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Plymouth Brethren

2017-08-07T23:06:21Z

Ambassador: Quote on the Brethren from WL Craig

The '''Plymouth Brethren''' or '''Christian Brethren''' is a small Protestant denomination which arose in Britain in the 1820s with the goal of returning to the beliefs and practices of the New Testament church. The structure of the Brethren denomination (speaking in generalization) is designed to replicate as accurately as possible the organization of the Pauline Christian Church. In this sense, with a caveat for the exclusives, the emphasis on organization is on locally founded and locally organized assemblies of bible believing and bible practicing Christians. This facet of the movement has made writing about it very difficult, as each locally organized assembly determines in theory its own doctrine and day to day matters. Generally speaking the denomination is loosely organized and does not have ordained clergy; the three main groupings are the "Open Brethren", "Closed Brethren" and "Exclusive Brethren", which due to the lack of doctrinal standardization refers largely to Communion practice, an early splitting point for brethren.

Well known brethren include [[John Nelson Darby]], [[George Müller]], [[R.C. Chapman]], [[Jim Elliot]], [[William MacDonald]], and [[Dave Hunt]].

They are best known for devising the theory of [[Dispensationalism]], especially as formulated by Anglican priest [[John Nelson Darby]], later the founder of the "Exclusive" grouping. This theory became a core belief of [[Fundamentalism]] in the 20th century.

In 2005 one of the denominations, likely the 'Open' one, reported 86,000 members and 600 clergy in the United States. They do not ordain their clergy. Since 1941 it operates Emmaus Bible College, which since 1984 has been located in Dubuque, Iowa.

== Defining Characteristics ==
With the caveats of the above, there are essentially six defining features of any given brethren congregations. Anti-clericalism and/or anti-churchism, the rejection of the concept of membership in a congregation, celebration of a weekly ceremony commemorating the Lord's death, separation of roles for men and women in the meeting and outside the meeting, absolutely non professionalization of ministers (there are no ministers per the proper definition of the term) and the rejection of charismatic gifts (cessationist position).

A brief explanation of each is necessary.

Anti-Clericalism/Anti-Churchism means that in the Brethren meeting there are no statues, no paintings, no musical accompaniment, nothing to tie the meeting of the local Christians to the ritualistic practices of the denominational church. In Brethren jargon, church refers not to the building or the denomination, rather it revers to the universal body of Christians unified by their profession of faith in their salvation obtained through the grace and mercy of the resurrected Christ.

Following said point, the congregation of believers rejects the concept of membership in the church and membership in any particular faction or congregation. Rather Brethren jargon prefers the word "fellowship." Entering a brethren congregation is styled as entering into fellowship with the Christian body in that particular area.

There is typically a weekly ceremony where the two emblems of bread and wine are sent throughout the body. This is where most congregations differ - some say that any professing salvation may take part in the ritual, others say that only those approved by the church body or a middle ground solution, bearing letters of recommendation from the congregation leaders which are styled as Elders and are typically selected by the congregation from the most learned and Christ centered men. Generally during this meeting an offering plate or box or bag is sent around, but only those in fellowship may contribute, and only to the amount they feel required of them; tithing is regarded as churchist and applying only to the dispensation existing between God and Israel.

Men and women are separate in all matters. Women were created to help men, but this does not imply a relationship of inferiority, rather a differed relationship. Women are housewives, child bearers; women are noted for their quiet worship and subdued nature rather than men who are noted for risk taking and providing. Therefore, generally it is wished that a woman shall stay home and watch the children produced by a marriage. Generally speaking women do not speak during the meetings.

Ministers (in the Open Brethren) are styled workers and are selected from the body of the men in any given congregation according to their gifts for learning and speaking. There is no formal school to produce or accredit them, there is no salary. Ministers live at the bequest of individual congregations which may support their work to the manner they choose. Generally Ministers live very well.

Exclusive Brethren do not maintain a clergy and do not operate in a hierachy like the Open division does.

Finally, there are no charismatic gifts in the congregation. When the canon of scripture was completed with the Book of Revelation, the outpouring of Charismatic gifts ended.

There are about 100,000 members in Britain.

Worldwide there are about 46,000 Exclusive Brethren, mostly in the [[UK]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] but also with congregations in the USA, [[Europe]] and [[Argentina]].

Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] said of the Brethren:

"In fact, I would say that of the churches that I’ve worshiped in the one that would probably have the most plausible claim to be like the New Testament church would be the Brethren. When we were in England, we worshiped at a Plymouth Brethren church. In these churches there was no appointed minister who would preach every Sunday. Instead there were elders. Anyone could stand up during the service and share a song or a Scripture reading or give an exhortation. It sounded very much like the kind of worship service that you have in 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 where various prophets would get up and speak and the others would weigh what is said. That sort of worship service to me probably comes closest to what was going on in the New Testament in these local communities where there were no professional clergy and there were just local Christian groups that would meet together."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-bible-answer-man-embraces-orthodoxy#ixzz4p75djla0 Reasonable Faith Podcast: The Bible Answer Man Embraces Orthodoxy</ref>

See [[Pietism]].

== External links ==
* [http://www.believershome.com/html/christian_brethren.html Homepage]
* [http://web.singnet.com.sg/~syeec/literature/brethren.html F. F. Bruce, "Who are the Brethren?"]
==External links==
===Open Brethren===
* BrethrenPedia :: The Plymouth Brethren Wiki Documenting the history of the brethren movement one assembly at a time
* Bruederbewegung About the Brethren Movement in Germany
* Bible Archive Web Log (blog) system based in the US.
* BrethrenAssembly.Com
* BrethrenAssembly.Com Forum Discussion Forum operated by Indian Brethren.
* Brethren Online.Org
* Emmaus Bible College Brethren Bible College based in the US (Dubuque, IA).
* Kawartha Lakes Bible College Brethren Bible College based in Canada
* Plymouth Brethren Discussion Forum Discussion Forum operated by Canadian Brethren
* Updated list of assemblies :: News, Reviews & Who's Who
*Plymouth Brethren.Org
* Plymouth Brethren.Com
* ShawnCuthill.com - A Canadian web site for PB assemblies
* BibleTruth.net - A portal for PB information for locating and contacting individual assemblies
* GospelHall.org - A conservative Open Brethren forum site
* MSC (Missionary Service Committee) - A Canadian site with an address book of many PB assemblies and overseas missionaries
* CMML (Christian Missions in Many Lands) - A US site with an address book of many PB overseas missionaries
===Closed Brethren===
* Salvation Ministries USA
* Pathways ministries Canada USA Assemblies List
* Brethren News
* Good News Gospel Outreach
* Closed Bible Society
===Exclusive Brethen===
* [http://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/ Plymouth Brethren Christian Church - the official Exclusive Brethren website]
* My Brethren.Org (Exclusive Brethren)
* The Brethren Writers' Hall of Fame — a biographical gallery of several prominent writers from the Plymouth Brethren and several others who had similar views.
==Bibliography==
* Adams, Norman - Goodbye, Beloved Brethren. (1972, Impulse Publications Inc) ISBN 0901311138
* Coad, F. Roy - A History of the Brethren Movement: Its Origins, Its Worldwide Development and Its Significance for the Present Day. (2001, Regent College Publishing) ISBN 1573831832
* Ironside, H. A. - Historical Sketch of the Brethren Movement. (1985,Loizeaux Brothers) ISBN 0872133443
* Neatby, William Blair - A History of the Plymouth Brethren, (1901); Reprinted by Tentmaker Publications [5] covers the first seventy years of the Brethren movement.
* Pickering, Henry, Chief Men Among the Brethren, (1st ed. 1918 London: Pickering & Inglis), Loizeaux Brothers, Inc. Neptune, NJ, 1996, ISBN 0872137988
* Smith, Natan Dylan. - Roots, Renewal and the Brethren. (1996, Hope Publishing House) ISBN 0932727085
* Strauch, Alexander. - Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership. (1995, Lewis & Roth Publishers) ISBN 0936083115
* Stunt, Timothy C. F., From awakening to secession : radical evangelicals in Switzerland and Britain, 1815–35, Edinburgh : T&T Clark, 2000, ISBN 0567087190
[[Category:Protestantism]]
[[Category:Fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

Biblical scientific foreknowledge

2017-08-07T22:54:06Z

Ambassador: Undid deletion of page content

[[File:Newton.png|thumb|200px|alt=Isaac Newton, cornerstone of the scientific revolution, based his research on the scientific authority of the [[Bible]].|thumb|[[Portrait]] of [[Isaac Newton]], cornerstone of the [[scientific revolution]], based his research on the scientific authority of the Bible.]]

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' is how the [[Bible]] shows a comprehension of [[science]] far ahead of its time. The Bible is a superb roadmap to future scientific discoveries. Unfortunately [[Bible denier]]s, including many [[Atheism|atheist]]s and [[evolution]]ists, refuse to read the Bible, and '''''their irrational [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|closed-mindedness]] against the Bible obstructs the advancement of science'''''.

The [[Book of Genesis]] gives [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge#Anesthesia|an example of anesthesia]] long before man discovered it in 1846. And the underlying chaos and uncertainty in the physical world was explained in the Bible long before [[quantum mechanics]] confirmed it in the 1900s.

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' has an additional benefit: it guides a more precise translation of verses that describe scientific-related events, such as the reference to the universe in [[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10]], and the changing of [[Essay:Water into Wine|water into wine]] at the wedding feast.

==Geology==

===Massive flooding===
Atheist scientists long opposed a [[young earth]] [[creation|created]] by [[God]] where cataclysmic flooding, such as the [[Great Flood]] described in the Bible, shaped the landscape. However, ample [[counterexamples to an old earth]] exist and the discovery in the Northwest of "giant ripple marks, 50 feet high and 200-500 feet apart" proved that a cataclysmic flood in the region had indeed occurred thousands of years ago. As a result, "[a]mong geologists, the concept of a catastrophic flood came to be universally accepted by the late 1950s."<ref>[http://www.iafi.org/floods.html The Ice Age Flood Institute reports on the massive floods in the Northwest.]</ref>

===Continental drift===
[[Continental drift]] was proposed by [[creationist]] Antonio Snider-Pellegrini in 1859 based on [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis 1:9-10]],<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c001.html Christian Answers explains Antonio Snider's divine inspiration</ref> which states, {{cquote|And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.}} Because land is no longer all in [[Pangaea|one place]], this implies that the continents have shifted over the six millennia to their current positions. [[Atheists]] and [[scientist]]s who hadn't seen the light of [[creationism]] were in [[liberal denial]] about this concept for a century, until finally accepting its truth. This is just more data that the Bible knew millennia before [[secular]] [[science]] caught up.
However, The Continents are still connected; under the ocean is land if you dry up the water. This interpretation of this verse is in error, the separation spoken of here is the waters under the sky (Firmament) and the water out in space (beyond the heavens). Comets prove this theory, as many of them contain ice, and today as much as 1% of terrestrial rain comes from extraterrestrial sources.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The most likely reason for the current position and shape of the land mass is the Flood of Noah. Pangea does not work without flipping, shrinking, and sometimes removing countries entirely. Any Biblical statements of continents is in Genesis 10:25 when Peleg is mentioned "for in his days was the earth divided" this in particular refers to the separation of what today is Russia, Japan, and Alaska, when the oceans arose, and also to the division of the peoples by languages, who migrated together according to their language after the confusing of tongues at the tower of Babel, obviously the migration took place before the oceanic divide which led to the natives of the Far West. Everyone laughed at Columbus, not because they thought earth was flat, but because they had forgotten the Far West (America) was there, and they thought he didn't have nearly enough supplies or a big enough ship to go to Asia the long way around, and they would have been right if he didn't hit the Caribbean first by complete accident. Recent findings of biblical stone tablets, in Byzantine script prove that trade between Europe and the Far West was common prior to the dark age which began in 400 or 500 AD.

===Underwater springs===
Only in modern times have scientists become aware of the enormous underwater springs feeding into the oceans, and the very deep valleys at the bottom of the oceans. However, the Bible repeatedly described this thousands of years earlier in [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 7|Genesis 7:11]], which states, {{cquote|In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.}} Again, in 2 Samuel 22:16, the Bible states that, {{cquote|And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.}}
And Job 38:16 “Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depths?"

This is ''obvious'' proof to all but [[liberals]] that the Bible had foreknowledge of subcrustal oceans, something the ancient Jews could not have possibly known, and thus proof of the Bible's God-given accuracy and divine nature.

==Agriculture==

===Malthusianism===
Since Thomas [[Robert Malthus|Malthus's]] 1798 work, ''An Essay on the Principle of Population'', [[liberal]] [[intellectual]]s insisted that the world's population would grow faster than the [[food]] supply and result in mass starvation. However, there are examples in both the [[Old Testament|Old]]{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} and [[New Testament]]s{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}, as well as the example of [[William Bradford]] at Plymouth Colony,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bradford|first1=William|title=The History of Plimoth Plantation|date=1669|pages=135–136}}</ref> of the food supply increasing to be more far plentiful than expected, mostly due to faith in [[God|God's]] powers and use of [[conservative]] [[economics]]. Indeed, in modern times [[obesity]] is far more prevalent and harmful than [[hunger]] worldwide, and food production far exceeds the ability to consume even in impoverished nations. Hunger remains a problem only in places with [[liberal]] and/or [[leftist]] political systems that impede food distribution or destroy the [[free market]].

==History==

=== Psychogenic hematidrosis ===

Psychogenic hematidrosis, which is sweat turning into blood, happens rarely but in the cases it does happen, it usually happens with death row inmates. In 70 percent of all studies that document this condition, the condition occurs in death row inmates.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjXMsq6SscA Police Detective Examines the Resurrection of Jesus becomes Christian]</ref> In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat blood (Luke 22:44). The early church was puzzled by the account of Jesus sweating blood given in Scripture and they didn't know what to make of it.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjXMsq6SscA Police Detective Examines the Resurrection of Jesus becomes Christian]</ref>

=== Pleural effusion ===

The early church was puzzled by the blood and water that came out of Jesus' side when the soldier plunged his spear into him. The blood was not a problem in their understanding, but the water was. Medical science can now explain the water coming out of Jesus' side as being the result of pleural effusion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjXMsq6SscA Police Detective Examines the Resurrection of Jesus becomes Christian]</ref>

===Great Flood ice mummy===
[[File:The building of the ark.jpg|thumb|The building of the Ark by Bertram of Minden, ancient [[German Painting]].]]
According to the Bible, a [[Great Flood]] occurred around 3300 B.C., or about 5300 years ago. It involved a cataclysmic rainstorm of a magnitude never seen before or since. For centuries [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] have mocked it, claiming that it was impossible. However, in 1991, an "ice mummy" was discovered in the [[Alps]]. Scientists located a remarkably preserved ancient body, including even the contents of his last meal, which was due to an extraordinary ice storm. By radiometric [[carbon dating]],<ref>http://www.nupecc.org/iai2001/report/B44.pdf Radiocarbon dating of the Iceman Ötzi with
accelerator mass spectrometry</ref> the scientists discovered that this massive ice storm occurred 5300 years ago, which perfectly matches the Biblical Great Flood.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/icemummies/iceman.html PBS on the "Iceman" in the Alps</ref> This is obvious proof of the Great Flood, as no natural occurrence could possibly explain how somebody came to be preserved by ice in the [[Alps]].

===Oldest Living Organism===

Bristlecone pine trees in California's White Mountains are the oldest living unitary organism. As predicted by the Bible, they are not as old as 6,000 years but are as old as 5,000 years,<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/US/photos/worlds-oldest-living-things-23385913/image-23386256</ref> roughly the time of the [[Great Flood]].

===False theories===
Jesus' recognition that the truth would remain hidden from arrogant "intellectuals" while simultaneously revealed to humbler, [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|more openminded]] people. This foreshadowed the creation of theories to pull self-centered intellectual wannabees away from [[God]], such as the [[Theory of Evolution]], the [[Theory of Relativity]], the [[homosexual agenda]], the [[secular]] culture of [[abortion]], [[Communism]], and countless other [[liberal]] and atheistic ideas and ideologies.

===Mankind remains extant===
The Bible predicts that the end of [[mankind]] will not occur by chance, but rather at a time known only to God. Despite the extinction of many species each year throughout history, the expectation by scientists that Earth would have been hit by chance by a massive, extinction-causing meteor, and laws of probability that predict other immense catastrophes, mankind continues and Christianity grows just as Jesus predicted.

===Construction of ancient sky-high structures===

The Bible—the [[Book of Genesis]] chapter 11—explains how ancient people arrogantly sought to construct a sky-high "[[Tower of Babel]]" to try to reach [[Heaven]]. Then, in the 1900s, archaeologists discovered the great ziggurat of ancient Ur, located in present-day southern Iraq, having characteristics similar to the biblical description of the Tower of Babel.<ref>http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaThe_Ziggurat.htm</ref>

===Hometown of Goliath===

1 Samuel 17 of the Bible discusses the giant Goliath from a Philistine city named Gath, located in central Israel. In July 2015, archaeologists discovered its entrance in an excavation that began in 1899. They also uncovered evidence of a massive earthquake that occurred in the eighth century BC, as described in the biblical book of Amos.<ref>http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gates.to.goliaths.city.discovered/61124.htm</ref>

===Effect of Deafness on Speech===

For 2000 years after [[Christ]], scientists overlooked the close connection between hearing and speech, and the brain, and are just starting to discover this now.<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/article/deafness-can-have-unexpected-consequences-on-speech-patterns/</ref> But [[Jesus]] illustrated the connection when he cured a problem with speech primarily by opening someone's ears, after which the man "spoke plainly."<ref>Mark 7:34-35 ([[ESV]])</ref>

===Common DNA===
[[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 1|John 1:3]] explains that "All things were made by Him; not one thing was made without Him." If something had been made without Him then creatures would exist that had completely different DNA from other creatures.

===Psychiatry===

[[Jesus Christ]] and [[Christianity|Christendom]] have emphasized the important of forgiveness and in the last few decades mental health specialists have increasingly seen the importance of forgiveness to alleviate anger/depression/bitterness and other emotional problems within individuals.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755173/ Indian J Psychiatry. 2009 Apr-Jun; 51(2): 153–156. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.49459, PMCID: PMC2755173, ''Forgiveness: A note for psychiatrists'' by Prakash Gangdev]</ref>

Modern medicine now realizes that obsessing with one's past is a big cause of psychiatric problems.<ref>http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-flux/201104/5-ways-find-closure-the-past</ref> Jesus had the same insight 2000 years earlier: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the [[kingdom of God]]."<ref>Luke 9:62 ([[ESV]]).</ref>

See also: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== The Bible and health practices ==

''See also:'' [[The Bible and health]]

Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws:
{{cquote|The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics, suppression of venereal disease and prostitution, care of the skin, baths,[17] food, housing and clothing, regulation of labour, sexual life, discipline of the people, etc. Many of these commands, such as Sabbath rest, circumcision, laws concerning food (interdiction of blood and pork), measures concerning menstruating and lying-in women, and those suffering from gonorrhoea, isolation of lepers, and hygiene of the camp, are, in view of the conditions of the climate, surprisingly rational.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref>}}

===Blood clotting on the eighth day===
In Genesis 17:12, God mandated that Abraham circumcise his sons on the 8th day after birth. In 1935, it was discovered that Vitamin K, together with prothrombin, causes blood coagulation, (important in any surgical procedure). On the 8th day, the amount of prothrombin present is elevated above 100% of normal and is therefore the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case (normally). If surgery is to be performed, day 8 is the perfect day to do it as vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

===Lifespan===
The Bible puts the maximum lifespan for man at 120 years (Genesis 6:3), the typical lifespan at 70 years and the typical for a good-living person at 80 years (Psalm 90:10).

Thousands of years after that was written, despite immense advances in medicine and technology, these figures remain remarkably accurate. The longest modern recorded life of a man is precisely 120 years (Shigechiyo Izumi), the average lifespan for a man is roughly 70 years, and the average for a good-living man is about 80 years.

[[Jeanne Calment]] lived to age 122, only two years past 120. She was said to have never worked and used olive oil on her skin, outliving all of her [[feminist]] counterparts.

===Oldest human ancestor===
The Bible suggests that the oldest maternal ancestor — [[Eve]] — first lived slightly more than 6000 years ago.<ref>http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/ussher.html</ref> The mutation rate of [[mitochondria]] indicates roughly the same date for the most recent common human ancestor.<ref>http://creationwiki.org/Mitochondrial_Eve_lived_only_6500_years_ago_%28Talk.Origins%29</ref>

===Anesthesia===
The first surgical operation described in the Bible was the removal of a rib from [[Adam]], which was performed by first putting Adam into an unconscious, "deep sleep-like trance."<ref>[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 2:21]]</ref> This was the equivalent of anesthesia — thousands of years before anesthesia using inhaled ether was developed by William Morton in 1846. Had scientists and physicians been more [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|openminded]] about Genesis 2:21 (perhaps they had considered it a miracle, and thus impossible for humans to achieve), they may have discovered anesthesia far sooner, and saved many more lives.

===Bloodletting hastens death===
At the time of Jesus and for centuries afterward, arteries and veins were thought to be filled with air, and blood was viewed as something to be used up rather than recirculate. Bloodletting—the practice of intentionally draining blood from a patient—was common medical practice through the time of [[George Washington]], hastening his death prematurely for reasons not understood until years later.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37212.php</ref>

Most victims of crucifixion in Roman times languished on the cross for days. But the Bible describes how Pilate, who crucified many, was surprised at how quickly Jesus passed away. 2000 years later, scientific knowledge has advanced to understand that this was caused by his prior loss of blood during his scourging (being brutally whipped), a punishment typically given ''instead of'' crucifixion.

===Homosexuality and disease===
The Bible's prohibition against [[homosexuality]] predated knowledge about the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases and disorders associated with homosexuality]], and thus showed scientific wisdom prescient for its time.

===Eyesight===
The description in the [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Gospel of Mark 8:24]] for the sensation when one's eyesight is restored includes his perception of "trees walking." This perception was first confirmed nearly 2000 years later as physicians developed medical techniques for restoring eyesight.<ref>This newspaper account is not specific but describes the overall sensation of restored sight: [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-138886/Robot-eye-restore-lost-sight-20-years.html]</ref>

===Maximum human height===
Atheists thought the size of [[Goliath]] in the Bible to be absurdly large (over nine feet tall), until [[Robert Wadlow]] grew to nearly 9 feet tall and was still growing when he died at a young age in 1940.

===Leprosy===
Although leprosy is not as contagious as other infectious diseases, and some forms of it (such as tuberculoid or paucibacillary form are not contagious), Leviticus 13 and 14 set forth rules to prevent epidemics of this disease among the people of Israel. Western science did not catch up until, in 1663, such laws were introduced in America in an attempt to curb an outbreak of smallpox.

Centuries ahead of medical science, Jesus subsequently explained that leprosy was not as contagious as people thought.{needs citation}

===Hygiene===
Millennia before germ theory was proposed in the late 19th century, Leviticus 15 mandated hygiene laws that included bathing, washing of clothing, destruction of contaminated pottery and washing of hands.

In Matthew 15:2, Jesus then curbed compulsive hand-washing by explaining why it was no longer typically necessary (in a non-farming, non-medical context) with respect to man's digestive system.

===Digestive system===
It was common thought throughout history that infections and illness resulted from the digestive system, based on unclean hands or food. Jesus rejected that view, and declared hand-washing before meals to be typically unnecessary. It took many centuries before science caught up to the Bible on this.

It is part of the Jewish kosher law to not eat milk with meat. In some Jewish homes they have separate refrigerators for meat and milk products. It comes from Deuteronomy 14:21 "...Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk." There is evidence that the body has difficulty digesting both meat and milk at the same time.

Also, as part of the Jewish kosher law a pork is on the list of prohibited foods. Under cooked pork can transmit Trichinosis, a parasitic disease that can infect muscle tissue, the brain, and the central nervous system, among other [[parasite]]s and zoonotic diseases. [[Creation denial|Creation deniers]] can counter this point only with such desperate non-arguments as asking why God had to create trichinae at all and then allow them onto the [[Ark]].

=== Dietary ===
====Animal Toxicity====
[[File:David Macht.jpg|thumbnail|right||200px|Dr. David Macht]]
In 1953 Dr. [http://www.creationwiki.org/David_Macht David Macht], a Johns Hopkins researcher, conducted toxicity tests on many different kinds of animals and fish and concluded that the toxicity of Levitically [[Mosaic law and unclean animals|"unclean" animals]] was higher than that of the [[Mosaic law and clean animals|"clean" animals]], and that the correlation with the description in Leviticus was 100%.<ref name=Macht1>Macht, David I., MD. "[http://members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/Macht1953.pdf An Experimental Pharmacological Appreciation of Levitcus XI and Deuteronomy XIV]." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 27(5):444-450, September–October, 1953. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Macht's study in terms of classifying kosher and non-kosher animals matched the kosher classification performed by James W. Atz, Ph.D., Curator and Dean Bibliographer in the Department of Ichthyology of the American Museum of Natural History, NY, NY and Adjunct Professor of Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Science on New York University. Dr. Atz's list of kosher and non-kosher animals was published by the Orthodox Union in Kosher Guide and in the Orthodox Union Kosher Consumer Directory.<ref name=Atz>Atz, James W., contrib. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fish/ KASHRUT.COM - Kosher and Non-kosher fish]" Scharf Associates, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> According to a list of kosher and non-kosher fish published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, deciding what fish have scales, in the Orthodox Jewish community, appears to involve semantics as scales which are not visible to the human eye or scales that cannot be removed without tearing the skin are not considered "scales" in terms of the Torah law for determining which fish are kosher. It appears that Jewish religious authorities do appeal to well known Torah commentators.<ref name=Goldberg>Goldberg, Chaim. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fishfaq/ Consumers’ FAQ’s on Kosher fish]." Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, 2004. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Also, Dr. Macht's classification of swans as kosher is in accordance with the research done at Ohr Somayach Institutions in Jerusalem, Israel.<ref name=ask1>"[http://ohr.edu/ask/ask210.htm Ask the Rabbi - Are swans kosher]?" Ohr Somayach Website, Ohr.edu, October 24, 1998. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Furthermore, Dr. Macht states in the peer reviewed journal ''Science'' that the toxicology test he used was a reliable method for detecting zoological toxins as it was a toxicology test sensitive to these type of toxins, and therefore one could conclude it was also suitable for testing the toxicity levels of fish, meat, and poultry.<ref name=Macht3>Macht, D.I. , Science 1930, 71 :302</ref> (The toxicological method that Dr. Macht used was also cited in the Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.<ref name=Macht2>Macht, D.I. and Macht, M.B. ''Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine'' 1941, 26: 597</ref>) In addition, Dr. Macht was an expert in cobra venom, which is a zoological toxin. Macht's conclusions, however, were challenged by three of his science community peers in a Seventh Day Adventist publication although one partially affirmed his study.<ref name=Harris>Harris, Lester E., Jr. "[https://archive.is/20070709234205/members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/web/ministry-1954-March-p37.htm This Question of Unclean Meats]." Ministry Magazine, March 1953, p37-38. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> This was partly due to a likely unfamiliarity with what food is kosher and non-kosher. Also, perhaps they were unfamiliar with the toxicity test Dr. Macht used, and its apparent effectiveness in testing zoological toxins.

In the short term, eating non-kosher food often appears to have no dramatic ill effects in general. For example, the Arabs, who do not eat kosher, consider camel to be a delicacy. Clearly, non-kosher Arabs do not fall dead right after eating camel meat. However, the long term optimality of eating clean versus unclean meat is an unanswered question of science. Also, eating non-kosher foods clearly has some nutritional benefit. For example, shrimp and pork contain protein. The New Testament declares, {{Bible quote|For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5|version=NKJV}}

In regard to the aforementioned verse, it could be argued that prayer does sanctify food. The Bible has plenty of verses regarding God's protection. Also, it could be argued that the benefits outweigh the costs in all foods and thus all food is good. Clearly there is some nutritional goodness in foods that the Torah declared unclean (for example, shrimp has protein). What foods are optimal from an empirically tested science viewpoint is often controversial. In short, in regard to eating strictly a kosher diet versus a non-kosher diet, science has no definitive answers at the present time. From a Christian theological point of view, it could be argued that food should not be an impediment to anyone making a decision to become a Christian. It should be noted that orthodox Christian believers in Biblical scientific foreknowledge believe that Christians can eat the food that was declared [[Clean and unclean animals|unclean]] in the Old Testament, and {{Bible ref|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5}} and {{Bible ref|book=Galations|chap=2|verses=7-16}} make this very clear.

In addition to the aforementioned study testing kosher and non-kosher foods for toxicity levels, Macht developed evidence indicating that combining meat and milk tended to be more toxic than either foodstuff alone.<ref name=Macht4>David I. Macht, Medical Leaves 1940; 3:174-184</ref> In addition, he compared conventional animal slaughtering versus kosher slaughtering and determined that kosher slaughtering produced less toxic meat.<ref name=Macht4/>

A 1985 study by Nanji and French found that there was a significant correlation between cirrhosis and pork consumption (Macht claimed that swine was more toxic than the animal meat the Bible called clean).<ref name=Nanji>Nanji AA, and French SW. "[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2858627&dopt=Abstract Relationship between pork consumption and cirrhosis]." ''Lancet'' 1985 Mar 23, 1(8430):681-3. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Modern pork production methods are different from ancient methods of raising pigs, so the result of this study might be hard to apply to the ancients or those who raise pigs by [[organic farming]] methods, without the use of hormones or antiobiotics.

Jane Cahill reported in ''Biblical Archaeological Review'' that the toilets of a Jewish household in [[Jerusalem]] were examined and no [[parasite]]s or [[infectious disease|infectious agents]] were found.<ref name=Cahill>[http://cojs.org/cojswiki/It_Had_to_Happen,_Jane_M._Cahill,_Karl_Reinhard,_David_Tarler_and_Peter_Warnock,_BAR_17:03,_May/Jun_1991. It had to happen, Scientist Examines Ancient Bathrooms of Romans 586 B.C.] by Jane Cahill and Peter Warnock. BAR May/June 1991</ref>

Today, some "alternative medicine" practitioners do not recommend pork to their patients and subscribed advisees. Their reasons include the possible content of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, and also the undiscriminating diet of the pig. Joseph Mercola, DO, who has a private practice in alternative general medicine, writes:{{cquote|Pigs are scavenger animals and will eat just about anything. Their appetite for less-than-wholesome foods makes pigs a breeding ground for potentially dangerous infections. Even cooking pork for long periods is not enough to kill many of the retroviruses and other parasites that many of them harbor.<ref name=Mercola>Mercola, Joseph, DO, ed. "[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/12/are-there-deadly-superbugs-in-your-pork.aspx?source=nl Are There Deadly Superbugs In Your Pork]?" <http://www.mercola.com/>, July 12, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>}}

Dr. Mercola does not even recommend pasture-raised pork, because wild boars will often infect herds of pork with [[Trichinella spiralis]] or other parasites.<ref name=Mercola/>

===Feasibility of abiogenesis===
Although scientists dismissed ideas involving [[abiogenesis]], or the process from which life emerges from non-living material, as nothing more than archaic beliefs in [[spontaneous generation]], the Bible very clearly depicts an occurrence of this phenomenon, for beginning in Genesis 1:20, God creates life from nothing. It was not until the early 20th century that science finally began to accept the viability of abiogenesis, a view that the Bible had held for almost 2000 years, except that [[atheists]] falsely claim that abiogenesis is somehow possible without a creator. For addition information, please see [http://creation.com/origin-of-life origin of life]

===Awareness while unborn===
[[Abortion]] advocates argue that it is ok to terminate a baby while dismissing the pain inflicted by ending an innocent life. They argue that a fetus cannot feel pain because senses are incomplete. There is a heart-beating human in the womb that can feel even though still unborn and developing. In modern times, we now know the baby in the womb is alert, aware of their mother's emotions, recognizes voices, responds to stimuli and music. The Bible tells us the baby feels (1 Luke 44), ''"the babe leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice."'' The inwomb developing baby, John the Baptist, notices the presence of the unborn [[Lord]] in [[Mary]], and is excited. In addition (St. Paul to the Galatians 1:15), ''"God… from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace."'' Paul's very first thought, feeling awareness, began while unborn.

===Embalming===
[[Mark 9-16 (Translated)#Chapter 14|Mark 14:3-8]] describes an embalming process to preserve a body after death, which was not discovered in the West until 1867.

===Significance of blood===
The Old Testament teaches that the [[life]] of all flesh is its [[blood]] ({{Bible ref|book=Leviticus|chap=17|verses=13-14|version=KJV}}). Secular science remained ignorant of the properties and circulation of blood until the 17th century A.D.<ref>[http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12_notes.htm Net Bible: Notes] to [http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12.htm#1234 Deuteronomy 12:23] {{dead link}}</ref>

===Menstruation===
The Biblical laws concerning [[menstruation]], including the setting apart of the menstruating woman and the prohibition on intimacy during menstruation, address health concerns that were not known to secular science until the 20th century.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref> Also, modern science has only very recently discovered that following such rules dramatically reduces the rate of illegitimacy.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120604182027.htm How Religion Promotes Confidence About Paternity]</ref>

===Cloning===
{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=2|verses=21-22|version=KJV}} records that God made a [[woman]] out of one of [[Adam]]'s [[rib]]s. Secular scientists did not believe that [[cloning]] such a complex organism (apart from plants) was possible until 1997.<ref>[http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml Cloning Fact Sheet] {{dead link}}</ref> It should be noted, however, that this is not strictly 'cloning' as a clone would be identical to its original, most obviously in terms of its sex.

===Common X Chromosome===

Women have the same X chromosome as men, but this was not discovered until the late 1800s. The Book of Genesis explained this thousands years earlier, describing how the first woman was created directly from man.

===Inbreeding===
Leviticus 18:7-11 elaborates in detail the relationships it regards as incestuous unions, to forbid inbreeding. Secular science was able to scientifically explain the mechanisms and risks of inbreeding only in modern times.

==Cosmology==

===Distance of Oldest Star to Earth===

The Book of Genesis implies that the distance of the oldest star to Earth is how far light would travel during the age of mankind: about 6000 light-years. In 2014, a team of researchers discovered that the oldest star is indeed only 6000 light-years away.<ref>http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/6012/the-oldest-star-in-the-known-universe</ref>

===Planet formation===
Theories of an old universe insisted that planet formation did not occur until long after the origin of the universe, contrary to the [[Book of Genesis]]. But in 2012 scientists announced the existence of planets that formed "at dawn of universe."<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0330/Planets-found-at-dawn-of-universe-but-their-existence-is-a-mystery</ref>

===Extraterrestrial life===
For most of the 20th century, scientists typically believed in the existence of extraterrestrial life, despite the lack of any reference to it in the Bible. After spending many billions of dollars looking for such life, and investigating countless reports of UFOs, no such life has been found.

===Starlight Problem===
The [[Starlight Problem]] confounds atheistic theories about the universe: light has reached us from stars that are too far away to transmit the light within the age of the universe. But the Book of Genesis explains this easily: "let there be light" means that God created light, not merely stars.

===Number of stars===
The Bible repeatedly refers to the number of stars as being innumerable,<ref>''See'' Genesis 15:5, Jeremiah 33:22 and Hebrews 11:12.</ref> despite scientists insisting throughout most of history that there were only about 6000 stars. In the early 17th century [[Galileo]] turned a telescope to the heavens and discovered a great number of stars that had been previously invisible to the naked eye.<ref>http://galileo.rice.edu/lib/student_work/astronomy95/orionpleiades.html</ref>

Not until the 20th century did scientists discover the tremendous number of stars:<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/07/22/stars.survey/index.html</ref>

:There are "10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world's beaches and deserts," totaling "7 followed by 22 zeros or, more accurately, 70 sextillion.

But even that scientific estimate was much too low. On December 1, 2010, scientists admitted:<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1201/Universe-might-hold-three-times-more-stars-than-previously-thought</ref>

:"a cosmic embarrassment of riches – ''the universe appears to hold three times the number of stars many [[astronomer]]s might have estimated only a year ago''."

===Uniqueness of stars===
Although the use of telescopes to chart the outer-reaches of God's heavenly creation was developed around the 16th century in Europe, the Bible accurately hypothesized that every star is unique.

"There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory"- 1 Corinthians 15:41 <ref>http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/science.shtml</ref>

===Spherical Sun and Earth===
The Book of Isaiah establishes that the true shape of the earth is a sphere:
{{cquote|He sits above the sphere of the earth, and its inhabitants look to him like grasshoppers. He stretches out the galaxies like a curtain, spreading them out like a tent to live under: - [[Isaiah 34-42 (Translated)#Chapter 40|Isaiah 40:22 (CBP]])}}

Likewise, with respect to the [[sun]], the Book of Proverbs 8:27 ([[ESV]]) states:
{{cquote|When he established the heavens, ... he drew a circle on the face of the deep}}

The Book of Isaiah was written circa the 8th century BC, and the Book of Proverbs even earlier. This was centuries before Greek philosophers, beginning with [[Pythagoras]], theorized the earth was round, and it was not discovered until 2012 that the sun is perfectly spherical. Astronomers were not able to conclude until well into the second millennium of [[Christ]] that the Earth is also a sphere.

===Earth free floating in space===
The book of Job states that God "hangs the [[Earth]] on nothing." It also contrasts with Greek Mythology's belief that [[Atlas]] holds up the Earth, or ancient Hindu and Native American myths that the Earth was on top of a gigantic turtle.

The Bible presaged the modern view that space is in fact empty, which wasn't known until the dawn of the 20th century when ether theories became disfavored.

===Cosmic Background Radiation===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis Chapter 1]] explains that God created light first, rather than merely stars. A "big bang" would result in light everywhere, without darkness, and without ripples in cosmic background radiation. Yet in the 21st century ripples were discovered in cosmic background radiation, which can only be plausibly explained by recognizing that light was created first.

===Meteoroids===
The Revelation of Saint John notes,
{{cquote|And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9 (KJV)}}
This accurately describes meteoroids, essentially large chunks of rock lit on fire by the shock of entering the earth's atmosphere. They were not discovered until 1801, and their composition was not otherwise known until the 20th century.

===Stellar proper movement===
In [[Job]], a list of challenges are constructed in the form of questions, with the idea that man can't do it, but God can. Among these challenges, two are remarkable: one mentions the ''untying'' of Orion's belt, and the other is the ''binding'' of the Pleiades. Only recently, astronomers could measure the proper movement of those stars; Orion's belt is moving apart, with each star going in a different direction, while the Pleiades are moving together.

===Space flight===
Many theorize that the book of [[Ezekiel]] contains descriptions of spaceships and rockets, as they would have been described by someone thousands of years ago. [http://www.spaceshipsofezekiel.com/ Author Blumrich] has even published an entire book about this.

===Expanding universe===
The Bible explains, in 17 different verses, that God "stretched out" the heavens,<ref>http://www.creationists.org/God-streched-out-the-universe-bible-verses.html</ref> in other words, expanding the fabric of space-time from a smaller size to a much larger one. Scientists have discovered only in the last 100 years that, by studying the red shift of galaxies, the universe indeed appears to be expanding, or "stretching out."

==Meteorology==

===Water cycle, and the Six days of Creation Week===
The existence of the water cycle was widely unknown to pagan people's until imperial Roman times. But the Bible described the water cycle over a thousand years before that. In general, see [[Ecclesiastes]] 11:3, [[Job]] 26:8 and [[Amos]] 9:6.

There may be a more Biblically central reference to the water cycle: The reports in Genesis 1 of five things that God names (v. 5=two, v. 8=one, v. 10=two) seem to be consistent with five basic features of the geophysical half of Earth's life-support cycle. In Earth sciences, it is known that the total life-support cycle is irreducibly complex in relation to Earth's distance to the Sun, and this complexity maintained on an order of mere days' reserve: flora and fauna are interdependent, their interaction is necessary for the maintenance of the atmosphere, and if any one of those five features suddenly ceased, Earth would fail to support life in a matter of days.

==Physics==

=== Immense power within atoms alluded to in 2 Peter chapter 3 ===
[[Image:Abomb.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[atomic bomb]] that was dropped on [[Hiroshima]] unleashed the equivalent of about 15 kilotons of TNT.]]
The immense power within atoms is alluded to in the Bible in 2 Peter chapter 3.<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>

Daniel White III declares:
{{Cquote|John Phillips notes that Peter’s prophecy of a great, end-times conflagration of the earth and its atmosphere uses precise terminology that accurately describes a nuclear explosion. Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon define the “elements” as “the components into which matter is divided” (or atoms), and the term “dissolved” comes from the basic Greek word meaning to “loose” that which is bound (as in nuclear fission). The term “great noise” is found nowhere else in the New Testament and signifies “a rushing sound of roaring flames.” The term “fervent heat” is derived from a Greek medical term denoting a fever. But Peter’s use of it in application to inanimate objects is the only such known usage anywhere in Greek literature. Thus, Phillips observes, “Peter describes in accurate terms the untying of the atom and the resulting rushing, fiery destruction which follows it.”<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>}}

===Impossibility of a Grand Unified Theory===
Billions of dollars and millions of hours have been wasted by scientists in futile pursuit of a "grand unified theory" for physics. But [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis]] explains that the creation of light was done in a separate, initial creation, free of darkness or entropy, and thus incapable of theoretical unification with matter.

===Light and color===
Prior to the work of [[Isaac Newton]], white was considered to be the fundamental color of light, and other colors (such as red, green and blue) were formed by adding to white light. Under that traditional theory, the fullness of all light (a combination of all colors of light) would result in something other than pure white.

The transfiguration of Jesus is described with remarkable consistency in all three synoptic [[Gospel]]s: in the fullness of light Jesus and his clothing display an intense white, whiter than any bleach could produce. This illustrates what was not discovered and accepted until nearly 1700 years later: that white is the combination of other fundamental colors, and the purest white light is formed by a perfectly full combination (see [[Prism]]).

===Action-at-a-distance===
[[Jesus]] demonstrated [[action-at-a-distance]], as recounted in [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]]. Scientists, particularly [[atheists]], denied the possibility of this phenomenon for thousands of years. When Newton proposed action-at-a-distance as the basis of gravity, scientists continued to reject it, but eventually accepted it as being true.

Later the [[Theory of Relativity]] again denied the possibility of action-at-a-distance, but [[quantum mechanics]] subsequently proved that it does occur.<ref>See also [[Counterexamples to Relativity]].</ref>

===Quantum mechanics===
The fundamental principle of [[quantum mechanics]] is that the underlying reality is in random fluctuation, or chaos, until there is intelligent observation of it. This is precisely what [[Luke 1-8 (Translated)#Luke 4:6|Luke 4:6]] reveals when it quotes the [[devil]] in saying that he has dominion over this world.

The world was an abyss of chaos at the moment of creation, as explained in Genesis. The order created by God is on a foundation of uncertainty. The discovery of this in subatomic particles in the 1900s, known as quantum mechanics, confirms the nature of the world as described in Genesis.

====Observation of the wave function====
The second chapter of the [[Gospel of John]] describes the conversion of water into wine by [[Jesus]] at a wedding reception. [[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 2|John 2:9]] states: "When the host of the wedding feast tasted the water, it had been made into wine." This passage implies that the drink was not wine until it had been tasted, or observed. The drink was a superposition of the state of wine and the state of water until it was observed as wine.

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus draws a then-unusual distinction between what is fixed and what is uncertain by declaring, "Whatever you make binding on earth will be binding in heaven, and whatever you set loose on earth will be set loose in heaven."<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Matthew_10-19_%28Translated%29&oldid=870778#Chapter_16</ref> This may describe the fundamental uncertainty that continues unless and until there is human observation that then causes the wave function to collapse into a particular ("bound") state.

====Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle====
Both the Old and New Testaments refer to a fundamental uncertainty that requires observation to resolve, akin to the [[Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle]] discovered in the 1920s:

* "The earth came to exist in an utterly formless and empty state." -- [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 1:2]].
* "The master refusing to order the removal of the weeds sowed among the wheat because of the uncertainty in distinguishing between the two until later." -- [[Matthew 10-19 (Translated)|Matthew 13:24-30]].

====Wave-particle duality====
Wave-particle duality, first discovered in the 20th century, allows for a particle to sometimes be subject to gravity and sometimes not.

The wave-particle duality was described nearly 2000 years earlier in the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water: [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:45-54]]. A close reading of the passage reveals the wave-like (or light-like) characteristic of the walking on water:<ref>[[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:48-49]] (italics added).</ref>
{{cquote|he walked on the surface of the lake and came to the boat, ''nearly passing it''. But when they saw him walking on water, they thought it must have been ''a ghost'', and cried out.}}
In a more general sense, Jesus could be viewed as the "particle" and the [[Holy Spirit]] as the "wave" of God. A fuller understanding of the [[Trinity]] could have opened the eyes of scientists much earlier to the fundamental wave-particle duality of nature ... '''''and still could'''''.

====Quantum tunneling====
[[Quantum tunneling]] is the ability of particles to move through energy barriers even though ostensibly impossible based on classical laws of mechanical physics. This was not discovered by scientists until the 20th century.

Jesus proved this was possible in [[John 15-21 (Translated)#Chapter 20|John 20:26]], when he appeared before the [[Apostles]] in a closed room with completely shut doors.

===Classical relativity===
Romans 10:6-7: But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Equating ascending into heaven to bringing Christ down is an example of the fact that there is no universal reference frame, and only relative speeds matter.

===Modern relativity===
The [[Theory of Relativity]] denies the possibility of action-at-a-distance. But several passages in the Bible, such as [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]] and [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)|Matthew 27:51]], describe simultaneous actions from afar.

The list of [[Counterexamples to Relativity]] has grown recently, and modern experiments in quantum mechanics have confirmed action-at-a-distance.

===Second Law of Thermodynamics===
The [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Book of Genesis]] states that the darkness or chaos in the universe can never overcome the light, or order. This same concept was not discovered in physics until the development of the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]], which holds that heat (or order or light) always travels in the direction of cold (or disorder or darkness), and never in the opposite direction.

[[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10-11]] explains that the universe shall "wear out" like a "garment", centuries before the discovery of the physical law that [[entropy]] is always increasing.

===Nature of air===
Until about 300 years ago, common knowledge believe that the air was "empty" and didn't weigh anything. But [[Job]] 28:25 states, "To establish a '''weight''' for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure" indicating that the divinely inspired author knew the air had substance and weight.

===Conservative forces===
James 1:17 describes the electromagnetic forces (light) as having no "shadow of turning." Not understood for nearly 2000 years, this predicts that electromagnetic forces are [[conservative]] such that their [[line integrals]] over a closed loop are zero.

==Mathematics==
''See main article: [[Math and the Bible]]''
===Zero===
Mathematicians in Western Europe did not discover [[zero]] until many centuries after the Bible was written. But there are hundreds of references to the concept of zero throughout the Bible.

===Banach-Tarski Paradox===
The only miracle described in all four [[Gospels]] is the multiplication of loaves and fish by Jesus, thought for thousands of years to be a mathematical and physical impossibility. But the 20th century discovery of the so-called [[Banach-Tarski Paradox]] proved a mathematical basis for creating identical copies of an object out of no extra material.

===Axiomatization of Arithmetic===
The full set of axioms for integer arithmetic may be found in the Bible. For example, [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)|Luke 12:52]] is a striking statement of the commutative law for addition: "For from this point forward there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three." This understanding presaged both later attempts at the axiomatization of arithmetic by Peano and the development of [[abstract algebra]] in the 19th and 20th centuries.

===Infinity===
Most thinkers scoffed at the concept of [[infinity]] for thousands of years, despite it being referenced in the Bible in many ways. See, e.g., Psalm 147:4-6 (God's "understanding is infinte"); [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#20:1|Matthew 20:1-14]] ([[parable]] of the wages for the workers in the vineyard); Matthew 16:26 (one's soul has an infinite value to him, and nothing else can be worth more).

But [[Georg Cantor]], deeply inspired by [[Christianity]], established a logical foundation for infinity that revolutionized all of mathematics as a result, with his development of [[set theory]] to accomplish his goal.

===Calculus===
The Bible emphasizes the importance of limits as a key distinction between this world and God; Calculus consists of relying on limits to derive useful results.<ref>[http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_27/27cc_225-239.htm Norie Grace Rivera-Poblete: "''God and Calculus''"], Institute for Christian Teaching Education Department of [[Seventh-day Adventist]], Prepared for the 27th International Faith and Learning Seminar held at Mission, Muak Lek Saraburi, Thailand December 3 – 15, 2000</ref>

James 1:17 states that the first and second derivatives of God's light (truth) is zero, more than 1600 years before calculus was discovered: "with [God] there is no variation or shadow of turning."<ref name="Shadow%252525252525252520of%252525252525252520Turning">[http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/no-variation-or-shadow-of-turning-calculus-in-the-bible/ Nathan Albright: ''"No Variation Or Shadow Of Turning: Calculus In The Bible"''], Blog-Entry, Feb 24, 2011</ref>

===Arithmetic with Negative Numbers===

Negative numbers were not fully accepted by mathematicians until the 1800s,<ref>http://nrich.maths.org/5961</ref> including how a negative number dominates the result in multiplication with a positive number, to yield a negative outcome. Yet Jesus' parable of the sower and the seed, in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-8, and Luke 8:4-8, explained the same effect nearly 2000 years earlier.

=== Indeterminacy ===

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that God is "unsearchable". See Job 5:9 (God "does great things and unsearchable"); Job 26:1 ("God's Majesty Is Unsearchable"); Job 36:26 ("Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.") Psalm 145:3 ("Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."); Proverbs 25:3 ("As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable."); Isaiah 40:28 ("Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."); Romans 11:33 ("Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!")' Ephesians 3:8 ("to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ").<ref>All quotations are to the ESV of the Bible.</ref>

John 1:1 teaches that logic is part of God, and thus logic itself must also be "unsearchable". For many decades the finest mathematicians thought that the consistency of logic could be proven, until [[Kurt Godel]] (himself a frequent reader of the Bible) proved the indeterminacy, or "unsearchability", of mathematics.

==Sociology==

===Trolls===

The existence of malicious trolls on the internet is difficult to understand, until one reads Matthew 13:24-30 - the Parable of the Wheat and the Chaff.

===Crime===
Mark 4:22 says how nothing can be hid, neither can anything be kept secret. Empirical statistics show that the vast majority of crimes worldwide are solved.

==Zoology==

===Morality of animals===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 3:1-10]] explains that only humans understand good and evil, and clothe themselves because of it. Repeatedly scientists have attempted to demonstrate that animals can understand morality also, but every attempt has failed. No animal (other than humans) has ever been found that clothes itself. However, as limited case, animals do demonstrate altruistic behavior.

===Existence of dinosaurs===
[[Dinosaur]] fossils were not discovered until the 19th century, but the book of Job describes enormous creatures called behemoth and leviathan, the descriptions being similar to dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. It may also have referred to another similarly giant now-extinct species. Other dinosaur like creatures mentioned are the cockatrice and satyr <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i2/behemoth.asp</ref>

===Killing methods of lions===
Until the 1970s naturalists believed that lions killed their prey by biting through the neck or by breaking the neck with a swat of a paw, while the Bible says that lions suffocated their prey. (Nahum 2:12) It was not until the 1970s that it was discovered that the [[Bible]] was correct.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BLions87.htm</ref> Lions fit their mouth over the mouth and nose of their prey and hold it while it suffocates, in addition to other killing methods.

===Giant sea creatures and Jonah===
The [[Jonah (Translated)|Book of Jonah]] describes his survival in the belly of a giant sea creature for 2.5 to 3 days. Scientists declared this to be impossible due to powerful stomach acids that quickly break down any material and the lack of breathable air inside marine animals.

In 2010, scientists found the following materials intact in the belly of a gray whale that had died after being stranded on a Northwest beach:<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/19/pair-sweat-pants-garbage-beached-whales-stomach/</ref>

*a pair of sweat pants
*a golf ball
*over 20 plastic bags
*small towels
*duct tape
*surgical gloves

Of course, many sea creatures have gone extinct in the thousands of years since Jonah lived.

===Gender of worker ants===
Proverbs 6:6-8 correctly states the sex of worker [[ant]]s (female), using the correct one of the two [[Grammar#Gender|grammatical genders]] available in Biblical [[Hebrew]]. Secular entomologists would not discover that fact until the 19th century.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=rzwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6&dq=ant+undeveloped+female+worker+date:1700-1850&lr=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#v=onepage&q&f=false The study of medicine, Volume 5 By John Mason Good]</ref>

=== Harvester ants ===

19th century [[Europe]]an naturalists were wrong about [[ant]] behavior - namely the issue of ants/harvesting (Harvester ants). The Bible was correct about ant behavior.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BWilliamsvsAnon71to73.htm</ref>

=== Hearing and snakes ===

The scientific consensus and the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' both indicated that snakes can't hear.<ref>[http://creation.com/snake-charming-and-bible-accuracy Charmed, I’m sure!] by Calvin Smith</ref><ref>[http://ed5015.tripod.com/BCobra94.htm The Cobra and the Bible]</ref> The Bible said that snakes can hear. 21st century research showed that snakes can hear.

=== Vegetarian lion ===

The prophet Isaiah says that there will be a time when the [[lion]] will lay down with the lamb and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25). There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref name="The lion who would not eat meat">[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>
[[File:8790lion-wont-eat-meat.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref name="The lion who would not eat meat">[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>]]
David Catchpoole wrote at the website of [[Creation Ministries International]]:
{{Cquote|From 1946 to 1955, A female African lion, born and raised in America, lived her entire lifetime of nine years without ever eating meat.1 In fact, her owners, Georges and Margaret Westbeau,2 alarmed by scientists’ reports that carnivorous animals cannot live without meat, went to great lengths to try to coax their unusual pet (‘Little Tyke’) to develop a taste for it. They even advertised a cash reward for anyone who could devise a meat-containing formula that the lioness would like. The curator of a New York zoo advised the Westbeaus that putting a few drops of blood in Little Tyke’s milk bottle would help in weaning her, but the lioness cub refused to touch it—even when only a single drop of blood had been added.

The more knowledgeable animal experts among the many visitors to the Westbeaus’ 100 acre (40 hectare) ranch also proffered advice, but nothing worked. Meanwhile, Little Tyke continued to do extremely well on a daily diet of cooked grain, raw eggs and milk. By four years of age she was fully grown and weighed 352 pounds (160 kg)...

Mr Westbeau’s observation of the lioness that ‘To condition her stomach she would spend an hour at a time eating the succulent tall grass in the fields’, is also a vivid reminder of the prophecies of Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, ‘ … the lion will eat straw like the ox.’<ref name="The lion who would not eat meat">[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>}}

==Linguistics==
[[File:The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563.jpg|thumb|350px|The Tower of Babel by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]], 1563.]]
===Common descent theory===
The [[theory of evolution]] suggests that all languages are descended from a common ancestral language, and for a century (1860 to about 1960) scientists clung to that view. But now most linguists identify many different families of languages that have no common ancestor, just as described in Genesis 11 with the [[Tower of Babel]].

===Earliest Hebrew writings===
Skeptics have claimed that [[Hebrew]] writing did not exist before the 6th century B.C. But a recent Israeli archaeological dig dated four centuries earlier, in the 10th century B.C., included an artifact found at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley. This artifact contained a written inscription in Hebrew relating to "slaves, widows and orphans." Haifa University Professor Gershon Galil noted that this disproves the theory that the Bible could not have been written before the 6th century.<ref>http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/01/08/Bible-may-be-centuries-older-than-thought/UPI-21171262997765/</ref>

==Economics==
===Poverty===
Jesus stated that there will always be poverty,<ref>See Mark 14:7, Matthew 26:11 and John 12.8.</ref> yet [[liberals]] repeatedly insist that poverty can be eliminated with more government spending. Every attempt to eliminate poverty has failed just as Jesus predicted. In 1991 [[Ronald Coase]] won a [[Nobel Prize]] in [[Economics]] for the [[Coase Theorem]], which implies that government attempts to reduced poverty will interfere with efficient operation of the economy, and thereby reduce wealth.

===Socialism and Capitalism===
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 says that [[capitalism]] is a gift from God:

"Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God give the him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God."

Similarly, Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 condemns [[socialism]]:

"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease."

==Government and Politics==
''See also [[Biblical political foreknowledge]]''

===Nation-state===
Ancient Israel, as described in the [[Old Testament]], was a [[nation-state]] and that model was not utilized again until thousands of years later, well after the Renaissance in Western Europe. This model of a nation-state has become the modern standard worldwide.

===Separation of Powers===
The separation of powers adopted successfully by the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1787, with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches having separate authority and jurisdiction, was first described in the Old Testament.<ref>See Jeremiah 17:19 and Isaiah 33:22.</ref>

===Liberal influence on the media===
The Third [[Three Temptations of Christ|Temptation of Christ]] is to bow down and worship the [[Satan]] in exchange for becoming ruler of the world. The media plays that role and its influence is predictably liberal and anti-[[Christian]].

==Engineering==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge about these engineering developments has been proposed:<ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2191</ref>
{{cquote|automobiles (Joel 2:3-4); airplanes (Isaiah 31:5, also 40:31); submarines (Revelation 9:1-11); radio (Ecclesiastes 10:20); and television (Revelation 11:3-12)}}
Classical photography, using negative imaging, was predated by the [[Shroud of Turin]] with respect to the imaging on the Shroud likely due to the light of the [[Resurrection]]. The Shroud ([[Greek]]: σινδών - sindón) is mentioned in three Gospels: Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, while John 20:5-7 talks about a face cloth or napkin ([[Greek]]: σουδάριον - soudárion - perhaps the [[Sudarium of Oviedo]]), and a piece of fine linen ([[Greek]]: ὀθόνιον - othonion). The description by the eyewitness John implies that his sighting of the Shroud may have confirmed his [[faith]], though he doesn't mention its photograph-like image.<ref>John Calvin, who opposed the Catholic Church, wrote a book in 1543 criticizing all material evidence of Jesus and the martyrs. In it he claimed that because the negative image on the Shroud is not described in the Gospels, it must not be authentic. [[John Calvin]]: ''Traité des Reliques'', Geneve 1543, translated by Valerian Krasinski: ''A treatise on Relics'', Edingburgh 1854</ref>

==Alleged "contradictions"==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge is an underpinning of creation science, and is widely credited by Christian scientists and apologists, including the organizations [[Creation Ministries International]],<ref>http://creation.com/modern-medicine Creation Ministries International on "Modern" Medicine</ref> [[Answers in Genesis]],<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i1/medicine.asp Answers in Genesis on "Modern" Medicine</ref> and [[CreationWiki]].<ref>[http://creationwiki.org/index.php/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible Scientific Foreknowledge]</ref>

Atheists and liberals unsuccessfully attempt to discredit the Bible based on science. Here are some examples:

===Value of Pi===
Two sections of the bible (1 Kings 7, 23-26, 2 Chronicles, 4, 2-5) appear to indicate that the correct value of [[Pi]] is 3, whereas Pi is in fact an irrational number, equalling approximately 3.14159. Atheists, including [[Sam Harris]] and [[Richard Dawkins]], allege that this value indicates the fallacious nature of scripture.<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/articles/139 The Richard Dawkins Foundation, ''Reply to a Christian'', Sam Harris -]</ref> However, a simple explanation of the claimed "contradiction" is that the Bible records the ratio of the actual object which Hiram created, not that of a mathematical [[sphere]]. The claim that it was round all about does not equate to a claim that it was a perfect sphere, as atheists have claimed.<ref>''Theology'', Volume 59, Issues 427-438, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain), London, 1956, p. 23</ref>

Additionally, Pi to one significant digit is 3. Just because the measurement is given to only one significant digit, that does not mean it was precisely that amount. Of course, since Pi is an irrational number, it would be impossible to give a truly precise measurement. Since decimal notation was not in use in Biblical times, there was no way to express Pi to greater accuracy in the language of the day.

===Bat as a bird===
A favorite [[evolutionist]] canard is that [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:13-19]] labels the [[bat]], a [[mammal]], as a [[bird]]. The [[KJV]] translation of "fowl" is simply incorrect, as the Hebrew term '' 'owph'' did not entail the "clade" of birds, but was a non-scientific category simply referring to ''any'' winged creature. A popular Jewish translation, used to explain the laws of keeping kosher, translates the term as "winged flying things."

===Rabbits, coneys, and cud===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:5-6]], the Bible states, {{cquote|And the coney ''(or hyrax)'', because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.}} While rabbits do not, in fact, regurgitate food and re-chew it, they have the same jaw motions as animals that do<ref>http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/genesis-deuteronomy/do-badger-and-rabbit-chew-cud</ref> and thus appeared as cud-chewing to the Jews of Moses's time. Atheists and liberals love to misrepresent this passage only because they are in [[liberal denial]] of the truth.

===Number of legs of insects===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:20-23]], the Bible states, {{cquote|All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the
grasshopper after his kind.

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.}}While this may appear to indicate that insects have four legs (they have six), the passage is in fact referring to the manner in which the grasshopper moves. Grasshoppers have large back legs mainly used for jumping, and not for walking, which is when it uses its smaller four front legs. Thus, the ancient Hebrews were just describing things as they saw them, not according to scientific nomenclature.

==See also==
*[[Essay:Rebuttal to Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]
*[[Biblical political foreknowledge]]
*[[Christianity and Science]]
*[[The Bible]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Prodigal Son]]

==External links==
*[http://www.creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Biblical scientific foreknowledge] by [[CreationWiki]]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/10/scientific-consensus-and-evolutionary.html Jesus vs. the scientific consensus and evolution. Jesus wins!]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Liberal Denial]]

{{Creation vs. evolution}}

Protestant Reformation

2017-07-18T00:30:58Z

Ambassador: Format fix

{{Christianity}}
The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

Luther was excommunicated a few weeks later but continued the effort to have his issues addressed. Condemned as an outlaw by the Imperial Diet of Worms (1521), Luther avoided arrest and possibly even death thanks to the timely intervention of a prominent nobleman sympathetic to his cause. In time, Christian congregations which agreed with Luther's teachings were founded and Luther moved on to additional religious concerns. He translated the Bible into German while in hiding, and he wrote extensively on many theological subjects.

Luther identified three cardinal concepts he believed were supported by Scripture but which the Medieval Church had suppressed:

1. [[Sola Scriptura]], the idea that the Bible is the ultimate authority given to the Church by God and by which we are to judge doctrinal matters,

2. Sola Fide, the idea that it is by Faith in Christ, and nothing else that we might perform in the way of religious devotionals or acts of mercy, that causes God to account us as righteous, and

3. Sola Gratia, the idea that saving Faith comes to those who are saved only through an act of God's graciousness, not in any way because of our own merits.

In these points, Luther (and Protestantism generally) rejected the Catholic Church's beliefs that there is an equality of Tradition with Scripture, in the efficacy of our own good deeds, and in the idea that it is the clergy and the institutional church that make possible the ordinary Christian's access to God.

In Switzerland, other Protestants quickly followed Luther's lead. [[Ulrich Zwingli]] and then [[John Calvin]] preached an even less ceremonial brand of Christianity. Whereas Luther had retained most of the worship style of Catholicism if not all of its structure and doctrines, the Swiss Reformers sought a simpler style of worship and a more decentralized system of church government. Their churches normally are termed "Reformed," as opposed to Luther's following which is known by his name ("Lutheran"), as "Evangelical," or by a combination of the two words.

One distinctive of the Reformed churches is belief in [[Predestination]]. While Calvin agreed with Luther on the three "Solas," the way by which God decides whom to allow to have saving Faith was addressed more precisely. Judging from several passages in Scripture, Calvin concluded that God makes his decision before our births and that there is then nothing anyone can do in life to alter the decision. Men are either chosen for salvation (the "Elect") or else they are eternally lost (the "Reprobates").

While men cannot alter their eternal destiny, it is an incorrect assumption that the Elect can live however they want and be saved nevertheless. Obviously, Calvinists say, if one is given the Faith, he will want to live as Christ-like a life as is possible. If a man chooses a life of sin, selfishness, and depravity, it is evidence that he is not among the Elect. Likewise, it is not correct to conclude that those who are lost are separated from God unfairly. All men are born in sin, according to Scripture and the teaching of Catholics and the churches of the Reformation alike. Unless they have a means of escaping their sin—which, in the absence of God's selection of them to be among the Elect, they would not have—they are left with their sins and are, therefore, undeserving of salvation.

"Protestants" opposed the buying and selling of church positions and the systemic corruption they saw in the Church of the time, which even reached to the position of the [[Pope]]. They were opposed to what they considered to be excessive devotion directed towards [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] and the saints rather than true Biblical Christianity seen as a matter of inward devotion.

Most of the early Protestants wanted less in the way of outward symbols of ceremony and ritual and rejected the authority of the Pope (because they believed the only true authority to be the [[Bible]]). The various Protestant churches wanted the Bible to be available to all by publishing it in the common language and by promoting universal education. The mandatory [[celibacy]] of the [[clergy]] and monasticism were rejected, along with the Catholic use of images in church buildings, priestly vestments, and many of the Catholic Church's festival days. Instead, Protestantism emphasized a new participation in public worship services by the members of the congregation. Congregational singing became a feature of Protestantism, unlike Catholic worship. The wine in Communion was distributed to the congregants, no longer being reserved for the priest as had been Catholic practice. And in most churches, the congregation was empowered to select its own ministers rather than have them chosen, in Catholic fashion, by the bishop.

==History==
===Pre-Reformation Protestants===
Before the official beginning of the Reformation, groups like the [[Waldenses]] and [[Albigenses]] adhered to Protestant doctrines, and were thus persecuted by the Catholic Church.<ref>[http://reformationhappens.com/works/Waldenses/ Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Chapter IV]</ref> Similarly, figures such as [[Jan Hus]] and [[John Wycliffe]] are considered reformers, despite acting before 1517. Luther claimed that he was distinguished from the previous reformers by going to the theological root of Catholic corruption.<ref>[Reformation,] Encyclopædia Brittannica. </ref>

===Luther===
In 1515, Martin Luther, a German monk, experienced a spiritual enlightenment when he read Romans 1:17: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." On October 31, 1517, Luther is thought to have nailed his 95 Theses on the University of Wittenberg door, angered at the Church's sale of indulgences to fund the building of St. Peter's Basilica.<ref>[https://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283?_escaped_fragment_= Martin Luther], Biography.com.</ref> This is credited with starting the Protestant Reformation and Making Luther a household name. In 1520, the Pope sent a letter to Luther threatening to excommunicate him. He burned that letter publicly. He would be excommunicated in 1521. Under legal condemnation, Luther fled to Warburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German.

Concerning his impact:

: Luther's legacy is immense and cannot be adequately summarized. Every Protestant Reformer—like Calvin, Zwingli, Knox, and Cranmer—and every Protestant stream—Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Anabaptist—were inspired by Luther in one way or another. On a larger canvas, his reform unleashed forces that ended the Middle Ages and ushered in the modern era.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/martin-luther.html Martin Luther], Christianity Today. </ref>

===[[Reformation Terms]]===
*[[Iconoclasm]]
*[[Indulgences]]
*[[John Calvin]]
*[[Martin Luther]]
*[[Protestantism]]
*[[Huguenots]], Protestant in France
*[[Church of England]]

==See also==
*[[Andreas Rudolf Bodenstein von Carlstadt]]
*[[Ulrich Swingli]]
*[[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==
* Bainton, Roland H. ''Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther'' (reprint 1995) [http://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Stand-Martin-Luther/dp/0452011469/ref=pd_bbs_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-12 excerpt and text search]
* Beard, Charles. ''Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms'' (1896) 468 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=YlzNSeh7YgMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg#PRA1-PR4,M1 complete text online] ''this Charles Beard is not the American historian''
* Brauer, Jerald C. ''The Westminster Dictionary of Church History'' (1971), 880pp
* Chadwick, Owen. ''The Reformation'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Hist-Church-Owen-Chadwick/dp/0140137572/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]
* Collinson, Patrick. ''The Reformation: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-History-Modern-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812972953/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
* Hillerbrand, Hans J., et al. eds. ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation'' (1996) vol. 1:296 pp., vol. 2:506 pp., vol. 3: 491 pp., vol. 4:484 pp.,
* Hsia, R. Po-chia. ''A Companion to the Reformation World'' (2004), essays by 24 scholars cover the major themes [http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Reformation-Blackwell-Companions-European/dp/0631220178/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243428920&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]
*MacCulloch, Diarmaid. ''The Reformation'' (2005), influential recent survey [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
*McGonigle, Thomas D., and James F. Quigley. ''A history of the Christian Tradition: vol. 2: From the Reformation to the Present'' (1996) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Tradition-Vol-Reformation/dp/0809136481/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search vol 2]
* Smith, Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation'' (1920) 861 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=LKJlR_YqqcsC&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg complete text online free]
*''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), major sources of older scholarly articles; mainline Protestant perspective
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc01.toc.html Vol. 1: Aachen - Basilians]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc02.toc.html Vol. 2: Basilica - Chambers]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.toc.html Vol. 3: Chamier - Draendorf]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc04.toc.html Vol. 4: Draeseke - Goa]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc05.toc.html Vol. 5: Goar - Innocent]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc06.toc.html Vol. 6: Innocents - Liudger]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc07.toc.html Vol. 7: Liutprand - Moralities]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc08.toc.html Vol. 8: Morality - Petersen]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc09.toc.html Vol. 9: Petri - Reuchlin]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc10.toc.html Vol. 10: Reutsch - Son]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc11.toc.html Vol. 11: Son of Man - Tremellius]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.toc.html Vol. 12: Trench - Zwingli]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc13.toc.html Vol. 13: Index]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Protestantism]]
[[Category:European History]]
[[Category:Christian History]]
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Reformation]]

Protestant Reformation

2017-07-18T00:30:04Z

Ambassador: Added content—section: History, etc.

{{Christianity}}
The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

Luther was excommunicated a few weeks later but continued the effort to have his issues addressed. Condemned as an outlaw by the Imperial Diet of Worms (1521), Luther avoided arrest and possibly even death thanks to the timely intervention of a prominent nobleman sympathetic to his cause. In time, Christian congregations which agreed with Luther's teachings were founded and Luther moved on to additional religious concerns. He translated the Bible into German while in hiding, and he wrote extensively on many theological subjects.

Luther identified three cardinal concepts he believed were supported by Scripture but which the Medieval Church had suppressed:

1. [[Sola Scriptura]], the idea that the Bible is the ultimate authority given to the Church by God and by which we are to judge doctrinal matters,

2. Sola Fide, the idea that it is by Faith in Christ, and nothing else that we might perform in the way of religious devotionals or acts of mercy, that causes God to account us as righteous, and

3. Sola Gratia, the idea that saving Faith comes to those who are saved only through an act of God's graciousness, not in any way because of our own merits.

In these points, Luther (and Protestantism generally) rejected the Catholic Church's beliefs that there is an equality of Tradition with Scripture, in the efficacy of our own good deeds, and in the idea that it is the clergy and the institutional church that make possible the ordinary Christian's access to God.

In Switzerland, other Protestants quickly followed Luther's lead. [[Ulrich Zwingli]] and then [[John Calvin]] preached an even less ceremonial brand of Christianity. Whereas Luther had retained most of the worship style of Catholicism if not all of its structure and doctrines, the Swiss Reformers sought a simpler style of worship and a more decentralized system of church government. Their churches normally are termed "Reformed," as opposed to Luther's following which is known by his name ("Lutheran"), as "Evangelical," or by a combination of the two words.

One distinctive of the Reformed churches is belief in [[Predestination]]. While Calvin agreed with Luther on the three "Solas," the way by which God decides whom to allow to have saving Faith was addressed more precisely. Judging from several passages in Scripture, Calvin concluded that God makes his decision before our births and that there is then nothing anyone can do in life to alter the decision. Men are either chosen for salvation (the "Elect") or else they are eternally lost (the "Reprobates").

While men cannot alter their eternal destiny, it is an incorrect assumption that the Elect can live however they want and be saved nevertheless. Obviously, Calvinists say, if one is given the Faith, he will want to live as Christ-like a life as is possible. If a man chooses a life of sin, selfishness, and depravity, it is evidence that he is not among the Elect. Likewise, it is not correct to conclude that those who are lost are separated from God unfairly. All men are born in sin, according to Scripture and the teaching of Catholics and the churches of the Reformation alike. Unless they have a means of escaping their sin—which, in the absence of God's selection of them to be among the Elect, they would not have—they are left with their sins and are, therefore, undeserving of salvation.

"Protestants" opposed the buying and selling of church positions and the systemic corruption they saw in the Church of the time, which even reached to the position of the [[Pope]]. They were opposed to what they considered to be excessive devotion directed towards [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] and the saints rather than true Biblical Christianity seen as a matter of inward devotion.

Most of the early Protestants wanted less in the way of outward symbols of ceremony and ritual and rejected the authority of the Pope (because they believed the only true authority to be the [[Bible]]). The various Protestant churches wanted the Bible to be available to all by publishing it in the common language and by promoting universal education. The mandatory [[celibacy]] of the [[clergy]] and monasticism were rejected, along with the Catholic use of images in church buildings, priestly vestments, and many of the Catholic Church's festival days. Instead, Protestantism emphasized a new participation in public worship services by the members of the congregation. Congregational singing became a feature of Protestantism, unlike Catholic worship. The wine in Communion was distributed to the congregants, no longer being reserved for the priest as had been Catholic practice. And in most churches, the congregation was empowered to select its own ministers rather than have them chosen, in Catholic fashion, by the bishop.

==History==
===Pre-Reformation Protestants==
Before the official beginning of the Reformation, groups like the [[Waldenses]] and [[Albigenses]] adhered to Protestant doctrines, and were thus persecuted by the Catholic Church.<ref>[http://reformationhappens.com/works/Waldenses/ Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Chapter IV]</ref> Similarly, figures such as [[Jan Hus]] and [[John Wycliffe]] are considered reformers, despite acting before 1517. Luther claimed that he was distinguished from the previous reformers by going to the theological root of Catholic corruption.<ref>[Reformation,] Encyclopædia Brittannica. </ref>

===Luther===
In 1515, Martin Luther, a German monk, experienced a spiritual enlightenment when he read Romans 1:17: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." On October 31, 1517, Luther is thought to have nailed his 95 Theses on the University of Wittenberg door, angered at the Church's sale of indulgences to fund the building of St. Peter's Basilica.<ref>[https://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283?_escaped_fragment_= Martin Luther], Biography.com.</ref> This is credited with starting the Protestant Reformation and Making Luther a household name. In 1520, the Pope sent a letter to Luther threatening to excommunicate him. He burned that letter publicly. He would be excommunicated in 1521. Under legal condemnation, Luther fled to Warburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German.

Concerning his impact:

: Luther's legacy is immense and cannot be adequately summarized. Every Protestant Reformer—like Calvin, Zwingli, Knox, and Cranmer—and every Protestant stream—Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Anabaptist—were inspired by Luther in one way or another. On a larger canvas, his reform unleashed forces that ended the Middle Ages and ushered in the modern era.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/martin-luther.html Martin Luther], Christianity Today. </ref>

===[[Reformation Terms]]===
*[[Iconoclasm]]
*[[Indulgences]]
*[[John Calvin]]
*[[Martin Luther]]
*[[Protestantism]]
*[[Huguenots]], Protestant in France
*[[Church of England]]
==See also==
*[[Andreas Rudolf Bodenstein von Carlstadt]]
*[[Ulrich Swingli]]
*[[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==
* Bainton, Roland H. ''Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther'' (reprint 1995) [http://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Stand-Martin-Luther/dp/0452011469/ref=pd_bbs_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-12 excerpt and text search]
* Beard, Charles. ''Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms'' (1896) 468 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=YlzNSeh7YgMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg#PRA1-PR4,M1 complete text online] ''this Charles Beard is not the American historian''
* Brauer, Jerald C. ''The Westminster Dictionary of Church History'' (1971), 880pp
* Chadwick, Owen. ''The Reformation'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Hist-Church-Owen-Chadwick/dp/0140137572/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]
* Collinson, Patrick. ''The Reformation: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-History-Modern-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812972953/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
* Hillerbrand, Hans J., et al. eds. ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation'' (1996) vol. 1:296 pp., vol. 2:506 pp., vol. 3: 491 pp., vol. 4:484 pp.,
* Hsia, R. Po-chia. ''A Companion to the Reformation World'' (2004), essays by 24 scholars cover the major themes [http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Reformation-Blackwell-Companions-European/dp/0631220178/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243428920&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]
*MacCulloch, Diarmaid. ''The Reformation'' (2005), influential recent survey [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
*McGonigle, Thomas D., and James F. Quigley. ''A history of the Christian Tradition: vol. 2: From the Reformation to the Present'' (1996) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Tradition-Vol-Reformation/dp/0809136481/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search vol 2]
* Smith, Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation'' (1920) 861 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=LKJlR_YqqcsC&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg complete text online free]
*''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), major sources of older scholarly articles; mainline Protestant perspective
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc01.toc.html Vol. 1: Aachen - Basilians]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc02.toc.html Vol. 2: Basilica - Chambers]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.toc.html Vol. 3: Chamier - Draendorf]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc04.toc.html Vol. 4: Draeseke - Goa]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc05.toc.html Vol. 5: Goar - Innocent]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc06.toc.html Vol. 6: Innocents - Liudger]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc07.toc.html Vol. 7: Liutprand - Moralities]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc08.toc.html Vol. 8: Morality - Petersen]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc09.toc.html Vol. 9: Petri - Reuchlin]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc10.toc.html Vol. 10: Reutsch - Son]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc11.toc.html Vol. 11: Son of Man - Tremellius]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.toc.html Vol. 12: Trench - Zwingli]
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc13.toc.html Vol. 13: Index]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Protestantism]]
[[Category:European History]]
[[Category:Christian History]]
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Reformation]]

King James Bible

2017-06-11T00:09:43Z

Ambassador: New info, small corrections

[[Image:800px-Crop Book of Isaiah 2006-06-06.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
The '''King James Version''' (or Authorized Version) of the [[Bible]] is a poetic masterpiece that has profoundly influenced the [[English|English-speaking]] world ever since its publication more than 400 years ago. It was the culmination of seven years of work (1604-1611) by about fifty English scholars and around twenty [[Church of England]] [[bishops]], as authorized by King [[James I of England]]. The result was It was not the first English translation ([[William Tyndale]] had previously [[translation|translated]] the Bible into English, and much of the Authorized Version was taken from Tyndale's version) nor was it the most accurate (some modern translations benefit from better, more [[conservative]] sources). Debate exists concerning the accuracy of the translation. But the King James Version of the Bible was the most majestic and it has inspired English literature from [[Herman Melville]] to [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]] to the [[Martin Luther King, Jr.|Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.]]

For example, many cite Rev. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech without acknowledging its source in the translation of ''[[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] 40:4'':

:"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

The King James translators described it as "Newly Translated out of the Original tongues."<ref>The actual title-page inscription is "The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesties Special Commandment. Appointed to be read in Churches. "</ref> The King James Version of the [[Old Testament]] was based on the Hebrew [[Masoretic text]], codified in the Middle Ages. The [[New Testament]] was primarily based on Greek texts predating the [[Latin Vulgate]]. The translators explicitly acknowledged making use of previous English translations, however, and the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] describes it as being essentially the Bishops' Bible, corrected by comparison with the Hebrew and Greek texts.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02141a.htm The Authorized Version], Catholic Encyclopedia</ref> F. H. A. Scrivener, however, notes many passages which correspond to the Latin Vulgate rather than the Greek.<ref>F. H. A. Scrivener, ''The New Testament in Greek according to the Text Followed in the Authorized Version''. Cambridge: University Press, 1881; The appendix on pages 655-6 gives a list of the passages corresponding exactly with the Latin version against the Greek.</ref> The King James Version is freely and fully available for searching online.<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/108/</ref>

A recent attempt to "update" the King James Version was the New King James Version, which most notably modernized pronouns such as "thou" and verb forms such as "art". Keeping "thou"s, however, is helpful, since it clarifies whether the speaker is addressing one or multiple people, a distinction modern English no longer makes. The NKJV has been called a "transition Bible."

Some Christians believe that the original Authorized Version of the King James Bible is the only acceptable English translation of the Bible.<ref>http://www.isitso.org/guide/kjvonly.html</ref> This is referred to by some Christians, especially those who do not hold to this viewpoint, as the "KJV-only movement," while internally, these Christians call themselves "Bible Believers." On the other side of the debate, many Christians avoid the King James Bible because of its archaic language, advances in scholarship's understanding of ancient languages, and discovery of (arguably <ref>[http://rosetta.reltech.org/TC/vol06/Robinson2001.html Maurice A. Robinson, ''New Testament Textual Criticism: The Case for Byzantine Priority'']</ref>) more reliable manuscripts. Note that the King James Bible uses British spellings like "favour" rather than "favor" (Acts 2:47).

The King James Version uses a total vocabulary of only about 8,000 words.<ref>See [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]].</ref> In contrast the [[English Standard Version]], published nearly four centuries later in 2001, draws upon a larger English vocabulary that developed in the interim and uses nearly 14,000 different words.

== Issues ==

The King James Version used italics to indicate words that had no exact equivalent in the original text, but had been supplied by the translators for various reasons, usually to make the text read properly in English. Modern style is to use italics for emphasis, and their different use in the King James Version can be misleading to modern readers. Many modern editions of the King James Version omit the italicization.

The King James Version does not use quotation marks to designate spoken words because the English language had not yet developed quotation marks as standard usage. Also note that the Bible often does not quote verbatim, and thus quotation marks in modern versions may be misleading.

The King James Version uses "that" rather than "who" to refer to people, which is incorrect (and dehumanizing) grammar today.

The King James Version uses "king" and "kingdom" hundreds of times in translating the New Testament, even though there were no real kings at the time of Christ or now. In James 2:8 there is a reference to "royal law" and the King James Version makes numerous other references to "royal". But the King James Version was commission by King James during a period of the powerful English monarchy, and King James promoted the divine right of kings.

The King James Version frequently and repetitively uses "and" (and also "but") to begin a sentence. For example, seven straight verses—Luke 4:11-17—begin with the word "and"; ten straight verses—Luke 4:58-67—also begin with the word "and", and perhaps more than half of the verses in the entire Gospel of Luke use that now-disfavored beginning. The King James Version also frequently uses "behold", which is poetic but seems archaic today. One of its most common words is "spake" (archaic form of "spoke"), which it uses 644 times.

Like Shakespeare, who wrote his plays shortly before the [[KJV]] was written, they use the archaic "anon" to mean "very soon." See, e.g., Mark 1:30.

The King James Version does not make full use of the possessive form, instead often spelling things out in wordy and cumbersome form rather than using an apostrophe "s". See, for example, the cumbersome lack of the possessive at Luke 5:33: "And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?" The KJV also fails to make full use of the variety of punctuation available, such as avoiding the exclamation point.<ref>Note, however, that the KJV does use both the possessive and the exclamation point in chapter 6 of the Gospel of Luke.</ref>

The King James Version contains some arguably feminist language, such as "prophetess" (Luke 2:36)<ref>though it refers to a rebellious Jezebel women in Rev. 2:20 as such</ref> and gender neutral language for "man" (see, e.g., Luke 3:4; Luke 3:16; Mark 9:17)<ref>where gender specific language is absent.</ref> Also, the KJV uses "children of God" perhaps as a gender neutral version of "Godly men," with some seeing that neutralizing the gender has the effect of inserting a connotation of submission that might be more characteristic of Islam than Christianity. Modern versions picked up on this, and use "children of God" far more pervasively than the KJV did. In Luke 4:34, the KJV refers to "Holy One of God" rather than "Holy Son of God." On the contrary, certain modern versions have changed most male references for gender neutral references, and have been criticized for such.

The King James Version translators did not have access to earlier ancient manuscripts that were discovered in the 1800s. As a result, the King James Version includes passages that are not in the earliest ancient manuscripts. Instead, the AV is based on the majority of the manuscripts, which agree extremely well, as opposed to modern versions, which are based upon some few older manuscripts which disagree greatly between themselves. The oldest manuscript fragment, dated to A.D. 66, agrees with the reading used by the AV.[http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=home&action=submitsearch&f_submit=Search&f_context_any=any&section=bible&f_search_type=bible&f_keyword_any=Matthew+26:22]

The translators were predominantly literary types, such as poets, without much input from scientific types who might have recommended some wording having more physical connotations, or linguistic scholars who could point out the details of scientific terminology. For example, "owph" is translated as "fowl" rather than the linguistically and scientifically correct "winged creature."

Some of the key terminology in the KJV is archaic today. For example, the KJV refers repeated to "Esaias", and many readers may not understand that as a reference to "Isaiah".

The "archaic" language in the KJV is sometimes more understandable than in other versions. Gail Riplinger discovered a "hidden dictionary" in the KJV that would enhance one's vocabulary by reading it. The King James Bible also contains a "code" that other versions don't. For example, "word of God" is found seven times and "Most High", seven times. Shiloh (the capital of Israel before Jerusalem), meaning "Messiah", is found 33 times, the age at which Jesus died. Shiloh was destroyed. If one adds the 33 times Shiloh is mentioned to the 667 times Jerusalem is mentioned in the Old Testament, one gets 700 times the capital of Israel is mentioned in the Old Testament. Jerusalem is mentioned 144 times in the NT, as in the 144,000 of Revelation. This is not so in modern versions.

==Translation==
The KJV was translated at the order of King James by a team of Bible-believing Christians, in contrast to the NIV, for example, which had homosexuals on its translation team, who removed the word "sodomy" from the Bible. The KJV translators consulted six previous English versions, in fulfillment of Psalm 12:6. The translation process lasted seven years, ending in 1611.

54 scholars were assigned to the project, but 47 participated more than the others, all highly qualified. Among them were Dr. John Bois, who, according to his biographer, was reading through the Hebrew Old Testament at only five years old. He was an expert in all forms of Greek, and compiled one of the largest Greek libraries ever. Lancelot Andrews, a leader of the Old Testament translators, was fluent in 15 modern languages, as well as Greek, Hebrew, and the cognate biblical languages. Dr. Andrew Downes spent 40 years as Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University. Sir Henry Saville was a scientist and Bible scholar. Dr. John Harding was Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University. Edward Lively was Regius Professorof Hebrew at Cambridge. Dr. William Bedwell was an expert in Arabic, Latin, and Persian, and prepared lexicons in these languages and in biblical languages.<ref>Henry Morris Study Bible, Appendix 21, page 2147</ref>

If at any time the translators were unsure of how to translate something, they would send word out to all the learned men of England for aid.
==References==
<references/>

==External links==

*[http://www.ebible.org/bible/kjv/ An online version of the King James Bible]
*[http://www.biblicalproportions.com/modules/ol_bible/ Another online version of the King James Bible]
*[http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/ King James Bible at BibleStudyTools.com]
*[http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=9&lang=2 King James version at BibleGateway]
*[http://samgipp.com/historybook/ An Understandable History of the Bible by Dr. Sam Gipp]
*[http://samgipp.com/answerbook/ The Answer Book by Dr. Sam Gipp]

== See also ==
*[[Disputed Biblical Translations]]
*[[Essay: The superiority of the King James Bible: Looking through!]]

{{Bible Versions}}

[[Category:Bible Versions]]
[[Category:British History]]

User talk:Ambassador

2017-05-22T16:16:11Z

Ambassador: I'lll see what I can do.

