Slouching Toward Columbine: Darwin's Tree of Death

Beliefnet ^ | April 20, 2009 | David Klinghoffer

[GodGunsGuts]

Slouching Toward Columbine: Darwin's Tree of Death

April 20, 2009

David Klinghoffer

I've long been fascinated by the image of the Tree of Death, parallel to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and cryptically referred to in mystical texts explaining the Hebrew Bible:

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9).

Come and behold: as soon as night falls, the Tree of Death rules in the world and the Tree of Life disappears high above. Then the Tree of Death is the sole ruler in the universe, and all inhabitants of the world taste of death (Zohar III:119a).

The image, and today's gruesome Columbine anniversary, provide an occasion to reflect on Darwinian evolution's social consequences, from school shootings to Nazi racism and more.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution with its Tree of Life is applauded by most sophisticated Americans and Europeans as a scientific idea pure and simple, without the aura of dread and terror that, properly, should surround it in our minds.

Why should we so regard it? Not necessarily because of any judgment about whether the idea is right or wrong as science, but rather because of the uncanny way evolution has had of supplying the rationale and creating the backdrop for the most twisted, monstrous social movements that have sprung up in Western culture in the past century and half.

On April 20, 1999, two boys at Columbine High School in Colorado massacred 12 fellow students and a teacher, wounding 23 as well before shooting themselves...

[GunRunner]

"Harris and Klebold may have used 'Natural Selection' as an excuse to commit murder. Therefore, evolution is incorrect." is what this argument boils down to.

Reminds me of the anti-gunner argument that gun shows need to be shut down because Klebold, Harris, and McVeigh went to gun shows. Although this article is even stupider.

I wonder how many people have killed in the name of God? Does that make theism wrong?

[tpanther]

Now how in the world does the idiocy of those juvenile murderers have anything to do with Darwin? That is the most ridiculous tie in that you’ve posted yet GGG.

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Actually it helps to read. Try posts 4 & 11, or the article itself...now had these two been wearing say a crucifix or a t-shirt that said WWJD...hoooo-boy, all the evo-libs on this thread would be all over it like white on rice.

Well, it works both ways!

[Natufian]

Yep, and both are wrong.

[slimemold]

On April 10 of this year, Anthony Powell, a Christian who posted anti-atheist videos on Youtube, killed a 20 year-old classmate at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI. and then turned the gun on himself.

I’ve done a search on FR but can’t find where the evo-libs were all over it like white on rice. Could you please provide a link? Thanks!

[Oztrich Boy]

I have posted a plethora of articles

90% from YEC propaganda mills (Creation Research Society, Bible-Science Association, Institute of Creation Research, Creation Ministries International, AnswersinGenesis)

Another 9% form the Discovery Institute (also propaganda mill)

[Boxen]

If you read the post to which I replied, you’ll notice that CottShop is referring to the crusades. Were the crusaders “Godless Secularists”?

[FormerRep]

What I was saying is that by over emphasizing your point you are making yourself look ridiculous. Passion over reason has that danger. I know you are more focused than that. I wasn’t picking on you. :)

[FormerRep]

For the record - if they were wearing crosses instead of neo gothic trench coats it would have been just as much of a tragedy. Face value alone - they were troubled and bullied and snapped. Darwin wasn’t on their minds at the time - but I’m certain God crossed their minds.

[Nipplemancer]

if you search for “Tony48219” on youtube you’ll see that guy’s insane tirades. i ran across one of his videos a few months ago and had a chuckle, i didn’t hear about his death until your post.

[CottShop]

[[I’d love to see your source for this]]

You saw the sources in your history books- Their hearts did NOT have Christ in them- period! End of story

[CottShop]

[[Were the crusaders “Godless Secularists”?]]

And further more- if you had the spirit of Christ, you would be able to discern who are Christ’s and who are not by their actions/fruit- The Crusader’s god was the state and power and $$ and land- NOT God- their hearts were devoted to hte trappings of Satan- NOT God

[OriginalIntent]

The Public Schools are completely run top down by the far left. The religion they teach by force, is liberal Humanism.

The worldview the parents chose to have taught in schools since schools began was targeted and eliminated by big government force without consulting the parents. Liberal activist judges did the illegal dirty work.

If you want to save your children from the modern leftist's humanistic religious indoctrination in the Public Schools, you must pay the ransom money and still pay for other childrens leftist indoctrination.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[OriginalIntent]

I am glad you posted that link. Barry Lynn is one of the most harderned, practiced liars in America today.

He is known to show up at the Vegas Porn meetings (just as a spokesman and all).

He is with Obama in the rush to completely destroy the Judeo/Christian underpinnings of America (anyone can read the legal history, cultural history, educational history and see for themselves).

What is telling is that the closet liberals on Free Republic will take the side of Barry Lynn, the Southern Poverty Law phonies, and other leftist groups (and even use their leftist interpretations as sources to make a point) while attacking good conservatives who are on the right side of history.

[Boxen]

It’s been a long while since I’ve last seen a history book. Indulge me. If you don’t have a source for your statement, just say so.

[Boxen]

No true Scotsman, eh?

[atlaw]

You don’t have to go back to the crusades:

http://www.reformation.com/

http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286153,00.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s01-ussc.html

http://www.advocateweb.org/cease/csa.htm

http://www.cbs12.com/news/father_4716963___article.html/allegations_sex.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/dc_jones.htm

[tpanther]

I’ve not even heard of this story period, let alone who’s talked about it on FR.

Again, had Columbine been about those two being “Christian”, my point stands.

[tpanther]

Can you show us the NT scripture that guided the crusaders?

[tpanther]

What I was saying is that by over emphasizing your point you are making yourself look ridiculous. Passion over reason has that danger. I know you are more focused than that. I wasn’t picking on you. :)

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What point would that be?