgiver. God governs mankind through legal and moral laws and God governs nature through natural laws. The Bible contains many statements that God created, fixed, and sustains the laws of nature. Because God governs the universe through fixed laws (rather than through angels or other intermediates), these laws are intelligible and discoverable. God can and does operate supernaturally on behalf of mankind but this does not invalidate His natural laws.

6) Creation reflects the Creator. God created the universe, so it must reflect His character and nature. This leads to the following conclusions: (a) The world is real (and not an illusion) because God is real. (b) The world is orderly because God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). (c) The world is good (and not evil) because God is good and created the world ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31). (d) The world is rational and intelligible because God is rational and so there is a sound basis for observation and experimentation.

7) World was created ex-nihilo. Since God created the universe ex-nihilo (?out of nothing?), then the universe is contingent. In a contingent universe, things could have been different and so leads to the question, “why are things the way they are?” This in turn leads to a desire to investigate. Or to put it simply, “A contingent universe arouses curiosity. A necessary universe does not.”

8) The World has a beginning and ending. The Bible describes the creation of the universe (Genesis 1) and when God’s purposes for the universe are completed, it will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-13) and replaced by a perfect universe (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelations 21-22). This leads naturally to a linear view of history with its emphasis on cause and effect. Similarly, Christ’s work of redemption, His return, and the judgment at the end of time is once-and-for all (Hebrews 9:27-28) and so rules out reincarnation and cyclic views of history.

9) The Nature of man. The Biblical view of man is as foundational to science as the view of God. The Bible declares that man bears the Imago Dei (”image of God”) but is marred by sin has important implications for the development of science. (a) Man is capable of comprehending truth (Romans 1:18-20), which gives validity to human rationality (math, logic, and language) and man’s sense perceptions. (b) Man’s sinful nature means that man can deceive and be deceived, therefore, an emphasis on testing and verifying before accepting claims.

10) Duel Revelation Theology. Dual revelation theology teaches that God reveals himself in two distinct but complementary ways – through the Bible (?special revelation?) and through creation (”general revelation”). Thus, the Bible and creation have the same Author and hence must complement and not contradict each other. Francis Bacon (the father of the scientific method), Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton expressed this as God having given man two books—the book of God’s Word (the Bible) and the book of God’s work (creation). Describing creation as a book implies that creation is both intelligible and worthy of study. As an example, Newton spent equal time and energy studying both books of God’s revelation.

11) Creation reveals God’s glory. The Bible clearly teaches that creation reveals God’s glory (Psalms 19:1-6). As such, most of the early scientists were driven to study nature to glorify God rather than for personal, practical, or pragmatic reasons. For example Johannes Kepler endured through many years of tedious study and ill health, because he wanted to “think God’s thoughts after him.” Carolus Linneaus stated that he “followed His footsteps over nature’s fields and saw everywhere an eternal wisdom and power, an inscrutable perfection.”

12) Rejection of mysticism and astrology. Astrology and other forms of pagan mysticism proved to be a hindrance to science in almost all of the ancient and medieval civilizations. Astrology was problematic even for some of the early Christian scientists, such as Francis Bacon and Johannes Kepler. The Old Testament of the Bible is full of statements condemning and rejecting such practices. Early church father condemned astrology, such as Augustine in Confessions and Hippolytus in The Refutations of All Heresies. In later medieval times, the reintroduction of Greek classics also reintroduced astrology and other ancient beliefs. In response, Temper, Bishop of Paris, in 1277 wrote 219 propositions condemning astrology and other such anti-scientific beliefs. While these statements didn’t completely immunize Europe from such ideas, it helped minimize their influence and provided a religious and moral basis for rejecting such practices.

The Principles Underlying The Scientific Method Arise from the Bible.

The Bible lays out principles that underlie and encourage scientific investigation. These principles paved the way for the development of the scientific method. (All Biblical references taken from the New International Version of the Holy Scripture, italics mine.)

1) Christians are to pursue knowledge and wisdom but this pursuit is to be rooted in reverence for God.

Job 28:28 - “And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’”

Psalms 111:10 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

Proverbs 1:7 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Proverbs 9:10 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Matthew 22:37-38 – “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.’”

2) There is a Biblical mandate to pursue intellectual virtues, such as contemplation, reflection, and testing.

Acts 17:11 - “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1 Corinthians 14:29 - “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.”

Colossians 2:8 - “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

3) The values underlying the experimental method (testing, verification, falsification, and hard work) are deeply rooted in Scripture.

Job 34:4 - “Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 - “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”

1 John 4:1 - “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Revelations 2:2 - “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”

For Further Reference:
Eric C. Barrett and David Fisher, Scientists Who Believe: 21 Tell Their Own Stories, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 1984.
Dan Graves, Scientists of Faith, Kregel Resources, Grand Rapids, MI 1996.

R. Hooykaas, Religion and the Rise of Modern Science, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972.

Charles E. Hummel, The Galileo Connection: Resolving Conflicts Between Science and the Bible, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 1986.

Stanley Jaki, Science and Creation: From Eternal Cycles to an Oscillating Universe, Scottish Academic Press, 1974.

D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born?, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 1994, Chapter 7.

—, What if the Bible Had Never Been Written?, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 1998, Chapter 7.

Henry M. Morris, Men of Science/Men of God, Master Books, El Cajon, CA 1991.

Hugh Ross, The Genesis Question, NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO, 1999, Appendix A.

Kenneth Samples, “Historical Alliance of Science and Christianity,” audiotape, (available from Reasons To Believe, http://www.reasons.org/).

Internet Articles:

Michael Bumbulis, Christianity and the Birth of Science.
http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/

Alvin Plantinga, Darwin, Mind, and Meaning.
http://www.id.ucsb.edu/fscf/library/plantinga/dennett.html

Eric Show, Christianity: A Cause of Modern Science?
http://www.rae.org/jaki.html

Kenneth Samples, Historical Alliance of Christianity and Science.
http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/christianscience.shtml?main

Source of this fine article:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CDkQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.meaningfulscience.com%2Ffiles%2FChristianity_and_the_Origin_of_Modern_Science.doc&rct=j&q=the%20basis%20for%20true%20science%20christianity&ei=aFebTImXKoKClAfS3uicCg&usg=AFQjCNHARwQhCvY1AR67azVXo3jj0sGf0g&cad=rja

Not interested in the word salad of an apologist who has testified in court that the purview of science should not be limited to naturalistic inquiry. Just cause you’re smart, doesn’t mean you’re right. If I were you, I’d be more careful about your sources - this same person has testified that he believes the world is 4.6 billion years old, and that doesn’t seem to comport with your ideas. So are the good doctor’s views only valid when they support your own?

The founders didn’t argue with people like you. They simply asserted self-evident (as-plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face) truth. And this entire nation, with few exceptions, agreed with them.

That’s why I rarely engage with people like you. It’s just not worth it. You’re an ideologue, arrogantly sure of your evolutionist dogma.

Can you point to a single instance on this thread where I laid claim to knowing how old the the creation is?

If you were in Omaha, and clocked a car going west on Interstate 80 at 70 miles an hour, would you assume that that vehicle has always been traveling at 70 miles per hour, and claim then to know exactly when it left Chicago and when it will reach San Francisco?

"You’re an ideologue, arrogantly sure of your evolutionist dogma."

LOL.