{{welcome}}
:If you have any questions, feel free to ask! --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 17:06, 21 November 2016 (EST)

== Thanks. and re: David Wood article and other articles ==

Thanks for creating the [[David Wood]] article and other content.

Second, please remember to put a category tag(s) at the bottom of new pages that you create. Also, endeavor to link to the new article via other articles. If you don't do these two things, very few people will read your new article.

You can read about how to create category tags at: http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservapedia:Editing_article_and_talk_pages#Categories and http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservapedia:Videos_on_how_to_edit_a_wiki

Since you know more about the [[David Wood]] topic, I will let you put the appropriate category tag(s) at the bottom of the article. You might wish to look up other Christian apologists like [[William Lane Craig]] and see what category tags have been created for that article.

Again, thanks for creating your new material. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] ([[User talk:Conservative|talk]]) 19:34, 21 November 2016 (EST)

:Thank you for your constructive edits. I noticed that in [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Starlight_problem&diff=1290262&oldid=1281518 this edit] you cited [[CreationWiki]]. I like CreationWiki (I even edit it) and it's a great wiki to use, but because it is wiki and content can change, please cite either a permanent link to a particular revision or cite a different source. Thanks! --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 20:37, 21 November 2016 (EST)

Hey, 1990'sguy. Thanks for helping me along, since I'm new to Conservapedia. You're right about citing a wiki. Sorry. I'll change that. I find it kind of ironic, too, that the Creation wiki article I cited has a Wikipedia article as a reference. Thanks! [[User:Ambassador|Ambassador]] ([[User talk:Ambassador|talk]]) 21:15, 21 November 2016 (EST)
:No problem. Thanks for you edits! --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 21:32, 21 November 2016 (EST)

Thanks again for you edits. I recommend that you add sources when creating articles or writing other content, as people can easily see where you got the info and thus increases our reputation for reliability. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 09:15, 22 November 2016 (EST)

== Categories ==

Picking categories for some articles can be a little tricky, but I'm sure you'll get better at it. If it helps, there is a searchable [[Special:Categories|category list]] which can help you find some good ones. Keep up the great work! --[[User:DavidB4|David B]] ([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]]) 22:30, 15 December 2016 (EST)

== Merry Christmas ==

[[Image:Merry Christmas.gif|cebter|260px]]
{{clear}}
Thank you for all your contributions to Conservaoedia as far your web article content.

Merry Christmas! And have a happy New Year's Day. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] ([[User talk:Conservative|talk]]) 16:32, 24 December 2016 (EST)

== [[Essay:Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical]] - simply repositioned chronologically ==

Thank you for the link to your reasoned essay against the Catholic Church. I simply moved the link within the "[[Great Apostasy#See also|See also section]]" down from the top of the list and positioned it according to the chronological, historical sequence corresponding to the Reformation. I was raised a Fundamentalist (Conservative Baptist). You have done an outstanding job articulating the arguments of the Reformation in a perfect example of the Evangelical charge of apostasy against the Roman Catholic Church. It is also backed up by several of the listed [[Great Apostasy#External links|External links]]. Thank you for the illustrative contribution. ''Semper Fi!'' --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 23:37, 8 January 2017 (EST)

By the way: '''[[Vatican Hill]]''' was never one of the '''[[Seven hills of Rome]]'''. --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 23:39, 8 January 2017 (EST)

I just found online the following: [http://www.equip.org/article/the-two-babylons/ Christian Research Institute. ''The Two Babylons'', by Ralph Woodrow (equip.org)] ''a critique and rebuttal of anti-Catholic arguments used by Alexander Hislop, the 19th century author of "The Two Babylons"'' I will also put this info on the talk page of your essay.

Again, thank you for the contribution to [[Great Apostasy#External links]] --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 08:10, 9 January 2017 (EST)

Thank you for your comments. Interesting article on the refutation of ''Two Babylons''. I will make edits to my essay in order to ensure it is factually correct. --[[User:Ambassador|Ambassador]] ([[User talk:Ambassador|talk]]) 16:22, 9 January 2017 (EST)
:Your evident integrity does you credit as an ambassador for Christ. ''Pax vobis'' --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 16:48, 9 January 2017 (EST)

:Addendum: An excellent method of online research is to ask a general question, first ''pro'', and then ''con''. Then read each of the linked articles (takes time but is well worth the trouble). This will usually reveal which sources are reliable and which ones are not. Often there will be unexpected surprises. As an example of asking the right general question online about any controverted subject look at the following linked searches for "why is Catholicism a '''false''' religion?" and "why is Catholicism a '''true''' religion":
:*[http://www.bing.com/search?q=why%20is%20catholicism%20a%20false%20religion&qs-bs&FORM=QBRE Why is Catholicism a false religion]
:*[http://www.bing.com/search?q=why%20is%20catholicism%20a%20true%20religion&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=why%20is%20catholicism%20a%20true%20religion&sc=0-34&sk=&cvid=643AC99F0FBD4DB2BDC0B442F5B14059 Why is Catholicism a true religion]
:God bless you, Ambassador. --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 15:34, 11 January 2017 (EST)
:See my additional comments on your [[Talk:Essay:Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical#Regarding the source The Two Babylons|Talk page for the article/essay Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical]] --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 15:51, 11 January 2017 (EST)

== Eleven Million Killed ==

Hi! I just looked up the following link that I thought you could use in your article revision. I got it by simply asking the question:

[https://www.bing.com/search?q=were+11+million+people+killed+by+the+Inquisition%3F&form=PRUSEN&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=e0c162ba96824f1b963227e4f3bc991c&sp=-1&pq=were+11+mil&sc=0-11&qs=n&sk=&cvid=e0c162ba96824f1b963227e4f3bc991c "'''were 11 million people killed by the Inquisition?'''"]

Wishing you well in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. May God richly bless you. --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 08:30, 12 January 2017 (EST)

== Research help suggestions for "Unbiblical elements" ==

I would encourage you to develop again your "Unbiblical Catholicism" article in the form of a new article, in a way that is not an essay but a more general presentation of accurate information historically and statistically based.

Encyclopedic article contributions (Britannica, etc.) always adopt a neutral presentation of information about a topic, and in this case it would (again) be about objections raised against Catholicism.

For example: revise the title of your original idea for an article as "Objections to Catholicism", or "Common arguments against Catholic doctrines" and then present the arguments that "non-Catholics" and "Protestants" and "Fundamentalists" use, with their interpretations of the Bible, especially their arguments using [[logic]], and the [[Hermeneutics|biblical interpretations]] of the original Protestant Reformers, from their own writings. For balance include brief summary statements of the counter-arguments (protests) used by Catholic apologists, together with ''non-Catholic'' critiques of the Catholic apologists' arguments which evaluate if their arguments make any sense in light of the Bible. However, the counter-arguments need not be detailed. These could be simply factual observations, stating that Catholic apologists use various counter responses, and providing external links to articles voicing their points of view also based on logic and their own particular denominational interpretation of the Bible according to the [[tradition]]al interpretation of the Catholic [[Magisterium]]. This approach avoids the fallacy of [[Confirmation bias]]. You are giving the reader, as to a [[jury]], all information necessary to form an accurate and truthful opinion of the matter—arguments that are ''commonly used'' against Catholicism.

As a useful shortcut to obtaining information for your new article, to help save time, I would strongly recommend doing online searches with the following simply worded queries:
*logical fallacies of Protestantism
*logical fallacies of Catholicism
*logical fallacies of religion
*logical fallacies of heresy
*logical fallacies of magisterial authority
*logical fallacies of sola scriptura

This is about the best positive support I can offer together with a sincere assurance of my genuine interest in the possibility of your development of a new article based on your original [[premise]]: that Catholicism is Unbiblical (according to all Protestant Christian Bible scholars and theologians).

So, with that in mind, I don't expect that I can do more, and you won't need to hear from me again.

I wish you well. God Bless you. Jesus is Lord.

--[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 14:24, 12 January 2017 (EST)

Thank you very much, Dataclarifier, for all your aid! Your suggestion is certainly an interesting and worthy project, however, I will not undertake it right now. I am, at the present time, rather busy, and besides that, I haven't quite finished the revision of my existing [[Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical| essay]]. This article you are proposing would require a good deal of time and research, which, in short, I don't have right now. If nobody else does, I will undertake the project once I do have the time. I'm grateful for your suggestion, as well as all the advice before it.

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee,

--[[User:Ambassador|Ambassador]] ([[User talk:Ambassador|talk]]) 20:19, 13 January 2017 (EST)

:Thank you, Ambassador. That blessing is a real uplift. I just looked in here out of curiosity to see if you had made any response. I am delighted with your willingness - ''your spirit is willing but you sometimes need sleep'' - and, ''believe me'', I have often been there! When I finally finish completing my own massive project with the seventh section of [[Harmony of the Gospel (Conservative Version)]], I would be happy to help with suggested factual history links and editorial critiques for maintaining neutrally balanced statements of any of the points that you cover. If you are as busy as I was before I retired, it may be summer 20'''18''', before you are able get around to it. Just don't get discouraged. I believe such an article will be a valuable contribution in Christian discernment of truth. But in the meantime, feel free to post on my talk page any query you have regarding Catholicism versus Fundamentalism as related to the purpose of your article. If I don't immediately know the answer for you, I'll do some online queries for possible sources of reliable ''info'' facts and report back here on your own page with links for you to look at (expect several with a variety of viewpoints, sources and facts). ''Re'' my involvement: You do your own writing, and I'll gently ''kibitz'', without interfering, as a publishing editor might (without the aggravating irritation), or like a coach—but not like a '''''[[United States Marine Corps|Marine D.I.]]'''''! Look at my [[User:Dataclarifier]] page for a listing of some of my own contributions to Conservapedia, as a reliable indication of my conservative biblical Christian commitment. (My [[User talk:Dataclarifier]] page also has two posts listing more recently created articles I've submitted.) I look forward to working with you for the success of your article. May the Lord Himself with ''[[Intercession of the saints|all the court of heaven]]'' lift up his countenance upon you, bless you, and give you peace.--[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 12:26, 18 January 2017 (EST)

== Useful example/exercise in discerning defective polemic ==

Consider the following illustrative example:

Jesus is the Word of God.

Protestants call a book, the Bible, the Word of God.

Therefore Protestants have replaced Jesus with a book.

You and I know that this argument is a complete distortion of meaning.

Again:

The Bible says "''In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God''".

Protestants say the Bible is the Word of God.

Therefore Protestants believe the Bible is God.

You and I know that this argument too is a complete distortion of meaning.

Again:

The Latin suffix ''-latry'' comes from ''latria'', "worship".

Therefore the word "bibliolatry" means "worship of the Bible".

Therefore Literalist Christians who are obviously involved in bibliolatry worship the Bible as God.

'''BUZZ'''!!! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!

The ''actual'' meaning of "bibliolatry" is different. See this link: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bibliolatry

So— ''what is being illustrated here''?

The above examples of distorted false arguments are based on hostile '''[[Polemic]]''' as a form of '''[[Propaganda]]''' using the Logical fallacy of [[Appeal to emotion]] to make Protestants look as bad as possible. (I'm familiar with this, because when I was in college an atheist accused me of bibliolatry because I was a Conservative Baptist and a fundamentalist Christian, and he used similar defective logic.)

The fundamental problem with Hislop's book, apart from his defective methodology, is pointed out by Woodrow in his refutation. Alexander Hislop wanted to make Catholicism look as bad as possible, because he had been taught that it is evil, and he never questioned that assertion or the arguments that were used to support it. He thought he was telling the truth with his "proofs", but in fact he wasn't. It's a form of '''[[Confirmation bias]]'''.

Anything that makes Catholicism or Protestantism look bad or evil should immediately be questioned as to its accuracy or distortion, misrepresentation or misinterpretation. I discovered in my historical researches that a lot that I had been taught about Catholic doctrine had never been true, but I had trusted my teachers because I thought they were telling me the truth; it had never occurred to me that they too had been misinformed; and they too had not questioned the accuracy of what they had been taught in Sunday School about Catholics. It goes all the way back to the Reformers.

One more example: the Christmas tree.

A neighbor of mine when I was growing up was a [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]]. According to their teachings, she compassionately warned me that a Christmas tree is an idol, based on Jeremiah 10:3-4 (KJV).
:"For the customs of the people ''are'' vain: for ''one'' cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not."
Of course, she failed to read it within the context of "3 verses before, and 3 verses after, for the context". Jeremiah is speaking of a pagan idol. She was mercifully motivated by a desire for my salvation and blessedness. But she had been given a teaching that misrepresented the intent and had been given an historical fact taken entirely out of its social and historical context misapplied to the present day Christmas tradition originally solely intended to honor God's Son Jesus Christ "''when all of nature rejoiced with new life''" (green). Now, in the context of 1 Samuel 16:7 "for ''the LORD seeth'' not as man seeth; for '''man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart,'''" she was guilty of [[falsehood]], but not of [[Lie|lying]]. See '''[[Specious reasoning]]''' and '''[[Deceit]]'''.

When you had a Christmas tree, were you taught that this tree represented the Norse god [http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Iggdrasil '''Yggdrasil''' (the World Tree)]? Of course not! Were you told that it was an idol representing a pagan god? Of course not! What was the intention in your heart as you admired the beauty of the Christmas tree? Were you committing idolatry, or were you thinking of the birth of Jesus in the manger, and the angels singing to the shepherds of his birth with glory to God in the highest?

In the same way, in evaluating accusations against anyone, especially when charged with crime, both the motive in the heart of the accused, and the objective ''effect or result'' of the deed (or failure to act) must be evaluated objectively in accordance with the truth. What is meant? What is being done? What is the actual teaching?

The [[National Socialism|Nazis]] intended to improve the human race and utterly remove forever the root causes of poverty, insanity and disease. The means that they chose ('''[[Utilitarianism]]''') were ''intrinsically'' evil, and resulted only in ruin and death on a massive scale. "''By their fruits ye shall know them''" (Matthew 7:20)

There is a logical fallacy that argues that a superficial similarity ''proves'' substantial identity: because an orange billiard ball resembles an orange, because it is round and orange and has a 3" diameter, this proves that the billiard ball ''must be'' an orange (''good luck trying to eat it!''). ''After all, isn't it orange? isn't it round? isn't it the size of an orange? so how can you possibly deny that it is an orange?'' '''[[Sophistry]]'''. I think you see what I mean. Be diligent in rooting out the truth of any evil report. (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 26:24-25). It might be true. It might be false. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ben+Sira+19%3A13-15&version=NABRE "''Admonish your friend. He may not have done it. And if he did, that he may not do it again.''"]

May God richly bless you and all whom you love. Amen. --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 09:57, 19 January 2017 (EST)

== Does the Devil ever tell the truth? ==

'''''Yes!'''''

The [[Satan|Devil]] tells the truth when it leads to a false conclusion. See Matthew 4:1-10; Luke 4:1-13.

--[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 11:11, 19 January 2017 (EST)
==Quick project==
Dear Ambassador:
Our state articles list the members of Congress from each state, but they have not be updated for 2016. If five editors could update 10 states each, we would be done quickly. Could you please take a look at [[Conservapedia:Community Portal#Political directory]]? Thanks in advance, [[User:JDano|JDano]] ([[User talk:JDano|talk]]) 16:25, 15 February 2017 (EST)

== Vandalism ==

Thanks for your efforts in reverting the latest string of vandalism! Unfortunately, I was not online at the time. Just so you know, administrators have the ability to revert vandalism quite easily--you (or I) can probably revert it sooner, but you don't need to kill yourself reverting the rubbish, either. Also, if this happens in the future and someone really needs a block, I try to make my self available by e-SMS. Feel free to [http://tinyurl.com/eSMS-David send me a message] if you'd like assistance. I still might not be able to help, but feel free to try if you'd like. --[[User:DavidB4|David B]] ([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]]) 21:55, 23 February 2017 (EST)

== Revert: Essay: Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical ==

Ambassador: I made a minor revision of the lead paragraph to give your essay a more neutral tone of "presenting" the information re conservative and fundamentalist Christian "beliefs and proofs" that the Catholic Church is unbiblical. This was in response to your above thanks and invitation to others to revise the essay if they chose, to improve it. My intention was to demonstrate that without changing the substance of the body of the essay, the information can be presented intact in a more neutral tone with a sentence added to your introductory disclaimer that "counter-counter...etc." points are not being presented in detail.

Administrator "Conservative" conscientiously reverted the edit without knowing the latitude you offered above, and this is understandable, since all Essays are always implicitly the "intellectual property" of the contributor and normally should not be tampered with or altered without permission, to preserve his/her views intact. Yours is the only essay I have edited as an assist to your intent to revise it. I posted a note of explanation on the talk page of the essay, and am now leaving it to you to determine for yourself if the revision is appropriate as a beginning to making it an article again.

See [[Talk:Essay:Reasons the Catholic Church is Unbiblical#Minor revision of lead paragraph]].

If you decide to retain/restore the revision, simply go to "view history", find and click on the older page containing the completed revision (last one by Dataclarifier), then when it appears click "edit" at the top, then simply scroll down and "Save page". That will make it again the current page, bypassing all intervening edits. Entirely up to you.

God's blessing on you, now and forever. --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 01:29, 2 March 2017 (EST)

'''''Addendum:''''' Conservative has protected the Essay page for your benefit. If you do not have Administrative privileges, and you do want the revision restored, then leave me a note on my talk page, '''and''' a note on the Essay Talk page that you authorize reversion of Conservative's revert edit. Either contact Conservative or contact me or contact both of us, and either one of us can do a revert/restore edit for you. ''Pax vobis'' --[[User:Dataclarifier|Dataclarifier]] ([[User talk:Dataclarifier|talk]]) 01:48, 2 March 2017 (EST)

May grace and peace be multiplied unto thee, Dataclarifier. Except for the reference to Isaiah 22:22, I don't think that any of the changes are necessary. There's nothing wrong with the changes, but I also see no reason to have them. It seems to me that they'd be obvious to anybody reading the essay. I do not have administrative privileges. I leave it to you to do whatever you think best. May God bless thee. --[[User:Ambassador|Ambassador]] ([[User talk:Ambassador|talk]]) 22:29, 3 March 2017 (EST)

== Two requests ==

Hello Ambassador, I have two things I would like to ask you about. As I'm sure you know, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation is coming soon, but CP does not have many Reformation articles (people, events, documents, etc.). Is there any chance you could help in creating some Reformation content by October 31?

Also, I see that you created the [[GotQuestions]] article. I've been adding GotQuestions articles to the "External links" sections of some relevant CP articles. Is there any chance you can do the same to any relevant articles you see? Thanks. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 22:52, 21 May 2017 (EDT)

Sure, 1990's guy. I'll see what I can do. --[[User:Ambassador|Ambassador]] ([[User talk:Ambassador|talk]]) 12:16, 22 May 2017 (EDT)

Plymouth Brethren

2017-05-22T02:48:34Z

Ambassador: Well known Brethren include...

The '''Plymouth Brethren''' or '''Christian Brethren''' is a small Protestant denomination which arose in Britain in the 1820s with the goal of returning to the beliefs and practices of the New Testament church. The structure of the Brethren denomination (speaking in generalization) is designed to replicate as accurately as possible the organization of the Pauline Christian Church. In this sense, with a caveat for the exclusives, the emphasis on organization is on locally founded and locally organized assemblies of bible believing and bible practicing Christians. This facet of the movement has made writing about it very difficult, as each locally organized assembly determines in theory its own doctrine and day to day matters. Generally speaking the denomination is loosely organized and does not have ordained clergy; the three main groupings are the "Open Brethren", "Closed Brethren" and "Exclusive Brethren", which due to the lack of doctrinal standardization refers largely to Communion practice, an early splitting point for brethren.

Well known brethren include [[John Nelson Darby]], [[George Müller]], [[R.C. Chapman]], [[Jim Elliot]], [[William MacDonald]], and [[Dave Hunt]].

They are best known for devising the theory of [[Dispensationalism]], especially as formulated by Anglican priest [[John Nelson Darby]], later the founder of the "Exclusive" grouping. This theory became a core belief of [[Fundamentalism]] in the 20th century.

In 2005 the denomination, now known as the "Christian Brethren" reported 86,000 members and 600 clergy in the United States. They do not ordain their clergy. Since 1941 it operates Emmaus Bible College, which since 1984 has been located in Dubuque, Iowa.

== Defining Characteristics ==
With the caveats of the above, there are essentially six defining features of any given brethren congregations. Anti-clericalism and/or anti-churchism, the rejection of the concept of membership in a congregation, celebration of a weekly ceremony commemorating the Lord's death, separation of roles for men and women in the meeting and outside the meeting, absolutely non professionalization of ministers (there are no ministers per the proper definition of the term) and the rejection of charismatic gifts (cessationist position).

A brief explanation of each is necessary.

Anti-Clericalism/Anti-Churchism means that in the Brethren meeting there are no statues, no paintings, no musical accompaniment, nothing to tie the meeting of the local Christians to the ritualistic practices of the denominational church. In Brethren jargon, church refers not to the building or the denomination, rather it revers to the universal body of Christians unified by their profession of faith in their salvation obtained through the grace and mercy of the resurrected Christ.

Following said point, the congregation of believers rejects the concept of membership in the church and membership in any particular faction or congregation. Rather Brethren jargon prefers the word "fellowship." Entering a brethren congregation is styled as entering into fellowship with the Christian body in that particular area.

There is typically a weekly ceremony where the two emblems of bread and wine are sent throughout the body. This is where most congregations differ - some say that any professing salvation may take part in the ritual, others say that only those approved by the church body or a middle ground solution, bearing letters of recommendation from the congregation leaders which are styled as Elders and are typically selected by the congregation from the most learned and Christ centered men. Generally during this meeting an offering plate or box or bag is sent around, but only those in fellowship may contribute, and only to the amount they feel required of them; tithing is regarded as churchist and applying only to the dispensation existing between God and Israel.

Men and women are separate in all matters. Women were created to help men, but this does not imply a relationship of inferiority, rather a differed relationship. Women are housewives, child bearers; women are noted for their quiet worship and subdued nature rather than men who are noted for risk taking and providing. Therefore, generally it is wished that a woman shall stay home and watch the children produced by a marriage. Generally speaking all Brethren congregations agree that women shouldn't be allowed to speak during the meetings.

Ministers are styled workers and are selected from the body of the men in any given congregation according to their gifts for learning and speaking. There is no formal school to produce or accredit them, there is no salary. Ministers live at the bequest of individual congregations which may support their work to the manner they choose. Generally Ministers live very well.

Finally, there are no charismatic gifts in the congregation. When the canon of scripture was completed with the Book of Revelation, the outpouring of Charismatic gifts ended.

There are about 100,000 members in Britain.

See [[Pietism]].

== External links ==
* [http://www.believershome.com/html/christian_brethren.html Homepage]
* [http://web.singnet.com.sg/~syeec/literature/brethren.html F. F. Bruce, "Who are the Brethren?"]
==External links==
===Open Brethren===
* BrethrenPedia :: The Plymouth Brethren Wiki Documenting the history of the brethren movement one assembly at a time
* Bruederbewegung About the Brethren Movement in Germany
* Bible Archive Web Log (blog) system based in the US.
* BrethrenAssembly.Com
* BrethrenAssembly.Com Forum Discussion Forum operated by Indian Brethren.
* Brethren Online.Org
* Emmaus Bible College Brethren Bible College based in the US (Dubuque, IA).
* Kawartha Lakes Bible College Brethren Bible College based in Canada
* Plymouth Brethren Discussion Forum Discussion Forum operated by Canadian Brethren
* Updated list of assemblies :: News, Reviews & Who's Who
*Plymouth Brethren.Org
* Plymouth Brethren.Com
* ShawnCuthill.com - A Canadian web site for PB assemblies
* BibleTruth.net - A portal for PB information for locating and contacting individual assemblies
* GospelHall.org - A conservative Open Brethren forum site
* MSC (Missionary Service Committee) - A Canadian site with an address book of many PB assemblies and overseas missionaries
* CMML (Christian Missions in Many Lands) - A US site with an address book of many PB overseas missionaries
===Closed Brethren===
* Salvation Ministries USA
* Pathways ministries Canada USA Assemblies List
* Brethren News
* Good News Gospel Outreach
* Closed Bible Society
===Exclusive Brethen===
* The Exclusive Brethren - The only 'Exclusive Brethren' endorsed site
* My Brethren.Org (Exclusive Brethren)
* The Brethren Writers' Hall of Fame — a biographical gallery of several prominent writers from the Plymouth Brethren and several others who had similar views.
==Bibliography==
* Adams, Norman - Goodbye, Beloved Brethren. (1972, Impulse Publications Inc) ISBN 0901311138
* Coad, F. Roy - A History of the Brethren Movement: Its Origins, Its Worldwide Development and Its Significance for the Present Day. (2001, Regent College Publishing) ISBN 1573831832
* Ironside, H. A. - Historical Sketch of the Brethren Movement. (1985,Loizeaux Brothers) ISBN 0872133443
* Neatby, William Blair - A History of the Plymouth Brethren, (1901); Reprinted by Tentmaker Publications [5] covers the first seventy years of the Brethren movement.
* Pickering, Henry, Chief Men Among the Brethren, (1st ed. 1918 London: Pickering & Inglis), Loizeaux Brothers, Inc. Neptune, NJ, 1996, ISBN 0872137988
* Smith, Natan Dylan. - Roots, Renewal and the Brethren. (1996, Hope Publishing House) ISBN 0932727085
* Strauch, Alexander. - Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership. (1995, Lewis & Roth Publishers) ISBN 0936083115
* Stunt, Timothy C. F., From awakening to secession : radical evangelicals in Switzerland and Britain, 1815–35, Edinburgh : T&T Clark, 2000, ISBN 0567087190
[[Category:Protestantism]]
[[Category:Fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

Alleged unfulfilled Bible prophecy

2017-04-13T22:14:59Z

Ambassador: Two more alleged unfulfilled prophecies.

Skeptics, Bible critics, and [[atheists]] sometimes advance allegedly unfulfilled [[Bible prophecy]] in support of their claims that [[Christianity]] is false.

However, the accuracy, reliability and remarkable nature of biblical prophecy makes biblical prophecy one of the strongest arguments for the divine inspiration of the Bible (see: [http://sciencespeaks.dstoner.net/Prophetic_Accuracy.html#c8 Science speaks - Prophetic accuracy] by Dr. Peter Stoner).

== Ezekiel 26: Tyre prophecy ==

:''Claim'': Skeptics allege that the prophecy indicates Nebuchadnezzar would completely destroy the city of Tyre and that Tyre would never be built upon again.<ref>[http://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=1790 Tyre in Prophecy] by
Kyle Butt, M.Div.</ref>

::''Response'': Skeptics indicate that this contradicts the prophecy because, they claim, the Bible says that Nebuchadnezzar would completely destroy Tyre. In reality, it says no such thing. It says that he would attack the city, which he did, and that he would "destroy the walls of Tyrus and break down her towers:" (26:4), which he did. In verse 14, rather than "and they will," we see, "And I will make thee like the top of a rock..." God did do so, as he said, by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.<ref>Henry M. Morris, The Henry Morris Study Bible, (Green Forest, AR: Master Books), p. 1212.</ref>

:''Claim'': "Tyre still exists."

::First, response: Careful [[Bible exegesis]] and the historical record shows the complaint about the prophecy being unfulfilled is completely unmerited (see: [http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2009/12/07/ezekiel-261-14-a-proof-text-for-inerrancy-or-fallibility-of-the-old-testament.aspx#Article Ezekiel 26:1-14: A Proof Text For Inerrancy or Fallibility of The Old Testament?]).

::''Secondary Response'': God said that Tyre wouldn't be rebuilt (26:14), and it wasn't. One can still visit the ruins. A city exists nearby, named Tyre, but this is not the same Tyre. This is a different civilization, built much later, despite its location.

== Ezekiel 29:8-15: Egypt would become a desolate waste for 40 years ==

:''Claim'': Egypt has never become a desolate waster for forty years where men have not walked through it.

::''Response 1'': Though no such period is recorded in Egypt's history, Egypt's historians have not been known to be the most truthful. Egyptian monarchs commonly exaggerated their reigns in historical records, for example. This could lead to a lack of data about a 40 year period of desolation.

::''Response 2'': This prophecy about Egypt is yet to be fulfilled, and will be after the end times. The desolation may be the result of the wars of these end times.

== Ezekiel 30:12 ==

:''Claim:'' There is a lack of historical evidence concerning the Bible passage of ["I will dry up the streams of the Nile,"].

::''Response 1:'' The [[King James Version]] says "I will make the rivers dry," rather than "the streams of the Nile." This may be a metaphor for the commerce of Egypt, since many of its industries depended upon these rivers.

::''Response 2'': This may be a prophecy for the future, considering the Nile and Euphrates are drying up.<ref>Walid Shoebat, The Nile and The Euphrates Are Drying Up: Both Rivers Are In The News And Both Rivers Are In The Bible (An Inevitable Famine Is Plaguing The Muslim World), [http://shoebat.com/2015/03/23/the-nile-and-the-euphrates-are-drying-up-both-rivers-are-in-the-news-and-both-rivers-are-in-the-bible-an-inevitable-famine-is-plaguing-the-muslim-world/ Shoebat.com], March 23, 2015.</ref>

== Isaiah 7:1-7 ==

:''Claim:'' Isaiah 7:1-7, which said that the king of Judah should go to battle, because he would not be harmed, was false, as is seen in 2 Chronicles 28:1-8.<ref>Biblical Prophecies, [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Biblical_prophecies RationalWiki]</ref>

::''Response:'' 2 Chrnonicles 28:1-8, and the parallel passage in 2 Kings 16:5, do not say this. They both say that the battle against Judah failed. 2 Chronicles, which is more specific here, says that King Ahaz and others were captured and killed by Syria, but that the king of Syria was then killed by Israel. Isaiah does not say that king Ahaz wouldn't die, but rather that Judah would not be defeated.

== Isaiah 19:1-8 ==

:''Claim:'' Isaiah says that the rivers of pagan Egypt, which ceased to exist in the 4th century, would dry up. This never happened.<ref>Biblical Prophecies, [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Biblical_prophecies RationalWiki]</ref>

::''Response:'' This would've been fulfilled during the Babylonian and Assyrian invasions of Egypt, a period with few historical records. The flow of the Nile has, in the past, after drought, diminished greatly.<ref>Henry M. Morris, The Henry Morris Study Bible, (Green Forest, AR: Master Books), p. 1030.</ref>

==Resources==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Prophets]]

Minarchism

2017-04-09T20:27:31Z

Ambassador: Night-watchman state

'''Minarchism''' is the [[political]] [[philosophy]] that advocates the minimum [[government]] necessary to ensure social order. In general, minarchists support government providing a legal system including [[police]] and [[judge]]s. Beyond this, there is often disagreement about what the government's minimal role should be, with some including roads and natural resources, but others holding only to police and a court system.

One popular form, defended by Robert Nozick in ''[https://joseywales1965.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/0001_anarchy_state_and_utopia.pdf Anarchy, State, and Utopia]'', is the ''night-watchman state'', which would have only courts, police, and a military.

[[Category:Libertarianism]]

Mises Institute

2017-04-03T21:05:51Z

Ambassador: Created article.

The '''Mises Institute''' is a libertarian institute, often supporting [[anarcho-capitalism]], that promotes [[Austrian economics]], [[liberty]], [[individualism]], and the [[free market]] and attacks war, [[leftism]], and [[big government]]. It was founded in 1982 by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. and is named after [[Ludwig Von Mises]], following his ideology as well as that of [[Murray Rothbard]]. It has online classes, a library containing various books, most of which are available in digital form for free, videos and daily commentary, and ''The Austrian'', which is published six times every year.<ref>[https://mises.org/about-mises/what-is-the-mises-Institute What is the Mises Institute?]</ref>

==External Links==
* [https://www.mises.org Mises website]

==Resources==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Libertarianism]]

Canada

2017-04-03T20:46:13Z

Ambassador: Economic freedom ranking according to the Fraser Institute

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|map =Canada pol99.jpg
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|government =Parliamentary Democracy/Federal Constitutional monarchy
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|language =English, French
|king =
|queen =Elizabeth II
|monarch-raw =
|president =
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|chancellor =
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|pm =Justin Trudeau
|pm-raw =
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|pop =34,030,589
|pop-basis =2011
|gdp =$1.105 trillion
|gdp-year =2007
|gdp-pc =$35,133
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|tld =
}}
'''Canada''' is a Representative [[Democracy]] in [[North America]] which extends from the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the west to the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the east and northward to the [[Arctic Ocean]]. Canada is the largest country by total area in [[North America]] and the second largest in the world behind [[Russia]]. It also has the longest coastline of any nation, as well as the longest border with the [[United States]] to the south and northwest. Its border with the US is the longest undefended border in the world.

Canada's motto, ''A Mari usque ad Mare'' (From sea to sea), is based on biblical scripture: "He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth (Psalm 72:8)".<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/arm2_e.cfm The Arms of Canada- Description]</ref>

==Etymology==
The name Canada originated in 1535 by [[Jacques Cartier]] is based on the Iroquoian word "kanata", meaning "village."<ref name="Canadian_Encylopedia">[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0001216 The Canadian Encyclopedia]</ref> By 1545, Europeans began referring to this region as Canada.

The name ''Dominion of Canada'' was adopted during [[British North America Act|confederation]] in 1867. The name continued until the [[Constitution Act]] of 1982, when "Canada" became the legal name. Canada Day, on July 1, used to known as be Dominion Day.

== Anthem==

The Canadian national anthem, '[[O Canada]]', was written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier as a poem, to which music, composed by Calixa Lavallée, was later added, in 1880. The original was composed in French, and was first translated into English by Dr. Thomas Bedford Richardson of Toronto, Ontario, in 1906. However, it was not officially adopted as the national anthem until 1980.<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/anthem_e.cfm National Anthem: O Canada]</ref> It is important to distinguish between 'O Canada', the national anthem, and 'God Save The Queen', which is the Royal anthem, played as a salute to Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as Queen of Canada. The English lyrics and French lyrics have several notable differences, with the French version being slightly longer.

==Geography==
[[File:E-canada.jpg|thumb|450px|political map of Canada]]
At the time of Confederation, Canada was comprised of four provinces: Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Québec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Since that time, six additional provinces have joined Canada or have been created. From west to east, the provinces are [[British Columbia]], [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]], [[Ontario]], [[Québec]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Prince Edward Island]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Newfoundland|Newfoundland and Labrador]]. Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada, in 1949. The provinces all elect a single (unicameral) legislature, headed by Premier, who is selected the same way as the Prime Minister. A Lieutenant-Governor represents the Queen, similar to the Governor General.
Canada has three territories: the [[Yukon Territory]], the [[Northwest Territories]], and [[Nunavut]],. Territories have only have those powers delegated to them by the federal government. Nunavut is the newest territory, created as a homeland for the Inuit people in 1999.

*Area: 9.9 million km2. (3.8 million sq. mi.); second-largest country in the world.
*Cities: Capital—Ottawa (pop. 1.1 million). Other major cities—Toronto (5.1 million), Montreal (3.6 million), Vancouver (2.1 million), Calgary (1.1 million), Edmonton (1.0 million), Quebec City (0.7 million), Winnipeg (0.7 million), Hamilton (0.7 million).
*Terrain: Mostly plains with mountains in the west and lowlands in the southeast.
*Climate: Temperate to arctic.
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==People==
[[File:Canadian Aboriginal Festival.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Aboriginal leader at the 13th Annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival, 2006.]]
*Population (2008 est.): 33.1 million.
*Ethnic groups: British/Irish 28%, French 23%, other European 15%, Asian/Arab/African 6%, indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed background 26%.
*Religions: Roman Catholic 43.6%, Protestant 29.2%, other Christian 4.3%, Muslim 2.0%, Jewish 1.1%, Buddhist 1.0%, Hindu 1.0% other 1.3%, none 16.5%.
*Languages: English (official) 57.8%, French (official) 22.1%, other 20.1% (including Chinese and aboriginal languages).
*Education: Literacy—99% of population aged 15 and over has at least a ninth-grade education.
*Health: Infant mortality rate—5.4/1,000. Life expectancy—77.7 yrs. male, 82.5 yrs. female.
*Work force (2008, 18.2 million): Goods-producing sector—25%, of which: manufacturing 15%; construction 6%; agriculture 2%; natural resources 2%; utilities 1%. Service-producing sector—75%, of which: trade 16%; health care and social assistance 11%; educational services 7%, accommodation and food services 7%; professional, scientific, and technical services 7%; finance 6%; public administration 5%; transportation and warehousing 5%; information, culture, and recreation 5%; other services 4%.

In 2005 the city of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] was voted "the world's best place to live" in the world.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4306936.stm Vancouver is "best place to live"] ("Canadian cities scored well, as did Austria's Vienna and Switzerland's Geneva, because they are not seen as targets for terror attacks.")</ref> Calgary has been named on several occasions the world's cleanest city.
Canada's population is increasingly urban, with 6 cities recording a population over 1 million ([[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], [[Vancouver]], [[Ottawa]]-Gatineau, [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]]); these 6 cities represent over 45% of Canada's population. Canada is becoming an increasingly multicultural country, with most new immigrants settling in [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]] and [[Vancouver]]. [[Toronto]] is the world's most multicultural city, with 43% a member of a visible minority.<ref>http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=bb0fee45-b305-490a-b161-a21bcb1d7329&k=34160</ref>
[[Image:800px-Canada-satellite.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A satellite image of Canada.]]

====Culture====
Due to its colonial past, Canadian culture has historically been heavily influenced by British culture. Quebec maintains a French culture but has been largely cut off from Parisian trends for 250 years. Since 1800 Canadian culture has been greatly influenced by American culture, due to the proximity and the migration of people, ideas, and capital. Amidst this, Canadian culture has developed some unique characteristics, and many Canadian movies, authors, television shows, and musicians are equally popular in United States. The Canadian television industry has a local content requirement, which requires the use of Canadian actors in Canadian productions. Canadian culture has also been influenced by indigenous cultures, and by immigrant groups from around the world. It has the highest per capita immigration rate of any country in the world, with the percentage growing every day.<ref>http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/d080402a.htm</ref>

Canada has two federal official languages, French and English. The province of Quebec has French as its official language, New Brunswick both French and English, making it the only bilingual province, and all other provinces English (although in some parts of Ontario French has special status). The territory of Nunavut has Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun as official languages in addition to French and English, the North West territories has eleven official languages, and the Yukon recognizes French and English.

Canada tends to reflect significantly more liberal social policies than the neighboring states of the northern U.S. One such example is the legalizing of [[gay marriage]] in June, 2005<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/28/samesex050628.html CBC news article on passing of gay marriage law]</ref> Another is its single-payer health care system.

In comparing the suicide rates between Canada and its closest neighbour the US, Canada has a slightly higher rate.<ref>[http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suiciderates/en/ WHO: Suicide rates]</ref> It has been suggested that this slightly higher rate of suicide is induced by Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mental health disorder prevalent in northern countries due the significantly reduced or non-existent daylight hours during the winter. Severe episodes of Seasonal Affective Disorder can cause suicidal thoughts.<ref>http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86-93-291</ref>

<center>
[[File:Toronto Canada 2009.jpg]]

Panorama of Toronto, Ontario.
</center>

===Sports===
See [[Canadian sports]]

Notable sports which are enjoyed throughout Canada include [[hockey]], [[curling]], [[lacrosse]], and [[football]]. Canada collected 18 medals in the Summer Olympics, more per capita than the United States but less than Australia. The country finished third overall in the Torino Winter Olympics, with a total of 24 medals, one less than the United States and 10 more than next-place [[Sweden]]. The most recent winter Olympics, was held in 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler. Canada finished third overall in medal count and was first in gold medal count with 14 gold. This was the first instance of Canada winning a gold medal on home ground and a moment of national pride.

====Cultural Style====
[[File:Canada Orchestra.jpg|thumb|Collegiate band.]]
Canadian culture puts stress on open-mindedness and tolerance of multiple viewpoints.<ref>See [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/features/cucanada.xml&source=EMC-exp_01102008 National Cultural Profiles, a guide from the London ''Telegraph'' to the thinking patterns of all the world's major cultures]</ref> Canadian opinion shows a strong sense of wanting to be independent of the U.S., although their economy, society, and culture closely resembles the U.S., and most Canadians live a short drive from the border. Canada is usually contrasted as a "cultural mosaic" to the United States' "melting pot". Canadian and U.S. polls habitually confirm citizens of both countries view the relationship with each other in a highly positive light, and consider each other with a special respect afforded to common allies.<ref>http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/canadian-cultural-mosaic-american-melting-pot</ref>
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====Education====
[[File:Mount St Helens erupting at night by Paul Kane.jpg|thumb|330px|Mount St Helens erupting at night by Paul Kane, 1847.]]
Education in Canada is the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments; curriculum and marking schemes are completely removed from the control of the federal government. Each province uses a different method of administering education, with variation in the number of years and the curriculum. Quebec, for example has five years of secondary school finishing at the equivalent of grade 11 followed by two years of CEGEP, while Ontario has two years of kindergarten. Most provinces have kindergarten with school starting at age 5 going to grade 12 (age 17) as part of the public system. Some provinces have standardised provincial exams at the end of secondary school and/or at other designated grades.

Several provinces have two publicly funded school systems: public and private(either corporate or religious). The constitution also guarantees education in one's first official language and, as such, all provinces and territories have both English and French language schooling. Additionally, private schools both religious and secular exist throughout the country. Alberta has an additional category, known as charter schools. Charter schools are schools that have been created in the community to surround a particular theme. They could be artistic, vocational, etc.

A source of comparison is the Human Development Index, a measurement of literacy, education, life expectancy and standard of living. Using this scale, Canada scores +.967 and the U.S. +950.

====Religion====
For the total population, in 2001, 12.9 million (44%) were Roman Catholic, with 8.7 million Protestants (29%). 4.9 million (16% ) report no religious affiliation (including atheists and agnostics). Other religions of significance in Canada include 580,000 Muslims; 330,000 Jews; 300,000 Buddhists; 297,000 Hindus; and 278,000 Sikhs.<ref>See [http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/demo30a-eng.htm "Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census)"]</ref>

Catholicism formerly dominated Quebec until the "[[Quiet Revolution]]" of the 1960s, which has greatly reduced the power of the Catholic Church in Quebec, and its participation rates.
[[File:Gurion Hyman Jewish people of Canada.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Jewish people of Canada.]]
The proportion attending religious services on a regular basis has declined over the past 20 years. According to the General Social Survey (GSS), 21% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported they attended a religious service at least once a week in 2005, down from 30% in 1985.<ref>Colin Lindsay, "Canadians attend weekly religious services less than 20 years ago," [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-630-x/2008001/article/10650-eng.htm ''Statistics Canada'' (2008)]</ref> Between 1985 and 2004, the share of Canadians aged 15 and older reporting no religious affiliation increased by seven percentage points from 12% to 19%. 37% of Canadians who rarely attend formal services nevertheless regularly engage in personal religious practices. Of of those who had not attended any religious services over the previous year, 27% engaged in weekly religious practices on their own. Overall this group of adults who regularly engage in private religious practices, but infrequently or never attend religious services, represent, 21% of the adult population. This pattern was most prevalent among older Canadians.<ref>Warren Clark and Grant Schellenberg, "Who's religious?" [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2006001/9181-eng.htm '"Statistics Canada'' (2008)]</ref>

Civil liberties organizations, the media, and some members of Parliament occasionally criticized federal and provincial human rights commissions and tribunals for their application of hate speech restrictions included in federal and provincial human rights acts, claiming that the commissions and tribunals at times limited free speech and expression, and religious rights. The commissions are required by law to process all complaints they receive.

A complaint against the editor of ''Catholic Insight'', alleging the magazine promoted hatred against homosexuals, remained before the Canadian Human Rights Commission at the end of 2008. The complainant alleged that he was upholding Catholic teaching on homosexuality in the magazine.

In June 2008 members of the Ontario legislature voted unanimously to maintain the tradition of reading the Lord's Prayer in the provincial legislature and to add a rotation of prayers from other major religious traditions and a moment of silent reflection for atheists. The vote was prompted by a proposal by Ontario's premier in February 2008 to discontinue the religious observance.

==Government==
The government of Canada is split into two orders, federal and provincial, as outlined by the BNA Act. Each has very specific responsibilities, with some overlap. For instance, universal health care is mandated by the Federal Government, but it is administered by the Provincial Governments. Neither level has supremacy over the other. The Federal Government is run out of [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]; the provincial governments are run out the ten provincial capitals.

The federal parliament is bicameral, including both a lower house - the [[Canadian House of Commons]] - and an upper house - the [[Canadian Senate]]. The parliamentary system is based on the British parliament. Members of Parliament represent specific geographical areas, generally chosen to have approximately equal population. A single member is elected from each on a [[first past the post]] system. The [[prime minister]] is usually the leader of the party with the most seats, though two or more parties may form a [[coalition]] to form a government. The governor General (GG) thus appoints the Prime minister.

The Senate is made up of senators appointed for life by the prime minister (acting on behalf of the Governor General).

In almost all cases, Acts of Parliament are created in the House of Commons. After passing three readings in the House of Commons, the bill is passed to the Senate. The job of the Senate is to further debate the proposed legislation, before passing it to the Governor General for Royal Assent. The Governor General is the official representative of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]], Queen of Canada. The senators and the governor general are appointed positions by the sitting government. Senators are "lifetime" (until 75 years old) appointments and the Governor General will sit for, approximately, five yerars. The Prime Minister of Canada is the head of Government of Canada, acting as the Minister of the Crown, a practise inherited from the British system. The PM's term can last up to five years.

All provincial legislatures are unicameral. The legislative process for provincial legislation is the same as for federal legislation, except that there is no Senate and the legislation is given royal assent by the provincial Lieutenants Governor, who represent the monarch at the provincial level.

From 1841 to 1844, the capital city of what would become Canada was located in [[Kingston|Kingston, Ontario]]. Subsequently, the capital alternated between [[Toronto]] and [[Montreal]] until 1857, when the capital moved to [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]].
[[Image:Supreme Court of Canada.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Supreme Court of Canada.]]
The 40th Canadian Federal General Election occurred on October 14, 2008.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/09/07/election-call.html "Vote set for Oct. 14"]</ref> Currently, the Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau, a member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]], while His Excellency [[David Lloyd Johnston]] is the Governor General. At present Canada is governed by a liberal [[majority government]].<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/</ref>

===Principal Government Officials===
*Head of State—Queen Elizabeth II
*Governor General—David Lloyd Johnston
*Prime Minister—Justin Trudeau
*Minister of Foreign Affairs—Stéphane Dion
*Ambassador to the United Nations—John McNee

===Politics===
On October 19, 2015, the Conservative party lost the election in favor of Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party.

On February 6, 2006, [[Stephen Harper]], leader of the Conservative Party, became Canada's twenty-second prime minister, succeeding Liberal Paul Martin. A policy wonk from Alberta, Harper rose from the ranks of conservative political party staffers. In Parliament, he became Leader of the Opposition (2002-6). In 2003 he became head of the western-based Canadian Alliance. He was elected the first leader of the Conservative Party of Canada when it was created in 2003 through the merger of Harper's Canadian Alliance and Peter MacKay's Progressive Conservative Party. The January 23, 2006 election victory by the Conservative Party ended twelve years of Liberal Party rule that, in the end, was tainted by accusations of corruption and ethical missteps. In the federal election on October 14, 2008, the Conservatives won 38% of the vote and formed a second minority government with 143 seats in the House of Commons. The Liberals won 26% of the vote and 77 seats in the House of Commons. As the party with the second-largest number of seats, the Liberals form the "official opposition."

The Conservatives made unexpected gains in Quebec by winning ten seats in the January 2006 election, but failed to increase their number of seats in the province in the 2008 election. The separatist Bloc Quebecois (BQ) had a majority (49) of Quebec's 75 seats (the BQ runs candidates only in Quebec). The left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) had 37 seats, and two independents also sat in Parliament. Harper beat off a threatening no-confidence vote in late 2008 by warning that a government that included the BQ separatists—who want Quebec to break away from Canada—was hostile to Canada's national unity.

On May 2, 2011 there was another election. The outcome was very dramatic and ground breaking. The Liberals traditionally placing first or second were reduced to just 34 seats becoming the third party of Canada. This happened from vote splitting in Ontario in which the leftists split their votes between the Liberals and the NDP. The Bloc Quebecois were destroyed in Quebec as the so-called "Orange Crush" of the NDP swept that province taking 59 out of 75 seats, leaving the BQ with a mere 4 seats. The NDP had their best results of all time and for the first time in history became the Official Opposition. The Conservatives came out on top though with 166 seats giving them their coveted majority. The Conservative lost the election of 2015 to the Liberal Party by a large margin.

Canada is ranked 5th on the [[Fraser Institute]]'s [https://www.fraserinstitute.org/economic-freedom/map?page=map&year=2014 Economic Freedom Index], with a score of 7.98 out of 10.

===Policy===
[[File:Afghanistan Canadian army.JPEG|thumb|280px|Canadian army at Afghanistan.]]
Policy priorities of the Conservatives under Harper have remained fairly consistent since 2006: fighting the [[Recession of 2008]]; aiding the ailing [[Automobile]] industry; improving accountability and ethics in government; lowering taxes; fighting crime; reinvesting in defense; bolstering Canada's Arctic sovereignty; promoting national unity; and raising the profile of Canada's role abroad, through its combat mission in Afghanistan, contributions to stabilization in Haiti, and renewed partnership with Latin America. Harper has been friendly with the U.S., despite growing Canadian annoyance with restrictions on border crossings. Harper has been a strong supporter of [[NAFTA]], and works to increase Canada's oil exports to the U.S. He remains strong in the polls as Canada has suffered less from the worldwide [[Recession of 2008]] than the EU or the U.S.

[[Quebec]], with 23% of the national population, its distinctive French-language ("francophone") culture, angered the western provinces by wielding undue influence on the Federal Government and its repeated threats to national unity. Until Harper of Alberta became prime minister in 2006, the western provinces had denounced Ottawa's failure to appreciate the oil interests, one of Canada's major industries. Ontario complains that it pays out far more to the Federal Government than it gets back in revenues, while the Atlantic Provinces seek to assert greater control over fishing and mineral rights off their shores. The Federal Government ceded some power in a few areas of provincial jurisdiction, while seeking to strengthen the federal role in many other areas such as inter-provincial trade and the regulation of securities.

====National Unity====
Popular support for Quebec sovereignty appears to be on the wane, although Francophone pride in that province's unique cultural and linguistic identity remains very strong. Most Quebec voters seem to appreciate the economic benefits of remaining in the Canadian confederation and aim to advance their separate Francophone identity within the confederation. In a provincial election held on December 8, 2008, provincial Liberal Leader Jean Charest won a majority government. The separatist Parti Quebecois placed second.

====Quebec Secession Movement and the October Crisis====
[[File:Quebec1759.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Painting of British landing at Quebec, 1759.]]
There are trivial separatist movements lobbying for independence from Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. The only movement of real significance is in Quebec, where the province has twice voted on whether or not to separate from Canada, once in 1980 and again in 1995; the vote in 1995 failed by just 1 percent. On November 27, 2006, the Federal Government passed a motion declaring Québec a nation "within a united Canada".<ref>http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2544166&File=0#OOB-1799206</ref>

This movement did reach a violent level however when the [[FLQ]] (Front de liberation du Quebec) undertook a series of letterbombings from 1963-1970 [http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005880.com] The terror campaign reached a fever pitch when Pierre Laporte and James Cross were kidnapped in their own homes by gun wielding FLQ members. [http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/civil_unrest/topics/101/] The government initiated a crackdown in which the War Measures Act was put in place. This allowed the government to detain suspected terrorists without trial, and is the only time where the measure has been enacted in peace time. [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/flq/11.html]. The measure was widely supported by Canadians at the time. The action was short-lived however as the members of the FLQ were tracked down and arrested. The body of Pierre Laporte was discovered in the trunk of a car outside a Canadian military base. James Cross was released after intense negotiations with the government. The remaining members of the FLQ were either jailed or as a result of negotiations deported to Cuba.

===Taxation===
The average tax rate in Canada is higher than in the United States. In 2003, Canada's tax burden equals about 33.8% of GDP placing it in the middle of the G7 countries, with Japan lowest at 25.3% and France highest at 43.4%.<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/faq1e.html#Taxation Department of Finance Canada: FAQs]</ref> The US rate is roughly 25.6%; this discrepancy is consistent with the differing levels of social services which the governments funds. Canada also had managed to run without a budget deficit for a number of years under the last Liberal government.

Equalization payments, worth 11.7 billion Canadian dollars are made by the federal government to the provinces from richer provinces (currently Alberta, Newfoundland,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/11/03/have-not.html]</ref> and British Columbia) and the poorer provinces (Ontario,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/03/flaherty-ministers.html]</ref> Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). This is to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.<ref>[http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/bp/bpc4e.html Budget 2007]</ref> These payments have not been without controversy as provinces begin to make more revenues from natural resources they do not want to give up the Equalization payments.

British Columbia’s combined federal and provincial corporate tax rate is lower than any jurisdiction in the United States.<ref name=tax>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Invest/Business-Climate/Pages/CompetitiveTaxClimate.aspx|title=Competitive Tax Climate|publisher=British Columbia|accessdate=Aug 12, 2012}}</ref> The BC corporate rate is 10% and the federal rate is 15%.<ref name=tax/>

Canada also has a national sales tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% on all purchases. Some provinces add an additional percentage in the form of a Provincial Sales Tax (PST), or a combined Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) combining GST and the Provincial Sales Tax. Based on actual income, and a number of other factors, the government will refund GST/HST to eligible tax payers in quarterly installments on the fifth of the month in July, October, January, and April.

====Public Health Care====
[[File:Trudeau.jpg|thumb|Pierre Elliot Trudeau.]]
In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration".<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref> This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferral of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.

In Canada health care is frequently listed as top issue in election campaigns and is both a topic of frequent debate and a point of pride for many Canadians, Tommy Douglas the founder of medicare was, for example, voted the "Greatest Canadian" on a CBC television programme in 2004.<ref>
http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/</ref>

The current state of Canada's public health care system is gathering increasing media attention due to rising wait times. [[David Gratzer]] wrote:
<blockquote>... government researchers have provided the best data on the doctor shortage, noting, for example, that more than 1.5 million Ontarians (or 12 percent of that province’s population) can’t find family physicians.<ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html The Ugly Truth about Canadian Healthcare]</ref></blockquote>
Most of the blame for the current state of affairs has been placed on successive government mismanagement. This represents a failure of the federal government to properly regulate the level of service being offered in the provinces. People regularly have to wait between four and eight months for non-emergency surgeries. The median wait time for an MRI across Canada is 10.3 weeks in 2006.<ref>http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=nr&id=753</ref> In fact, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chretien|Jean Chrétien]] campaigned on a promise to shut down private MRI clinics because it creates a two tier system, regardless of the demand for more facilities.

In recent years, there has been suggestion from some lobby groups that Canada should adopt a two-tier health care system, while others have expressed strong opposition to this idea, including the federal government under the Liberal Party. Some argue that Canada already does have a two-tier health care system as the very wealthy can go to the United States for treatment. The argument for allowing private health care is twofold. The first reason is that competition may improve the quality of products and services, while the increase in options will allow those with the means to access private health care and may relieve some of the burden off the public system. Critics argue that health is a right, and that everyone should have access to the same standard of care.

Recently, in [[Québec]], a provincial judge has ruled that private health care providers must be allowed to compete with the government-run health care system.

==Defense==
As of the most recent cabinet shuffle, Conservative MP Peter MacKay has assumed the role of Minister of National Defense.
[[File:Canadian Army ambulance Medical Truck.jpg|left|250px]]
The [[Canadian Forces]] is comprised of the Regular Force and the Reserve Force. The Regular and Reserve Forces employ over 62,000 and 25,000 members respectively. While the various branches wear distinctive elemental uniforms (DEU), the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force were amalgamated in 1968 into one common command structure.<ref>http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/about/index_e.asp</ref>
The Canadian Forces are <ref>http://www.canadianally.com/ca/forces-cf-en.asp</ref> equipped with modern vehicles such as the Canadian-built LAV III, the German-built Leopard CII tanks and both the American-built CF-18 Hornet and CC-177 Globemaster III. The Canadian government spends about 17 billion Canadian dollars annually on defence.<ref>[http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp]</ref>

The Conservative government has continued the trend of increased defense spending initiated by the Liberals, and have also taken steps to decrease red-tape preventing the troops from having the necessary equipment to keep them safe and effective. They have also taken steps to establish Canada's sovereignty over its arctic regions.

Over 3000 Canadian troops are currently deployed around the world, including a few fighter planes used in operations in the middle East. Another 500 are deployed to the Middle East where they are attached to a US-led coalition fleet and the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). These are prime examples of Canada's capability for interoperability with foreign military forces.

==Economy==
[[File:Urmas Paet Canadian Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan, 2010.jpg|thumb|250px|The Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan with Urmas Paet, Estonian Foreign Minister, 2010.]]
*GDP (2007): $1.266 trillion.
*Real GDP growth rate (2007): 2.7%.
*Per capita GDP (2007): $38,435.
*Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas, hydroelectric power, metals and minerals, fish, forests, wildlife, abundant fresh water.
*Agriculture: Products—wheat, livestock and meat, feed grains, oil seeds, dairy products, tobacco, fruits, vegetables.
*Industry: Types—motor vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, aircraft and components, other diversified manufacturing, fish and forest products, processed and unprocessed minerals.
*Trade: U.S. merchandise exports to Canada (2007)--$248.9 billion: motor vehicles and spare parts, industrial and electrical machinery, plastics, computers, chemicals, petroleum products and natural gas, and agricultural products. In 2007, 65% of Canada's imports came from the United States. U.S. merchandise imports from Canada (2007)--$313.1 billion: motor vehicles and spare parts, crude petroleum and natural gas, forest products, agricultural products, metals, industrial machinery, and aircraft. In 2007, 76% of Canada's exports went to the U.S.

===Business===

Canada has invested heavily in high-tech, export-oriented businesses, achieving major success in:
* Aerospace: Canada’s global share of aerospace activity has tripled in the last 20 years, making Canada the world’s 5th largest aerospace producer.
* Ag-biotech: Canadian firms’ revenues exceed those of US agro-based companies and are more than double those of Japan and the UK.
* Agri-food: Canada is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products.
* Automotive: Canada is among the Top 10 automotive countries and the 3rd largest exporter of automotive products after Japan and the U.S. Most of the output goes to the U.S. market.
* Biotechnology: Canada is a leader in biotechnology—one of the top five countries in the world.
* Plastics: Canada is the world’s fourth largest exporter of moulds and eighth largest exporter of plastics processing machinery.
* see also [[Canadian railways]]
[[File:O-bad-for-canada.jpg|thumb|200px|Leading Canadian newsmagazine evaluates Obama's threat to Canada, June 29, 2009]]

Canadians worry that Obama's economic policies will damage Canada's economy, especially [[cap and trade]], the Buy America rule in the 2009 stimulus, and environmental hostility to Canadian oil produced from oil sands.

===Energy===
Canada has vast natural resources and is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of energy. In 2005, Canada produced 19.1 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy, the fifth-largest amount in the world. Since 1980, Canada’s total energy production has increased by 86%, while its total energy consumption has increased by only 48% during that period. Almost all of Canada’s energy exports go to the United States, making it the largest foreign source of U.S. energy imports: Canada is consistently among the top sources for U.S. oil imports, and it is the largest source of U.S. natural gas and electricity imports.<ref>See Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Canada/Background.html "Canada" (2009 report)]</ref>

In 2005, the largest source of energy consumption in Canada was oil (31%), followed by hydroelectricity (25%) and natural gas (24%). Both coal (12%) and nuclear (7%) constitute a smaller share of the country’s overall energy mix. From 1985-2005, Canada’s overall energy mix has remained relatively stable, though hydroelectricity has decreased from 31%to 25%, as oil drilling is more popular than dam building. As of 2011, the trend has reversed, and Hydroelectricity is making 32% of the country's electricity. The remainder is produced by oil, and renewables.

==History==
* See [[History of Canada]]

[[File:VC John Robert Osborn Statue Military of Canada Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Statue, Military of Canada, John Robert Osborn, VC, [[Hong Kong]]'s Park.]]

==See also==
*[[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]]

==Further reading==
* '''See [[History of Canada]] for a more detailed bibliography.'''

* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCESubjects&Params=A1 ''Canadian Encyclopedia'' (2008)] reliable detailed encyclopedia, on-line free
* Artibise, Alan F. J., ed. ''Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Society: A Guide to the Literature.'' McGill-Queen's U. Press, 1990. 156 pp.
* Bickerton, James, and Alain Gagnon. ''Canadian Politics'' (2004) 584 pages, textbook
* Blore, Shawn. ''Frommer's Canada'' (2004) 828 pages travel guide
* Campbell, Robert Malcolm et al. ''The Real Worlds of Canadian Politics: Cases in Process and Policy,'' (2004) 342 pages
* Conrad, Margaret, and Alvin Finkel. ''Canada: A National History.'' (2003), college textbook.
* DK Publishing. ''Canada'' (Eyewitness Travel Guides) by Hugh Thompson (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Canada-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides-Publishing/dp/0789495619/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249580319&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Hallowell, Gerald, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian History'' (2004) 1650 very good entries
* Johnson, William. ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Harper-Future-William-Johnson/dp/0771095546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239348955&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Morton, Desmond. ''A Short History of Canada'' 5th ed (2001)
* ''National Atlas of Canada'' (1st ed. 1906; 2nd ed. 1915; 3rd ed. 1957; 4th ed. 1974; 6th ed. 1999 is electronic)
* Pammett, Jon H., and Christopher Dornan. ''The Canadian Federal Election of 2006'' (2006)
* Pryke, Kenneth G. and Walter C. Soderlund, eds. ''Profiles of Canada.'' (2003). 3rd edition of textbook
* Toye, William, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature.'' (1983). 843 pp.
* Wells, Paul. ''Right Side Up: the Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism'' (2006)
* Westhues, Anne. '' Canadian Social Policy: Issues and Perspectives,'' 2003

== External links ==
[[File:David Sorensen Horizon Center Focus No 2 Horizon-Series 2004.jpg|thumb|David Sorensen, Horizon Center Focus No. 2, Horizon-Series, 2004.]]
* [http://www.gc.ca/ Government of Canada]
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/ Parliament of Canada]
* [http://www.pch.gc.ca/ Department of Canadian Heritage]
* [http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=Eng&SP_Action=Main-Principal&SP_Mode=2 Statistics Canada current data]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html CIA World Factbook:Canada]
* [http://www.forces.ca The Canadian Forces], military
* [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-516-x/3000140-eng.htm ''Historical Statistics of Canada'' (1983)] The major historical data source.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwDvF0NtgdU Canadian National Anthem]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNlTwaPQQH4&feature=related Canadian National Anthem (French)]
*[http://www.asianramblings.com/travel/hong-kong/battle-hong-kong/canadian-heroes-china-john-robert-osborn/ Battle of Hong Kong - Canadian Heroes in China: John Robert Osborn, VC.]

=== Political Party Websites (Major) ===
* [http://www.conservative.ca Conservative Party of Canada]
* [http://www.liberal.ca Liberal Party of Canada]
* [http://www.ndp.ca New Democratic Party of Canada]
* [http://www.blocquebecois.org Bloc Québécois]
* [http://www.greenparty.ca Green Party of Canada]

=== Political Party Websites (Minor) ===
* [http://www.fpnpoc.ca/ First Peoples National Party of Canada]
* [http://www.partyofalberta.org/ Party of Alberta]
* [http://www.progressivecanadian.org/ Progressive Canadian Party]
* [http://www.mlpc.ca/ Marxist-Leninist Party]
* [http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/ Canadian Action Party]
* [http://www.peoplespoliticalpower.ca/ People's Political Power Party]
* [http://www.animalalliance.ca/ Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party]
* [http://www.westernblockparty.com/ Western Bloc Party]
* [http://www.chp.ca/en/index.html Christian Heritage Party of Canada]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Canada| ]]
[[Category:North American Countries]]
[[Category:NATO Members]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]
[[Category:Canadian History]]
[[Category:Welfare State]]
[[Category:Socialism]]
[[Category:Gun Control]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

Canada

2017-04-03T20:40:38Z

Ambassador: Typo. Internal link

{{Country
|name =''Canada''
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|government =Parliamentary Democracy/Federal Constitutional monarchy
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|language =English, French
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|queen =Elizabeth II
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|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Justin Trudeau
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}}
'''Canada''' is a Representative [[Democracy]] in [[North America]] which extends from the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the west to the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the east and northward to the [[Arctic Ocean]]. Canada is the largest country by total area in [[North America]] and the second largest in the world behind [[Russia]]. It also has the longest coastline of any nation, as well as the longest border with the [[United States]] to the south and northwest. Its border with the US is the longest undefended border in the world.

Canada's motto, ''A Mari usque ad Mare'' (From sea to sea), is based on biblical scripture: "He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth (Psalm 72:8)".<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/arm2_e.cfm The Arms of Canada- Description]</ref>

==Etymology==
The name Canada originated in 1535 by [[Jacques Cartier]] is based on the Iroquoian word "kanata", meaning "village."<ref name="Canadian_Encylopedia">[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0001216 The Canadian Encyclopedia]</ref> By 1545, Europeans began referring to this region as Canada.

The name ''Dominion of Canada'' was adopted during [[British North America Act|confederation]] in 1867. The name continued until the [[Constitution Act]] of 1982, when "Canada" became the legal name. Canada Day, on July 1, used to known as be Dominion Day.

== Anthem==

The Canadian national anthem, '[[O Canada]]', was written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier as a poem, to which music, composed by Calixa Lavallée, was later added, in 1880. The original was composed in French, and was first translated into English by Dr. Thomas Bedford Richardson of Toronto, Ontario, in 1906. However, it was not officially adopted as the national anthem until 1980.<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/anthem_e.cfm National Anthem: O Canada]</ref> It is important to distinguish between 'O Canada', the national anthem, and 'God Save The Queen', which is the Royal anthem, played as a salute to Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as Queen of Canada. The English lyrics and French lyrics have several notable differences, with the French version being slightly longer.

==Geography==
[[File:E-canada.jpg|thumb|450px|political map of Canada]]
At the time of Confederation, Canada was comprised of four provinces: Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Québec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Since that time, six additional provinces have joined Canada or have been created. From west to east, the provinces are [[British Columbia]], [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]], [[Ontario]], [[Québec]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Prince Edward Island]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Newfoundland|Newfoundland and Labrador]]. Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada, in 1949. The provinces all elect a single (unicameral) legislature, headed by Premier, who is selected the same way as the Prime Minister. A Lieutenant-Governor represents the Queen, similar to the Governor General.
Canada has three territories: the [[Yukon Territory]], the [[Northwest Territories]], and [[Nunavut]],. Territories have only have those powers delegated to them by the federal government. Nunavut is the newest territory, created as a homeland for the Inuit people in 1999.

*Area: 9.9 million km2. (3.8 million sq. mi.); second-largest country in the world.
*Cities: Capital—Ottawa (pop. 1.1 million). Other major cities—Toronto (5.1 million), Montreal (3.6 million), Vancouver (2.1 million), Calgary (1.1 million), Edmonton (1.0 million), Quebec City (0.7 million), Winnipeg (0.7 million), Hamilton (0.7 million).
*Terrain: Mostly plains with mountains in the west and lowlands in the southeast.
*Climate: Temperate to arctic.
{{Clear}}

==People==
[[File:Canadian Aboriginal Festival.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Aboriginal leader at the 13th Annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival, 2006.]]
*Population (2008 est.): 33.1 million.
*Ethnic groups: British/Irish 28%, French 23%, other European 15%, Asian/Arab/African 6%, indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed background 26%.
*Religions: Roman Catholic 43.6%, Protestant 29.2%, other Christian 4.3%, Muslim 2.0%, Jewish 1.1%, Buddhist 1.0%, Hindu 1.0% other 1.3%, none 16.5%.
*Languages: English (official) 57.8%, French (official) 22.1%, other 20.1% (including Chinese and aboriginal languages).
*Education: Literacy—99% of population aged 15 and over has at least a ninth-grade education.
*Health: Infant mortality rate—5.4/1,000. Life expectancy—77.7 yrs. male, 82.5 yrs. female.
*Work force (2008, 18.2 million): Goods-producing sector—25%, of which: manufacturing 15%; construction 6%; agriculture 2%; natural resources 2%; utilities 1%. Service-producing sector—75%, of which: trade 16%; health care and social assistance 11%; educational services 7%, accommodation and food services 7%; professional, scientific, and technical services 7%; finance 6%; public administration 5%; transportation and warehousing 5%; information, culture, and recreation 5%; other services 4%.

In 2005 the city of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] was voted "the world's best place to live" in the world.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4306936.stm Vancouver is "best place to live"] ("Canadian cities scored well, as did Austria's Vienna and Switzerland's Geneva, because they are not seen as targets for terror attacks.")</ref> Calgary has been named on several occasions the world's cleanest city.
Canada's population is increasingly urban, with 6 cities recording a population over 1 million ([[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], [[Vancouver]], [[Ottawa]]-Gatineau, [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]]); these 6 cities represent over 45% of Canada's population. Canada is becoming an increasingly multicultural country, with most new immigrants settling in [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]] and [[Vancouver]]. [[Toronto]] is the world's most multicultural city, with 43% a member of a visible minority.<ref>http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=bb0fee45-b305-490a-b161-a21bcb1d7329&k=34160</ref>
[[Image:800px-Canada-satellite.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A satellite image of Canada.]]

====Culture====
Due to its colonial past, Canadian culture has historically been heavily influenced by British culture. Quebec maintains a French culture but has been largely cut off from Parisian trends for 250 years. Since 1800 Canadian culture has been greatly influenced by American culture, due to the proximity and the migration of people, ideas, and capital. Amidst this, Canadian culture has developed some unique characteristics, and many Canadian movies, authors, television shows, and musicians are equally popular in United States. The Canadian television industry has a local content requirement, which requires the use of Canadian actors in Canadian productions. Canadian culture has also been influenced by indigenous cultures, and by immigrant groups from around the world. It has the highest per capita immigration rate of any country in the world, with the percentage growing every day.<ref>http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/d080402a.htm</ref>

Canada has two federal official languages, French and English. The province of Quebec has French as its official language, New Brunswick both French and English, making it the only bilingual province, and all other provinces English (although in some parts of Ontario French has special status). The territory of Nunavut has Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun as official languages in addition to French and English, the North West territories has eleven official languages, and the Yukon recognizes French and English.

Canada tends to reflect significantly more liberal social policies than the neighboring states of the northern U.S. One such example is the legalizing of [[gay marriage]] in June, 2005<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/28/samesex050628.html CBC news article on passing of gay marriage law]</ref> Another is its single-payer health care system.

In comparing the suicide rates between Canada and its closest neighbour the US, Canada has a slightly higher rate.<ref>[http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suiciderates/en/ WHO: Suicide rates]</ref> It has been suggested that this slightly higher rate of suicide is induced by Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mental health disorder prevalent in northern countries due the significantly reduced or non-existent daylight hours during the winter. Severe episodes of Seasonal Affective Disorder can cause suicidal thoughts.<ref>http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86-93-291</ref>

<center>
[[File:Toronto Canada 2009.jpg]]

Panorama of Toronto, Ontario.
</center>

===Sports===
See [[Canadian sports]]

Notable sports which are enjoyed throughout Canada include [[hockey]], [[curling]], [[lacrosse]], and [[football]]. Canada collected 18 medals in the Summer Olympics, more per capita than the United States but less than Australia. The country finished third overall in the Torino Winter Olympics, with a total of 24 medals, one less than the United States and 10 more than next-place [[Sweden]]. The most recent winter Olympics, was held in 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler. Canada finished third overall in medal count and was first in gold medal count with 14 gold. This was the first instance of Canada winning a gold medal on home ground and a moment of national pride.

====Cultural Style====
[[File:Canada Orchestra.jpg|thumb|Collegiate band.]]
Canadian culture puts stress on open-mindedness and tolerance of multiple viewpoints.<ref>See [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/features/cucanada.xml&source=EMC-exp_01102008 National Cultural Profiles, a guide from the London ''Telegraph'' to the thinking patterns of all the world's major cultures]</ref> Canadian opinion shows a strong sense of wanting to be independent of the U.S., although their economy, society, and culture closely resembles the U.S., and most Canadians live a short drive from the border. Canada is usually contrasted as a "cultural mosaic" to the United States' "melting pot". Canadian and U.S. polls habitually confirm citizens of both countries view the relationship with each other in a highly positive light, and consider each other with a special respect afforded to common allies.<ref>http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/canadian-cultural-mosaic-american-melting-pot</ref>
{{Clear}}

====Education====
[[File:Mount St Helens erupting at night by Paul Kane.jpg|thumb|330px|Mount St Helens erupting at night by Paul Kane, 1847.]]
Education in Canada is the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments; curriculum and marking schemes are completely removed from the control of the federal government. Each province uses a different method of administering education, with variation in the number of years and the curriculum. Quebec, for example has five years of secondary school finishing at the equivalent of grade 11 followed by two years of CEGEP, while Ontario has two years of kindergarten. Most provinces have kindergarten with school starting at age 5 going to grade 12 (age 17) as part of the public system. Some provinces have standardised provincial exams at the end of secondary school and/or at other designated grades.

Several provinces have two publicly funded school systems: public and private(either corporate or religious). The constitution also guarantees education in one's first official language and, as such, all provinces and territories have both English and French language schooling. Additionally, private schools both religious and secular exist throughout the country. Alberta has an additional category, known as charter schools. Charter schools are schools that have been created in the community to surround a particular theme. They could be artistic, vocational, etc.

A source of comparison is the Human Development Index, a measurement of literacy, education, life expectancy and standard of living. Using this scale, Canada scores +.967 and the U.S. +950.

====Religion====
For the total population, in 2001, 12.9 million (44%) were Roman Catholic, with 8.7 million Protestants (29%). 4.9 million (16% ) report no religious affiliation (including atheists and agnostics). Other religions of significance in Canada include 580,000 Muslims; 330,000 Jews; 300,000 Buddhists; 297,000 Hindus; and 278,000 Sikhs.<ref>See [http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/demo30a-eng.htm "Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census)"]</ref>

Catholicism formerly dominated Quebec until the "[[Quiet Revolution]]" of the 1960s, which has greatly reduced the power of the Catholic Church in Quebec, and its participation rates.
[[File:Gurion Hyman Jewish people of Canada.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Jewish people of Canada.]]
The proportion attending religious services on a regular basis has declined over the past 20 years. According to the General Social Survey (GSS), 21% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported they attended a religious service at least once a week in 2005, down from 30% in 1985.<ref>Colin Lindsay, "Canadians attend weekly religious services less than 20 years ago," [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-630-x/2008001/article/10650-eng.htm ''Statistics Canada'' (2008)]</ref> Between 1985 and 2004, the share of Canadians aged 15 and older reporting no religious affiliation increased by seven percentage points from 12% to 19%. 37% of Canadians who rarely attend formal services nevertheless regularly engage in personal religious practices. Of of those who had not attended any religious services over the previous year, 27% engaged in weekly religious practices on their own. Overall this group of adults who regularly engage in private religious practices, but infrequently or never attend religious services, represent, 21% of the adult population. This pattern was most prevalent among older Canadians.<ref>Warren Clark and Grant Schellenberg, "Who's religious?" [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2006001/9181-eng.htm '"Statistics Canada'' (2008)]</ref>

Civil liberties organizations, the media, and some members of Parliament occasionally criticized federal and provincial human rights commissions and tribunals for their application of hate speech restrictions included in federal and provincial human rights acts, claiming that the commissions and tribunals at times limited free speech and expression, and religious rights. The commissions are required by law to process all complaints they receive.

A complaint against the editor of ''Catholic Insight'', alleging the magazine promoted hatred against homosexuals, remained before the Canadian Human Rights Commission at the end of 2008. The complainant alleged that he was upholding Catholic teaching on homosexuality in the magazine.

In June 2008 members of the Ontario legislature voted unanimously to maintain the tradition of reading the Lord's Prayer in the provincial legislature and to add a rotation of prayers from other major religious traditions and a moment of silent reflection for atheists. The vote was prompted by a proposal by Ontario's premier in February 2008 to discontinue the religious observance.

==Government==
The government of Canada is split into two orders, federal and provincial, as outlined by the BNA Act. Each has very specific responsibilities, with some overlap. For instance, universal health care is mandated by the Federal Government, but it is administered by the Provincial Governments. Neither level has supremacy over the other. The Federal Government is run out of [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]; the provincial governments are run out the ten provincial capitals.

The federal parliament is bicameral, including both a lower house - the [[Canadian House of Commons]] - and an upper house - the [[Canadian Senate]]. The parliamentary system is based on the British parliament. Members of Parliament represent specific geographical areas, generally chosen to have approximately equal population. A single member is elected from each on a [[first past the post]] system. The [[prime minister]] is usually the leader of the party with the most seats, though two or more parties may form a [[coalition]] to form a government. The governor General (GG) thus appoints the Prime minister.

The Senate is made up of senators appointed for life by the prime minister (acting on behalf of the Governor General).

In almost all cases, Acts of Parliament are created in the House of Commons. After passing three readings in the House of Commons, the bill is passed to the Senate. The job of the Senate is to further debate the proposed legislation, before passing it to the Governor General for Royal Assent. The Governor General is the official representative of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]], Queen of Canada. The senators and the governor general are appointed positions by the sitting government. Senators are "lifetime" (until 75 years old) appointments and the Governor General will sit for, approximately, five yerars. The Prime Minister of Canada is the head of Government of Canada, acting as the Minister of the Crown, a practise inherited from the British system. The PM's term can last up to five years.

All provincial legislatures are unicameral. The legislative process for provincial legislation is the same as for federal legislation, except that there is no Senate and the legislation is given royal assent by the provincial Lieutenants Governor, who represent the monarch at the provincial level.

From 1841 to 1844, the capital city of what would become Canada was located in [[Kingston|Kingston, Ontario]]. Subsequently, the capital alternated between [[Toronto]] and [[Montreal]] until 1857, when the capital moved to [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]].
[[Image:Supreme Court of Canada.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Supreme Court of Canada.]]
The 40th Canadian Federal General Election occurred on October 14, 2008.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/09/07/election-call.html "Vote set for Oct. 14"]</ref> Currently, the Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau, a member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]], while His Excellency [[David Lloyd Johnston]] is the Governor General. At present Canada is governed by a liberal [[majority government]].<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/</ref>

===Principal Government Officials===
*Head of State—Queen Elizabeth II
*Governor General—David Lloyd Johnston
*Prime Minister—Justin Trudeau
*Minister of Foreign Affairs—Stéphane Dion
*Ambassador to the United Nations—John McNee

===Politics===
On October 19, 2015, the Conservative party lost the election in favor of Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party.

On February 6, 2006, [[Stephen Harper]], leader of the Conservative Party, became Canada's twenty-second prime minister, succeeding Liberal Paul Martin. A policy wonk from Alberta, Harper rose from the ranks of conservative political party staffers. In Parliament, he became Leader of the Opposition (2002-6). In 2003 he became head of the western-based Canadian Alliance. He was elected the first leader of the Conservative Party of Canada when it was created in 2003 through the merger of Harper's Canadian Alliance and Peter MacKay's Progressive Conservative Party. The January 23, 2006 election victory by the Conservative Party ended twelve years of Liberal Party rule that, in the end, was tainted by accusations of corruption and ethical missteps. In the federal election on October 14, 2008, the Conservatives won 38% of the vote and formed a second minority government with 143 seats in the House of Commons. The Liberals won 26% of the vote and 77 seats in the House of Commons. As the party with the second-largest number of seats, the Liberals form the "official opposition."

The Conservatives made unexpected gains in Quebec by winning ten seats in the January 2006 election, but failed to increase their number of seats in the province in the 2008 election. The separatist Bloc Quebecois (BQ) had a majority (49) of Quebec's 75 seats (the BQ runs candidates only in Quebec). The left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) had 37 seats, and two independents also sat in Parliament. Harper beat off a threatening no-confidence vote in late 2008 by warning that a government that included the BQ separatists—who want Quebec to break away from Canada—was hostile to Canada's national unity.

On May 2, 2011 there was another election. The outcome was very dramatic and ground breaking. The Liberals traditionally placing first or second were reduced to just 34 seats becoming the third party of Canada. This happened from vote splitting in Ontario in which the leftists split their votes between the Liberals and the NDP. The Bloc Quebecois were destroyed in Quebec as the so-called "Orange Crush" of the NDP swept that province taking 59 out of 75 seats, leaving the BQ with a mere 4 seats. The NDP had their best results of all time and for the first time in history became the Official Opposition. The Conservatives came out on top though with 166 seats giving them their coveted majority. The Conservative lost the election of 2015 to the Liberal Party by a large margin.

===Policy===
[[File:Afghanistan Canadian army.JPEG|thumb|280px|Canadian army at Afghanistan.]]
Policy priorities of the Conservatives under Harper have remained fairly consistent since 2006: fighting the [[Recession of 2008]]; aiding the ailing [[Automobile]] industry; improving accountability and ethics in government; lowering taxes; fighting crime; reinvesting in defense; bolstering Canada's Arctic sovereignty; promoting national unity; and raising the profile of Canada's role abroad, through its combat mission in Afghanistan, contributions to stabilization in Haiti, and renewed partnership with Latin America. Harper has been friendly with the U.S., despite growing Canadian annoyance with restrictions on border crossings. Harper has been a strong supporter of [[NAFTA]], and works to increase Canada's oil exports to the U.S. He remains strong in the polls as Canada has suffered less from the worldwide [[Recession of 2008]] than the EU or the U.S.

[[Quebec]], with 23% of the national population, its distinctive French-language ("francophone") culture, angered the western provinces by wielding undue influence on the Federal Government and its repeated threats to national unity. Until Harper of Alberta became prime minister in 2006, the western provinces had denounced Ottawa's failure to appreciate the oil interests, one of Canada's major industries. Ontario complains that it pays out far more to the Federal Government than it gets back in revenues, while the Atlantic Provinces seek to assert greater control over fishing and mineral rights off their shores. The Federal Government ceded some power in a few areas of provincial jurisdiction, while seeking to strengthen the federal role in many other areas such as inter-provincial trade and the regulation of securities.

====National Unity====
Popular support for Quebec sovereignty appears to be on the wane, although Francophone pride in that province's unique cultural and linguistic identity remains very strong. Most Quebec voters seem to appreciate the economic benefits of remaining in the Canadian confederation and aim to advance their separate Francophone identity within the confederation. In a provincial election held on December 8, 2008, provincial Liberal Leader Jean Charest won a majority government. The separatist Parti Quebecois placed second.

====Quebec Secession Movement and the October Crisis====
[[File:Quebec1759.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Painting of British landing at Quebec, 1759.]]
There are trivial separatist movements lobbying for independence from Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. The only movement of real significance is in Quebec, where the province has twice voted on whether or not to separate from Canada, once in 1980 and again in 1995; the vote in 1995 failed by just 1 percent. On November 27, 2006, the Federal Government passed a motion declaring Québec a nation "within a united Canada".<ref>http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2544166&File=0#OOB-1799206</ref>

This movement did reach a violent level however when the [[FLQ]] (Front de liberation du Quebec) undertook a series of letterbombings from 1963-1970 [http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005880.com] The terror campaign reached a fever pitch when Pierre Laporte and James Cross were kidnapped in their own homes by gun wielding FLQ members. [http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/civil_unrest/topics/101/] The government initiated a crackdown in which the War Measures Act was put in place. This allowed the government to detain suspected terrorists without trial, and is the only time where the measure has been enacted in peace time. [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/flq/11.html]. The measure was widely supported by Canadians at the time. The action was short-lived however as the members of the FLQ were tracked down and arrested. The body of Pierre Laporte was discovered in the trunk of a car outside a Canadian military base. James Cross was released after intense negotiations with the government. The remaining members of the FLQ were either jailed or as a result of negotiations deported to Cuba.

===Taxation===
The average tax rate in Canada is higher than in the United States. In 2003, Canada's tax burden equals about 33.8% of GDP placing it in the middle of the G7 countries, with Japan lowest at 25.3% and France highest at 43.4%.<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/faq1e.html#Taxation Department of Finance Canada: FAQs]</ref> The US rate is roughly 25.6%; this discrepancy is consistent with the differing levels of social services which the governments funds. Canada also had managed to run without a budget deficit for a number of years under the last Liberal government.

Equalization payments, worth 11.7 billion Canadian dollars are made by the federal government to the provinces from richer provinces (currently Alberta, Newfoundland,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/11/03/have-not.html]</ref> and British Columbia) and the poorer provinces (Ontario,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/03/flaherty-ministers.html]</ref> Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). This is to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.<ref>[http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/bp/bpc4e.html Budget 2007]</ref> These payments have not been without controversy as provinces begin to make more revenues from natural resources they do not want to give up the Equalization payments.

British Columbia’s combined federal and provincial corporate tax rate is lower than any jurisdiction in the United States.<ref name=tax>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Invest/Business-Climate/Pages/CompetitiveTaxClimate.aspx|title=Competitive Tax Climate|publisher=British Columbia|accessdate=Aug 12, 2012}}</ref> The BC corporate rate is 10% and the federal rate is 15%.<ref name=tax/>

Canada also has a national sales tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% on all purchases. Some provinces add an additional percentage in the form of a Provincial Sales Tax (PST), or a combined Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) combining GST and the Provincial Sales Tax. Based on actual income, and a number of other factors, the government will refund GST/HST to eligible tax payers in quarterly installments on the fifth of the month in July, October, January, and April.

====Public Health Care====
[[File:Trudeau.jpg|thumb|Pierre Elliot Trudeau.]]
In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration".<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref> This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferral of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.

In Canada health care is frequently listed as top issue in election campaigns and is both a topic of frequent debate and a point of pride for many Canadians, Tommy Douglas the founder of medicare was, for example, voted the "Greatest Canadian" on a CBC television programme in 2004.<ref>
http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/</ref>

The current state of Canada's public health care system is gathering increasing media attention due to rising wait times. [[David Gratzer]] wrote:
<blockquote>... government researchers have provided the best data on the doctor shortage, noting, for example, that more than 1.5 million Ontarians (or 12 percent of that province’s population) can’t find family physicians.<ref>[http://city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html The Ugly Truth about Canadian Healthcare]</ref></blockquote>
Most of the blame for the current state of affairs has been placed on successive government mismanagement. This represents a failure of the federal government to properly regulate the level of service being offered in the provinces. People regularly have to wait between four and eight months for non-emergency surgeries. The median wait time for an MRI across Canada is 10.3 weeks in 2006.<ref>http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=nr&id=753</ref> In fact, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chretien|Jean Chrétien]] campaigned on a promise to shut down private MRI clinics because it creates a two tier system, regardless of the demand for more facilities.

In recent years, there has been suggestion from some lobby groups that Canada should adopt a two-tier health care system, while others have expressed strong opposition to this idea, including the federal government under the Liberal Party. Some argue that Canada already does have a two-tier health care system as the very wealthy can go to the United States for treatment. The argument for allowing private health care is twofold. The first reason is that competition may improve the quality of products and services, while the increase in options will allow those with the means to access private health care and may relieve some of the burden off the public system. Critics argue that health is a right, and that everyone should have access to the same standard of care.

Recently, in [[Québec]], a provincial judge has ruled that private health care providers must be allowed to compete with the government-run health care system.

==Defense==
As of the most recent cabinet shuffle, Conservative MP Peter MacKay has assumed the role of Minister of National Defense.
[[File:Canadian Army ambulance Medical Truck.jpg|left|250px]]
The [[Canadian Forces]] is comprised of the Regular Force and the Reserve Force. The Regular and Reserve Forces employ over 62,000 and 25,000 members respectively. While the various branches wear distinctive elemental uniforms (DEU), the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force were amalgamated in 1968 into one common command structure.<ref>http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/about/index_e.asp</ref>
The Canadian Forces are <ref>http://www.canadianally.com/ca/forces-cf-en.asp</ref> equipped with modern vehicles such as the Canadian-built LAV III, the German-built Leopard CII tanks and both the American-built CF-18 Hornet and CC-177 Globemaster III. The Canadian government spends about 17 billion Canadian dollars annually on defence.<ref>[http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20072008/me-bd/part1/ME-030_e.asp]</ref>

The Conservative government has continued the trend of increased defense spending initiated by the Liberals, and have also taken steps to decrease red-tape preventing the troops from having the necessary equipment to keep them safe and effective. They have also taken steps to establish Canada's sovereignty over its arctic regions.

Over 3000 Canadian troops are currently deployed around the world, including a few fighter planes used in operations in the middle East. Another 500 are deployed to the Middle East where they are attached to a US-led coalition fleet and the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). These are prime examples of Canada's capability for interoperability with foreign military forces.

==Economy==
[[File:Urmas Paet Canadian Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan, 2010.jpg|thumb|250px|The Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan with Urmas Paet, Estonian Foreign Minister, 2010.]]
*GDP (2007): $1.266 trillion.
*Real GDP growth rate (2007): 2.7%.
*Per capita GDP (2007): $38,435.
*Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas, hydroelectric power, metals and minerals, fish, forests, wildlife, abundant fresh water.
*Agriculture: Products—wheat, livestock and meat, feed grains, oil seeds, dairy products, tobacco, fruits, vegetables.
*Industry: Types—motor vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, aircraft and components, other diversified manufacturing, fish and forest products, processed and unprocessed minerals.
*Trade: U.S. merchandise exports to Canada (2007)--$248.9 billion: motor vehicles and spare parts, industrial and electrical machinery, plastics, computers, chemicals, petroleum products and natural gas, and agricultural products. In 2007, 65% of Canada's imports came from the United States. U.S. merchandise imports from Canada (2007)--$313.1 billion: motor vehicles and spare parts, crude petroleum and natural gas, forest products, agricultural products, metals, industrial machinery, and aircraft. In 2007, 76% of Canada's exports went to the U.S.

===Business===

Canada has invested heavily in high-tech, export-oriented businesses, achieving major success in:
* Aerospace: Canada’s global share of aerospace activity has tripled in the last 20 years, making Canada the world’s 5th largest aerospace producer.
* Ag-biotech: Canadian firms’ revenues exceed those of US agro-based companies and are more than double those of Japan and the UK.
* Agri-food: Canada is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products.
* Automotive: Canada is among the Top 10 automotive countries and the 3rd largest exporter of automotive products after Japan and the U.S. Most of the output goes to the U.S. market.
* Biotechnology: Canada is a leader in biotechnology—one of the top five countries in the world.
* Plastics: Canada is the world’s fourth largest exporter of moulds and eighth largest exporter of plastics processing machinery.
* see also [[Canadian railways]]
[[File:O-bad-for-canada.jpg|thumb|200px|Leading Canadian newsmagazine evaluates Obama's threat to Canada, June 29, 2009]]

Canadians worry that Obama's economic policies will damage Canada's economy, especially [[cap and trade]], the Buy America rule in the 2009 stimulus, and environmental hostility to Canadian oil produced from oil sands.

===Energy===
Canada has vast natural resources and is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of energy. In 2005, Canada produced 19.1 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy, the fifth-largest amount in the world. Since 1980, Canada’s total energy production has increased by 86%, while its total energy consumption has increased by only 48% during that period. Almost all of Canada’s energy exports go to the United States, making it the largest foreign source of U.S. energy imports: Canada is consistently among the top sources for U.S. oil imports, and it is the largest source of U.S. natural gas and electricity imports.<ref>See Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Canada/Background.html "Canada" (2009 report)]</ref>

In 2005, the largest source of energy consumption in Canada was oil (31%), followed by hydroelectricity (25%) and natural gas (24%). Both coal (12%) and nuclear (7%) constitute a smaller share of the country’s overall energy mix. From 1985-2005, Canada’s overall energy mix has remained relatively stable, though hydroelectricity has decreased from 31%to 25%, as oil drilling is more popular than dam building. As of 2011, the trend has reversed, and Hydroelectricity is making 32% of the country's electricity. The remainder is produced by oil, and renewables.

==History==
* See [[History of Canada]]

[[File:VC John Robert Osborn Statue Military of Canada Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Statue, Military of Canada, John Robert Osborn, VC, [[Hong Kong]]'s Park.]]

==See also==
*[[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]]

==Further reading==
* '''See [[History of Canada]] for a more detailed bibliography.'''

* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCESubjects&Params=A1 ''Canadian Encyclopedia'' (2008)] reliable detailed encyclopedia, on-line free
* Artibise, Alan F. J., ed. ''Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Society: A Guide to the Literature.'' McGill-Queen's U. Press, 1990. 156 pp.
* Bickerton, James, and Alain Gagnon. ''Canadian Politics'' (2004) 584 pages, textbook
* Blore, Shawn. ''Frommer's Canada'' (2004) 828 pages travel guide
* Campbell, Robert Malcolm et al. ''The Real Worlds of Canadian Politics: Cases in Process and Policy,'' (2004) 342 pages
* Conrad, Margaret, and Alvin Finkel. ''Canada: A National History.'' (2003), college textbook.
* DK Publishing. ''Canada'' (Eyewitness Travel Guides) by Hugh Thompson (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Canada-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides-Publishing/dp/0789495619/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249580319&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Hallowell, Gerald, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian History'' (2004) 1650 very good entries
* Johnson, William. ''Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Harper-Future-William-Johnson/dp/0771095546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239348955&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Morton, Desmond. ''A Short History of Canada'' 5th ed (2001)
* ''National Atlas of Canada'' (1st ed. 1906; 2nd ed. 1915; 3rd ed. 1957; 4th ed. 1974; 6th ed. 1999 is electronic)
* Pammett, Jon H., and Christopher Dornan. ''The Canadian Federal Election of 2006'' (2006)
* Pryke, Kenneth G. and Walter C. Soderlund, eds. ''Profiles of Canada.'' (2003). 3rd edition of textbook
* Toye, William, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature.'' (1983). 843 pp.
* Wells, Paul. ''Right Side Up: the Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism'' (2006)
* Westhues, Anne. '' Canadian Social Policy: Issues and Perspectives,'' 2003

== External links ==
[[File:David Sorensen Horizon Center Focus No 2 Horizon-Series 2004.jpg|thumb|David Sorensen, Horizon Center Focus No. 2, Horizon-Series, 2004.]]
* [http://www.gc.ca/ Government of Canada]
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/ Parliament of Canada]
* [http://www.pch.gc.ca/ Department of Canadian Heritage]
* [http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=Eng&SP_Action=Main-Principal&SP_Mode=2 Statistics Canada current data]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html CIA World Factbook:Canada]
* [http://www.forces.ca The Canadian Forces], military
* [http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-516-x/3000140-eng.htm ''Historical Statistics of Canada'' (1983)] The major historical data source.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwDvF0NtgdU Canadian National Anthem]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNlTwaPQQH4&feature=related Canadian National Anthem (French)]
*[http://www.asianramblings.com/travel/hong-kong/battle-hong-kong/canadian-heroes-china-john-robert-osborn/ Battle of Hong Kong - Canadian Heroes in China: John Robert Osborn, VC.]

=== Political Party Websites (Major) ===
* [http://www.conservative.ca Conservative Party of Canada]
* [http://www.liberal.ca Liberal Party of Canada]
* [http://www.ndp.ca New Democratic Party of Canada]
* [http://www.blocquebecois.org Bloc Québécois]
* [http://www.greenparty.ca Green Party of Canada]

=== Political Party Websites (Minor) ===
* [http://www.fpnpoc.ca/ First Peoples National Party of Canada]
* [http://www.partyofalberta.org/ Party of Alberta]
* [http://www.progressivecanadian.org/ Progressive Canadian Party]
* [http://www.mlpc.ca/ Marxist-Leninist Party]
* [http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/ Canadian Action Party]
* [http://www.peoplespoliticalpower.ca/ People's Political Power Party]
* [http://www.animalalliance.ca/ Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party]
* [http://www.westernblockparty.com/ Western Bloc Party]
* [http://www.chp.ca/en/index.html Christian Heritage Party of Canada]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Canada| ]]
[[Category:North American Countries]]
[[Category:NATO Members]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]
[[Category:Canadian History]]
[[Category:Welfare State]]
[[Category:Socialism]]
[[Category:Gun Control]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

New American Standard Bible

2017-04-03T17:25:11Z

Ambassador: Translator renounces all connection with NASB

The '''New American Standard Bible''' (NASB) is a modern [[English language]] translation of the [[Bible]]. It is fully accessible online. ''This translation is considered one of the finest, and more [[conservative]], of the modern versions''.

It is based on the 1901 [[American Standard Version]], but seeks to provide a smoother reading in contemporary English. Archaic English "thee's" and "thou's" are replaced and words and phrases have been updated to the extent that their familiar meanings have changed. Sentences beginning with "and" have been changed, sometimes substituting "then" or "but" depending on the context. Through consultation with original [[Hebrew]] and [[Greek]] texts, some passages have been corrected.

The original NASB claims to be the most accurate English Bible translation, conveying the meaning without changing it to suit modern views. Promoters of this version declare that "it has been widely acclaimed as 'the most literally accurate translation' from the original languages. ... With the NASB, anyone can discover what the original text really says, word for word, because it is considered the most literal translation of the Bible in the English language, consistently following the oldest and best manuscripts. ... The updated NASB remains the most literally accurate Bible in the English language."<ref>http://www.lockman.org/nasb/</ref>

While the NASB is certainly more accurate than most modern translations, it has defects:

*it erases references to [[Hell]], containing only 15 references to Hell while the KJV has 54 references to it
*it includes many passages of doubtful authenticity, which do not exist in the earliest manuscripts
*it has some gender-neutralizing that changes the meaning, such as replacing the KJV's "sons of God" with the gender neutral (and very different concept) of "children of God"<ref>See, e.g., [[Feminist Bible]].</ref>
*its translation of the Beatitudes in Luke 6 has liberal overtones that change the likely original meaning
*in the parable of the vineyard workers ([[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#20:1|Matthew 20:15]]), the NASB diluted the powerful phrase "Is your eye evil, because I am good?" by using different words for "evil" and "good"
*it translates [[Luke 1-8 (Translated)#1:45]] by changing "from the Lord" to "by the Lord" in connection with the angel's message to [[Mary]]
*its own language is becoming arcane

The rights to the NASB are owned by the Lockman Foundation, an interdenominational nonprofit group which also has the rights to the [[Amplified Bible]]. The NASB should not be confused with the [[New American Bible]], which is a [[Catholic]] translation.

==Dr. Frank Logsdon==

Dr. Frank Logsdon, a member of the translation committee, was later convinced that the Catholic manuscripts from which modern Bibles are translated are, in fact, bad manuscripts. He renounced all connections to the NASB and now promoted the [[Authorized Version]] as the perfect word of God.<ref>Bible Translator Says, 'I'm In Trouble With The Lord.', ''Chick Publications'' [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/articles/translator.asp&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwij5q3T5IjTAhVE_IMKHfEoDLwQFggEMAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNH2C0Vt2o5fpKmE2lRW3nxeaE7Wpg]</ref>

== References ==

<references/>
[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Bible Versions]]
{{Bible Versions}}

David Rockefeller

2017-04-03T12:38:17Z

Ambassador: Quotes

'''David Rockefeller''' (12 June 1915 - 20 March 2017) was a banker and former head of Chase Bank.
[[File:David Rockefeller - NARA - 1953.jpg|thumb|200px|David Rockefeller]]
==Biography==
Born in New York City on 12 June 1915, Rockefeller was the eldest son of billionaire John D. Rockefeller Jr. (1874-1960) and He also was the brother of former Vice President [[Nelson Rockefeller]].

On 20 March 2017 Rockefeller died at his home at an age of 101.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-20/david-rockefeller-banker-philanthropist-heir-dies-at-101</ref>

==Business and political influence==
Rockefeller helped to found the Trilateral Commission an elitist group of political and business members from North America, Asia and Europe. He was an advocate of a one world government. He has been attended the [[Bilderberg group|Bilderberg conferences]] for several times, which his first meeting was in 1954 at Hotel de Bilderberg, Netherlands.

In the late 1940s Rockefeller has joined the Chase National Bank in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]] a successful global banking company.

The liberal faction of the [[Republican Party]] are also called the "Rockefeller Republicans", which includes former presidents [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Gerald Ford]] and his brother Nelson Rockefeller.<ref>http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/donald-trump-2016-rockefeller-republican-214260</ref>

==Quotes==
* "Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure—one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."<ref>Rockefeller, D., ''Memoirs'', p. 405</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rockefeller, David}}
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Financiers]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Euthyphro

2017-03-10T03:14:36Z

Ambassador: Solution. Dilemma is a false dichotomy

'''''Euthyphro''''' (Greek '''''Ευθύφρων''''') is the name of one of [[Plato]]'s early [[Socrates|Socratic]] dialogues. Together with three other of his dialogues - the ''[[Apology (Plato)|Apology]]'', ''[[Crito]]'' and ''[[Phaedo]]'', it forms part of a group of Platonic dialogues on the trial and death of Socrates. In modern times, the group is often published together in a single volume with the title ''The Last Days of Socrates''.

In ''Euthyphro'', Socrates carries on a discussion on the nature of piety with Euthyphro, an acquaintance whom he meets on the steps of the courthouse as he (Socrates) arrives to answer to charges of [[impiety]] brought against him. Socrates discovers that Euthyphro is there in the capacity of a litigant bringing charges against his own father over the death of a laborer in his employ, one who had been retained because of his involvement in the death of a slave. For pressing charges against his father, Euthyphro had been reproached for being impious and it was this which led Socrates to inquiry about the nature of piety.

==The problem of Euthyphro==

In one of the more famous passages in this dialogue, Socrates asks:

:"The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved by the gods."

==Implications of the Problem==

In this context, piety and holiness are interchangeable with virtue or goodness.
Socrates is asking Euthyphro whether: (a) the gods love something because it is good, or (b) whether the object is good [[Divine command theory|because the gods love it]].
If we take (a) to be true, then the gods are unnecessary, because the object would be good regardless of their existence.
If we take (b) to be true, then we have two problems: that of continuity and that of arbitrariness. The problem of continuity arises when the gods change their minds and then declare a new moral law that is substantially different from, or perhaps even the opposite of, the previous moral law. An exaggerated example would be if [[murder]] or [[genocide]] were declared holy and just or even obligatory. The problem of arbitrariness states that the gods just selected some random things and then declared them holy for no real moral reason (as morality wouldn't exist until they did); this obviously raises the question about whether the random things they selected to be holy were really the best things for humanity.

== Atheism and the Euthypro ==

[[Creation Ministries International]] points out that [[atheism]] has problems related to the issues raised by the Euthypro dilemma.<ref>http://creation.com/atheism</ref> This has been called the 'Athyphro dilemma.'<ref>Matt Slick, ''[https://carm.org/athyphro-dilemma What is the Athyphro Dilemma?]'', CARM</ref> It might be said: Is something good because atheists say it is good, or do atheists say something's good because it is?

==Solution==
The dilemma is a [[false dichotomy]]. The answer is that goodness is a necessary aspect of God's nature. It is not apart from God, but he didn't decide it.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==

* [http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html ''Euthyphro''] Internet Classics Archive on-line version translated by Benjamin Jowett
* [http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/euthyphro/ SparkNotes philosophy study guide on ''Euthyphro'']
* [http://www.theandros.com/euthyphro.html Absurd Wisdom: an Apology for ''Euthyphro'', by John C. Medaille]
== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Ancient Greece]]
[[Category:Philosophical Works]]

Nehemiah (Biblical book)

2017-03-07T03:08:24Z

Ambassador: Redirect

#REDIRECT [[Nehemiah (Biblical Book)]]

Margaret Atwood

2017-03-07T03:01:40Z

Ambassador: Correction and additions

Margaret Atwood (born 1939) is a Canadian author (born November 18, 1939, in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]])<ref>Margaret Atwood, ''Encyclopædia Britannica,''</ref>. Her works include ''The Circle Game'' (1966), ''Surfacing'' (1972), ''Selected Poems'' (1976), ''Dancing Girls'' (1977), ''Life Before Man'' (1979), ''Bodily Harm'' (1981), ''The Handmaid's Tale'' (1985), and ''Cat's Eye'' (1988).<ref>''The New York Public Library Student's Desk Reference''. Prentice Hall, New York, 1993.</ref> She is known for her [[feminism | feminist]] views, which can be easily seen in some of her works.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category: Canadians]]

Fahrenheit 451

2017-03-04T16:25:03Z

Ambassador: Categories

'''Fahrenheit 451''' is a 1953 [[dystopian]] novel by [[Ray Bradbury]], concerning a future America in which books are outlawed<ref>Bradbury, R., ''Fahrenheit 451'' (New York: Simon & Schuster), 1953. </ref>. "Firemen" burn any books that are found.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Novels]]
[[Category: Dystopian Fiction]]
[[Category: Science Fiction]]

Fahrenheit 451

2017-03-04T16:23:28Z

Ambassador: Haven't read the book - couldn't write much.

User talk:Ambassador

2017-03-04T03:29:42Z

Ambassador: Reply to Dataclarifier

Conservative parables

2017-02-27T15:56:11Z

Ambassador: I deleted a parable. Read it and see I my decision was fair. You can undo my deletion if you think it wasn't. I think it was a bad parable, perhaps even written by a socialist. The wording itself is suspicious.

'''Conservative parables''' are stories that illustrate a [[conservative]] insight. The stories are typically based on real events.

== The Broken Bicycle ==

One morning in [[New York City]] a crowd of pedestrians waited for the streetlight to change so that they could cross the intersection. The sidewalk corner was crowded with people, as it often is, and one pedestrian stepped slightly into the street in anticipation of crossing it. But at that moment a messenger on a bicycle was moving quickly through the intersection, and was thrown off balance by hitting the pedestrian's foot. The bicycle crashed, destroying it beyond repair.

The crowd gasped in horror, but the bicyclist was unharmed. His bicycle, however, had been ruined. One bystander, observing that the fault was due to the pedestrian, wanted to donate so that the bicyclist could buy a replacement. But the bystander could not afford to give him much money. So instead the bystander took out a $5 bill and handed it to the bicyclist in front of the crowd.

Others then followed that example and made donations of their own to the bicyclist. Before long he had enough to buy a replacement for his bicycle, and was back at work by the afternoon.

== The Desperate Smoker==
[[Image:Ashtray.jpg|thumb|150px|Is charity really charity if it just goes up in [[cigarette|smoke]]?]]
A smoker was in a drug store to purchase a pack of [[cigarette]]s. Short on cash, he emptied all his pockets in order to scrounge up with every last penny he had. The cashier counted all the change and but found it was ten cents short of the total required for the cheapest pack of cigarettes.

The smoker desperately turned to the man standing behind him and asked him for a dime. The bystander clearly had a spare dime.

Should the bystander give the smoker a dime so he can purchase the pack of cigarettes?

The bystander, who is generous by nature, did something more difficult for him: he denied the request and instead urged the smoker to "kick the habit."

The smoker then gathered all his change and left the store.

== The Fasting Woman ==
A woman had been fasting for several days and was quite weak. It was Sunday morning, and she wondered whether she had enough strength to attend church. It would have been easy to justify not going, as she had already shown her love and devotion to God that week. But she decided to attend the services anyway. Without eating any breakfast, she prepared herself for the late morning service. She got dressed, gathered her purse and belongings, and drove off to the church.

The church was filled for the late-morning service, with many hundreds of worshipers. The woman sat near the back and watched the pews fill up with members of the community, young and old. The service was about to begin. The woman then heard an unusual commotion outside, including several loud noises and shouts. She turned around several times to look at the door to the church. Her intuition told her something was wrong.

Suddenly, a large, armed man burst through the door and began firing his gun at the hundreds of worshipers, children and all. The woman mustered all her strength and pulled out her own gun from her bag. She then shot the intruder. Stunned, and expecting to die from her shot, the intruder reacted by killing himself. The worshipers in the church were all saved. Afterwards, the woman said that she had been "praying to God that he direct me" in what to do in life.<ref>[http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html ''God Guided Me And Protected Me.''] 7 News: The Denver Channel</ref>

== The Troubled Pregnancy ==

A pregnant woman was doing missionary work in the Philippines. Due to contaminated drinking water in an impoverished area, the woman contracted amoebic dysentery while pregnant. This required that she take strong medications in order to recover.

The woman's doctor told her that the medication inevitably caused irreversible damage to the developing unborn child in her womb. The doctor advised the woman to have an [[abortion]]. The doctor told the woman that she would be burdened with a disabled child and it would be better to get rid of the unborn child now through [[abortion]].

The woman refused to have the [[abortion]] and subsequently gave birth to a baby boy, whom she named Timothy.

Twenty years later, [[Tim Tebow]] was recognized as the best college football player in the [[United States]] by winning the [[Heisman Trophy]], the first to win that prestigious award as only a sophomore.<ref>[http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121108.html This parable is based on the birth and life of Tim Tebow]</ref>

== The Lost $40 ==

One day a teenager received $40 from his father. The teenager then had to drive somewhere, and he put the $40 on the seat of his car. After going in and out of the car several times, and driving with the windows open, the $40 was gone. He searched and searched for it, but could not find it anywhere.

He then spent dozens of hours agonizing over the lost $40, obsessed with having lost it. It bothered him for weeks, even months. He still remembered it years later.

One day he realized that, based on the prevailing wage for teenagers of $8 per hour, that $40 was worth no more than about 6 hours of his time (after taxes). If he had simply worked rather than worry, he would have quickly "found" the $40 and accomplished something in the process.

== The Flop ==

A skinny young man having limited athletic ability had a determination to do his very best and win. He picked the high jump event, but could only clear about 5' 3", nowhere near what was needed to win any competitions. But he worked tirelessly, trying all known techniques for jumping over a bar. Still, he could not improve to the point where he could win.

Yet he did not give up, and harnessed his competitive spirit to invent a revolutionary style of jumping back-first over the bar. Though lacking the athletic gifts of his competitors, the young man improved his jumping ability by a foot and more. He began to win.

His peculiar style attracted mockery and name-calling, as people derided his technique as the "flop". But that did not faze him, and he continued to jump in the direction opposite to all his competitors. Despite winning the national college high jump event, experts still considered his success to be a fluke and his approach to be a joke.

When it came time for the [[Olympics]], no one considered the young man to have a chance, and his more athletic competitors were favorites to win the high jump event. The whole world was riveted to the television screen as the young man flawlessly cleared every height as the bar was raised again and again. When the bar was finally raised to an Olympic record height of 7' 4 1/4", only the young man and his "flop" were able to jump over it. He had won the gold medal.

Virtually immediately everyone else, including those who had mercilessly mocked him, began praising and imitating his style. To this day it is known as the "[[Fosbury Flop]]."<ref>http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=57</ref>

== The Difficult Science Problem ==

Physics 401 was the most difficult course in the entire college, having problem sets that would take many hours to complete each week. The students often worked on the homework together, as allowed and even encouraged by the professor. Students were also able to consult books and online resources in solving problems.

As the course progressed, the problems became increasingly difficult and complex. Some students were better than others at solving the problems. Reputations developed about which students had answers, and which ones did not.

Near the end of the course, the teacher assigned a particularly difficult problem to the class. The night before it was due, the students gathered as they had been throughout the course, and worked as hard as they could to find the answer. One student who had a reputation for not being as smart claimed he had the answer, and started to explain it to the others. But the smarter students quickly rejected his approach to the problem and told him to be quiet. Despite trying several times to describe his answer, he was ignored.

The next day the students handed in their homeworks, and the following week the professor returned their graded papers. He said that only one student had answered the difficult problem correctly. That student was the one who had tried to explain it to the others, but they would not listen.

The one student had found the correct answer in a book not used by the other students.

== The [[Prodigal Son]] Has Children ==

A good man had two sons. One of them was defiant and insisted on ignoring and disobeying his father, leaving him, and then squandering his money on immoral living in a distant land. He refused to return to his father to ask forgiveness.

Eventually the defiant son had children of his own. Living in squalor, his own suffering children would ask him about their grandfather. One day his own children asked why they never visit Grandpa.

For the first time the man looked at himself objectively, and realized how illogical and wrong it was for him to abandon his own father. He finally returned to home to ask for forgiveness, and brought his children with him.

==The Conservative Conference==

A [[conservative]] conference was scheduled for Sept. 25, 2001, expecting most attendees to travel by air. Unfortunately, on Sept. 11, 2001 there was the [[9/11]] terrorist hijacking of airplanes and a national crisis resulting in the grounding of airplanes for a week and widespread panic.

As a result, most conferences were cancelled, and the few that were held were poorly attended. Airplanes flew nearly empty for several weeks after they were allowed to fly.

Though he expected few others to attend, one [[conservative]] rejected the objections of his family and flew out to the conference. He saw only two other passengers on his 140-seat airplane. He checked into the hotel and felt that at least he could cheer up the conference organizers when no one else showed up.

But to his great surprise, everyone else showed up. The other attendees concluded that both [[logic]] and [[faith]] weighed in favor of traveling to the conference. There was no logical reason for staying home, and [[faith]] eliminated any anxiety. In fact, the [[conservatives]] did not even waste time discussing their decisions to attend, at a time when nearly all other travelers acted irrationally and avoided airplanes.

== The Convert ==

Born in 1910, this child suffered from a physical handicap as a youngster and could not attend regular school. He had to wear leg braces and was eventually enrolled in a school for "physical defectives." But that school was managed by the same organization that ran the school for "mental defectives" and, as he later explained, there was "some overlapping in the curriculum." As a result,
he spent his days in basket-weaving classes, and was deprived of any formal academic instruction until age 10.

But he worked hard, and eventually found his way to the [[London School of Economics]], the top school of its kind in the world.

He was an avid [[socialist]], as were most of his fellow students. But in his senior year, he happened to take an [[economics]] seminar taught by Professor [[Arnold Plant]]. That course was devoted to the "[[invisible hand]]." It did not have any readings, and focused on stimulating discussions instead.

This young man's prior educational background may not have given him as much knowledge as his classmates, but it did give him an open mind. This single course changed his life, as he embraced the logic and power of the free market.

Later he immigrated to the United States and became an economics professor. But unlike most of his colleagues, he avoided mathematical equations and formulae, bucking the modern trend in his field.

His extraordinary insight was that the free market always reaches the most efficient level of productive activity, in the absence of [[transaction costs]].

In 1991, he was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics. His name is [[Ronald Coase]]. To this day [[liberals]] fail to give him the recognition he earned.<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol12no2/schlafly.pdf The Coase Theorem: The Greatest Economic Insight of the 20th Century]</ref>

== The Wall ==

The leader of a nation traveled to a distant land, and planned to deliver a speech there. This leader was not known for having great intelligence, and in fact was often ridiculed within his own country. He wondered what he should say in the foreign country while he was there.

For decades, there had been a massive wall in this foreign land which denied its inhabitants the freedom to travel and visit relatives, or simply move to places having greater opportunity. Inhabitants who tried to surmount the wall were shot and killed. The region enclosed by the wall was subjected to communism; outside the wall capitalism and freedom existed.

The leader began to focus on the wall in connection with his planned speech, and proposed uttering the bold command, "tear down this wall."

But his top advisers, who were very experienced in politics and foreign policy, were adamantly against such a bold statement. They insisted on removing it from the speech. As each draft circulated these experts took the phrase out, but each time the leader inserted this phrase back in. The experts felt the phrase made the leader look foolish and hopelessly naive, and could not possibly have a positive effect. The experts were sure it would subject their leader to even more ridicule than he already endured.

But the leader did not care about the potential for ridicule, and he wanted to say what he felt was best for his audience. He ignored his experts and delivered the bold command as part of his speech.

The leader's advisers were horrified when they heard the words delivered in the actual speech. They braced for a backlash and criticism.

But two years later, to the amazement of the entire world, this wall that had stood for decades was torn down exactly as the leader courageously suggested.<ref>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070610/18speeches.htm</ref>

== The Fly Ball ==

One Sunday afternoon a dozen teenagers gathered for a game of coed softball against a rival team from another [[church]]. As the first team's coach assigned his players to positions in the field, he noticed a new player on his team whom he had seen only before in church services. She suffered from a severe case of [[cerebral palsy]], making it difficult for her to walk or use her arms. But she always had a smile on her face, and she brought a [[softball]] glove to play.

The coach, against his better judgment, told her to be the right-fielder. The coach knew that in softball the ball is hit to the right field less frequent than to other positions. This was supposed to be a friendly game between churches, but turned out to be far more competitive than that.

The game went smoothly for several innings. But the other team was good, and it was hitting the ball hard.

The inevitable disaster then struck in the 6th inning, with several runners on base and two outs. A batter for the other team hit a line drive directly at the right fielder.

The coach, and indeed his entire team, turned in dreadful anticipation as they watched the ball travel at a high speed right at the player with cerebral palsy.

The player held up her glove and the ball smacked directly into its pocket. She had caught the third out. Her team erupted in cheers and her ever-present smile glowed even wider. Her team went on to win the game.

'''''Her teammates were inspired more by her catch than by anything else they saw the entire year'''''.

== The Story of Two Psychiatrists -- Or How To Deal With Liberal Critics ==
''Rowland Evans, the famed columnist, was having lunch with Ronald Reagan in 1987, six years into his presidency, a milestone by which the previous five presidents had been defeated, resigned in disgrace, refused to consider reelection, or assassinated. Somehow, Reagan was shining through, making it look easy, and was enormously popular. Evans, a tough old newsman, was in awe. He looked Reagan in the eye and said, “You know, Mr. President, I’ve known you for more than twenty years. I first met you in 1966, and the amazing thing is that you don’t look any older now than you did back then, and the criticism never gets you down. How do you do it?”''

In response, Reagan offered a parable. "Let me explain it this way":

Let me tell you the story of the two psychiatrists — the old psychiatrist and the young psychiatrist — who had a practice together. They’d come into their office every day just bubbling with enthusiasm, always happy, upbeat, smiling, and chipper. Then they’d go into their separate suites and have patients come in and lie on the couch all day and talk about the woes in their lives. At 6:00 p.m. they’d come out and the young psychiatrist would be devastated, wiped out by the day, with a stomachache, and just miserable. The old psychiatrist would be just as chipper and smiling and upbeat as he was when he went in that morning. This went on for a number of months.

Finally one day they came out at 6:00 p.m., the young psychiatrist devastated as usual, and the old psychiatrist just as happy and smiling as he was when went in. The young psychiatrist stopped him and said, “I don’t understand it. We do the same thing every day, and I leave wiped out by hearing patients all day, and you come out after patients have been streaming in and out of your office just as upbeat as ever. How do you do it?”

'''The old psychiatrist paused a minute and said, “I never listen.” ''' <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33189 Bob Novak, a Giant of Journalism ]</ref>

== Welfare ==

So, I was talking to this little girl Catherine, the daughter of some friends, and she said she wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, [[liberal]] [[Democrats]], were standing there with us - and I asked Catherine - "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?"

Catherine replied - "I would give houses to all the homeless people."

"Wow - what a worthy goal you have there, Catherine." I told her, "You don't have to wait until you're President to do that, you can come over to my house and clean up all the dog poop in my back yard and I will pay you $5. Then we can go over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $5 to use for a new house."

Catherine thought that over for a second, while her mom looked at me seething, and Catherine replied, "why doesn't the homeless guy come over and clean up the dog poop and you can just pay him the $5?"

And I said, "Welcome to the [[Republican Party]]."

==The University Assignment==

A young student studying his first [[Politics]] assignment picked to answer the question - "Have we reached the end of political ideology?" The young student, as this was his first paper, studied hard and long to argue that there has been a rise in conservative thought in recent years as a response to growing [[globalization]] and encroaching [[liberalism]]. The lecturer gave the paper low marks despite solid referencing and an extensive bibliography. The young student felt slighted by this as he had put in many hours work. Instead of bowing down and re-writing the assignment according to [[professor values|his lecturer's standards]], the student petitioned the head of department to have his paper and final mark reviewed and also got several others to back him. In the end the student got an A grade.

== The Little Red Hen - Ronald Reagan Version ==
'''''"About a year ago I imposed a little poetry on you. It was called "The Incredible Bread Machine" and made a lot of sense with reference to matters economic. You didn't object too much so having gotten away with it once I'm going to try again. This is a little treatise on basic economics called 'The Modern little Red Hen.'"''''' <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=wS6LcPIDRFIC&lpg=PA381&dq=%22Ronald%20Reagan%3A%20the%20power%20of%20conviction%20and%20the%20success%20of%20his%20presidency%22%20%22Little%20Red%20Hen%22&pg=PA380#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''Ronald Reagan'' By Peter J. Wallison]</ref>

----

Once upon a time there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'

"Not I, " said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

At last the time came to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for the neighbors to see.

They all wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the five loaves myself."

"Excess profits," cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech," screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights," yelled the goose.

And the pig just grunted.

And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched round and around the little red hen shouting obscenities.

When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That's the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants.
But under our modern government regulations productive workers must divide their products with the idle."

And they lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, I am grateful."

But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked any more bread....

== Socialism ==
===Socialism In The Classroom===
An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single
student, but had once failed an entire class.

The class (students) insisted that socialism worked since no one would be poor and
no one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we
will have an experiment in this class on socialism."

"All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no
one will fail and no one will receive an A," said the professor.

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The
students who had studied hard were upset while the students who had studied
very little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little
studied even less and the ones who had studied hard decided that since they
couldn't make an A, they also studied less. The second Test average was a D.

No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average grade was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling, all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else.

To their great surprise they all failed.

The professor told them that socialism, too, would ultimately fail because of the same basic human principles of incentive.

The harder people try to succeed the greater their reward (capitalism), but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism) no one will try or succeed.

= Other Parables =
== The Drowning Man ==
A conservative and a liberal are walking along the beach when they see a man drowning a hundred feet off shore. The conservative throws him a 50-foot rope and shouts to the victim "You provide the other fifty feet." The liberal throws the man a 200-foot rope ... and lets go of both ends.

== The Missing Child ==
A little girl is late home from school one day. Her mother becomes increasingly worried and after 15 minutes have passed is beside herself with anxiety. Afraid to leave the house in case the child returns, and desperate to go look for her, she is on the verge of telephoning the police when the child waltzes in through the door as though nothing is amiss. Relieved and angry the mother cries: "Where have you been?! I've been so worried!"

The child answers that she had been with the woman who lived just next door, who had very recently lost her husband. "What have you been doing bothering the poor lady next door?" the mother asks crossly.

"I haven't been bothering her, I've been comforting her," says the little girl.

"Comforting her? You're just a child, what could you do to comfort her?"

"I sat in her lap and I cried with her."

Sometimes there are ''no'' solutions, no smart come-backs, no quick fixes that can be determined through intellectual reasoning or policy making. As Dreher says: '''Politics and economics won’t save us; if our culture is to be saved at all, it will be by faithfully living by the Permanent Things, conserving these ancient moral truths in the choices we make in our everyday lives.'''<ref>Dreher, Rod. "A Crunchy Con Manifesto" [http://crunchycon.nationalreview.com/about/ National Review Online]. 26 December 2007.</ref><ref>Cottrell, Stephen. ''I Thirst.'' (Zondervan; Grand Rapids, [[Michigan]]; 2003.) ISBN 0-310-25069-2</ref>

== The Atheist and the Believer ==
An [[Atheism|atheist]] and a believer were having a discussion. "I don't believe in anything I can't understand!" cried the atheist. "Ah," said the believer gently. "Then your beliefs must be very small."

== Communism ==

"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who ''understands'' Marx and Lenin." <ref>[http://listverse.com/2009/02/21/20-great-quotes-from-ronald-reagan/ Ronald Reagan; Communism]</ref>

== Umgawa ==
by R.W. Grant

While junketing in Africa
Our senator one day
A friendly tribe did gather 'round
To hear what he would say.

Said he, "I bring enlightment!"
"Umgawa!" they all cried
"If you'd but follow our advice!"
"Umgawa!" they replied.

"I'll tell you how our system works,
I'll tell you how it's run:
We serve the public good by force!
And this is how it's done:

"If one needs what others earn
No longer need one steal it!
Our government now does the job
And people hardly feel it!

"Umgawa!" they cried out again -
The senator continued then:
And we will show you how it's done,
And we will show the way,
So you may have Utopia
As in the U.S.A.!"

Our senator was finished now.
The chief rose with a smile:
"Thank you for your words," he said,
"Now stay with us a while!"

The senator was pleased as punch
With witnessing that day
The happy people at their work,
The children at their play,
As he was greeted all about:
"Umgawa!" was the happy shout.

And now the chieftain said, "My friend,
Come see our cattle which we tend!"
So off across the pasture now
The senator was led -
But suddenly the chief said "Wait!"
He took his arm and said:

"A word of caution ere we pass -
Don't step before you look -
Lest, my friend, you tread upon
Umgawa underfoot!"

== The Graduate's Gift ==

An arrogant young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his wealthy father could easily afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angry, he shouted at his father and said "with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man had become very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father now was getting old, and thought perhaps he should go see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

== The Pitcher, the Chicken, and the Crow ==
A thirsty chicken and a thirsty crow were each given a pitcher of water. First they tried reaching into the pitchers with their beaks, but neither could reach the water. Then they tried pushing the pitchers over, but they were heavy and sturdily built so they would not tip.

The chicken began flapping its wings and strutted up to the crow. "No fair!" squawked the chicken "the greedy farmer hasn't given us enough water." The crow shrugged, and began hopping around the pitcher, looking at it this way and that.

The chicken strutted off and went to complain to the farmer. It squawked and squawked, but the farmer ignored it. It went back to the crow, who was grabbing pebbles in his beak and dropping them into its pitcher with pebbles. "Come with me!" it said, "Let's demand that the farmer give us our water!" The crow ignored it and returned to his work.

The chicken went again to the farmer and decided to take its protest to the next level. It scratched and pecked at the farmer's leg, cutting the skin, until the farmer angrily kicked it away. Indignant, the chicken went back to the crow, squawking more than ever. "That brutal farmer kicked me," it complained. "when all I was doing was demanding my rights."

By this point the crow was standing on the top of his pitcher, happily drinking. He had dropped enough pebbles into the pitcher that the water level had risen nearly to the top. The chicken saw this and walked up to the crow to complain. "Unfair!" it cried. "I want water too."

The crow looked over at the chicken and told him: "I have water because while you were complaining, I was looking for a way to get the water. The first two ways did not work, but I kept trying until I came up with something better. Then I patiently put in the hard work to put my plan into action, and now, finally, I can drink. You can do the same with your pitcher, and you will have water too. You are bigger and stronger than me, so it will be even easier for you."

The chicken strutted over to his pitcher and picked up one pebble and dropped it in and sat down. "This is hard work!" it complained "I'm thirsty and I'm tired."

The crow looked over at the chicken and said "just this one time I will be charitable. You can drink from my pitcher, but next time you must do the work yourself."

The chicken hopped up and stuck its head down. Because its beak was shorter than the crow's, it could not quite reach the water.

"You cheated me!" it cried, "I cannot reach the water!"

"I am sorry," said the crow, "but you are only a few pebbles short. Surely you can do the tiny bit of work yourself."

The crow flew off, its thirst satiated. The chicken scratched at the ground and squawked and squawked but nobody would listen and it stayed thirsty.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Conservative]]

== See also ==

*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Parables]]
*[[New Testament understanding through the Jewish perspective]] Example 3 [the enacted parable]
{{Conservatism}}

Biblical scientific foreknowledge

2017-02-25T18:15:57Z

Ambassador: Ecclesiastes supports capitalism and condemns socialism.

[[File:Newton.png|thumb|200px|alt=Isaac Newton, cornerstone of the scientific revolution, based his research on the scientific authority of the [[Bible]].|thumb|[[Portrait]] of [[Isaac Newton]], cornerstone of the [[scientific revolution]], based his research on the scientific authority of the Bible.]]

''For a rebuttal to a few of these claims, see [[Essay:Rebuttal to Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]''

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' is how the [[Bible]] shows a comprehension of [[science]] far ahead of its time. The Bible is a superb roadmap to future scientific discoveries. Unfortunately [[Bible denier]]s, including many [[atheist]]s and [[evolution]]ists, refuse to read the Bible, and '''''their irrational [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|closed-mindedness]] against the Bible obstructs the advancement of science'''''.

The [[Book of Genesis]] gives [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge#Anesthesia|an example of anesthesia]] long before man discovered it in 1846. And the underlying chaos and uncertainty in the physical world was explained in the Bible long before [[quantum mechanics]] confirmed it in the 1900s.

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' has an additional benefit: it guides a more precise translation of verses that describe scientific-related events, such as the reference to the universe in [[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10]], and the changing of [[Essay:Water into Wine|water into wine]] at the wedding feast.

==Geology==

===Massive flooding===
[[Atheist]] scientists long opposed a [[young earth]] [[creation|created]] by [[God]] where cataclysmic flooding, such as the [[Great Flood]] described in the Bible, shaped the landscape. However, ample [[counterexamples to an old earth]] exist and the discovery in the Northwest of "giant ripple marks, 50 feet high and 200-500 feet apart" proved that a cataclysmic flood in the region had indeed occurred thousands of years ago. As a result, "[a]mong geologists, the concept of a catastrophic flood came to be universally accepted by the late 1950s."<ref>[http://www.iafi.org/floods.html The Ice Age Flood Institute reports on the massive floods in the Northwest.]</ref>

===Continental drift===
[[Continental drift]] was proposed by [[creationist]] Antonio Snider-Pellegrini in 1859 based on [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis 1:9-10]],<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c001.html Christian Answers explains Antonio Snider's divine inspiration</ref> which states, {{cquote|And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.}} Because land is no longer all in [[Pangaea|one place]], this implies that the continents have shifted over the six millennia to their current positions. [[Atheists]] and [[scientist]]s who hadn't seen the light of [[creationism]] were in [[liberal denial]] about this concept for a century, until finally accepting its truth. This is just more data that the Bible knew millennia before [[secular]] [[science]] caught up.
However, The Continents are still connected; under the ocean is land if you dry up the water. This interpretation of this verse is in error, the separation spoken of here is the waters under the sky (Firmament) and the water out in space (beyond the heavens). Comets prove this theory, as many of them contain ice, and today as much as 1% of terrestrial rain comes from extraterrestrial sources.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The most likely reason for the current position and shape of the land mass is the Flood of Noah. Pangea does not work without flipping, shrinking, and sometimes removing countries entirely. Any Biblical statements of continents is in Genesis 10:25 when Peleg is mentioned "for in his days was the earth divided" this in particular refers to the separation of what today is Russia, Japan, and Alaska, when the oceans arose, and also to the division of the peoples by languages, who migrated together according to their language after the confusing of tongues at the tower of Babel, obviously the migration took place before the oceanic divide which led to the natives of the Far West. Everyone laughed at Columbus, not because they thought earth was flat, but because they had forgotten the Far West (America) was there, and they thought he didn't have nearly enough supplies or a big enough ship to go to Asia the long way around, and they would have been right if he didn't hit the Caribbean first by complete accident. Recent findings of biblical stone tablets, in Byzantine script prove that trade between Europe and the Far West was common prior to the dark age which began in 400 or 500 AD.

===Underwater springs===
Only in modern times have scientists become aware of the enormous underwater springs feeding into the oceans, and the very deep valleys at the bottom of the oceans. However, the Bible repeatedly described this thousands of years earlier in [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 7|Genesis 7:11]], which states, {{cquote|In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.}} Again, in 2 Samuel 22:16, the Bible states that, {{cquote|And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.}}
And Job 38:16 “Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depths?"

This is ''obvious'' proof to all but [[liberals]] that the Bible had foreknowledge of subcrustal oceans, something the ancient Jews could not have possibly known, and thus proof of the Bible's God-given accuracy and divine nature.

==Agriculture==

===Malthusianism===
Since Thomas [[Robert Malthus|Malthus's]] 1798 work, ''An Essay on the Principle of Population'', [[liberal]] [[intellectual]]s insisted that the world's population would grow faster than the [[food]] supply and result in mass starvation. However, there are examples in both the [[Old Testament|Old]]{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} and [[New Testament]]s{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}, as well as the example of [[William Bradford]] at Plymouth Colony,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bradford|first1=William|title=The History of Plimoth Plantation|date=1669|pages=135–136}}</ref> of the food supply increasing to be more far plentiful than expected, mostly due to faith in [[God|God's]] powers and use of [[conservative]] [[economics]]. Indeed, in modern times [[obesity]] is far more prevalent and harmful than [[hunger]] worldwide, and food production far exceeds the ability to consume even in impoverished nations. Hunger remains a problem only in places with [[liberal]] and/or [[leftist]] political systems that impede food distribution or destroy the [[free market]].

==History==

===Great Flood ice mummy===
[[File:The building of the ark.jpg|thumb|The building of the Ark by Bertram of Minden, ancient [[German Painting]].]]
According to the Bible, a [[Great Flood]] occurred around 3300 B.C., or about 5300 years ago. It involved a cataclysmic rainstorm of a magnitude never seen before or since. For centuries [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] have mocked it, claiming that it was impossible. However, in 1991, an "ice mummy" was discovered in the [[Alps]]. Scientists located a remarkably preserved ancient body, including even the contents of his last meal, which was due to an extraordinary ice storm. By radiometric [[carbon dating]],<ref>http://www.nupecc.org/iai2001/report/B44.pdf Radiocarbon dating of the Iceman Ötzi with
accelerator mass spectrometry</ref> the scientists discovered that this massive ice storm occurred 5300 years ago, which perfectly matches the Biblical Great Flood.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/icemummies/iceman.html PBS on the "Iceman" in the Alps</ref> This is obvious proof of the Great Flood, as no natural occurrence could possibly explain how somebody came to be preserved by ice in the [[Alps]].

===Oldest Living Organism===

Bristlecone pine trees in California's White Mountains are the oldest living unitary organism. As predicted by the Bible, they are not as old as 6,000 years but are as old as 5,000 years,<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/US/photos/worlds-oldest-living-things-23385913/image-23386256</ref> roughly the time of the [[Great Flood]].

===False theories===
Jesus' recognition that the truth would remain hidden from arrogant "intellectuals" while simultaneously revealed to humbler, [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|more openminded]] people. This foreshadowed the creation of theories to pull self-centered intellectual wannabees away from [[God]], such as the [[Theory of Evolution]], the [[Theory of Relativity]], the [[homosexual agenda]], the [[secular]] culture of [[abortion]], [[Communism]], and countless other [[liberal]] and atheistic ideas and ideologies.

===Mankind remains extant===
The Bible predicts that the end of [[mankind]] will not occur by chance, but rather at a time known only to God. Despite the extinction of many species each year throughout history, the expectation by scientists that Earth would have been hit by chance by a massive, extinction-causing meteor, and laws of probability that predict other immense catastrophes, mankind continues and Christianity grows just as Jesus predicted.

===Construction of ancient sky-high structures===

The Bible—the [[Book of Genesis]] chapter 11—explains how ancient people arrogantly sought to construct a sky-high "[[Tower of Babel]]" to try to reach [[Heaven]]. Then, in the 1900s, archaeologists discovered the great ziggurat of ancient Ur, located in present-day southern Iraq, having characteristics similar to the biblical description of the Tower of Babel.<ref>http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaThe_Ziggurat.htm</ref>

===Hometown of Goliath===

1 Samuel 17 of the Bible discusses the giant Goliath from a Philistine city named Gath, located in central Israel. In July 2015, archaeologists discovered its entrance in an excavation that began in 1899. They also uncovered evidence of a massive earthquake that occurred in the eighth century BC, as described in the biblical book of Amos.<ref>http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gates.to.goliaths.city.discovered/61124.htm</ref>

==Medicine and biology==

''See also:'' [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles#The Bible and sound health practices|Health benefits of Mosaic law]] and [[Atheism and health]] and [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles]]

===Effect of Deafness on Speech===

For 2000 years after [[Christ]], scientists overlooked the close connection between hearing and speech, and the brain, and are just starting to discover this now.<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/article/deafness-can-have-unexpected-consequences-on-speech-patterns/</ref> But [[Jesus]] illustrated the connection when he cured a problem with speech primarily by opening someone's ears, after which the man "spoke plainly."<ref>Mark 7:34-35 ([[ESV]])</ref>

===Common DNA===
[[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 1|John 1:3]] explains that "All things were made by Him; not one thing was made without Him." If something had been made without Him then creatures would exist that had completely different DNA from other creatures.

===Psychiatry===

[[Jesus Christ]] and [[Christianity|Christendom]] have emphasized the important of forgiveness and in the last few decades mental health specialists have increasingly seen the importance of forgiveness to alleviate anger/depression/bitterness and other emotional problems within individuals.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755173/ Indian J Psychiatry. 2009 Apr-Jun; 51(2): 153–156. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.49459, PMCID: PMC2755173, ''Forgiveness: A note for psychiatrists'' by Prakash Gangdev]</ref>

Modern medicine now realizes that obsessing with one's past is a big cause of psychiatric problems.<ref>http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-flux/201104/5-ways-find-closure-the-past</ref> Jesus had the same insight 2000 years earlier: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the [[kingdom of God]]."<ref>Luke 9:62 ([[ESV]]).</ref>

See also: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== The Bible and health practices ==

''See also:'' [[The Bible and health]]

Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws:
{{cquote|The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics, suppression of venereal disease and prostitution, care of the skin, baths,[17] food, housing and clothing, regulation of labour, sexual life, discipline of the people, etc. Many of these commands, such as Sabbath rest, circumcision, laws concerning food (interdiction of blood and pork), measures concerning menstruating and lying-in women, and those suffering from gonorrhoea, isolation of lepers, and hygiene of the camp, are, in view of the conditions of the climate, surprisingly rational.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref>}}

===Blood clotting on the eighth day===
In Genesis 17:12, God mandated that Abraham circumcise his sons on the 8th day after birth. In 1935, it was discovered that Vitamin K, together with prothrombin, causes blood coagulation, (important in any surgical procedure). On the 8th day, the amount of prothrombin present is elevated above 100% of normal and is therefore the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case (normally). If surgery is to be performed, day 8 is the perfect day to do it as vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

===Lifespan===
The Bible puts the maximum lifespan for man at 120 years (Genesis 6:3), the typical lifespan at 70 years and the typical for a good-living person at 80 years (Psalm 90:10).

Thousands of years after that was written, despite immense advances in medicine and technology, these figures remain remarkably accurate. The longest modern recorded life of a man is precisely 120 years (Shigechiyo Izumi), the average lifespan for a man is roughly 70 years, and the average for a good-living man is about 80 years.

[[Jeanne Calment]] lived to age 122, only two years past 120. She was said to have never worked and used olive oil on her skin, outliving all of her [[feminist]] counterparts.

===Oldest human ancestor===
The Bible suggests that the oldest maternal ancestor — [[Eve]] — first lived slightly more than 6000 years ago.<ref>http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/ussher.html</ref> The mutation rate of [[mitochondria]] indicates roughly the same date for the most recent common human ancestor.<ref>http://creationwiki.org/Mitochondrial_Eve_lived_only_6500_years_ago_%28Talk.Origins%29</ref>

===Anesthesia===
The first surgical operation described in the Bible was the removal of a rib from [[Adam]], which was performed by first putting Adam into an unconscious, "deep sleep-like trance."<ref>[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 2:21]]</ref> This was the equivalent of anesthesia — thousands of years before anesthesia using inhaled ether was developed by William Morton in 1846. Had scientists and physicians been more [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|openminded]] about Genesis 2:21 (perhaps they had considered it a miracle, and thus impossible for humans to achieve), they may have discovered anesthesia far sooner, and saved many more lives.

===Bloodletting hastens death===
At the time of Jesus and for centuries afterward, arteries and veins were thought to be filled with air, and blood was viewed as something to be used up rather than recirculate. Bloodletting—the practice of intentionally draining blood from a patient—was common medical practice through the time of [[George Washington]], hastening his death prematurely for reasons not understood until years later.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37212.php</ref>

Most victims of crucifixion in Roman times languished on the cross for days. But the Bible describes how Pilate, who crucified many, was surprised at how quickly Jesus passed away. 2000 years later, scientific knowledge has advanced to understand that this was caused by his prior loss of blood during his scourging (being brutally whipped), a punishment typically given ''instead of'' crucifixion.

===Homosexuality and disease===
The Bible's prohibition against [[homosexuality]] predated knowledge about the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases and disorders associated with homosexuality]], and thus showed scientific wisdom prescient for its time.

===Eyesight===
The description in the [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Gospel of Mark 8:24]] for the sensation when one's eyesight is restored includes his perception of "trees walking." This perception was first confirmed nearly 2000 years later as physicians developed medical techniques for restoring eyesight.<ref>This newspaper account is not specific but describes the overall sensation of restored sight: [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-138886/Robot-eye-restore-lost-sight-20-years.html]</ref>

===Maximum human height===
Atheists thought the size of [[Goliath]] in the Bible to be absurdly large (over nine feet tall), until [[Robert Wadlow]] grew to nearly 9 feet tall and was still growing when he died at a young age in 1940.

===Leprosy===
Although leprosy is not as contagious as other infectious diseases, and some forms of it (such as tuberculoid or paucibacillary form are not contagious), Leviticus 13 and 14 set forth rules to prevent epidemics of this disease among the people of Israel. Western science did not catch up until, in 1663, such laws were introduced in America in an attempt to curb an outbreak of smallpox.

Centuries ahead of medical science, Jesus subsequently explained that leprosy was not as contagious as people thought.{needs citation}

===Hygiene===
Millennia before germ theory was proposed in the late 19th century, Leviticus 15 mandated hygiene laws that included bathing, washing of clothing, destruction of contaminated pottery and washing of hands.

In Matthew 15:2, Jesus then curbed compulsive hand-washing by explaining why it was no longer typically necessary (in a non-farming, non-medical context) with respect to man's digestive system.

===Digestive system===
It was common thought throughout history that infections and illness resulted from the digestive system, based on unclean hands or food. Jesus rejected that view, and declared hand-washing before meals to be typically unnecessary. It took many centuries before science caught up to the Bible on this.

It is part of the Jewish kosher law to not eat milk with meat. In some Jewish homes they have separate refrigerators for meat and milk products. It comes from Deuteronomy 14:21 "...Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk." There is evidence that the body has difficulty digesting both meat and milk at the same time.

Also, as part of the Jewish kosher law a pork is on the list of prohibited foods. Under cooked pork can transmit Trichinosis, a parasitic disease that can infect muscle tissue, the brain, and the central nervous system, among other [[parasite]]s and zoonotic diseases. [[Creation denial|Creation deniers]] can counter this point only with such desperate non-arguments as asking why God had to create trichinae at all and then allow them onto the [[Ark]].

=== Dietary ===
====Animal Toxicity====
[[File:David Macht.jpg|thumbnail|right||200px|Dr. David Macht]]
In 1953 Dr. [http://www.creationwiki.org/David_Macht David Macht], a Johns Hopkins researcher, conducted toxicity tests on many different kinds of animals and fish and concluded that the toxicity of Levitically [[Mosaic law and unclean animals|"unclean" animals]] was higher than that of the [[Mosaic law and clean animals|"clean" animals]], and that the correlation with the description in Leviticus was 100%.<ref name=Macht1>Macht, David I., MD. "[http://members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/Macht1953.pdf An Experimental Pharmacological Appreciation of Levitcus XI and Deuteronomy XIV]." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 27(5):444-450, September–October, 1953. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Macht's study in terms of classifying kosher and non-kosher animals matched the kosher classification performed by James W. Atz, Ph.D., Curator and Dean Bibliographer in the Department of Ichthyology of the American Museum of Natural History, NY, NY and Adjunct Professor of Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Science on New York University. Dr. Atz's list of kosher and non-kosher animals was published by the Orthodox Union in Kosher Guide and in the Orthodox Union Kosher Consumer Directory.<ref name=Atz>Atz, James W., contrib. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fish/ KASHRUT.COM - Kosher and Non-kosher fish]" Scharf Associates, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> According to a list of kosher and non-kosher fish published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, deciding what fish have scales, in the Orthodox Jewish community, appears to involve semantics as scales which are not visible to the human eye or scales that cannot be removed without tearing the skin are not considered "scales" in terms of the Torah law for determining which fish are kosher. It appears that Jewish religious authorities do appeal to well known Torah commentators.<ref name=Goldberg>Goldberg, Chaim. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fishfaq/ Consumers’ FAQ’s on Kosher fish]." Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, 2004. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Also, Dr. Macht's classification of swans as kosher is in accordance with the research done at Ohr Somayach Institutions in Jerusalem, Israel.<ref name=ask1>"[http://ohr.edu/ask/ask210.htm Ask the Rabbi - Are swans kosher]?" Ohr Somayach Website, Ohr.edu, October 24, 1998. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Furthermore, Dr. Macht states in the peer reviewed journal ''Science'' that the toxicology test he used was a reliable method for detecting zoological toxins as it was a toxicology test sensitive to these type of toxins, and therefore one could conclude it was also suitable for testing the toxicity levels of fish, meat, and poultry.<ref name=Macht3>Macht, D.I. , Science 1930, 71 :302</ref> (The toxicological method that Dr. Macht used was also cited in the Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.<ref name=Macht2>Macht, D.I. and Macht, M.B. ''Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine'' 1941, 26: 597</ref>) In addition, Dr. Macht was an expert in cobra venom, which is a zoological toxin. Macht's conclusions, however, were challenged by three of his science community peers in a Seventh Day Adventist publication although one partially affirmed his study.<ref name=Harris>Harris, Lester E., Jr. "[https://archive.is/20070709234205/members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/web/ministry-1954-March-p37.htm This Question of Unclean Meats]." Ministry Magazine, March 1953, p37-38. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> This was partly due to a likely unfamiliarity with what food is kosher and non-kosher. Also, perhaps they were unfamiliar with the toxicity test Dr. Macht used, and its apparent effectiveness in testing zoological toxins.

In the short term, eating non-kosher food often appears to have no dramatic ill effects in general. For example, the Arabs, who do not eat kosher, consider camel to be a delicacy. Clearly, non-kosher Arabs do not fall dead right after eating camel meat. However, the long term optimality of eating clean versus unclean meat is an unanswered question of science. Also, eating non-kosher foods clearly has some nutritional benefit. For example, shrimp and pork contain protein. The New Testament declares, {{Bible quote|For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5|version=NKJV}}

In regard to the aforementioned verse, it could be argued that prayer does sanctify food. The Bible has plenty of verses regarding God's protection. Also, it could be argued that the benefits outweigh the costs in all foods and thus all food is good. Clearly there is some nutritional goodness in foods that the Torah declared unclean (for example, shrimp has protein). What foods are optimal from an empirically tested science viewpoint is often controversial. In short, in regard to eating strictly a kosher diet versus a non-kosher diet, science has no definitive answers at the present time. From a Christian theological point of view, it could be argued that food should not be an impediment to anyone making a decision to become a Christian. It should be noted that orthodox Christian believers in Biblical scientific foreknowledge believe that Christians can eat the food that was declared [[Clean and unclean animals|unclean]] in the Old Testament, and {{Bible ref|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5}} and {{Bible ref|book=Galations|chap=2|verses=7-16}} make this very clear.

In addition to the aforementioned study testing kosher and non-kosher foods for toxicity levels, Macht developed evidence indicating that combining meat and milk tended to be more toxic than either foodstuff alone.<ref name=Macht4>David I. Macht, Medical Leaves 1940; 3:174-184</ref> In addition, he compared conventional animal slaughtering versus kosher slaughtering and determined that kosher slaughtering produced less toxic meat.<ref name=Macht4/>

A 1985 study by Nanji and French found that there was a significant correlation between cirrhosis and pork consumption (Macht claimed that swine was more toxic than the animal meat the Bible called clean).<ref name=Nanji>Nanji AA, and French SW. "[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2858627&dopt=Abstract Relationship between pork consumption and cirrhosis]." ''Lancet'' 1985 Mar 23, 1(8430):681-3. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Modern pork production methods are different from ancient methods of raising pigs, so the result of this study might be hard to apply to the ancients or those who raise pigs by [[organic farming]] methods, without the use of hormones or antiobiotics.

Jane Cahill reported in ''Biblical Archaeological Review'' that the toilets of a Jewish household in [[Jerusalem]] were examined and no [[parasite]]s or [[infectious disease|infectious agents]] were found.<ref name=Cahill>[http://cojs.org/cojswiki/It_Had_to_Happen,_Jane_M._Cahill,_Karl_Reinhard,_David_Tarler_and_Peter_Warnock,_BAR_17:03,_May/Jun_1991. It had to happen, Scientist Examines Ancient Bathrooms of Romans 586 B.C.] by Jane Cahill and Peter Warnock. BAR May/June 1991</ref>

Today, some "alternative medicine" practitioners do not recommend pork to their patients and subscribed advisees. Their reasons include the possible content of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, and also the undiscriminating diet of the pig. Joseph Mercola, DO, who has a private practice in alternative general medicine, writes:{{cquote|Pigs are scavenger animals and will eat just about anything. Their appetite for less-than-wholesome foods makes pigs a breeding ground for potentially dangerous infections. Even cooking pork for long periods is not enough to kill many of the retroviruses and other parasites that many of them harbor.<ref name=Mercola>Mercola, Joseph, DO, ed. "[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/12/are-there-deadly-superbugs-in-your-pork.aspx?source=nl Are There Deadly Superbugs In Your Pork]?" <http://www.mercola.com/>, July 12, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>}}

Dr. Mercola does not even recommend pasture-raised pork, because wild boars will often infect herds of pork with [[Trichinella spiralis]] or other parasites.<ref name=Mercola/>

===Feasibility of abiogenesis===
Although scientists dismissed ideas involving [[abiogenesis]], or the process from which life emerges from non-living material, as nothing more than archaic beliefs in [[spontaneous generation]], the Bible very clearly depicts an occurrence of this phenomenon, for beginning in Genesis 1:20, God creates life from nothing. It was not until the early 20th century that science finally began to accept the viability of abiogenesis, a view that the Bible had held for almost 2000 years, except that [[atheists]] falsely claim that abiogenesis is somehow possible without a creator. For addition information, please see [http://creation.com/origin-of-life origin of life]

===Awareness while unborn===
[[Abortion]] advocates argue that it is ok to terminate a baby while dismissing the pain inflicted by ending an innocent life. They argue that a fetus cannot feel pain because senses are incomplete. There is a heart-beating human in the womb that can feel even though still unborn and developing. In modern times, we now know the baby in the womb is alert, aware of their mother's emotions, recognizes voices, responds to stimuli and music. The Bible tells us the baby feels (1 Luke 44), ''"the babe leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice."'' The inwomb developing baby, John the Baptist, notices the presence of the unborn [[Lord]] in [[Mary]], and is excited. In addition (St. Paul to the Galatians 1:15), ''"God… from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace."'' Paul's very first thought, feeling awareness, began while unborn.

===Embalming===
[[Mark 9-16 (Translated)#Chapter 14|Mark 14:3-8]] describes an embalming process to preserve a body after death, which was not discovered in the West until 1867.

===Significance of blood===
The Old Testament teaches that the [[life]] of all flesh is its [[blood]] ({{Bible ref|book=Leviticus|chap=17|verses=13-14|version=KJV}}). Secular science remained ignorant of the properties and circulation of blood until the 17th century A.D.<ref>[http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12_notes.htm Net Bible: Notes] to [http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12.htm#1234 Deuteronomy 12:23] {{dead link}}</ref>

===Menstruation===
The Biblical laws concerning [[menstruation]], including the setting apart of the menstruating woman and the prohibition on intimacy during menstruation, address health concerns that were not known to secular science until the 20th century.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref> Also, modern science has only very recently discovered that following such rules dramatically reduces the rate of [[illegitimacy]].<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120604182027.htm How Religion Promotes Confidence About Paternity]</ref>

===Cloning===
{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=2|verses=21-22|version=KJV}} records that God made a [[woman]] out of one of [[Adam]]'s [[rib]]s. Secular scientists did not believe that [[cloning]] such a complex organism (apart from plants) was possible until 1997.<ref>[http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml Cloning Fact Sheet] {{dead link}}</ref> It should be noted, however, that this is not strictly 'cloning' as a clone would be identical to its original, most obviously in terms of its sex.

===Common X Chromosome===

Women have the same X chromosome as men, but this was not discovered until the late 1800s. The Book of Genesis explained this thousands years earlier, describing how the first woman was created directly from man.

===Inbreeding===
Leviticus 18:7-11 elaborates in detail the relationships it regards as incestuous unions, to forbid inbreeding. Secular science was able to scientifically explain the mechanisms and risks of inbreeding only in modern times.

==Cosmology==

===Distance of Oldest Star to Earth===

The Book of Genesis implies that the distance of the oldest star to Earth is how far light would travel during the age of mankind: about 6000 light-years. In 2014, a team of researchers discovered that the oldest star is indeed only 6000 light-years away.<ref>http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/6012/the-oldest-star-in-the-known-universe</ref>

===Planet formation===
Theories of an old universe insisted that planet formation did not occur until long after the origin of the universe, contrary to the [[Book of Genesis]]. But in 2012 scientists announced the existence of planets that formed "at dawn of universe."<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0330/Planets-found-at-dawn-of-universe-but-their-existence-is-a-mystery</ref>

===Extraterrestrial life===
For most of the 20th century, scientists typically believed in the existence of extraterrestrial life, despite the lack of any reference to it in the Bible. After spending many billions of dollars looking for such life, and investigating countless reports of UFOs, no such life has been found.

===Starlight Problem===
The [[Starlight Problem]] confounds atheistic theories about the universe: light has reached us from stars that are too far away to transmit the light within the age of the universe. But the Book of Genesis explains this easily: "let there be light" means that God created light, not merely stars.

===Number of stars===
The Bible repeatedly refers to the number of stars as being innumerable,<ref>''See'' Genesis 15:5, Jeremiah 33:22 and Hebrews 11:12.</ref> despite scientists insisting throughout most of history that there were only about 6000 stars. In the early 17th century [[Galileo]] turned a telescope to the heavens and discovered a great number of stars that had been previously invisible to the naked eye.<ref>http://galileo.rice.edu/lib/student_work/astronomy95/orionpleiades.html</ref>

Not until the 20th century did scientists discover the tremendous number of stars:<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/07/22/stars.survey/index.html</ref>

:There are "10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world's beaches and deserts," totaling "7 followed by 22 zeros or, more accurately, 70 sextillion.

But even that scientific estimate was much too low. On December 1, 2010, scientists admitted:<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1201/Universe-might-hold-three-times-more-stars-than-previously-thought</ref>

:"a cosmic embarrassment of riches – ''the universe appears to hold three times the number of stars many [[astronomer]]s might have estimated only a year ago''."

===Uniqueness of stars===
Although the use of telescopes to chart the outer-reaches of God's heavenly creation was developed around the 16th century in Europe, the Bible accurately hypothesized that every star is unique.

"There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory"- 1 Corinthians 15:41 <ref>http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/science.shtml</ref>

===Spherical Sun and Earth===
The Book of Isaiah establishes that the true shape of the earth is a sphere:
{{cquote|He sits above the sphere of the earth, and its inhabitants look to him like grasshoppers. He stretches out the galaxies like a curtain, spreading them out like a tent to live under: - [[Isaiah 34-42 (Translated)#Chapter 40|Isaiah 40:22 (CBP]])}}

Likewise, with respect to the [[sun]], the Book of Proverbs 8:27 ([[ESV]]) states:
{{cquote|When he established the heavens, ... he drew a circle on the face of the deep}}

The Book of Isaiah was written circa the 8th century BC, and the Book of Proverbs even earlier. This was centuries before Greek philosophers, beginning with [[Pythagoras]], theorized the earth was round, and it was not discovered until 2012 that the sun is perfectly spherical. Astronomers were not able to conclude until well into the second millennium of [[Christ]] that the Earth is also a sphere.

===Earth free floating in space===
The book of Job states that God "hangs the [[Earth]] on nothing." It also contrasts with Greek Mythology's belief that [[Atlas]] holds up the Earth, or ancient Hindu and Native American myths that the Earth was on top of a gigantic turtle.

The Bible presaged the modern view that space is in fact empty, which wasn't known until the dawn of the 20th century when ether theories became disfavored.

===Cosmic Background Radiation===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis Chapter 1]] explains that God created light first, rather than merely stars. A "big bang" would result in light everywhere, without darkness, and without ripples in cosmic background radiation. Yet in the 21st century ripples were discovered in cosmic background radiation, which can only be plausibly explained by recognizing that light was created first.

===Meteoroids===
The Revelation of Saint John notes,
{{cquote|And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9 (KJV)}}
This accurately describes meteoroids, essentially large chunks of rock lit on fire by the shock of entering the earth's atmosphere. They were not discovered until 1801, and their composition was not otherwise known until the 20th century.

===Stellar proper movement===
In [[Job]], a list of challenges are constructed in the form of questions, with the idea that man can't do it, but God can. Among these challenges, two are remarkable: one mentions the ''untying'' of Orion's belt, and the other is the ''binding'' of the Pleiades. Only recently, astronomers could measure the proper movement of those stars; Orion's belt is moving apart, with each star going in a different direction, while the Pleiades are moving together.

===Space flight===
Many theorize that the book of [[Ezekiel]] contains descriptions of spaceships and rockets, as they would have been described by someone thousands of years ago. [http://www.spaceshipsofezekiel.com/ Author Blumrich] has even published an entire book about this.

===Expanding universe===
The Bible explains, in 17 different verses, that God "stretched out" the heavens,<ref>http://www.creationists.org/God-streched-out-the-universe-bible-verses.html</ref> in other words, expanding the fabric of space-time from a smaller size to a much larger one. Scientists have discovered only in the last 100 years that, by studying the red shift of galaxies, the universe indeed appears to be expanding, or "stretching out."

==Meteorology==

===Water cycle===
The existence of the water cycle was not known until imperial Roman times, but the Bible described it over a thousand years before that.
See [[Ecclesiastes]] 11:3, [[Job]] 26:8 and [[Amos]] 9:6

==Physics==

=== Immense power within atoms alluded to in 2 Peter chapter 3 ===
[[Image:Abomb.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[atomic bomb]] that was dropped on [[Hiroshima]] unleashed the equivalent of about 15 kilotons of TNT.]]
The immense power within atoms is alluded to in the Bible in 2 Peter chapter 3.<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>

Daniel White III declares:
{{Cquote|John Phillips notes that Peter’s prophecy of a great, end-times conflagration of the earth and its atmosphere uses precise terminology that accurately describes a nuclear explosion. Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon define the “elements” as “the components into which matter is divided” (or atoms), and the term “dissolved” comes from the basic Greek word meaning to “loose” that which is bound (as in nuclear fission). The term “great noise” is found nowhere else in the New Testament and signifies “a rushing sound of roaring flames.” The term “fervent heat” is derived from a Greek medical term denoting a fever. But Peter’s use of it in application to inanimate objects is the only such known usage anywhere in Greek literature. Thus, Phillips observes, “Peter describes in accurate terms the untying of the atom and the resulting rushing, fiery destruction which follows it.”<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>}}

===Impossibility of a Grand Unified Theory===
Billions of dollars and millions of hours have been wasted by scientists in futile pursuit of a "grand unified theory" for physics. But [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis]] explains that the creation of light was done in a separate, initial creation, free of darkness or entropy, and thus incapable of theoretical unification with matter.

===Light and color===
Prior to the work of [[Isaac Newton]], white was considered to be the fundamental color of light, and other colors (such as red, green and blue) were formed by adding to white light. Under that traditional theory, the fullness of all light (a combination of all colors of light) would result in something other than pure white.

The transfiguration of Jesus is described with remarkable consistency in all three synoptic [[Gospel]]s: in the fullness of light Jesus and his clothing display an intense white, whiter than any bleach could produce. This illustrates what was not discovered and accepted until nearly 1700 years later: that white is the combination of other fundamental colors, and the purest white light is formed by a perfectly full combination (see [[Prism]]).

===Action-at-a-distance===
[[Jesus]] demonstrated [[action-at-a-distance]], as recounted in [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]]. Scientists, particularly [[atheists]], denied the possibility of this phenomenon for thousands of years. When Newton proposed action-at-a-distance as the basis of gravity, scientists continued to reject it, but eventually accepted it as being true.

Later the [[Theory of Relativity]] again denied the possibility of action-at-a-distance, but [[quantum mechanics]] subsequently proved that it does occur.<ref>See also [[Counterexamples to Relativity]].</ref>

===Quantum mechanics===
The fundamental principle of [[quantum mechanics]] is that the underlying reality is in random fluctuation, or chaos, until there is intelligent observation of it. This is precisely what [[Luke 1-8 (Translated)#Luke 4:6|Luke 4:6]] reveals when it quotes the [[devil]] in saying that he has dominion over this world.

The world was an abyss of chaos at the moment of creation, as explained in Genesis. The order created by God is on a foundation of uncertainty. The discovery of this in subatomic particles in the 1900s, known as quantum mechanics, confirms the nature of the world as described in Genesis.

====Observation of the wave function====
The second chapter of the [[Gospel of John]] describes the conversion of water into wine by [[Jesus]] at a wedding reception. [[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 2|John 2:9]] states: "When the host of the wedding feast tasted the water, it had been made into wine." This passage implies that the drink was not wine until it had been tasted, or observed. The drink was a superposition of the state of wine and the state of water until it was observed as wine.

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus draws a then-unusual distinction between what is fixed and what is uncertain by declaring, "Whatever you make binding on earth will be binding in heaven, and whatever you set loose on earth will be set loose in heaven."<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Matthew_10-19_%28Translated%29&oldid=870778#Chapter_16</ref> This may describe the fundamental uncertainty that continues unless and until there is human observation that then causes the wave function to collapse into a particular ("bound") state.

====Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle====
Both the Old and New Testaments refer to a fundamental uncertainty that requires observation to resolve, akin to the [[Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle]] discovered in the 1920s:

* "The earth came to exist in an utterly formless and empty state." -- [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 1:2]].
* "The master refusing to order the removal of the weeds sowed among the wheat because of the uncertainty in distinguishing between the two until later." -- [[Matthew 10-19 (Translated)|Matthew 13:24-30]].

====Wave-particle duality====
Wave-particle duality, first discovered in the 20th century, allows for a particle to sometimes be subject to gravity and sometimes not.

The wave-particle duality was described nearly 2000 years earlier in the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water: [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:45-54]]. A close reading of the passage reveals the wave-like (or light-like) characteristic of the walking on water:<ref>[[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:48-49]] (italics added).</ref>
{{cquote|he walked on the surface of the lake and came to the boat, ''nearly passing it''. But when they saw him walking on water, they thought it must have been ''a ghost'', and cried out.}}
In a more general sense, Jesus could be viewed as the "particle" and the [[Holy Spirit]] as the "wave" of God. A fuller understanding of the [[Trinity]] could have opened the eyes of scientists much earlier to the fundamental wave-particle duality of nature ... '''''and still could'''''.

====Quantum tunneling====
[[Quantum tunneling]] is the ability of particles to move through energy barriers even though ostensibly impossible based on classical laws of mechanical physics. This was not discovered by scientists until the 20th century.

Jesus proved this was possible in [[John 15-21 (Translated)#Chapter 20|John 20:26]], when he appeared before the [[Apostles]] in a closed room with completely shut doors.

===Classical relativity===
Romans 10:6-7: But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Equating ascending into heaven to bringing Christ down is an example of the fact that there is no universal reference frame, and only relative speeds matter.

===Modern relativity===
The [[Theory of Relativity]] denies the possibility of action-at-a-distance. But several passages in the Bible, such as [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]] and [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)|Matthew 27:51]], describe simultaneous actions from afar.

The list of [[Counterexamples to Relativity]] has grown recently, and modern experiments in quantum mechanics have confirmed action-at-a-distance.

===Second Law of Thermodynamics===
The [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Book of Genesis]] states that the darkness or chaos in the universe can never overcome the light, or order. This same concept was not discovered in physics until the development of the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]], which holds that heat (or order or light) always travels in the direction of cold (or disorder or darkness), and never in the opposite direction. On the other hand, the Second Law of Thermodynamics predicts a heat death for the universe; thus the universe will eventually be dark and chaotic. Thus, the validity of this statement is questionable.

[[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10-11]] explains that the universe shall "wear out" like a "garment", centuries before the discovery of the physical law that [[entropy]] is always increasing.

===Nature of air===
Until about 300 years ago, common knowledge believe that the air was "empty" and didn't weigh anything. But [[Job]] 28:25 states, "To establish a '''weight''' for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure" indicating that the divinely inspired author knew the air had substance and weight.

===Conservative forces===
James 1:17 describes the electromagnetic forces (light) as having no "shadow of turning." Not understood for nearly 2000 years, this predicts that electromagnetic forces are [[conservative]] such that their [[line integrals]] over a closed loop are zero.

==Mathematics==
''See main article: [[Math and the Bible]]''
===Zero===
Mathematicians in Western Europe did not discover [[zero]] until many centuries after the Bible was written. But there are hundreds of references to the concept of zero throughout the Bible.

===Banach-Tarski Paradox===
The only miracle described in all four [[Gospels]] is the multiplication of loaves and fish by Jesus, thought for thousands of years to be a mathematical and physical impossibility. But the 20th century discovery of the so-called [[Banach-Tarski Paradox]] proved a mathematical basis for creating identical copies of an object out of no extra material.

===Axiomatization of Arithmetic===
The full set of axioms for integer arithmetic may be found in the Bible. For example, [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)|Luke 12:52]] is a striking statement of the commutative law for addition: "For from this point forward there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three." This understanding presaged both later attempts at the axiomatization of arithmetic by Peano and the development of [[abstract algebra]] in the 19th and 20th centuries.

===Infinity===
Most thinkers scoffed at the concept of [[infinity]] for thousands of years, despite it being referenced in the Bible in many ways. See, e.g., Psalm 147:4-6 (God's "understanding is infinte"); [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#20:1|Matthew 20:1-14]] ([[parable]] of the wages for the workers in the vineyard); Matthew 16:26 (one's soul has an infinite value to him, and nothing else can be worth more).

But [[Georg Cantor]], deeply inspired by [[Christianity]], established a logical foundation for infinity that revolutionized all of mathematics as a result, with his development of [[set theory]] to accomplish his goal.

===Calculus===
The Bible emphasizes the importance of limits as a key distinction between this world and God; Calculus consists of relying on limits to derive useful results.<ref>[http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_27/27cc_225-239.htm Norie Grace Rivera-Poblete: "''God and Calculus''"], Institute for Christian Teaching Education Department of [[Seventh-day Adventist]], Prepared for the 27th International Faith and Learning Seminar held at Mission, Muak Lek Saraburi, Thailand December 3 – 15, 2000</ref>

James 1:17 states that the first and second derivatives of God's light (truth) is zero, more than 1600 years before calculus was discovered: "with [God] there is no variation or shadow of turning."<ref name="Shadow%252525252525252520of%252525252525252520Turning">[http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/no-variation-or-shadow-of-turning-calculus-in-the-bible/ Nathan Albright: ''"No Variation Or Shadow Of Turning: Calculus In The Bible"''], Blog-Entry, Feb 24, 2011</ref>

===Arithmetic with Negative Numbers===

Negative numbers were not fully accepted by mathematicians until the 1800s,<ref>http://nrich.maths.org/5961</ref> including how a negative number dominates the result in multiplication with a positive number, to yield a negative outcome. Yet Jesus' parable of the sower and the seed, in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-8, and Luke 8:4-8, explained the same effect nearly 2000 years earlier.

=== Indeterminacy ===

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that God is "unsearchable". See Job 5:9 (God "does great things and unsearchable"); Job 26:1 ("God's Majesty Is Unsearchable"); Job 36:26 ("Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.") Psalm 145:3 ("Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."); Proverbs 25:3 ("As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable."); Isaiah 40:28 ("Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."); Romans 11:33 ("Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!")' Ephesians 3:8 ("to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ").<ref>All quotations are to the ESV of the Bible.</ref>

John 1:1 teaches that logic is part of God, and thus logic itself must also be "unsearchable". For many decades the finest mathematicians thought that the consistency of logic could be proven, until [[Kurt Godel]] (himself a frequent reader of the Bible) proved the indeterminacy, or "unsearchability", of mathematics.

==Sociology==

===Trolls===

The existence of malicious trolls on the internet is difficult to understand, until one reads Matthew 13:24-30 - the Parable of the Wheat and the Chaff.

===Crime===
Mark 4:22 says how nothing can be hid, neither can anything be kept secret. Empirical statistics show that the vast majority of crimes worldwide are solved.

==Zoology==

===Morality of animals===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 3:1-10]] explains that only humans understand good and evil, and clothe themselves because of it. Repeatedly scientists have attempted to demonstrate that animals can understand morality also, but every attempt has failed. No animal (other than humans) has ever been found that clothes itself. However, as limited case, animals do demonstrate altruistic behavior.

===Existence of dinosaurs===
[[Dinosaur]] fossils were not discovered until the 19th century, but the book of Job describes enormous creatures called behemoth and leviathan, the descriptions being similar to dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. It may also have referred to another similarly giant now-extinct species. Other dinosaur like creatures mentioned are the cockatrice and satyr <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i2/behemoth.asp</ref>

===Killing methods of lions===
Until the 1970s naturalists believed that lions killed their prey by biting through the neck or by breaking the neck with a swat of a paw, while the Bible says that lions suffocated their prey. (Nahum 2:12) It was not until the 1970s that it was discovered that the [[Bible]] was correct.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BLions87.htm</ref> Lions fit their mouth over the mouth and nose of their prey and hold it while it suffocates, in addition to other killing methods.

===Giant sea creatures and Jonah===
The [[Jonah (Translated)|Book of Jonah]] describes his survival in the belly of a giant sea creature for 2.5 to 3 days. Scientists declared this to be impossible due to powerful stomach acids that quickly break down any material and the lack of breathable air inside marine animals.

In 2010, scientists found the following materials intact in the belly of a gray whale that had died after being stranded on a Northwest beach:<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/19/pair-sweat-pants-garbage-beached-whales-stomach/</ref>

*a pair of sweat pants
*a golf ball
*over 20 plastic bags
*small towels
*duct tape
*surgical gloves

Of course, many sea creatures have gone extinct in the thousands of years since Jonah lived.

===Gender of worker ants===
Proverbs 6:6-8 correctly states the sex of worker [[ant]]s (female), using the correct one of the two [[Grammar#Gender|grammatical genders]] available in Biblical [[Hebrew]]. Secular entomologists would not discover that fact until the 19th century.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=rzwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6&dq=ant+undeveloped+female+worker+date:1700-1850&lr=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#v=onepage&q&f=false The study of medicine, Volume 5 By John Mason Good]</ref>

=== Harvester ants ===

19th century [[Europe]]an naturalists were wrong about [[ant]] behavior - namely the issue of ants/harvesting (Harvester ants). The Bible was correct about ant behavior.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BWilliamsvsAnon71to73.htm</ref>

=== Hearing and snakes ===

The scientific consensus and the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' both indicated that snakes can't hear.<ref>[http://creation.com/snake-charming-and-bible-accuracy Charmed, I’m sure!] by Calvin Smith</ref><ref>[http://ed5015.tripod.com/BCobra94.htm The Cobra and the Bible]</ref> The Bible said that snakes can hear. 21st century research showed that snakes can hear.

=== Vegetarian lion ===

The prophet Isaiah says that there will be a time when the [[lion]] will lay down with the lamb and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25). There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>
[[File:8790lion-wont-eat-meat.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>]]
David Catchpoole wrote at the website of [[Creation Ministries International]]:
{{Cquote|From 1946 to 1955, A female African lion, born and raised in America, lived her entire lifetime of nine years without ever eating meat.1 In fact, her owners, Georges and Margaret Westbeau,2 alarmed by scientists’ reports that carnivorous animals cannot live without meat, went to great lengths to try to coax their unusual pet (‘Little Tyke’) to develop a taste for it. They even advertised a cash reward for anyone who could devise a meat-containing formula that the lioness would like. The curator of a New York zoo advised the Westbeaus that putting a few drops of blood in Little Tyke’s milk bottle would help in weaning her, but the lioness cub refused to touch it—even when only a single drop of blood had been added.

The more knowledgeable animal experts among the many visitors to the Westbeaus’ 100 acre (40 hectare) ranch also proffered advice, but nothing worked. Meanwhile, Little Tyke continued to do extremely well on a daily diet of cooked grain, raw eggs and milk. By four years of age she was fully grown and weighed 352 pounds (160 kg)...

Mr Westbeau’s observation of the lioness that ‘To condition her stomach she would spend an hour at a time eating the succulent tall grass in the fields’, is also a vivid reminder of the prophecies of Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, ‘ … the lion will eat straw like the ox.’<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>}}

==Linguistics==
[[File:The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563.jpg|thumb|350px|The Tower of Babel by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]], 1563.]]
===Common descent theory===
The [[theory of evolution]] suggests that all languages are descended from a common ancestral language, and for a century (1860 to about 1960) scientists clung to that view. But now most linguists identify many different families of languages that have no common ancestor, just as described in Genesis 11 with the [[Tower of Babel]].

===Earliest Hebrew writings===
Skeptics have claimed that [[Hebrew]] writing did not exist before the 6th century B.C. But a recent Israeli archaeological dig dated four centuries earlier, in the 10th century B.C., included an artifact found at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley. This artifact contained a written inscription in Hebrew relating to "slaves, widows and orphans." Haifa University Professor Gershon Galil noted that this disproves the theory that the Bible could not have been written before the 6th century.<ref>http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/01/08/Bible-may-be-centuries-older-than-thought/UPI-21171262997765/</ref>

==Economics==
===Poverty===
Jesus stated that there will always be poverty,<ref>See Mark 14:7, Matthew 26:11 and John 12.8.</ref> yet [[liberals]] repeatedly insist that poverty can be eliminated with more government spending. Every attempt to eliminate poverty has failed just as Jesus predicted. In 1991 [[Ronald Coase]] won a [[Nobel Prize]] in [[Economics]] for the [[Coase Theorem]], which implies that government attempts to reduced poverty will interfere with efficient operation of the economy, and thereby reduce wealth.

===Socialism and Capitalism===
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 says that [[capitalism]] is a gift from God:

"Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God give the him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God."

Similarly, Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 condemns [[socialism]]:

"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease."

==Government and Politics==
''See also [[Biblical political foreknowledge]]''

===Nation-state===
Ancient Israel, as described in the [[Old Testament]], was a [[nation-state]] and that model was not utilized again until thousands of years later, well after the Renaissance in Western Europe. This model of a nation-state has become the modern standard worldwide.

===Separation of Powers===
The separation of powers adopted successfully by the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1787, with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches having separate authority and jurisdiction, was first described in the Old Testament.<ref>See Jeremiah 17:19 and Isaiah 33:22.</ref>

===Liberal influence on the media===
The Third [[Three Temptations of Christ|Temptation of Christ]] is to bow down and worship the [[Satan]] in exchange for becoming ruler of the world. The media plays that role and its influence is predictably liberal and anti-[[Christian]].

==Engineering==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge about these engineering developments has been proposed:<ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2191</ref>
{{cquote|automobiles (Joel 2:3-4); airplanes (Isaiah 31:5, also 40:31); submarines (Revelation 9:1-11); radio (Ecclesiastes 10:20); and television (Revelation 11:3-12)}}
Classical photography, using negative imaging, was predated by the [[Shroud of Turin]] with respect to the imaging on the Shroud likely due to the light of the [[Resurrection]]. The Shroud ([[Greek]]: σινδών - sindón) is mentioned in three Gospels: Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, while John 20:5-7 talks about a face cloth or napkin ([[Greek]]: σουδάριον - soudárion - perhaps the [[Sudarium of Oviedo]]), and a piece of fine linen ([[Greek]]: ὀθόνιον - othonion). The description by the eyewitness John implies that his sighting of the Shroud may have confirmed his [[faith]], though he doesn't mention its photograph-like image.<ref>John Calvin, who opposed the Catholic Church, wrote a book in 1543 criticizing all material evidence of Jesus and the martyrs. In it he claimed that because the negative image on the Shroud is not described in the Gospels, it must not be authentic. [[John Calvin]]: ''Traité des Reliques'', Geneve 1543, translated by Valerian Krasinski: ''A treatise on Relics'', Edingburgh 1854</ref>

==Alleged "contradictions"==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge is an underpinning of creation science, and is widely credited by Christian scientists and apologists, including the organizations [[Creation Ministries International]],<ref>http://creation.com/modern-medicine Creation Ministries International on "Modern" Medicine</ref> [[Answers in Genesis]],<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i1/medicine.asp Answers in Genesis on "Modern" Medicine</ref> and [[CreationWiki]].<ref>[http://creationwiki.org/index.php/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible Scientific Foreknowledge]</ref>

Atheists and liberals unsuccessfully attempt to discredit the Bible based on science. Here are some examples:

===Value of Pi===
Two sections of the bible (1 Kings 7, 23-26, 2 Chronicles, 4, 2-5) appear to indicate that the correct value of [[Pi]] is 3, whereas Pi is in fact an irrational number, equalling approximately 3.14159. Atheists, including [[Sam Harris]] and [[Richard Dawkins]], allege that this value indicates the fallacious nature of scripture.<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/articles/139 The Richard Dawkins Foundation, ''Reply to a Christian'', Sam Harris -]</ref> However, a simple explanation of the claimed "contradiction" is that the Bible records the ratio of the actual object which Hiram created, not that of a mathematical [[sphere]]. The claim that it was round all about does not equate to a claim that it was a perfect sphere, as atheists have claimed.<ref>''Theology'', Volume 59, Issues 427-438, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain), London, 1956, p. 23</ref>

Additionally, Pi to one significant digit is 3. Just because the measurement is given to only one significant digit, that does not mean it was precisely that amount. Of course, since Pi is an irrational number, it would be impossible to give a truly precise measurement. Since decimal notation was not in use in Biblical times, there was no way to express Pi to greater accuracy in the language of the day.

===Bat as a bird===
A favorite [[evolutionist]] canard is that [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:13-19]] labels the [[bat]], a [[mammal]], as a [[bird]]. The [[KJV]] translation of "fowl" is simply incorrect, as the Hebrew term '' 'owph'' did not entail the "clade" of birds, but was a non-scientific category simply referring to ''any'' winged creature. A popular Jewish translation, used to explain the laws of keeping kosher, translates the term as "winged flying things."

===Rabbits, coneys, and cud===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:5-6]], the Bible states, {{cquote|And the coney ''(or hyrax)'', because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.}} While rabbits do not, in fact, regurgitate food and re-chew it, they have the same jaw motions as animals that do<ref>http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/genesis-deuteronomy/do-badger-and-rabbit-chew-cud</ref> and thus appeared as cud-chewing to the Jews of Moses's time. Atheists and liberals love to misrepresent this passage only because they are in [[liberal denial]] of the truth.

===Number of legs of insects===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:20-23]], the Bible states, {{cquote|All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the
grasshopper after his kind.

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.}}While this may appear to indicate that insects have four legs (they have six), the passage is in fact referring to the manner in which the grasshopper moves. Grasshoppers have large back legs mainly used for jumping, and not for walking, which is when it uses its smaller four front legs. Thus, the ancient Hebrews were just describing things as they saw them, not according to scientific nomenclature.

==See also==
*[[Essay:Rebuttal to Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]
*[[Biblical political foreknowledge]]
*[[Christianity and Science]]
*[[The Bible]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Atheism]]

==External links==
*[http://www.creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Biblical scientific foreknowledge] by [[CreationWiki]]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/10/scientific-consensus-and-evolutionary.html Jesus vs. the scientific consensus and evolution. Jesus wins!]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Liberal Denial]]

{{Creation vs. evolution}}

Overrated Sports Stars

2017-02-24T02:53:02Z

Ambassador:

[[File:Peyton Manning.jpg|thumb|Peyton Manning]]
The [[lamestream media]] like to promote athletes based not on skill, but for [[liberal]] reasons. Here's a growing list of the most overrated sports stars (notice how none are on the list of [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|Greatest Conservative Sports Stars]]):

#[[Andre Agassi]] — his rival [[Pete Sampras]] was far better,<ref>Sampras defeated Agassi four out of the five times they met in Grand Slam finals. Overall, Sampras won 20 out of his 34 matches against Agassi. [http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/295861.html]</ref> but Sampras is [[conservative]]. Agassi is a big donor to [[Democrat]] politicians.
#[[Lance Armstrong]] — favored by the [[liberal media]] because he publicly denied belief in [[God]], he possibly pulled off the biggest scam in the history of sports by "winning" the [[Tour-de-France]] seven times with what has been described as [http://cyclinginvestigation.usada.org/# "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."] See also: [[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]]
#[[David Beckham]] — retired early to the American MLS league and then became a benchwarmer in the French League. His own [[British]] [[2012 Summer Olympics]] team did not even want him; his real skill seems to be in catering to the [[liberal media]].
#[[Tom Brady]] — suspended for his role in cheating by under-inflating footballs in the 2015 AFC Championship game and possibly in many prior games and even entire seasons.<ref>Brady refused to apologize for his cheating and persuaded a district court to block the suspension, but then Brady lost on appeal and the lengthy suspension was fully reinstated.</ref> He has a relatively weak throwing arm, zero running speed, and requires tremendous pass protection in order to play well. The [[liberal media]] covers for him because of his relative lack of outspoken [[faith]] compared with other athletes.
#[[Kobe Bryant]] — was an overhyped bust at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]; hasn't won a single title without super-coaching by Phil Jackson, who observes that Bryant is not on the high level of [[Michael Jordan]]; Bryant's Lakers were pathetic in 2012-2013 while he was playing.
#Jason Collins — saw constant media coverage over him for being a homosexual even though he isn't even that good at basketball.
#Jim Harbaugh — out-coached to lose the [[Super Bowl]] in 2013, Harbaugh was next paid a massive multimillion-dollar contract to coach in college, where he led his Michigan team to a pathetically weak 5-2 start, yet the media continue to promote him with absurd stories like "5 Ways Jim Harbaugh Inspires His Team."<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2015/10/24/5-ways-jim-harbaugh-inspires-his-team/ Forbes story]</ref>
#[[LeBron James]] — over-promoted by the media to an absurd extent. Outspoken Christian star [[Steph Curry]] is better, and another Christian star, [[Kevin Durant]], outscored James (and Kobe Bryant) in the 2012 Olympics. LeBron has sometimes even underachieved in key playoff games. He helped Cleveland win a come-from-behind title in 2016, but again received absurd over-hype, such as the media claiming he is "superhuman".
#[[Magic Johnson]] — lucky enough to play on [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]'s Lakers to win some titles, but was crushed by [[Michael Jordan]] and the Bulls; no problem, Magic was a critic of President [[George H.W. Bush]], which thrilled liberals.
#*People look at him, and say, 'Hey, it's OK to get HIV because I'm living with it.' That is the wrong message. [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500202_162-57319698/20-years-since-magic-johnsons-hiv-stunner/]
#[[Peyton Manning]] — a [[quarterback]] who won only two [[NFL]] championships in 17 seasons, on teams that carried him to victory with overpowering defenses; the media unjustifiably hyped Manning as one of the best ever and gave him numerous regular season honors. The liberal media treated him like the Second Coming of [[Christ]] in order to oust [[conservative]] [[Tim Tebow]] from his leadership position in the [[swing state]] of [[Colorado]] prior to the [[Presidential Election 2012]]. After replacing Tebow, Manning eventually caused a humiliatingly early exit for the Broncos from the 2013 playoffs by throwing two big interceptions, and was even worse in a humiliating [[Super Bowl]] loss in 2014 and a first-round playoff loss in 2015.
#[[Steve Nash]] — an [http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2009/3/25/809516/steve-nash-on-media-bias-t outspoken liberal who supported Obama], Nash was chosen ''twice'' by the [[lamestream media]] as the [[NBA]] MVP despite never leading his team to even an NBA Finals. Even worse, the former coach of Nash was then hired by the Lakers in late 2012, rather than a far better coach who was available.
#[[Danica Patrick]] - has won a single race in the Indy Car series, but has yet to win a race in either the NASCAR Sprint Cup or Nationwide series, finishing no higher than fourth, although ESPN promotes her first and foremost when showing highlights of the NASCAR races in which she participates. The [[lamestream media]] adores her for her participation in controversial GoDaddy television advertisements.[[File:C Ronaldo.jpg|thumb|200px|Cristiano Ronaldo.]]
#[[Cristiano Ronaldo]] - his spectacular talents have been ruined by his self-obsession, vanity and cravings of celebrity. He is now officially "sad", despite being one of the luckiest men alive.
#Wayne Rooney - burst onto the scene as a 16 year old and called "The English [[Pele|Pelé]]." 10 years on and he has still failed to fulfill his potential, especially at international level, and still behaves like a childish immature 16 year old.
#Michael Sam — was heavily promoted by the media for being a homosexual despite not being a first round draft pick and getting cut from the Rams before the start of the season.
#Mark Sanchez — while playing quarterback for the [[New York Jets]] he was touted as the team's best QB over [[conservative]] [[Christian]] [[Tim Tebow]], despite Sanchez falling apart at the end of the 2011–12 season and continuing to perform poorly in the 2012-2013 season. When Tebow came to the Jets, [[liberals]] championed the former [[USC]] star Sanchez as the superior player despite his mediocre play throughout his career. As a result, Tebow was forced out of the Jets team and released at the end of the 2012-13 season.
#[[Tiger Woods]] — hasn't won a major golf tournament in more than seven years, and yet he's still the only one liberals want to talk about while reporting on tournaments - even when he's not even playing, as in the 2014 [[Masters]].
#Colin Kaepernick — Quarterback Alex Smith did most of the dirty work giving the 49ers a good enough record to make it to the playoffs, after Smith was injured Kaepernick was named the starter, but they lost the Super Bowl. Following Smith's release the 49ers have struggled while Smith's new team, The Kansas City Chiefs have done well. Liberals protect him because he is likely a [[communist]].<ref>http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2016/11/27/Colin-Kaepernick-praises-good-things-done-by-communist-Fidel-Castro/9581480294777/</ref>
#Ronda Rousey — A bully and a jerk. She threatened to beat up Justin Bieber (whom has NO martial arts experience and is a compete mismatch of a fight) over childish nonsense. She's only really famous because of her sex appeal & supporting [[Bernie Sanders]].<ref>http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/ronda-rousey-bernie-sanders-president-2015-11</ref> Oddly enough she was beaten by Holly Holm (who is supporting Trump<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrities-who-support-donald-trump/16/</ref> and has not surprisingly got any media attention), karma maybe?
#Jerry Rice — Was one of the best wide receiver, that is until in 2015 when he admitted using stickum (which has been illegal in the NFL since 1981). So he's technically a cheater.

{{Clear}}
== See also ==

*[[Underrated Sports Stars]]
*[[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]]
*[[Conservapedia proven right]]
*[http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/pro-football-nfl-hall-of-fame-who-doesnt-belong-worst-troy-aikman-canton "Troy Aikman and 16 others who don't belong in the Hall of Fame"]
*[[Amanda Beard]]

== References ==

<references/>
[[Category:Sports]]

Worst College Majors

2017-02-24T02:52:21Z

Ambassador:

The '''worst college majors''' are fields of study that leave the student with relatively few job opportunities and often a distorted or ultra-[[liberal]] view of the world. Students incur an average debt in excess of $25,000 for attending college, and these college majors can leave such students without the ability to pay off their loans, which are typically not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Adding insult to injury, many public colleges have begun charging students more if they decline one of the Worst College Majors, and study something of value instead.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-04-24/differential-tuition-increase-major/54513940/1</ref> Incidentally, a study by ''USA Today'' and the non-profit Education Sector showed that 514 colleges are more likely to produce defaults in student loans than graduates.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/03/514-Colleges-Have-Higher-Default-Rates-Than-Graduation-Rates</ref>

In addition, college matters less and less to employers. The number of degree-less hires is trending way up at [[Google]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/business/in-head-hunting-big-data-may-not-be-such-a-big-deal.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1& In Head-Hunting, Big Data May Not Be Such a Big Deal, NYTimes, June 19, 2913]</ref> President of the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy wrote in the Wall Street Journal, “Many liberal-arts graduates, even from the best schools, aren’t getting jobs in part because they didn’t learn much in school.”<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2013/02/10/sorry-left-and-right-no-job-requires-a-college-degree/ Sorry Left AND Right, No Job Requires A College Degree, Forbes.com, February 10, 2013]</ref>

==Undergraduate majors==
# Animal Science<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Anthropology/Archeology<ref name="yahoo1" />
# Art History<ref name="collegecrunch" /><ref name=kiplinger>[http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/college/T012-S001-worst-college-majors-for-your-career/index.html] Kiplinger, May 2015</ref>
# Biblical Studies<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Black studies
# Business Administration/Management<ref name=yahoo2>[http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-10-worst-majors-for-finding-a-good-job-211340394.html] Yahoo Finance, June 2013</ref>
# Child and Family Studies<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Climatology
# Comedic Arts <ref>[http://www.hngn.com/articles/102255/20150619/emerson-college-boston-offer-comedy-major-2016.htm Emerson College in Boston to Offer Comedy Major in 2016]</ref>
# Commercial Art/Graphic Design<ref name="yahoo1" />
# Communications<ref name="collegecrunch" />
# Comparative Religion
# Creative Writing
# Criminal Justice<ref name="yahoo2" />
# Culinary Arts<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Dance<ref name="collegecrunch" /><ref name="georgetown" />
# Drama/Theater<ref name="yahoo2" /><ref name="georgetown" />
# Economics (without a numerate bias)<ref name="yahoo2" />
# English [[Literature]]/Literary Criticism<ref name="yahoo1" />
# Environmental Studies
# Exercise Science<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Fashion Design
# Film/Video<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref name=georgetown>[http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/whatsitworth-complete.pdf What's It Worth?] Georgetown University, July 2011</ref>
# Fine Arts<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref>http://www.artcareer.net/faqs/job-market-outlook-for-artists-and-designers/</ref>
# Forestry/Range Management/Wildlife Management
# Gaming Management<ref name="cat">[http://www.umac.mo/iscg/courses/gmdiphome.html 10 Worst College Majors for Employment]</ref>
# Golf Management – University of Birmingham / Florida Gulf Coast University
# Hispanic studies
# History<ref name="yahoo1" />
# History of Music
# Horticulture<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Human Resources
# Interior Design
# Islamic Studies<ref>http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/colleges/browse/majors/byid/islamic_studies/38.0205.aspx</ref>
# Journalism<ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/slideshow/personal-finance/2010/06/28/worst-fields-graduates/#slide=4</ref>
# Latin<ref name="collegecrunch" />
# Leisure Studies<ref name="collegecrunch" />
# Liberal Arts<ref name=yahoo1>[http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-worst-college-majors-143200704.html] Yahoo Finance, June 2014</ref>
# [[Homosexuality|LGBT]] studies<ref>http://www.yale.edu/lgbts/</ref><ref>http://www.lgbts.umd.edu/</ref>
# Music<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref name="kiplinger" />
# Music/Art Therapy<ref name="collegecrunch" /><ref name="georgetown" />
# Paralegal studies/prelaw
# Philosophy<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref>[http://www.toptenz.net/to-10-useless-college-classes-degrees.php]</ref>
# Photography<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref name="kiplinger" />
# Psychology<ref name="yahoo2" /><ref name="georgetown" />
# Physical Fitness/Education<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref name="collegecrunch" />
# Puppetry
# [[Atheism|Secularism]]<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/us/08secular.html Pitzer College in California Adds Major in Secularism]</ref><ref>In their book ''Encyclopedia of Social Deviance'', which was published in 2014, authors Craig J. Forsyth and ‎Heith Copes wrote: "Atheism as a subject of social science has also generally been ignored in comparison with the scholarly work on religion" (see page 41 of their book). Social Scientists are often generally reluctant to study atheists and it is considered not a great thing to have on your resume for future employment as far as graduate students (see: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7], Published on Nov 27, 2014). According to the atheist Dr. Melanie Brewster, "Good peer-reviewed psychology journals are kind of hesitant to take studies on atheism."[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk] Hunsberger was the first social scientists to do a fairly intensive look at atheists and a book on his study was published in 2006.[http://www.amazon.com/Atheists-Groundbreaking-Study-Americas-Nonbelievers/dp/1591024137] One of the great ironies of this state of affairs is that the very well-known psychiatrist [[Sigmund Freud]] was an atheist (much of his work is now considered [[pseudoscience]]).[http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/books/defender-of-a-damaging-pseudo-science/157101.article] (See also: [[Sigmund Freud's view of religion]]).</ref><ref>[[Global atheism|Global atheism/agnosticism is declining]] and the trend of [[desecularization]] is expected to continue in the 21st century. Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth] In the [[Western World]] and the world as a whole [[internet atheism|interest in internet atheism is declining]].</ref> ''(See also: [[Views on atheists]])''
# Sequential Art<ref>http://www.scad.edu/sequential-art/index.cfm</ref>
# Social Work<ref name="kiplinger" />
# Sociology
# Theology & Religious Vocations<ref name="yahoo1" /><ref name="georgetown" />
# United States History<ref name="georgetown" />
# Urban Planning
# Video Game Design
# [[Feminism|Women's studies]]<ref name=collegecrunch>[http://www.collegecrunch.org/advice/the-10-most-expensive-but-useless-degrees-in-americ/] College Crunch, December 2008</ref>

==Graduate programs==
#Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology<ref name=bankrate>[http://www.bankrate.com/finance/college-finance/graduate-degrees-dont-pay-off.aspx 5 Graduate Degrees That Don't Pay Off] Bankrate.com</ref>
#Computer Engineering<ref name="bankrate" />
#Fine Arts<ref name="bankrate" />
#Law (from a low-ranked school)<ref name="bankrate" />
#PR, Advertising & Mass-Media<ref name="bankrate" />

==Courses==
# Arguing with Judge Judy - UC Berkeley
# Contemporary American Culture: The Fifty Shades Trilogy - American University<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2012/12/29/American-Univeristy-to-Offer-Course-on-Fifty-Shades-of-Grey UNIVERSITY TO OFFER COURSE STUDYING 'FIFTY SHADES OF GREY' TRILOGY, Breitbart, December 29, 2012]</ref>
# Cyber Feminism - Cornell University
# Ecology of Renewable Natural Resources - Texas Tech University<ref>[http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/courses/NRM.php Texas Tech University Course Listing]</ref>
# Emotional Literacy<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076368/Schools-councils-waste-300-000-useless-emotional-literacy-course-faraway-island-sun.html</ref>
# Feminist New Black Man - Occidental College<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvlL_lDk4ko Jason Mattera At CPAC, YouTube]</ref>
# Field Equipment Operation (tractor driving) - UC Davis
# Football Culture
# From DNA to ''Homo sapiens'' - MCLA
# Gaga for Lady Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity - University of Virginia-Charlottesville<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/10/lady-gaga-college-class_n_712540.html</ref>
# Getting dressed - Princeton University<ref>http://www.universitynavigator.com/university-blog/most-ridiculous-courses-you-can-opt-for.html</ref>
# Hip Hop: The Politics of Culture - UC San Diego
# History of Surfing - UC Santa Barbara
# History of Weaving - UC Berkeley
# Introduction to Social Networking
# Labor Studies - UM Saint Louis & UM Kansas City<ref>[http://www.thehotjoints.com/2011/04/25/video-college-course-teaches-violent-union-tactics/ Video: College Course Teaches Violent Union Tactics, The Hot Joints, April 25, 2011]</ref>
# Media Genres (studies zombies) - University of Baltimore<ref>[http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/university-of-baltimore-pop-culture-class-focuses-on-zombies/19625044?test=latestnews College Course Preps Pupils for Zombie Apocalypse, AOL News, September 9, 2010]</ref>
# Native American Feminism - University of Michigan
# Occupy the Field: Global Finance, Inequality, Social Movement - Columbia University<ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2012/01/02/occupy-101/ Columbia University to Offer ‘Occupy 101′ Course, January 2, 2012]</ref>
# Philosophy and Star Trek – Georgetown University in Washington<ref>[http://courses.georgetown.edu/index.cfm?Action=View&CourseID=PHIL-180 Georgetown University Course Listing]</ref>
# Pilot Brewery (brewmaster) - UC Davis
# Politicizing Beyoncé - Rutgers University class from the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies<ref>[http://www.jammiewf.com/2014/higher-education-rutgers-university-offers-class-on-beyonce/ Higher Education: Rutgers University Offers Class on Beyonce, Jammie Wearing Fools, Jan 31, 2014]</ref>
# Queer Musicology – UCLA
# Revolutionary Marxism - Portland State University<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/portland-state-university-offering-revolutionary-marxism-course-and-wait-until-you-see-the-syllabus/</ref>
# Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - UC Berkeley
# Self-Esteem - Cal State Fresno
# The Colbert Report: American Satire Writing Seminar - Boston University<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cody-brotter/bu-offers-stephen-colbert_b_810122.html Class Credit for Colbert College Course, Huffington Post, January 18, 2011]</ref>
# The Science of Harry Potter – Frostburg University<ref>CBS News: ''Harry Potter Goes To College: Professor Uses Boy Wizard To Explores Links Between Magic, Science'', by Bootie Cosgrove-Mather, Sept. 26, 2003 [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/19/national/main584456.shtml] ''...Frostburg State President Catherine R. Gira said she isn't worried that some may view a Harry Potter class as trivial. "Irrespective of the specific title of the course, the 'magic' in the fiction is being analyzed by applying concepts of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering. This honors course creatively packages scientific principles in a contemporary way that will interest today's students," Gira said.''</ref>
# The Mythology of Harry Potter - UCLA
# The Science of Superheroes - UC Irvine<ref>[http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/11/14/the-top-8-california-schools-that-are-like-totally-wasting-your-money/ The Top 8 California Schools that Are, Like, Totally Wasting Your Money, NewsRealBlog, November 14, 2010]</ref>
# The Simpsons and the American Family - Hampshire College
# The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Odyssey of Jay-Z – Georgetown University<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/#ixzz1fPkYhzqX Jay-Z's street rhymes a Georgetown college course]</ref>
# The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender, and Media - Skidmore College<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2014/03/27/your-kids-new-college-course-the-sociology-of-miley-cyrus/#ixzz2xE9fPqF4 Your kid’s new college course: ‘The Sociology of Miley Cyrus’ DailyCaller.com, March 27, 2014]</ref>
# U.S. Race Theory & the Problem of Whiteness - Arizona State University<ref>[http://campusreform.org/?ID=6225 White professor teaches 'problem of whiteness' course at Arizona State]</ref>
# Understanding Obama - Harvard Law School<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/harvard-law-offering-understanding-obama-course-taught-by-obama-mentor/</ref>
# Why Occupy Wall Street? The History and Politics of Debt and Finance - New York University<ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2011/12/09/n-y-u-to-offer-classes-on-occupy-wall-street/ N.Y.U. To Offer Classes On Occupy Wall Street, Weasel Zippers, December 9, 2011]</ref>

==Workshops==
#Brown University workshop "The Ultimate Guide to Prostate Pleasure." <ref>[http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=4668 Brown University to teach male students how to attain ‘prostate pleasure’]</ref>
#Hamilton College in New York and University of Minnesota host Orgasm workshop for female undergrad students.<ref>[http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=5104 College to host orgasm workshop for female undergrads, CampusReform.com, September 25, 2013]</ref>
#Marquette University, Brown University and Columbia University to host Femsex workshop. Topics include orgasms, masturbation, sex, kink and explicit coloring books.<ref>[http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=5050 Catholic college to host controversial 'Femsex' workshop with 'C--t Coloring' and 'pleasure point' CampusReform.com, September 10, 2013]</ref>
#New York University sponsors Strap-On Play, Sex Toys 101, and Oral Sex Tips, part of the bigger event called “Babeland: Queer Student Night with NYU LGBTQ Student Center.<ref>[http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=5019 NYU offers ‘Strap-On Play,’ ‘Sex Toys 101’ workshops for LGBTQ students, CampusReform.com, August 27, 2013]</ref>
#University Of Arizona is to hold the Condom Olympics, students to be involved in a condom-wrapped egg toss, condom art, and a condom scavenger hunt.<ref>[http://www.ijreview.com/2014/02/115262-meanwhile-university-arizona-plans-condom-olympics/ Meanwhile, University Of Arizona Plans ‘Condom Olympics’, IJReview.com, February 15, 2014]</ref>
#University of Tennessee sponsors six-day event called 'Sex Week' <ref>[http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/university-of-tennessee-uses-student-fees-to-host-lesbian-bondage-expert.html University of Tennessee Uses Student Fees to Host Lesbian Bondage Expert]</ref>
#Yale hosts a workshop on the acceptance of bestiality, incest and prostitution.<ref>[http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=4646 Yale hosts workshop teaching sensitivity to bestiality, CampusReform.org march 5, 2013]</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Academia and intellectual development]]
*[[Atheism and academia]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.bankrate.com/finance/college-finance/graduate-degrees-dont-pay-off.aspx?ec_id=m1117367#slide=1 5 graduate degrees that don't pay off]
*[http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/Unemployment.Final.update1.pdf Unemployment rates and earnings for college majors - Georgetown University report - 2012]
*[http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/whatsitworth-complete.pdf What's It Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors] - Comprehensive report at [[Georgetown University]] website
*[http://learnfinancialplanning.com/best-worst-college-majors-degree/ Best and Worst College Majors]
*[http://www.toptenz.net/to-10-useless-college-classes-degrees.php Top 10 Useless College Degrees & Classes]
*[http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/10-college-majors-lowest-unemployment-rates-163049193.html College majors with lowest unemployment]

{{liberalism}}

[[Category:College]]
[[Category:Education]]

Counterexamples to Relativity

2017-02-24T02:51:41Z

Ambassador:

The [[theory of relativity]] is disproved by numerous counterexamples, but is promoted by [[liberals]] who like its encouragement of [[moral relativism|relativism]] and its tendency to pull people away from the [[Bible]].<ref group="note">See, e.g., historian Paul Johnson's book about the 20th century, and the article written by liberal law professor Laurence Tribe as allegedly assisted by [[Barack Obama]].</ref> Here is a list of 49 counterexamples: any one of them would show that the mathematical theory is incorrect:
#Computer simulations based on the theory of relativity predict far more [[black holes]] than are observed.<ref>"The ratio of the mass of black holes in galaxy centers to the rest of the matter in galaxies is larger in the simulations than in the real universe." [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=biggest-black-hole-blast-ever Scientific American November 28, 2012]</ref> Indeed, it is doubtful whether [[black holes]] even exist, and the latest observation disproved the prediction.<ref>http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141106-space-g2-black-hole-science/?google_editors_picks=true</ref>
#"Quasars are disappearing" contrary to the [[theory of relativity]], and astronomers simply "stopped looking" after finding more than ten examples of rapidly changing quasars that confound the theory with respect to black holes.<ref>http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/218636-quasars-are-disappearing-and-astronomers-arent-sure-why</ref>
#The [[orbital eccentricity]] of the [[Moon]]'s orbit is increasing, contrary to what Relativity predicts.<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.0212</ref>
#The [[Pioneer anomaly]].
#The [[Sun]] is a '''''perfect''''' sphere - "the solar flattening is ... too small to agree with that predicted from its surface rotation."<ref>http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/65491-why-is-the-sun-so-round</ref>
#[[Quantum entanglement]] near the [[event horizon]] of a [[black hole]]—with one particle of the pair on one side, and other particle of the pair on the other side—defies the Theory of Relativity.<ref>https://simonsfoundation.org/features/science-news/mathematics-and-physical-science/alice-and-bob-meet-the-wall-of-fire/</ref> Relativity is a mathematical theory that cannot permit any exceptions, just as arithmetic falls part if 2 times 2 is ever not equal to 4. See also [[black hole firewall]].[[Image:600px-Albert Einstein Head.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|
"I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional [[Atheism|atheist]] whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being." - [[Albert Einstein]]<ref name="Isaacson390">Isaacson, Walter (2008). [http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&pg=PT390 ''Einstein: His Life and Universe''] (New York: Simon and Schuster), p. 390. Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>]]
#The speed of light in a vacuum is slower than expected—less than ''c''—based on new data from a 25-year-old [[supernova]].<ref>[http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/184879-einsteinian-error-the-25-year-old-supernova-that-could-change-the-speed-of-light-forever Einsteinian error: The 25-year-old supernova that could change the speed of light forever]</ref>
#"Celestial signals defy [[Albert Einstein]]. Strange signals picked up from black holes and distant supernovae suggest there's more to space-time than Einstein believed."<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129500.700-breaking-relativity-celestial-signals-defy-einstein.html ''New Scientist'' (Jan. 2, 2014)]</ref>
#A physics article published in 2014 states that "general relativity, which describes gravity at low energies precisely, break[s] down at high energies."<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.3720</ref>
#Subatomic particles with mass have a speed observed to be as fast as the speed of light ("we are 100% sure that the speed of light is the speed of neutrinos"<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17364682</ref>), which contradicts Relativity because the [[Lorentz factor]] is then infinite.<ref>http://www.hindustantimes.com/Roll-over-Einstein-Law-of-physics-challenged/Article1-749189.aspx - note that a similar observation of faster-than-light speeds was also made in 2007 (with a larger margin of error).</ref><ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/18/us-science-neutrinos-light-idUSTRE7AH0T720111118</ref> [[Neutrino]]s were observed to travel at the speed of light by an independent experiment also: "Their neutrinos traveled at precisely the speed of light, not faster or slower."<ref>http://junkscience.com/2012/03/21/no-you-still-cant-go-faster-than-light/</ref>
#Anomalies in the locations of spacecraft that have flown by [[Earth]] ("flybys"). During the gravity assists from Earth, both the Galileo spacecraft and the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft experienced a change in velocity different than that predicted by General Relativity.<ref>http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstream/2014/19088/1/98-0296.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23410705/</ref>
#Spiral galaxies confound Relativity, and unseen, nonexistent "[[dark matter]]" has been invented to try to retrofit observations to the theory.<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1105.1873</ref> "Dark matter mysteriously missing around sun. Theories say neighborhood should be filled with it, but new study shows otherwise."<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47101905</ref>
#The acceleration in the expansion of the [[universe]] confounds Relativity, and unseen "[[dark energy]]" has been invented to try to retrofit observations to the theory.
#Increasingly precise measurements of the advance of the [[perihelion]] of [[Mercury]] show a shift greater than predicted by Relativity, well beyond the margin of error.<ref group="note">In a complicated or contrived series of calculations that most physics majors cannot duplicate even after learning them, the theory of general relativity's fundamental formula, <math>G_{\mu\nu} = 8 \pi K T_{\mu\nu}\,</math>, was conformed to match Mercury's then-observed [[precession]] of 5600.0 arc-seconds per century. Subsequently, however, more sophisticated technology has measured a different value of this precession (5599.7 arc-seconds per century, with a margin of error of only 0.01), and leading promoters of Relativity (such as Professor Clifford Will) have omitted this in listing tests confirming Relativity.</ref>
#Despite wasting millions of taxpayer dollars searching for gravitational waves predicted by the theory, no direct observation of [[gravity]] [[wave]]s has occurred.<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.3781</ref> ''Sound like [[global warming]]?'' Then, in classic [[liberal claptrap]], the liberal media claimed that gravitational waves were discovered when in fact no such direct observation was made.
#The discontinuity in momentum as velocity approaches "c" for infinitesimal mass, compared to the momentum of light.
#[[Atheistic science]] admits that "observations don't match predictions, because the objects farthest from each other in the known universe are so far apart that the time it would take to travel between them at the speed of light exceeds the age of the universe," and implausible theories are created to try to explain it.<ref>http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100409-black-holes-alternate-universe-multiverse-einstein-wormholes/</ref>
#The logical problem of a force which is applied at a right angle to the velocity of a relativistic mass - does this act on the rest mass or the relativistic mass?
#The observed lack of curvature in overall space.<ref group="note">If space were curved, one would never expect the universe as a whole to be almost precisely flat. Yet it is.</ref>
#The universe shortly after its creation, when [[Quantum mechanics|quantum]] effects dominated and contradicted Relativity.
#The [[action-at-a-distance]] of [[quantum entanglement]].<ref group="note">Quantum entanglement has not yet communicated information faster than the speed of light, but has already exhibited action faster than the speed of light.</ref>
#The [[action-at-a-distance]] by [[Jesus]], described in [[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 4|John 4:46-54]], [[Matthew 10-19 (Translated)#Chapter 15|Matthew 15:28]], and [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#Chapter 27|Matthew 27:51]].
#The failure to discover [[gravitons]], despite spending hundreds of millions in taxpayer money in searching. While these tax dollars were not necessarily "wasted", the lack of results indicate that scientists need to revisit their hypothesis.
#Newly observed data reveal that the fine-structure constant, α (alpha), actually varies throughout the universe, demonstrating that all inertial frames of reference do '''not''' experience identical laws of physics as claimed by Relativity.<ref group="note">For a report on the data, see a paper submitted in 2010 by John Webb and Julian King of the University of new South Wales, Australia, to the ''Physical Review Letters''.</ref>
#The double star "W13" weighs "40 times as much as the sun—more than enough to form a [[black hole]]. So why is it not a black hole? The only explanation [a leading scientist] can think of ... does not make astrophysical sense."<ref>http://www.economist.com/node/17035953</ref>
#The inability of the theory to lead to other insights, contrary to every verified theory of physics.
#The change in mass over time of standard kilograms preserved under ideal conditions.<ref>[[Mystery:Why Is the Kilogram Losing Weight?]]</ref>
#The uniformity in temperature throughout the universe.<ref>http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6092-speed-of-light-may-have-changed-recently.html ("A varying speed of light contradicts Einstein's theory of relativity, and would undermine much of traditional physics. But some physicists believe it would elegantly explain puzzling cosmological phenomena such as the nearly uniform temperature of the universe.")</ref>
#"According to Einstein’s view on the universe, space-time should be smooth and continuous" but observations instead show "inexplicable static" greater than "all artificial sources of" possible background noise.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Cool-Astronomy/2010/1025/Is-the-universe-a-big-hologram-This-device-could-find-out. Hunt for gravitational waves discovers unexpected data instead].</ref>
#"The snag is that in quantum mechanics, time retains its Newtonian aloofness, providing the stage against which matter dances but never being affected by its presence. These two [QM and Relativity] conceptions of time don’t gel."<ref>http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=splitting-time-from-space</ref>
#The theory predicts [[wormholes]] just as it predicts [[black holes]], but wormholes violate causality and permit absurd time travel.<ref>http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v61/i13/p1446_1 . The popular science press promotes black holes to a far greater extent than wormholes.</ref>
#The theory predicts natural formation of highly ordered (and thus low entropy) black holes despite the increase in [[entropy]] required by the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]].<ref group="note">Contrived explanations have been suggested for this dilemma, such as Stephen Hawking proposing that the entropy of matter in a black hole is somehow stored in the surface area of its event horizon to be released back into its surroundings as the black hole decays by radiation, known as "Hawking radiation."</ref>
#Data from the [[PSR B1913 16|PSR B1913+16]] increasingly diverge from predictions of the [[General Theory of Relativity]] such that, despite a Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded for early work on this pulsar, no data at all have been released about it for over five years.
#The lack of useful devices developed based on any insights provided by the theory; no lives have been saved or helped, and the theory has not led to other useful theories and may have interfered with scientific progress.<ref group="note">Contrary to the claims of Relativists, the GPS system has never been based on Relativity. The Time Service Department, U.S. Navy, observed that "The Operational Control System (OCS) of the Global Positioning System (GPS) does not include the rigorous transformations between coordinate systems that Einstein’s general theory of relativity would seem to require" in part because "the effects of relativity, where they are different from the effects predicted by classical mechanics and electromagnetic theory, are too small to matter – less than one centimeter, for users on or near the earth.”</ref> This stands in stark contrast with every verified theory of science.
#Relativity requires different values for the [[inertia]]l mass of a moving object: in its direction of motion, and perpendicular to that direction. This contradicts the logical principle that the laws of physics are the same in all directions.
#Relativity requires that anything traveling at the [[speed of light]] must have mass zero, so it must have [[momentum]] zero. But the laws of [[electrodynamics]] require that light have nonzero momentum.
#Unlike most well-tested fundamental physical theories, the theory of relativity violates conditions of a conservative field. Path independence, for example, is lacking under the theory of relativity, as in the "twin paradox" whereby the age of each twin under the theory is dependent on the path he traveled.<ref group="note">In defense of the theory, it is noted that it mandates conservation of the matter-stress-energy tensor (the only way to get ''real'' conservation, since matter and energy are interchangeable.) This follows from the "contracted Bianchi identity." [http://www.mth.uct.ac.za/omei/gr/chap6/node14.html] Also, the curl of the "gravitational field vector" is exactly zero in the absence of moving sources, due to symmetries of [[Riemann]]'s tensor. It follows, from [[Stokes' Theorem]], that the gravitational field is conservative and has a potential function. Energy is conserved.</ref>
#The Ehrenfest Paradox: Consider a spinning hoop, where the [[tangent]]ial [[velocity]] is near the speed of light. In this case, the circumference (<math>2 \pi R</math>) is length-contracted. However, since <math>R</math> is always perpendicular to the motion, it is not contracted. This leads to an apparent paradox: does the radius of the accelerating hoop equal <math>R</math>, or is it less than <math>R</math>?
#Based on Relativity, Einstein predicted in 1905 that clocks at the Earth's equator would be slower than clocks at the North Pole, due to different velocities; in fact, all clocks at sea level measure time at the same rate, and Relativists made new assumptions about the Earth's shape to justify this contradiction of the theory; they also make the implausible claim that relativistic effects from gravitation precisely offset the effects from differences in velocity.<ref>http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v227/n5255/abs/227270a0.html</ref>
#The Twin Paradox: Consider twins who are separated with one traveling at a very high speed such that his "clock" (age) slows down, so that when he returns he has a younger age than the twin; this violates Relativity because ''both'' twins should expect the other to be younger, if motion is relative. Einstein himself admitted that this contradicts Relativity.<ref group="note">Einstein attempted to explain the paradox based on the acceleration that one twin uniquely undergoes, but the length of travel can simply be extended such that any effect from acceleration would be ''de minimis''.</ref>
#Based on Relativity, Einstein claimed in 1909 that the [[aether (science)|aether]] does not exist, but in order to make subatomic physics work right, theorists had to introduce the aether-like concept of the Higgs field, which fills all of space and breaks symmetries.
#[[Minkowski space]] is predicated on the idea of four-dimensional vectors of which one component is [[time]]. However, one of the properties of a [[vector space]] is that every vector have an inverse. Time (formally: movement forward in time) cannot be a vector because it has no inverse.
#In [[Genesis (ch.1)|Genesis 1:6-8]], we are told that one of God's first creations was a firmament in the heavens. This likely refers to the creation of the luminiferous [[aether]].
#It is impossible to perform an experiment to determine whether Einstein's theory of relativity is correct, or the older Lorentz aether theory is correct. Believing one over the other is a matter of [[faith]].
#Despite a century of wasting billions of dollars in work on the theory, "No one knows how to solve completely the equations of general relativity that describe gravity; they are simply beyond current understanding."<ref>[http://www.mathunion.org/o/General/Prizes/2006/TaoENG.pdf Statement in awarding the coveted Fields Medal]</ref>
#Experiments in electromagnetic induction contradict Relativity: "Einstein’s Relativity ... can not explain the experiment in graph 2, in which moving magnetic field has not produced electric field."<ref>http://www.wbabin.net/weuro/qingping1.pdf</ref><ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504223</ref>
#Relativity breaks down if a [[solenoid]] is traveling at or near the speed of light.<ref>http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=3244279</ref>
#The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in a closed system can exist in the same quantum state and if one electron changes all others must compensate. As the universe is a closed system when one electron changes state so must all others, even if they are thousands of light years apart.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/life-and-physics/2012/feb/28/1.</ref>
#The 2014 findings of gravitational waves are actually just dust.<ref>http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26248-ripples-from-dawn-of-creation-vanish-in-a-puff-of-dust.html</ref>

(add to list)

''For a discussion of rebuttals to these counterarguments, see [[Essay:Rebuttal to Counterexamples to Relativity]].''

== See also ==
*[[Theory of relativity]]
*[[General Theory of Relativity]]
*[[Special Theory of Relativity]]
*[[Essay:Rebuttal to Counterexamples to Relativity]]
*[[E=mc²]]
*[[Logical Flaws in E=mc²]]
*[[Essay:Rebuttal to Logical Flaws in E=mc²]]

*[[Counterexamples to Evolution]]
*[[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]]
*[[Counterexamples to the Bible]]

== Notes ==
<references group="note"/>
== References ==

{{Reflist}}
{{Counterexamples}}
{{Relativity}}
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Relativity]]
[[Category:Science]]

Counterexamples to an Old Earth

2017-02-24T02:51:01Z

Ambassador:

[[File:Moon2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|"Tidal friction causes the moon to recede from the earth at 4 cm per year. It would have been greater in the past when the moon and earth were closer together. The moon and earth would have been in catastrophic proximity (Roche limit) at less than a quarter of their supposed age."<ref name="Age of the earth">[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth]</ref> see: [http://creation.com/the-moon-the-light-that-rules-the-night Recession of the moon from the earth] ]]
It takes only one counterexample to disprove the theory of an [[Old Earth]]. Most of the "evidence" for an [[Old Earth]] is based on claims that lack testability, such as [[radiometric dating]], and hence would not even satisfy minimum requirements for admissibility in a court of law. If each of the following 54 counterexamples to an Old Earth has merely a 10% chance of being valid, then the probability that the Earth is billions of years old is less than one half of 1%. In other words, '''''the Earth must be young with a likelihood of 99.6%'''''.<ref>The same analysis could be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]] (See [http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth ''Age of the earth: 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe'']).</ref>
<ref>The same analysis can be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]].</ref>

In addition, much additional scientific evidence points to a [[Young earth creationism|young]] [[Age of the Earth|age of the earth]] and the universe, and the biblical creation organization [[Creation Ministries International]] published articles entitled ''[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe]'' and [http://creation.com/how-old-is-the-earth How old is the earth?] both of which summarize some of the evidence for a young age of the earth.

The motivation for [[atheist]]s to insist on falsely teaching that the Earth is old is to pull students away from [[God]]'s immediate presence and to turn them away from [[Jesus Christ]]. Atheists are also motivated, and biased, by the fact that their [[evolutionism|evolutionist]] theories require the world to be an implausible billions of years old.

== Counterexamples ==
The growing (but very non-exhaustive) list of counterexamples to the theory of an [[Old Earth]] includes:

=== History ===

# The oldest direct evidence of life—written documents, clothing, remnants of civilizations, tree rings, etc.—is no older than about 3,000 B.C. and certainly younger than 4,000 B.C., the approximate date of origin of the Earth, based on a straightforward reading of the [[Bible]].
# Over 270 cultures have flood legends that distinctly resemble the biblical flood account.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/legends-of-the-flood/ Legends of the Flood]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 30, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>White, Monty (March 29, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/ Flood Legends]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> While critics like to say the biblical flood account is descended from other stories, in reality it is the other way around, as the biblical flood account is far superior than any flood legend in multiple ways.<ref>Lacey, Troy & Anderson jr, Lee (October 1, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/the-genesis-flood-not-just-another-legend/ The Genesis Flood—Not Just Another Legend]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Creation legends also exist, but once again, the biblical account is superior.<ref name="AncientMyths">Ham, Steve (March 29, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/creation-myths/is-genesis-111-a-derivation-from-ancient-myths/ Is Genesis 1–11 a Derivation from Ancient Myths?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref>
# Noah, his sons, and his further descendants mentioned in the Bible are found and named in numerous cultures and there is much extra-biblical evidence for their existence, showing that they were real people who made a real impact.<ref name="Dispersion">Hodge, Bodie (August 19, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/was-the-dispersion-at-babel-a-real-event/ Chapter 28 - Was the Dispersion at Babel a Real Event?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> There are royal genealogies in Europe that trace their family lines back to Noah.<ref name="Dispersion"/>
# Ancient cultures all over the world built ziggurat-like structures, such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Mesoamericans. This is strong evidence that they originated from one area and that the Tower of Babel was a real, ziggurat-shaped tower.<ref name="Dispersion"/>
# In history, the closer one gets to Babel, geographically speaking, the earlier the civilizations in that area first developed, giving strong evidence that all civilizations were originally from Babel and were dispersed from that location all over the Earth.<ref name="Dispersion"/><ref name="SecretsLandis">Landis, Don (2015). [https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/secrets-ancient-man/?sku=10-2-463 ''Secrets of Ancient Man'']. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890518663.</ref> Even secular historians accept this<ref>http://www.ancient.eu/image/1068/</ref> and call Sumer the "cradle of civilization".<ref>Mark, Joshua J. (April 28, 2011). [http://www.ancient.eu/sumer/ Sumer]. ''Ancient History Encyclopedia''. Retrieved September 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Mark, Joshua J. (September 2, 2009). [http://www.ancient.eu/Mesopotamia/ Mesopotamia]. "'Ancient History Encyclopedia''. Retrieved September 5, 2016.</ref>
# The Sumerian King List is remarkably similar to the biblical genealogy in Genesis 5. There is a very close correlation between the two lists (if one excludes Adam and Noah in the Bible), the flood is mentioned, and the kings all have long life-spans, providing strong evidence that the Sumerians recognized the history recorded in the Bible as fact.<ref name="AncientMyths"/>
# While many evolutionists point to Egyptian history (which, according to them, dates back long before the biblical creation and flood dates) as proof against a young Earth, a growing number of academics are recognizing that many of the traditional sources for Egyptian history are both inaccurate and misinterpreted, and revised dates for Egyptian history align remarkably well with biblical history.<ref>McClellan, Matt (August 24, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/ancient-egyptian-chronology-and-the-book-of-genesis/ Ancient Egyptian Chronology and the Book of Genesis]. ''Answers Research Journal''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (July 22, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/doesnt-egyptian-chronology-prove-bible-unreliable/ Chapter 24 - Doesn’t Egyptian Chronology Prove That the Bible Is Unreliable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (April 1, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/dating-the-pyramids/ Dating the Pyramids]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Additionally, radiocarbon dating has given additional evidence that the Egyptian civilization began more recently than originally thought.<ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (September 19, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/radiocarbon-dating-shortens-the-timeline-for-ancient-egypt/ Radiocarbon Dating Shortens the Timeline for Ancient Egypt]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref>
# Because of their worldview, evolutionists believe that ancient man was not as intelligent as today and did not possess superior technology. However, many archeological findings in numerous ancient civilizations have proven otherwise—that ancient man was very intelligent, possibly even more so than modern day society, as well as more technologically advanced in some ways.<ref name="SecretsLandis"/><ref>Landis, Don (2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/genius-ancient-man/?sku=10-2-423& ''The Genius of Ancient Man'']. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890516775.</ref><ref>Ham, Ken (December 31, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-technology/geniuses-not-brutes/ Geniuses, Not Brutes!]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref>
# Many different cultures throughout history have legends and realistic accounts from historians of dragons. There is very strong evidence that dinosaurs were alive and a very real part of ancient cultures (and even some more recent ones), affirming a young Earth and the biblical account of origins.<ref>Hodge, Bodie (October 1, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragon-legends-truths-behind-the-tales/ Dragon Legends—Truths Behind the Tales]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragons-fact-or-fable/ Dragons: Fact or Fable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> In fact, there have been some reports of dinosaurs living in the remote jungles of [[Africa]] today.<ref>Ham, Ken (October 25, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/when-did-dinosaurs-live/what-really-happened-to-the-dinosaurs/ Chapter 12 - What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref>
# There is a striking similarity in the way diverse, worldwide cultures see [[constellations]]. In very diverse cultures, the constellations that the people see are the same, and the meanings of many are the same, including the Big and Little Dippers, showing that people had to have developed them together, rather than on opposite directions of the globe.<ref name="Nelson">Nelson, Brooke C. (October 5, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/stars/do-big-and-little-dipper-support-bible-timeline/ Do the Big and Little Dipper Support the Bible’s Timeline?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref><ref name="Henry">Henry, Jonathan F. (December 2008). [http://creation.com/constellations-a-legacy-of-babel Constellations: legacy of the dispersion from Babel]. ''Creation.com'' (taken from ''Journal of Creation 22(3):93–100''). Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref> Academics (including secular ones) have been able to trace back, through the precession of the Earth, when the constellations were developed by man, and the dates found have been, roughly speaking, between 2800 BC and 2100 BC, right in line with the date of the dispersion at Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/> Additionally, it has also been found that the latitude of where the developers of the constellations lived was, roughly speaking, between 30 and 42 degrees latitude, again in line with the locations of Ararat and Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/>

=== Astronomy ===
# The [[moon|Moon's]] orbit is a very strong counterexample: the moon is receding from the [[Earth]] at a rate<ref>[http://creation.com/the-moon-the-light-that-rules-the-night Recession of the moon from the earth]</ref><ref>"Measurements show that the Moon is receding from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year." [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance] ''Apollo Laser Ranging Experiments Yield Results'' by Fred Espenak, GSFC Planetary Systems Laboratory (LPI Bulletin, No. 72, August, 1994).</ref> that would have placed it too close to the Earth merely four billion years ago, causing instability in its orbit, tidal catastrophes on Earth, and other problems that would have prevented the Earth and the Moon being as they are today. Additionally, the [[moon]]'s orbit is becoming increasingly and unexpectedly eccentric, suggesting a lack of long-term stability,<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.0212</ref> which further disproves the theory of an [[Old Earth]].
# [[Spiral galaxies]] appear to be young, and only implausible proposals of the existence of [[dark matter]] can reconcile the spirals with a belief in an old universe.
# The expansion of the universe is accelerating, something that would not occur if the [[Big Bang]] had happened billions of years ago; the acceleration suggests that the Big Bang (or creation) was recent.<ref>Some insist there is hokey, unseen "[[dark energy]]" and "[[dark matter]]" to try to explain the acceleration.</ref>
# The planetary orbits in the Solar System - including Earth's - are unstable and unsustainable over the long periods claimed by Old Earth believers.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/id/201582 Newsweek: "An embarrassing little secret of astronomy ...."]. (Newsweek has inexplicably taken down its article, but it is quoted by Google and other links)</ref><ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7248/full/nature08096.html Existence of collisional trajectories of Mercury, Mars, and Venus with the Earth] by J. Laskar & M. Gastineau, ''Nature'' 459, 817-819 (11 June 2009). Believers in an Old Earth speculate that the instability would not result in problems in a billion years, but other computer simulations could be developed to demonstrate multi-body instability for the solar system far more recent than that.</ref>
# At least one [[spiral galaxy]] spins in the direction opposite to the spin of its tail, suggesting an age too young to have generated the tail and contradicting the theory that the tails of spiral galaxies were formed over a long period of time.<ref>[http://www.unisci.com/stories/20021/0207023.htm "Hubble Shows Galaxy Rotating In The Wrong Direction"]</ref>
# The oldest star in the universe is only 6000 light years away from Earth, precisely as predicted by the [[Bible]] and a Young Earth model.<ref>http://www.astrobio.net/also-in-news/the-oldest-star-in-the-known-universe/</ref>
# The surface of [[Pluto]] was found during the [[New Horizons mission]] to have far fewer craters than expected, and it was found to have a nitrogen atmosphere that is leaking away at too fast a rate for it to be millions or billions of year old.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/solar-system/plutos-young-surface/ Pluto’s Young Surface]. ''Answers in Genesis'' (from ''Answers Magazine''). October 1, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> Both of these evidences provide strong evidence for a young universe.

=== Biology ===

# Blue-eyed people are known to be only 6,000 to 10,000 years old. Moreover, the number of blue-eyed people is steadily diminishing, further suggesting that humans have not been in existence long.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/world/americas/18iht-web.1018eyes.3199975.html</ref>
# "[http://creation.com/bugs-in-brine DNA in “ancient” fossils]. DNA extracted from bacteria that are supposed to be 425 million years old calls into question the age calculation, because DNA could not last more than thousands of years."<ref name="Age of the earth"/>
# The intelligence of humans is rapidly declining, whether measured by SAT scores,<ref>''See, e.g.'', David G. Savage, "The Long Decline in SAT Scores," Educational Leadership 290 (Jan. 1978). [http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_197801_savage.pdf]</ref> music, personal letters,<ref>E.g., Civil War letters.</ref> quality of political debates,<ref>E.g., contrast the Lincoln-Douglas debates with debates today.</ref> the quality of news articles,<ref>''The Federalist'' was written for the newspaper audience in the late 1780s, but is far too intellectual for newspapers today.</ref> and many other measures. This means that if one goes back far enough, intelligence would measure at ridiculous heights, if humans were even tens of thousands of years old.
# The age of onset of [[puberty|sexual maturity]] is rapidly changing, suggesting that life is in a short-term rather than long-term equilibrium.<ref>For evidence of a rapidly-changing age for sexual maturity in fish, see http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/3/235</ref>[[Image:Jellyfish.jpg|right|thumb|"[http://creation.com/fossils-questions-and-answers Living fossils] — [[jellyfish]], graptolites, coelacanth, stromatolites, Wollemi pine, and hundreds more. That many hundreds of species could remain so unchanged, for even up to billions of years in the case of stromatolites, speaks against the possibility that these species are millions and billions of years old."<ref name="Age of the earth"/>]]
# The high observed rate of [[extinctions of species]]<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-26/animals-face-extinction-threat-as-conservation-efforts-slow-report-says.html One in five species are at risk of extinction]</ref> and harmful [[genetic mutation]]s suggest a relatively short period for the existence of life rather than a long one.
# "[http://creation.com/fossils-questions-and-answers Living fossils] — [[jellyfish]], graptolites, coelacanth, stromatolites, Wollemi pine and hundreds more. That many hundreds of species could remain so unchanged, for even up to billions of years in the case of stromatolites, speaks against the millions and billions of years being real."<ref name="Age of the earth"/>
# The age of onset balding or of graying of hair is rapidly decreasing, with many teenagers now experiencing baldness or premature graying ([[CNN]]'s [[Anderson Cooper]] began graying as a teenager and was fully gray long before age 40);<ref name="Graying">http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-06-18/living/17299704_1_hair-taylor-hicks-american-idol</ref> many celebrities (such as [[American Idol]] winner Taylor Hicks graying in his 20s)<ref name="Graying"/> and athletes (such as Cal Ripken, Jr. graying and balding in his mid-30s)<ref>"There's a man, close-cropped gray hair, looks older than 35": Sports Illustrated's description of Cal Ripken at 35. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1163438/index.htm#ixzz12ONbgydd] By age 50 he was bald too.</ref> increasingly experience premature graying or balding.
# The age of onset of [[cancer]] is markedly decreasing,<ref>http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/109865519/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0</ref> suggesting rapid changes inconsistent with an alleged long existence to life.
# The number of natural, pure-bred bred dogs declines over time as dogs naturally crossbreed; a short period of time is suggested by the fact that there are over 100 different natural, pure breeds of dog thriving today.
# Lack of genetic diversity among the ''Homo sapiens'' species. Were evolution and the old earth theory true, the human population would show much larger genetic variance.<ref>http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/descent.html#rpafAHIwKHS7</ref> Some scientists have calculated that a troop of 55 chimpanzees contains more genetic diversity than the entire human race; this demonstrates that chimpanzees descended from a large initial population while humans have descended from a much smaller one, which indeed we know to have been two people.
# Frequent occurrences of numerous deaths of birds and fish, which if extrapolated over millions of years would result in little or no such life today.<ref>http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/technology&id=7884786</ref>
# The separation between salt and freshwater fish, coupled with their inability to survive in the opposing environment, shows a lack of millions of years of evolution to enable them to spread to the opposing environment.
# Furthermore, the separation of land and aquatic life and a similar inability for the organisms to survive in the other environment shows a lack of millions of years of evolution to enable them to spread to the opposing environment.
# Biodiversity on Earth is declining too rapidly to be consistent with a long-term (Old Earth) equilibrium, with the Living Planet Index (LPI) showing "a global decline of 27% between 1970 and 2005. The terrestrial index declined by 25%, freshwater by 29% (this index is calculated to 2003 due to the lack of data available for latter years), and marine by 28%."<ref>http://www.zsl.org/science/research-projects/lpi,1162,AR.html</ref>
# The [[Bible]] makes references to the [[dinosaurs]]. There is no explanation for this if dinosaurs supposedly lived hundreds of millions of years ago.<ref>http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/93-dinosaurs-and-the-bible</ref>

=== Geology ===

Geological counterexamples to an Old Earth include:
[[Image:Roth-01.gif|right|thumb|250px|"[[Paraconformity|Paraconformities]] — where one rock stratum sits on top of another rock stratum but with supposedly millions of years of geological time missing, yet the contact plane lacks any significant erosion; that is, it is a “flat gap”. E.g. Coconino sandstone / Hermit shale in the [[Grand Canyon]] (supposedly a 10 million year gap in time).".<ref name="Age of the earth"/> See: [http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth] ]]
# The interior of the earth is as hot as the sun—far hotter than atheists thought—and such heat would have dissipated and the radioactivity decayed if the earth were old.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22297915</ref>
# The magnetism of the Earth is vanishing so quickly that it will disappear in 1,500 to 2,000 years;<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3693932/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/earths-magnetic-field-weakening/</ref> extrapolating backwards does not permit an Old Earth.
# [[Paraconformity|Paraconformities]] — where one rock stratum sits on top of another rock stratum but with supposedly millions of years of geological time missing, yet the contact plane lacks any significant erosion; that is, it is a “flat gap.” E.g. Coconino sandstone / Hermit shale in the [[Grand Canyon]] (supposedly a 10 million year gap in time).<ref name="Age of the earth"/> See: [http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth].
# The frequency of large [[earthquakes]] (more than 6.99 on the Richter scale) doubles roughly every 40 years,<ref>http://www.earth.webecs.co.uk/</ref> rendering long-term stability impossible. Large earthquakes have increased by more than 20% in only the last decade.<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php Meanwhile, there is a claim that the global risk of big earthquakes has not increased over the last hundred years [http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/12/12/1118525109.abstract Peter M. Shearer, Philip B. Stark: ''Global risk of big earthquakes has not recently increased''] [http://www.pnas.org PNAS], Dec 19, 2011, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1118525109</ref> "Researchers are left scratching their heads, trying to understand possible reasons for the uptick in seismic activity in Oklahoma."<ref>http://journalrecord.com/2014/06/16/stc-mining-in-ok-eqs-energy/#ixzz3BKBRvmOW</ref>
# The continued existence of fragile natural arches without having collapsed despite a short time period for erosion and stresses on them.<ref>http://www.naturalarches.org/big9.htm</ref>
# An extrapolation of time between the collapse of weaker arches<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102290.html</ref> with still-standing stronger arches supports a young earth age.
# The massive [[Great Lakes]] and freshwater lakes near the equator could not have existed for millions of years, and several of these lakes are rapidly receding in volume; the third largest saltwater lake, Oroumieh Lake, could completely evaporate within the next five years.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110525/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_environmental_disaster</ref>
# The existence of inland saltwater lakes at high altitudes, such as Mono Lake and the [[Great Salt Lake]], suggest a recent global [[flood]].
# The relative purity of underground well water, which would be a muddy slurry had millions of years of erosion taken place.
# The plentiful supply of high concentrations of underground well water, which would be expected based on familiar principles of [[entropy]] to dissipate over a long period of time.
# Earthquakes alter the Earth's rotation several times each century;<ref>http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/2010872/japan_quake_changed_earths_rotation/</ref> extrapolating by orders of magnitude in time would have resulted in the occurrence of much larger earthquakes that would have destabilized the rotation<ref>A similar analysis may be performed for the likelihood of devastating collisions with meteors as time is extrapolated by orders of magnitude.</ref>
# The lack of erosion between rock layers.<ref>http://www.amazon.com/review/R1WTZL8GG4H9K0</ref><ref>http://www.knowthebible.net/id115.html</ref>
# Levels of contamination in water are rising, as water proceeds through the [[water cycle]] it becomes progressively more contaminated. If earth (and life) had existed for billions of years, a limit would have been reached long ago where water (essential to life) became too contaminated for life to continue.
# All [[carbon dating]] of water supplies, even the most ancient and the deepest underground reservoirs, result in relatively young ages,<ref>http://www.betalabservices.com/PDF/Geyh.pdf</ref> and no water has been found suggesting an Old Earth.
# The ratio of strontium isotopes in seawater, which should change due to long-term erosion, has varied by only 0.35% throughout history. In fact, its value today is exactly the same as in the oldest samples, which are claimed to be from 500 million years ago.
# The relatively recent separation of the still-moving continents from one land mass—denied for 100 years by [[atheist]]s before they accepted it—suggest a young earth or at least a relatively recent cataclysmic event.
# Fresh tracks of motion by stationary rocks are still visible in some areas, baffling Old Earth scientists for more than 60 years; Old Earth magazines refer to them as "self-moving rocks."<ref>http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/02/18/rafting-for-rocks?s_cid=rss:rafting-for-rocks</ref>
# Beaches have long been eroding far too quickly for the Old Earth theory; "between 80 and 90 percent of the sandy beaches along America’s coastlines have been eroding for decades," sometimes by as much as 50 feet per year.<ref>http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-causes-beach-erosion</ref>
# Land is sinking into the oceans at a rate of at least 7 inches per century,<ref>http://www.app.com/article/20110319/NJNEWS/103190327/Global-warming-rising-seas-threaten-New-Jersey-expert-says</ref> which would have rendered most of the United States under water if the Earth were not young.
# The flow of water in the [[Colorado River]] has been declining since the early 20th century, even after usage is considered, and the man-made Lake Mead is at risk of drying up on the next decade.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/us/13mead.html</ref>
# Erosion of rock is far faster than atheist geology previously thought [http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2014/01/scienceshot-fastest-mountain-erosion-record]. Secular science now admits that mountains don't last long, but remain strangely silent on the obvious implication. Also in the same article: extra soil created by erosion scrubs greenhouse gas CO2 from atmosphere.

[[Image:516XZRGNCKL AA240 .jpg|right|300px]]
[[William R. Corliss]] also provides scores of anomalies, which challenge the [[Old Earth]] [[paradigm]].<ref>[http://www.science-frontiers.com/sourcebk.htm#Geology Geological Catalogs] (Science Frontiers)</ref> An accomplished author,<ref name="sf">[http://www.science-frontiers.com/ Science Frontiers] (Corliss' web-site)</ref>
Corliss has written 13 books for the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA), a dozen educational booklets for the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC), and a dozen articles for the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF).<ref>Corliss, 2002</ref> The science magazine ''[[New Scientist]]'' had an article which focused on the career of William Corliss.<ref>Adrian Hope, ''Finding a Home for Stray Fact'', New Scientist, July 14, 1977, p. 83</ref> ''New Scientist'' wrote regarding Corliss's work: "All I can say to Corliss is carry on cataloging."<ref>Quoted on the [http://www.science-frontiers.com/sourcebk.htm Science Frontiers web-site]</ref> [[Arthur C. Clarke]] described Corliss as "[[Charles Fort|Fort]]'s latter-day - and much more scientific - successor."<ref>Clarke, Arthur C. (1990) ''Astounding Days: A Science Fictional Autobiography''. Gollancz. Page 110</ref>

=== Science & Discovery ===
# A stalemate of significant and valid discoveries in the last several decades.<ref>Though there has been some progress in this timeframe, many of the "discoveries" are liberal propaganda, or are scientifically weak.</ref>

=== Biblical testimony ===

The Bible contains multiples pieces of evidence showing its authenticity including [[Bible history]], [[Biblical archaeology|Bible archaeology]] and [[Bible prophecy]]. Competent and honest [[Bible exegesis]] indicates the earth is approximately 6,000 years old.<ref>[http://creation.com/should-genesis-be-taken-literally Should Genesis be taken literally?]</ref>

''See also:'' [http://creation.com/history-questions-and-answers How reliable is biblical chronology?]

== Highly recommended resources for more in-depth information and evidence ==

=== Websites ===

*[https://answersingenesis.org/ Answers in Genesis] official website
*[http://www.icr.org/ Institute for Creation Research] official website
*[http://creation.com/ Creation Ministries International] official website

=== Books ===

*Virtually any book concerning creation and [[Christian apologetics]] published by [http://www.masterbooks.com/ MasterBooks]
*Landis, Don (2015). ''Secrets of Ancient Man''. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890518663.
*Landis, Don (2012). ''The Genius of Ancient Man''. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890516775.
*[[Walt Brown|Brown, Walt]] (2008). ''In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood (8th Edition)''. Center for Scientific Creation; 8th edition (December 1, 2008). ISBN: 978-1878026095.
*[[William R. Corliss]], Anomalies in Geology: Physical, Chemical, Biological (A Catalog of Geological Anomalies), 1989. ISBN 915554-23-2
*William R. Corliss Neglected Geological Anomalies, 1990. ISBN 915554-24-0
*William R. CorlissInner Earth: A Search for Anomalies (A Catalog of Geological Anomalies), 1991. ISBN 915554-25-9
*William R. Corliss, Carolina Bays, Mima Mounds, Submarine Canyons (A Catalog of Geological Anomalies), 1988. ISBN 915554-22-4

===Films===
*''[http://isgenesishistory.com/ Is Genesis History?]'' (2017)

=== Other recommended links ===
*[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth -101 evidences for a young earth and universe] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://creation.com/refuting-evolution-chapter-8-how-old-is-the-earth How old is the earth?] - ''Refuting evolution'' - Chapter 8 by Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]] at [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.preteristcentral.com/Debunking%20Old%20Earth%20Creationism%20&%20a%20Regional%20Flood.html Debunking the Old Earth Theory]
*[https://answersingenesis.org/theory-of-evolution/millions-of-years/seven-reasons-why-we-should-not-accept-millions-of-years/ Seven Reasons Why We Should Not Accept Millions of Years] by Dr. Terry Mortenson at [[Answers in Genesis]]. Originally published on July 17, 2006.
*[http://www.creationwiki.org/Young_earth_evidence Young earth evidence] on [[CreationWiki]]

== Footnotes ==

<references/>

== See also ==
{{Counterexamples}}
*[[Literalist Bible chronology]]
*[[Radiometric dating]]
[[Category:Counterexamples]]
[[Category:Geology]]

Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs

2017-02-24T02:50:03Z

Ambassador:

There are many brilliant—and popular—[[conservative]] songs. Here is our growing list (click the box next to "Billboard Rank" to list the most popular first):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Songs "Classic"
!Artist
!Comments-
!Billboard Rank
!Category
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60 "Aces High"]
|Iron Maiden
|[[Patriotism|Patriotic]] song about a British RAF pilot fighting Nazis.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm 92 Squadron - Geoffrey Wellum], RAF website</ref> Music Video starts with a [[Patriotism|Patriotic]] speech by [[Winston Churchill]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60 </ref>
|NA
|Heavy metal
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEqzEgDZ0g "Ain't I Right"]
|[[Marty Robbins]]
|Song against Communism and socialism.
|NA
|Classic/Folk
|-
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izx9ADLjgbM "Ain't It Fun"]
|Paramore
|Song tells spoiled liberals that the world doesn't owe them anything. Not surprisingly, singer Hayley Williams is a devout [[Christian]] <ref>http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2010/december/disgruntled-rock-stars-cite-faith-as-reason-for-leaving.html</ref> who was home schooled<ref>http://www.pmoreonline.com/english/paramore/biography-2</ref>
|95
|Alternative rock
|-
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LE0KpcP05I "All You Zombies"]
|The Hooters
|Anti-atheist song that narrates the song of [[Moses]] & [[Noah]], tells the zombies (atheists) that the rain's going to fall on them when the time comes. (a.k.a [[Last Judgment|Judgment Day,]])
|N/A
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT88jBAoVIM ''Amazing Grace'']
|[[John Newton]]
|A Christian hymn published in 1779.
|NA
|Classic/Spiritual
|-
|Amen
|[[Kid Rock]]
|Talks about "Stop living off handouts and favors". Written and performed by a republican.
|N/A
|Country/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3S7mlRYL-8 America]
|[[Neil Diamond]]
|Freedom, Liberty, Patriotism
|8
|Classic/Pop
|-
|''America USA''
|[[Joey Sudyka]]
|Not very well known, perhaps, but a good patriotic song.
|NA
|Classic/Pop
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErPywgiMb4k ''Angry Young Man'']
|[[Billy Joel]]
|The doctrinaire leftist radical with "his fist in the air and his head in the sand" comes in for biting criticism.
|NA
|Classic/Pop
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2KRpRMSu4g&list=RDMM6S0HznBnrCE&index=9 ''Baba O'riley'']
|The Who
|The song was a backlash against Woodstock & the hippie movement.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4eonyfRet8&feature=related ''Back in the U.S.A.'']
|[[Chuck Berry]]
|A patriotic song about missing life in the U.S.A.
|Sixteen
|Classic/Rock
|-
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVBB2upbVys ''Bad Boys'']
|Inner Circle
|Pro-police song that also asks the criminals why they their deeds "born from a mother with the love from a father" as the song states.
|N/A
|Reggae
|-
|''Ballad of the Green Berets''
|[[Sergeant Barry Sadler]]
|Pro-American and pro-military.
|1
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|[http://youtu.be/r5Q8Xa0bPy8''Battle Hymn of the Republic'']
|[[Lee Greenwood]]
|"As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free."
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|''Bus Stop''
|[[The Hollies]]
|Pro-[[chivalry]], pro-romance and pro-marriage: "Someday my name and hers are going to be the same."
|5
|Classic
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoA_zY6tqQw ''California Über Alles'']
|Dead Kennedys
|Anti-[[Jerry Brown]] song, which compares him to [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] & [[Big Brother]]
|
|Punk
|-
|[http://youtu.be/cMfrLFirGWc ''Chapel of Love'']
|[[Dixie Cups]]
|Marriage in a church
|1
|Classic/Pop
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIF4U_QFSxQ ''Chores'']
|[[Animal Collective]]
|"Now I've got these chores / and I'm not gonna hurt no-one"—Hard work is praised and violence is discouraged. A scary song for [[liberals]]!
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|''Country Trash''
|[[Johnny Cash]]
|In a comedic way, the song praises the small town conservative virtues of the people looked down upon by big city liberals as "Country trash"
|NA
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Crying-in-the-Chapel-lyrics-Elvis-Presley/E547D833F0BBFADF48256874002B3358 ''Crying In The Chapel'']
|[[Elvis Presley]]
|Pro-marriage
|1
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNrdmjcNTc&ob=av2n''Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)'']
|[[Toby Keith]]
|A patriotic response to the Sept. 11 attacks
|1 (Hot Country Songs)
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkGZKOgfOi4 ''Dawn of Correction'']
|[[The Spokesmen]]
|Conservative response to the liberal anti-war song ''Eve of Destruction'', many of the lyrics directly counter statements in that song. Opening lines are "The western world has a common dedication/To keep free people from red domination".
|36
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''D-I-V-O-R-C-E''
|[[Tammy Wynette]]
|This sad song was a huge hit in 1968.
|1
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38oeBgvbMYA ''Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun'']
|[[Grand Funk Railroad]]
|A father gives his son some sage advice.
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/v9BtLRWbkmA ''Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)'']
|[[Fleetwood Mac]]
|Used by Bill Clinton as his campaign theme song in 1992, but liberals often try to appeal to conservative themes for elections.
|3
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''Do You Hear the People Sing''
|[[Claude-Michel Schönberg]]
|Standing up to government in the name of freedom, from the musical ''Les Miserables''
|NA
|Classic
|-
| ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdMPuMeTxzY Father and Son]''
|[[Cat Stevens]]
|A song about the feelings between the tension between the father and his resistant son, while the father tries to express that the son doesn't need to be that way.
|N/A
|Folk
|-
| ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zICb-9m2dGA Gangster's Paradise]
| Coolio
|Although a rap song, the main message is about a former thug who regrets living his life of crime.
|N/A
|Rap
|-
|''Get a Job''
|[[The Silhouettes]]
|Self-explanatory; a rebuke to lazy [[liberals]] who want to sit around and wait for government handouts.
|1
|Classic
|-
|''Get it Right the First Time''
|[[Louisiana's LeRoux]]
|Wealthy Georgia politician is placed in high office and turns out to be a puppet with no ideas of his own. Released in 1980 when Jimmy Carter was up for re-election.
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzU2iJ9qfXg ''Gimme Back My Bullets'']
|[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
|The name says it all.
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''Glory Hallelujah''
|[[Frank Turner]]
|Rejects those who say there is no God, insisting that never was the case
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z5hD38Bs8Y''God Bless America'']
|[[Irving Berlin]]
|American patriotic, classic song.
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|''God and Guns''
|[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
|A powerful new song that elaborates on the song title.
|NA
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/proudtobeamerican.html ''God Bless the USA'']
|[[Lee Greenwood]]
|
|7 (Hot Country)
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP5EfwBWgg0&feature=related ''Go Down Moses'']
|[[Louis Armstrong]]
|
|NA
|Classic/Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStlBOX9F4o ''God's Gonna Cut You Down'']
|
|"Go tell that long tongue liar, go and tell that midnight rider, tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter, tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down"
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|[http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/jones-george/gods-gonna-get-cha-for-that-6638.html ''God's Gonna Get 'Cha For That'']
|Tammy Wynette & George Jones
|You cannot escape God's gaze, no matter who you are
|Twenty-five
|Classic
|-
|''God Save the Queen''
|
|Despite being frighteningly atheistic, the British have enough sense to keep this God-inclusive song as their national anthem. The anthem rightly attributes the success and good fortune of the nation and its monarch to God.
|NA
|national anthem
|-
|[http://youtu.be/EgkBx8csEws ''Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road'']
|[[Elton John]]
|The same message as the [[Prodigal Son]]: look objectively at our own lives, and realize that "I should have listened to my old man."
|2
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/serve.html ''Gotta Serve Somebody'']
|[[Bob Dylan]]
|"It may be the devil or it may be the Lord."
|Twenty-four
|Classic/Folk
|-
|''Grandad''
|[[Clive Dunn]]
|UK Number 1 hit, in praise of senior citizens and their values
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZVPv9B-ZlM ''Government Cheese'']
|[[The Rainmakers]]
|Humorous spoof of welfare.
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuDx6_PLIVk ''Guilty of Being White'']
|[[Minor Threat]]
|Criticizes the concept of white guilt.
|NA
|Punk Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6yLQRF-cEU&ob=av2nHave You Forgotten?]
|[[Darryl Worley]]
|Patriotic response to [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]<ref>http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15568</ref>
|1 (US Country)
|Classic/Country
|-
|"Hallelujah"
|[[Leonard Cohen]]
|Refers to King David and possibly his psalms.
|NA
|Classic
|-
|"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
|[[Hollies]]
|Repeats the slogan of Boys Town, a Christian charity for youngsters founded by Father Edward J. Flanagan in Omaha<ref>http://www.boystown.org/about/father-edward-|j-|flanagan</ref>
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0heL2Czeraw ''I Am America'']
|[[Krista Branch]]
|American [[Tea Party Movement]] Song
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u0wwCfoJ4 ''I Fought the Law (and the Law Won)'']
|[[The Crickets]]
|Its title says it all. The version by ''The Clash'' has a particularly good tempo.
|9 (Bobby Fuller Four version)
|Classic
|-
|[http://youtu.be/OtZ5YsvREi4 ''In America'']
|The [[Charlie Daniels]] Band
|Patriotism makes a comeback in response to the Iran hostage crisis and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
|Eleven
|Classic/Country
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV8jVGzop6o ''In the Navy''
|Village People
|Navy recruitment song
|N/A
|Disco
|-
|''I Saw The Light''
|[[Hank Williams]]
|Redemption of sin through faith.
|NA
|Classic/Country
|-
|''It's America''
|Rodney Atkins
|Celebrates the American spirit and all the good things about the United States.
|1 (US Country)
|Classic/Country
|-
|It's a Man's Man's Man's World
|James Brown
|Acknowledges the importance that men have brought to the world, through hard-work, and the importance woman contain in our society
|8
|Rhythm and Blues Soul
|-
|''Keep an Open Mind or Else''
|McCarthy
|About the conservative value of keeping an [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|open mind]].
|NA
|Classic/Pop
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y2MyMqVD0E ''Last Caress'']
|The Misfits
|Pro-life song, with the lyrics "I killed your baby today, And it doesn't matter much to me, As long as it's dead" pretty much sums up [[Planned Parenthood]]. Band member Michale Graves has stated he is a conservative in interviews.
|
|Punk Rock
|-
|-
|''Last Kiss''
|Pearl Jam
|"Oh where oh where can my baby be; The Lord took her away from me; She's gone to heaven so I got to be good; So I can see my baby when I leave this world"<ref>http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=14</ref>
|Classic
|-
|[http://youtu.be/BvPugOWeZiA ''Let It Be'']
|[[The Beatles]]
|Very popular in Russia under the Soviets
|1
|Classic
|-
|''Living In America''
|[[James Brown]]
|Song that espouses the virtues of, and pride in, living in the United States. Appears in the movie "Rocky IV" and on the film's soundtrack.
|NA
|Classic/R&B/Funk
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XleOkGsYgO8 ''Move Along'']
|The All-American Rejects
|Stated by band leader Tyson Ritter to be an anti-suicide statement. Suggests that even during the toughest times in life, it's best to move on.
|N/A
|Pop punk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-1_d6bbM1I ''My Love'']
|[[Petula Clark]]
|A Christian love in secular form.
|1
|Classic
|-
|[http://youtu.be/kD5M_i6JceU ''Neighborhood Bully'']
|[[Bob Dylan]]
|Israel's right to exist and defend itself.
|NA
|Classic/Folk
|-
|''No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed''
|Richie Havens (Covered by Yes)
|"...I know your cross is heavier With every step Every step But I know a man who'd walk miles for you..."
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdZTKvNXxPA "Nothing Like You"]
|[[Miles Davis]] and Bob Dorough
|Celebrates the sight of ones beloved - Isaiah 43:4
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iYY2FQHFwE ''Okie From Muskogee'']
|[[Merle Haggard]]
|Anti-drug and anti-hippie; a song about praising the traditional American values in Mid-America. Was written in response to the Vietnam War protests and counter-culture movement.
|1 (Billboard Hot Country)
|Classic
|-
|''People Get Ready''
|Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
|An all-time classic song about the glory of the [[Lord]].
|3
|Classic/Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6XZDb045xU ''Red White & Blue (Love It or Leave)'']
|[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
|"It was all based around this somewhat Utopian view of the world. The idea was that music would lift man up to a higher plane, and that world leaders, if they were able |to sit down on some big grassy knoll where the sun was shining and hear music..." Tom Johnston of LS
|Twenty-seven
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2lRcxlYx40''Renegade'']
|[[Steppenwolf]]
|[[John Kay]]'s childhood escape from Communist [[East Germany]].
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0''Respect'']
|Otis Redding
|This song is about respecting a productive member of society.
|1
|Classic/Soul
|-
|''Simple Man''
|[[Charlie Daniels]]
|A song about how drugs and poor politics are a result of people putting their Bibles down. Also a strongly pro death penalty song.
|Twelve
|Classic/Country/Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/RCqxq6xqoXI ''Sin City'']
|The Flying Burrito Brothers
|Attacks modern decadence and predicts divine punishment for sin.
|NA
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPPlGFh6OpQ ''Spirit In The Sky'']
|Norman Greenbaum
|A religious rock song written in 1969.
|3
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwBirf4BWew ''Stand By Your Man'']
|[[Tammy Wynette]]
|Don't expect [[feminists]] to like that one! Or [[Hillary Clinton]]!
|1 (Hot Country Singles)
|Classic/Country
|-
|''Star Spangled Banner''
|Francis Scott Key
|The American national anthem.
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8sUMv5sbW8 ''Star Spangled Banner'']
|Madison Rising
|The American national anthem, as performed by rock band Madison Rising, who put out a challenge to the American public to renew its intimacy with and understanding of the anthem and its patriotic message. [http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/you-havent-heard-this-star-spangled-banner/]
|NA
|Classic/Traditional/Rock
|-
|''Starting All Over Again''
|[[Petula Clark]]
|Keep moving onward, even in the most difficult of times.
|NA
|Classic/Traditional
|-
|''Stayin' Alive''
|[[The Bee Gees]]
|Pro-people and pro-staying alive, and this: "we can try to understand/the [[New York Times]]' effect on man."
|1
|Classic/Pop
|-
|"Stay With Me"
|[[Frank Sinatra]]
|Beautiful song of Christian faith.
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKdAVYKYZfo''Storm the Embassy'']
|The Stray Cats
|Another conservative song about the Iran hostage crisis. "Fifteen man taken captive in a hostile foreign land/Scorchin' sun beaming down onto miles and miles of sand..."
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''Supper's Ready''
|[[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]
|''There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice, "This is the supper of the mighty one", Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Has returned to lead his |children home, To take them to the new Jerusalem.''
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''Sympathy for the Devil''
|The Rolling Stones
|Reminds humanity that evil is present in the world and needs to be fought.
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukUL_I14GPw''Take Me Home, Country Roads'']
|John Denver
|Celebrates Southern country landscape and traditions.
|2
|Classic/Folk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz9ddxEQnM ''Taxman'']
|[[The Beatles]]
|George Harrison said, "Taxman was when I first realized that even though we had started earning money, we were actually giving most of it away in taxes."
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''That Smell''
|[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
|A very strong anti-drug use song by America's most well-known Southern rock band.
|NA
|Classic/Country/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWZhuzFMM8 ''The Ascent of Stan'']
|[[Ben Folds]]
|Tells the story of a former "textbook hippie man" who realizes that he has become everything that he was protesting against.
|NA
|Classic
|-
|[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6547 ''The Devil Went Down To Georgia'']
|[[Charlie Daniels]]
|A deeper message here, as Daniels explains.
|3
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAFmFsb9XM&feature=related ''The Fightin' Side of Me'']
|[[Merle Haggard]]
|A song about patriotism and standing up for [[America]].
|1 (Hot Country Singles)
|Classic/Country
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn0KFlbqX8 ''True Colors'']
|Cyndi Lauper
|Song about inter beauty. LGBTQ members have tried to say it was actually a pro-gay song, but Cyndi Lauper has stated it had nothing to do with that to say otherwise.
|N/A
|Pop
|-
|[http://youtu.be/fHvf20Y6eoM ''Turn, Turn, Turn'']
|[[The Byrds]]
|An almost word-for-word direct quotation from the [[Bible]], specifically [[Ecclesiastes]], with the addition of the refrain "Turn, Turn, Turn".
|1
|Classic/Folk
|-
|''Unborn Child''
|[[Seals and Crofts]]
|This pro-life song was a hit single in 1974, but for some reason gets left off the Seals and Crofts greatest hits albums.
|sixty-six
|Classic/Folk
|-
|''Union Sundown''
|[[Bob Dylan]]
|The title says it all.
|NA
|Classic/Folk
|-
|"Waiting List"
|[[Dr. Octagon]]
|A powerful song about socialized medicine and rationing
|NA
|Hip-hop
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU-U "Another Brick In The Wall"]
|Pink Floyd
|Anti-[[public school]]
|N/A
|Rock
|-
|''Way Out Here''
|Josh Thompson
|"Our house is all protected by the good Lord and a gun", and "We wont take a dime if we aint earned it, when it comes to weight, brother we pull our own". It is pro gun |ownership, the Lord, and hard work. Also preaches the morals and ethics that are known from small towns.
|Fifteen (US Country)
|Classic/Country
|-
|''We Must Take America Back''
|Steve Vaus
|Became an underground country music hit in 1992 after RCA dropped him and took the album out of print due to the political lyrics.
|NA
|Classic/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mjWhMn-VnU ''The Well Below the Valley'']
|Traditional. Covered by Christy Moore
|Song loosely based on the story of [[Jesus]] and the woman at the well. Lyrics about old-fashioned family relationships and traditional attitudes to women. Promotes all children's right to life.
|NA
|Traditional/Folk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nElc2vMU-b0 ''When You Love A Woman'']
|Journey
|True love from the heart
|Twelve
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q ''Won't Get Fooled Again'']
|The Who
|How the October Revolution ruined everyone's lives. Also notable, band leader Pete Townshend refused to sell the rights for this song to [[Michael Moore]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/14/news2</ref>
|N/A
|Classic/Rock
|-
|''Y.M.C.A''
|Village People
|About the Young Men's [[Christian]] Organization. About pulling yourself up from your bootstraps with the help of Christianity.
|2
|Classic/Disco
|-
|''You Can't Hurry Love (You Just Have to Wait)''
|The Supremes
|Abstinence for rock fans. Also performed by Phil Collins.
|1
|Classic
|-
|[http://youtu.be/lnk8SKD9zcA''You Light Up My Life'']
|Debby Boone
|One of the biggest hits ever, but [[liberals]] omit that this song is about [[Jesus]].
|1
|Classic
|-
|''Yours Is No Disgrace''
|[[Yes]]
|Written to, and about, the troops headed for Vietnam.
|NA
|Classic/Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJfJPxLntZU ''Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition'']
|Written by Frank Loesser; made famous by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra
|A patriotic song written and published as sheet music in 1942; Kay Kyser's recording came out in 1943. This rousing tune is about a chaplain (called a "sky pilot" in the song) who is with some men on a warship in the heat of a battle. One of the soldiers asks the chaplain to pray for the men shooting at the enemy aircraft. In response, the chaplain puts down his Bible, mans one of the gun turrets on the ship, and begins firing at the planes himself, and tells the soldiers, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, and we'll all stay free!" Beyond the obvious pro-Christian and pro-American messages, it also tells us that sometimes, the Lord calls on us to put down the Bible and pick up our guns to defend the American way.
|1
|Patriotic/Jazz, Classic
|-
!Songs "Rock"
!Artist
!Comments
!Billboard Rank
!Category
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qjSmODTQsk ''A Dead Man's Words'']
|Queensrÿche
|No Man Left Behind. "The word we hear is there's one man down and he's alive. They ask for volunteers. I raise my hand high. I'm sure he'd do the same for me. It's three days through the desert heat to save one man's life and I don't even know his name."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVsZap7WBm8 ''All In'']
|Lifehouse
|Describes a relationship with God as being full of commitment and without reservations.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TefSlVqENRM ''At 30,000 Ft.'']
|Queensrÿche
|Pro-soldier, pro-Iraqi/Afghanistan action. "Flaming oil blackens the sky. I don't know why...their hate is the reason for the Hell that I make."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/bHpw6CzprNY ''Bad Rap (Who You Tryin' To Kid, Kid?)'']
|Steve Taylor
|Takes aim at LA, NYC and SF hipsters, the Village Voice, abortion, and "the left-wing band with their heads in the sand".
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=sex+pistols''Bodies'']
|The Sex Pistols
|Profane but graphically anti-abortion.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Critical Acclaim''
|Avenged Sevenfold
|Pro-America and pro-Military.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVOEoo1oXBs ''Declaration Day'']
|Iced Earth
|A song about the Revolutionary War.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRNrzgDHmQE ''Devil is a Loser'']
|Lordi
|About how actions have consequences, mixed with contempt for the devil and Satanists.
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjJ9v__NyR0 ''Disparity by Design'']
|Rise Against
|Refers to the 'over-reaching arm' of the government, and considers whether welfare is a 'handout undeserved'. Also refers to the American ideal of 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps'.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pearl+jam/dissident_20106414.html ''Dissident'']
|Pearl Jam
|About a woman who engages in [[liberal values]] by being impregnated out of wedlock and having an abortion, but immediately regrets doing so.
|3
|Rock
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIHuF8WvdFk ''Don't Tread On Me'']
|Metallica
|Tune about Gadsden flag
|N/A
|Metal
|-
|[http://youtu.be/K5N2WJ1szHE ''Father of Mine'']
|Everclear
|A reminder of the importance of good parenting. Everclear singer Art Alexakis wrote much of his material from his own perspective of a troubled childhood. At the end of |the song, Alexakis promises to be a better father than his own had been.
|4
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/zapGC2PrWiU ''Fair Exchange"]
|[[Kansas (band)|Kansas]]
|Warnings about totalitarian governments who want to take away your freedom in the name of utopia. Also much of their early 1980s material, which has Christian lyrics.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYRZt7xcwpY&feature=youtu.be "Freedom is Colorblind"]
|[[Joe Dan Media]]
|A song about how the left uses race to polarize the country. It is a conservative song that tries to unite the country.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hZsG1ikgK8 ''Hundred Mile Stare'']
|Queensrÿche
|Pro-soldier, freedom. "What ever happened to conviction and faith? People trip from side to side; don't know which way or what side to take. Always known the truth. It's really black and white. I've got no fear of judgment when it's time to fight."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''In Your Eyes''
|Peter Gabriel
|Love and a 1000 churches for those who are lost.
|
|Pop Rock
|-
|''Iraq No Phobia''
|Pro-Pain
|It is a pro-American, pro-military heavy metal song about the first [[Gulf War]]: ''"Mohammed's no match for the great Uncle Sam."''
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b71clnfgyts ''No Son of Mine'']
|Genesis
|
|Twelve
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzEhnBdOTAM "ONE TEA PARTY"]
|[[Toot Sweet]]
|This song is a metaphoric call to energize, motivate and unite the movement that we are all passionate about... the time is now to stand together, united, "AS ONE".
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/wDrRVlm5HOw "Prayer for America"]
|JoeDanMedia
|A short history lesson put to music regarding our schools and how the Bible was taught there in previous years.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Welcome to the Family''
|Avenged Sevenfold
|A song about death row, although not anti-death penalty.
|8
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/wq160PIYjHo "No Rules for Radicals"]
|JoeDanMedia
|This song highlights "rules" Saul Alinsky wrote about in his progressive-liberal book, 'Rules for Radicals'.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Tired of Sex''
|Weezer
|Shows the danger of premarital sex. A warning against the evils of sex addiction.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Real American''
|Rick Derringer
|Patriotic anthem, known as [[Hulk Hogan]]'s pre-match song.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/FAvQSkK8Z8U ''Red Barchetta'']
|[[Rush]]
|Tells the story of a future with excessive regulation, where even driving is illegal.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Sister Christian''
|Night Ranger
|This song advices the drummers sister to remain a virgin till she finds "Mr. Right"
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcT3sIBRv_I ''Sliver'']
|Queensrÿche
|Pro-soldier, bravery. "It's time to sack up and let go of your mothers. Take your gun, it's the cross that's carried by your brothers."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096LhjGNNCk ''Something For Nothing'']
|Rush
|"You can't get something for nothing, you can't have freedom for free."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sticXkHxZC4 ''I've Seen Footage'']
|Death Grips
|Profane. Criticizes the glorification of violence by the mainstream media.
|NA
|Hip Hop
|-
|[http://youtu.be/cnijc9wNpV4 ''Sparks of the Tempest'']
|[[Kansas (band)|Kansas]]
|Warnings about totalitarian governments who want to take away your freedom in the name of utopia. Also much of their early 1980s material, which has Christian lyrics.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes''
|Kevin Ayers
|Defends the right of businessmen to choose their customers: "we don't serve strangers in blue suede shoes."
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''The Big Money''
|Rush
|Pro-[[capitalism]]
|forty-five
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY_6b4-N9Uo ''Ticket to Ride'']
|[[The Beatles]]
|Lyrics describe anti-feminist attitude
|1
|Rock
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni5mIBdNW2w ''I Will Fail You'']
|Demon Hunter
|
|NA
|Heavy Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1z91zfPJAw ''Break the Cycle'']
|For Today
|
|NA
|Metalcore
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9z4DWB7Iy8 ''Face Everything And Rise'']
|Papa Roach
|"I need a cure for this life I've chosen" "I am protected when I'm walking through the flames"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0_h7vUcnhs ''Skeletons'']
|Papa Roach
|"I will shed my sins / I'll show you my skeletons" "Burn away the sins / We all have our skeletons" "I have lost myself in my addictions"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raQHby4lDX8 ''Falling Apart'']
|Papa Roach
|"I'll follow you out of the dark / I tried it my way but I keep fallin' apart" "All that I see is the wickedness around me / I refuse to believe the apocalypse inside of me"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSolalT2S-U ''Never Have To Say Goodbye'']
|Papa Roach
|"You always loved me when I couldn't even love myself / No you never turned away when I was begging for help" "I can hear your voice when I walk through the pain / You showed me how to live, showed me that I could change / I can feel you catch me when I fall away"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cOKjeVjSHk ''Gravity'']
|Papa Roach
|"I'm a broken man, I'm full of sin / I'm sick of all this hell that I'm livin' in"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IrznixSkSs ''War Over Me'']
|Papa Roach
|"I'm fighting for my soul / I've walked a self destructive lonely road / I read the warning signs but / I was too blind to see / I had to feel the pain 'till I believed / I have a purpose"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSGou75z4zs ''Devil'']
|Papa Roach
|"If all I have is now / No consequences" "I don't wanna finish what we started / I never should've let you in / You thought I was an easy target / Now I know who you are / Who the devil is"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qot3Ubz16Jo ''Warriors'']
|Papa Roach
|"Shine your light / Push the enemy back / When you're under attack / It will protect you / Kill the night / All we need is a spark / We can bury the dark"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|A Shame
|Pillar
|"It's a shame to be ashamed / To be ashamed of the One that we should glorify"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|Echelon
|Pillar
|"You're takin' a risk when you resist The One who made you exist"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veXD1oDnFFI ''Everything'']
|Pillar
|"Everything has meaning, everything we see / Are you willing to give up, everything"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|Fireproof
|Pillar
|"The only one who can control me, I extol the Almighty"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|For the Love of the Game
|Pillar
|"Your final destination / Keeps you focused on the win"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|State of Emergency
|Pillar
|"It's a state of emergency / It's time we see / There's a need to take action"
|NA
|Rock/Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCX5eXo-4jk ''Collapse'']
|War Of Ages
|"Through the blood of a savior / Our death shall set us free"
|NA
|Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBnbW4opmv4 ''From Ashes'']
|War Of Ages
|"Fight for the path unto forgiveness" "I knew from the first time that I saw you / You were sent by God"
|NA
|Metal
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtzuG5KbaiY ''Silent Night'']
|War Of Ages
|"Fallen I am, yet bound by flesh"
|NA
|Metal
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYpF2pCkLI ''My Body'']
|Young the Giant
|''"My body tells me no / But I won't quit / Cause I want more"'' — Powerful chorus describes how the singer defies his body's physical desire to stop working and continue working hard because he wants to reap the rewards he has earned from his hard work. It describes conservative traits (persevering with hard work) and capitalistic ideals (wanting the rewards you worked for; working past your limit because you have proper incentive).
|65
|Alternative
|-
!Songs "Spiritual"
!Artist
!Comments
!Billboard Rank
!Category
|-
|[http://youtu.be/iq10bz3PxyY ''Christmas Shoes'']
|NewSong
|A Christmas song by a Christian band.
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|''Your Love Is Extravagant''
|Casting Crowns
|
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|''What If His People Prayed''
|Casting Crowns
|
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DumlIIHSrsQ ''American Dream'']
|Casting Crowns
|"But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end"
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_H6C8iLPA ''Liberalism is a Mental Disorder'']
|The Infidel (Gregory Van Leer Jr.) with an opening from [[Michael Savage]]
|Clearly attacks [[liberal values]].
|NA
|Rap
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h1oRP7FfBw ''Sunny Afternoon'']
|The Kinks
|About a rich man trying to enjoy the simple things in life because the nanny-state has nearly bankrupted him.
|Fourteen
|Rock
|-
|''No Children''
|The Mountain Goats
|A song about a marriage falling apart because the couple has no children to hold the family together.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuUmLIPSasI ''God Loves My Country'']
|Balthrop, Alabama
|A song that declares that God loves America most of all.
|NA
|Folk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zZE0SrkyNE&ob=av2n ''Where'd You Go'']
|Fort Minor
|Shows the hardship of divorce, liberal values, and the possible future of the families of our service men who could be forced to serve in Libya.
|NA
|Rap
|-
|''Patriotism''
|Company Flow
|While containing bad language it endorses the US as a super-power.
|NA
|Rap
|-
|''Tribute''
|Tenacious D
|Comedy single, but it's also a very popular song about overcoming Satan and alludes to many other Christian themes such as heaven and hell.
|4
|Rock/folk
|-
|''For Martha''
|The Smashing Pumpkins
|Being torn between the anguish of losing a lost one and the joy of knowing you will one day reunite them with in heaven
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDIGzzeQjaE ''Dethharmonic'']
|Dethklok
|Anti-tax
|NA
|Rock
|-
|''Get Over It''
|The Eagles
|Written by Don Henley (who is a liberal) about his frustration of people blaming others for their own problems and believing the world owes them a favor ''"the big bad |world doesn't owe you a thing,"''
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6oYX1D-0w "I Need A Dollar"]
|Aloe Blacc
|"Please Mr.Bossman I need this job more than you can know" - an excellent paean to the plights of unemployment
|NA
|Pop/Soul
|-
|[http://youtu.be/RlOQBGjkm78 "Extra Extra"]
|[[Toots Sweet]]
|Toots does a great job at making the clips entertaining as well as informative.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yq8zn15EPE "Somebody Must Be Prayin' For Me]
|[[Tim McGraw]]
|Song about prayer and how it is a necessary part of everyday life.
|NA
|Spiritual/Country
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTUADEhC8Q"The List"]
|The Right Brothers
|A song that melodically lists liberal activists.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/8uxAT6dzKSM "We the People"]
|[[Toots Sweet]]
|A song about the Constitution and how the current administration has been abusing the beloved document we are trying to live by.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/AA1aHrfxgEg "Shut up and Teach"]
|The Right Brothers
|Liberal indoctrination runs rampant in our schools. Song expresses the desire to stick to a non-partisan curriculum.
| NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/ROdsgYyheM4 "On Fire"]
|Switchfoot
|This song is about keeping the faith, in people and in our religion.
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pldyz9VS2yY ''Under God'']
|[[Pat Boone]]
|
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EBiei21-C8 ''King Without a Crown'']
|Matisyahu
|A Hasidic Jew raps about God as the source of happiness and salvation from the things of this world: "If you're drowning in the waters and you can't stay afloat ask |Ask Hashem(God) for mercy and He'll throw you a rope."
|7 (Hot Modern Rock Tracks)
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl6yilkU1LI ''Fast Car'']
|Tracy Chapman
|Self-help, free market, division of labor, and a criticism of alcohol. "I know things will get better/You'll find work and I'll get promoted/We'll move out of the |shelter/Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs"
|6
|Folk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk ''Livin' on a Prayer'']
|Bon Jovi
|Organized labor is harmful to the welfare of workers, who turn to prayer.
|1
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/o-z2D9lo9-8 ''Bush Was Right'']
|The Right Brothers
|Celebrating the Bush Administration's success and policies.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDSK98Y2FNg "Stop Global Whining"]
|The Right Brothers
|Anti-Global Warming hoax song.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXAW2snGMI ''Capitalism'']
|Oingo Boingo
|There's nothing wrong with free enterprise.
|NA
|Rock
|-
|Keep On Loving You
|REO Speedwagon
|Love overcomes infidelity "When I said that I love you I meant That I love you forever."
|1
|Pop
|-
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5BuYf8q4o ''Sweet Home Alabama'']
|[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
|A response to hippie culture. Defends Southerners from stereotyped attacks by [[liberal]], Canadian rocker Neil Young. "Well, I hope Neil Young will remember/A Southern |man don't need him around anyhow."
|8
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858733660/ ''What's The Use Of Wond'rin?'']
|Amanda Palmer
|Celebrates the command: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." -Ephesians 5:22
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://youtu.be/Ke-r2K0ymWc ''Lightning Crashes'']
|Live
|The joy and significance of childbirth.
|1
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJprEyXMrIk''Takin' Care of Business'']
|Bachman-Turner Overdrive
|The work ethic and promoting self-employment.
|Twelve
|Rock
|-
|''Cat's In The Cradle''
|Harry Chapin
|The importance of traditional families and responsible fatherhood.
|1
|Folk
|-
|[http://youtu.be/bCFWyLwcR6E ''Thank You My Lord'']
|[[Petula Clark]]
|The title says it all.
|NA
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://youtu.be/7NJMTmz7pkg ''Brick'']
|Ben Folds Five
|Shows the regret involved in abortion.
|6 (Modern Rock Tracks)
|Rock
|-
|[http://youtu.be/Dw6qmYX1ny4 ''Alive'']
|[[P.O.D.]]
|About being thankful for the gift of life.
|2 (US Alternative)
|Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_iNdbPvrYk ''Jesus Christ'']
|Brand New
|The singer turns to God for advice and assurance.
|thirty Hot Modern Rock Tracks
|Spiritual
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU ''Jesus, Take The Wheel'']
|[[Carrie Underwood]]
|A gospel-themed hit from the American Idol winner.
|1 (US Country)
|Country
|-
| I Won't Back down
| Tom Petty
| Talks about not backing down from a fight. Can be compared to not losing the Iraq War.
|N/A
| Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v7xNSgBkum7o "Pray"]
|[[MC Hammer]]
|Working hard and giving thanks.
|2
|Rap/Pop
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4OI0GUCI_A ''Obama Nation''] and its sequel [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFfoZaOJ5xo ''Obama Nation Part 3'']
|Lowkey
|A song sharply critical of [[Liberal]] president Barack Obama and his policies. Also criticises those that blindly follow him due to his race: 'It's the substance within, not the colour of your skin'
|N/A
|Rap
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wrsZog8qXg ''Such Great Heights'']
|The Postal Service
|Creationist/Biblical lyrics: ''"And I have to speculate that God himself did make us into corresponding shapes like puzzle pieces from the clay."''
|?
|Indie
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZZG4Pw-M58 ''The Dumber They Come'']
|Eddie Cantor
|A song about how [[Professor values|liberal college education]] destroys romance and femininity.
|?
|Vaudeville
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-MRrFWs--g ''Return to Oz'']
|Scissor Sisters
|A song about the connection between [[Homosexuality and Illegal Drug Use|homosexuality and illegal drug use]],<ref>http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/ScisSisIntBD.htm</ref> a subject that the [[lamestream media]] prefers not to talk about.
|?
|Glam Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM7H0ooV_o8 ''Brimful of Asha'']
|Cornershop
|A song which mocks big government: " We don't care about no Government warning/'Bout their promotion of the simple life/And the dams they're building"
|?
|Alternative Rock
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qcMjKxt-dE ''53rd & 3rd'']
|[[The Ramones]]
|A song denouncing sodomy.
|?
|Punk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HUGeA2lur4 ''Beat On the Brat'']
|The Ramones
|A song acknowledging the fact that sometimes [[corporal punishment]] is necessary in order to discipline children.
|?
|Punk
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUsIU161w4 ''Feuer Frei'']
|Rammstein
|An anti-pacifist song which acknowledges that there's some merit in war.
|?
|Industrial
|-
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_DVS_303kQ ''Goodbye Horses'']
|Q Lazzarus
|A song that might very well be about the hope Christianity offers the world. The person the singer talks with can be construed as a cynical atheist who has a sad outlook on life due to his lack of belief in a higher power. The singer on the other hand still has hope, as she knows there is a God. In the final lines she sings about flying over horses. This might interpreted to mean that like all of mankind she too experienced physical death, but due her belief in Jesus found her way onto Heaven.
|?
|New Wave
|-
| The Logical Song
|Supertramp
|Mocks the public education system also compares being a called a [[liberal]] to being called a criminal.
|?
|Classic Rock
|-
|Yah Mo Be There
|James Igram and Michael McDonald
|Written about God
|?
|R&B
|-
|Runaway Son
|Mike Oldfield
|The parable of The [[Prodigal Son]], from the prodigal's perspective.
|?
|Rock
|-
|Gratitude
|VNV Nation
|A sincere "Thank You" to all the doubters and naysayers that inspire us to fight, and make us find strength and courage we didn't know we had. Although it's not an explicitly Christian song, compare James 1:2-4.
|?
|Electronic
|}
Please add your best conservative picks.

== Debatable Whether Conservative ==

The top five in a poll of the greatest songs in the 20th century, according to the Recording Industry Association of America and the [[NEA]]:

*''Over the Rainbow'' (Judy Garland)
*''White Christmas'' (Bing Crosby)
*''Respect'' (Aretha Franklin)
*''[[American Pie]]'' ([[Don McLean]])

Also questionable:

*''Hammer to Fall'' (Queen) - talks about being hopeful for the Soviet Union falling
*''Rocky Raccoon'' (Beatles) - has multiple references to Gideon's Bible
*''Been to Hell'' (Hollywood Undead)-Despite the large amount of swearing, it talks about the destructive nature of Hollywood, including how Hollywood and the quest for fame can cause someone to lose their faith. It also criticizes Hollywood values.
*''Only the Good Die Young'' (Billy Joel)-a boy tries to convince a Catholic girl to have sex with him rather than practice [[abstinence]]. Although it contains a lot of anti-religious dialogue (from the boy's perspective), in the end the girl holds true to her values, and nothing happens between them.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5aMMRes2u4 ''Still the One''] by Orleans - a very good song about marital fidelity. However, one of the singers, [[John Hall]], later became a Democratic Congressman from New York and sued Republican presidential candidate [[John McCain]] over the use of the song
*My Sweet Lord (George Harrison) - Love for religion and having a relationship with God even uses hallelujah, though many Hindu undertones.
*Because I got high (Afroman) - Although a song about Marijuana, the singer mentions drug use leading to him loosing his kids and wife, messing up his life, failing a class, skipping work, and losing his car.
*Where is the love (Black Eyed Peas) - Main message questioning why are people ignoring their Christian beliefs, and asking for Help from church and God. Condemns both racism, and terrorism, and also claims the idea of joining gangs and doing drugs is wrong. However it also dis promotes the idea of war, and promotes peace making.
*Grow a Pear (Kesha) -Song's message is manning up, but the singer Kesha is a pro-LGBT [[homosexual agenda]] activist.

== References ==

<references/>

== See also ==

*[http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/group/support-conservative-entertainment Smart Girl Politics]

*[http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmnorton/2011/06/07/bigdawg-spotlight-on-the-in-word-the-antidote-to-liberal-arts-political-correctness Breitbart antidote to political correctness]

*[http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmnorton/2011/05/23/bigdawg-spotlight-on-urban-funk-rocker-toots-sweet-a-conservative-sound-in-a-liberal-town/ Urban funk rocker and a conservative sound]

*[[Essay: Worst Liberal Songs]]

*[[Essay: Great and inspiring music by atheists on atheism|Great and inspiring music by atheists on atheism]] - humor/[[satire]]
{{Conservatism}}
[[Category:Essays]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Essays about Conservatism]]

God

2017-02-24T02:49:24Z

Ambassador:

''This article is about the biblical God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''
[[Image:Alphaomega.jpg|thumb|200px|God is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending <ref>Revelation 22:13</ref>]]
{{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1''' In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.}}
{{trinity}}'''God''' is the sovereign creator and eternal ruler of all things and beings that exist, whether in the physical [[universe]] or in the spiritual realm ([[Heaven]]). Not only is God the creator and ruler of the things and beings within those two realms, but He is also the creator of the realms themselves. God created the physical universe, and before He acted in this creation, the universe did not exist. Likewise God did with the spiritual realm.

== God is Revealed: How we know about God ==

Other than creation itself, God is revealed in several ways, including [[theological correlates]], conscience, and special revelation (the [[Bible]], and prophets). Most importantly though, God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], who is the Son of God.

[[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]]

== Attributes or Character of God ==
[[File:Rembrandt Ascension.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]], Ascension.]]
The attributes of God are things that describe who He is. Similar to the way one might describe a close friend to another individual, so too do these attributes describe God's character and nature. Attributes of God include but are not limited to [[Wisdom]], [[Infinitude]], [[Sovereignty]], [[Holiness]], [[Trinity]], [[Omniscience]], [[Faithfulness]], [[Love]], [[Omnipotence]], Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, [[Justice]], [[Immutability]], [[Mercy]], [[Eternal]], [[Goodness]], Graciousness, and [[Omnipresence]]. These attributes all work in complete and perfect harmony with one another.

God exercises eternal and righteous judgment of the wicked in [[hell]], because of an inherent problem in the human heart, namely [[Sin]]. According to the [[Bible]], the sacrifice of [[Jesus Christ]] on the cross of [[calvary]] and then [[resurrection]], is God's merciful and gracious response to the problem of the human heart.

=== God is Triune ===
{{main|Trinity}}

Although the Bible does not use the term, it is clear that God is a triune God, or three in one.
These are sometimes referred to as ''God the Father'', ''God the Son'' ([[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]), and the ''[[Holy Spirit]]''.

The first hint of the Trinity is in {{Bible ref|Genesis|1|26}} which relates God saying, "Let us make man in our image", indicating that God is a plurality.

The three persons of God are treated as equivalents in these words of Jesus shortly after His resurrection:
{{Bible quote|Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.|book=Matthew|chap=28|verses=19|version=NIV}}

==== Jesus is God ====
[[Image:Pieta.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Pieta]], [[Michelangelo]].]]

The first verse of the [[Gospel of John]], in which Jesus is referred to as the "Word", makes clear that Jesus is synonymous with God:
{{Bible quote|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.|book=John|chap=1|verses=1|version=NIV}}
This verse not only says that "the Word" (Jesus) is synonymous with God, but also says that the Word was "in the beginning", which means that He existed before all else existed, something that is only true of God.

This is reinforced two verses later, in which Jesus is described as the creator.
[[Genesis]] refers to God as being the Creator.
{{Bible quote|Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.|book=John|chap=1|verses=3|version=NIV}}

==== The Holy Spirit is God ====

In the following passage, the [[Holy Spirit]] is referred to as God:
{{Bible quote|Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."|book=Acts|chap=5|verses=3-4|version=NIV}}

=== God is omniscient ===
{{main|omniscience}}

God knows everything:
{{Bible quote|This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.|book=1_John|chap=3|verses=19-20|version=NIV}}

Because God is outside of [[time]], He can see and knows the [[past]] and the [[future]] as well as the present.

== "God" sometimes used to refer to God the Father ==
[[Image:Velasco Padre Eterno.jpg|thumb|left|180px|God the Father by [[Jose Maria Velasco]] (1840-1912).]]
In the Bible, the word "God" (θεός) does not always refer to God's being as a whole, but more specifically refers to the Person of the Father (God the Father). Here are some verses which demonstrate this:
{{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}}
{{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.}}
Notice how in each case, "Father" can be substituted for "God." For example, "For the ''Father'' so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," and "not that we loved the ''Father'', but that He loved us and sent His Son."
{{Clear}}

== Terminology ==

The Bible uses several different words to refer to God.
"God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, diety'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=god God] Online Etymology Dictionary.</ref> which the translators who translated the Bible in to English chose as the appropriate English word for the [[Hebrew]] ''elohim'' and the [[Greek]] ''theos'' used in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] respectively.<ref name="DPK">Kruse, Dale P.,[http://www.layevangelism.com/advtxbk/sections/sect-10/sec10-9.htm More on the ''Names'' of God In the Bible], Advanced Training Program of Evangelism.</ref>

The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated ''Lord''.
There are various compound words also used in the Bible, such as ''el shaddai'', which means ''God Almighty'' ("''el''" is a short version of ''elohim'').<ref name="DPK" />

''YHWH'' is given in the Bible as God's actual name. In most English Bibles it is translated as ''Lord'', in small capitals. The name has various other English versions, including Yehovah, Jehovah, and Yahweh.<ref>McHyde, Tim, [http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/yahweh.htm God’s Name: LORD, Yahweh, Yahveh, YHWH, YHVH, Jehovah or Yehovah?]</ref>
== Resources on becoming a Christian ==
[[File:Hoffman Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.jpg|thumbnail|170px||Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann.]]

''see also:'' [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]

'''Below are some resources on becoming a [[Christian]]:'''

*[http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-film Jesus film - free access]

*[http://www.thewordfortoday.org/?page=C2000 Free audio Bible and Bible audio streaming]

*[http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html Repentance]

*[http://www.allaboutgod.com/ AllAboutGod.com]

*[[Video testimonies of Christians]]

'''Tips on choosing a Christian church:'''

*[http://www.allaboutreligion.org/choosing-a-christian-church-faq.htm Choosing a Christian Church]

'''Spiritual growth as a Christian:'''

*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges The Practice of Godliness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529785.The_Complete_Book_of_Discipleship The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ]

==See also==
*[[Other gods]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Christianity in Conservapedia]]
*[[Bible Art Gallery]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.theopedia.com/God Theopedia - God]
*[http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/god.html ChristianAnswers.net - God]
*[http://wikible.org/en/God Wikible.org - God]
*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-there-a-god Opposing Views: Is There a God?]

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Divine Beings]]

Second Law of Thermodynamics

2017-02-24T02:48:47Z

Ambassador:

The '''Second Law of Thermodynamics''' is a fundamental truth about the tendency towards disorder in the absence of intelligent intervention. This principle correctly predicts that heat will never flow from a cold body to a warmer one, unless forced to do so by a man-made machine. Or, as [[Isaac Asimov]] observed,
{{Cquote|Another way of stating the second law then is: The universe is constantly getting more disorderly. Viewed that way, we can see the second law all about us. We have to work to straighten a room, but left to itself it becomes a mess again very quickly and very easily. Even if we never enter it, it becomes dusty and musty. How difficult to maintain houses, and machinery, and our bodies in perfect working order: how easy to let them deteriorate. In fact, all we have to do is nothing, and everything deteriorates, collapses, breaks down, wears out, all by itself -- and that is what the second law is all about.|||Isaac Asimov, Smithsonian Institute Journal, June 1970, p. 6}}
Put in physics terminology, the Second Law states that the [[entropy]] of an isolated or [[closed system]] never decreases.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is the result of the intrinsic uncertainty in nature, manifest in [[quantum mechanics]], which is overcome only by intelligent intervention.

This law makes it impossible to build a [[perpetual motion machine]] - the increase in entropy inevitably derails the system even if energy remains constant.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics disproves the [[atheistic]] [[Theory of Evolution]] and [[Theory of Relativity]], both of which deny a fundamental uncertainty to the physical world that leads to increasing disorder.

:::''Much of this article could be considered to be a continuation of the [[thermodynamics]] article, which see. That article provides some historical background, along with an explanation of the relationship between the Second Law and the increase in entropy.''

==Entropy and disorder ==

In this context "increasing disorder" means the decline in organization that occurs without intelligent intervention. Imagine your old room at your parent's house. Remember how easy it was to let the room turn into a uniform mess (disorder) and remember how hard it was to clean it up until it fit a specific, non-uniform design (order). Not cleaning up would always result in an increase of entropy in your room!

The flow of energy (by heat exchange) to places with lower concentrations is called the "heat flow."

The often-heard argument that this law disproves an eternal universe is true, because in that case maximum entropy would have been reached already. A counterargument to this would be to suggest that the universe is still in the process of approaching maximum entropy.

There are many different ways of stating the Second Law of thermodynamics. An alternative statement of the law is that heat will tend not to flow from a cold body to a warmer one without intelligent intervention, or work, being done, as in the case of a [[refrigerator]]. Other statements include that it is impossible for an [[engine]] to convert [[heat]] perfectly (I.e. at 100% efficiency) into [[work]]. These statements are qualitative and stating the Second Law in terms of [[entropy]] makes the law quantitative.

This law makes it impossible to build a [[perpetual motion machine]] - the increase in entropy inevitably derails the system even if its [[energy]] remains constant (as described by the [[Conservation of Energy|first law of thermodynamics]]).

The Second Law can be expressed mathematically as:

<math>\frac{dS_{universe}}{dt} \ge 0</math>

where <math>\frac{dS_{universe}}{dt}</math> is the rate of change of [[entropy]] of the [[universe]] with respect to time.

Another way of viewing the Second Law is in terms of probability. In nature there is no one to clean up the universe, only chances. The chance of something becoming orderly is essentially zero, which it is a certainty that things will become more disorderly.

On a universal scale a tidy room would be a universe which has pockets of above average concentrations of energy (if you - incorrectly - assume relativity [[E=mc²]] this includes matter as well.)

==Second Law compared with other physical laws==

Thermodynamics occupies an unusual place in the world of science, particularly at the high school and undergraduate levels. The Second Law is the one that is especially peculiar. (In fact, the other laws are comparatively mundane. The first law is just a statement that heat is a form of energy, and that energy, whether in the form of heat or not, is conserved. This was a very nontrivial result at first, but, with the understanding of heat and temperature that later developed, it's quite unremarkable. The third law is a statement that absolute zero can't be reached by any finite number of Carnot cycles<ref>[https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Carnot_engine Carnot Engine]</ref>. While true, its significance pales in comparison to that of the Second Law.)

Perhaps what makes the Second Law so remarkable is that it describes ''irreversible'' phenomena. In particular, it describes the observed fact that heat energy, in bodies that are not being externally manipulated by compression, etc., flows only from a warmer body to a cooler one. When a warmer body is placed in contact with a cooler one, heat energy will flow (always preserving total energy, of course) from the warmer one to the cooler one. The warmer one will cool off as it releases its energy, and the cooler one will warm up. This process will continue until the two bodies reach the same temperature, or "thermal equilibrium".

Until the development of [[statistical mechanics]], no one knew why this was so, or what temperature actually meant. What was known was simply that a body with a higher temperature would send heat to a body with a lower temperature, no matter what the bodies were made of.

The fact that this kind of heat flow is irreversible makes the whole field of thermodyamics lie outside of the realm of classical Newtonian mechanics or Relativistic mechanics. In Newtonian or Relativistic mechanics, every phenomenon can go in reverse order. The catchy phrase "arrow of time" (or "time's arrow") was coined by [[Arthur Eddington]] to denote this one-way behavior not shared by other theories of physics.<ref>''The Nature of the Physical World'', Arthur Eddington, MacMillan, 1929, ISBN 0-8414-3885-4</ref>

The field of statistical mechanics attributes the increase in entropy to the statistical tendencies of huge aggregates of particles at the molecular or atomic level. While Newtonian and Relativistic mechanics can, in principle, precisely describe assemblages of any number of particles, in practice they are not directly applied to the behavior of bulk material. That is, they are not applied to a number of particles on the order of Avogadro's number.

Statistical mechanics makes no assumptions about the microscopic cause of the seemingly random behavior. Statistical mechanics was developed in the 19th century prior to quantum mechanics, and does not depend on the [[Heisenberg uncertainty principle]]. The quantum mechanical uncertainty goes away at the microscopic level once the system is observed and the wave function collapses.

It needs to be emphasized that the peculiarities of thermodynamics, with the phenomenon fo irreversibility and the "arrow of time", ''in no way'' contradict the (reversible) processes of classical Galilean, Newtonian, Lagrangian, or Hamiltonian physics, or of special or general relativity. Those formulations are precise in the regimes in which the behavior of individual particles are analyzed. When two gas molecules collide in the [[Kinetic theory]], that collision is perfectly reversible. It is only when one goes into a problem domain in which the bulk behavior of huge numbers (on the order of Avogadro's number) of particles are analyzed, without regard for the individual particles, that thermodynamics and statistical mechanics come into play.

==Elementary probability and statistics==

If you flipped a coin 20 times and it came up heads each time, you would consider that to be a remarkable occurrence. (Perhaps so much so that you would inspect the coin to be sure it didn't have heads on both sides.) If you tried it and got tttthtththhhththhthh, you would probably not consider it remarkable. Yet each of these outcomes is equally probable: about 1 in 106. If you shuffled a deck of cards and found them all in exact order from the 2 of clubs to the ace of spades, you would consider that to be very remarkable. But if you got the distribution shown in the illustration on page 314 of Alfred Sheinwold's ''5 Weeks to Winning Bridge'', you would probably consider it just "random". Yet each of these orderings has the same probability of occurring—1 in 52 factorial, which is about 1066.<ref>Actually, we're ignoring the fact that bridge players sort their cards by suit, and the diagram shows the result of the sorting.</ref>

For small sets such as coin tosses or card shufflings, what constitutes "random" vs. "well ordered" is in the eye of the beholder. If a room in your house started in a state that most people would consider "neat and tidy", and you went into that room every day, picked up a random obect, and threw it against a random wall, after a month most people would consider the room a mess. But, once again, this is hard to quantify. The kinds of statistical analyses that are required for the study of thermodynamics have to be much more careful than this. The kind of folksy quotations in popular articles about messy rooms, as in the Isaac Asimov quote, may sell magazines, but they don't shed much light on how thermodynamics works.

What is needed is an analysis of ''aggregate properties'', not individual items. We need to quantify the results. For the case of the coin toss, we might ask how many times we got heads. The probabilities can be worked out; they are a "Gaussian distribution", also known as a "bell curve". The probability of heads 0 times out of 20 is 1 in 1048576. Getting heads exactly 1 time is .00002, and so on, as shown in this table. Notice that getting heads exactly 10 times is the most probable outcome, but its probability is still only 18%. If we did the experiment a larger number of times, the probability of exactly 50% heads would still be higher than any other, but it would be quite small. What is important is the probability of getting a certain number of heads ''or less''.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Number of times it
comes up heads
!Probability of that
exact number
!Probability of that
number or less
|-
|0
|10-6
|10-6
|-
|1
|.00002
|.00002
|-
|2
|.00002
|.0002
|-
|3
|.0011
|.0013
|-
|4
|.0046
|.0059
|-
|5
|.0148
|.0207
|-
|6
|.0370
|.0577
|-
|7
|.0739
|.1316
|-
|8
|.1201
|.2517
|-
|9
|.1602
|.4119
|-
|10
|.1762
|.5881
|-
|11
|.1602
|.7483
|-
|12
|.1201
|.8684
|-
|13
|.0739
|.9423
|-
|14
|.0370
|.9793
|-
|15
|.0148
|.9941
|-
|16
|.0046
|.9987
|-
|17
|.0011
|.9998
|-
|18
|.00002
|.99998
|-
|19
|.00002
|.99999
|-
|20
|10-6
|1.000
|}
With really large numbers, the probability of any particular outcome is vanishingly small; the only sensible measure is the accumulated probability, or the probability density, measured in a way that doesn't involve individual outcomes.

==Extreme probability and statistics==

The Second Law of Thermodynamics derives from this fundamental principle:
::The properties of an aggregate of measurements, when the individual measurements are not predetermined, tend toward the "most probable" distribution.

The measurements could be things like whether a coin came up heads, whether a card in a deck has a certain value, or the energy of a gas molecule. The fundamental truth of this, for reasonable numbers of things like coins or cards, is quite sensible on the intuitive level. These principles were worked out, by Fermat and others, in the 17th and 18th century. The same principles apply when the numbers are enormous, on the order of Avogadro's number, but some intuitive conclusions can be misleading.

When dealing with thermodynamics, we are dealing with the statistical aggregate behavior of macroscopic pieces of matter, so we have to increase the number of items from 10, or 52, to something like [[Avogadro's number]]. So the number of possible situations, instead of being 106 or 1066, is something like 10Avogadro's number, that is, 101023. The enormity of such a number makes a huge amount of difference. If you flip a coin Avogadro's number of times, it will come up heads about half the time, as before. But, for all practical purposes, we can say that it will come up heads ''exactly'' half the time. The number of heads might be off by a few quintillion (this is the "law of large numbers"), but that won't make any practical difference.

*You can't ask any questions about individual items—air molecules don't have labels like "Jack of Diamonds". You can only ask questions about the aggregate behavior of macroscopic pieces of space.
*While the probabilities of certain outcomes can be mathematically calculated, they are so small that, as a practical matter, we can say that '''they do not occur'''. People sometimes like to say things like "The Second Law of Thermodynamics means that it is very unlikely that heat will travel from a colder object to a warmer one." That's a fallacious way of thinking about it. It is a [[statistical impossibility]]—it just doesn't occur.
*An example is the question of how likely it is that all the air molecules in a room will move to one corner, asphyxiating everyone.<ref>Actually, conservation of momentum requires that we consider half the molecules going to one corner and the other half to the opposite corner.</ref> This is sometimes worked out in physics classes. But the conclusion has to be that this occurrence, or anything remotely resembling it, might have a probability on the order of 1 in 101023—it just doesn't happen.

==Application to molecular behavior==

[[Statistical mechanics]] is the application of probability to enormous numbers like this. It was developed, along with the [[kinetic theory]], by Maxwell, Boltzmann, Causius, Clapeyron, and others, during the 19th century. The development of the kinetic theory of gases, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics revolutionized 19th century physics. It was recognized that, while we can't analyze the behavior of every molecule, we can analyze the statistical behavior of macroscopic assemblages. When gas molecules collide, they can transfer energy in a manner that leads to the principle of ''equipartition of energy''. This, plus the constraints on conservation of the total energy, leads to the ''Maxwell-Boltzmann'' distribution of molecular energies. From this, one can deduce the properties of volume, pressure, and temperature, leading to Boyle's law and Charles' law, among others. Temperature was found to be just the average energy per molecule. (Actually, the average energy per "degree of freedom".)

The fact that heat only flows downhill, and that entropy never decreases, is now just a consequence of the "most probable distribution" principle, or equipartition principle, from mathematical statistics, albeit at a vastly larger scale.

===Example of the Statistical nature of the Second Law===

To see this divide a container two and suppose that 1 half contains 20 molecules and the other none. What we expect to happen is for the molecules to spread out and have roughly half (10) in each half of the container. We can calculate the number of micro-states, <math>w</math>, which correspond to each macro-state:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Macro-state
!Number of Micro-states, <math>w</math>
!Entropy <math>S</math>
|-
|All particles in one half
|1
|<math>\ln{1} =0</math>
|-
|1 in left and 19 in right
|20
|<math>\ln{20} =3.00</math>
|-
|10 in left and 10 in right
|184756
|<math>\ln{184756} =12.1</math>
|}

Note that the Boltzmann constant has taken a value of 1 to simplify the maths.
So the state that we would expect to find the system in, the last one, has the highest entropy. However, the system could be in this state (10 in left, 10 in the right) and, just by chance, all the molecules could make their way to the left hand side of the box. This corresponds to a '''decrease''' of entropy. This example could be expanded up to a room, so why do we never see all the air in a room suddenly move to one end? The reason is that it is so unlikely, perhaps less than <math>10^{-10^{26}}</math>, that it essentially never occurs<ref>{{cite book
|author=Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman
|title=University Physics with Modern Physics
|publisher=Pearson
|location=San Francisco
|isbn=
|pages=
|quote=
|language=English}}</ref>. Hence it may be '''assumed''' that for most systems entropy '''never''' decreases. This is known as the [[fluctuation theorem]].

==Thermodynamic definition of entropy==

One of the things that came out of the development of statistical mechanics was the definition of entropy as a differential
::<math>dS = \frac{dQ}{dt}</math>    '''S''' = entropy, '''Q''' = heat energy, '''T''' = temperature

The definition as a differential implies that it can be considered to be independent up to an additive constant. This is true; for problems in thermodynamics it doesn't matter whether a constant is added to the entropy everywhere. (But this is not true for the definitions used in combinatorics and mathematical statistics.)

The definition as a differential could mislead one into thinking that integration around some closed path could lead to a different value, that is, that '''dS''' is not an ''exact form''. This is not correct—'''dS''' is an exact form, and entropy is a true state variable. A mole of uniform Nitrogen at [[standard temperature and pressure]] (STP) always has the same entropy, once one chooses the additive constant for the system. (It is <math>29.1\ \log T\ \frac{Joules}{Kelvin}</math>; see below.) A mole of Nitrogen that is partly at one temperature and partly at another will have a lower entropy; the entropy will increase as the gas fractions mix.

The measure of entropy of a specific thing is in Joules per Kelvin, as can be seen from the definition as '''dQ'''/'''T'''. Entropy is an "extensive" quantity' like energy or momentum—two teapots have twice the entropy of one teapot. So the entropy of some kind of substance (e.g. Nitrogen at STP) could be measured in Joules per (mole Kelvin). This happens to be the same dimensions as the ''universal gas constant'' '''R'''.

==Entropy in popular culture—intuitive notions of entropy and "randomness"==

The tendency toward disorder is something that is accessible on an intuitive level—shuffling a deck of cards destroys their order, rooms don't clean themselves up, and so on. This phenomenon is often described by "popular science" writers, such as the Isaac Asimov quote at the beginning of this page. As a further example of this, a Google search for "entropy" yields "lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder"<ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=entropy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8</ref>, with synonyms like "deterioration" and "degeneration".

This is all very true, because the underlying phenomena of mathematical statistics are the same, but the difference in scale makes an enormous difference, and this can be misleading if one tries to draw thermodynamical conclusions from this intuitive notion.

When one bridges the gap between thermodynamics and the intuitive notions of entropy from ordinary statistics, one comes up with the statistical definition of entropy:
::<math>S = k\ \log\Omega</math>
where '''k''' is ''Boltzmann's constant'' of <math>1.38065 \times 10^{-23}\ \frac{Joules}{Kelvin}</math> and <math>\Omega\,</math> is the number of possible configurations of whatever is being analyzed. Boltzmann's constant is in Joules per Kelvin rather than Joules per (mole Kelvin), because the mole has been replaced with the individual molecule.

The equivalence of the thermodynamical and statistical definitions of entropy is derived by statistical mechanics, and, in particular, the principle of ''equipartition of energy''.

For a mole of an ideal gas undergoing a temperature change
::<math>\Delta{}S = C_p\ \log\frac{T_{final}}{T_{initial}}</math>
where <math>C_p</math> is the heat capacity at constant pressure. This can be integrated to get
::<math>S = C_p\ \log{}T</math>
For a diatomic ideal gas such as Nitrogen, <math>S = C_p = 3.5 R = 29 \frac{Joules}{(mole) (Kelvin)}</math>
so
<math>S = 29 \log{}T \frac{Joules}{(mole) (Kelvin)}</math>

People are generally accustomed to how probabilities work in everyday life. Poker players know what the odds are that a hand is a full house or a straight flush, and Blackjack players know the odds of going over 21 on the next card. They have a feel for the shape of the bell curve. But when the sample size is what it is in thermodynamics, this intuition fails completely—the bell curve becomes incredibly sharp and high. The odds of getting heads 1/4 of the time or less on 20 coin tosses is, as noted above, 2.07%. But if the coin is tossed Avogadro's number of times (6.022 x 1023), it will, with virtual certainty, come up heads 3.011 x 1023 times, give or take a few trillion. Any measurable deviation is a [[statistical impossibility]].

Using the definition of entropy from mathematical statistics, the entropy of a completely random deck of cards is K log 52!, which is 2.16 x 10-21 Joules per Kelvin. The entropy of a sorted deck is zero.

This misleading nature of statistics at the thermodynamical level can lead to some misconceptions. As an example, the entropy effects of shuffling or sorting a deck of cards are utterly insignificant compared with the effects of thermodynamic entropy. A mole of Nitrogen (22.4 L, 28 g) at 20 degrees Celsius, containing a random deck of cards, has the same entropy as a mole containing a completely sorted deck at 20.0000000000000000000015 degrees Celsius. One can easily be misled if one ascribes macroscopic visible phenomena of apparent randomness to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

The temptation is to let one's perception of "disorder", or "messiness", or "degradation", as in the Isaac Asimov quote given above, or the result of Googling "entropy", color one's views of the Second Law. The Second Law says very specific things about heat flow. Perceptions of "disorder" generally do not involve heat flowing from a warmer body to a cooler one.

As an example, a person sorting a deck of cards, or cleaning up their room, of course needs some external source of low entropy in order not to violate the Second Law. That entropy reduction effect is easily provided by the food one eats and the air one breathes. The "entropy budget" required to sort a deck of cards can be provided by the metabolism of about 10-29 grams of sugar. Of course a human metabolizes vastly more food energy during that time.

As another example, the devastation of a forest fire could be thought of as leading to a less ordered state. But in fact the entropy of the ashes is probably lower than that of the trees, because energy is released during the combustion. In any case, the forest grows back. Where does the "entropy budget" come from? Sunlight.

As another example, an apple left lying around will "deteriorate". But it is also true that apple trees turn dirt into apples. Once again, the entropy budget comes from sunlight.

In fact, entropy changes locally all the time, on a vastly larger scale than cards, rooms, apples, people, or fires—higher during the day, lower at night, higher in Summer, lower in Winter. Entropy is constantly being "wasted". Where does the entropy reduction required to offset this come from? The Earth is a giant heat engine, with energy from the Sun falling on the daylight side, and "waste" energy emitted into space from the night side. This sunlight powers virtually everything that happens on Earth.

==Entropy and information==

Information is in the eye of the beholder. The first ten million digits of pi can be considerd to be a very precise and detailed piece of information, or they can be considered to be ten million digits of random garbage.<ref>The digits of pi are believed to be truly random. They have passed every statistical test for randomness. No patterns are known.</ref> In the former case, the digits have an entropy of zero; in the latter case the entropy is 3.2 x 10-21 Joules per Kelvin.

The entropy of the human genome, in each cell, is 6 x 10-14 Joules per Kelvin when the base pairs are considered to be random, and zero when the base pairs are in a given human's specific genetic configuration. The metabolism of 2.5 x 10-22 grams of sugar can provide the "entropy budget" to copy a cell's genome. That is, to turn the random base pairs floating in the intracellular fluid into a copy of an existing set of chromosomes. This is done every time a cell divides. Of course the process is far from 100% efficient. 10-8 grams of sugar are sufficient, under 100% thermodynamic efficiency, to copy the DNA of all the cells in one's body. Avogadro's number really is very large.

==Reversibility and irreversibility==

[[Reversible process|Reversibility]] is a theoretical concept related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. A process is reversible if the net heat and work exchange between the system and the surroundings is zero for the process running forwards and in reverse. This means the process does not generate entropy. In reality, no process is completely reversible. Irreversibility is a quantity sometimes called "lost work" and is equal to the difference between a process' actual work and reversible work. Irreversibility is also equal to a process' entropy generation multiplied by a reference temperature.

==Trend toward uniformity in the universe==

The universe will always become increasingly uniform, that is: heat will spread until the entire [[universe]] has the [[temperature]] and energy level (in an [[isolated system]] heat will always spread from a place where there is a lot of heat to a place where there is less until balance is achieved), forces will continue to work until a universal balance has been achieved.

In this final state the universe is one uniform space where nothing happens and no work (moving something) can be done since there are no above average concentrations of energy left.
This state is called maximum entropy and is said to be in perfect disorder (although intuitively its uniformity would seem to be a state of perfect order) because it has become impossible to determine what happened in the past. ''i.e.'' There are an infinite number of ways (histories of the universe) maximum entropy could have been reached.

==The types of systems governed by the Law==

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is essentially a conservation law, like conservation of energy, or momentum, or mass. As such, it only applies to isolated systems. One would not perform an experiment to show conservation of energy in a swinging clock pendulum if one pushes on the pendulum, and one can't show conservation of momentum of a baseball at the instant that it is hit by a bat. By the same token, the Second Law can't be trusted when applied to a system that heat energy is entering or leaving. Adding or removing matter would be an even more serious failure.

There is only one type of system that the Second Law of Thermodynamics applies to: an [[isolated system]]. An isolated system is one that does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings.

Hence the Second Law of Thermodynamics does not strictly apply to the following types of system:
* [[Closed system]] - Exchanges energy, but not matter, with its surroundings
* Open system - Exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings

The boundary of any system can always be expanded to produce an isolated system, even if that system has to be the entire universe.

==Liberal abuse of the Second Law of Thermodynamics==

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is abused by many people, claiming that it buttresses their arguments for a wide variaty of things to which it simply doesn't apply. It has become common in recent years for [[Environmentalism|environmentalists]] to claim that the Second Law of Thermodynamics implies limits to [[economic growth]]. Their reasoning is that because free energy in resources such as [[petroleum|oil]] decreases with time, then economic growth can only be finite. (The supply of oil is finite, but the consequences of that are not consequences of the Second Law.) However, this simplistic [[liberal]] reasoning ignores the [[false zero-sum game|non-zero sum]] nature of [[free market economics]], whereby improvements in technology deliver gains for all at no further cost. Indeed, one of the most vital economic goods, knowledge, or more generally information, can be said to be free from thermodynamic limitations entirely.<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/a/2053] Discovery Institute cofounder and futurist George F. Gilder put it eloquently as follows: ''Gone is the view of a thermodynamic world economy, dominated by "natural resources" being turned to entropy and waste by human extraction and use. Once seen as a physical system tending toward exhaustion and decline, the world economy has clearly emerged as an intellectual system driven by knowledge.''</ref> Liberals also vastly exaggerate the limitations that [[natural resources]] impose on human economies. Some estimate that the [[Earth]] can harbor 100 billion people. God Himself gives His explicit assurance that the Earth will be generous as long as the human race exists in [[Genesis]]: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen. 1:28, KJV)

== Creation Ministries International on the Second Law of Thermodynamics and evolution ==

[[Image:Jonathansafarti.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|right|[[Jonathan Sarfati]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Creation Ministries International on the second law of thermodynamics|Creation Ministries International on the second law of thermodynamics and evolution]]

The Second Law of Thermodynamics attracts a lot of attention in religious websites and books. [[Creation Ministries International]] has a great wealth of information on why the Second Law of Thermodynamics is incompatible with the [[evolution]]ary [[paradigm]].

Some of their key resources on this matter are:

*[http://creation.com/the-second-law-of-thermodynamics-answers-to-critics The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Answers to Critics] by Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]]

*[http://creation.com/thermodynamics-and-order-questions-and-answers Thermodynamics Questions and Answers]

*[http://creation.com/thermodynamics-and-evolution Thermodynamics and evolution]
::{{Cquote|I tend not to use entropy arguments at all for biological systems. I have yet to see the calculations involving either heat transfer or Boltzmann microstates involved for natural selection. Until creationists can do that, they should refrain from claiming that organic evolution contradicts the Second Law; a trite appeal to “things become more disordered according to the Second Law” is inadequate.|||Jonathan Sarfati, in the cited work}}

*[http://creation.com/some-thermodynamics-criticisms-and-answers Some thermodynamics criticisms — and answers]

The main argument against [[evolution]] using the second law of thermodynamics is that [[evolution]] requires a decrease in entropy (disorder). However, the second law of thermodynamics states that entropy increases, so the two are contradictory. These resources misrepresent the Second Law of Thermodynamics, ignoring the fact the [[earth]] is not an isolated system (energy is added from the [[sun]] for example).

== The 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamics and the universe having a beginning ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]

According to Ohio State University professor Patrick Woodward, the [[First Law of Thermodynamics]] "simply states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed (conservation of energy)."<ref>[https://chemistry.osu.edu/~woodward/ch121/ch5_law.htm 1st Law of Thermodynamics], Ohio State University, Professor Pat Woodward (teaches for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry [https://chemistry.osu.edu/faculty/woodward])</ref>

The [[Christian apologetics]] website ''Why believe in God?'' declares about the Second Law of Thermodynamics:
{{cquote|The second law of thermodynamics, or the law of increased entropy, says that over time, everything breaks down and tends towards disorder - entropy! Entropy is the amount of UNusable energy in any systems; that system could be the earth's environment or the universe itself. The more entropy there is, the more disorganisation and chaos.

Therefore, if no outside force is adding energy to an isolated system to help renew it, it will eventually burn out (heat death). This can be applied to a sun as well as a cup of tea - left to themselves, both will grow cold. You can heat up a cold tea, you cannot heat up a cold sun. NOTE: when a hot tea in an air tight room goes cold (loses all it's energy) not only do we NOT expect the process to reverse by natural causes (ie. the tea will get hot again), but both room temp and tea temp will be equal. Keep that in mind as you read the next paragraph.

Look at it like this, because the energy in the universe is finite and no new energy is being added to it (1st law), and because the energy is being used up (2nd law), the universe cannot be infinite. If our universe was infinite but was using up a finite supply of energy, it would have suffered 'heat death' a long time ago! If the universe was infinite all radioactive atoms would have decayed and the universe would be the same temperature with no hot spots, no bright burning stars. Since this is not true, the universe must have begun a finite time ago.<ref>[http://www.whybelieveingod.net/istheuniverseinfinite.htm Is the Universe Infinite? Past beliefs and implications], Why believe in God? website</ref>}}

Thus, the First Law of Thermodynamics and the Second Law of Thermodynamics suggests that the [[universe]] had a beginning.<ref>
*[http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php CAN LAWS OF SCIENCE EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE?]
*[http://cavern.uark.edu/~cdm/creation/universeorigin.htm Evidence for the Supernatural Creation of the Universe] by Patrick R. Briney, Ph.D.
*[http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=3704 The Laws of Thermodynamics Don't Apply to the Universe!] by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.
*[http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=2106 God and the Laws of Thermodynamics: A Mechanical Engineer’s Perspective] by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.
*[http://creation.com/if-god-created-the-universe-then-who-created-god If God created the universe, then who created God?] by Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.
*[http://creation.com/eternal-universe Has the universe always existed?]</ref> This argument is similar to the argument for the [[big bang]], that the universe is expanding now, so in the past it must have been smaller, and since there is a limit to how small the universe can be, it points to a beginning. In this argument, it is entropy that has a lower limit.

However, the statistical nature of the second law mean that it is not firmly true. If the universe is infinite in time, then eventually all possibilities, no matter how small, are played out. In this way, the universe could reach maximum entropy and then happen, by chance, to return to a low entropy state. This would happen an infinite number of times. Hence we could be in the process of entropy increasing and the universe need nor have a beginning.

== The 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, theism and the origins of the universe ==

In the articles below, [[Theism|theists]] point out that the First Law of Thermodynamics and the Second Law of Thermodynamics point to the universe having a divine origin:

*[http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php Can the laws of science explain the origin of the universe?]

*[http://cavern.uark.edu/~cdm/creation/universeorigin.htm Evidence for the Supernatural Creation of the Universe] by Patrick R. Briney, Ph.D.

*[http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=3704 The Laws of Thermodynamics Don't Apply to the Universe!] by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

*[http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=2106 God and the Laws of Thermodynamics: A Mechanical Engineer’s Perspective] by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

*[http://creation.com/if-god-created-the-universe-then-who-created-god If God created the universe, then who created God?] by Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.

*[http://creation.com/eternal-universe Has the universe always existed?]

== See also ==

*[[Thermodynamics]]
*[[Essay:Commentary on Conservapedia's article on the second law of thermodynamics]]
*[[Genetic entropy]]
*[https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Ideal_gas_law Ideal Gas Law]
*[https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Carnot_engine Carnot Engine]

==External links==

*[http://www.livescience.com/50941-second-law-thermodynamics.html http://www.livescience.com/50941-second-law-thermodynamics.html]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Thermodynamics]]
[[Category:Second Law of Thermodynamics]]

Intelligent design

2017-02-24T02:48:00Z

Ambassador:

[[Image:Intelligent design.jpg‎|alt= Intelligent design|thumbnail|300px|right|Intelligent design theorists contend that the core feature of life consists of information processing systems that cannot be fully explained as being the result of unintelligent causes alone. When [[evolution]]ist [[Richard Dawkins]] was young, he recognized that the complexity of life indicates a designer.]]

'''Intelligent design''' '''(ID)''' is the empirically testable<ref>"Dembski and Wells argue calmly and convincingly that intelligent design theory is empirically testable (in spite of Darwinists' shrill protests to the contrary) by indicating precisely what it would take to refute the theory, namely a clear demonstration that systems exhibiting [[irreducible complexity]] with specified complexity can in fact arise spontaneously by purely material processes" source: [http://www.amazon.com/The-Design-Life-Discovering-Intelligence/dp/0980021308 The Design of Life: Discovering Signs of Intelligence in Biological Systems - Amazon page]</ref> theory that the natural world shows signs of having been designed by a purposeful, intelligent cause.<ref>
An inference that certain biological information may be the product of an intelligent cause can be tested or evaluated in the same manner as scientists daily test for design in other sciences. [http://www.uncommondescent.com/id-defined/ ID Defined]</ref> As [[Jonathan Wells]] wrote, "ID ... asserts only that some features of living things are better explained by an intelligent cause than by unguided processes." <ref>http://www.evolutionnews.org/2009/11/wired_science_one_long_bluff028441.html</ref> Wells, among others, uses ID to rebut the [[evolution|Darwinian]] assertion that the features of living things are "inexplicable on the theory of [[creation]]" but fully explicable as products of unguided natural forces.<ref>http://www.discovery.org/a/9151</ref>

The central idea of Intelligent Design theory is that [[design]] is empirically detectable, just as the detectability of design in man-made objects is straightforward, non-controversial, and often intuitive (see: [[design detection]]). With respect to the origin and development of cosmological and biological systems, Intelligent Design theory holds that the same principles provide a logical inference of design in nature. That is, without necessarily "proving" actual intelligent design in nature, the observable material evidence provides a reasonable basis from which to infer design, and such an inference supports a legitimate scientific hypothesis of ''intelligent'' design. As such, Intelligent Design theory is a scientific disagreement with the core claim of materialistic theories of [[evolution]] such as chemical and Darwinian evolution <ref>Darwinian Evolution: A materialistic theory of the history of the diversification of organisms from common ancestors through a process of descent with modification. The theory postulates that evolutionary change is the result of material causes [i.e., unintelligent causes due to the interactions of matter, energy, and the forces of nature], driven primarily by random variation and natural selection. The forces include gravity, the electromagnetic force and the weak and strong nuclear forces that define the structure of atoms. With respect to explaining the cosmos, the laws of chemistry and physics such as the laws of motion and thermodynamics dictate that material causes operate in generally periodic or regular patterns at best, and in entropy-increasing randomness at worst. ''See'', "Thirty-eight Nobel Laureates, ''Nobel Laureates Initiative,'' (The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, September 9, 2005), stressing to Kansas State Board of Education: “[E]volution is understood to be the result of an unguided, unplanned process of random variation and natural selection.”</ref> that the design exhibited in our universe is merely ''apparent'' design, i.e., ''unintelligent'' design caused by unguided, purposeless, natural forces of physics and chemistry alone.<ref>As used in this article, "materialism" is used synonymously with "naturalism". Naturalism is a philosophical doctrine that material causes alone are adequate to account for all natural phenomena and that teleological (design) conceptions of nature are invalid.</ref>

In a broader sense, Intelligent Design is simply the science of design detection—how to recognize patterns arranged by an intelligent cause for a purpose. Design detection is used in a number of scientific fields, including anthropology, archeology, forensic sciences, cryptanalysis and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence ('''[[SETI]]'''). An inference that certain cosmological and biological features of the natural world may be the product of an intelligent cause can be tested or evaluated in the same manner as scientists daily test for design in other sciences.<ref>For example, Stephen C. Meyer, Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute, notes at [http://www.discovery.org/a/1671 A Note to Teachers Stephen C. Meyer and Mark Hartwig, Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins May 1, 1993], the problem with limiting explanations to only "natural" causes: "Archaeologists routinely distinguish manufactured objects (e.g., arrowheads, potsherds) from natural ones (e.g., stones), even when the differences between them are very subtle. These manufactured objects then become important clues in reconstructing past ways of life. But if we arbitrarily assert that science explains solely by reference to natural laws, if archaeologists are prohibited from invoking an intelligent manufacturer, the whole archaeological enterprise comes to a grinding halt."</ref>

Intelligent Design theory, like all theories of origins, is scientifically and religiously controversial. All theories of origins are scientifically controversial because they often amount to subjective historical narratives that seek to explain unobserved and unobservable singular past events that occurred many years ago and that cannot be adequately tested in the laboratory. They are religiously controversial because all religions, including non-theistic religions, depend on a particular origins narrative. Intelligent Design proponents believe institutions of science, including government agencies, public schools and universities, should strive for objectivity and academic freedom in facilitating origins teaching and research. Objectivity in the evaluation and interpretation of material evidence ensures that all evidence-based explanations for natural phenomena can be considered fairly on their respective merits, regardless of their ultimate metaphysical or religious implications. Institutions of science should promote objectivity and academic freedom, especially where minority viewpoints challenge scientific orthodoxy.

Despite its many strengths, many [[Young Earth Creationism|biblical creationists]], while acknowledging those strengths, criticize the Intelligent Design theory for refusing to specify the identity of the designer, refusing to bring the Christian God and the Bible into the picture, and for accepting long ages and a theistic theory of evolution.<ref name="Whitcomb"/><ref name="PurdomChapter13"/>

== Intelligent Design, Evolution, and the Nature of Origins Science ==
'''[[Origins science]]''' is the scientific inquiry about biological and cosmological origins.<ref>''See'', '''Statement of Objectives Regarding Origins Science''', definition of Origins Science, '''Intelligent Design Network''' http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Statement_of_Objectives_Feb_12_07.pdf</ref> Scientists investigating such origins seek to propose explanations for the direct cause of unobserved events and processes that occurred in the very remote past that can not be duplicated under presently observable conditions and that are not amenable to experimental confirmation. Explanations can only be inferred from the evidence. Intelligent design theorists argue that the evidence naturally leads to an inference of design. Darwinists argue unguided purposeless causes ''despite'' the clear evidence of design. Because no explanation can be tested by experimental methods, the historical nature of origins science can only lead to inferences, and the question is simply which inference is most reasonable.
[[Image:Ernst_Mayr.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Ernst Mayr]]]]
Preeminent 20th century Darwinist [[Ernst Mayr]], billed as “one of the great shining figures of evolutionary biology” <ref>Ernst Mayr, ''What Evolution Is'' (New York: Basic Books, 2001); back cover, quote attributed to John Maynard Smith.</ref> correctly noted in his book entitled ''What Evolution Is'':

<blockquote>
"Evolution is a historical process that cannot be proven by the same arguments and methods by which purely physical or functional phenomena can be documented. Evolution as a whole, and the explanations of particular evolutionary event, must be inferred from observations." <ref>Ernst Mayr, ''What Evolution Is'', (New York: Basic Books, 2001), p. 12.</ref>
</blockquote>
[[Image:Stephen Meyer.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Dr. [[Stephen Meyer]] Director and Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute]]

In a more detailed description of the method for investigating and explaining origins Mayr said:

<blockquote>
“...Darwin introduced historicity into science. Evolutionary biology, in contrast with physics and chemistry, is a historical science – the evolutionist attempts to explain events and processes that have already taken place. ''Laws and experiments are inappropriate techniques for the explication of such events and processes.'' Instead one constructs a historical narrative, consisting of a tentative reconstruction of the particular scenario that led to the events one is trying to explain.” <ref>Ernst Mayr, ''Darwin’s Influence on Modern Thought'', p. 80, (July 2000, Scientific American) emphasis added.</ref>

</blockquote>

Mayr's statement does not define "evolution", but his point is valid.<ref>"Evolution" is in quotes because one of the problems faced in debating "evolution" is the lack of a precise definition. If "evolution" is used to mean "micro-evolution" (minor changes like finch beak variation observed within some species), then "evolution" is uncontroversial. However, if (as Mayr intends, but does not state) by "evolution" is meant "unguided, purposeless processes to produce new and beneficial changes in living systems", then Mayr is correct -- "evolution" is not experimentally confirmable, and, exactly like Intelligent Design, can only be inferred from observations.</ref> More objectively, his statement should be that origins (whether cosmological or biological) are due to a historical process that cannot be proven . . . but must be inferred from observations. Thus the methods used to discern the cause of historical events and processes differ from those of inductive, experimental science, and inferences based on observations should not be limited only to inferences of unintelligent causation. As with other historical sciences like archeology, historical geology, forensics and cryptanalysis, origins science asks different kinds of questions and uses different methods than do inductive sciences. The inductive sciences, on the one hand, ask questions about how the natural world generally operates based on direct experimental observation. The historical sciences, on the other hand, use abductive reasoning that asks how certain or probable observable phenomena came to be, the answer to which often cannot be discovered through direct observation. Dr. [[Stephen C. Meyer]] fully develops this line of thought.

The distinction between inductive and historical sciences is not an idea inspired by intelligent design theory. The '''[[National Academy of Sciences]]''' (NAS) makes the same distinction to defend "evolution" as science.<ref>As noted above, with respect to Mayr's statement, "evolution" is in quotes here again because the NAS fails to use the term with a precise meaning. If "evolution" is used to mean "micro-evolution" (the minor change like finch beak variation, usually inconsequential, but observed within some species), then of course "evolution" is scientific and verifiable by experimentation. However, if by "evolution" is meant "unguided, purposeless processes to produce new and beneficial changes in living systems", then "evolution" is not experimentally confirmable, as the NAS notes. However, as the NAS notes, such lack of being able to be experimentally confirmed does not remove a hypothesis from the realm of science (otherwise, as the NAS confirms, "evolution" would not be science).</ref> In its publication ''Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science'',<ref>''Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science'' Washington DC, National Academy Press, (1998), p. 55.</ref> the NAS responds to the question, "How can evolution be scientific when no one was there to see it happen?":

<blockquote>
This question reflects a narrow view of how science works. Things in science can be studied even if they cannot be directly observed or experimented on. Archaeologists study past cultures by examining the artifacts those cultures left behind. . . . Something that happened in the past is thus not "off limits" for scientific study. Hypotheses can be made about such phenomena, and these hypotheses can be tested and can lead to solid conclusions.<ref>http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98/evol5.html</ref>
</blockquote>

Intelligent design theorists agree; one must not take a “narrow view” of science, such that certain disciplines like archeology, the '''[[SETI]]''' project, forensics, and intelligent design are removed from the realm of science. Such disciplines propose hypotheses, and the testing of these hypotheses is often only effective by proposing competing hypotheses and objectively analyzing the evidence to determine which hypothesis correlates best with the evidence. As '''Carol Cleland''' elaborates in her paper entitled ''Historical Science, Experimental Science and the Scientific Method'', in actual practice historical researchers tend to search for “positive evidence—a smoking gun.” <ref>Carol Cleland, ''Historical Science, Experimental Science and the Scientific Method'' (Geology, November 2001, Vol. 29, No. 11), pp. 987-990.</ref> Ms. Cleland explores the necessary role of hypothesis testing for scientific disciplines not amenable to classical experimental testing. Hypothesis testing by formulating multiple competing hypotheses is essential in the context of historical sciences, such as cosmology, geology, and biogenesis. According to Cleland, “A smoking gun is a trace that picks out one of the competing hypotheses as providing a better causal explanation for the currently available traces than the other.” <ref>Carol Cleland, ''Historical Science, Experimental Science and the Scientific Method'' (Geology, November 2001, Vol. 29, No. 11) p. 988.</ref>

== Methods of Intelligent Design Detection ==

''See also:'' [[Irreducible complexity]] and [[Argument from beauty]]
[[File:Fire-investigator.jpg|275px|right|thumbnail|Design detection is used in a variety of [[science]]s including [[forensic]] science that investigates the cause of a death or fire.]]
Design detection asks whether an effect or pattern that arose unobserved in the past is due to intelligent or unintelligent material causes. Is the pattern or effect a design or just an occurrence?

Design detection is used in a variety of sciences including forensic science that investigates the cause of a death or fire. It is also used in archeology, anthropology, cryptanalysis, copyright infringement, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the search for function or purpose in genetic sequences. It is key to the current debate over the origin of the cosmos and life. Are these “effects” or patterns that arose long ago the product of an intelligent or material cause? Are the effects designs, i.e., the result of intelligent manipulation, or just occurrences?

The question of causation turns on whether the characteristics of a given pattern or effect are within the capacity of the cause to which it may be attributable. Do unintelligent material causes have the ability or capacity to account for the occurrence of a replicating cell? Does Darwinism's unintelligent material causes, consisting of random variation and natural selection, have the capacity to account for the diversity of life once it gets started? To start the analysis, one should first compare and contrast the capacities of intelligent causes and unintelligent material causes and the kinds of patterns those capacities produce.

===The Capacity of Unintelligent Material Causes ===
Unintelligent material causes consist simply of the interactions of the properties of matter, energy and the forces. These interactions are generally governed by the laws of chemistry and physics, such as the laws of motion and thermodynamics. These causes do not have the capacity to “know” the environment within which they exist and then seek to change it for a particular future purpose. In other words, as stated by evolutionary biologist '''Douglas J. Futuyma''', they lack forward looking "foreknowledge. . . only an intelligent mind, one with the capacity for forethought, can have purpose.”<ref>“Darwin's immeasurably important contribution to science was to show how mechanistic causes could also explain all biological phenomena, despite their apparent evidence of design and purpose. By coupling undirected, purposeless variation to the blind, uncaring process of natural selection, Darwin made theological or spiritual explanations of the life processes superfluous. ......Darwin undid the essentialism that Western philosophy had inherited from Plato and Aristotle, and put variation in its place. He helped to replace a static conception of the world with the vision of a world of ceaseless change. Above all, his theory of random, purposeless variation acted on by blind, purposeless natural selection provided a revolutionary new kind of answer to almost all questions that begin with "Why?" It cannot be sufficiently emphasized that before Darwin, both philosophers and people in general answered "Why?" questions by citing purpose. Only an intelligent mind, one with the capacity for forethought, can have purpose. Thus questions like "Why do plants have flowers?" or "Why are there apple trees?"? or plagues, or storms? were answered by imagining the possible purpose that God could have had in creating them.” Douglas J. Futuyma, '''Evolutionary Biology''', Third Edition,(Sinauer Associates, Inc. 1998) p. 5, 8.</ref>

Material causes are to nature as thoughts are to a dead man. The past, present and future is irrelevant to material causes for they can’t comprehend it. Unintelligent material causes are not merely blind watchmakers, they are mindless, purposeless, and meaningless. Lacking a mind, they lack the capacity to “make” anything. Unintelligent material causes can adequately account for physical systems like the occurrence of rocks, rivers, wind and rain. However, it is not clear how they account for time-dependent living systems or themselves.

The laws of motion explain that matter stays in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it. Thus, patterns produced by material causes reflect an intersection of forces which start or stop the motion of matter. An intervening warm spell that melted a glacier carrying rocks and boulders caused them to come to rest in an unsorted pattern as glacial till. Similarly, when the Mississippi River hits the Gulf of Mexico it drops a load that forms a fan-shaped delta.

The starting and stopping of matter may also be produced by interactions due to the properties of atoms, electrons and molecules. In a snowflake, the particular chemical properties of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms at a specific temperature and pressure, necessitate that they join together and stop in regular hexagonal lattices. Crystals of salt and other minerals “grow” through the stopping of atoms otherwise in motion until the source of new material is depleted or the conditions conducive to the growth change.

With this combination of law and chance, unintelligent material causes produce patterns both random and regular. Sand dunes and snowflakes exhibit regular and periodic patterns driven by constant forces. Random patterns also arise as systems are suddenly interrupted as in the case of an auto accident or a melting glacier that drops an unsorted load.

Although material causes can move matter uniformly and also start it and stop it suddenly, physical systems generally move from states of order to states of disorder per the second law of thermodynamics.

===The Capacity of Intelligent Causes===
Intelligent causes produced by minds are ubiquitous to the natural world. Humans have minds, as do birds and beavers. We are also finding that cellular systems appear to have a kind of internal intelligence. The immune system consists of cells that act as forward observers that look for foreign invaders. Those observers on the front line send messages to command central that develops weapons to be used to defend against the attack.

Intelligent causes differ from unintelligent material causes in that intelligent causes have minds hooked up to input and output devices that have the capacity to manipulate unintelligent material causes for a purpose. Intelligent causes perceive the present, store the perception in memory to build experience and then process the experience and knowledge to predict what will occur in the future. Intelligent causes have knowledge that can be processed by processors to generate “foreknowledge,” while unintelligent material causes have neither. Intelligent causes also have the capacity to choose to change the future so that a desired or intended goal or purpose is achieved and to generate outputs efficient to achieve the purpose. Intelligent causes use unintelligent material causes and the stuff unintelligent material causes produce to make a bird’s nest, a beaver’s dam or an aqueduct.

Patterns produced by a mind like the dam, nest or aqueduct often reflect millions of precise starting and stopping points not found in systems driven only by the uniform motion of regular natural forces, stopped only by accidental opposing forces. Patterns produced by intelligent causes integrate starts and stops for a purpose. The integration becomes clear when the pattern is both complex and useful. The integrated stopping points are evident in the case of the nest, dam and aqueduct. But for the stopping of matter at integrated precise points, the assembly would not function as a whole. This article reflects thousands of instances where matter has been started and then stopped – integrated - to produce precise, and hopefully understandable, meaning. Unlike patterns produced by the chemical and physical necessity of matter in uniform motion, designs consist of patterns of stopping points that are integrated for a particular purpose. Minds tie events together to for a purpose. Material causes do not. When the patterns are both complex and purposeful the inference to an intelligent cause is compelling.
[[Image:Saint Thomas Aquinas.jpg|right|thumbnail|175px|[[St. Thomas Aquinas]] ]]
In the 13th Century, the famous Christian Philosopher, [[Thomas Aquinas]], noted that systems which have a purpose either have a mind or are driven by one:

<blockquote>
"We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end....... Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer."<ref>St. Thomas Aquinas, '''The Summa Theologica''', (1265-1274).
</ref> </blockquote>

Thus design detection begins with a search for purpose. If a pattern exhibits an apparent purpose, the inquiry turns to whether the apparent purpose is just an illusion. Perhaps the pattern can be adequately explained by unintelligent material causes alone. If not, then logic suggests that mind may be the more adequate explanation for the pattern.

===Formal Design Detection Methodology===

Formal design detection is not often used. Design detection methodology is not often employed because the human mind has an inherent capacity to distinguish between patterns arranged by a mind for a purpose and those that have not. Scientists have found that minds engage in subconscious pattern matching, which is a means of intuitively distinguishing between designs and occurrences.

Formal analysis is employed when a dispute arises about the cause of a pattern. Examples include investigations of deaths and peculiar fires that look for signs of murder or arson. Archaeologists debate over whether a rock is a rock or an artifact. Astronomers analyze radio and light waves in search of messages from alien minds. So far all of the tests of extraterrestrial radio waves for intelligence have been negative. The cause of life and its diversity are major areas of dispute as much is at stake. Religious and other world views depend on the best explanation for those events.

====Formal Design Detection -- ''The Explanatory Filter''====
[[Image:Wm Dembski.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|Dr. [[William Dembski]] ]]
Dr. [[William Dembski]] is a leading intelligent design theorist, and has written several books on the subject, including ''Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science & Theology'',<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Design-Between-Science-Theology/dp/083082314X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-1803249-2067114?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194228951&sr=1-2</ref> and ''The Design Inference: Eliminating Chance through Small Probabilities (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory)''.<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Design-Inference-Eliminating-Probabilities-Probability/dp/0521678676/ref=sr_1_7/104-1803249-2067114?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194229141&sr=1-7</ref> Dr. Dembski has a Ph.D. in mathematics and philosophy, and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. One of Dembski's contributions to the intelligent design movement is to set forth one method of detecting design, a method he describes as the "[[explanatory filter]]".

Dembski describes his three-part '''explanatory filter''' together with an example of its use in a paper published at '''Access Research Network'''.<ref>http://www.arn.org</ref> In the paper, entitled ''The Explanatory Filter: A three-part filter for understanding how to separate and identify cause from intelligent design'',<ref>http://www.arn.org/docs/dembski/wd_explfilter.htm</ref>

Dembski found that all formal design detection methodologies can be reduced to three logical steps in what he refers to as an explanatory filter. The filter first asks whether a given pattern is best explained by some chemical or physical necessity or law? If not, can it be explained by chance. If chance and necessity can’t explain the pattern, does it exhibit a “specification” or apparent purpose? If a complex pattern reflecting the integration of numerous stopping points does exhibit purpose and can’t be explained by chance or necessity, then the scientific, logical inference to the best explanation is design.

===Informal Design Detection Methodology===
====Intuition, Common Sense and Confirmation====
An inference of design first springs from intuition – subconscious pattern-matching that alerts the mind to a pattern that reflects a purpose or pre-existing intention. We see knives in the back of dead man and intuitively start looking for a mind that arranged the event – a suspect. If the data are strong enough common sense causes us to follow up on that lead, not ignore it. Common sense reflects a judgment about the most prudent of a set of possible choices. If the evidence leads toward design, then common sense suggests an exploration of the lead in an effort to confirm or disconfirm it.

Therefore, at a basic level design detection is a matter of common sense, an intuitive determination we all make based on our everyday experiences with intelligently designed things. The intuitive, common sense approach is the primary method used by scientists such as archaeologists. No one expects an archaeologist to provide a rigorous "proof" that a pot or sculpture found in the ground is the result of an intelligent being. The archaeologist may not know who made the pot or why (and usually has no way to find out), but the fact of intelligent design is rarely in question. As in a similar concept of attaching intelligent agency to an event in law, we can rationally say ''res ipsa loquitur'', or "the thing speaks for itself". There is no principled reason to ignore the common sense approach when it comes to living biological systems. We may not know who made living systems or why, but the fact of intelligent design can be easily and intuitively grasped.
[[File:WilliamPaley3.jpg|thumb|230px|left|William Paley]]
Perhaps the best example of the common sense approach to design detection was that put forth by William Paley in his famous "watchmaker analogy". William Paley (July 1743 – May 25, 1805) was a British theologian and philosopher. He used the watchmaker analogy as an argument for the existence of God in his book ''Natural Theology''. Paley states his analogy:
<blockquote>
In crossing a heath, suppose I pitched my foot against a stone, and were asked how the stone came to be there; I might possibly answer, that, for anything I knew to the contrary, it had lain there forever: nor would it perhaps be very easy to show the absurdity of this answer. But suppose I had found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place; I should hardly think of the answer I had before given, that for anything I knew, the watch might have always been there... There must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers, who formed [the watch] for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who comprehended its construction, and designed its use... Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater or more, and that in a degree which exceeds all computation.

</blockquote>

Scientists who hold Darwinism dogmatically object to the common sense approach, not based on the fact of design, but on the metaphysical implications of considering true, intelligent design. Attempting to conflate the "what" of design with the "who" in biological systems is the tactic of those philosophically opposed to a supposed supernatural designer, i.e., those who fear a "divine foot in the door" of science. But such fear should not be tolerated by true scientists; design can be detected independent of any inquiry into the identity of the designer. Imagine archeology being rejected as science because there is absolutely no way to identify the designer of a clearly designed pot; such notions should be rejected by true scientists. Permitting the logical, common sense inference of intelligent design in the face of material evidence of design should be expected of honest scientists.

== Evidence for Intelligent Design in Nature ==

''See also:'' [[Irreducible complexity]] and [[Anthropic principle]]

[[Image:Phillip_johnson_arn.gif|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Phillip E. Johnson]], Jefferson E. Peyser Professor of Law, Emeritus]]
Virtually all scientists, including evolutionists,<ref>The term "evolutionist" is used in its "strong form" to describe those who hold and defend the position that all the variety of life is the result solely of naturalistic processes. Therefore, the term refers to those who rule out any intelligent causation for any aspect of life (if intelligence plays any role whatsoever, then whatever the theory, it is a form of intelligent design). While everyone is an "evolutionist" if "evolution" is defined in its weak form as simply "change over time" or "micro-evolution" such as finch beak variation, not everyone is an "evolutionist" if "evolution" is used, as herein, to mean "unguided, purposeless processes to produce new and beneficial changes in living systems". Evolutionists who oppose Intelligent Design believe that unintelligent processes of physics and chemistry can explain the creation of every novel and beneficial feature of the various species, including wings, eyes, and brains. Darwinism is the leading naturalistic evolutionary theory, holding that all life forms descended as modified forms of previous life forms in an unguided, unintelligent process, i.e., Darwin's "descent with modification".</ref> observe design in nature. Fossils exhibit design. Living body plans exhibit design. Micro-biological features such as DNA exhibit design. The evidentiary question is not a question of the '''''existence''''' of design in nature, but the '''''cause''''' of design in nature.

Only two causes are available to explain the design evident in nature: '''''unintelligent''''' causes and '''''intelligent causes'''''. '''Unintelligent causes''' include the natural actions of physics and chemistry, operating alone by natural laws in space and time. Unintelligent causes cannot produce true design, so Darwinists dismiss the evident design in nature as merely the "appearance" of design.

Intelligent design proponent [[Phillip E. Johnson]] illustrates the obstinancy of evolutionary scientists to recognize intelligent causation of design in nature when he wrote the following:
[[Image:Francis Crick.jpg|thumb|px130|left|[[Francis Crick]], co-discoverer of the structure of [[DNA]]]]
{{cquote|"One of the world's most famous scientists, probably the most famous living biologist, is Sir [[Francis Crick]], the British co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, a Nobel Prize winner...In his autobiography, Crick says very candidly biologists must remind themselves daily that what they study was not created, it evolved; it was not designed, it evolved. Why do they have to remind themselves of that? Because otherwise, the facts which are staring them in the face and trying to get their attention might break through. What we discovered when I developed a working group of scientists, philosophers, et al., in the United States was that living organisms look as if they were designed and they look that way because that is exactly what they are."<ref>http://www.ldolphin.org/ntcreation.html</ref>}}

'''Intelligent causes''' include the actions of an intelligent agent (which may be unknown, such as in anonymous works of art, or in archeological finds) manipulating physics and chemistry to create something that physics and chemistry alone cannot. Only intelligent causes can produce true design.

The question is not, therefore, "is there evidence of design in nature?" Rather, the scientific question is, "Based on the evidence of design observed in nature, what causes best explain design?" Framed this way, potential explanations, or theories, are not limited by a predetermined bias, such as only unintelligent causes (e.g., Darwinism) or only intelligent causes (e.g., creationism). The question simply asks, "in accordance with the scientific method, what causes can be logically inferred from the evidence?"

With the proper question in mind, it is easy to see that virtually all the evidence used to support Darwinism is equally evidence in support of Intelligent Design. '''Cosmological''' evidence for design is described at '''[[Evidence for intelligent design in cosmology]]''' section. '''Biological''' evidence for intelligent design includes '''''general evidence''''' and '''''special evidence''''', and both are discussed at '''[[General and Special Evidence for Intelligent Design in Biology]]'''. For all material evidence, the evidentiary value can be determined by use of the '''[[Evidence Filter]]'''.

=== Anthropic principle ===

''See also:'' [[Anthropic principle]]

There is a strong body of evidence for a Designer that comes from the fine-tuning of the universal constants and the solar system.<ref name="creation.com">[http://creation.com/the-universe-is-finely-tuned-for-life The universe is finely tuned for life] by Jonathan Sarfati</ref>

The anthropic principle states that the reason the constants of nature appear so finely tuned to life, is that if it were otherwise, life such as ourselves would not have developed. Hence we should not be surprised that the laws of physics are enable life such as ourselves to exist.

Former [[Atheism|atheist]] Sir [[Fred Hoyle]] states, "commonsense interpretation of the facts is that a super-intelligence has monkeyed with physics, as well as chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces in nature."<ref name="creation.com"/>

==Examples of Intelligent Design Theory Used in Science==
[[File:11943452 115b299206.jpg|thumbnail|275px|right|[[Forensic]] scientists use design detection when they consider observable evidence of an historic unrepeatable event such as a crime. ]]
Intelligent design detection is uncontroversial in many well-accepted scientific disciplines. In each of the scientific disciplines listed below, scientists evaluate the evidence objectively, that is, there is no pre-determined rule of interpretation that dictates that only ''unintelligent'' causes can be considered.

'''Forensic sciences''': [[Forensic]] scientists use design detection when they consider observable evidence of an historic unrepeatable event such as a crime. For example, a forensic investigator investigating a death uses scientific evidence to determine whether the death was caused by unintelligent causes (i.e., by accident), or by intelligent causes (i.e., murder).

'''Archeology''': Archaeologists are virtually dependent upon the science of design detection. Working with present-day evidence left from the past, archaeologists seek to determine whether artifacts were caused by unintelligent causes (i.e., clay) or intelligent causes (i.e., a clay pot).

'''Cryptanalysis''': Cryptanalysis is the scientific endeavor of code breaking. Code breakers examine the observable evidence of a string or pattern of characters to determine if it contains a message or if it is simply a string of random, meaningless characters.

'''Arson investigation''': Arson investigators observe evidence and attempt to explain the cause of a fire; was it caused by unintelligent causes (i.e., accidental ignition), or by intelligent causes (i.e., arson).

'''Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence''': The name says it all. These scientists are observing evidence in the form of radio signals to determine if the signals are the result of unintelligent causes (i.e., background radiation in space), or by intelligent causes (i.e., extraterrestrial intelligence).

Each of the above scientific disciplines utilize design detection to determine if the cause of observed evidence is due to unintelligent or intelligent agency. Usually, such as in the case of archaeologists observing clay pots, the detection and determination of design is intuitive and assumed without further justification. No rigorous analytical method is required of archaeologists to support a finding of design; nothing beyond the simple, rational recognition of what is consistent with the human experience of intelligent design is necessary.

== Intelligent design theorists and life on other planets ==

[[The Privileged Planet]] is an intelligent design theory documentary which argues that the earth contains a rare and finely-tuned array of factors which makes earth suitable for complex life.<ref>[http://www.privilegedplanet.com/ The Privileged Planet documentary website]</ref>

The proposal that first life came about through natural processes has not fared well in recent times. The prominent [[origin of life]] researcher [[Stanley Miller]] said the origin of life problem was more difficult than he or anyone else had imagined.<ref name="Why Abiogenesis is impossible">[http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/articles/36/36_4/abiogenesis.html Why Abiogenesis is impossible]</ref>

== Religious Implications of Origins Science ==
Any theory of origins unavoidably impacts religion.<ref>One should not make the mistake of equating "religion" with only traditional theistic religions like [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], or [[Islam]]. As used herein the term is used as defined in the Statement of Objectives Regarding Origins Science: Religion: A broad range of theistic and non-theistic religions and religious belief systems.</ref> As stated in Article II.C of the '''Statement of Objectives Regarding Origins Science''':<ref name="intelligentdesignnetwork.org">http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Statement_of_Objectives_Feb_12_07.pdf</ref>
<blockquote>
Implications of scientific explanations of origins unavoidably impact religion, ethics, morality, government and politics. The implications of materialistic explanations (such as Darwinism) of origins support the central tenets of non-theistic religions,<ref>Non-theistic religions are religions and belief systems that presuppose that no God intervenes in the natural world and that material causes, such as unguided evolutionary change, are adequate to explain natural phenomena. Non-theistic religions include [[atheism]], [[Secular Humanism]], and [[Scientism]], as well as some forms of [[Buddhism]] and other eastern religions. By way of example, the Humanist Manifesto I sets forth the first two "affirmations" of religious humanism as "FIRST: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created; and, SECOND: Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process." Thus, Darwinism supports the central tenets of a religious belief.</ref> while the implications of teleological<ref>Teleological: Exhibiting or relating to design or purpose, especially in nature. ''See'', Merriam-Webster Online</ref> explanations (such as Intelligent Design) support the central tenets of theistic religions. Both theistic and non-theistic religions and worldviews address questions of ethics, morality, government and politics.<ref>ibid, Article II.C</ref>
</blockquote>
[[Image:Atheism.jpg|thumb|right|195px|[[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of [[atheism]] in [[Europe]].]]
Therefore, it should not be surprising that most theists are sympathetic to intelligent design because the science of intelligent design supports the theology of theistic religions like [[Christianity]]. Likewise, it is not surprising that virtually all atheists are Darwinists because the science of Darwinism supports the theology of non-theistic religions such as religious humanism (having a theology of atheism). The simple fact is that worldviews and interpretations of evidence go hand in hand. If, for example, your world view prohibits explanations involving intelligent design, then you will reject intelligent design in spite of the evidence, not because of it.

For this reason, as stated in Article III.A. of the '''Statement of Objectives Regarding Origins Science''', if '''truth''' is the goal:
<blockquote>
Institutions of science should ignore religious and ethical implications of competing historical hypotheses and strive for '''objectivity'''<ref>Objective: Not influenced by personal bias or prejudice; based on facts. An objective position is one that is Secular, Neutral, and Non-ideological.</ref> in the conduct and teaching of origins science. Institutional objectivity may be achieved by encouraging healthy competition among scientists holding differing scientific views regarding origins, consistent with the scientific method.<ref>ibid, Article III.A</ref>
</blockquote>

This is because, as stated in Article II.B. of the '''Statement of Objectives Regarding Origins Science''':
<blockquote>
The adequacy of scientific explanations of origins depends on an analysis of competing possibilities. Origins explanations use a form of '''abductive'''<ref>Abduction, or abductive reasoning, is the process of reasoning to the best explanations. In other words, it is the reasoning process that starts from a set of facts and derives their most likely explanations. See, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abductive_reasoning</ref> reasoning that produces competing Historical Hypotheses, that lead to an inference to the best current explanation rather than to an explanation that is logically compelled by experimental confirmation. Due to inherent limitations on the experimental validation of historical hypotheses, testing requires rigorous competition between alternative hypotheses so that their relative strengths and plausibilities may be compared. While competition among multiple hypotheses decreases subjectivity, it may nevertheless result in no adequate current explanation.<ref>ibid, Article II.B</ref>
</blockquote>

==Objections to Intelligent Design==
===Creationist Objections to Intelligent Design===
Many Biblical creationists and other theists object to Intelligent Design as failing to identify the alleged designer and refusing to bring the Christian God and the Bible into the picture.<ref name="Whitcomb">Whitcomb, John C., Ph.D. (2006). [http://www.icr.org/article/history-impact-book-the-genesis-flood/ The History and Impact of the Book, "The Genesis Flood"]. ''ICR.org'' (from ''Acts & Facts. 35 (5)''). Retrieved October 26, 2016.</ref> This objection is expressed well by Georgia Purdom, Ph.D. of '''[[Answers in Genesis]]''' in an article entitled '''''Does the Identity of the Creator Really Matter?''''' Dr. Purdom sums up the major objection:

<blockquote>
However, the major problem with the ID movement is a divorce of the Creator from creation. The Creator and His creation cannot be separated; they reflect on each other.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n1/intelligent-design-movement</ref>
</blockquote>

The reader is encouraged to read Dr. Purdom's full article, as it fairly and thoroughly deals with the objection at hand. Building on the same thoughts, the Managing Director of [[Creation Ministries International]], Dr. [[Carl Wieland]], notes:

<blockquote>
The Intelligent Design Movement’s motivation appears to be the desire to challenge the blind acceptance of the materialistic, godless, naturalistic philosophy of Darwinian evolution. They confront many of the philosophical underpinnings of today’s evolutionary thinking. As a movement, they are unwilling to align themselves with biblical creationism.<ref name="CMI IDM">[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/2560 CMI’s views on the Intelligent Design Movement]</ref>
</blockquote>

Referring to Intelligent Design as the Intelligent Design Movement (IDM), Weiland pinpoints the specific objection as:
<blockquote>
The IDM’s refusal to identify the Designer with the Biblical God, and in particular with the history in the Bible, means that:
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Acceptance of ID thinking en masse could just as easily lead to New-Age or Hindu-like notions of creation, as well as weird alien sci-fi notions.<ref>See the 2004 book by CMI speaker Gary Bates: Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection. [footnote in original]</ref> In such instances, a Christian might well see that the metaphorical exorcism of one socio-philosophical demon would have achieved merely its replacement by others, possibly worse.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
There is no philosophical answer to their opponents’ logically-deduced charge that the Designer was monstrous and/or inept (‘look at all the horrible, cruel, even defective things in the living world’), since bringing up the Fall is deliberately, tactically excluded. (However, the Fall was a major event in history, that changed everything. The world we are looking at now is a world that has been corrupted by sin, not the original world that God designed). Thus, the movement’s success could very likely even be counterproductive, by laying the Biblical God open to ridicule and contempt in new ways.<ref name="CMI IDM" />
</blockquote>

In addition to the fair criticisms listed above, biblical creationists also criticize the intelligent design theory for continuing to accept long ages and the theory of evolution along with the existence of some designer.<ref name="PurdomChapter13">Purdom, Georgia, Dr. (May 6, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/intelligent-design/is-the-intelligent-design-movement-christian/ Chapter 13 - Is the Intelligent Design Movement Christian?]. ''Answers in Genesis'' (from ''The New Answers Book 2''). Retrieved October 25, 2016.</ref>

====Response to Creationist Objections====
[[Image:Carl wieland.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Dr. [[Carl Wieland]] ]]
Intelligent design theorists appreciate the criticisms of creationists such as Purdom and Wieland, and, in fact, most intelligent design theorists are creationists themselves. And while most intelligent design theorists would agree with Dr. Purdom that the Creator and his creation "reflect on each other," they would disagree that "the Creator and His creation cannot be separated." The "separation" is epistemological, that is, there is a distinction between ''how'' one can know anything about the creation versus the creator. Just as a painter can be separated from a painting, so that the painting is labelled "anonymous", and just as an archaeologist can infer a designer of a clay pot without knowing the designer's actual identity, the ''fact'' of a creator in nature can be determined scientifically, but the ''specific'' creator cannot.

Intelligent design theorists recognize that the scientific method places limits as to the kind of knowledge that can be determined scientifically. Intelligent design theorists hold that intelligent design is a logical inference based on observation of material evidence in nature. That is, intelligent design can be determined as a matter of science alone in full accord with the scientific method. But science can say little about who the designer is.

The intelligent design position is expressed well in an article by Casey Luskin entitled '''''Principled (not Rhetorical) Reasons Why Intelligent Design Doesn’t Identify the Designer'''''. Luskin states, referring to a law review article he co-authored:

<blockquote>
David DeWolf, John West and I also address this issue in our recent Montana Law Review article:
It is important to stress that the refusal of ID proponents to draw scientific conclusions about the nature or identity of the designer is principled rather than merely rhetorical. ID is primarily a historical science, meaning it uses principles of uniformitarianism to study present-day causes and then applies them to the historical record in order to infer the best explanation for the origin of the natural phenomena being studied. ID starts with observations from “uniform sensory experience” showing the effects of intelligence in the natural world. As Pandas explains, scientists have uniform sensory experience with intelligent causes (i.e. humans), thus making intelligence an appropriate explanatory cause within historical scientific fields. However, the “supernatural” cannot be observed, and thus historical scientists applying uniformitarian reasoning cannot appeal to the supernatural. If the intelligence responsible for life was supernatural, science could only infer the prior action of intelligence, but could not determine whether the intelligence was supernatural.<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=4306, citing David K. DeWolf, John G. West, and Casey Luskin, “Intelligent Design Will Survive Kitzmiller v. Dover,” 68 Montana Law Review 7, 30 (Spring, 2007) (internal citations removed).</ref>

</blockquote>
Further, it appears that Dr. Weiland's concern that "[a]cceptance of ID thinking en masse could just as easily lead to New-Age or Hindu-like notions of creation, as well as weird alien sci-fi notions" is unfounded. Certainly some who are honestly convinced of true intelligent design might entertain "sci-fi notions," but the evidence supports the opposite—i.e., those convinced of design are more likely to entertain thoughts of a supernatural God. Like Aristotle of ancient Greece, those who reasonably and honestly are convinced of true design in nature are more likely to follow the pattern Dr. Pordum highlighted from Romans 1:18-20. That is, the creation speaks to a supernatural, infinite, eternal creator.

Take the example of former atheist Anthony Flew, as discussed by intelligent design theorist Phillip E. Johnson, in an article entitled '''''Intelligent Design in Biology: the Current Situation and Future Prospects'''''. First Johnson reiterates:

<blockquote>
The goal of the Intelligent Design Movement is to achieve an open philosophy of science that permits consideration of any explanations toward which the evidence may be pointing.<ref name="discovery.org">http://www.discovery.org/a/3914</ref>
</blockquote>

However, Johnson notes with respect to the practical effects of such an open philosophy:

<blockquote>
One early sign of the way the world is headed came in December 2004, when there was much comment in newspapers and internet discussion groups about famed atheist philosopher Anthony Flew. Flew had just announced that he had converted to philosophical theism (though not to Christianity or any other specific religion, at least as yet), on the basis of scientific discoveries and related reasoning, which had convinced him that there is an intelligent designer of the natural universe. Flew seems to have investigated the phenomenon of design in the natural world for reasons similar to my own. He wanted to decide for himself whether evidence and logic point in the direction of a creating intelligence, or whether God is nothing more than a subjective idea created by human imagination. Perhaps these questions about the reality of god are religious in nature, but they are important questions that deserve to be investigated dispassionately instead of being barred from consideration because powerful groups define “science” as committed a priori to naturalism.
</blockquote>

<blockquote>

Although as yet Flew does not adhere to Christianity or any other creedal faith, he has taken a giant step in that direction. In an article in the London Independent for December 27, 2004, an Oxford University theologian wrote: “What kind of God could it [i.e. Flew’s designer] refer to? One who created the universe–elementary particles, strong and weak forces, atoms and molecules, yet, for example, has no relation to the emergence of a clever humanity? Or could it be a God who was intelligent enough to create galaxies, and amazingly intricate systems like DNA, yet not intelligent enough to communicate with humankind? Although Flew does not believe in revelation, and may not feel that the Book of Genesis provides a useful account of creation, he does not seem to have quite this kind of minimalist God in mind either. In fact when pressed as to whether his ‘First Cause’ embraced omniscience, Flew admits that a First Cause, if there is one, has clearly produced everything that is going on, and this implies creation ‘in the beginning.’”<ref name="discovery.org"/>

</blockquote>

Intelligent design theorists leave the identity of the designer open as a matter of scientific discipline. Even though everyone, including creationists must rely on special revelation (i.e., the Bible) to know specifics about the designer, everyone can know the fact of design based on general revelation (i.e., nature).

===Methodological Naturalist Objections to Intelligent Design===
Many scientists object to intelligent design on the basis that intelligent design "is not science."

The validity of this objection depends on what is meant by the terms "intelligent design" and "science". If "science" is defined objectively (as in Websters dictionary: 3 a: knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method b: such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena.<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/science</ref>) and "intelligent design" is defined as in this article, then intelligent design is clearly, without question "science", and the objection of methodological naturalists is overcome.

The term "methodological naturalism" describes a form of science in which science is assumed to be necessarily practiced as if naturalism were itself true (see also [[scientific materialism]]). Of course, "naturalism", which is a philosophy that holds there is no immaterial substance in the universe, i.e., all is matter alone, is an assumption-based philosophy. "Naturalism", like "materialism" as a philosophy holds that there is no supernatural in the universe, no spirit, no soul, and, of course, no God.

Methodological naturalists are scientists that, while perhaps not themselves being full-fledged naturalists (although growing numbers are), insist that science be practiced as if naturalism were true. If this method of practicing science is adhered to, then intelligent design cannot be science, because intelligent design posits the possibility of a ''supernatural'' designer.

One way to illustrate the objection is this: Consider two definitions of science:

<blockquote>
1. Science is the activity of seeking explanations for natural phenomena.

</blockquote>
<blockquote>
2. Science is the activity of seeking only natural (i.e., unintelligent) causes as explanations for natural phenomena.

</blockquote>
The first definition above is an objective, bias-free definition, for which intelligent design qualifies as science. However, the second definition above is one in which the objective definition has been qualified by the term "natural", which assumes there ''are'' natural, i.e., unintelligent, causes for natural phenomena.

The second definition is the definition that methodological naturalists insist be adopted as ''the'' definition for science. However, the "natural causes alone" criteria for gaining scientific knowledges is based upon an assumption that there ''is'' a natural cause for all natural phenomena. If intelligent design is true, scientists operating by the second definition above will never be able to come to the truth. The insistence on only "natural causes" imports a philosophical bias into the objective definition, which is then defended based not on '''''knowledge''''', but an '''''assumption'''''. Therefore, methodological naturalists "define out" of science intelligent design based on a philosophical assumption.

====Response to Naturalist Objection====

The simple response to methodological naturalism, which is the only principled basis for excluding intelligent design from science, is that methodological naturalism improperly and unnecessarily restricts the realm of science.

By any objective definition of science, including dictionary definitions, intelligent design is science. But the controversy begs a larger question. Historically, the practice of science can be considered in two broad categories.
[[Image:Francis_Bacon.jpg|thumbnail|150px|[[Francis Bacon]]]]
First there is the inductive method espoused by [[Francis Bacon]]. Bacon pioneered the modern notion that science should let "evidence lead the inquiry" and "general axioms ought to be the end, not the beginning, of the scientific process."<ref>See, Cornelius G. Hunter, ''Science's Blind Spot, the Unseen Religion of Scientific Naturalism, (Brazos Press, 2007), p. 15.</ref> Bacon specifically formulated his scientific method to ensure that religious speculation (including speculation about naturalism) was excluded from the scientific process. Thus, Bacon's scientific method proceeded based on observations of nature, and logical inferences derived from those observations.

Second, there is the deductive method espoused by René Descartes. Descartes argued that science needed mechanical, or naturalistic, descriptions that could explain, rather than merely label, the effects.<ref>See, Hunter, p. 17.</ref> According to Cornelius Hunter, in his book ''Science's Blind Spot, the Unseen Religion of Scientific Naturalism,'' Descartes proposed a method of science in which "What science needed were naturalistic descriptions, even if they were not known to be true explanations. Thus, Cartesian explanations were hypothetical; Descartes argued that having a plausible yet incorrect description was better than no description at all."

Therefore, whether or not intelligent design is "science" depends on what approach one takes to science. If one takes the Baconian approach, letting the evidence lead the inquiry without presuppositions, intelligent design is science. Moreover, if one takes the Cartesian approach, intelligent design of biological systems can still be science; it depends on what hypothetical constraints are put upon scientific inquiry. Methodological naturalists place the "natural causes only" constraint on all scientific inquiry, and, therefore, define out of science the notion of any non-natural designer.

Intelligent design theorists maintain that the "natural causes only" constraint might be correct for operational science, but for historical sciences in which one is attempting to reconstruct a historical narrative based on present-day evidence, such a constraint does not make sense. For one thing, intelligent design theorists maintain that there is a difference between inductive and/or deductive sciences (each of which can be used in experimental sciences), and the "historical sciences". Intelligent design is scientific in both inductive and historical sciences (and deductive, without limiting biases), but can have its greatest value as a historical science.

The broad categories of "experimental sciences" and "historical sciences" ask different kinds of questions and use different kinds of methods. The inductive sciences, on the one hand, ask questions about how the natural world generally operates. The historical sciences, on the other hand, ask different kinds of questions. Rather than trying to understand how the natural world operates, the historical sciences seek to understand how things came to be. Dr. Stephen C. Meyer develops this line of thought fully in an article entitled ''Science and the Laws of Nature''.

The distinction between experimental and historical sciences is not an ID-inspired idea. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) makes the same distinction to defend the historical nature of evolution. In its publication ''Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science'', the NAS responds to the question, "How can evolution be scientific when no one was there to see it happen?":

<blockquote>
This question reflects a narrow view of how science works. Things in science can be studied even if they cannot be directly observed or experimented on. Archaeologists study past cultures by examining the artifacts those cultures left behind. . . . Something that happened in the past is thus not "off limits" for scientific study. Hypotheses can be made about such phenomena, and these hypotheses can be tested and can lead to solid conclusions.<ref>''Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science'' (Washington DC, National Academy Press, 1998), p. 55</ref>
</blockquote>

With respect to hypothesis testing, see, Carol Cleland, '''''Historical Science, Experimental Science and the Scientific Method''''', (''Geology'', November 2001, Vol. 29, No. 11, 987-990).

The fact is that historical sciences operate by different methods, including different methods of testing, than do experimental sciences. Historical sciences attempt to construct a historical narrative to explain current observed phenomena. The only way to "test" historical narratives is by comparing with competing historical narratives to see which one more closely aligns with the observed phenomena.

Intelligent design, therefore, is not only science, but as a competing historical narrative, it is a valuable scientific challenge to the naturalistic historical narrative of Darwinism. Without it, Darwinism ceases being science, and becomes an unchallengeable dogma.

== History of Intelligent Design ==
[[File:Aristotle.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Aristotle]] ]]
In many respects the history of intelligent design corresponds to the history of science in general; since the days of [[Aristotle]] most scientists have assumed design based on the clear evidence at hand. Moreover, the history of the modern intelligent design movement must be seen in the context of the ages-old tension between materialistic science and non-materialistic science. For a timeline directed specifically to the history of intelligent design and the creation - evolution controversy, see the '''IDEA Center's''' ''"Primer: History of intelligent design and the creation - evolution controversy".'' <ref>http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1119</ref>

Plato and Aristotle both argued that nature is ''teleological'', a term that comes from the Greek ''telos'' meaning "directed by goal or purpose". In other words, the evidence of nature leads logically to the idea that behind the purely natural is some kind of rational, non-natural order, something Plato referred to as "Form" and which Aristotle referred to as "Idea". Both were led to their conclusions by the commonsense notion that if the world really did consist of chance configurations of atoms, then knowledge would be impossible. (See Nancy Pearcey, ''Total Truth'', Appendix 3, p. 390.)<ref>Nancy R. Pearcey, ''Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity'' (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004)(http://www.amazon.com/Total-Truth-Liberating-Christianity-Captivity/dp/1581347464/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195005366&sr=1-1)</ref>

[[Image:Pearcey.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Nancy Pearcey]]
Modern intelligent design theory is simply a response to the resurgence of dominant materialistic thought, primarily as expressed by institutions of science such as universities and various academies of science. As '''Nancy Pearcey''' states: "By tracing the debate over Darwinism all the way back to [[Epicurus]] (a Greek materialist) we can place the theory in a much larger context. Darwinism was not entirely new, invented out of whole cloth." Likewise, the modern intelligent design movement can be placed in a larger context as a challenge to modern materialistic thought as enforced in modern science.

For more indepth study of the history of intelligent design, see '''William Dembski's''' work entitled ''Intelligent Design''.<ref>http://www.designinference.com/documents/2003.08.Encyc_of_Relig.htm</ref> In particular, Dembski's bibliography and comments are reproduced here:

Bibliography
<blockquote>

Beckwith, Francis J. Law, Darwinism, and Public Education: The Establishment Clause and the Challenge of Intelligent Design. Lanham, Md., 2003. 

Behe, Michael J. Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. New York, 1996. 

Dawkins, Richard. The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe without Design. New York, 1986. 

Dembski, William A. No Free Lunch: Why Specified Complexity Cannot Be Purchased without Intelligence. Lanham, Md., 2002. 

Forrest, Barbara. “The Wedge at Work: How Intelligent Design Creationism Is Wedging Its Way into the Cultural and Academic Mainstream.” In Intelligent Design Creationism and Its Critics: Philosophical, Theological, and Scientific Perspectives, edited by Robert T. Pennock, pp. 5–53, Cambridge, Mass., 2001. 

Giberson, Karl W. and Donald A. Yerxa. Species of Origins: America’s Search for a Creation Story. Lanham, Md., 2002. 

Hunter, Cornelius G. Darwin’s God: Evolution and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids, Mich., 2002. 

Manson, Neil A., ed. God and Design: The Teleological Argument and Modern Science. London, 2003. 

Miller, Kenneth R. Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution. San Francisco, 1999. 

Rea, Michael C. World without Design: The Ontological Consequences of Naturalism. Oxford, 2002. 

Witham, Larry. By Design: Science and the Search for God. San Francisco, 2003. 

Woodward, Thomas. Doubts about Darwin: A History of Intelligent Design. Grand Rapids, Mich., 2003. 
</blockquote>

Bibliographic Essay

<blockquote>[[Larry Witham]] provides the best overview of intelligent design, even-handedly treating its scientific, cultural, and religious dimensions. As a journalist, Witham has personally interviewed all the main players in the debate over intelligent design and allows them to tell their story. For intelligent design’s place in the science and religion dialogue, see Giberson and Yerxa. For histories of the intelligent design movement, see Woodward (a supporter) and Forrest (a critic). See Behe and Dembski to overview intelligent design’s scientific research program. For a critique of that program, see Miller. For an impassioned defense of Darwinism against any form of teleology or design, see Dawkins. Manson’s anthology situates intelligent design within broader discussions about teleology. Rea probes intelligent design’s metaphysical underpinnings. Hunter provides an interesting analysis of how intelligent design and Darwinism play off the problem of evil. Beckwith examines whether intelligent design is inherently religious and thus, on account of church-state separation, must be barred from public school science curricula.

</blockquote>

== Global intelligence design movement ==

''See also:'' [[Global intelligent design movement]]

''Evolution News and Views'' reported concerning the intelligent design movement:
{{cquote|Along with the absurd stereotype that support for ID is limited to right-wing fundamentalist Christians … there’s also the Darwinist agitprop point that advocates of the theory are rare outside the United States. Hardly! An unacknowledged strength of the ID movement is its international character.

Asia is an up-and-coming ID hot spot, as ENV has reported. See here for Signature in the Cell and Explore Evolution [links omitted for Discoveroid books] in their recent and handsome Korean editions.

Europe and Asia aside, how about Brazil? From South America’s most populous nation, accounting for half the continent’s total population, comes news of the First Brazilian Intelligent Design Congress, scheduled for November 14–16 this year at [details of the event].<ref>[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2014/10/intelligent_des_20090211.html Intelligent Design's Secret Weapon: The World] by David Klinghoffer October 3, 2014 11:53 AM</ref>}}

==Resources==
=== Quick Start ===
For a quick, concise overview of what intelligent design is all about, link to the following relatively short articles:

'''''Intelligent Design: The Scientific Alternative to Evolution'''''.<ref>http://idnetohio.cinti.net/media/NCBQ3_3HarrisCalvert.pdf</ref> Written by William S. Harris and John H. Calvert (of '''Intelligent Design Network, Inc.'''),<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/</ref> this article is a one-stop mini-compendium on what intelligent design is, what it claims, and why it's important.

'''''The Evolution Controversy: Understanding the Basic Issues in the Debate Between Biological Evolution and Intelligent Design'''''. By Jody F. Sjogren, Robert P. Lattimer, and Douglas D. Rudy, and presented by Science Excellence for all Ohioans (SEAO).<ref>http://www.sciohio.org/start.htm</ref> Read and understand this and you will, as the title says, understand the basic issues.

'''''Intelligent Design: The Origin of Biological Information and the Higher Taxonomic Categories.'''''<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&program=CSC - Scientific Research and Scholarship - Science - MainPage&id=2177</ref> By Stephen C. Meyer of the Center for Science & Culture,<ref name="http://www.discovery.org/csc">http://www.discovery.org/csc/</ref> this article first appeared in the peer reviewed Proceeding of the Biological Society of Washington, August 20, 2005. Dr. Meyer argues that no current materialistic theory of evolution can account for the origin of the information necessary to build novel animal forms. He proposes intelligent design as an alternative explanation for the origin of biological information and the higher taxa.

===Web Based Resources===
====The Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture====
'''The Center for Science and Culture'''<ref name="http://www.discovery.org/csc"/> is a '''[[Discovery Institute]]''' program that encourages schools to improve science education by teaching students more fully about the theory of evolution, as well as supporting the work of scholars who challenge various aspects of neo-Darwinian theory and scholars who are working on the scientific theory known as intelligent design.

In addition to scientific research and scholarship, the Center's '''Evolution News and Views''' blog<ref>http://www.evolutionnews.org/</ref> presents analysis of that relevant news coverage, as well as original reporting that accurately delivers information about the current state of the debate over Darwinian evolution.

A related website, '''intelligentdesign.org'''<ref>http://www.intelligentdesign.org/</ref> provides up-to-date information and learning resources.

====Access Research Network====
The '''[[Access Research Network]] (ARN)'''<ref name="arn.org">http://www.arn.org/</ref> is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing accessible information on science, technology and society.

'''ARN's''' articles and publications cover a host of issues which focus on such topics as intelligent design theory, genetic engineering, euthanasia, computer technology, environmental issues, creation/evolution, fetal tissue research and medical issues. ARN provides information needed to orient one's self in today's scientific and technological world in order to make informed decisions.

====The Intelligent Design Network====
'''Intelligent Design Network, Inc.'''<ref name="ReferenceA"/> is a nonprofit organization that seeks institutional objectivity in origins science. Objectivity results from the use of the [[scientific method]] without philosophic or religious assumptions in seeking answers to the question: Where do we come from?

The Intelligent Design Network produced a Statement of Objectives <ref name="intelligentdesignnetwork.org"/> regarding origins science. The Statement acknowledges that explanations of the origin of the universe and of life and its diversity are scientifically controversial. Further, due to its controversial nature, Origins Science requires a scientific enterprise guided by '''scientific objectivity'' rather than a preconceived view of origins, whether Materialistic (e.g., Darwinism) or Teleological (e.g., creationism). For this reason, according to the Statement, government and public education institutions supporting Origins Science should strive for objectivity as they inform the public about the state of our scientific knowledge regarding origins.

====The Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Center====

The '''Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Center'''<ref>http://www.ideacenter.org/</ref> is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting intelligent design theory and fostering good - spirited discussion and a better understanding over intelligent design theory and the creation - evolution issue among students, educators, churches, and anyone else interested. The Center's primary focus is to help students form "IDEA Clubs" on university and high school campuses.

====ID the Future====
Intelligent Design's "Super Blog", '''ID the Future'''<ref>http://www.idthefuture.com/</ref> offers podcasts as part of its mission of exploring the issues central to evolution and intelligent design (ID). IDTF provides listeners with the most current news and views on evolution and ID through brief interviews with key scientists and scholars developing the theory of ID, as well as insightful commentary from '''Discovery Institute''' senior fellows and staff on the scientific, educational and legal aspects of the debate.

====Uncommon Descent====
The intelligent design weblog of [[William Dembski]], Denyse O'Leary, and friends, '''Uncommon Descent'''<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/</ref> holds that...
Materialistic ideology has subverted the study of biological and cosmological origins so that the actual content of these sciences has become corrupted. The problem, therefore, is not merely that science is being used illegitimately to promote a materialistic worldview, but that this worldview is actively undermining scientific inquiry, leading to incorrect and unsupported conclusions about biological and cosmological origins. At the same time, intelligent design (ID) offers a promising scientific alternative to materialistic theories of biological and cosmological evolution—an alternative that is finding increasing theoretical and empirical support. Hence, ID needs to be vigorously developed as a scientific, intellectual, and cultural project.

====The Post-Darwinist====
Toronto-based '''Denyse O'Leary's''' blog,<ref>http://post-darwinist.blogspot.com/</ref> covering the intelligent design movement from a journalist/author's perspective.

===Books, Tapes, DVD's===

====Discovery Institute====
The '''Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture''' "Essential Readings" list<ref>http://www.discovery.org/csc/essentialReadings.php</ref> includes links to books and articles by leading intelligent design proponents.

====Access Research Network====
Books available from '''Access Research Network's'''<ref name="arn.org"/> book catalog<ref name="astore.amazon.com">http://astore.amazon.com/a0ed97-20</ref> and videos/tapes (including DVD's)<ref name="astore.amazon.com"/><ref>[http://www.arn.org/origins-101.html ARN Videos]</ref> include the latest information on the subject of intelligent design.

==See also==

*[[Intelligent design movement]]
*[[Atheism and reason]]
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
*[[Creation Science]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.intelligentdesign.org/ IntelligentDesign.org]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Intelligent Design| ]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Politics]]

Donald Trump

2017-02-24T02:46:51Z

Ambassador:

{{Officeholder
|name=Donald J. Trump
|image=Donald Trump official photo.jpg
|party=[[Republican]] (formerly [[Democrat]] and [[Reform Party|Reform]])
|spouse=[[Melania Trump]]
|religion=Presbyterian
|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=45th
|terms=January 20, 2017-Present
|vp=[[Mike Pence]]
|preceded=[[Barack Obama]]
|former=n
}}
}}
:''For his achievements as President-elect and President, see [[Donald Trump achievements]].''
:''100 groups have signed [http://www.pseagles.com/Coalition_letter_Supreme_Court this coalition letter] re: Trump's [[Trump Supreme Court|nomination to the Supreme Court]].''
'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nicknamed "The Donald," is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He is the legitimately-elected and fully-qualified president of the United States as a result of winning the [[2016 presidential election]] as the [[Republican]] nominee.

==Financial worth & education==
Trump has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimated that his net worth was $10 billion, as of July 2015.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> Forbes, however, estimates his net worth is $3.7 billion as of November 2016.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/ Profile: Donald Trump] Forbes.com, Nov. 2016</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and completing his undergraduate studies at its Wharton School of Finance and Commerce.

Early media profiles of Trump claim he graduated "first in his class" from Wharton.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/28/archives/a-builder-looks-backand-moves-forward-builder-looks-back-but-moves.html A Builder Looks Back - And Moves Forward] New York Times - Jan. 28, 1973</ref> The evidence suggests otherwise and yet Trump has never sought to correct or clarify this potentially significant error.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/08/magazine/the-expanding-empire-of-donald-trump.html THE EXPANDING EMPIRE OF DONALD TRUMP] New York Times Magazine - April 8, 1984</ref>

==Candidacy==
On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics. The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate. Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.</ref> Unlike most other U.S presidential candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. For example, Trump stands up against [[feminists]], unlike most politicians. In another example, in 2011 Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], which caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

'''''In February 2011, Trump announced that he is [[pro-life]], and at the final presidential debate on Oct. 19, 2016, Trump gave the strongest endorsement of the pro-life position of any presidential nominee in history'''''.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]] and [[free trade]], and nominated Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as [[Attorney General]] to enforce standing legislation on the issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> In the later campaign Trump focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

At the final presidential debate between [[Hillary Clinton]] and Trump on October 19, 2016, Clinton chastised Trump for running a newspaper advertisement in 1987 critical of the [[Reagan Administration]]. But Trump persuasively explained that he has always disagreed with Reagan's support of free trade, as many other [[conservatives]] disagree with Reagan on this issue.

==Religious beliefs==
:''Main article: [[Donald Trump's religious views]]
Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref> When pressed to name his favorite Bible verse, however, he opted for "an eye for an eye" ([[Exodus 21-26 (Translated)#Chapter 21|Exodus 21:24]]), one of the few Mosaic Law verses specifically repudiated by [[Jesus]] in the [[Sermon on the Mount]].<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/eye-for-an-eye-turn-the-other-cheek-donald-trump-favorite-verse-bible-evangelical-theologians-162076/ 'Eye For an Eye' or 'Turn the Other Cheek'? Donald Trump's Favorite Verse Shows His Ignorance About the Bible, Evangelical Theologians Say] Christian Post</ref> Trump stated several times during his presidential campaign in 2015 and 2016 that he has not asked God for forgiveness and that he does not need His forgiveness, showing that when Trump made those statements, he was not saved.<ref>Gass, Nick (June 8, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/trump-forgiveness-god-224068 Trump: I hope I don't have to ask 'for much forgiveness' from God]. ''Politico''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref><ref>Scott, Eugene (July 18, 2015). [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/trump-has-never-sought-forgiveness/ Trump believes in God, but hasn't sought forgiveness]. ''CNN''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref><ref>Tani, Maxwell (January 17, 2016). [http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-on-god-i-dont-like-to-have-to-ask-for-forgiveness-2016-1 Trump on God: 'I don't like to have to ask for forgiveness']. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Trump business.jpg|right]]
Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Park Avenue

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump used to own the un-Christian Miss Universe Pageant, which objectified the female body and promoted lust and infidelity. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has made many guest appearances, usually as himself, on many TV shows and in several movies.

Childish [[liberals]] are vandalizing Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame three times a day. A person asked about the vandalism said Trump has it coming.<ref>[http://video.breitbart.com/?ndn.trackingGroup=90085&ndn.siteSection=breitbart2slider_nws_us_sec&ndn.videoId=30599129&freewheel=90085&sitesection=breitbart2slider_nws_us_sec&vid=30599129 Trump Walk of Fame Star vandalized daily]</ref>

==Political positions==

====Social Issues====
At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref> Trump would not fund Planned Parenthood and the government should not give funds to any organizations that perform abortions<ref>http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/may/01/ted-cruz/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-planned-parenthood/</ref> However, he supports abortion in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother or child.<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2016/02/01/mike-huckabee-defends-donald-trumps-abortion-conversion-he-is-pro-life-now/</ref>

Trump says that the legalization of [[same-sex "marriage"]] doesn't matter because it's "settled law" now,<ref>http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_We/#Item3</ref> even though five liberal members of the Supreme Court illegally made ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]'' into "law" via [[judicial activism]] based on their personal feelings about the issue. Trump believes that homosexual couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/08/10/how-donald-trump-is-slowly-teaching-republicans-to-embrace-gay-rights/</ref> Despite what the Left claims, Donald Trump has voiced open support the LGBTQ community, and was the first Republican President to do so.{{cn}} He has stated that he will do everything he can do to protect the LGBTQ community, from Islamic extremists.

Trump says that a business should be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?<ref name="christiantoday.com">http://www.christiantoday.com/article/donald.trump.vows.to.be.the.greatest.representative.of.christians.if.he.wins.white.house/55023.htm</ref> Trump would not require health insurance providers to offer free birth control.<ref>http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-02-11/obama-birth-control-cpac/53046728/1</ref>

Trump doesn't think that universities should provide “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces” for students.<ref>http://redalertpolitics.com/2016/11/10/safe-spaces-handed-election-donald-trump/</ref>

Trump believes that marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/28/politics/donald-trump-adviser-michael-cohen-rape/</ref>

Trump would not add "Gender Identity" to anti-discrimination laws.<ref>http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/5/24/donald-trump-claims-accommodating-transgender-people-too-expensive</ref>

Trump wouldn't support a [[separation of church and state]] by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments.<ref name="christiantoday.com"/>

Trump says that after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice, terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via [[assisted suicide]].<ref>http://wingspanonline.net/?p=2398</ref>

Trump supports the [[death penalty]].<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/01/nyregion/angered-by-attack-trump-urges-return-of-the-death-penalty.html</ref>

Trump thinks that the military should allow women to serve as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/donald-trump-women-combat-tricky/2015/12/06/id/704736/</ref> (Compare [[gender norming]].)

Trump says that board members of a business should be the most qualified regardless of gender.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3269718/Trump-gives-young-feminist-brush-equal-pay-abortion-going-make-good-job-happen-pro-life.html</ref>

Trump does not believe that the government can show a confederate flag on public property.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-tees-off-on-the-confederate-flag/</ref>

Trump believes that women should be allowed to wear a Niqāb, or face veil, to civic ceremonies.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFVCZhFsNR8</ref>

====Healthcare Issues====
Trump does not support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and would open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and reduce costs.<ref name="donaldjtrump.com">https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform</ref><ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, he has also said, "I like the mandate."<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref>

Trump thinks that the government should regulate the prices of life-saving drugs.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-backs-
medicare-negotiating-drug-prices-218215</ref>

Trump supports the legalization of marijuana for medical use.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2015/06/18/exclusive-donald-trump-on-what-made-him-run-for-president-on-hannity/</ref>

''Donald Trump has not yet answered if he supports the privatization of veteran's healthcare.''

Trump believes that the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid).<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-09-15/trump-calls-for-expanded-medicaid-birth-control-without-doctor</ref>

====Controversy with Barack Obama====
[[File:Donald Trump Speaking in Fountain Hills.jpg|thumb|Trump speaking in Fountain Hills, Arizona in March 2016.]]
Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries. Trump declared during the 2016 election that he no longer would question Obama's eligibility.

====Economic Issues====

Trump’s economic plan is designed to make the country more competitive by implementing policies that apply to all companies: cutting taxes, including the corporate tax rate, repealing and rolling back stifling regulations, including the biggest of them all, Obamacare and those clobbering the energy sector, renegotiating trade deals such as NAFTA, and killing off the nascent Trans-Pacific Partnership.<ref>Crowley, Monica (December 7, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/7/donald-trump-and-the-art-of-getting-it-done/ Donald Trump and the art of getting it done]. ''The Washingon Times''. Retrieved December 10, 2016.</ref>

Trump would not require employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job as there are too many other variables such as education, experience, and tenure that determine a fair salary.

''Trump has not answered whether welfare recipients be tested for drugs.''

Trump said he would require businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member.

Trump would raise the federal minimum wage.

Trump believes there should be more restrictions on current welfare benefits.

Trump would instate a 35% tariff on all imports from China even though he used Chinese steel to build all of his Trump Towers.<ref>http://www.newsweek.com/how-donald-trump-ditched-us-steel-workers-china-505717</ref>

Trump would also lower the corporate tax rate.<ref>https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/an-america-first-economic-plan-winning-the-global-competition</ref>

Trump says that the U.S. shouldn't continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).<ref>http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/16/news/economy/donald-trump-nafta-mexico-china-tariff/</ref>

Trump would cut public spending in order to reduce the public debt.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/donald-trump-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/</ref>

Trump believes that the government is currently over-regulating private businesses and that it shouldn't require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours.<ref>http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-shift/2016/08/trump-v-overtime-rule-215883</ref>

Trump thinks that the government should prevent “mega mergers” of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-10-22/trump-would-block-proposed-at-t-time-warner-merger-if-elected</ref>

Trump said that labor unions, in theory help the economy but have recently become corrupt and should have their powers limited.<ref>http://projects.newsday.com/opinion/newsday-editorial-board-interviews-donald-trump/#nypd</ref>

Trump would increase the tax on profits from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4I5QUGRf-Q&feature=youtu.be</ref>

Trump believes economic stimulus will aid the country during times of recession.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/us/politics/trump-clinton-infrastructure.html?_r=0</ref>

Trump thinks the Federal Reserve Bank should be audited by Congress.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-trump-fed-idUSL1N12Y1ZG20151103</ref>

Trump doesn't support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as this will incentivize companies to move U.S. jobs overseas.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/us/politics/transcript-of-the-republican-presidential-debate-in-new-hampshire.html</ref>

Trump would eliminate the estate tax.<ref>http://thehill.com/policy/finance/290825-clinton-to-criticize-trumps-plan-to-repeal-the-estate-tax</ref>

Trump would end all government subsidies and let the free market run its course.<ref>http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/17cfa1a0-0b9e-11e5-a06e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3e0UlsdmX</ref>

''Trump has not answered if pension payments be increased for retired government workers.''

Trump favors an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes even though sales tax would not provide a steady stream of income.<ref>http://www.taxjusticeblog.org/archive/2015/06/donald_trumps_regressive_and_r.php#.VYr8_hNViko</ref>

Trump supports pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts.<ref name="donaldjtrump.com"/>

Trump said that the U.S. government should not bailout Puerto Rico.<ref>http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=c89b639c-07de-4a0f-a634-dda08e3de95a</ref>

Trump believes citizens should not be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts as too many wealthy citizens are abusing loopholes in offshore banking laws to evade taxes.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-puts-his-money-in-companies-that-stash-cash-abroad/</ref>

Trump would not apply an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers.<ref>http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ce65fe3f0bbd43c19cf17c5c8da8d958/trump-amazons-bezos-uses-washington-post-avoid-taxes</ref>

Trump thinks that the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency.<ref>https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/trump-presidency-boost-bitcoin-price/</ref>

====Department of Education====
At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref> But he also accused Russia of taking [[Crimea]] by force and asked whether Obama was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

After his election as U.S. president, [[Israel]]i prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] called Trump "a true friend of the State of Israel."<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/netanyahu-trump-israel-true-friend-231094?lo=ap_c4 Netanyahu calls Trump 'a true friend' of Israel]. ''Politico''. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.</ref> On February 2, 2017, however, Trump stated that building new settlements in the [[West Bank]] "may not be helpful" to achieving peace in the [[Middle East]], and he appeared to shift his formerly strong stance on moving the U.S. embassy to [[Jerusalem]] as he had previously stated.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/03/trump-to-israel-settlements-may-not-help-achieve-peace-in-middle-east.html Trump to Israel: Settlements ‘may not help’ achieve peace in the Middle East]. ''Fox News''. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.</ref>

====Global warming====
Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====
Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/> Trump was strongly endorsed by the [[National Rifle Association]] in one of its earliest endorsements in an election campaign.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/05/20/nra-to-endorse-trump.html# Trump wins NRA endorsement, blasts Clinton on gun stance at forum]. ''Fox News''. May 20, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.</ref>

====Homosexual agenda====
For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====
See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref> During the campaign, Trump promised that Mexico will pay for the wall, but after taking office, he clarified that payment could be in the form of a tax on Mexican imports or other revenues measures after the Mexican government showed opposition towards Trump's plan.

Trump has also proposed to temporarily ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States, until "our leaders figure out what the hell is going on," in order to protect Americans from the threats posed by [[Islamic]] [[refugee]]s (and those pretending to be<ref>[http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/isis-fighters-infiltrating-syrian-refugees-uk-is-warned/article/2572051 ISIS fighters infiltrating Syrian refugees, UK is warned]</ref>) entering the country.<ref>[http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-insists-muslim-ban-is-about-safety-not-religion Donald Trump Insists Muslim Ban Is About Safety, Not Religion]</ref>

Efforts have been made by hostile journalists to paint Trump as advocating a [[Muslim registry]], but what he actually proposed was a [[database for Syrian refugees]].

====Political contributions====
He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignificant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

Trump is not known to be beholden to any big-money donors.

====Tariffs====
[[File:Donald Trump RNC July 2016.jpg|thumb|Trump accepting the GOP nomination in Cleveland on June 21, 2016.]]
At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/> The number floated around in 2016 is a 45% tariff. Trump was speaking in regards to China and the [[World Trade Organization]],<ref>[http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-finance-ministerlou-jiwei-takes-aim-at-donald-trumps-trade-policies-1460892988 Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei Takes Aim at Donald Trump’s Trade Policies, WallStreetJournal, April 17, 2016]</ref>

{{cquote|In a statement from his campaign, Mr. Trump charged that [[China]] was “in total violation of WTO regulations” and that the U.S. “has incompetently allowed them to get away with this” and has failed to impose “equal or greater taxes and tariffs” on China. If he is elected president, Mr. Trump said, China “will learn to deal fairly and justly or we will not deal at all” with Beijing.}}

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.

==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposed filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Hillary Clinton==
Trump had pledged, if elected president, to appoint a special prosecutor to further investigate [[Hillary Clinton]]'s use of a private email server whilst Secretary of State, but Hillary took her crushing defeat so hard that Trump charitably softened his stance after winning.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-investigation.html Donald Trump Drops Threat of New Hillary Clinton Investigation] New York Times - Nov. 22, 2016</ref> A few of Trump supporters, such as [[Ann Coulter]] and [[Breitbart]], expressed disappointment but Trump rose in overall public approval.<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/ann-coulter-slams-trump-clinton/2016/11/22/id/760220/ Ann Coulter Slams Trump's Decision on Clinton] Newsmax.com - Nov. 22, 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2016/11/23/peter-schweizer-letting-hillary-off-hook-definition-rigged-system/ Peter Schweizer: Letting Hillary off the Hook Is ‘Definition of a Rigged System’] Breitbart.com - Nov. 23, 2016</ref>

==2016 presidential election==
[[File:Donald Trump (29273256122) Phoenix.jpg|thumb|250px|Donald Trump on August 31, 2016.]]
:''Main article: [[2016 U.S. presidential election]]''
===Path to the Nomination===
In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating many [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] had not yet warmed up to him.<ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most Christians, other religious groups, and [[conservatives]] oppose. But by 2016 Trump was winning more support from [[evangelical]]s than any other Republican candidate.

Trump won the Republican primary, receiving more votes than any other Republican primary candidate in history.<ref>Hoft, Joe (June 7, 2016). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/06/trump-trumps-wins-historic-race-record-fashion/ HISTORY! Trump Shatters Republican Primary Vote Record by 1.4 Million Votes]. ''The Gateway Pundit''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref>

===General election===
Trump faced former liberal Democrat Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] in the general election. Trump's campaign was vastly outspent, outraised, and out-staffed by Clinton's.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/10/more-with-less-trumps-lean-machine-beats-clintons-big-bank-account.html More With Less: Trump's lean machine beats Clinton's big bank account]. ''Fox News''. November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.</ref> The [[mainstream media]] was extremely biased against and unfair towards Trump.<ref>Kurtz, Howard (November 11, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/11/media-remain-hostile-to-donald-trump-even-as-some-pundits-admit-blew-it.html Media remain hostile to Donald Trump even as some pundits admit they blew it]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 11, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.billoreilly.com/b/Media-Bias-to-the-Extreme/39285014073786148.html Media Bias to the Extreme]. ''BillOReilly.com''. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.</ref>

It was widely expected that Clinton would easily win the election, and the elite pollsters and "political insiders" all predicted a massive Clinton victory.<ref>Vogel, Kenneth P. & Isenstadt, Alex (November 9, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/how-did-everyone-get-2016-wrong-presidential-election-231036 How did everyone get it so wrong?]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref><ref>Catanese, David (October 24, 2016). [http://www.usnews.com/news/the-run-2016/articles/2016-10-24/republicans-last-hope-the-polls-are-wrong Republicans’ Last Hope: The Polls Are Wrong]. ''U.S. News & World Report''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> At least once, when a poll was released that actually showed Trump leading, Clinton's campaign dismissed it as "bad polling".<ref>Nelson, Louis (November 1, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/clinton-campaign-bad-poll-abc-washington-post-230591 Clinton camp on new survey showing Trump ahead: It’s ‘bad polling’]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> Instead, Trump won the election in a massive, historical upset, winning even states such as [[Pennsylvania]], [[Michigan]], and [[Wisconsin]], which a Republican had not won for 20–30 years.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/08/first-polls-close-in-2016-race-trump-projected-to-win-ind-ky-clinton-wins-vt.html Trump wins presidency, defeats Clinton in historic election upset]. ''Fox News''. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref><ref>Blake, Aaron (November 9, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/08/donald-trumps-path-to-victory-is-suddenly-looking-much-much-wider/ Donald Trump just blew up the electoral map]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> The polling and predictions were off dramatically.<ref>Flint, Joe & Alpert, Lukas I. (November 9, 2016). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/bad-polling-in-hand-media-misses-mark-badly-with-election-predictions-1478710860 How the Media’s Election Predictions Badly Missed the Mark]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> Trump's election victory was described by ''[[Politico]]'' as "the most stunning upset in American history."<ref>Goldmacher, Shane & Schreckinger, Ben (November 9, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/election-results-2016-clinton-trump-231070?lo=ap_c1 Trump pulls off biggest upset in U.S. history]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref>

While the GOP increased its vote share across the entire nation, Trump made the largest gains in the rural [[Midwest]] and [[Rust Belt]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/08/us/elections/how-trump-pushed-the-election-map-to-the-right.html How Trump Reshaped the Election Map]. ''The New York Times''. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.</ref> Although Clinton won the popular vote 65,515,369 (48.05%) to 62,853,327 (46.09%), according to unofficial results, the large vote totals came from states which have resisted voter identification reforms.<ref>[http://www.inquisitr.com/3719036/3-million-illegal-immigrants-voted-gregg-phillips-votestand-donald-trump-final-popular-vote-count-2016-predictions/ 3 Million Illegal Immigrants Voted, Claims Gregg Phillips Of VoteStand: Donald Trump’s Final Popular Vote Count Alleged To Be Better Than 2016 Predictions], Patrick Frye, ''The Inquisitr'', November 15, 2016</ref> Trump won the [[electoral college]] vote, 306 to 232, with the incomplete vote count reported.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/election/results|title=Election Results|accessdate=Nov. 12, 2016}}</ref> Trump won more votes in the general election than any Republican candidate in U.S. history, and he won the largest number of electoral votes since [[George H. W. Bush]].<ref>Hoft, Jim (November 22, 2016). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/11/trump-breaks-record-votes-republican-candidate-history/ Trump Breaks Record for Most Votes by Republican Candidate in History]. ''The Gateway Pundit''. Retrieved November 22, 2016.</ref> In addition, Trump won 2,623 counties—the largest number for both a Republican or Democrat since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984—while the Democrats won only 489, something even the liberal [[PolitiFact]] admitted to be true.<ref>Jacobson, Louis (December 4, 2016). [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/dec/04/mike-pence/mike-pence-says-donald-trump-won-most-counties-rep/ Mike Pence says Donald Trump won most counties by a Republican since Ronald Reagan]. ''PolitiFact''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref> Geographically speaking, Trump accordingly won 85 percent of the nation<ref>Wallace, Tim (November 16, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/16/us/politics/the-two-americas-of-2016.html?_r=0 The Two Americas of 2016]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 5, 2016.</ref> and 61 percent of the states (including Maine's 2nd district). With the historic flip of Elliott County, Kentucky, every rural, white-majority Southern county voted for the Republican nominee for the first time in history.<ref>Simon, Jeff (December 9, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/politics/elliott-county-kentucky-democratic-streak-broken-by-donald-trump/index.html How Trump ended Democrats' 144-year winning streak in one county]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>

According to exit polling, Trump won 81 percent of evangelical Christians compared to 16 percent for Clinton, a record high and even more than [[George W. Bush]] won in 2004,<ref>O'Brien, Cortney (November 12, 2016). [http://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2016/11/12/white-evangelical-voters-showed-up-this-time-n2243931 Evangelical Voters Showed Up Big Time For Trump]. ''Townhall''. Retrieved December 8, 2016.</ref><ref>Lovett, Ian (November 9, 2016). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/evangelicals-back-donald-trump-in-record-numbers-despite-earlier-doubts-1478689372 Evangelicals Back Donald Trump in Record Numbers, Despite Earlier Doubts]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved December 8, 2016.</ref> even though some have disputed the accuracy of such exit polling methods.<ref>Showalter, Brandon (November 16, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/81-percent-evangelicals-vote-trump-eric-teetsel-joe-carter-171542/ Did 81 Percent of Evangelicals Really Vote for Trump? Not So Fast, Some Say]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved December 8, 2016.</ref> This is largely due to Trump's conservative policies that align well with the Bible, including opposition to abortion.

While liberal, establishmentarian world leaders made generally nuanced statements in response to Trump's election upset, conservative, right-wing leaders, including the leaders of insurgent parties in European nations, reacted positively to Trump's election.<ref>Ashkenas, Jeremy; Aisch, Gregor (December 5, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/05/world/europe/populism-in-age-of-trump.html?_r=0 European Populism in the Age of Donald Trump]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 5, 2016.</ref>

In addition to Trump's defeat of Clinton, the Republican Party kept control of the House and Senate, outperforming expectations.<ref>Bresnahan, John (November 9, 2016). [http://www.politico.eu/article/republicans-on-cusp-of-keeping-the-senate/ Republicans hold the Senate in a stunner]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>Hughes, Siobhan (November 9, 2016). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-are-confident-about-retaining-control-of-the-house-1478634160 Democrats Gain Seats in House, But GOP Retains Majority]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> The Republican Party performed well—much better than expected—in state races, winning trifectas in [[Kentucky]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]], and [[New Hampshire]], and Democrats only had six trifectas and total control in five states, a record low.<ref>Greenblatt, Alan (November 9, 2016). [http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-republicans-add-dominance-state-legislatures.html Republicans Add to Their Dominance of State Legislatures]. ''Governing''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>Siegel, Josh (November 9, 2016). [http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/09/republicans-maintain-strong-control-of-state-capitols-what-that-means/ Republicans Maintain Strong Control of State Capitols. Here’s What That Means.] ''The Daily Signal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> The GOP won 25 trifectas, the largest since 1952.<ref>Lieb, David A. (December 29, 2016). [https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20161229/281822873464433 GOP-Controlled States Aim to Reshape Laws]. ''Chicago Tribune'' (from the Associated Press). Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref> The GOP now controlled the highest amount of governorships since 1922,<ref>Lieb, David A. (November 9, 2016). [http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislatures Republicans governorships rise to highest mark since 1922]. ''U.S. News & World Report''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> and it controlled the most state legislative chambers in history.<ref>Bosman, Julie & Davey, Monica (November 11, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/republicans-expand-control-in-a-deeply-divided-nation.html Republicans Expand Control in a Deeply Divided Nation]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 14, 2016.</ref>

Despite expectations that Trump's election victory would cause the markets to plunge, the [[Dow Jones Industrial Average]] actually performed very strongly, closing at the highest level it had ever reached in history after the second day.<ref name="MarketRally">La Monica, Paul R. (November 10, 2016). [http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/10/investing/markets-stocks-donald-trump-rally/index.html The 'yuge' Donald Trump market rally continues]. ''CNN Money''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref> It is rare for the stock market to rise immediately after a U.S. presidential election regardless of the winner.<ref name="MarketRally"/> The stock market had its best week in five years due to optimism of a Trump presidency.<ref>Craig, Victoria (November 11, 2016). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/11/11/trump-optimism-propels-dow-to-best-week-in-five-years.html Trump Optimism Propels Dow to Best Week in Five Years]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved November 12, 2016.</ref>

After the election, childish [[leftists]] and [[anarchists]], who could not accept the results of the election, strongly protested Trump's victory and committed outrageous and extreme acts of vandalism and violence,<ref name="Protests">Chiaramonte, Perry (November 10, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/11/10/trump-protests-intensify-as-doubts-swirl-about-spontaneity.html Trump protests intensify, as doubts swirl about spontaneity]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 11, 2016.</ref> even brutally attacking and beating at least one alleged Trump supporter.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/11/10/video-emerges-group-beating-chicago-man-while-yelling-dont-vote-trump.html Video emerges of mob beating Chicago man while yelling 'don't vote Trump']. ''Fox News''. November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.</ref> Many of these protests were likely organized and coordinated, as many protestors were bused in by Coach buses.<ref name="Protests"/> This occurred on the heels of Hillary Clinton, the Clinton campaign, and major mainstream media condemning in the harshest terms Trump and his supporters' complaints of a "rigged election," and failure to accept the results would damage democracy. Clinton, President Obama, and the media highlighted the protests and failed to condemn the leftist violence and protests as detrimental to democracy.

==President of the United States==
:''See also: [[Donald Trump achievements]] and [[Trump Supreme Court]]''
===Transition===
The day after being elected president, Trump released a solidly conservative agenda for his first 100 days in office, even though ending the [[abortion|legalized murder of the unborn]] was not on the agenda.<ref>Kelly, Amita & Sprunt, Barbara (November 9, 2016). [http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days Here Is What Donald Trump Wants To Do In His First 100 Days]. ''NPR''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref>

On November 30, 2016, before Trump had finalized all his cabinet appointments, it was still described by Politico as "a conservative dream team that has Republicans cheering and liberals in despair" due to the many strong conservatives Trump had appointed, in contrast to moderates like [[George W. Bush]].<ref>Restuccia, Andrew; Cook, Nancy; Woellert, Lorraine (November 30, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trump-conservative-dream-team-231972 Trump's conservative dream team]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 30, 2016.</ref> Accordingly, ''[[Newsweek]]'' called Trump's incomplete cabinet the most conservative cabinet in U.S. history.<ref>Cooper, Matthew (December 9, 2016). [http://www.newsweek.com/trump-cabinet-picks-nominees-conservative-530477 Donald Trump Is Building the Most Conservative Presidential Cabinet In U.S. History]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved December 10, 2016.</ref> ''[[The Washington Times]]'' noted how Trump was defying Washington establishment norms in his cabinet picks.<ref>Hurt, Charles (December 6, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/6/donald-trumps-cabinet-picks-define-business-as-not/ Trump defines business as not-usual for D.C.] ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 10, 2016.</ref>

''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' stated that "it’s nearly impossible to identify a clear ideological bent" in Trump's appointments.<ref>Seib, Gerald (December 5, 2016). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-shuffles-the-ideological-deck-1480955194 Donald Trump Shuffles the Ideological Deck]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved December 5, 2016.</ref> However, this can be easily explained by the fact that Trump has used some of his cabinet nominations to unite the GOP by appealing to most of its factions, even though Trump's appointments are still very conservative.

===Inauguration===
[[File:Donald Trumpswearing in.jpg|thumb|200px|Trump being sworn in, January 20, 2017.]]
Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017, giving one of the strongest inauguration addresses in American history.<ref>Boyle, Matthew (January 20, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/20/america-first-president-donald-trump-brings-the-rain-in-inauguration-address/ ‘America First’: President Donald Trump Brings the Rain in Inauguration Address]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref><ref>McCaskill, Nolan D. (January 20, 2017). [http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/key-points-of-trumps-inaugural-speech-233900 Key moments from Trump's inauguration speech]. ''Politico''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Scott, Patrick; Midgley, Robert (January 20, 2017). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/20/donald-trump-just-delivered-american-inauguration-speech-ever/ Donald Trump just delivered the most 'American' inauguration speech ever]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref> His first bill signed as president was to allow retired general and Defense Secretary nominee [[James Mattis]] to be confirmed.<ref>Kopan, Tal (January 20, 2017). [http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/donald-trump-first-law-actions/ President Donald Trump signs first bill into law]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref> That same day, Trump instituted a national day of patriotism,<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-measures-idUSKBN1542IH Trump takes first actions on Cabinet, declares day of patriotism: spokesman]. ''Reuters''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref> and a few days later Trump officially designated his inauguration day the '''''National Day of Patriotic Devotion'''''.<ref>[https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/24/2017-01798/national-day-of-patriotic-devotion National Day of Patriotic Devotion -- Proclamation 9570 of January 20, 2017]. ''Federal Register''. January 24, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref><ref>Shelbourne, Mallory (January 23, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/315735-trump-declares-inauguration-day-national-day-of-patriotic-devotion http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/315735-trump-declares-inauguration-day-national-day-of-patriotic-devotion]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref>

Despite the fact that leftists knew for two months that Trump would be inaugurated president, hateful, anti-American, and immature leftists engaged in violent protests and did major acts of vandalism and even injuring the police who were sent in.<ref>Vargas, Theresa; Hartz, Taylor; Hermann, Peter (January 20, 2017). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/protesters-bring-shouts-skirmishes-and-shutdowns-to-inauguration-celebration/2017/01/20/00ea4c72-df11-11e6-acdf-14da832ae861_story.html?utm_term=.c4443fa64f5a Inauguration protesters vandalize, set fires, try to disrupt Trump’s oath, as police arrest 200]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref><ref name="LimoFire">Lawler, David (January 20, 2017). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/20/anti-donald-trump-activists-try-block-access-inauguration/ Donald Trump protests: Limo 'set on fire' and 217 arrested as police use tear gas on black-clad activists]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref> Over 200 protestors were arrested.<ref name="LimoFire"/>

Despite having no power to block Trump's cabinet nominees and having no reason to delay the process,<ref>Pergram, Chad (January 20, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/20/senate-battle-erupts-over-dem-delay-confirming-trump-nominees.html Senate battle erupts over Dem 'delay' confirming Trump nominees]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref> liberal Senate Democrats delayed confirmation of Trump's nominees, so that only two were confirmed on Trump's first day in office.<ref>Dinan, Stephen (January 22, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/22/trumps-cabinet-picks-delayed-by-democrats-only-two/? Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks delayed by Democrats, only two confirmed]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref> This was a large difference from other recent presidents,<ref>Phillips, Amber (January 21, 2017). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/20/donald-trump-will-start-his-presidency-with-the-smallest-confirmed-cabinet-in-decades/?utm_term=.9d7692169687 Donald Trump is starting his presidency with the smallest confirmed Cabinet in decades]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved Janaury 23, 2017.</ref> who, with the exception of [[George H. W. Bush]], had much larger numbers confirmed in the first week.<ref>Bluey, Robert (January 22, 2017). [http://dailysignal.com/2017/01/22/trumps-nominees-face-unprecedented-democrat-obstructionism/ Trump’s Nominees Face ‘Unprecedented’ Democrat Obstructionism]. ''The Daily Signal''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref>

===Tenure===
Due to his promotion and support of conservative, America First policies, President Trump faced large opposition from the Left, including from within the government bureaucracy.<ref>Singman, Brooke (January 1, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/31/trump-faces-bureaucratic-battle-in-implementing-agenda.html Trump faces bureaucratic battle in implementing agenda]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 1, 2017.</ref><ref>Kurtz, Howard (February 3, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/03/empire-strikes-back-why-trumps-private-talks-with-foreign-leaders-were-leaked.html The empire strikes back: Why Trump's private talks with foreign leaders were leaked]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 3, 2017.</ref> Additionally, Senate Democrats continued to unduly delay Trump's cabinet nominees at historic and unprecedented proportions—by February 8, 2017, only [[George Washington]] had fewer cabinet nominees confirmed by this length of time into his presidency.<ref>Singman, Brooke (February 8, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/08/trump-facing-historic-delays-in-confirmation-push.html Trump facing historic delays in confirmation push]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 8, 2017.</ref>

On January 23, 2017, Trump signed an order which withdrew the United States from the globalist [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]].<ref>Chakraborty, Barnini (January 23, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/23/trump-signs-executive-order-withdrawing-us-from-tpp-trade-deal.html Trump signs executive order withdrawing US from TPP trade deal]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref> That same day, Trump signed an order reinstating the [[Mexico City Policy]], which defunded International Planned Parenthood and other organizations that promote foreign abortions.<ref>LaBarbera, Peter (January 23, 2017). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-trump-signs-order-defunding-international-planned-parenthood-forei BREAKING: Trump signs order defunding International Planned Parenthood, foreign abortions]. ''LifeSite News''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref><ref>Hellman, Jessie (January 23, 2017). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/abortion/315652-trump-signs-executive-order-reinstating-global-gag-rule-on Trump reinstates ban on US funds promoting abortion overseas]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 23, 2017.</ref>

Trump was very busy and productive in his first week and showed he was serious about his campaign promises, undoing Obama's illegitimate legacy and instituting conservative executive orders.<ref>Davenport, David (January 27, 2017). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddavenport/2017/01/27/how-trump-managed-to-undo-obamas-legacy-in-one-week/#3ae6bcba5bbf How Trump Managed To Undo Obama's Legacy In One Week]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref><ref>Said-Moorhouse, Lauren (January 26, 2017). [http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/politics/executive-orders-presidents-actions-presidential-memoranda/ What's Trump done so far? His productive first week and how it stacks up to previous presidents]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/28/president-trumps-first-week-action President Trump's First Week of Action]. ''whitehouse.gov''. January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.</ref> This caused the [[stock market]] to increase, and the [[Dow Jones]] passed 20,000 points for the first time in history.<ref>Imbert, Fred (January 25, 2017). [http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/us-markets.html Dow closes above 20,000 for first time as Trump orders send stocks flying]. ''CNBC''. Retrieved January 25, 2017.</ref><ref>Craig, Victoria (January 25, 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/01/25/dow-races-past-20k-in-reinvigorated-trump-rally.html Dow Races Past 20K in Reinvigorated Trump Rally]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved January 25, 2017.</ref>

Trump received criticism from liberals and [[establishment]] Republicans<ref>McHugh, Katie (January 31, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/31/establishment-republicans-bash-trumps-executive-order-on-immigration-refugee-resettlement/ Establishment Republicans Bash Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration, Refugee Resettlement]. ''Bretibart''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> when he signed an executive order temporarily banning immigration from certain high-risk Islamic countries as well as refugee entry. Despite this criticism, 49 percent of the American public supported the decision compared to 41 percent opposed, according to the "mainstream" Reuters,<ref>Kahn, Chris (January 31, 2017). [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-poll-exclusive-idUSKBN15F2MG Exclusive: Only a third of Americans think Trump's travel ban will make them more safe]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> and 57% percent of likely American voters supported the ban according to Rasmussen.<ref>[http://m.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/january_2017/most_support_temporary_ban_on_newcomers_from_terrorist_havens Most Support Temporary Ban on Newcomers from Terrorist Havens].'' January 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref> Additionally, while the leftist [[establishment]] European leaders opposed the ban, a strong majority—55% average—of Europeans support the ban, according to a poll in 10 [[European Union]] nations.<ref>Shaw, Adam (February 9, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/09/majority-europeans-in-favor-trump-style-muslim-ban-poll-shows.html Majority of Europeans in favor of a Trump-style Muslim ban, poll shows]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Jamieson, Alastair (February 8, 2017). [http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/europes-border-crisis/majority-leading-eu-nations-support-trump-style-travel-ban-poll-n718271 Majority in Leading EU Nations Support Trump-Style Travel Ban: Poll]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved February 9, 2017.</ref>

Trump showed he would not tolerate incompetent leftist administration officials when he fired acting [[United States Department of Justice|Attorney General]] Sally Yates (a left-wing Obama holdover) when she refused to defend his refugee and immigration ban executive order.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/30/acting-ag-tells-justice-department-staff-not-to-defend-trumps-refugee-order.html Trump fires acting AG after Justice Department staff told not to defend refugee order]. ''Fox News''. January 30, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/30/statement-appointment-dana-boente-acting-attorney-general Statement on the Appointment of Dana Boente as Acting Attorney General]. ''whitehouse.gov''. January 30, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> Trump emulated [[Ronald Reagan]]'s firing of the striking PATCO workers in 1981 by doing so,<ref>Boyle, Matthew (January 30, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/30/trumps-patco-moment-emanating-reagan-president-takes-control-federal-government-protect-country-citizens/ Trump’s PATCO Moment: Emanating Reagan, the President Takes Control of Federal Government to ‘Protect the Country and Its Citizens’]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> contrary to the [[mainstream media]] spin.<ref>Kurtz, Howard (February 1, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/01/trumps-firing-defiant-obama-holdover-why-hes-no-richard-nixon.html Trump's firing of a defiant Obama holdover: Why he's no Richard Nixon]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 1, 2017.</ref> That same night, Trump replaced the acting director of [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (another Obama holdover) with a more competent official who had a reputation for enforcing immigration laws.<ref>Chamberlain, Samuel (January 31, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/31/trump-names-thomas-homan-acting-director-ice-replacing-obama-holdover.html Trump names Thomas Homan acting director of ICE, replacing Obama holdover]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref><ref>Berman, Mark; Zapotosky, Matt (January 30, 2017). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/30/trump-appoints-new-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-director-noted-for-his-work-deporting-illegal-immigrants/?utm_term=.addf12ae690a Trump appoints new Immigration and Customs Enforcement director noted for his work deporting illegal immigrants]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref>

On January 31, 2017, Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]].<ref>Klukowski, Ken (January 31, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/31/trump-nominates-judge-neil-gorsuch-supreme-court/ Trump Nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref><ref>Hurley, Lawrence; Holland, Steve (January 31, 2017). [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-trump-idUSKBN15F1OW Trump picks conservative judge Gorsuch for U.S. Supreme Court]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> The nomination was well received by many conservatives.<ref>Chamberlain, Steve (January 31, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/31/reaction-to-trumps-supreme-court-pick-split-along-partisan-lines.html Conservatives hail Trump's Supreme Court pick]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref><ref>Ertelt, Steven (January 31, 2017). [http://www.lifenews.com/2017/01/31/president-donald-trump-nominates-pro-life-friendly-judge-neil-gorsuch-to-the-supreme-court/ President Donald Trump Nominates Pro-Life-Friendly Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court]. ''LifeNews.com''. Retrieved January 31, 2017.</ref> Others, most notably [[Andrew Schlafly]], disagreed with the nomination due to concerns about Gorsuch's position on abortion.<ref>Dannenfelser, Marjorie (January 31, 2017). [http://townhall.com/columnists/marjoriedannenfelser/2017/01/31/the-truth-about-trumps-prolife-scotus-list-n2279232 The Truth about Trump’s Pro-life SCOTUS List]. ''Townhall''. Retrieved February 1, 2017.</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Template:Mainpageright&diff=1302133&oldid=1301962</ref>

According to a poll conducted by [[Emerson College]] on February 5-6, 2017, more Americans trust the Trump Administration than the media.<ref>McHugh, Katie (February 9, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/02/09/poll-voters-trust-trump-administration-media/ Poll: Voters Trust Trump Administration More Than Media]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved February 9, 2017.</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes==
===Quotes as U.S. President===
====Inaugural address====
*"....today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people."<ref name="InaugTransc">[http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/full-text-donald-trump-inauguration-speech-transcript-233907 Full text: 2017 Donald Trump inauguration speech transcript]. ''Politico''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref>
*"We assembled here today our issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power, from this day forward: a new vision will govern our land, from this day forward, it's going to be only America first. America first."<ref name="InaugTransc"/>
*"[We will] unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth."<ref name="InaugTransc"/>
*"When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice."<ref name="InaugTransc"/>

===Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President===
[[File:Donald Trump and Mike Pence RNC July 2016.jpg|thumb|Trump and his running-mate, [[Mike Pence]], at the 2016 Republican National Convention.]]
Trump's tactics of naming and shaming candidates has been proven very effective. He called Jeb Bush 'low-energy Jeb' and it stuck. Then came Marco Rubio as 'Little Marco.' Next came 'Lyin' Ted' for Ted Cruz. For the Democrats, he calls Hillary Clinton 'Crooked Hillary'. He doesn't give Bernie Sanders the same treatment though he has referred to him as a Communist.

*“We will no longer surrender this country or its people to the false song of [[globalism]].”
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>
*"Becoming the nominee of the party of [[Abraham Lincoln]] has been the greatest honor of my life.<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/294401-trump-claims-party-of-lincoln-mantle-in-speech-at-black</ref>

====General election debate quotes====
*"Because you would be in jail." (Trump in response to Clinton saying that it would be a good thing that he "is not in charge of the law in our country")<ref name="2ndTranscript">[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/2016-presidential-debate-transcript-229519 Full transcript: Second 2016 presidential debate]. ''Politico''. October 10, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.</ref>
*"Now she’s blaming the lie on the late great Abraham Lincoln. ...Honest Abe never lied. That’s the good thing. That's the big difference between Abraham Lincoln and you." (Trump in response to Clinton's excuse for having "'a public and private position on certain issues.'")<ref name="2ndTranscript"/>
*"Hillary has experience, but it’s bad experience."<ref>Goodenough, Patrick (September 27, 2016). [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/ Trump: 'Hillary Has Experience, But It's Bad Experience']. ''cnsnews.com''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref>

===Quotes from Twitter===
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>

====2015====
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)

====2016====
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)
* "I wonder if President Obama would have attended the funeral of Justice Scalia if it were held in a Mosque? Very sad that he did not go!" (February 20, 2016)
* "The organized group of people, many of them thugs, who shut down our First Amendment rights in Chicago, have totally energized America!" (March 12, 2016)
* "Why is it that the horrendous protesters, who scream, curse punch, shut down roads/doors during my RALLIES, are never blamed by media? SAD!" (March 20, 2016)
* "Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was. Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!" (March 22, 2016)
* "For the 1st time in American history, America’s 16,500 border patrol agents have issue[d] a presidential primary endorsement—me! Thank you." (April 1, 2016)

===Other quotes===
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

== Liberal denialism and Donald Trump ==

:''See also:'' [[Liberal denialism and Donald Trump]] and [[Liberal denial]]

Post the 2016 U.S. Presidential election many liberals were in denial that Donald Trump was going to be president of the United States. Before the election, many liberal media outlets took the line that Donald Trump could not win the [[Republican]] primary and could not win the presidential election.<ref>
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/09/the-wrongest-media-predictions-about-donald-trump/?utm_term=.febb2623a89f The wrongest media predictions about Donald Trump The wrongest media predictions about Donald Trump], ''Washington Post'', 2016</ref>

=== Political scientists, denialism and Donald Trump ===

{{See also|Atheism and science}}

Few, if any, [[Political science|political scientists]] predicted early on that Donald Trump would win the Republican primary and then would subsequently be elected president of the United States. Furthermore, most pollsters indicated that Trump would lose the election.

27 percent of American political scientists believe in the existence of God while 76 percent of American doctors said they believe in God.<ref>
*[http://www.livescience.com/379-scientists-belief-god-varies-starkly-discipline.html Scientists belief in God varies starkly by discipline], Livescience.com
*[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8318894/ns/health-health_care/t/survey-most-doctors-believe-god-afterlife/ Most doctors believe in God], NBC News</ref> Most American [[atheism|atheists]] lean to the left politically (see: [[Atheism and politics]]). Compared to [[medical science]], which has many effective medicines and surgical procedures, the social science of political science is often unreliable.

===Trump and the mainstream media===
{{See also|Mainstream media's war on Trump}}
The leftist [[mainstream media]] despises Trump and fails to report objectively when covering him.

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]
* [[Essay:Donald Trump One Two Body Blow]]
* [[The Chalkening]]
* [[Trump University]]
* [[Kathryn Steinle]]
* [[Sarah Root]]
* [[Alveda King]]
* [[Trump effect]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.greatagain.gov Presidential transition website GreatAgain.gov]
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [http://www.LyingCrookedHillary.com LyingCrookedHillary.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]
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Biblical scientific foreknowledge

2017-02-24T02:45:59Z

Ambassador:

[[File:Newton.png|thumb|200px|alt=Isaac Newton, cornerstone of the scientific revolution, based his research on the scientific authority of the [[Bible]].|thumb|[[Portrait]] of [[Isaac Newton]], cornerstone of the [[scientific revolution]], based his research on the scientific authority of the Bible.]]

''For a rebuttal to a few of these claims, see [[Essay:Rebuttal to Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]''

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' is how the [[Bible]] shows a comprehension of [[science]] far ahead of its time. The Bible is a superb roadmap to future scientific discoveries. Unfortunately [[Bible denier]]s, including many [[atheist]]s and [[evolution]]ists, refuse to read the Bible, and '''''their irrational [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|closed-mindedness]] against the Bible obstructs the advancement of science'''''.

The [[Book of Genesis]] gives [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge#Anesthesia|an example of anesthesia]] long before man discovered it in 1846. And the underlying chaos and uncertainty in the physical world was explained in the Bible long before [[quantum mechanics]] confirmed it in the 1900s.

'''Biblical scientific foreknowledge''' has an additional benefit: it guides a more precise translation of verses that describe scientific-related events, such as the reference to the universe in [[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10]], and the changing of [[Essay:Water into Wine|water into wine]] at the wedding feast.

==Geology==

===Massive flooding===
[[Atheist]] scientists long opposed a [[young earth]] [[creation|created]] by [[God]] where cataclysmic flooding, such as the [[Great Flood]] described in the Bible, shaped the landscape. However, ample [[counterexamples to an old earth]] exist and the discovery in the Northwest of "giant ripple marks, 50 feet high and 200-500 feet apart" proved that a cataclysmic flood in the region had indeed occurred thousands of years ago. As a result, "[a]mong geologists, the concept of a catastrophic flood came to be universally accepted by the late 1950s."<ref>[http://www.iafi.org/floods.html The Ice Age Flood Institute reports on the massive floods in the Northwest.]</ref>

===Continental drift===
[[Continental drift]] was proposed by [[creationist]] Antonio Snider-Pellegrini in 1859 based on [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis 1:9-10]],<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c001.html Christian Answers explains Antonio Snider's divine inspiration</ref> which states, {{cquote|And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.}} Because land is no longer all in [[Pangaea|one place]], this implies that the continents have shifted over the six millennia to their current positions. [[Atheists]] and [[scientist]]s who hadn't seen the light of [[creationism]] were in [[liberal denial]] about this concept for a century, until finally accepting its truth. This is just more data that the Bible knew millennia before [[secular]] [[science]] caught up.
However, The Continents are still connected; under the ocean is land if you dry up the water. This interpretation of this verse is in error, the separation spoken of here is the waters under the sky (Firmament) and the water out in space (beyond the heavens). Comets prove this theory, as many of them contain ice, and today as much as 1% of terrestrial rain comes from extraterrestrial sources.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The most likely reason for the current position and shape of the land mass is the Flood of Noah. Pangea does not work without flipping, shrinking, and sometimes removing countries entirely. Any Biblical statements of continents is in Genesis 10:25 when Peleg is mentioned "for in his days was the earth divided" this in particular refers to the separation of what today is Russia, Japan, and Alaska, when the oceans arose, and also to the division of the peoples by languages, who migrated together according to their language after the confusing of tongues at the tower of Babel, obviously the migration took place before the oceanic divide which led to the natives of the Far West. Everyone laughed at Columbus, not because they thought earth was flat, but because they had forgotten the Far West (America) was there, and they thought he didn't have nearly enough supplies or a big enough ship to go to Asia the long way around, and they would have been right if he didn't hit the Caribbean first by complete accident. Recent findings of biblical stone tablets, in Byzantine script prove that trade between Europe and the Far West was common prior to the dark age which began in 400 or 500 AD.

===Underwater springs===
Only in modern times have scientists become aware of the enormous underwater springs feeding into the oceans, and the very deep valleys at the bottom of the oceans. However, the Bible repeatedly described this thousands of years earlier in [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 7|Genesis 7:11]], which states, {{cquote|In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.}} Again, in 2 Samuel 22:16, the Bible states that, {{cquote|And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.}}
And Job 38:16 “Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depths?"

This is ''obvious'' proof to all but [[liberals]] that the Bible had foreknowledge of subcrustal oceans, something the ancient Jews could not have possibly known, and thus proof of the Bible's God-given accuracy and divine nature.

==Agriculture==

===Malthusianism===
Since Thomas [[Robert Malthus|Malthus's]] 1798 work, ''An Essay on the Principle of Population'', [[liberal]] [[intellectual]]s insisted that the world's population would grow faster than the [[food]] supply and result in mass starvation. However, there are examples in both the [[Old Testament|Old]]{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} and [[New Testament]]s{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}, as well as the example of [[William Bradford]] at Plymouth Colony,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bradford|first1=William|title=The History of Plimoth Plantation|date=1669|pages=135–136}}</ref> of the food supply increasing to be more far plentiful than expected, mostly due to faith in [[God|God's]] powers and use of [[conservative]] [[economics]]. Indeed, in modern times [[obesity]] is far more prevalent and harmful than [[hunger]] worldwide, and food production far exceeds the ability to consume even in impoverished nations. Hunger remains a problem only in places with [[liberal]] and/or [[leftist]] political systems that impede food distribution or destroy the [[free market]].

==History==

===Great Flood ice mummy===
[[File:The building of the ark.jpg|thumb|The building of the Ark by Bertram of Minden, ancient [[German Painting]].]]
According to the Bible, a [[Great Flood]] occurred around 3300 B.C., or about 5300 years ago. It involved a cataclysmic rainstorm of a magnitude never seen before or since. For centuries [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] have mocked it, claiming that it was impossible. However, in 1991, an "ice mummy" was discovered in the [[Alps]]. Scientists located a remarkably preserved ancient body, including even the contents of his last meal, which was due to an extraordinary ice storm. By radiometric [[carbon dating]],<ref>http://www.nupecc.org/iai2001/report/B44.pdf Radiocarbon dating of the Iceman Ötzi with
accelerator mass spectrometry</ref> the scientists discovered that this massive ice storm occurred 5300 years ago, which perfectly matches the Biblical Great Flood.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/icemummies/iceman.html PBS on the "Iceman" in the Alps</ref> This is obvious proof of the Great Flood, as no natural occurrence could possibly explain how somebody came to be preserved by ice in the [[Alps]].

===Oldest Living Organism===

Bristlecone pine trees in California's White Mountains are the oldest living unitary organism. As predicted by the Bible, they are not as old as 6,000 years but are as old as 5,000 years,<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/US/photos/worlds-oldest-living-things-23385913/image-23386256</ref> roughly the time of the [[Great Flood]].

===False theories===
Jesus' recognition that the truth would remain hidden from arrogant "intellectuals" while simultaneously revealed to humbler, [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|more openminded]] people. This foreshadowed the creation of theories to pull self-centered intellectual wannabees away from [[God]], such as the [[Theory of Evolution]], the [[Theory of Relativity]], the [[homosexual agenda]], the [[secular]] culture of [[abortion]], [[Communism]], and countless other [[liberal]] and atheistic ideas and ideologies.

===Mankind remains extant===
The Bible predicts that the end of [[mankind]] will not occur by chance, but rather at a time known only to God. Despite the extinction of many species each year throughout history, the expectation by scientists that Earth would have been hit by chance by a massive, extinction-causing meteor, and laws of probability that predict other immense catastrophes, mankind continues and Christianity grows just as Jesus predicted.

===Construction of ancient sky-high structures===

The Bible—the [[Book of Genesis]] chapter 11—explains how ancient people arrogantly sought to construct a sky-high "[[Tower of Babel]]" to try to reach [[Heaven]]. Then, in the 1900s, archaeologists discovered the great ziggurat of ancient Ur, located in present-day southern Iraq, having characteristics similar to the biblical description of the Tower of Babel.<ref>http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaThe_Ziggurat.htm</ref>

===Hometown of Goliath===

1 Samuel 17 of the Bible discusses the giant Goliath from a Philistine city named Gath, located in central Israel. In July 2015, archaeologists discovered its entrance in an excavation that began in 1899. They also uncovered evidence of a massive earthquake that occurred in the eighth century BC, as described in the biblical book of Amos.<ref>http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gates.to.goliaths.city.discovered/61124.htm</ref>

==Medicine and biology==

''See also:'' [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles#The Bible and sound health practices|Health benefits of Mosaic law]] and [[Atheism and health]] and [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles]]

===Effect of Deafness on Speech===

For 2000 years after [[Christ]], scientists overlooked the close connection between hearing and speech, and the brain, and are just starting to discover this now.<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/article/deafness-can-have-unexpected-consequences-on-speech-patterns/</ref> But [[Jesus]] illustrated the connection when he cured a problem with speech primarily by opening someone's ears, after which the man "spoke plainly."<ref>Mark 7:34-35 ([[ESV]])</ref>

===Common DNA===
[[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 1|John 1:3]] explains that "All things were made by Him; not one thing was made without Him." If something had been made without Him then creatures would exist that had completely different DNA from other creatures.

===Psychiatry===

[[Jesus Christ]] and [[Christianity|Christendom]] have emphasized the important of forgiveness and in the last few decades mental health specialists have increasingly seen the importance of forgiveness to alleviate anger/depression/bitterness and other emotional problems within individuals.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755173/ Indian J Psychiatry. 2009 Apr-Jun; 51(2): 153–156. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.49459, PMCID: PMC2755173, ''Forgiveness: A note for psychiatrists'' by Prakash Gangdev]</ref>

Modern medicine now realizes that obsessing with one's past is a big cause of psychiatric problems.<ref>http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-flux/201104/5-ways-find-closure-the-past</ref> Jesus had the same insight 2000 years earlier: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the [[kingdom of God]]."<ref>Luke 9:62 ([[ESV]]).</ref>

See also: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== The Bible and health practices ==

''See also:'' [[The Bible and health]]

Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws:
{{cquote|The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics, suppression of venereal disease and prostitution, care of the skin, baths,[17] food, housing and clothing, regulation of labour, sexual life, discipline of the people, etc. Many of these commands, such as Sabbath rest, circumcision, laws concerning food (interdiction of blood and pork), measures concerning menstruating and lying-in women, and those suffering from gonorrhoea, isolation of lepers, and hygiene of the camp, are, in view of the conditions of the climate, surprisingly rational.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref>}}

===Blood clotting on the eighth day===
In Genesis 17:12, God mandated that Abraham circumcise his sons on the 8th day after birth. In 1935, it was discovered that Vitamin K, together with prothrombin, causes blood coagulation, (important in any surgical procedure). On the 8th day, the amount of prothrombin present is elevated above 100% of normal and is therefore the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case (normally). If surgery is to be performed, day 8 is the perfect day to do it as vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

===Lifespan===
The Bible puts the maximum lifespan for man at 120 years (Genesis 6:3), the typical lifespan at 70 years and the typical for a good-living person at 80 years (Psalm 90:10).

Thousands of years after that was written, despite immense advances in medicine and technology, these figures remain remarkably accurate. The longest modern recorded life of a man is precisely 120 years (Shigechiyo Izumi), the average lifespan for a man is roughly 70 years, and the average for a good-living man is about 80 years.

[[Jeanne Calment]] lived to age 122, only two years past 120. She was said to have never worked and used olive oil on her skin, outliving all of her [[feminist]] counterparts.

===Oldest human ancestor===
The Bible suggests that the oldest maternal ancestor — [[Eve]] — first lived slightly more than 6000 years ago.<ref>http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/ussher.html</ref> The mutation rate of [[mitochondria]] indicates roughly the same date for the most recent common human ancestor.<ref>http://creationwiki.org/Mitochondrial_Eve_lived_only_6500_years_ago_%28Talk.Origins%29</ref>

===Anesthesia===
The first surgical operation described in the Bible was the removal of a rib from [[Adam]], which was performed by first putting Adam into an unconscious, "deep sleep-like trance."<ref>[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 2:21]]</ref> This was the equivalent of anesthesia — thousands of years before anesthesia using inhaled ether was developed by William Morton in 1846. Had scientists and physicians been more [[Essay:Quantifying Openmindedness|openminded]] about Genesis 2:21 (perhaps they had considered it a miracle, and thus impossible for humans to achieve), they may have discovered anesthesia far sooner, and saved many more lives.

===Bloodletting hastens death===
At the time of Jesus and for centuries afterward, arteries and veins were thought to be filled with air, and blood was viewed as something to be used up rather than recirculate. Bloodletting—the practice of intentionally draining blood from a patient—was common medical practice through the time of [[George Washington]], hastening his death prematurely for reasons not understood until years later.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37212.php</ref>

Most victims of crucifixion in Roman times languished on the cross for days. But the Bible describes how Pilate, who crucified many, was surprised at how quickly Jesus passed away. 2000 years later, scientific knowledge has advanced to understand that this was caused by his prior loss of blood during his scourging (being brutally whipped), a punishment typically given ''instead of'' crucifixion.

===Homosexuality and disease===
The Bible's prohibition against [[homosexuality]] predated knowledge about the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases and disorders associated with homosexuality]], and thus showed scientific wisdom prescient for its time.

===Eyesight===
The description in the [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Gospel of Mark 8:24]] for the sensation when one's eyesight is restored includes his perception of "trees walking." This perception was first confirmed nearly 2000 years later as physicians developed medical techniques for restoring eyesight.<ref>This newspaper account is not specific but describes the overall sensation of restored sight: [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-138886/Robot-eye-restore-lost-sight-20-years.html]</ref>

===Maximum human height===
Atheists thought the size of [[Goliath]] in the Bible to be absurdly large (over nine feet tall), until [[Robert Wadlow]] grew to nearly 9 feet tall and was still growing when he died at a young age in 1940.

===Leprosy===
Although leprosy is not as contagious as other infectious diseases, and some forms of it (such as tuberculoid or paucibacillary form are not contagious), Leviticus 13 and 14 set forth rules to prevent epidemics of this disease among the people of Israel. Western science did not catch up until, in 1663, such laws were introduced in America in an attempt to curb an outbreak of smallpox.

Centuries ahead of medical science, Jesus subsequently explained that leprosy was not as contagious as people thought.{needs citation}

===Hygiene===
Millennia before germ theory was proposed in the late 19th century, Leviticus 15 mandated hygiene laws that included bathing, washing of clothing, destruction of contaminated pottery and washing of hands.

In Matthew 15:2, Jesus then curbed compulsive hand-washing by explaining why it was no longer typically necessary (in a non-farming, non-medical context) with respect to man's digestive system.

===Digestive system===
It was common thought throughout history that infections and illness resulted from the digestive system, based on unclean hands or food. Jesus rejected that view, and declared hand-washing before meals to be typically unnecessary. It took many centuries before science caught up to the Bible on this.

It is part of the Jewish kosher law to not eat milk with meat. In some Jewish homes they have separate refrigerators for meat and milk products. It comes from Deuteronomy 14:21 "...Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk." There is evidence that the body has difficulty digesting both meat and milk at the same time.

Also, as part of the Jewish kosher law a pork is on the list of prohibited foods. Under cooked pork can transmit Trichinosis, a parasitic disease that can infect muscle tissue, the brain, and the central nervous system, among other [[parasite]]s and zoonotic diseases. [[Creation denial|Creation deniers]] can counter this point only with such desperate non-arguments as asking why God had to create trichinae at all and then allow them onto the [[Ark]].

=== Dietary ===
====Animal Toxicity====
[[File:David Macht.jpg|thumbnail|right||200px|Dr. David Macht]]
In 1953 Dr. [http://www.creationwiki.org/David_Macht David Macht], a Johns Hopkins researcher, conducted toxicity tests on many different kinds of animals and fish and concluded that the toxicity of Levitically [[Mosaic law and unclean animals|"unclean" animals]] was higher than that of the [[Mosaic law and clean animals|"clean" animals]], and that the correlation with the description in Leviticus was 100%.<ref name=Macht1>Macht, David I., MD. "[http://members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/Macht1953.pdf An Experimental Pharmacological Appreciation of Levitcus XI and Deuteronomy XIV]." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 27(5):444-450, September–October, 1953. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Macht's study in terms of classifying kosher and non-kosher animals matched the kosher classification performed by James W. Atz, Ph.D., Curator and Dean Bibliographer in the Department of Ichthyology of the American Museum of Natural History, NY, NY and Adjunct Professor of Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Science on New York University. Dr. Atz's list of kosher and non-kosher animals was published by the Orthodox Union in Kosher Guide and in the Orthodox Union Kosher Consumer Directory.<ref name=Atz>Atz, James W., contrib. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fish/ KASHRUT.COM - Kosher and Non-kosher fish]" Scharf Associates, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> According to a list of kosher and non-kosher fish published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, deciding what fish have scales, in the Orthodox Jewish community, appears to involve semantics as scales which are not visible to the human eye or scales that cannot be removed without tearing the skin are not considered "scales" in terms of the Torah law for determining which fish are kosher. It appears that Jewish religious authorities do appeal to well known Torah commentators.<ref name=Goldberg>Goldberg, Chaim. "[http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fishfaq/ Consumers’ FAQ’s on Kosher fish]." Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, 2004. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Also, Dr. Macht's classification of swans as kosher is in accordance with the research done at Ohr Somayach Institutions in Jerusalem, Israel.<ref name=ask1>"[http://ohr.edu/ask/ask210.htm Ask the Rabbi - Are swans kosher]?" Ohr Somayach Website, Ohr.edu, October 24, 1998. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

Furthermore, Dr. Macht states in the peer reviewed journal ''Science'' that the toxicology test he used was a reliable method for detecting zoological toxins as it was a toxicology test sensitive to these type of toxins, and therefore one could conclude it was also suitable for testing the toxicity levels of fish, meat, and poultry.<ref name=Macht3>Macht, D.I. , Science 1930, 71 :302</ref> (The toxicological method that Dr. Macht used was also cited in the Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.<ref name=Macht2>Macht, D.I. and Macht, M.B. ''Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine'' 1941, 26: 597</ref>) In addition, Dr. Macht was an expert in cobra venom, which is a zoological toxin. Macht's conclusions, however, were challenged by three of his science community peers in a Seventh Day Adventist publication although one partially affirmed his study.<ref name=Harris>Harris, Lester E., Jr. "[https://archive.is/20070709234205/members.dslextreme.com/users/hollymick/web/ministry-1954-March-p37.htm This Question of Unclean Meats]." Ministry Magazine, March 1953, p37-38. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> This was partly due to a likely unfamiliarity with what food is kosher and non-kosher. Also, perhaps they were unfamiliar with the toxicity test Dr. Macht used, and its apparent effectiveness in testing zoological toxins.

In the short term, eating non-kosher food often appears to have no dramatic ill effects in general. For example, the Arabs, who do not eat kosher, consider camel to be a delicacy. Clearly, non-kosher Arabs do not fall dead right after eating camel meat. However, the long term optimality of eating clean versus unclean meat is an unanswered question of science. Also, eating non-kosher foods clearly has some nutritional benefit. For example, shrimp and pork contain protein. The New Testament declares, {{Bible quote|For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5|version=NKJV}}

In regard to the aforementioned verse, it could be argued that prayer does sanctify food. The Bible has plenty of verses regarding God's protection. Also, it could be argued that the benefits outweigh the costs in all foods and thus all food is good. Clearly there is some nutritional goodness in foods that the Torah declared unclean (for example, shrimp has protein). What foods are optimal from an empirically tested science viewpoint is often controversial. In short, in regard to eating strictly a kosher diet versus a non-kosher diet, science has no definitive answers at the present time. From a Christian theological point of view, it could be argued that food should not be an impediment to anyone making a decision to become a Christian. It should be noted that orthodox Christian believers in Biblical scientific foreknowledge believe that Christians can eat the food that was declared [[Clean and unclean animals|unclean]] in the Old Testament, and {{Bible ref|book=1_Timothy|chap=4|verses=4-5}} and {{Bible ref|book=Galations|chap=2|verses=7-16}} make this very clear.

In addition to the aforementioned study testing kosher and non-kosher foods for toxicity levels, Macht developed evidence indicating that combining meat and milk tended to be more toxic than either foodstuff alone.<ref name=Macht4>David I. Macht, Medical Leaves 1940; 3:174-184</ref> In addition, he compared conventional animal slaughtering versus kosher slaughtering and determined that kosher slaughtering produced less toxic meat.<ref name=Macht4/>

A 1985 study by Nanji and French found that there was a significant correlation between cirrhosis and pork consumption (Macht claimed that swine was more toxic than the animal meat the Bible called clean).<ref name=Nanji>Nanji AA, and French SW. "[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2858627&dopt=Abstract Relationship between pork consumption and cirrhosis]." ''Lancet'' 1985 Mar 23, 1(8430):681-3. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> Modern pork production methods are different from ancient methods of raising pigs, so the result of this study might be hard to apply to the ancients or those who raise pigs by [[organic farming]] methods, without the use of hormones or antiobiotics.

Jane Cahill reported in ''Biblical Archaeological Review'' that the toilets of a Jewish household in [[Jerusalem]] were examined and no [[parasite]]s or [[infectious disease|infectious agents]] were found.<ref name=Cahill>[http://cojs.org/cojswiki/It_Had_to_Happen,_Jane_M._Cahill,_Karl_Reinhard,_David_Tarler_and_Peter_Warnock,_BAR_17:03,_May/Jun_1991. It had to happen, Scientist Examines Ancient Bathrooms of Romans 586 B.C.] by Jane Cahill and Peter Warnock. BAR May/June 1991</ref>

Today, some "alternative medicine" practitioners do not recommend pork to their patients and subscribed advisees. Their reasons include the possible content of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, and also the undiscriminating diet of the pig. Joseph Mercola, DO, who has a private practice in alternative general medicine, writes:{{cquote|Pigs are scavenger animals and will eat just about anything. Their appetite for less-than-wholesome foods makes pigs a breeding ground for potentially dangerous infections. Even cooking pork for long periods is not enough to kill many of the retroviruses and other parasites that many of them harbor.<ref name=Mercola>Mercola, Joseph, DO, ed. "[http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/12/are-there-deadly-superbugs-in-your-pork.aspx?source=nl Are There Deadly Superbugs In Your Pork]?" <http://www.mercola.com/>, July 12, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>}}

Dr. Mercola does not even recommend pasture-raised pork, because wild boars will often infect herds of pork with [[Trichinella spiralis]] or other parasites.<ref name=Mercola/>

===Feasibility of abiogenesis===
Although scientists dismissed ideas involving [[abiogenesis]], or the process from which life emerges from non-living material, as nothing more than archaic beliefs in [[spontaneous generation]], the Bible very clearly depicts an occurrence of this phenomenon, for beginning in Genesis 1:20, God creates life from nothing. It was not until the early 20th century that science finally began to accept the viability of abiogenesis, a view that the Bible had held for almost 2000 years, except that [[atheists]] falsely claim that abiogenesis is somehow possible without a creator. For addition information, please see [http://creation.com/origin-of-life origin of life]

===Awareness while unborn===
[[Abortion]] advocates argue that it is ok to terminate a baby while dismissing the pain inflicted by ending an innocent life. They argue that a fetus cannot feel pain because senses are incomplete. There is a heart-beating human in the womb that can feel even though still unborn and developing. In modern times, we now know the baby in the womb is alert, aware of their mother's emotions, recognizes voices, responds to stimuli and music. The Bible tells us the baby feels (1 Luke 44), ''"the babe leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice."'' The inwomb developing baby, John the Baptist, notices the presence of the unborn [[Lord]] in [[Mary]], and is excited. In addition (St. Paul to the Galatians 1:15), ''"God… from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace."'' Paul's very first thought, feeling awareness, began while unborn.

===Embalming===
[[Mark 9-16 (Translated)#Chapter 14|Mark 14:3-8]] describes an embalming process to preserve a body after death, which was not discovered in the West until 1867.

===Significance of blood===
The Old Testament teaches that the [[life]] of all flesh is its [[blood]] ({{Bible ref|book=Leviticus|chap=17|verses=13-14|version=KJV}}). Secular science remained ignorant of the properties and circulation of blood until the 17th century A.D.<ref>[http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12_notes.htm Net Bible: Notes] to [http://wap.bible.org/nbw/deu12.htm#1234 Deuteronomy 12:23] {{dead link}}</ref>

===Menstruation===
The Biblical laws concerning [[menstruation]], including the setting apart of the menstruating woman and the prohibition on intimacy during menstruation, address health concerns that were not known to secular science until the 20th century.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</ref> Also, modern science has only very recently discovered that following such rules dramatically reduces the rate of [[illegitimacy]].<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120604182027.htm How Religion Promotes Confidence About Paternity]</ref>

===Cloning===
{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=2|verses=21-22|version=KJV}} records that God made a [[woman]] out of one of [[Adam]]'s [[rib]]s. Secular scientists did not believe that [[cloning]] such a complex organism (apart from plants) was possible until 1997.<ref>[http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml Cloning Fact Sheet] {{dead link}}</ref> It should be noted, however, that this is not strictly 'cloning' as a clone would be identical to its original, most obviously in terms of its sex.

===Common X Chromosome===

Women have the same X chromosome as men, but this was not discovered until the late 1800s. The Book of Genesis explained this thousands years earlier, describing how the first woman was created directly from man.

===Inbreeding===
Leviticus 18:7-11 elaborates in detail the relationships it regards as incestuous unions, to forbid inbreeding. Secular science was able to scientifically explain the mechanisms and risks of inbreeding only in modern times.

==Cosmology==

===Distance of Oldest Star to Earth===

The Book of Genesis implies that the distance of the oldest star to Earth is how far light would travel during the age of mankind: about 6000 light-years. In 2014, a team of researchers discovered that the oldest star is indeed only 6000 light-years away.<ref>http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/6012/the-oldest-star-in-the-known-universe</ref>

===Planet formation===
Theories of an old universe insisted that planet formation did not occur until long after the origin of the universe, contrary to the [[Book of Genesis]]. But in 2012 scientists announced the existence of planets that formed "at dawn of universe."<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0330/Planets-found-at-dawn-of-universe-but-their-existence-is-a-mystery</ref>

===Extraterrestrial life===
For most of the 20th century, scientists typically believed in the existence of extraterrestrial life, despite the lack of any reference to it in the Bible. After spending many billions of dollars looking for such life, and investigating countless reports of UFOs, no such life has been found.

===Starlight Problem===
The [[Starlight Problem]] confounds atheistic theories about the universe: light has reached us from stars that are too far away to transmit the light within the age of the universe. But the Book of Genesis explains this easily: "let there be light" means that God created light, not merely stars.

===Number of stars===
The Bible repeatedly refers to the number of stars as being innumerable,<ref>''See'' Genesis 15:5, Jeremiah 33:22 and Hebrews 11:12.</ref> despite scientists insisting throughout most of history that there were only about 6000 stars. In the early 17th century [[Galileo]] turned a telescope to the heavens and discovered a great number of stars that had been previously invisible to the naked eye.<ref>http://galileo.rice.edu/lib/student_work/astronomy95/orionpleiades.html</ref>

Not until the 20th century did scientists discover the tremendous number of stars:<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/07/22/stars.survey/index.html</ref>

:There are "10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world's beaches and deserts," totaling "7 followed by 22 zeros or, more accurately, 70 sextillion.

But even that scientific estimate was much too low. On December 1, 2010, scientists admitted:<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1201/Universe-might-hold-three-times-more-stars-than-previously-thought</ref>

:"a cosmic embarrassment of riches – ''the universe appears to hold three times the number of stars many [[astronomer]]s might have estimated only a year ago''."

===Uniqueness of stars===
Although the use of telescopes to chart the outer-reaches of God's heavenly creation was developed around the 16th century in Europe, the Bible accurately hypothesized that every star is unique.

"There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory"- 1 Corinthians 15:41 <ref>http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/science.shtml</ref>

===Spherical Sun and Earth===
The Book of Isaiah establishes that the true shape of the earth is a sphere:
{{cquote|He sits above the sphere of the earth, and its inhabitants look to him like grasshoppers. He stretches out the galaxies like a curtain, spreading them out like a tent to live under: - [[Isaiah 34-42 (Translated)#Chapter 40|Isaiah 40:22 (CBP]])}}

Likewise, with respect to the [[sun]], the Book of Proverbs 8:27 ([[ESV]]) states:
{{cquote|When he established the heavens, ... he drew a circle on the face of the deep}}

The Book of Isaiah was written circa the 8th century BC, and the Book of Proverbs even earlier. This was centuries before Greek philosophers, beginning with [[Pythagoras]], theorized the earth was round, and it was not discovered until 2012 that the sun is perfectly spherical. Astronomers were not able to conclude until well into the second millennium of [[Christ]] that the Earth is also a sphere.

===Earth free floating in space===
The book of Job states that God "hangs the [[Earth]] on nothing." It also contrasts with Greek Mythology's belief that [[Atlas]] holds up the Earth, or ancient Hindu and Native American myths that the Earth was on top of a gigantic turtle.

The Bible presaged the modern view that space is in fact empty, which wasn't known until the dawn of the 20th century when ether theories became disfavored.

===Cosmic Background Radiation===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis Chapter 1]] explains that God created light first, rather than merely stars. A "big bang" would result in light everywhere, without darkness, and without ripples in cosmic background radiation. Yet in the 21st century ripples were discovered in cosmic background radiation, which can only be plausibly explained by recognizing that light was created first.

===Meteoroids===
The Revelation of Saint John notes,
{{cquote|And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9 (KJV)}}
This accurately describes meteoroids, essentially large chunks of rock lit on fire by the shock of entering the earth's atmosphere. They were not discovered until 1801, and their composition was not otherwise known until the 20th century.

===Stellar proper movement===
In [[Job]], a list of challenges are constructed in the form of questions, with the idea that man can't do it, but God can. Among these challenges, two are remarkable: one mentions the ''untying'' of Orion's belt, and the other is the ''binding'' of the Pleiades. Only recently, astronomers could measure the proper movement of those stars; Orion's belt is moving apart, with each star going in a different direction, while the Pleiades are moving together.

===Space flight===
Many theorize that the book of [[Ezekiel]] contains descriptions of spaceships and rockets, as they would have been described by someone thousands of years ago. [http://www.spaceshipsofezekiel.com/ Author Blumrich] has even published an entire book about this.

===Expanding universe===
The Bible explains, in 17 different verses, that God "stretched out" the heavens,<ref>http://www.creationists.org/God-streched-out-the-universe-bible-verses.html</ref> in other words, expanding the fabric of space-time from a smaller size to a much larger one. Scientists have discovered only in the last 100 years that, by studying the red shift of galaxies, the universe indeed appears to be expanding, or "stretching out."

==Meteorology==

===Water cycle===
The existence of the water cycle was not known until imperial Roman times, but the Bible described it over a thousand years before that.
See [[Ecclesiastes]] 11:3, [[Job]] 26:8 and [[Amos]] 9:6

==Physics==

=== Immense power within atoms alluded to in 2 Peter chapter 3 ===
[[Image:Abomb.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[atomic bomb]] that was dropped on [[Hiroshima]] unleashed the equivalent of about 15 kilotons of TNT.]]
The immense power within atoms is alluded to in the Bible in 2 Peter chapter 3.<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>

Daniel White III declares:
{{Cquote|John Phillips notes that Peter’s prophecy of a great, end-times conflagration of the earth and its atmosphere uses precise terminology that accurately describes a nuclear explosion. Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon define the “elements” as “the components into which matter is divided” (or atoms), and the term “dissolved” comes from the basic Greek word meaning to “loose” that which is bound (as in nuclear fission). The term “great noise” is found nowhere else in the New Testament and signifies “a rushing sound of roaring flames.” The term “fervent heat” is derived from a Greek medical term denoting a fever. But Peter’s use of it in application to inanimate objects is the only such known usage anywhere in Greek literature. Thus, Phillips observes, “Peter describes in accurate terms the untying of the atom and the resulting rushing, fiery destruction which follows it.”<ref name="bcnn1wp.wordpress.com">[https://bcnn1wp.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/listen-breaking-prophecy-news-the-world-at-war-part-3-the-prophet-daniels-report-568-with-daniel-whyte-iii/ LISTEN: Breaking Prophecy News; The World at War, Part 3 (The Prophet Daniel’s Report #568 with Daniel Whyte III)]</ref>}}

===Impossibility of a Grand Unified Theory===
Billions of dollars and millions of hours have been wasted by scientists in futile pursuit of a "grand unified theory" for physics. But [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)#Chapter 1|Genesis]] explains that the creation of light was done in a separate, initial creation, free of darkness or entropy, and thus incapable of theoretical unification with matter.

===Light and color===
Prior to the work of [[Isaac Newton]], white was considered to be the fundamental color of light, and other colors (such as red, green and blue) were formed by adding to white light. Under that traditional theory, the fullness of all light (a combination of all colors of light) would result in something other than pure white.

The transfiguration of Jesus is described with remarkable consistency in all three synoptic [[Gospel]]s: in the fullness of light Jesus and his clothing display an intense white, whiter than any bleach could produce. This illustrates what was not discovered and accepted until nearly 1700 years later: that white is the combination of other fundamental colors, and the purest white light is formed by a perfectly full combination (see [[Prism]]).

===Action-at-a-distance===
[[Jesus]] demonstrated [[action-at-a-distance]], as recounted in [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]]. Scientists, particularly [[atheists]], denied the possibility of this phenomenon for thousands of years. When Newton proposed action-at-a-distance as the basis of gravity, scientists continued to reject it, but eventually accepted it as being true.

Later the [[Theory of Relativity]] again denied the possibility of action-at-a-distance, but [[quantum mechanics]] subsequently proved that it does occur.<ref>See also [[Counterexamples to Relativity]].</ref>

===Quantum mechanics===
The fundamental principle of [[quantum mechanics]] is that the underlying reality is in random fluctuation, or chaos, until there is intelligent observation of it. This is precisely what [[Luke 1-8 (Translated)#Luke 4:6|Luke 4:6]] reveals when it quotes the [[devil]] in saying that he has dominion over this world.

The world was an abyss of chaos at the moment of creation, as explained in Genesis. The order created by God is on a foundation of uncertainty. The discovery of this in subatomic particles in the 1900s, known as quantum mechanics, confirms the nature of the world as described in Genesis.

====Observation of the wave function====
The second chapter of the [[Gospel of John]] describes the conversion of water into wine by [[Jesus]] at a wedding reception. [[John 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 2|John 2:9]] states: "When the host of the wedding feast tasted the water, it had been made into wine." This passage implies that the drink was not wine until it had been tasted, or observed. The drink was a superposition of the state of wine and the state of water until it was observed as wine.

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus draws a then-unusual distinction between what is fixed and what is uncertain by declaring, "Whatever you make binding on earth will be binding in heaven, and whatever you set loose on earth will be set loose in heaven."<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Matthew_10-19_%28Translated%29&oldid=870778#Chapter_16</ref> This may describe the fundamental uncertainty that continues unless and until there is human observation that then causes the wave function to collapse into a particular ("bound") state.

====Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle====
Both the Old and New Testaments refer to a fundamental uncertainty that requires observation to resolve, akin to the [[Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle]] discovered in the 1920s:

* "The earth came to exist in an utterly formless and empty state." -- [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 1:2]].
* "The master refusing to order the removal of the weeds sowed among the wheat because of the uncertainty in distinguishing between the two until later." -- [[Matthew 10-19 (Translated)|Matthew 13:24-30]].

====Wave-particle duality====
Wave-particle duality, first discovered in the 20th century, allows for a particle to sometimes be subject to gravity and sometimes not.

The wave-particle duality was described nearly 2000 years earlier in the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water: [[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:45-54]]. A close reading of the passage reveals the wave-like (or light-like) characteristic of the walking on water:<ref>[[Mark 1-8 (Translated)|Mark 6:48-49]] (italics added).</ref>
{{cquote|he walked on the surface of the lake and came to the boat, ''nearly passing it''. But when they saw him walking on water, they thought it must have been ''a ghost'', and cried out.}}
In a more general sense, Jesus could be viewed as the "particle" and the [[Holy Spirit]] as the "wave" of God. A fuller understanding of the [[Trinity]] could have opened the eyes of scientists much earlier to the fundamental wave-particle duality of nature ... '''''and still could'''''.

====Quantum tunneling====
[[Quantum tunneling]] is the ability of particles to move through energy barriers even though ostensibly impossible based on classical laws of mechanical physics. This was not discovered by scientists until the 20th century.

Jesus proved this was possible in [[John 15-21 (Translated)#Chapter 20|John 20:26]], when he appeared before the [[Apostles]] in a closed room with completely shut doors.

===Classical relativity===
Romans 10:6-7: But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Equating ascending into heaven to bringing Christ down is an example of the fact that there is no universal reference frame, and only relative speeds matter.

===Modern relativity===
The [[Theory of Relativity]] denies the possibility of action-at-a-distance. But several passages in the Bible, such as [[John 1-7 (Translated)|John 4:46-54]] and [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)|Matthew 27:51]], describe simultaneous actions from afar.

The list of [[Counterexamples to Relativity]] has grown recently, and modern experiments in quantum mechanics have confirmed action-at-a-distance.

===Second Law of Thermodynamics===
The [[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Book of Genesis]] states that the darkness or chaos in the universe can never overcome the light, or order. This same concept was not discovered in physics until the development of the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]], which holds that heat (or order or light) always travels in the direction of cold (or disorder or darkness), and never in the opposite direction. On the other hand, the Second Law of Thermodynamics predicts a heat death for the universe; thus the universe will eventually be dark and chaotic. Thus, the validity of this statement is questionable.

[[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10-11]] explains that the universe shall "wear out" like a "garment", centuries before the discovery of the physical law that [[entropy]] is always increasing.

===Nature of air===
Until about 300 years ago, common knowledge believe that the air was "empty" and didn't weigh anything. But [[Job]] 28:25 states, "To establish a '''weight''' for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure" indicating that the divinely inspired author knew the air had substance and weight.

===Conservative forces===
James 1:17 describes the electromagnetic forces (light) as having no "shadow of turning." Not understood for nearly 2000 years, this predicts that electromagnetic forces are [[conservative]] such that their [[line integrals]] over a closed loop are zero.

==Mathematics==
''See main article: [[Math and the Bible]]''
===Zero===
Mathematicians in Western Europe did not discover [[zero]] until many centuries after the Bible was written. But there are hundreds of references to the concept of zero throughout the Bible.

===Banach-Tarski Paradox===
The only miracle described in all four [[Gospels]] is the multiplication of loaves and fish by Jesus, thought for thousands of years to be a mathematical and physical impossibility. But the 20th century discovery of the so-called [[Banach-Tarski Paradox]] proved a mathematical basis for creating identical copies of an object out of no extra material.

===Axiomatization of Arithmetic===
The full set of axioms for integer arithmetic may be found in the Bible. For example, [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)|Luke 12:52]] is a striking statement of the commutative law for addition: "For from this point forward there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three." This understanding presaged both later attempts at the axiomatization of arithmetic by Peano and the development of [[abstract algebra]] in the 19th and 20th centuries.

===Infinity===
Most thinkers scoffed at the concept of [[infinity]] for thousands of years, despite it being referenced in the Bible in many ways. See, e.g., Psalm 147:4-6 (God's "understanding is infinte"); [[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#20:1|Matthew 20:1-14]] ([[parable]] of the wages for the workers in the vineyard); Matthew 16:26 (one's soul has an infinite value to him, and nothing else can be worth more).

But [[Georg Cantor]], deeply inspired by [[Christianity]], established a logical foundation for infinity that revolutionized all of mathematics as a result, with his development of [[set theory]] to accomplish his goal.

===Calculus===
The Bible emphasizes the importance of limits as a key distinction between this world and God; Calculus consists of relying on limits to derive useful results.<ref>[http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_27/27cc_225-239.htm Norie Grace Rivera-Poblete: "''God and Calculus''"], Institute for Christian Teaching Education Department of [[Seventh-day Adventist]], Prepared for the 27th International Faith and Learning Seminar held at Mission, Muak Lek Saraburi, Thailand December 3 – 15, 2000</ref>

James 1:17 states that the first and second derivatives of God's light (truth) is zero, more than 1600 years before calculus was discovered: "with [God] there is no variation or shadow of turning."<ref name="Shadow%252525252525252520of%252525252525252520Turning">[http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/no-variation-or-shadow-of-turning-calculus-in-the-bible/ Nathan Albright: ''"No Variation Or Shadow Of Turning: Calculus In The Bible"''], Blog-Entry, Feb 24, 2011</ref>

===Arithmetic with Negative Numbers===

Negative numbers were not fully accepted by mathematicians until the 1800s,<ref>http://nrich.maths.org/5961</ref> including how a negative number dominates the result in multiplication with a positive number, to yield a negative outcome. Yet Jesus' parable of the sower and the seed, in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-8, and Luke 8:4-8, explained the same effect nearly 2000 years earlier.

=== Indeterminacy ===

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that God is "unsearchable". See Job 5:9 (God "does great things and unsearchable"); Job 26:1 ("God's Majesty Is Unsearchable"); Job 36:26 ("Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.") Psalm 145:3 ("Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."); Proverbs 25:3 ("As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable."); Isaiah 40:28 ("Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."); Romans 11:33 ("Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!")' Ephesians 3:8 ("to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ").<ref>All quotations are to the ESV of the Bible.</ref>

John 1:1 teaches that logic is part of God, and thus logic itself must also be "unsearchable". For many decades the finest mathematicians thought that the consistency of logic could be proven, until [[Kurt Godel]] (himself a frequent reader of the Bible) proved the indeterminacy, or "unsearchability", of mathematics.

==Sociology==

===Trolls===

The existence of malicious trolls on the internet is difficult to understand, until one reads Matthew 13:24-30 - the Parable of the Wheat and the Chaff.

===Crime===
Mark 4:22 says how nothing can be hid, neither can anything be kept secret. Empirical statistics show that the vast majority of crimes worldwide are solved.

==Zoology==

===Morality of animals===
[[Genesis 1-8 (Translated)|Genesis 3:1-10]] explains that only humans understand good and evil, and clothe themselves because of it. Repeatedly scientists have attempted to demonstrate that animals can understand morality also, but every attempt has failed. No animal (other than humans) has ever been found that clothes itself. However, as limited case, animals do demonstrate altruistic behavior.

===Existence of dinosaurs===
[[Dinosaur]] fossils were not discovered until the 19th century, but the book of Job describes enormous creatures called behemoth and leviathan, the descriptions being similar to dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. It may also have referred to another similarly giant now-extinct species. Other dinosaur like creatures mentioned are the cockatrice and satyr <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i2/behemoth.asp</ref>

===Killing methods of lions===
Until the 1970s naturalists believed that lions killed their prey by biting through the neck or by breaking the neck with a swat of a paw, while the Bible says that lions suffocated their prey. (Nahum 2:12) It was not until the 1970s that it was discovered that the [[Bible]] was correct.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BLions87.htm</ref> Lions fit their mouth over the mouth and nose of their prey and hold it while it suffocates, in addition to other killing methods.

===Giant sea creatures and Jonah===
The [[Jonah (Translated)|Book of Jonah]] describes his survival in the belly of a giant sea creature for 2.5 to 3 days. Scientists declared this to be impossible due to powerful stomach acids that quickly break down any material and the lack of breathable air inside marine animals.

In 2010, scientists found the following materials intact in the belly of a gray whale that had died after being stranded on a Northwest beach:<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/19/pair-sweat-pants-garbage-beached-whales-stomach/</ref>

*a pair of sweat pants
*a golf ball
*over 20 plastic bags
*small towels
*duct tape
*surgical gloves

Of course, many sea creatures have gone extinct in the thousands of years since Jonah lived.

===Gender of worker ants===
Proverbs 6:6-8 correctly states the sex of worker [[ant]]s (female), using the correct one of the two [[Grammar#Gender|grammatical genders]] available in Biblical [[Hebrew]]. Secular entomologists would not discover that fact until the 19th century.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=rzwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6&dq=ant+undeveloped+female+worker+date:1700-1850&lr=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#v=onepage&q&f=false The study of medicine, Volume 5 By John Mason Good]</ref>

=== Harvester ants ===

19th century [[Europe]]an naturalists were wrong about [[ant]] behavior - namely the issue of ants/harvesting (Harvester ants). The Bible was correct about ant behavior.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BWilliamsvsAnon71to73.htm</ref>

=== Hearing and snakes ===

The scientific consensus and the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' both indicated that snakes can't hear.<ref>[http://creation.com/snake-charming-and-bible-accuracy Charmed, I’m sure!] by Calvin Smith</ref><ref>[http://ed5015.tripod.com/BCobra94.htm The Cobra and the Bible]</ref> The Bible said that snakes can hear. 21st century research showed that snakes can hear.

=== Vegetarian lion ===

The prophet Isaiah says that there will be a time when the [[lion]] will lay down with the lamb and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25). There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>
[[File:8790lion-wont-eat-meat.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|There was a vegetarian lion named Little Tyke that refused to eat meat.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>]]
David Catchpoole wrote at the website of [[Creation Ministries International]]:
{{Cquote|From 1946 to 1955, A female African lion, born and raised in America, lived her entire lifetime of nine years without ever eating meat.1 In fact, her owners, Georges and Margaret Westbeau,2 alarmed by scientists’ reports that carnivorous animals cannot live without meat, went to great lengths to try to coax their unusual pet (‘Little Tyke’) to develop a taste for it. They even advertised a cash reward for anyone who could devise a meat-containing formula that the lioness would like. The curator of a New York zoo advised the Westbeaus that putting a few drops of blood in Little Tyke’s milk bottle would help in weaning her, but the lioness cub refused to touch it—even when only a single drop of blood had been added.

The more knowledgeable animal experts among the many visitors to the Westbeaus’ 100 acre (40 hectare) ranch also proffered advice, but nothing worked. Meanwhile, Little Tyke continued to do extremely well on a daily diet of cooked grain, raw eggs and milk. By four years of age she was fully grown and weighed 352 pounds (160 kg)...

Mr Westbeau’s observation of the lioness that ‘To condition her stomach she would spend an hour at a time eating the succulent tall grass in the fields’, is also a vivid reminder of the prophecies of Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, ‘ … the lion will eat straw like the ox.’<ref>[http://creation.com/the-lion-that-wouldnt-eat-meat The lion who would not eat meat]</ref>}}

==Linguistics==
[[File:The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563.jpg|thumb|350px|The Tower of Babel by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]], 1563.]]
===Common descent theory===
The [[theory of evolution]] suggests that all languages are descended from a common ancestral language, and for a century (1860 to about 1960) scientists clung to that view. But now most linguists identify many different families of languages that have no common ancestor, just as described in Genesis 11 with the [[Tower of Babel]].

===Earliest Hebrew writings===
Skeptics have claimed that [[Hebrew]] writing did not exist before the 6th century B.C. But a recent Israeli archaeological dig dated four centuries earlier, in the 10th century B.C., included an artifact found at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley. This artifact contained a written inscription in Hebrew relating to "slaves, widows and orphans." Haifa University Professor Gershon Galil noted that this disproves the theory that the Bible could not have been written before the 6th century.<ref>http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/01/08/Bible-may-be-centuries-older-than-thought/UPI-21171262997765/</ref>

==Economics==
Jesus stated that there will always be poverty,<ref>See Mark 14:7, Matthew 26:11 and John 12.8.</ref> yet [[liberals]] repeatedly insist that poverty can be eliminated with more government spending. Every attempt to eliminate poverty has failed just as Jesus predicted. In 1991 [[Ronald Coase]] won a [[Nobel Prize]] in [[Economics]] for the [[Coase Theorem]], which implies that government attempts to reduced poverty will interfere with efficient operation of the economy, and thereby reduce wealth.

==Government and Politics==
''See also [[Biblical political foreknowledge]]''

===Nation-state===
Ancient Israel, as described in the [[Old Testament]], was a [[nation-state]] and that model was not utilized again until thousands of years later, well after the Renaissance in Western Europe. This model of a nation-state has become the modern standard worldwide.

===Separation of Powers===
The separation of powers adopted successfully by the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1787, with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches having separate authority and jurisdiction, was first described in the Old Testament.<ref>See Jeremiah 17:19 and Isaiah 33:22.</ref>

===Liberal influence on the media===
The Third [[Three Temptations of Christ|Temptation of Christ]] is to bow down and worship the [[Satan]] in exchange for becoming ruler of the world. The media plays that role and its influence is predictably liberal and anti-[[Christian]].

==Engineering==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge about these engineering developments has been proposed:<ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2191</ref>
{{cquote|automobiles (Joel 2:3-4); airplanes (Isaiah 31:5, also 40:31); submarines (Revelation 9:1-11); radio (Ecclesiastes 10:20); and television (Revelation 11:3-12)}}
Classical photography, using negative imaging, was predated by the [[Shroud of Turin]] with respect to the imaging on the Shroud likely due to the light of the [[Resurrection]]. The Shroud ([[Greek]]: σινδών - sindón) is mentioned in three Gospels: Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, while John 20:5-7 talks about a face cloth or napkin ([[Greek]]: σουδάριον - soudárion - perhaps the [[Sudarium of Oviedo]]), and a piece of fine linen ([[Greek]]: ὀθόνιον - othonion). The description by the eyewitness John implies that his sighting of the Shroud may have confirmed his [[faith]], though he doesn't mention its photograph-like image.<ref>John Calvin, who opposed the Catholic Church, wrote a book in 1543 criticizing all material evidence of Jesus and the martyrs. In it he claimed that because the negative image on the Shroud is not described in the Gospels, it must not be authentic. [[John Calvin]]: ''Traité des Reliques'', Geneve 1543, translated by Valerian Krasinski: ''A treatise on Relics'', Edingburgh 1854</ref>

==Alleged "contradictions"==
Biblical scientific foreknowledge is an underpinning of creation science, and is widely credited by Christian scientists and apologists, including the organizations [[Creation Ministries International]],<ref>http://creation.com/modern-medicine Creation Ministries International on "Modern" Medicine</ref> [[Answers in Genesis]],<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i1/medicine.asp Answers in Genesis on "Modern" Medicine</ref> and [[CreationWiki]].<ref>[http://creationwiki.org/index.php/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible Scientific Foreknowledge]</ref>

Atheists and liberals unsuccessfully attempt to discredit the Bible based on science. Here are some examples:

===Value of Pi===
Two sections of the bible (1 Kings 7, 23-26, 2 Chronicles, 4, 2-5) appear to indicate that the correct value of [[Pi]] is 3, whereas Pi is in fact an irrational number, equalling approximately 3.14159. Atheists, including [[Sam Harris]] and [[Richard Dawkins]], allege that this value indicates the fallacious nature of scripture.<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/articles/139 The Richard Dawkins Foundation, ''Reply to a Christian'', Sam Harris -]</ref> However, a simple explanation of the claimed "contradiction" is that the Bible records the ratio of the actual object which Hiram created, not that of a mathematical [[sphere]]. The claim that it was round all about does not equate to a claim that it was a perfect sphere, as atheists have claimed.<ref>''Theology'', Volume 59, Issues 427-438, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain), London, 1956, p. 23</ref>

Additionally, Pi to one significant digit is 3. Just because the measurement is given to only one significant digit, that does not mean it was precisely that amount. Of course, since Pi is an irrational number, it would be impossible to give a truly precise measurement. Since decimal notation was not in use in Biblical times, there was no way to express Pi to greater accuracy in the language of the day.

===Bat as a bird===
A favorite [[evolutionist]] canard is that [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:13-19]] labels the [[bat]], a [[mammal]], as a [[bird]]. The [[KJV]] translation of "fowl" is simply incorrect, as the Hebrew term '' 'owph'' did not entail the "clade" of birds, but was a non-scientific category simply referring to ''any'' winged creature. A popular Jewish translation, used to explain the laws of keeping kosher, translates the term as "winged flying things."

===Rabbits, coneys, and cud===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:5-6]], the Bible states, {{cquote|And the coney ''(or hyrax)'', because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.}} While rabbits do not, in fact, regurgitate food and re-chew it, they have the same jaw motions as animals that do<ref>http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/genesis-deuteronomy/do-badger-and-rabbit-chew-cud</ref> and thus appeared as cud-chewing to the Jews of Moses's time. Atheists and liberals love to misrepresent this passage only because they are in [[liberal denial]] of the truth.

===Number of legs of insects===
In [[Leviticus 10-18 (Translated)#Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:20-23]], the Bible states, {{cquote|All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the
grasshopper after his kind.

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.}}While this may appear to indicate that insects have four legs (they have six), the passage is in fact referring to the manner in which the grasshopper moves. Grasshoppers have large back legs mainly used for jumping, and not for walking, which is when it uses its smaller four front legs. Thus, the ancient Hebrews were just describing things as they saw them, not according to scientific nomenclature.

==See also==
*[[Essay:Rebuttal to Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]
*[[Biblical political foreknowledge]]
*[[Christianity and Science]]
*[[The Bible]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Atheism]]

==External links==
*[http://www.creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Biblical scientific foreknowledge] by [[CreationWiki]]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/10/scientific-consensus-and-evolutionary.html Jesus vs. the scientific consensus and evolution. Jesus wins!]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Liberal Denial]]

{{Creation vs. evolution}}

Black hole

2017-02-24T02:45:00Z

Ambassador: Mghnfd came only to steal, to kill, and to destroy

[[Image:Iu8969hu.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Artist's conception of a binary system consisting of a black hole (upper left) and a main sequence star (lower right). The black hole is drawing matter from the star via an ''accretion disk'' (blue) around it, and some of this matter forms a gas jet (also blue).]]
A '''black hole''' is a theoretical formation in space which has such an incredible density that it draws all nearby matter into it with strong gravitational forces. The word "black" is in the name because these formations also theoretically draw in [[photon]]s and prevent them from escaping, thus making a black hole appear completely dark. They are assumed to come into existence from extremely large stars that collapse into a state of high density when they run out of fusion fuel. An object becomes a black hole when it lies entirely inside the Schwarzschild radius (see below) determined by its mass. For most objects, the Schwarzschild radius is very tiny compared with its size (for Earth it is about 1 centimeter), so the object could not lie inside that radius.

Black holes are increasingly promoted by [[liberal]] publications, such as the science page of the ''[[New York Times]]'', glossy magazines, and the movies the ''Event Horizon'' (1997), ''The Black Hole'' (TV, 2006), and ''Interstellar'' (2014). As with the related theoretical concept of a "[[wormhole]]",<ref>The prediction of the existence of wormholes, and its naming in 1957, predates the prediction and naming (1967) of a black hole.[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/14/science/14wheeler.html?pagewanted=print]</ref> it is impossible to prove that no black hole exists anywhere, and thus they fail the [[falsifiability]] requirement of science.

Because of [[quantum mechanics|quantum-mechanical]] phenomena involving Hawking Radiation, discussed later in the article, black holes must emit radiation and thus are a logical contradiction at the microscopic level.

Black holes have never been directly observed, and there is no direct evidence for their existence. Even believers in black holes should admit that there are far fewer than predicted by theory, and they lose credibility when they fail to address that undisputed truth. They will cite evidence of observations of radiation from accretion disks, motion of stars near the center of the galaxy, and "gravitational lensing", around places where there are no visible objects. But at most the evidence for the existence of black holes is circumstantial, with heavy reliance on speculation.

Black holes are conceptually associated with "[[wormhole]]s",<ref>The prediction of the existence of wormholes, and its naming in 1957, predates the prediction and naming (1967) of a black hole.[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/14/science/14wheeler.html?pagewanted=print]</ref> which never caught on with the public, perhaps due to its unattractive terminology.

==Mathematical description==
A '''black hole''' is any object that lies entirely inside its own Schwarzschild radius, given by
:<math>r=\frac{2G}{c^2}\ m</math>
where
*G is Newton's gravitational constant;
*c is the speed of light;
*m is the mass of the object.

Numerically,
:<math>r=1.5 \times 10^{-27}\ m</math>
in meters and kilograms.

This is a concept of gravity, under [[General Relativity]]. For any normal object, from things one would see on Earth up to stars that are not extremely massive or dense (much more massive or dense than the Sun), the Schwarzschild radius is very tiny relative to the object. This means that the object does not lie inside that radius, and cannot be a black hole. For example, the Schwarzschild radius of the Earth is about one centimeter, and that of the Sun is about three kilometers. The Earth could only become a black hole if it were compressed into a radius of one centimeter.

What makes the Schwarzschild radius significant is that the behavior of gravity, under General Relativity, is determined by the Schwarzschild metric, and is (not surprisingly) nearly identical to the behavior given by Newton's law of gravity. The difference only shows up at distances at or near the Schwarzschild radius. If the Earth were compressed to a radius of one centimeter or less, the behavior of gravity would become radically different as one approached that distance. Normal world-lines would cease to be "time-like", and such world-lines would be unable to make progress from inside the Schwarzschild radius to outside of it. This is a rather paradoxical situation when viewed in the way we normally view the way the universe works. In short, no object, and no light, can actually pass from inside the radius to outside. The surface at this radius is called the '''event horizon'''.

The concept of the Schwarzschild radius was worked out by Karl Schwarzschild in 1916, as part of his solution (the first solution ever worked out) of Einstein's field equation for General Relativity. At first, neither Einstein nor Schwarzschild believed that something could be so dense that these objects could exist.

==Pre-history==
The notion of something that has gravity so strong that light can't escape actually dates back to the 18th century, when scientists became aware of the finite speed of light and the concept of escape velocity. The [[corpuscular theory of light]] held that light was made up of invisibly small particles, and that these particles moved along ballistic trajectories, like tiny bullets. In this framework, it was believed possible that a distant star could be so massive that light emitted from its surface would be dragged back down again. This theory was first advanced by John Michell, who wrote in 1783, "If the semi-diameter of a sphere of the same density as the Sun in the proportion of five hundred to one, and by supposing light to be attracted by the same force in proportion to its [[Mass (science)|mass]] with other bodies, all light emitted from such a body would be made to return towards it, by its own proper gravity."<ref name="r1">http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200911/physicshistory.cfm</ref>

Suggesting the same possibility independently, Pierre-Simon Laplace wrote in 1796, "It is therefore possible that the greatest luminous bodies in the universe are on this account invisible."<ref name="r1" />

This appeared to depend on the corpuscular theory of light, which gave way to the [[wave theory of light]] in the early 19th century, so the idea of "dark" or "invisible" stars fell from favor. It was believed that light, being a wave and having no mass, might be unaffected by gravity. Research into [[quantum mechanics]], however, reignited interest in the light-as-particles view, ultimately resulting in the modern notion of [[wave-particle duality]]. Under this theory, light could be affected by gravity, so the question of whether light could be emitted from extraordinarily massive bodies was once again open.

But the wave-versus-particle nature of light turned out to be a [[red herring]]. Under the "equivalence principle", it is known that anything, wave, particle, or whatever, that can be construed to have a trajectory, will have that trajectory bent by a gravitational field.

But none of this mattered at the time. A star (or other body) large enough to show this effect was utterly inconceivable. A sphere of Uranium at its normal density would have to weigh 10 million times the mass of the Sun, and be as large as the Earth's orbit, to lie inside its Schwarzschild radius. (Though such a large block of Uranium would not have its normal density.)

And the term "black hole" was unheard-of.

==20th century history==
By the mid-20th century, the physics of stellar dynamics and quantum mechanics had advanced to the point that it was possible to conceive of incredibly dense objects. Stars such as the Sun are actually "inflated" to their current size by the radiation pressure from the fusion reactions going on within them. When stars have consumed all their fuel, that pressure stops, and the material collapses to a much smaller size. The normal interatomic spacing, with electrons orbiting the nuclei, no longer applies. A variety of things can occur, including the electrons combining with the protons to make a "neutron star". Various phenomena were formulated, such as neutron stars, supernovas, pulsars, and magnetars. Before long these objects were actually observed. (Pulsars were observed before the theory had been worked out, and supernovas had been observed since antiquity.)

Stellar evolution and dynamics are quite complicated. Once a star has burned up all its Hydrogen, it may, depending on its size, burn Helium, and then heavier elements, all the way up to Iron. (Iron is the most stable nucleus; fission or fusion of Iron nuclei is not energetically favored.) As the material becomes more compressed, it is held up by the "electron degeneracy pressure" instead of the normal radiation pressure. The normal atomic structure, with orbiting electrons, is replaced by a collection of nuclei and unbound electrons, obeying the rules of quantum mechanics, particularly the Pauli exclusion principle. This pressure generally stops further collapse, leading to a [[white dwarf]]. White dwarfs may continue accreting matter from nearby objects. If the mass is over the "Chandrasekhar limit" of 1.4 solar masses, the gravitational force is too strong even for the degeneracy pressure, and the star becomes a supernova, neutron star, or black hole. The theory of this gravitational collapse was worked out in the 1930's.

If the mass is greater than the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit of about 1.5 solar masses, the neutron star becomes a black hole.

The properties of these objects (the "event horizon", and matter and information may only pass through the event horizon in one direction) were worked out in the 1950's. The exact solutions to Einstein's equation were worked out in the 1960's for rotating black holes (the Kerr solution), electrically charged black holes (the Reissner-Nordström solution), or both (the Kerr-Newman solution). Various theorems relating to thermodynamics were worked out by Stephen Hawking in the 1970's.

The term "black hole" was coined by John Wheeler in 1967. The term caught on very quickly in both the scientific community and the public at large, helped by the catchy nature of the phrase. Because of the remarkable nature of black holes, the concept quickly became a staple of science fiction stories, "popular" science magazines, television shows, and movies such as ''Event Horizon'' (1997), ''The Black Hole'' (TV, 2006), and ''Interstellar'' (2014). The latter movie put a lot of effort into making the visual depiction of the black hole scientifically accurate.

This was all theoretical at the time. There was no evidence that a black hole actually existed until the early 1970's, when scientists began to suspect that the radio source "Cygnus X1" was an actual black hole, and the 1990's, when scientists began to suspect that there was a black hole near the radio source "Sagittarius A*" at the center of our galaxy. (The name is pronounced with the word "star".) Since then evidence has accumulated that enormous black holes lie at the center of many galaxies.

==Methods of Observation==
Black holes are literally invisible by traditional means of observation (that is, emission or reflection of some sort of radiation) and so cannot be directly observed, their nature is determined by other means. The evidence that a black hole provides is its extraordinarily strong gravity, which can be deduced from its effect on the motions of nearby stars.
<ref name="Gillessen">{{cite journal
|last1=Gillessen |first1=S.
|last2=Eisenhauer |first2=F.
|last3=Trippe |first3=S.
|last4=Alexander |first4=T.
|last5=Genzel |first5=R.
|last6=Martins |first6=F.
|last7=Ott |first7=T.
|display-authors=3
|title=Monitoring Stellar Orbits around the Massive Black Hole in the Galactic Center
|journal=The Astrophysical Journal
|volume=692
|issue=2|page=1075|date=2009
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1075
|arxiv=0810.4674
|bibcode=2009ApJ...692.1075G
|ref=harv
}}</ref> Since 1995, astronomers have tracked the motions of 90 stars orbiting an invisible object coincident with the radio source in the center of our galaxy, Milky way. The astronomers were able to infer that a 2.6 million sollar mass object must be contained within the radius of 0.02 [[light-year]]s to cause the motions of those stars.<ref name="Ghez1998">{{cite journal
|last1=Ghez |first1=A. M.
|last2=Klein |first2=B. L.
|last3=Morris |first3=M.
|last4=Becklin |first4=E. E.
|display-authors=3
|title=High Proper‐Motion Stars in the Vicinity of Sagittarius A*: Evidence for a Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy
|journal=The Astrophysical Journal
|volume=509
|issue=2|page=678|date=1998
|doi=10.1086/306528
|arxiv=astro-ph/9807210 |bibcode=1998ApJ...509..678G
|ref=harv
}}</ref>

Colliding black holes should produce gravitational waves, possible to detect experimentally. On 24 September 2015 the [[LIGO]] observatory made the first-ever successful observation of such event. <ref name="PRL-20160211">{{cite journal |author=Abbott, B.P. |title=Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger |url=http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.061102 |journal=[[Phys. Rev. Lett.]] |volume=116 |pages=061102 |year=2016 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.061102 |display-authors=etal|arxiv = 1602.03837 |bibcode = 2016PhRvL.116f1102A }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20160211-db">{{cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |authorlink=Dennis Overbye |title=Physicists Detect Gravitational Waves, Proving Einstein Right |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/science/ligo-gravitational-waves-black-holes-einstein.html |date=11 February 2016 |work=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=11 February 2016 }}</ref> The signal was consistent with theoretical predictions. The gravitational wave signal suggests that the separation of the two holes prior to merger was just 350 km, hence they must be small in size, leaving black holes as the most plausible interpretation.

While matter and energy, even light, may not escape a black hole, Stephen Hawking has shown that when described by quantum mechanics, they should emit [[Hawking radiation]], which absent of an influx of mass-energy would lead to the evaporation of the black hole in a burst of gamma rays. This radiation may be possible to observe. However all results obtained to date remain unverified and debatable.<ref name="Milanoguys">{{cite journal|title=Hawking radiation from ultrashort laser pulse filaments |first1=F. |last1=Belgiorno |first2=S. L. |last2=Cacciatori |first3=M. |last3=Clerici |first4=V. |last4=Gorini |first5=G. |last5=Ortenzi |first6=L. |last6=Rizzi |first7=E. |last7=Rubino |first8=V. G. |last8=Sala |first9=D. |last9=Faccio |arxiv=1009.4634 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.203901 |date=2010 |journal=Phys. Rev. Lett. |volume=105 |page=203901}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ultrafast Laser Pulse Makes Desktop Black Hole Glow|newspaper=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=September 29, 2010|first=Lisa|last=Grossman|url=http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/hawking-radiation-in-the-lab/|accessdate=April 30, 2012}}</ref>

==History of the idea==

===General Relativity===
As it happened, the question became unavoidable shortly after the publication in 1915 of Einstein's [[general theory of relativity]]. Karl Schwarzschild solved the Einstein field equations in a way that describes the geometry of spacetime outside a spherically symmetric, uncharged, non-rotating distribution of mass. Well away from the center of this distribution of mass, the Schwarzschild solution closely matches the Newtonian model of a gravitational field; only close to the mass, where the curvature of spacetime is large, do significant differences between the two models appear. But if the diameter of the mass distribution is taken to be arbitrarily small, then the region of spacetime immediately surrounding the mass appears to take on extremely curious properties, properties so curious that many questioned whether they had any physical interpretation at all. Therefore, Schwarzschild showed that black holes were possible under the theory of [[general relativity]].

[[File:Cygnusx1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Jet-powered nebula formed from the accretion disk of the binary star Cygnus-X1]]
However, neither Schwarzschild himself nor [[Albert Einstein]], who developed the theory of relativity, believed that black holes actually existed.<ref name="amazing-space.stsci.edu">http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/blackholes/lesson/whatisit/history.html</ref> Einstein even tried to re-work general relativity to render these [[Singularity|singularities]] impossible. However, Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking proved the first of many Singularity Theorems, which states that singularities must form if certain conditions are present. This demonstrated that, rather than mathematical oddities, singularities are a fairly generic consequence of realistic solutions to relativity: any mass with radius less than its Schwarzschild radius is a black hole. Since then, support for black holes among the scientific community has grown.

==Nature of a Black Hole==
===Mathematics===

There are several solutions of the Einstein field equations that are used to model black holes. The simplest of these is the Schwarzchild metric. From this metric, one can calculate the Schwarzschild radius, which defines the boundary (event horizon) of the black hole, to be
:<math>r_s=\frac{2GM}{c^2}</math>,
where
* rs is the Schwarzschild radius;
* G is the gravitational constant;
* M is the mass of the gravitating object;
* c is the speed of light in vacuum.

If the black hole has a nonzero electric charge, it is modeled by the Reissner-Nordström metric. Astronomical objects are generally electrically neutral, since otherwise they would attracted charged particles of opposite sign and quickly become neutral. Therefore, the Reissner-Nordström metric is largely of theoretical interest.

A far more realistic situation occurs when the black hole is spinning (i.e. has nonzero angular momentum). Then the Schwarzschild solution is insufficient (as it was for the charged case), and instead one turns to the Kerr metric. Since astrophysical black holes are generically believed to have angular momentum, this is the solution that best describes them. Among the more interesting consequences of the Kerr metric is the phenomenon of frame dragging, in which the rotating black hole literally pulls nearby spacetime along with it.

If one wishes to consider a black hole that is both charged and spinning, one employs the Kerr-Newman metric, which combines the Reissner-Nordström and Kerr metrics. Since the no-hair theorem states that (non-quantum) black holes are unique up to mass, charge, and angular momentum, the Kerr-Newman metric is sufficient to describe any classical black hole.

===Time and Distance===
Within a certain distance from an arbitrarily small distribution of mass — a distance now known as the [[Schwarzschild radius]] — the curvature of spacetime becomes so great that no paths leading away from the mass exist. That is to say, a test particle released inside the Schwarzschild radius will inevitably move in toward the mass, not because the force of gravity is great as in the Newtonian approximation, but because spacetime is curved to such an extent that ''no other directions exist.'' A particle within the Schwarzschild radius can no more move further from the central mass than it can go backwards in time. In fact, from the frame of reference of an infalling observer beyond the Schwarzschild radius, all directions that once pointed away from the central mass now point backwards in time. Once inside the Schwarzschild radius, further motion toward the central mass is as inevitable as further motion through time is for any other observer.

For some time after the publication of the Schwarzschild solution, the validity of these results was hotly debated. In the solution's original coordinate frame, some terms in the equations ''diverged,'' or became infinite, at the Schwarzschild radius, leading physicists to wonder whether the results of the equations in that region had any valid physical interpretation. One proposed interpretation was that at the Schwarzschild radius, all time for the infalling observer would stop. This led to the use of the term "frozen stars;" it wasn't believed frozen stars were cold, but rather that they were literally frozen in time.

Later refinement of the Schwarzschild solution demonstrated that the apparent infinities were merely an artifact of the coordinate frame chosen, and that an infalling observer in fact can pass beyond the Schwarzchild radius. In fact, the equations predicted he would notice no effects when doing so. But any attempt on the part of that infalling observer to communicate with the outside universe, say by sending a radio message, would be doomed to failure, as the radio waves would traverse geodesics through the severely curved spacetime and end up bent toward the central mass. From this, we can say that nothing that occurs within the Schwarzschild radius can ever affect events outside the Schwarzschild radius. This gives the Schwarzschild radius of a non-rotating black hole its other name: the [[event horizon]].

===Inside the Event Horizon===
What actually exists inside the event horizon of a black hole is a question physics is unable to answer. Some postulate that within the event horizon exists a point of zero (or nearly zero) volume but infinite energy density, a point sometimes referred to as a ''gravitational singularity,'' after the notion of a mathematical singularity (a term referring to a point in an equation at which one would have to solve by dividing by zero, a feat presently impossible in mathematics) in a field equation. Others suspect that infinite energy density is a physical impossibility, and that a black hole contains actual finitely-dense matter compressed into a [[degenerate matter|degenerate]] form, such as quark-degenerate matter. Since all black holes are surrounded by an event horizon which prevents any information or messages from leaving, all these theories are non-[[falsifiable]]; we can never be sure what the interior structure of a black hole is like.

===Properties of Black Holes===

Black holes described with classical mechanics only have three intrinsic properties by which one differs from another: mass, electric charge, and angular momentum. Mass describes the amount of matter inside the event horizon. Angular momentum refers to whether the black hole is stationary or rotating around an axis. While the singularity of a non-rotating black hole may be an infinitely small point, the singularity of a rotating black hole would be in the shape of an infinitely thin ring. Quantum mechanics, which postulates that information loss cannot occur in a black hole, suggests properties beyond the three suggested by classical physics. Using this description, information must also be emitted by black holes. This radiation, referred to as Hawking Radiation, is thermal radiation that has currently only been described mathematically.

Although radiation from inside the event horizon has not yet been observed, there is much phenomenon that occurs outside the horizon due to the black hole. Matter entering a spinning black hole is first swirled around by the black hole’s gravity, causing it to heat up and emit x-rays, which can be used to detect the black hole. In the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, some of the matter does not fall into the black hole. Instead it is blasted into space in twin jets of hot gas perpendicular to the accretion disc, in a phenomenon known as an Active Galactic Nucleus.

==Origins of Black Holes==
[[Image:Hs-2005-02-e-web.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The [[red supergiant]] star V838 Monocerotis, an example of one type of star which may become a black hole.]]
Stellar-mass black holes are said to form when stars more than ten times the mass of the Sun run out of fuel and die. The process of death occurs when stars that have fused the products of their own fusion into larger and larger elements, up to iron. The star then tries to fuse the iron core that forms as a result, but this does not produce enough energy to hold the outer layers of the star apart against the pull of gravity. When this happens, the iron core at the center of the star implodes in a supernova, and the outer layers of the star are blasted into space in one of the most energetic events in the universe—one star going out in a supernova can give off as much light as an entire galaxy. Not all supernovae result in black holes, but if the mass of the core is large enough, about 1.5-3.0 times the mass of the Sun (this value is termed the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit, and its value is not yet known to great precision), the leftover gravity of the shrinking core stalls the outward rush of the initial blast, and crushes the core into a point of infinite density: a black hole.

Extremely small black holes, with masses of around 1015 grams, have been theorized to have formed in the early universe. Any sufficiently small primordial black hole would be expected to evaporate within the lifetime of the universe, but the rate of evaporation is not currently known with any certainty.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, objects with the characteristics of supermassive black holes, millions or billions of times more massive than the sun, have been detected at the centers of many [[galaxies]], including our own [[Milky Way]]. In our galaxy, the hypothesized supermassive black hole is in the constellation Sagittarius, and is known as Sagittarius A* (pronounced "A star"). Based on the extraordinary angular velocity of stars near the galactic center, Sagittarius A* is believed to be on the order of two to three million solar masses. It is unknown how supermassive black holes form, though several models have been proposed. One hypothesis simply begins with a black hole of stellar mass which grows over the lifetime of the galaxy that surrounds it. Another proposal describes supermassive black holes as a natural, in fact nearly unavoidable, consequence of galactic formation. To date, no one theory of supermassive black hole formation is favored over all others.

Physicists trying to understand the theory of black hole formation have once again hit a dead end.<ref>http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/new-research-mathematically-proves-quantum-effects-stop-formation-black-holes/</ref>

==Speculative Future Exploration==

Scientists have speculated that if a rotating black hole is large enough, a person could pass through the center of the ring-shaped singularity and possibly enter a wormhole. However, it would have to be a very large hole, for if it were not, the hypothetical astronaut would never survive to reach the event horizon due to tidal forces.

Matter coming close to the event horizon of a small black hole undergoes a process called spaghettification, a term coined by Stephen Hawking in his book ''A Brief History of Time'' to describe extraordinarily strong tidal forces. Because the mass at the center of the black hole is so dense, the gravitational pull on the near end of an object is much greater than the pull on the object’s far end. This causes the object to be stretched out in a way resembling a piece of spaghetti, and generally torn in two.

==White Holes==
Because the [[Quantitative Introduction to General Relativity|general relativity equations]] are symmetric with respect to time, one can reverse the time parameter to yield an equation describing a hypothetical object which expels, rather than attracts, matter and energy.<ref>http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/BHfaq.html#q10</ref> As this is the exact opposite of a black hole, it is called a '''white hole'''.

However, there is no evidence white holes actually exist. If they generate new matter and energy, this would violate the [[Law of the conservation of mass]]. Therefore, some scientists have proposed that matter falling into black holes goes through a [[wormhole]] to emerge at a white hole. While such wormholes are allowed by general relativity, they would be extremely unstable,<ref>http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/schww.html</ref> and there is no evidence that they exist.

Scientists, who have been extremely eager to promote the idea of black hole existence, have shown a strong aversion to the white hole theory, even though, like a white hole, a black hole has never been observed directly. This may reflect an anti-creation bias on the part of scientists who are uncomfortable with the idea that matter and energy can be created outside of what scientific theories dictate should happen.

Fundamentalists and creationists have used white holes to attempt to solve the cosmic time problem. Dr. [[Russell Humphreys]] used a white hole in his model of the universe during [[Creation week]] to allow millions of years to pass in outer space while only three days passed on Earth.

==In Popular Culture==
Black holes are increasingly promoted by [[liberal]] publications, such as the science page of the ''[[New York Times]]'', glossy magazines, and the movies the ''Event Horizon'' (1997), ''The Black Hole'' (TV, 2006), and ''Interstellar'' (2014). They are sometimes seen as [[sacred cow|sacred cows]] of [[atheistic science]], and used to be commonly mentioned in atheistic propaganda. However both proving or disproving of the actual existence of black holes does not very obviously support any religion-related view.

Black holes have been a device in science fiction ever since their prediction. Many sci-fi books, movies, and television shows use black holes as a method of travel (see the Potential Future Exploration section above) or as a threat to a space-going vessel. In at least one season of the show ''Star Trek: the Next Generation'' by Gene Roddenberry, artificially created miniature black holes are used as power sources for spaceships and natural ones as incubators for the young of an alien race. Neither of these uses has much of a basis in reality, of course.

Contrary to popular myth, a black hole is not a cosmic vacuum cleaner. In other words, a one-solar-mass black hole is no better than any other one-solar-mass object (such as, for example, the Sun) at "sucking in" distant objects. However, a one-solar-mass black hole has the same amount of matter as any other one-solar-mass object but compressed into a much smaller space, making it impossible to move fast enough to leave a black hole once there. If a spaceship could land on a black hole, it would never be able to take off again.

The term "black hole" is also used as a metaphor for a place that it is hard to get out of, generally containing a high concentration of something unpleasant. Ex: "The inner city is a black hole of crime and drug use." The "Black Hole of Calcutta" long predates the celestial use of the term; it was a horrible underground prison in [[Calcutta]], India.

==See also==
*[[Black hole firewall]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/black_holes.html Black Holes]
*[http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/BHfaq.html Black Holes (Frequently Asked Questions)]

{{Relativity}}
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Relativity]]

Satan

2017-02-24T02:44:00Z

Ambassador: We've been raided. Undo blanking of page.

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

'''Satan''' or the '''[[Devil]]''' is the embodiment of evil, and plays a major role in [[Christian]] theology and literature, as well as in many other religions. He is the tempter and spiritual enemy of mankind. He is the adversary of [[God]], although subordinate to him and able to act only by his sufferance, and is represented frequently as the leader or prince of all apostate angels and as ruler of [[hell]].
"Satan is the force that loves to find the guilt and weakness in people, to humiliate them with it, to convince them that, because they are not good, God cannot love them."<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/258360/iritei-stuff-satan-prosecutor-mike-potemra The Rite Stuff: Satan as Prosecutor] - Mike Potemra</ref> [[Leftist]] Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer his book ''Rules for Radicals'', which inspired some [[liberal]] activists.

==Old Testament==
Satan was once a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament. The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all, starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]]. In the Christian tradition he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike. He is the father of lies and no good is found in him. He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the lake of fire and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.

== New Testament==
In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails. Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan as does [[Paul]].

In Christian theology Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil). In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree. This causes sin to come into the world. Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions—such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century—have hardened into fact.

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer. God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely. (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).
==Possession==
[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out. Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. Specifically, Satan is said to have entered Judas during [[The Last Supper]] (John 13:27). The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to exorcise this possession through Jesus.

==Terms==
The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". He "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44) Synonyms include '''Lucifer, demon, Mephistopholes, Mephisto, Beelzebub, the Evil One, the Tempter,''' and '''The Prince of Darkness.''' Only "devil" is used as an epithet for a profoundly evil person.

The adjectives include "devilish," "demonic", and "diabolic". Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism|Satanists]], Satan-worshippers, or demonists.
=== Lucifer ===
'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the Bible only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

* I will ascend into [[heaven]]
* I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
* I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
* I will be like the most High

Those who take this passage to be a reference to Satan believe that it gives more history of what caused his downfall, that he was created by God as one of His most powerful angels (possibly a [[Seraphim|Seraph]]), but that he fell from grace after he in his pride rebelled against his Creator. Some, however, believe that there is no grounding to interpret the passage as a history of Satan, citing that the passage uses highly figurative and poetic language that was meant as a prophecy against Babylon and nothing more.

[[Image:Paradise Lost 12.jpg|right|thumb|''The fall of Lucifer'' by Gustave Doré.]]

== Jewish Views ==
In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney — one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety. At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job. In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it. [[II Samuel]] 24:1 supports the view of Satan as God's prosecuting attorney by reporting that it was the Lord Who moved David to take the census; the two passages can easily [[Scripture interprets Scripture|be reconciled]] if Satan acted as God's agent.

==Jehovah's Witnesses==

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan was at one time an [[Angel]] who lived among the many millions of Angels that existed before the [[world]] was created. They believe that at some point He developed the desire to be worshiped by [[Humans]] and other Angels and so set himself in Opposition to worship of [[Jehovah]], his [[God]] and Father. This they believe occurred in the Garden of Eden, and not prior to the Earths creation. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan used a serpent as his mouth piece, the same way a vantriloquist uses a dummy, to bring the first [[Human]] couple under his control.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that God has allowed Satan to rule mankind for several resons such as:

*Satan has challenged God's Right to rule his creations, not his power....

*Satan accuses God of bribeing Humans for their loyalty with protection and blessings....

*Satan has accused Humans of being loyal to God out of selfish reasons....

*Satan claims that he can rule mankind better than God....

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach also that [[God]] decided that time, rather than a display of force, is needed to settle these issues. This, they believe, has giving Satan thousands of years to prove that Mankind is better off without God, that He (Satan) can rule Mankind successfully, and that the Humans that Do serve God do so only out of selfish reasons.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan does not live in any kind of [[Hell]] or world of the dead, but on the [[Earth]] as it's current ruler, along with as many as a third of the Angels of [[Heaven]]. They teach that Satan had lived in Heaven up until 1914, when Jesus and his Angels cast him out of Heaven, bringing woe to the Earth. this is their reasoning on Why the world has experienced two World wars, increasing lawlessness, an increase in disease and pollution, and the overall conditions on earth today.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan delegates authority to each Demon as he see's fit, and over what he see's fit, sometimes including whole Nations and kingdoms. They believe that Satan and his demons are in every way the enemy of God, rather than working alongside him. They teach that Satan will continue to rule the world until [[Armageddon]], when Jesus Christ and his heavenly Angels come to earth and bind him, eventually killing him, freeing the world of all opposition towards True worship.

==Defenses==
The three classic defenses against Satan are:

* mockery, which Satan cannot withstand due to his pride
* sunlight or exposure, from which Satan hides
* the [[Holy Spirit]], meaning "The Advocate" (i.e., defense lawyer), or the ''Armor of God''.<ref>Ephesians 6:1-17</ref>

Note that Satan lacks self-restraint, which often leads him to failure. In addition, Satan delights in [[deceit]], even to the point of causing his downfall.

==Dante and Milton==
The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.

==See also==
* [[Devil]]
* [[satanic deception]]
* [[Salem Witch Trials]]
* [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: I. In the Old Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1913), pp. 29–33 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142352 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 2 (Feb., 1913), pp. 98–102 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142425 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: III. In the New Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 3 (Mar., 1913), pp. 167–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142755 in JSTOR]
* Empson, William. ''Milton's God'' (1966)
* Jacobs, Joseph, and Ludwig Blau. "Satan," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1906) [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=270&letter=S&search=Satan#ixzz0UQlw0zPS online] pp 68–71
* Kelly, Henry Ansgar. ''Satan: A Biography.'' (2006). 360 pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=gPIpQg0lRbMC&pg=PA12&dq=intitle:satan+inauthor:kelly&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false excerpt and text search] ISBN 0-521-60402-8, a study of the Bible and Western literature
* Kent, William. "Devil." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1908) Vol. 4. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04764a.htm online older article]
* Osborne, B. A. E. "Peter: Stumbling-Block and Satan," ''Novum Testamentum,'' Vol. 15, Fasc. 3 (Jul., 1973), pp. 187–190 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1560340 in JSTOR] on "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
* Rebhorn Wayne A. "The Humanist Tradition and Milton's Satan: The Conservative as Revolutionary," ''Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900,'' Vol. 13, No. 1, The English Renaissance (Winter, 1973), pp. 81–93 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/449871 in JSTOR]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Perceptions-Antiquity-Christianity-Paperbacks/dp/0801494095/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Satan: The Early Christian Tradition'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Satan-Christian-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801494133/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages'' (1986) [http://www.amazon.com/Lucifer-Devil-Middle-Cornell-Paperbacks/dp/080149429X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Mephistopheles-Modern-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801497183/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History'' (1992) [http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Darkness-Radical-Power-History/dp/0801480566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255995689&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Schaff, D. S. "Devil" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), [[Mainline]] Protestant; vol 3 pp 414–417 [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.d.iii.html online]
* Scott, Miriam Van. ''The Encyclopedia of Hell'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Hell-Miriam-Van-Scott/dp/0312244428/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b excerpt and text search] comparative religions; also popular culture
* Wray, T. J. and Gregory Mobley. ''The Birth of Satan: Tracing the Devil's Biblical Roots'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Satan-Tracing-Devils-Biblical/dp/1403969337/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]

== Notes ==
<references/>

== External links ==

*[http://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/teach/accuser.html The accuser of the brethren - commentary on Revelation 12:7-12] - Dr. J.B. Buffington
[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]
{{DivineComedy}}

Faith

2017-02-24T02:43:00Z

Ambassador: Undo vandalism

[[Image:Faith.jpg|right]]
'''Faith'''<ref>1200–50; Middle English feith < Anglo-French fed, Old French feid, feit < Latin fidem, accusative of fidēs trust, akin to fīdere to trust.</ref> extends beyond belief to include confidence about something unseen, such as the achievement of [[God]]'s will. Faith goes beyond [[materialism]] to include beneficial use of the underlying unseen reality.

The entire Chapter 11 of the [[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#11:1|Epistle to the Hebrews]], possibly written by [[Jesus]], is devoted to explaining faith, which is unique to [[Christianity]].

Faith is more than mere thought, emotion, and belief. Faith elevates one's being, while belief is limited to a mental state or emotion. Faith implies a [[causation|causal]] role by the believer in an outcome,<ref>For example, the Biblical [[Peter]]'s walking on water based on his faith.</ref> or in overcoming a personal fear. Faith also implies advancement or accomplishment of something good, while mere belief does not achieve by itself.

The importance of faith logically follows from the existence of [[God]], as explained in Luke 17:7-10 (merely doing as told is not enough - "We are unworthy servants; we have '''''only''''' done what was our duty.").<ref>Luke 17:10 (ESV) (emphasis added).</ref> God went beyond His duty, obviously, and would prefer His creation to do likewise. That requires faith.

== Faith in God vs. secular psychology for solving addictions and other personal problems ==

''See also:'' [[Ineffectivness of counseling psychology]]

[[File:The Conversion of St Paul by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.JPG|thumb|200px|The Conversion of [[St Paul]] by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.]]
The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote:
{{cquote|Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit of our God]]." - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)}}

The website ''The Berean Call'' has a number of articles on various false claims and unbiblical notions that many practitioners of counseling psychology promote.<ref>http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/psychology</ref>

Faith plays a central role in overcoming [[addiction]]. Virtually everyone is plagued by one or more addictions, and faith enables overcoming those weaknesses. Similar to this is faith's key role in overcoming [[recidivism]]. This role is unique to Christian faith and has not been shown with regard to other religions' belief systems or to secular humanist ideologies.

Faith is also helpful in overcoming fear, such as fear of public speaking, appearing on [[television]], or standing up to a [[bully]] or unpleasant situations. Jesus reprimanded the [[Apostles]] for their [[faithless]] fear: "The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."<ref>Mt 8:25-26 (NIV)</ref>

Lack of faith can lead to fear, anxiety, depression, lack of confidence and sometimes death. A lack of faith can be very harmful, leading to self-destructive behavior. Faith can be described as the power to ignore the [[devil]] and all his antics.

Often faith inspires extra initiative or effort, adding confidence that it will yield the desired good result. "Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on," and Jesus cured him.<ref>Mark 2:4</ref>

==Frequency==
[[File:Belief-god.jpg|left|thumb|550px|Financial Times (FT)/Harris Poll among adults in 5 countries in 2006]]

==Expression==
A classic statement of faith in the [[Bible]] was by the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] centurion of [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%208:5-10;&version=49; Matthew 8:5-10], who expressed his confidence that [[Jesus]] could cure his beloved servant from a distance without even seeing him. [[Jesus]] repeatedly emphasized the importance and value of faith to his disciples.

Faith is expressed in [[Greek language|Greek]] using the term ''pistis'', and in [[Latin]] using the term ''fides''. Faith is mentioned in 229 verses in the [[New Testament]] ([[KJV]]), but only twice in the much larger [[Old Testament]] ([[KJV]]).<ref>http://www.crosswalk.com</ref> In attempt to convert [[Jews]] to [[Christianity]], [[Paul]] described [[Abraham]]'s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son [[Isaac]] to [[God]] as an act of faith, though the [[Old Testament]] did not describe it with that term.

Faith is strengthened by prayer ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jude%2020;&version=9; Jude 20]). For those who strengthen their faith, [[Jesus]] promised "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."<ref>John 14:12 (NIV).</ref>

Life itself may be the manifestation of God's faith. Decay and death may be the manifestation of a lack or denial of faith.

==Biblical examples==

Perhaps the greatest description of faith is Hebrews 11:1. It states: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."<ref>Hebrews 11:1 (NIV).</ref>
[[File:St Paul Preaching.jpg|thumb|left|The [[painting]] by Giovanni Ricco (1817-1873) shows Paulus before that "high priest and the advice of the oldest" in Jerusalem where he defends its theology for the moors.]]
The King James Version expresses this passage as: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The Greek word translated as "substance" is `hupostasis', meaning setting under (support). The Greek word for "evidence"`elegchos' meaning proof.,<ref>J. Strong, 1890, ''Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible'', Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN.</ref> The Bible thus distinguishes clearly between the ''leap of faith'' of Kirkegaard and a faith based on acknowledgement of the evidence presented by God within our own experiences in this world. Paul, in Romans 1:17-20 explains that faith has its basis in the observed expression of God's existence in this universe: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen...."

[[Paul]] indicated that exceptional faith may be a gift of the [[Holy Spirit]]. 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 ''For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit''

As discussed above, a potential reference to faith is [[Genesis]] 22 where [[God]] tested [[Abraham]] by commanding him to sacrifice his only son [[Isaac]]. As Abraham prepared to do what God commanded -he was stopped.
Genesis 22:12
''"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." ''

==Catholic "Act of Faith"==

Faith is differently defined by [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] and [[Evangelical Christians|Evangelical Protestants]].

The Catholic Act of Faith is a formal prayer of belief:
:"O my God, I firmly believe that You are one God in three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that Your Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because You revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen."

What Protestant Evangelicals call Faith, Catholics call the virtue of Hope (''defined as "confident expectation of good without doubting"''). The Catholic Act of Hope is a formal prayer of assurance:
:"O my God, relying on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen."

Catholics emphasize the teaching of [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/james/2-19.htm James 2:19], in which the [[Demon|devils]] have accurate faith but no hope.

==Martin Luther on Faith==

Luther in his Table Talk papers writes this thought provoking and rather difficult passage on faith:

"This is the acme of faith, to believe that God, who saves so few and condemns so many, is merciful; that he is just who, at his own pleasure, has made us necessarily doomed to damnation, so that he seems to delight in the torture of the wretched and is more deserving of hate than of love. If by any effort of reason I could conceive how God, who shows so much anger and harshness, could be merciful and just, there would be no need of faith."

==The Moral Basis of Biblical Faith==

The biblical expression of faith is belief in what God reveals to man to be so. Since New Testament times, that means belief in what God reveals to be so concerning Jesus Christ. There is a steady progression through time of what God reveals and so belief also finds expression in progressive content and emphasis. What God reveals to Adam, to Noah, to Moses (and through them), to the prophets, to the Ninevites, to Simeon and Anna, Mary, to the Apostles, differ in content and in emphasis, but the culmination of the content of faith is the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The moral basis of faith is the positive response of belief, and the obedience of one's life to the requirement implied by the revelation. That is why Adam (and his generation) was not required to believe what Noah was required to believe, why Noah was not required to believe what Abraham was required to believe, and why Abraham was not required to believe what Moses was required to believe. Moses, and his generation, was not required to believe what Isaiah was required to believe, until the time of Jesus. Nor were they each allowed to believe less than what was required of them to believe, as if they were of a previous generation and a previous revelation.

The moral basis of Faith continues on in effect, content and emphasis, since the time of the Son of God on earth. That is why the "good man" is required to believe in the Son of God preached to him, as He, the Son of God, is the source of his goodness, and the forgiver of his badness, through His sacrifice on the cross; the "bad man" required to believe in Him who bore his sin, through His sacrifice on the cross; the "gentile", wherever found, of whatever stage, required to live up to what is given him by his conscience and whatever good has come to him through his culture, and believe in the light God is actually giving him, and in the Jesus being preached to him, but not required to believe in and practice the Law of Moses; the Jew required to keep the Law given him, and then to despair at not having fulfilled it, and believe in the Son of God being revealed to him; the infant respond, as infants can, and not as adolescents and adults are required, each in his own order, until the greater revelation comes, and separation from the dominance and protection of the elders; and why an embryo aborted is required to respond as only an embryo can, which God alone knows, and not be required to be at the level of response he would have been moments and days and months and years later, if he would have been let live - saved - though the embryo would never have known how - by the Cross of the sin bearing Savior, who knew him well and loved him. "to him whom much has been given, of him much will be required."

==The natural and the supernatural aspects of Faith==
Faith is a gift from God that may be viewed two ways. One is clearly an intrusion or at least and introjection into our ordinary lives. Under this aspect, we see it as pure grace. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and this is not as a result of your deeds, It is God's gift and not something from ourselves". Our response, is from the extremity of our situation and as a clear product of something outside ourselves - the new word of God, the message concerning Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Even the ability to hear and understand is given to us from above, "Faith comes by hearing, and "hearing" itself, comes by the Word of God". And thus we call out, from the depth and from consciousness, for salvation. " Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord, will be saved/"

The other aspect of Faith is not by intrusion or introjection, but by infusion and irradiation. This too is of the grace of God. Whereas the first aspect had come to us at our extremity from without, this aspect comes to us from within and around, pervading the so-called natural structures that we experience every day, that are so supportive of stability, confidence, trust and hope. Good parenting, solidity of home and provision, loving faithfulness among friends as we grow, continual exposure to the truth of the Word of God (and truth is always therapeutic), strengthens our faith, and our expectation for the continuing faithfulness and involvement of a loving and good God. Faith seems so natural, so in accord, with our experience, that we could even be surprised that it could have been otherwise. Here we experience, most often, not a crisis of faith, but the need to give ourselves more fully to Him in whom we are believing. Under this aspect, God is to be appreciated and acknowledged for being our good and heavenly Father. The Old Testament presents us with the reality of this aspect of faith. Amidst even the miraculous events as the parting of the "Red" Sea, and the many deliverances Israel experience so beyond their natural ability to effect, little is said, is acknowledged consciously, of the quality of faith itself. It is air that a fish is most conscious of, not his home in the water.

==Faith: the Access to Reality==
Christianity demands Faith and insists that Faith be turned into sight. "Do you believe, Thomas, because you have seen. Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe." Throughout the New Testament, this theme occurs, belief in Jesus, belief in the Heavenly Father, belief in the readiness of God to still waves, cause you too to walk on water, to return a dead girl back to her grieving, believing mother, to see small insignificant things as a seed grow, as if miraculously of itself, into a startling display of fruit to eat and protection for birds, all of this, with only the sky to limit, comes into our lives, according to Jesus, if we have Faith. Reality is gained by the exercise of Faith, a reality unattainable by the ordinary means frequented by men.

But this reality attained, so extraordinary in this sordid and marred sin-infested world, is seen to be the "normal" reality of the Kingdom of Heaven, just waiting to enter in. Entirely right in the presence of the Kingdom of God and the King Himself for the dead boy to get up from his bier to run to his mother, entirely right that that adulteress be pardoned, strengthened, challenged, and hold her head up high once again, entirely right the demons come out of the tormented boy to be commanded to go to the place that God has prepared for them, all entirely right at the entrance of this new reality of the Kingdom of Heaven among us, and the King Himself, Jesus. The overwhelming of reality, by Reality.

As God is palpable in Jesus, so the Reality of the Kingdom of God is palpable, and can be seen, on this earth. The entrance to the Garden was by faith, but the reality of the garden is as tangible as was Jesus eating fish with his disciples after he got up from the dead. As much as the New Testament presents Faith as the entrance to the Kingdom, so does it insist that Faith, perhaps not fully in this world, shall turn to sight in the end... and on the way. "It is not apparent what we who are called the children of God shall yet be, but we know that we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He really is."

==Faith as a virtue==
[[Image:Konrad Witz – Petri fiskafänge.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The 'walking on water' episode, which both showed and tested St Peter's faith ([[painting]] by Konrad Witz).]]
[[St Paul]] identified faith, [[hope]] and [[love]] (or [[charity]]) as the three greatest [[virtue]]s that are central to Christianity, and this idea is repeated and elaborated upon throughout Christian tradition. Faith is put first because it provides the foundation upon which the other two are built: a faithful heart and mind cause one to have hope, and hope causes one to have love for God and one's fellow man.

In [[Dante]]'s [[Divine Comedy]], [[St Peter]] is most identified with faith. This is appropriate, since he was the 'rock' on which the Church was built, just as a Christian life must be rooted in faith. Peter's great faith is shown in Matthew 14:28-31, when he is briefly able to walk on water until doubt enters his mind.

Christian philosopher [[Robert Merrihew Adams]] wrote a book, ''The Virtue of Faith'', to defend the idea of faith as virtuous. Consider the case of a loved one accused of some wrongdoing, but who protests their innocence - our relationship with them creates a special ethical obligation to believe what they say, which does not apply to the protestations of innocence of strangers; at the same time, that obligation is not absolute, but can be overturned by the evidence. Adams uses this example to argue that some beliefs we are ethically obliged to hold, and argues that the existence of God could be such a belief for the believer.

Contrary to Adams' view is that favored by many atheists, classically expressed by William Kingdon Clifford, in his 1877 essay ''The Ethics of Belief'', which states "it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." However, while Clifford can point to individual cases where believing things without evidence is unethical, those cases fail to demonstrate that his principle is true in every case, and he ignores valid cases such as those which Adams cites which lead to the opposite conclusion.

{{clear}}

== Unique Role Within Christianity ==
Christianity is unique among religions in that its followers are defined by faith rather than by adherence to a prescribed code. St Paul makes this distinction clear in Galatians 3:24-25:
{{cquote|The law was a kind of tutor in charge of us until Christ should come, when we should be justified through faith; and now that faith has come, the tutor's charge is at an end.}}
That is to say, whereas [[Judaism]] required (and still requires) its followers to obey the law, Christianity begins with faith, and any moral or ethical decisions must follow from that. In this regard, Islam has much more in common with Judaism than it does with Christianity: the word 'Islam' itself means 'submission to God'.

==Other Definitions and Religions==

Outside of [[Christianity]], faith is misused as a synonym for any kind of "belief". The [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary, for example, includes this definition of faith: "a system of religious beliefs."<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/faith</ref>

Alternatively, faith often refers to a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof" or evidence.

These differ from Christian faith in the revealed truth that comes only from God through Jesus Christ by the [[Holy Spirit]].

In the [[Koran]], the concept of submission to [[Allah]] is mentioned 11 times, while the concept of faith in Allah is mentioned only once.

Etymologically, the word 'faith' is closely linked to the concept of "fidelity," which emphasizes commitment to something or someone, specifically [[Christ]]. Thus, faith is often understood to mean 'loyalty' to a particular view of [[divinity]]. Yet, faith can also be envisioned more broadly as a trust in [[providence]], as it entails an active role for the believer himself for advancing good.

The literary critic Harold Bloom distinguishes Christianity from the other two dominant monotheistic religions in his book Agon by contrasting them with Gnosticism:

"Gnosticism polemically is decidedly not a faith, whether in the Christian sense, pisits, a believing that something was, is, and will be so; or in the Hebraic sense, emunah, a trusting in the Covenant. If religion is a binding, then Gnosticism is an unbinding, but not for the sake of things or persons merely as they are. Gnostic freedom is a freedom for knowledge, knowledge of what in the self, not in the psyche or soul, is Godlike, and knowledge of God beyond the cosmos. But also it is a freedom to be known, to be known by God, by what is alien to everything created, by what is alien to and beyond the stars and the cosmic system and our earth."

Faith is emphasized in Christianity but is unrecognized by the worldview of [[Philosophical Skepticism|philosophical skepticism]].

== See also ==

*[[Resources on becoming a Christian]]
*[[Salvation]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Witnessing]]
*[[Divine faith]]

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

== External links ==
* Holding, James Patrick, [http://tektonics.org/whatis/whatfaith.html Fallacious Faith]
*[http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/finding-faith-in-christ/video/finding-faith-in-christ Finding Faith in Christ], video at ''JesusChrist.lds.org''

{{Virtues}}

Liberal claptrap

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'''Liberal claptrap''' is pretentious nonsense promoted by [[liberal]]s. It has the wordy characteristics of [[liberal style]], typically with a self-serving conclusion.

Liberal claptrap leaves the audience with nothing of substance, nothing that will help them personally overcome the inevitable problems of life.

Liberal claptrap often pushes the listener toward an illogical viewpoint without saying so in a direct manner. Liberal claptrap typically seeks to attract attention to a liberal and away from [[God]].

The [[Bible]] criticizes liberal claptrap in [[1 Corinthians 1-8 (Translated)#1:17|1 Corinthians 1:17]].

[[Category:Rhetoric]]
[[Category:Liberals]]

Atheism

2017-02-24T02:41:07Z

Ambassador: Undo attack

[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|201px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]].]]
'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
*Merriam-Webster dictionary: Atheism - a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity. Origin of atheism: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism]
*Atheism: a + theos, denying god, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"]. See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.
</ref> [[Paul Edwards (philosopher)|Paul Edwards]], who was a prominent atheist and editor of the ''[[Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', defined an atheist as "a person who maintains that there is no God."<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref>

Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be defined as a lack of belief in God or gods.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States and the online Oxford Dictionaries offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (As noted in a previous footnote the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Oxford Dictionaries: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism]</ref>

Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and [[Atheism and culture|on societies]] and these effects will be covered shortly.

As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has a number [[causes of atheism|of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below.

==Types of atheism==

''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]] of the 5th century BC.

See: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] ]]
The [[History of Atheism|history of atheism]] can be dated to as early as the 5th century B.C. [[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century B.C. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]]. Since this time, there have been many [[schools of atheist thought]] that have developed.

===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===

''See also:'' [[Weak Atheism|Weak atheism]] and [[Strong atheism]]

Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[strong atheism]], which is also sometimes called positive atheism), and their claim that [[theism|theists]] bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak Atheism|weak atheism]]).

As alluded to above, theists and others have posited a number of [[causes of atheism]] and this matter will be further addressed in this article.

=== Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism ===

In 1876, [[Charles Bradlaugh]] proposed that atheism does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he endeavored to dilute the traditional definition of atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*Discussion on Atheism: Report of a Public Discussion Between the Rev. Brewin Grant, B.A., and C. Bradlaugh, Esq., Held in South Place Chapel, Finsbury, London, on Tuesday Evenings, Commencing June 22, and Ending July 27, 1875, on the Question, "Is Atheism Or is Christianity the True Secular Gospel, as Tending to the Improvement and Happiness of Mankind in this Life by Human Efforts and Material Means.". Brewin Grant Charles Bradlaugh, January 1, 1890, Anti-liberation Society, page 10-12 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Dwk3yV5MOaAC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Charles+Bradlaugh+definition+of+atheism&source=bl&ots=JtjIlK7qaJ&sig=E0HjYgfEyKXdEA4zlLAd9m41cQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEgQ6AEwB2oVChMIrcijucWLyAIVCXA-Ch00NACw#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Bradlaugh%20definition%20of%20atheism&f=false]
</ref> As noted above, in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the definition of atheism be defined as a mere lack of belief in God or gods began to be commonly advanced by agnostics/atheists.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref> It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism Oxford Dictionaries]. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheism statistics]]), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>

Critics of a broader definition of atheism to be a mere lack of belief often point out that such a definition is contrary to the traditional/historical meaning of the word and that such a definition makes atheism indistinguishable from agnosticism.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://carm.org/cut-atheism Atheism] by Matt Slick
</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Definition of atheism]]

*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]

=== Some common types of atheism ===
Below are a few common ways that atheism manifests itself:

'''1.''' [[Militant atheism]], which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today.

Topics related to militant atheism:

* [[Atheism and communism]]

* [[Atheism and intolerance]]

* [[New Atheism]]

'''2.''' Philosophical atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]] and [[Materialism]])

[[Secular humanism]] is a philosophy which holds that human beings are the most important figures, and that social problems are best solved without the involvement of religious doctrine.

The philosophy of [[postmodernism]] is atheistic (see: [[Atheism and postmodernism]]).

'''3.''' Atheistic [[Buddhism]] (some schools of Buddhism are theistic)

'''4.''' [[Practical atheism]]: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"]</ref>

'''5.''' Other schools of atheist thought: [[Schools of atheist thought]]

=== Atheist factions ===

''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheist organizations]]
[[File:Richard Dawkins - March 2005.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|left|[[Richard Dawkins]] was a central figure in the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy.]]
In 2015, Dr. J. Gordon Melton said about the [[atheist movement]] (organized atheism) that atheism is not a movement which tends to create community, but in the last few years there has been some growth of organized atheism.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0i4kuN9XSc Baylor ISR- J. Gordon Melton - End of Religion? (May 5, 2015)]</ref> See also: [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheist organizations]]

Jacques Rousseau wrote in the ''Daily Maverick'': "[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>

==== Atheist infighting ====

''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]]

Blair Scott served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014). American Atheists</ref> Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]]. On December 1, 2012, he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheists due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Scott, Blair (December 1, 2012). [http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ "An open letter from Blair Scott"]. American Atheists.</ref>

Mr. Blair wrote:
{{cquote|I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating...me.<ref name="Blair Scott"/>}}

The atheist Neil Carter wrote:
{{Cquote|Friends of mine have noted lately how biting and critical the atheist community can be, not only toward outsiders, but even toward its own members. Has there ever been a subculture more prone to eating its own than this one? I really don’t know.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/06/12/its-past-time-for-atheism-to-grow-up/ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up] by Neil Carter</ref>}}

{{See also|Antitheism and antisocial behavior}}

==== Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness ====

''See also:'' [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]

The [[American atheism|American atheist]] activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said in a speech to the Michigan Atheists State Convention, "Since we are a bit of a cantankerous, opinionated lot...".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ld9Rfw5HUs Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4]</ref>

== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheism and apathy]]
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household in the United States remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com.</ref>

See: [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] ]]
In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/>

A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> The Pew Forum reports about [[American atheism|American atheists]]: "Among self-identified atheists and agnostics, the median age is 34, and roughly four-in-ten adults in these categories are between the ages of 18 and 29."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-3-demographic-profiles-of-religious-groups/ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups], Pew Forum</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]].

In addition, in atheistic Communist China, [[Christianity]] is experiencing rapid growth (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]). Also, there was a collapse of atheism in the former [[Soviet Union]] (see: [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]).
 
 
 
 
 
See also:

*[[Desecularization]]

*[[Atheism and inspiration]]

*[[Atheist indoctrination]]

=== Difficulty in participating in atheist community ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Internet atheism]] and [[Atheist organizations]]

In comparison to many religious groups, which have many meetings in numerous places in a given day or week which are convenient to attend, atheist meetings are sparse. One of the causes of this situation is the apathy of many atheists (see: [[Atheism and apathy]]).
[[File:Jerry Coyne at The Amazing Meeting - 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[Jerry Coyne]] speaking at a 2013 [[Atheist conferences|atheist meeting]] entitled The Amazing Meeting (TAM). TAM is an annual meeting. ]]
Atheist Francois Tremblay wrote about the difficulty of motivating atheists to engage in activities related to atheism: "One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, 'there is no god!' is not a very motivating call for most people." (see also: [[Atheism and inspiration]]).<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose] by Francois Tremblay</ref> See also: [[Evangelical atheism]]

The atheist [[Jerry Coyne]] said about atheist meetings/conferences, "But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks."<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref>

In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|atheist woman]] noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending [[atheist conferences]] and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"]. Friendly Atheist blog.</ref> As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, some atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"]. WorldNetDaily. See: [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns turns contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Abandonment of atheism in communist regimes ===

*[[Growth of Christianity in China]]

*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]

*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union#Growth of Protestantism in Russia|Growth of Protestantism/Evangelicalism in Russia]]

== Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism ==
[[File:Cornelius Van Til.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Dr. [[Cornelius Van Til]] argued that atheists actively suppress their belief and knowledge of God.<ref>[http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/PA191.htm Van Til and Self-deception] by Dr. Greg Bahnsen</ref> In other words, atheists engage in self-deception about the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]].]]
''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

Hannah More wrote: "[T]he mind, which knows not where to fly, flies to God. In agony, nature is no Atheist. The soul is drawn to God by a sort of natural impulse; not always, perhaps by an emotion of piety; but from a feeling conviction, that every other refuge is 'a refuge of lies'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815). [http://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.</ref>

=== Denials that atheists exist ===

''See also:'' [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[Atheism and apathy]]

It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist and that atheists are actively suppressing their belief and knowledge of God and enigmatically engage in self-deception and in the deception of others (see: [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheism and deception]]). In atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].
*Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California: Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive</ref>

== Atheism and death ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheist funerals]] and [[Atheism and Hell]]

[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract]]. ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
''Science Daily'' reported that "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God".<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"]. ScienceDaily.</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"]. Psychology Today website.</ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"]. aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"]. The Huffington Post.</ref>

A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"]. ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov.
*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "Religiosity and death anxiety"]. ''The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning'', vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 31-37. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning website.</ref>

=== Atheists and belief in life after death ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and life after death]] and [[Atheists and supernatural beliefs]]

A significant percentage of atheists believe in life after death (see: [[Atheism and life after death]]).<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife]</ref>

For additional information, please see:

* [[Atheism and cryonics]]

*[[Atheism and transhumanism]]

=== Atheism and Hell ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]]

The journalist and [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Peter Hitchens]], who is the brother of the late atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]], said upon seeing an art exhibit of [[Michelangelo]]'s painting ''The Last Judgment'' he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.</ref> This started a train of thought within him that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/>

=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===

''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'There are no atheists in [the] foxholes'"]. Message posted to The American Dialect Society [Electronic] Mailing List, archived at ListServ 16.0. Archive at Internet Archive.
*Osborn, Neale (December 15, 2012). [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.</ref>]]
Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt]"] (October 15, 1945). ''Time''. magazine website</ref> Chaplain F. W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, stated "I doubt if there is such a thing as an atheist. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918). ''New York Times'', p. 13.</ref> On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com</ref>

Research indicates that heavy combat has a positive correlation to the strength of the religious faith in soldiers during the battles and subsequent to the war if they indicated their experience was a negative experience (for more information please see: [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]).

Also, due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a ''Psychology Today'' article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]

==Atheism and communism ==

''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]

[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|150px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]

=== Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Zhou Enlai ===

[[Karl Marx]] said "[Religion] is the opium of the people." Marx also stated: "[[Communism]] begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow: Progress Publishers).</ref>

[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|materialist]], i.e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i.e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the [[class struggle]] which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "The attitude of the worker's party to religion"] translation of Lenin, Vladimir (1909), ''Proletary'', No. 45, May 13 (26), ''Collected Works'', (Moscow: Progress Publishers) vol. 15, pp. 402-13.</ref>

In 1955, [[China|Chinese]] communist leader Zhou Enlai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref> In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>
*[http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>

=== Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===

According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref>

Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, militant atheists."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006). [http://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''Western Civilization: Combined Volume''] (Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth), p. 549. GoogleBooks archive.
*Latreille, A. (2002). "French Revolution", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2nd ed., Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson/Gale), vol. 5, pp. 972–973. ISBN 0-7876-4004-2</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001). [http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "War, Terror and Resistence", ch. 7, p. 3]. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution website. George Mason University website/Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media website.
*O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012). ''Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim'' (iUniverse), pp. 1-2.</ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
*{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|pages=461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:—in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations.' "It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while 'the death dance of democratic revolution' was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, 'the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace.'|pages=105–6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West''|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring—National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions. "It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, 'The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man.' Actually this transition happened not 'ultimately' but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract 'reason' and 'liberty' degenerated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. 'Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name', said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of 'liberty', 'equality', and 'reason'. "As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|pages=57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>

=== Atheistic communism and mass murder ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist atrocities]]
[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|202px|thumb|The militant atheistic regime of Joseph Stalin killed tens of millions of people.

See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] ]]
It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 and 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
*White, Matthew (February 2011). [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"]. Necrometrics
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error. See also: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]

Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheism and mass murder]] that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world.
There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes which advocated atheism.<ref name="Koukl" /> As noted earlier, Richard Dawkins has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.

Koukl summarized by stating:
{{cquote|It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.<ref name="Koukl" />}}

The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
{{cquote|Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by Stalin and [[Mao Zedong|Mao]] …

The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.

The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell]]-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.

Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>}}

See also:

*[[Militant atheism]]
*[[Atheism and communism]]
*[[Soviet Union and morality]]
*[[Secular left]]
*[[Atheism and politics]]

=== Communism and religious oppression ===

''See also:'' [[Communism and religious persecution]] and [[Atheistic communism and torture]] and [[Atheism and forced labor]] and [[China and involuntary organ harvesting]]

The atheism in communist regimes has been and continues to be militant atheism and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com
*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165.
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"]. Orthodox Christian Information Center.
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
*[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Marytrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union]] was the result of the violently atheist [[Soviet]] government. In the first five years after the [[October Revolution]], 28 bishops and 1,200 priests were murdered, many on the orders of [[Leon Trotsky]]. When [[Joseph Stalin]] came to power in 1927, he ordered his secret police, under [[Genrikh Yagoda]] to intensify persecution of Christians. In the next few years, 50,000 clergy were murdered, many were [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]]. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''. Time magazine website.</ref> According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler.</ref>
[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|left|205px|With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "The largest atheist/agnostic populations"]. Chris & Terri Chapman. Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref>

The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. See also: [[Global atheism]] ]]
In addition, in the atheistic and communist Soviet Union, 44 anti-religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in [[Leningrad]]’s Kazan cathedral.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.</ref> Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "Forced secularization in Soviet Russia: why an atheistic monopoly failed" [abstract]]. ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', vol. 43, 1, pp. 35-50. Abstract: Ingentaconnect</ref>

China is a communist country. In 1999, the publication [[Christian Century]] reported that "China has persecuted religious believers by means of harassment, prolonged detention, and incarceration in prison or 'reform-through-labor' camps and police closure of places of worship." In 2003, owners of [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''.</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, is increasingly losing its effectiveness and the number of Christians in China is rapidly growing (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]). China's state sponsored atheism and atheistic indoctrination has been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]]. National Post website.</ref>

[[North Korea]] is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"] Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.<ref>Multiple references:
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com</ref>
[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The above photograph shows the Russian Nikolai Khmara, a new Baptist convert in the [[Soviet Union]], after his arrest by the [[KGB]]. He was tortured to death and his tongue cut out.<ref>[http://martyredintheussr.com/ Martyred in the USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.anabaptists.org/books/russians/trs-1.html The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)]</ref> See also: [[Atheistic communism and torture]] ]]

=== Atheistic communism and torture ===

''See also:'' [[Atheistic communism and torture]]

The website Victimsofcommunism.org declares concerning atheistic communism and the use of [[torture]]:
{{cquote|Significantly, communists did not merely try to block or halt religious faith but to reverse it. This was particularly true for [[Romania]], even before the Nicolai Ceausescu era. This meant not just forbidding religious practice and jailing ministers and believers but employing torture to force them to renounce their faith. It was not enough to contain, silence, even punish believers in prison; it was decided they must be tortured in truly unimaginably degrading ways to attempt to undo religious faith.<ref>[http://victimsofcommunism.org/the-war-on-religion/ The War on religion]</ref>}}

For more information, please see: [[Atheistic communism and torture]]

=== Atheistic communist regimes and forced labor ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and forced labor]] and [[Atheism and slavery]]

In atheistic communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day (see: [[Atheism and forced labor]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Caplan, Bryan (2010). [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "North Korea: Economic system built on forced labor: New testimonies say even children must work or face detention camps"] (June 13, 2012). Human Rights Watch website.
*Pattisson, Pete (November 7, 2014). [http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"]. ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
*[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999). Cnn.com
*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013). Xinhua.</ref>

=== Communist China and involuntary organ harvesting ===

''See:'' [[China and involuntary organ harvesting|Communist China and involuntary organ harvesting]]

== Atheism and politics ==
[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|right|200px|thumbnail|Atheism is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020.<ref name="cnsnews.com">[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref> See: [[Desecularization]] ]]

Historically, atheists have favored the [[leftism|left]] side of the political aisle (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).

According to the Pew Forum, in the [[United States]]: "About two-thirds of atheists (69%) identify as [[Democrats]] (or lean in that direction), and a majority (56%) call themselves political [[liberal]]s (compared with just one-in-ten who say they are [[conservative]]s)."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/ 7 facts about atheists], Pew Forum</ref>

In some regions where the [[secular left]] has considerable influence, they [[Decline of the secular left|are losing]] an increasing amount of their power. For example, in [[secular Europe]] right-wing, nationalist parties are growing and in China conservative [[Protestantism]] is growing rapidly (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]).<ref>[http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160114/1033149776/europe-rise-of-right-wing-parties-eu-failure.html EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe]. Sputnik News, 2016</ref>

For more information please see:

*[[Atheism and politics]]

*[[Secular left]]

*[[Decline of the secular left]]

*[[Atheism and historical revisionism]]

*[[Atheism and liberal Christianity alliances]]

*[[Secular right]]

*[[Atheist organizations]]

=== Desecularization and politics ===

''See also:'' [[Desecularization and politics]]

[[Desecularization]] is the process by which [[religion]] reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring [[secularization]] processes.<ref name="China 2011, page 11">''Religion and the State in Russia and China: Suppression, Survival and Revival'' by Christopher Marsh, 2011, page 11 (Christopher Marsh cites the definitions of desecularization given by Peter L. Berger and Vyacheslav Karpov)</ref>

Scholars of religious demographics frequently use the term the "global resurgence of religion" to describe the process of [[desecularization|global desecularization]] which began in the late portion of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2005/november-december/the-return-of-religion The return of religion]</ref>

Due to the higher fertility of religious conservatives and religious immigration to the Western World, the religious are expected to see a net gain in political power in the 21st century and this may cause a rise in [[social conservatism]] within various societies over time (see: [[Desecularization and politics]]).

== Atheism and history ==
[[File: Voroshilov, Molotov, Stalin, with Nikolai Yezhov.jpg|right|225px]]
[[File: The Commissar Vanishes 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|Nikolai Yezhov walking with [[Joseph Stalin]] in the top photo taken in the mid 1930s. Subsequent to his execution in 1940, Yezhov was edited out of the photo by Soviet Union censors.<ref>From the book The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King</ref>

See: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]

The history of atheism: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]

=== Atheists and historical illiteracy ===

A common complaint concerning many atheists is their lack of depth when it comes to knowledge of [[history]] and [[historiography]] - particularly in areas such as [[historicity of Jesus|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Day, Vox (March 10, 2014). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ignorance-of-cosmos.html "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"]. Vox Populi blog. See [[Vox Day]].
*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]

*[[Atheists and the endurance of religion|Historical trends/events and dampened expectations of the atheist movement]]

*[[Historicity of Jesus|Historicity of Jesus Christ]]

*[[Atheism and slavery]]

*[[Age of the earth]]

*[[World history]]

=== Atheists and historical revisionism ===

Atheists commonly engage in [[historical revisionism]] in order to illegitimately distort the historical record (see: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]).
=== Religion/irreligion and war ===

''See also:'' [[Irreligion/religion and war]]

Louise Ridley (assistant news editor at the ''Huffington Post UK''), [[Vox Day]] and others point out that academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"] The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012). [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "The myth that religion is the #1 cause of war"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. Edited by Matt Slick. See [[CARM]].
*Price, Tom (2014). [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"]. Bethinking.</ref>

=== Darwinism and war ===

There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]).

== Atheism and economics ==

*[[Atheism and economics]]

*[[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and economic productivity]]

== Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian|Resources for leaving atheism]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]

The phrase apologetics comes directly from the ancient Greek word apologia which is a derivative of a word meaning to speak in one's defence.<ref>Thayer and Smith (1999). [http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/apologia.html "Greek lexicon entry for 'Apologia'"]. ''The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon''. BibleStudyTools.com.</ref> [[Christian apologetics]] is a field of Christian [[theology]] which focuses on the evidence and arguments for Christianity and the evidence and arguments opposing other [[worldview]]s.

=== Biblical statements concerning atheism ===

''See also:'' [[Bible verses relating to atheism]]

The writers of the [[Bible]] considered the existence of God to be self-evident and [[Moses]] simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''. Answers in Genesis.</ref>

Accordingly, the psalmist [[David]] declared:

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])

===Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s version of the [[ontological argument]] appeared in his work ''Proslogium''.]]

''See also:'' [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Responses to atheist arguments]]

The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the existence of God, are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>

In relation to the debate between theism and atheism, theists often criticize atheism as being contrary to persuasive argument and have a number of arguments against atheism. [[Arguments for the existence of God]] include:

* [[Teleological argument]]: The universe exhibits overwhelming evidence of deliberate, intelligent, purposeful design, which implies an [[intelligent design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|Arguments against evolution]] and [[Origin of life]]

*[[Moral Argument|Moral argument]]. [[Objective morality]] exists. Atheism lacks objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], atheists are fundamentally [[Moral relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality (See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]) .<ref>Multiple references:
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "God, naturalism, and the foundations of morality"]. ''The Future of Atheism'', ed. Robert Stewart (Minneapolis: Fortress Press), pp. 141-161. PaulCopan.com
*Williams, Peter S. (2011). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"]. Bethinking.org
*Meister, Chad (2010). [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"]. ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2. Christian Research Institute website
*Slick, Matt (2009). [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.</ref> Atheism leads to moral and cultural decline (see: [[Atheism and culture]]).

* [[Cosmological argument]]: Every event in our [[universe]] necessarily has a cause. However, it is impossible that there should be an unending chain of causes going back. Therefore, there necessarily must be a cause ''distinct'' from the universe as we know it which is capable of causing all things and is itself uncaused. Atheism denies that that [[First Cause|first cause]] is God. Christians point out that the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.<ref>[http://creation.com/who-created-god Who created God] by Don Batten</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]

*[[Atheism and irrationality]] - Atheism cannot account for the laws of logic, consciousness or human reason.

* [[Bible prophecy]]

*[[Atheism and the Problem of Evil]] (see also: [[Atheism and gratitude]] and [[Atheism and Hell]])

* Historical arguments for the existence of God. For example, arguments stemming from historical accounts such as Christian historical apologetics, [[Christian Legal Apologetics|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|Bible archaeology]]

* Atheists lack a coherent and compelling ultimate basis for knowledge. See: [[Atheism and epistemology]]

*Atheism is an unnecessarily limiting view of the world (see: [[Atheism and inspiration#Atheism is an emaciated and unnecessarily limiting view of the world|Atheism is an unnecessarily limiting view of the world]]).

*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Common arguments against atheism]]

* [[Ontological argument]]: According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Ontological arguments are arguments, for the conclusion that God exists, from premises which are supposed to derive from some source other than observation of the world — e.g., from reason alone."<ref>Oppy, Graham (July 15, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/ "Ontological arguments"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).</ref>
[[File:Autumn.jpg|250px|right|thumbnail|The [[argument from beauty]] argues the existence of [[beauty]] in the natural world testifies to the existence of [[God]] who both [[intelligent design|designed]] natural beauty and who possesses a divine beauty.]]
* Experiential arguments for the existence of God: Arguments based on personal experience and human intuition. According to philosopher [[Alvin Plantinga]] belief in the existence of God exists is a "properly basic" belief and not based on inference from other beliefs but is rationally justified due to one's circumstances of immediate experience of God.<ref>Craig, William Lane (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth01.html "Introduction: the resurrection of theism"]. ''Truth: A Journal of Modern Thought'', vols. 3 & 4. LeadershipU</ref>

* Various social science studies, historical data and other data, demonstrate that atheism often has a harmful effect on individuals and societies. See: [[Atheism statistics]] and [[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]

*[[Presuppositional apologetics]]

*[[Atheism and love]]. Atheists cannot give a satisfactory/robust explanation for the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love>Multiple references:
*Marshall, Dr. Taylor (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ "How do atheists define love?"] Strange Notions blog
*Martin, Robert (July 9, 2014). [https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ "What is love? How materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer"]. Atheist Forum blog.</ref>

*[[Argument from beauty]]<ref>Williams, Peter (Summer 2001). [http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/williams-aesthetic.shtml "Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God"]. ''Quodlibet Journal'' vol. 3:3. Quodlibet Journal website</ref> See also: [[Atheist art]] and [[Atheist music]] and [[Atheism and wonder]]

* Inconsistency when it comes to the probability of [[supernatural]] phenomena or extremely unlikely events. For example, a significant percentage of atheists believe in life after death and possess superstitious beliefs (see: [[Atheism and the supernatural]]).

*[[Atheism and Miracles]]

*Atheists are commonly criticized for engaging in [[groupthink]] and having a lack of cultural/geographic, racial, gender and socioeconomic [[diversity]] (see: [[Atheism and groupthink]] and [[Atheism and diversity]]).

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

*[http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible scientific foreknowledge]

* Lack of proof and evidence that atheism is true contrasted with the strong evidence supporting Christianity. A [[Shockofgod|popular YouTube Christian channel]] has flustered the [[Internet atheism|internet atheist community]] by asking atheists what proof and evidence they have that atheism is true.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bBE1bos6JU "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show - hilarious! Part 1"] (November 26, 2009). YouTube video, 9:37, posted by MultiArchangel.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBZoWDfQA4 "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show. Hilarious! Part 2"] (November 26, 2009). YouTube video, 8:31, posted by theshockawards.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 "The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism"] (August 6, 2010). YouTube video, 14:54, posted by shockofgod.</ref> Atheism requires blind faith. Atheism is a [[Atheism is a religion|faith based religion]] and it is a worldview which has no evidential support.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciVL86XQlvM "There is no proof and evidence that atheism is true: thus atheism is null and void"] (January 13, 2012). YouTube video, 1:28, posted by shockofgod.</ref>

*Historically, the atheist population has often used mockery as a substitution for reasonable discussion/debate (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]).<ref>
*[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-and-frances-irreligious-tradition/ Charlie Hebdo and France’s Irreligious Tradition] by Kenneth R. Weinstein
*[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/dawkins-mock-them-ridicule-them-in-public/ Dawkins: Mock them. Ridicule them! In public]
*[http://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/matt-barber/2014/05/08/mockery-the-mo-for-atheists ''Mockery - the M.O. for atheists''] by [[Matt Barber]]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and humor]]

*In recent years, atheist intellectuals have been lethargic in terms of responding to arguments for the existence of God (See: [[Stagnation of atheist apologetics]]).

*[[Atheism and the Bible]]

*[[Atheism website resources|Various Christian apologetic resources focusing on atheism]]

*[[Atheism and the suppression of science]]

*[[Argument from desire]]

*[[Pascal's wager]]

*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]

For more information, please see:

*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Refutations of atheism]]

*[[Responses to atheist arguments]]

== Atheism and morality/ethics ==

See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Religion and morality]]

=== Objective morality incompatible with atheism ===
[[File:Copan at Tyndale.jpeg|thumbnail|right|180px|Dr. [[Paul Copan]] wrote: "...the existence of a personal God is crucial for a coherent understanding of [[objective morality]]."<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams, Bethinking.org</ref>]]
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for [[objective morality]] or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Atheism and moral relativism ===

''See also:'' [[Moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]

Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[moral relativism]]:
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche]] preached that a group of "supermen" must arise with the courage to create their own values through their "will to power." Nietzsche rejected the "soft" values of Christianity (brotherly love, turning the other cheek, charity, compassion, etc.); he felt they hindered man's creativity and potential....

Many other atheists agree with Nietzsche concerning moral relativism. British philosopher [[Bertrand Russell]] (1872-1970) once wrote, "Outside human desires there is no moral standard." [[A. J. Ayer]] believed that moral commands did not result from any objective standard above man. Instead, Ayer stated that moral commands merely express one's subjective feelings. When one says that murder is wrong, one is merely saying that he or she feels that murder is wrong. [[Jean-Paul Sartre]], a French [[existentialism|existentialist]], believed that there is no objective meaning to life. Therefore, according to Sartre, man must create his own values.

There are many different ways that moral relativists attempt to determine what action should be taken. [[Hedonism]] is probably the most extreme. It declares that whatever brings the most pleasure is right. In other words, if it feels good, do it. If this position is true, then there is no basis from which to judge the actions of [[Adolph Hitler]] as being evil.<ref>Fernandes, Phil (May 25, 1997). [http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/1997/05/refuting-moral-relativism/ "Refuting moral relativism"]. Institute of Biblical Defense.</ref>}}

For additional quotes about atheism and morality, please see: [[Atheism and morality quotes]]

=== Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality ===

'''Barna Group study on behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians:'''

[[Richard Deem]] wrote:
{{Cquote|A random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]] - an average of nearly five times the frequency!<ref>[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/atheists_more_immoral.html Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?] by Richard Deem</ref>}}

'''Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors:'''

The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/bisexuality.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VumtJuYvK1s Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard], Barna Group</ref>

Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time]. See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]

=== Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality ===

In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists", and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."<ref>Gervais, Will M. (April 9, 2014). "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists". ''PLOS ONE'', {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0092302}}.</ref>

=== Atheism and uncharitableness ===
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref>

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.</ref> See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]

Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and charity|atheism and uncharitableness]], the evidence indicates that [[per capita]] charitable giving by atheists and agnostics in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the [[Barna Group]]:
{{cquote|The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians#.VwcO5jEn_7Y "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.</ref>}}

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/>

{{See also|Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy}}

==== Atheism and lower empathy ====

See: [[Atheism and charity#Atheism and lower empathy|Atheism and lower empathy]]

==== Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority ====

See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and love]]

In June 2014, the African-American atheist woman [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that atheist organizations generally focus on church-state separation and creationism issues and not the concerns the less affluent African American population faces.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"]. Washington Post website.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>

==== Atheist nonprofit scandals ====

''See also:'' [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and ''[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science#Embezzlement allegation|Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation]]''

Two atheist nonprofit scandals which recently received some publicity were the organizations [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] and the We Are Atheism organization.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/09/15/an-update-on-we-are-atheism An Update on We Are Atheism] by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015</ref>

In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]]

==== Atheist fundraising vs. Religious fundraising ====

See: [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising]]

=== Atheism and slavery/forced labor ===

*[[Atheism and slavery]]

*[[Atheism and forced labor]]

=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]

[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
{{cquote|But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, [[misogyny|misogynistic]]. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula.</ref>}}

See also:

*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]

*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]

*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]

=== Atheism and polyamory ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]

The prominent, American, atheist blogger [[JT Eberhard]] wrote: "You may also consider turning to the atheist community. It seems half of us are [[polyamory|poly]] nowadays."<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013/12/answering-email-how-do-i-polyamory/ Answering email: how do I polyamory?] by JT Eberhard</ref>

=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===

''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|205px|right|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "Race/ethnicity, religious involvement, and domestic violence"] [abstract with link to full article]. ''Violence Against Women'', doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 1094-1112. Abstract from PubMed.gov</ref>]]
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name="vaw"/>}}

===== Secular Europe and domestic violence =====

{{See also|Secular Europe and domestic violence}}

=== Atheism and rape ===

*[[Atheism and rape]]

*[[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]

*[[Atheism and rape#Rape of Nanking|Rape of Nanking]]

[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|201px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]

=== Atheism and abortion ===

The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
{{cquote|In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his ''La Philosophie dans le boudoir'', in which he proposed the use of induced abortion for social reasons and as a means of [[population control]]. It is from this time that medical and social acceptance of abortion can be dated, although previously the subject had not been discussed in public in modern times. It is suggested that it was largely due to de Sade's writing that induced abortion received the impetus which resulted in its subsequent spread in western society.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980). [http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"]. ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10. Journal of Medical Ethics website</ref>}}

[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"]. Evolution News and Views.</ref> ''[[CBS News]]'' reported: "According to a mail-in survey of nearly 4,000 British doctors, those who were atheist or agnostic were almost twice as willing to take actions designed to hasten the end of life."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com.</ref>

=== Atheism and profanity ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]

Studies indicate that atheists engage in more [[profanity]] than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VwcQ8jEn_7Y "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update.
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website.
*Ritter, Ryan S., Preston, J. L. et al. (June 18, 2013). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract]]. ''Social Psychological and Personality Science'', 1948550613492345. Abstract: Sage Journals Subscription required for full article.</ref>
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]

=== Irreligion and crime/prison population ===

*[[Religion and crime reduction]]

*[[Irreligious prison population]]

*[[Atheists in U.S. prisons argument and atheist morality]]

*[[Atheism and repressive prisons]]

=== Atheism and pornography ===

*[[Atheism and pornography]]

*[[Atheism and child pornography]]

=== Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA ===

*[[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA|Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA]]

=== Atheism and bestiality ===

*[[Atheism and bestiality]]

=== Atheism and cannibalism ===

{{See also|Atheism and cannibalism}}

As far as atheism and cannibalism, historically some of the more notable cases of cannibalism which occurred was the cannibalism which occurred under Communist regimes and the cannibalism of serial killer [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] (see: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]).

John Attarian wrote concerning the atheist Marquis de Sade: "For the Sadean egotist, then, everything is permitted. Sade incessantly rationalized the most depraved and libertine sexuality, and every crime including cannibalism and murder."<ref>[http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=520 Dostoevsky vs. Marquis de Sade] by John Attarian (MA 46:4, Fall 2004) - 08/01/08</ref>

=== Atheism and other moral issues ===

For more information please see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]

=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===

''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

=== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.

The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says that the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippage such as resentment or unforgiveness.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref> See: [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]]]
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
{{cquote|People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.

In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"]. CNN/The Chart website.</ref>}}

Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"]. First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.</ref>

The atheist and [[lesbianism|lesbian]] [[Greta Christina]] told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.</ref>

Social science research indicates that anti-theists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [https://evolution-institute.org/article/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10/ "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]</ref> Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>

For additional information, please see: [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]

=== Atheism and social justice ===

* [[Atheism and social justice]]

* [[Atheism and justice]]

=== Atheist scandals ===

See: [[Atheist scandals]]

=== Earlier definitions of atheism ===

Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality<ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9779.htm Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?]</ref><ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary]</ref>

== Atheism and meaning ==

=== Why atheism is irrational ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/> For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007). [http://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis.
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
*Petersen, Jason (2013). [http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "Can atheism coherently explain the laws of logic?"] Answers for Hope.
*Audio of a formal 1985 debate between Christian Greg Bahnsen and skeptic Gordon Stein at the University of California, Irvine on the question "Does God exist?" See Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]]
**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein: The Great Debate (FULL)"] (May 19, 2011). YouTube video, 2:10:44, posted by Argin Gerigorian.
**Andy (December 5, 2006). [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"]. The Domain for Truth.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and critical thinking]]

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"]. John Piippo.
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness: One of atheism's irresolvable problems"]. John Piippo.</ref>
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"]. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012). [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"]. FaithStreet/On Faith.
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Platinga, Alvin (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. LeadershipU. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ISBN 1933771364; ISBN 978-1933771366.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014). Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014). Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013). YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science.
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"]. Just and Sinner blog.
*Randy (November 12, 2012). [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "More on inconsistent atheists"]. Speak the Truth in Love.
*Geisler, Norman and McCoy, Daniel J. (June 2014). ''The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs'' (Ada, MI: Baker Publishing Group). See [[Norman Geisler]]</ref>]]

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and irrationality]]

*[[Atheism and logic]]

*[[Irreligion and superstition]]

*[[Atheism and groupthink]]

*[[Atheism and epistemology]]

*[[Atheism and postmodernism]]

=== Atheism and reason ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and reason]]

If [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]] is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for [[reason]] for the human [[brain]] would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces.
<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason">*[http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html C.S. Lewis' argument from reason]
*[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason] by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
*[http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism C.S. Lewis and Materialism] by John G. West
*[http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning]
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]</ref> Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.

In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"/>

=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===

List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]

=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Nihilism]] and [[Absurdism]] and [[Existentialism]]

Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013). [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "Can life have meaning without God?"] The Gospel Coalition. "Atheism’s universe is meaningless and valueless"]. J.W. Wartick—"Always Have a Reason" [blog
*Galloway, Katie (December 23, 2013). [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".] Bethinking. ["Why atheism?"]
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012). [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"]. A View from the Right
*Shramek, Dustin (2009). [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"]. Contend for the Faith [archive]. Archive
*Brake, Aaron (2013). [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"]. Pleaseconvinceme.
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010). [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"]. With All I Am.</ref> Through [[Jesus Christ]], Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2012). [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009). Christian Bible Reference Site.</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and narcissism]] and [[Atheism and deception]]
[[Image:Cherry Blossom Japan.jpg|thumb|200px|Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].</ref>]]

One of the common and well-founded charges against atheists is their arrogance and presumptuousness.<ref>Multiple references:
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009). [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"]. Christian Research Institute.
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010). [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "The arrogance of the atheists: They batter believers in religion with smug certainty"]. ''New York Daily News''. See atheist commentator [[S.E. Cupp]]
*O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013). [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"]. The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog]. [atheist author]
*Delzell, Dan (October 17, 2011). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"]. Christian Post website.
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007). Militant Atheism Exposed.</ref>

==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology ====

''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]

Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|clear and abundant proof and evidence]] that He does exist. The philosopher [[Mortimer Adler]] pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable [[universal negative]] that is self-defeating.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library</ref>

Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014). [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"] Faith Beyond Belief.</ref> However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>

Atheists have also given themselves pretentious monikers such as [[freethinker]], rationalist and "bright". See also: [[Brights Movement]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]]

In addition, historically militant atheists have commonly endeavored to limit the religious freedom of others while imposing their errant, atheistic ideology on others. See also: [[Atheism and intolerance]]

==== Study: Arrogance of New Atheists ====

See: [[Atheism and arrogance#Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists and the discovery of errors by the New Atheists|Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists]]

=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]] and [[Atheism and beliefs]]

One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.
[[Image:Ncgj688.jpg|left|thumb|150px|[[Jean Paul Sartre]]]]
Academic research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014). [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"] The New York Times website
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].
*Atheist [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] made the candid confession: "As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for want of being able to think otherwise." Source: Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California: Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive.
*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares about the agnostic/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] Charles Darwin: "In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death: 'In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilization of [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature — I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."' (Argyll 1885, 244)"
**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
**The Duke of Argyll (1885). [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
</ref>

[[Jean-Paul Sartre]] was one of the leading proponents of atheism of the 20th Century.

Yet Jean-Paul Sartre made this candid confession:
{{cquote|As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I ''often'' think rather in this way, for want of ''being able to think otherwise'' [emphasis added].<ref>Ankerberg, Dr. John, et al. (2002). [http://www.jashow.org/wiki/index.php?title=Is_Jesus_Really_the_Only_Way_to_God/Part_3 "Is Jesus really the only way to God?/Part 3 - Is there an innate knowledge of God in atheists, skeptics, and other opponents of Christianity?"] The John Ankenberg Show website.</ref>}}

Furthermore, late in his life, the agnostic/weak atheist and [[evolution]]ist [[Charles Darwin]] often had overwhelming thoughts that the world [[Intelligent design|was designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
*The Duke of Argyll (1885). [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

== Atheism and religion and philosophy topics ==

=== Atheism is a religion ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
[[File:Sanderson Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[British atheism|British atheist]] Sanderson Jones is a founder of the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>

See: [[Atheism is a religion]] ]]
Many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[New Atheism|new atheist]]/agnostic Richard Dawkins, argue for agnosticism/atheism with a religious fervor.

In addition, although many atheists deny that atheism is a worldview, atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], belief in evolution and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (October 2011). [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"] Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. See [[CARM]]
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"] Apologetics.net.
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"]. Apologetics.net.
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013). [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"]. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996). [http://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview]] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview: GoogleBooks</ref> These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.

English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). [http://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"]. Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.</ref> However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010). [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"]. Creation Ministries International.
*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>

In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013). [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"]. Nytimes.com
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"] TheBlaze.
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".] Gawker.</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheism is a religion]]

*[[Atheist indoctrination]]

*[[Atheist cults]]

==== Atheist cults ====

''See also:'' [[Atheist cults]]

Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there have been a number of [[atheist cults]] and atheistic groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these atheist cults/groups still exist today. In 2015, FtBCon which is an online conference organizedFreethought Blogs network, recognized that nonreligious/secular cults exist (for example, the atheist cult of [[objectivism]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Lee, Adam (January 24, 2015) [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2015/01/reminder-secular-cults-at-ftbcon-tonight/ "Reminder: Secular cults panel at FtBCon tonight!] Daylight Atheism [blog]. Patheos website.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4SNcH1ak8 "FtBCon3: Secular cults"] (January 24, 2015). YouTube video, 1:20:45, posted by Jason Thibeault.</ref>

An example of an atheist cult in history is the [[Cult of Reason]] during the [[French Revolution]]. The [[France|French]] atheist Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of [[Reason]]".<ref>Multiple references:
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette was an atheist, see Gellis, Roberta (2009), ''The English Heiress, Book 1'' (Akron, OH: Cerridwen Press), p. 211.
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of Reason", see: Rush, Benjamin (1809). "On Animal Life" and footnote from Carlson, Eric T., M.D. et al., editor (1981), [http://books.google.com/books/about/Benjamin_Rush_s_Lectures_on_the_Mind.html?id=Sfpu7mMW9qIC ''Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society: Benjamin Rush's Lectures on the Mind''] (Philadelphia, PA: American Philosophical Society), vol. 144, p. 170. GoogleBooks</ref>

The atheist cults or atheist groups which have had a cultish following which have formed in history or exist today are often a result of factors such as: [[utopia]]n thinking, fanatical devolution to various atheistic ideologies, a poor understanding of science/technology (or a penchant for materialist [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] thinking) and wishful thinking.

For a more complete listing and description of atheist cults or atheistic groups which have a cultish following, please see: [[Atheist cults]].

{{See also|Atheist indoctrination}}

=== Atheism and spirituality ===

*[[Atheism and spirituality]]

=== Irreligion and superstition ===
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg‎‎|thumb|right|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"]. The Wall Street Journal website.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Theory of Evolution, Liberalism, Atheism, and Irrationality]] and [[Atheist cults]]

In September 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
{{cquote|The reality is that the New Atheist campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith—it's what the empirical data tell us.

"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians....

This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref name="paranormal"/>}}
[[File:Loc of United States.png|thumbnail|175px|right|According to Pew Forum, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] ]]
For more information please see: [[Irreligion and superstition]]

=== Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion ===

*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]

*[[Atheism vs. religion]]

*[[Atheism vs. Islam]]

*[[Atheism vs. Judaism]]

=== Atheism and miracles ===

:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''

In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
</ref> With that caveat in mind, Hume is well known for arguing that it is always more probable that the testimony of a miracle is false than that the miracle occurred.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"]. ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40. LeadershipU</ref> Christian apologists [[William Lane Craig]], [[Norman Geisler]], [[C.S. Lewis]], [[JP Holding]], and others have shown the inadequacy and unreasonableness of Hume's position regarding miracles.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"]. ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40. LeadershipU
*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999). [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt]]. ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2. Galaxie Software. Subscription required for full article.
*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Lewis, C. S. (1960). [http://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract: Google Books
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"]. Tekton Apologetics.
*Esposito, Lenny (2002). [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries.</ref>

The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|Habermas]] admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>

==== Atheists who believe in life after death ====

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the supernatural]]

A survey involving 15,738 individuals found that 32 percent of Americans who identified themselves as agnostics and atheists believe in an afterlife of some kind.<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife], Skepticsguide.com</ref><ref>[http://relationshipsinamerica.com/religion/do-people-still-believe-in-life-after-death Do people still believe in life after death?], Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study</ref>

== Atheism and science ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]]

=== Atheism and the suppression of science ===

See: [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]

=== Atheism and the social sciences ===

See: [[Atheism and the social sciences]]

=== Atheism and the foundation of modern science ===

''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]

The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized Europe.<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "Christianity and the birth of science; The evidence; Clue #1. The founders/fathers of modern science were shaped by a culture that was predominantly Christian."] Lambert Dolphin's Library. Archived at Internet Archive on July 20, 2014.</ref>

[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the [[Scientific Revolution]].
In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "The biblical origins of science; a review of ''For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery'' by Rodney Stark"], ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 18:2, pp. 49–52.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />

Sir [[Francis Bacon]], sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote in his essay entitled ''Of Atheism'': "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the [[Talmud]], and the [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601). [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama.</ref>

===Atheism and questions of origins===

:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Hergenrather, John (2004). [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space: can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"] Creation Encounter.
*Thompson, Bert (2003). [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"] Apologetics Press.
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "Chapter 2: astronomical and physical sciences", p. 53.] ''In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood'', 8th ed. The Center for Scientific Creation.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]

A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] since [[World War II]] have had the worldview of atheism/agnosticism.<ref>
* Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.
* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]
</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"]. Institute for Creation Research.</ref> The theory of evolution [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|has had a number of negative social effects]].

In addition, the current naturalistic explanations for the [[origin of life]] are inadequate.<ref>[http://creation.com/origin-of-life Origin of life] by Dr. Don Batten</ref>

=== Atheism and scientific community ===

*[[Atheism and science]]

*[[Scientists and belief in the existence of God]]

*[[Atheism and the origin of the universe|Atheist scientists and the origin of the universe]]

*[[Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences]]

=== Atheism and deception ===

''For more information please see'': [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Atheist cults]]
[[Image:CharlesDarwin.jpg|thumb|120px|left|[[Charles Darwin]]]]
As alluded to earlier, prior to Charles Darwin publishing his [[evolution]]ist work ''On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life'', Darwin wrote in his private notebooks that he was a materialist, which is a type of atheist.<ref name="creation.com">[http://creation.com/charles-darwins-real-message-have-you-missed-it Charles Darwin's real message. Have you missed it?]</ref> On the other hand, there is also evidence that Charles Darwin was an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] (see: [[Religious views of Charles Darwin]]).

Charles Darwin’s casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of ''The Origin of Species'' appears to have been a merely a [[deceit]]ful ploy to downplay the implications of his materialistic theory.<ref name="creation.com"/>

German scientist [[Ernst Haeckel]] was a very influential proponent of the evolutionary position and Haeckel was an advocate of atheism.<ref name="nytimes2">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907). ''New York Times'', p. 1. Nytimes.com</ref> Ernst Haeckel attempted to portray himself as an ethical proponent of atheism, however, history shows he was a deceitful individual.<ref>Multiple references:
*Wakefield, Gerard (2002). [http://www.creationism.org/wakefield/haeckel.htm "Investigating Genesis series: 'Another evolution fraud exposed'".] www.creationism.org.
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907). ''New York Times'', p. 1
*Wells, Jonathan (June 12, 2002). [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1180 "Critics rave over ''Icons of Evolution'': a response to published reviews"]. Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture.
*Wells, Jonathan (January 2001). [http://www.discovery.org/a/1209 The "Survival of the fakest"]. ''The American Spectator''. Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture: essential readings</ref>
The March 9, 1907 edition of the ''New York Times'' refers to Ernst Haeckel as the "celebrated Darwinian and founder of the Association for the Propagation of Ethical Atheism."<ref name="nytimes2"/>

For more information please see: [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]]

==Atheism and mental and physical health==

:''See also:'' [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and alcoholism]] and [[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]]

The is considerable amount of [[science|scientific]] evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism and some of the more significant findings are given below <ref>Multiple references:
*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"]. ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"]. ScienceDaily.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*University of Warwick (December 2003). [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"]. Scienceblog.
</ref> For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]]

=== Mayo Clinic and other studies ===
[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that
religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]] ]]
The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
{{cquote|In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.

The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}

The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
{{cquote|A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>Multiple references:
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"]. ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website</ref>}}

===Atheism and suicide===

:''See also:'' [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Hopelessness of atheism]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]

Although there are recent studies relating to [[Atheism and suicide|atheism being a causal factor for suicide for some individuals]], an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for [[suicide]] was the Reverend Dr. [[Robert Stuart MacArthur]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [summary]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Summary: Adherents.com. Website contains link to article at American Journal of Psychiatry website.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In [[Paris]], a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population. After the publication of Paine's "Age of Reason" suicides increased.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref>}}
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|left|200px|Atheists have higher suicide rates. See: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]

The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference...In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:

"...According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism."<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref>}}

For more information please see:

*[[Atheism and suicide]]

*[[Atheism and loneliness]]

*[[Hopelessness of atheism]]

[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]

=== Atheism and alcoholism ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]

At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>

Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).

For example, as far as secular Europe, according to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc/>

=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref><ref>Multiple references:
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93. Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref>

According to ''Science Daily'': "Young [[Switzerland|Swiss]] men who say that they believe in [[God]] are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>

=== Atheism and loneliness ===
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness. See: [[Atheism and loneliness]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]]

Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012). [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "Why loneliness can be deadly"]. Live Science website.
*Booth, Robert (October 12, 2014). "Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years", ''The Guardian''.</ref>

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|are often lonelier societies]]. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower [[emotional intelligence]] and lower social skills (see: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Atheism and happiness ===

*[[Atheism and happiness]]

*[[Atheism and joy]]

=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===

''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]

''The [[Sport]]s Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}

{{See also|Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence}}

=== Atheism and obesity ===
[[File:Stephen-Fry.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|The atheist [[Stephen Fry]]. ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and the fat acceptance movement]]

According to the [[Gallup Organization]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref name="Gallup">Newport, Frank, et al. (December 23, 2010). [http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx "Very religious Americans lead healthier lives"]. Gallup.</ref> For more information please [[Atheism and obesity]]

Gallup declared concerning the study which measured the degree to which religiosity affects health practices: "[[Generalized linear model]] analysis was used to estimate marginal scores all five reported metrics after controlling for age (in years), gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education (number of years), log of income, and region of the country... Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-July 28, 2010, with a random sample of 554,066 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling."<ref name="Gallup"/>

==== Atheistic China and obesity ====

{{See also|China and obesity}}

China has the world's largest atheist population.<ref>
*[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> In 2014, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that atheistic China has 300 million overweight individuals and it has the second highest obesity rate in the world.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014). YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal.</ref>

According to a 2012 report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese children in China has reached 120 million.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yk-aM0cyk "Child obesity reaches 120 million in China"] (August 31, 2012). YouTube video, 1:37, posted by NTDTV.</ref> A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li">Li, Pang (September 14, 2012). [http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-09/14/content_26521029.htm "Obesity is a growing concern in China"]. China.org.cn.</ref> Due to their past [[One-child Policy|one-child policy]], which had some exceptions, China now has a lot of over-pampered and over-fed children.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuf8yg0Dbig "Rising Chinese child obesity and fat camps"] (October 25, 2007). YouTube video, 6:38, posted by Journeyman Pictures.
*Burkitt, Laurie (May 29, 2014). [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/29/as-obesity-rises-chinese-kids-are-almost-as-fat-as-americans/ "As obesity rises, Chinese kids are almost as fat as Americans"], Wall Street Journal website/Chinarealtime.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014). YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal.</ref>

A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-09/14/content_26521029.htm Obesity is a growing concern in China] By Pang Li, China.org.cn, September 14, 2012</ref>

==== Secular Europe and obesity ====

* [[Secular Europe and obesity]]
[[File:Europe map.png|thumbnail|200px|right|The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported: "Based on the latest estimates in [[Europe]]an Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults."<ref name="euro.who.int">[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/obesity/data-and-statistics World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe - The challenge of obesity - quick statistics]</ref>]]
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported:
{{cquote|Based on the latest estimates in [[Europe]]an Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults.

Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood.<ref name="euro.who.int">[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/obesity/data-and-statistics World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe - The challenge of obesity - quick statistics]</ref>}}

==== Various generations and rates of irreligion/obesity ====

*[[Millennials, irreligion and obesity]]

*[[Generation X, irreligion and obesity]]

*[[Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity]]

=== New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles ===

A significant number of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement have engaged in unhealthy behaviors which have upon occasion caused them significant health problems (see: [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles]]).

Despite his esophageal cancer, when asked by interviewer Charlie Rose if in retrospect he would have engaged in heavy drinking and smoking knowing his present cancer condition, the late new atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] said he think he would have done things the same.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/17/christopher-hitchens-desp_n_685021.html Christopher Hitchens: Despite Cancer, I'd Drink & Smoke Again]</ref>

== Atheism and intelligence ==
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious. See: [[Atheism and the brain]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences]] and [[Causes of atheism]]

Within various countries, standardized [[intelligence testing|intelligence test]] (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/agnostics vs. theists intelligence scores yield conflicting results.<ref>
*[http://www.doxa.ws/other/smarter.html "Who is smarter; are atheists smarter than Christians? An examination of studies"] (2007). Doxa: Christian Thought in the 21st Century. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
*[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/08/24/the-myth-of-the-smarter-atheist/ The myth of the smarter Atheist] by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014</ref> Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-higher-iqs/ "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?"] Strange Notions. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
*Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2012/01/how-many-americans-are-atheists-fewer-than-you-might-think/ "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think"]. Black, White and Gray. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism, intelligence and the General Social Survey]]

However, within individuals, families and societies irreligion/religion can have an effect on intelligence - especially over time (See: [[Atheism and intelligence]]).

For more information, please see:

*[[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]]

*[[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]

=== Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]]

A 2004 study by Ellen Paek examined the extent to which religious orientation/behavior and found significant positive correlations were found between level of religious commitment and an individual's perceived [[emotional intelligence]].<ref>''Journal of Organizational Behavior'', Paek, Ellen (2006). "[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886906000961 Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians". Personality and Individual Differences] (International Society for the Study of Individual Differences) 41 (3): 479–490</ref> See also: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]

According to the prominent brain researcher Antonio Damasio and other brain researchers, emotions play a critical role in high-level cognition and allow individuals to make better decisions.<ref>
*[http://intentionalworkplace.com/2012/03/15/how-emotion-shapes-decision-making/ How emotion affects decision making], The Intentional Workplace
*[http://people.hss.caltech.edu/~steve/bechara.pdf The role of emotion in decision-making: Evidence from neurological patients with orbitofrontal damage], Antoine Becharam, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wup_K2WN0I When Emotions Make Better Decisions - Antonio Damasio] - short video
*[https://news.usc.edu/29569/Antonio-and-Hanna-Damasio-Receive-Honorary-Degrees/ News item about Professor Antonio Damasio], University of Southern California
</ref>

=== Brain studies of atheists ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the brain]] and [[Religiosity and larger frontal lobes]]

Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious (see: [[Atheism and the brain]] and [[Religiosity and larger frontal lobes]]).

== Atheism and women ==

''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]

[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|Studies indicate that women tend to be more religious than men (See: [[Atheism and women]]). ]]

=== Recent studies ===

=== Atheist Alliance International analysis ===

In 2016, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) conducted an annually recurring atheist census project and found: "At the time of writing, the Atheist Census Project recorded that on average worldwide 73.2% of respondents were male. The result is consistent with other research... As such, the focus of many scholarly papers has been on seeking to explain this persistent observation."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>

==== Surveys by country ====

In November 2010, ''Discover'' magazine published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and women]]

==== United States surveys ====

In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, ...women are 52 percent of the U.S. population but only 36 percent of atheists and agnostics.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"]. BloombergView website.</ref>

A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades.<ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Livescience.</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>

==== Survey: Freedom From Religion Foundation ====

In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
{{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and [[Daniel Dennett]] — are all white men.

But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.

Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>MacDonald, G. Jeffrey (2011). [http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php "Atheists’ diversity woes have no black-and-white answers"]. Beliefnet.</ref>}}

For more information, please see:

*[[Research on atheist conferences]]

*[[Atheist conferences]]

=== Sam Harris on atheism/women ===

In 2014, the prominent new atheist Sam Harris said that atheist activism lacks an “[[estrogen]] vibe” and was “to some degree intrinsically male”.<ref name="Lee"/> Due feminist atheist backlash, Harris wrote a long blog post indicating that his comments were taken out of context.<ref>Harris, Sam (September 15, 2014). [http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for “I’m not the sexist pig you’re looking for”]. Sam Harris. See Sam Harris.</ref>

=== Atheism and sexism ===

Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|left]] (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]]). Part of leftist ideology is [[feminism]]. However, there is a significant amount of [[misogyny]] among atheists (see: [[Atheism and women]]).

Atheist women currently experience a considerable amount of [[sexism]] and harassment from atheist men. For example, in 2014, the prominent atheist PZ Myers said of fellow new atheist Richard Dawkins' attitude towards women: "At a time when our movement needs to expand its reach, it’s a tragedy that our most eminent spokesman has so enthusiastically expressed such a regressive attitude.”<ref name="Lee">Lee, Adam (September 18, 2014). [http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/richard-dawkins-sexist-atheists-bad-name "Richard Dawkins has lost it: ignorant sexism gives atheists a bad name"]. The Guardian website.</ref>

For more information please see:

*[[Atheism and sexism]]

*[[Atheism and rape]]

*[[Sexual harassment at atheist conferences]]

*[[Elevatorgate]]

*[[Richard Dawkins and women]]

*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]

=== Atheist feminism ===

See: [[Atheist feminism]]

== Atheism and marriage/relationships ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheism and illegitimate births]]

=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriageability]] and [[Atheism and women]]

The Christian apologist Michael Caputo wrote: "Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics."<ref name="marry"/>

[[Vox Day]] declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and agnostics don’t get married."<ref name="marry"/>

For more information please see: [[Atheism and marriageability]]

=== Atheist marriages ===

See: [[Atheist marriages]]

=== Atheism and divorce ===

See: [[Atheism and divorce]]

=== Atheism and interfaith marriages ===

* [[Atheism and interfaith marriages]]

* [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]

=== Atheism and its inability to explain love ===

See also: [[Atheism and love]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness]]

From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love/> See: [[Atheism and love]]

=== Atheism and sexuality ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]] and [[Atheism and fertility rates]]

Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114</ref>
Hispanics are known for their religiosity (See also: [[Western atheism and race]]).

In addition, the atheist and agnostic populations have sub-replacement levels of fertility (see: [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]]).

== Western atheism and race ==
[[File:Sikivu Hutchinson.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson says that white atheists organizations generally focus on church/state separation and [[creationism]] issues and not on the concerns the less affluent African-American population faces.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about] by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014</ref>

Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Black atheism]] and [[Atheism and diversity]]

=== Atheism and race: United States and Europe ===

In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)

...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}

At the same time, due to immigration, Europe is expected to become [[desecularization|more desecularized]] in the 21st century (See also: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist population]]).

=== NY Times: Atheism and race in the United States ===

As note earlier, an atheists' meeting was organized in the [[United States]] concerning the future direction of the atheist movement and 370 people attended. The conference, sponsored by the Council for Secular Humanism, drew members from all the major atheist organizations in the United States. The ''[[New York Times]]'' described the attendees as "The largely white and male crowd — imagine a [[Star Trek]] convention, but older..."<ref>Oppenheimer, Mark (October 15, 2010). [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html "Atheists debate how pushy to be"]. Nytimes.com.</ref> According to the Quantcast data, white males appear to be the group of individuals who are most receptive to Richard Dawkins' and atheist Sam Harris' message.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net/demographics "Richarddawkins.net traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast.
*[http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org/demographics "Samharris.org traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast.</ref> These findings, combined with the aforementioned data indicating that [[Atheism appears to be significantly less appealing to women|atheism is significantly less appealing to women]], suggests that atheist movement in the Western world and the New Atheism movement are significantly more appealing to white males.

== Atheism and education ==

''See also:'' [[Religion and education]] and [[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and academia]] and [[Atheism and academic performance]]

According to Pew Research:
{{Cquote|At present, Jewish adults (ages 25 and older) have a global average of 13 years of formal schooling, compared with approximately nine years among Christians, eight years among Buddhists and six years among Muslims and Hindus. [[Nones|Religiously unaffiliated]] adults – those who describe their religion as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” – have spent an average of nine years in school, a little less than Christian adults worldwide.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2016/12/13/religion-and-education-around-the-world/ Religion and Education Around the World], Pew Research, 2016</ref>}}

In the [[United States]], religious belief is positively correlated to education; a study published in an academic journal titled the ''Review of Religious Research'' demonstrated that increased education is correlated with belief in God and that "education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life."<ref>Multiple references:
* Schwadel, Philip (2011). [http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13644-011-0007-4 "The effects of education on Americans’ religious practices, beliefs, and affiliations" [abstract].] ''Review of Religious Research'' 53:2. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4 DOI:10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4]. "(2) [E]ducation positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life; (3) education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation; (4) education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society but not with support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders; and (5) the effects of education on religious beliefs and participation vary across religious traditions. Education does influence Americans’ religious beliefs and activities, but the effects of education on religion are complex." Abstract retrieved from link.springer.com, July 16, 2014.
*{{cite web|title=Study: more educated tend to be more religious, by some measures|author=Jim Kavanagh|date=11 August 2011|publisher=CNN|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/study-more-educated-tend-to-be-more-religious-by-some-measures/|quote=‘With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, “I don’t believe in God,”’ he said. ‘But you are relatively more likely to say, “I believe in a higher power.”’}} Retrieved July 17, 2014. See [[CNN]].
*{{cite web|author=Daily Mail reporter|title=The more education people receive, the more religious they become?|date=12 August 2011|publisher=Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025166/The-education-people-receive-religious-become.html|quote=By analyzing data from a large national survey, sociologist Philip Schwadel of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that people tend to become more religious—by certain definitions—as they further their education. The survey also qualified what concept of God or a 'higher power' individuals held, as well as whether they had any doubts. Mr Schwadel said that: 'With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, "I don’t believe in God," but you are relatively more likely to say, "I believe in a higher power."'}} Retrieved July 17, 2014. See [[Daily Mail]].
*{{cite web|author=Winkler, Amanda|title="More is more when it comes to education and religion", study says|date=13 August 2011|publisher=The Christian Post|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/who-is-more-religious-53865/|quote=Sociologist Philip Schwadel from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) studied this phenomenon. He discovered that people today tend to become more religious as they further their education.}} Retrieved July 17, 2014.</ref>

One of the reasons education is positively correlated with belief in God in the United States is that the [[demography|demographics]] of people attending higher education has shifted due to more women and southerners attending higher education (these two groups are more likely to be theists. See: [[Atheism and women]]).<ref>Bosmin, Barry (February 17, 2011). [http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2011/02/17/why-do-we-believe-that-higher-education-leads-to-atheism-if-it-doesnt/ "Why do we believe that higher education leads to atheism if it doesn’t?"] Science + religion Today. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>

Although atheistic indoctrination in school systems can have an effect on individuals (See: [[Atheist indoctrination]]), research indicates that social/economic insecurity often has a more significant impact.<ref>Ruiter, Stijn and van Tubergen, Frank (November 2009). "Religious attendance in cross-national perspective: a multilevel analysis of 60 countries". ''American Journal of Sociology'', vol. 115, no. 3, pp. 863-95.</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheist indoctrination]]

*[[Religiosity and the growing use of vouchers and homeschooling]]

=== Atheism in academia ===
[[File:Alister McGrath.jpg|right|thumb|175px|[[Alister McGrath]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and academia]]

In 2001, the atheist and philosopher Quentin Smith declared:
{{cquote|[[Naturalism|Naturalists]] [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of [[theism]] … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."<ref>Craig, William Lane (2012).[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/theistic-critiques-of-atheism "Theistic critiques of atheism"]. Reasonable Faith. Retrieved on July 26, 2014. Unabridged version of article published 2007. See [[William Lane Craig]].</ref>}}
In 2004, Professor [[Alister McGrath]], professor of historical theology at Wycliffe Hall, [[Oxford University]] declared, "The golden age of atheism is over."<ref>Stewart, Marilyn (August 10, 2004). [http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=18837 "Nobts’ Oxford Study Program spans notable lectures & historical sites"]. Baptist Press. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>

For more information please see:

*[[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]]

*[[Religion and education]]

== Atheism statistics and atheist population ==

*[[Atheism statistics]]

*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]

*[[Atheist population]]

=== Atheist movement and leadership ===

* [[Atheist movement]]

* [[Atheism and leadership]]

=== Atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations ===

:''See main article: [[Atheist Population]]''

Specific research on the worldwide [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] conducted in 2006 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 suggests] that the true proportion of atheists is 4% in the United States, 17% in Great Britain and 32% in France. A survey published in the 2005 ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' declared that 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion, including the militantly antireligious." Concerning the 2.3% figure just mentioned, the 2005 survey cited by ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' survey did not include [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] in regards to the 2.3% figure and Buddhism can be [[Theism|theistic]] or atheistic.<ref>Anonymous (July 17, 2013). [http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm "Is Buddhism atheistic?"] ReligionFacts.</ref>

[[Ipsos]], a major global market research company, published a report on report on religious belief/skepticism from a worldwide perspective and the report provides [http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670 various statistics gained from survey results].

== Global atheism and trends ==

[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<ref name="sneps">Multiple references:
*Kaufmann, Eric. (2009 or aft.). [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"]. www.sneps.net. Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''. Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...")
*Kitman, Frank (May 18, 2011). [http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?"] Kitman TV.
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics "Atheist demographic series"] (2009-2011). Kitman TV.
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?" [Festival of dangerous ideas 2010, Sydney Opera House]] (September 5, 2010). Fora.tv video, 1:03:56, posted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.</ref> See: [[Desecularization]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheist Population]]

=== Global atheism: Predominant geographic areas ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and diversity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]

The current [[atheist population]] mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Western atheism and race]]

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

As far as the issue of [[diversity]] within the global atheist population, compared to Christianity, atheism has a significantly less degree of geographic/cultural, racial, gender and personal wealth diversity (see: [[Atheism and diversity]]).

=== Global atheism statistics ===

*[[Global atheism statistics]]

=== Demoographics of atheism ===

[[Demography]] is the study of human populations, and is a major specialty in the disciplines of sociology, economics, history, geography, statistics and epidemiology.

*[[Demographics of atheism]]

=== Desecularization and the 21st century ===

''See also:'' [[Desecularization]]
[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|200px|thumbnail|left|Atheism is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020.<ref name="cnsnews.com"/>]]
Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and [[global atheism]] is expected to face long term decline.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kumar, Anugrah (July 20, 2013). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ "Study: world is turning more religious; atheism declining"]. The Christian Post.
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html "Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents"] (May 19, 2012). Question Evolution Campaign.
*Kaufmann, Eric (2009 or aft.). [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"]. www.sneps.net. Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''. Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...")
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf "Status of global mission, 2014, in the context of AD 1800–2025"] (2014). Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary website.</ref> See: [[Desecularization]]

According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> There is excellent research indicating that the percentage of atheists in the world is presently going down (see: [[Global atheism statistics]]).

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
{{cquote|Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>Chapman, Michael W. (July 24, 2013). [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 "Global study: atheists in decline, only 1.8% of world population by 2020"]. Cnsnews.com.</ref>}}

[[Desecularization]] is the process by which [[religion]] reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring [[secularization]] processes.<ref name="China 2011, page 11"/>

The 21st century is expected to be a time of the decline of atheism in terms of its global market share and religious conservatism/[[fundamentalism]] is expected to grow in both the developing world and [[Growth of evangelical Christianity#Evangelical Christianity and the developed world|in the developed world]] (see: [[Desecularization]]). There are a [[causes of desecularization|number of causes]] of desecularization in the developed world (and the world at large), but two of the primary causes are the [[Atheism and fertility rates|higher fertility rate]] of religious conservatives and immigration of the religious into developed countries.

=== Failure of the secularization thesis ===

''See also:'' [[Atheists and the endurance of religion]]

Pew Research Center declared: "There is a long history of people predicting the demise of religion, but religion has proven more resilient than many people anticipated."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/08/qa-how-we-projected-the-future-of-world-religions/ How we projected the future of world religions]</ref>

Dr. Rodney Stark, an agnostic, wrote in his book ''The Triumph of Faith'':
{{cquote|[[Secular]]ists have been predicting the imminent demise of religion for centuries. They have always been wrong—and their claims today are no different. It is their unshakable faith in secularization that may be the most "irrational" of all beliefs.(p. 212).<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/world-more-religious-than-ever-rodney-starks-triumph-faith-secularism-atheism-154641/ Despite What You've Heard, World Is More Religious Than Ever], Christian Post</ref>}}

Pew Research Center and Stark are alluding to the failure of the [[secularization thesis]].

=== Causes of global desecularization ===

See: [[Causes of desecularization]]

=== Atheists and sub-replacement levels of fertility ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and fertility rates]] and [[Atheism and marriage]]

On December 23, 2012, the agnostic professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], who teaches at Birbeck College, [[University of London]], wrote: "I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html "97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious"] (April 30, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign.</ref>

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name=leake>Leake, Jonathan (January 2, 2011). [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Society/article496716.ece "Atheists a dying breed as nature 'favours faithful'"]. London Times website.</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref name=leake/>

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014). [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"]. FactTank/Pew Research Center website.</ref>

See: [[Growth of global desecularization]] ]]

=== Global atheism and aging populations ===

Global atheism is facing significant challenges in terms of aging populations in East Asia and Europe and this will be a significant cause of desecularization in the 21st century (see: [[Global atheism and aging populations]]).

=== Growth of global desecularization ===

*[[Growth of global desecularization]]
*[[Acceleration of 21st century desecularization]]
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity#Evangelical Christianity and the developed world|Growth of evangelical Christianity in the developed world]]

=== Future European religious demographic changes ===

In a 2006 essay, the prominent European philosopher [[Jürgen Habermas]] wrote: “secular citizens in Europe must learn to live, the sooner the better, in a post-secular society and in so doing they will be following the example of religious citizens, who have already come to terms with the ethical expectations of democratic citizenship. So far secular citizens have not been expected to make a similar effort.”<ref>[http://moderndiplomacy.eu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1633:jurgen-habermas-on-the-vision-of-a-post-secular-europe&Itemid=569 Jurgen Habermas on the Vision of a Post-Secular Europe], Modern Diplomacy</ref>

See:

*[[European desecularization in the 21st century]]

*[[British atheism]]

=== American atheism ===

*[[American atheism]]

'''Demographic projections of atheism/agnosticism in the United States:'''

*[[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]]

=== Decline of Asian atheism ===

*[[East Asia and global desecularization]]

*[[Asian atheism]]

=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions ===

*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]

*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]

*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union#Growth of Protestantism in Russia|Growth of Protestantism in Russia]]

=== Additional causes of the global decline of atheism ===

*[[Decline of the secular left]]

*[[Atheism and apathy]]

*[[Atheism and inspiration]]

=== Historical trends/events and dampened atheist movement expectations ===

''See also:'' [[Atheists and the endurance of religion]] and [[Atheist pessimism about the atheist movement]]
[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|220px|right|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com">Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). [http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/obama-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast-raging-christ-fest-secular-wake/31816 "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast"]. The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>]]
The atheist movement saw a number of setbacks during the latter portion of the 20th century and beyond in terms of historical events/trends. As a result, it has lost a considerable amount of confidence (see: [[Atheists and the endurance of religion]]).

The agnostic Eric Kaufmann wrote in 2010:
{{cquote|Worldwide, the [[Desecularization|march of religion]] can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, [[socialism]] and 1960s anarchist-[[liberalism]]. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm." <ref>[http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>}}

In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] indicated: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com"/>

In 2015, the atheist author Joshua Kelly wrote:
{{cquote|...since the death of [[Christopher Hitchens|Hitchens]]: angry atheism lost its most charismatic champion. Call it what you like: [[New Atheism]], fire-brand atheism, etc., had a surge with the Four Horsemen in the middle of the last decade and in the last four years has generally petered out to a kind that is more docile, [[Political correctness|politically correct]], and even apologetic.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/12/uproar-against-dawkins-is-sign-of-new-atheism-retrogression/ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression] by Joshua Kelly</ref>}}

{{See also|Decline of militant atheism in the West}}

== Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism ==
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[True Freethinker]] is a Christian apologetics website run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|refutations of atheism]].]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] and [[Internet atheism]]

Five of the more notable Christian apologetics websites/blogs which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: the [[Shadow To Light blog]], the [[True Freethinker]] website, the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]] and the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website.

=== Freedom from Atheism Foundation ===

In 2012, the [[Freedom From Atheism Foundation]] (FFAF) was formed as an online interfaith civil rights group to provide support for victims of militant atheism, protect the rights of religious believers, and address the increasing amount of atheist intolerance around the world. The groups many admins are all anonymous due to the large amount of hate mail, threats, and stalking the site receives from militant atheists.

As of July 2014 the group has [https://www.facebook.com/FFAF.International over 220,000 followers] and makes an average of 80 posts a week. Along with tens of thousands of religious supporters, the group also found support from atheist author and biologist PZ Myers.<ref>http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/</ref> A May 2014 article in the ''Christian Post'' titled "Freedom From Religion? How About Freedom From Atheism?" profiled the Freedom From Atheism Foundation in greater detail.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/</ref>

=== Online videos related to atheism ===

*[[Atheism videos]]
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]

The [[Militant atheism YouTube channel]] has a collection of videos on militant atheism.

== Atheism and the media ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]] and [[Atheism news]]

The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name=mrc>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name=mrc/> The study is not surprising given the liberal bias [[Liberal bias|that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].

=== Post 2010 decline in news stories about atheism ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 drop in volume of atheism news stories|Drop in news stories about atheism]]

Post 2010, due to the [[New Atheism#Decline of New Atheism|decline of the New Atheism movement]] and other various events/trends, there has been significantly less news stories about atheism (see: [[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 drop in volume of atheism news stories|Drop in news stories about atheism]]).

=== Post 2010 increase in percentage of negative news stories about atheism ===

Due to various factors, there has been an increase in the percentage of news stories about atheism which are negative in nature that are reaching the general public (see: [[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 the percentage of negative news stories about atheism has increased|Negative news stories about atheism]]).

=== Atheism and public relations ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and public relations]]

== Causes of atheism ==

:''See main article: [[Causes of atheism]]'' and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]

There are a number of psychological, societal, familial, economic and spiritual factors which cause atheism which have been proposed over the centuries. Please see: [[Causes of atheism]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]].

==Atheism and debate==

'''See also:''' [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity debates]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|150px|left|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the man atheists fear most due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate. See: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] ]]
As far as Christianity vs. atheism public debates, in recent years there have been a number of notable instances of atheists being reluctant to debate and doing poorly in debates (see: [[Atheism vs. Christianity debates]]).

In addition, due to prominent atheists dodging debates, the cowardice associated with atheism has become so obvious that it is making newspaper headlines (For more information please see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Green, Lauren (August 19, 2011). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/?test=latestnews "Christian philosopher William Lane Craig is ready to debate, but finds few challengers"]. FoxNews.com
*Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>

Richard Dawkins, who flip-flops between being an agnostic and an atheist as far as his public persona (see: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]), has [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates|established a reputation of avoiding his strongest debate opponents]]. On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God''.<ref name=refuse>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>

In [[The Daily Telegraph]] article Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at [[Oxford University]] was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. William Lane Craig, "The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name=refuse/> Also, atheists [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|tend to dodge creation vs. evolution debates.]]

For more information see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]

=== Creation vs. evolution debates ===

{{See also|Creation scientists tend to win debates with evolutionists}}

The worldwide atheist community was challenged to a debate by [[Creation Ministries International]] as prominent atheists were speaking at a 2010 global atheist convention in [[Australia]].<ref name="truefree">Ammi, Ken (May 2010). [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown "Richard Dawkins, the cowardly clown"]. True Freethinker.</ref> Richard Dawkins, PZ Myers and other prominent atheists refused to debate Creation Ministries International.<ref name="truefree"/> Generally speaking, creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates (see: [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].

==Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==

''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]

== Views on atheists ==

''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
[[File:Sam Harris 01.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]]

(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg Wikimedia commons], see [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg license agreement]) ]]
Concerning various [[Views on Atheists|views on atheists]], research in the American Sociological Review finds that among several groups listed, those who hold the position of atheism are the group that Americans relate least to in terms of their vision of American society and are the group most likely to be mentioned as one that Americans would not want to have marry into their family.<ref>Edgell, Penny, et al. (April 2006). [http://asr.sagepub.com/content/71/2/211.abstract "Atheists as 'other': moral boundaries and cultural membership in American society" [abstract]]. ''American Sociological Review'', vol. 71, pp. 211-234. Abstract: American Sociological Review website. Subscription or fee required for full article.</ref>

Sam Harris, a founder of the New Atheism movement, is well aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007). [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"]. News21.</ref> In fact, Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/><ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611 NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God], ''Newsweek'' 2007</ref> Due to the stigma of the label of atheist, it is common for atheists to choose to call themselves skeptics, nonbelievers, [[Humanism|humanists]] and [[freethought|freethinkers]]<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref> Individuals of Jewish descent often call themselves secular Jews or simply Jews rather than call themselves atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

=== North Americans distrust atheists as much as rapists ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Atheism and morality]]

On December 10, 2011, USA Today reported in a story entitled ''Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists'':
{{cquote|The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?

The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.

The study is part of an attempt to understand what needs religion fulfills in people. Among the conclusions is a sense of trust in others.

"People find atheists very suspect," Shariff said. "They don't fear God so we should distrust them; they do not have the same moral obligations of others. This is a common refrain against atheists. People fear them as a group."<ref>Winston, Kimberly, Religion News Service (December 10, 2011). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 "Study: atheists distrusted as much as rapists"]. USA Today website.</ref>}}

=== Other topics related to views on atheists ===

* [[Persecution of atheists]]

*[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Wiktionary contributors (June 16, 2014). [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atheophobia "atheophobia"]. Wiktionary.
*Wiktionary contributors (2014). [http://www.allwords.com/word-atheophobia.html?PageSpeed=noscript "Definition of atheophobia"]. Allwords.com.</ref>

* [[Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists]]

== Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, poetry, dance and humor ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and culture]]

Atheism has not produced any outstanding cultural achievements and it has had a negative effect on cultures (see: [[Atheism and culture]]).

For additional information, please see:

*[[Atheist art]]

*[[Atheism and architecture]]

*[[Atheist music]]

* [[Atheist poetry]]

*[[Atheism and dance]]

*[[Atheism and humor]]

== Atheism and homosexuality ==

See:

*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]

*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]

== Other well-known proponents of atheism ==

''See:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
[[Image:nietzsche2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Friedrich Nietzsche]] ]]
*[[Diagoras of Melos]]

*[[Epicurus]]

*[[Friedrich Nietzsche]]

*[[A. J. Ayer]]

*[[Ludwig Feuerbach]]

*[[Friedrich Engels]]

*[[Sigmund Freud]]

*[[Albert Camus]]

*[[Ayn Rand]]

*[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]]

*[[Paul Kurtz]]

*[[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]

=== Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism ===

*[[David Hume]]

*[[Bertrand Russell]]

== Atheist organizations ==

See: [[Atheist organizations]]

==Atheism quotes==

''See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]'' and [[Humorous quotes about atheism and evolution]]

== Atheism news ==

See: [[Atheism news]]

== Recommended reading ==

*[[Christian apologetics books on atheism]]

== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==

* [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]

*[http://creation.com/good-news Some good news]

==See also==

*[[Atheism articles]]
*[[Atheism symbols]]
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays]]
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
*[[Second generation atheist]]
*[[Specious reasoning]]

Humor:

*[[Essay:Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution|Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution]]

==External links==

''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]

'''General articles on atheism:'''

* [http://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
*[http://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]

'''Prominent atheists:'''

*[[Atheism and leadership]]
*[http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2011/12/01/50-top-atheists-in-the-world-today/ 50 most prominent atheists in the world today]

'''Other articles on atheism:'''

*[[Atheism articles|Atheism articles on various topical areas - External websites]]
*[[Conservapedia atheism articles]]

{{Nb Atheism}}
{{Ten Commandments}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

Nehemiah

2017-02-24T02:21:39Z

Ambassador:

'''Nehemiah''' is the leading figure of the [[Book of Nehemiah]]. Nehemiah led a rebuilding of the city of [[Jerusalem]].

== Nehemiah's ignoring of his opponents' time-wasting criticisms ==

The website christianstandard.com offers this commentary on how Nehemiah efficiently handled his opponents' time-wasting criticisms:
{{cquote|Nehemiah understood that effective leadership often requires ignoring criticism. His opponents wanted to meet and discuss their criticisms of his work. Nehemiah answered, “I am doing a great work and cannot go down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Leaders need to understand that criticism is almost always little more than a distraction. Nehemiah ignored his critics and refused to give them the time and energy that belonged to his ministry. As persistent as his opponents were, Nehemiah held his ground. He explained, “Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply” (6:4). Nehemiah teaches us that leaders must never let criticism distract us from the work!<ref>[http://christianstandard.com/2013/04/how-to-handle-criticism/ How Nehemiah handled his opponents]</ref>}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.raystedman.org/old-testament/nehemiah Nehemiah] (Ray Stedman commentary)
*[http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1604.htm Nehemiah's handling of his critics]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Biblical Persons]]
[[Category:Jewish People]]
[[Category:Old Testament]]

Deliberate ignorance

2017-02-24T02:20:02Z

Ambassador:

'''Deliberate ignorance''' is the practice of refusing to consider or discuss logic or evidence disproving ideologically motivated positions. Related concepts are [[wishful thinking]] and the [[fallacy of invincible ignorance]]. Examples of deliberate ignorance include:

* [[liberal denial]] about the ability to leave the harmful [[homosexual]] lifestyle, as thousands have successfully done
* [[Howard Dean]], a physician, former Governor, and longtime politician, refusing to recognize that [[taxpayer-funded abortion]] increases the number of [[abortion]]s<ref>http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/210vssua.asp?</ref>
* [[abortionists]] refuse to address the undisclosed harm to the mothers who have [[abortions]]
* refusing to acknowledge the inferior credentials of the critics of [[Richard Sternberg]], whom they ostracize for having published an [[intelligent design]] article
* [[Democrats]] refusing to acknowledge [[Barack Obama]]'s appeal to unpatriotic donors and supporters
* [[materialists]] refuse to address the impossibility of material explanation for [[animal migration|migration]] and [[homing]]
* [[evolutionists]] refuse to address the lack of a plausible evolutionary path for the [[whale]] and the other [[counterexamples to evolution]].
* Believing that only one ideology could ever make mistakes; constantly demonizing that ideology while [[special pleading|ignoring the faults of one's own]] (a particularly [[Liberal]] fault).
* [[liberals]] refuse to address how [[socialism]] destroys productivity
* [[Liberals]] who [[Bible denier|refuse to acknowledge]] the many fundamental truths in the [[Bible]] and even dismiss out-of-hand the many examples of [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]] but refuse to read the Bible.
* Advocates of the [[global warming theory]] refuse to consider any scientific evidence which shows that natural causes have always had a greater effect on terrestrial air temperature than human activity.
* [[Liberal Christianity|Liberal]] [[Cafeteria Christianity|cafeteria Christians]] refuse to consider [[Bible]] verses that contradict their preconceived notions of what the Bible should say.
* Liberal Internet discussion boards quickly delete posts that present facts contradicting liberal ideology and ban users making such posts.
* Believing sentimental fallacies about public figures even when all the objective facts clearly indicate that said fallacies are false.
* [[Liberals]] who claim that the [[first amendment]] says that public officials are not allowed to acknowledge America's Christian heritage.
* Pushing a "scientific" theory for political purposes or because it fits one's belief system or preconceived notions, while [[no true Scotsman|dismissing actual scientific evidence]] that discredits the theory

Common expressions of '''deliberate ignorance''' include:

*"I find that hard to believe!" (Howard Dean, June 11, 2008, in response to a fact ignored by [[liberals]]<ref>http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/210vssua.asp?</ref>)
* "I'm not aware of that!" (without admitting a failure to look)
* "I've never seen that in the [[New York Times]]!"
* "That's not what it said in my ([[public school]]) textbook!"
* "Let's talk about something else!"
* "I'm not interested in that!"
* "That [[Logical fallacy#Appeal to pity|offends me]]!" (used as an excuse not to consider facts or logic)
* "You're persecuting me!" (when the "persecution" consists only of pointing out inconvenient facts or logic)
* "That's not true in my experience," with the implication that it therefore [[black-swan fallacy|cannot be true at all]]

Deliberate ignorance is clearly quoted from the Bible in 2 Peter 3:3-6: "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they ''deliberately forget'' that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed." (NIV) This is only referring to the denial of God's magnificent handiwork in the creation.

== Crime of deliberate ignorance ==

'''Deliberate ignorance''' can be a crime. For example, jurors were instructed "to consider whether ... former Enron Corp. executives deliberately ignored accounting fraud as the energy trader fell into bankruptcy."<ref>http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/05/11/enron_jury_to_consider_deliberate_ignorance/</ref>

== Shift of meaning of "ignorance" ==

The word "ignorance" used to pertain more to the willful act of ignoring information more than "not knowing" it. So phrases like "willful ignorance" or "deliberate ignorance" would mean "willful willful not knowing" or "deliberate willful not knowing".

A translation of a 13th century Church doctor completed in the 1920s<ref>Aquinas, Thomas (1274). "Whether ignorance is a sin?" ''Summa Theologica'', translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province (London: Burns, Oates and Washbourne and New York: Benzinger Brothers, 1915), part I of second part, Q. 76, A. 2, Answer.</ref> retains this definition of "ignorance" as ignoring. As a solution for referring to a lack of knowledge that may or may not be willful, the word "nescience" is used. However, this word is virtually unknown today.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Rhetoric]]
[[Category:Liberal Traits]]

Liberal bias

2017-02-24T02:19:10Z

Ambassador:

'''Liberal bias''' is partisan selection or distortion of information to support [[liberal]] policies. This bias can be expressed by [[professor values|professors]] and [[public school]] teachers, [[College Board]] exams, reporters and other journalists in mainstream media, and any other information source. Typically purveyors of liberal bias falsely present themselves as being objective. Liberal bias includes techniques such as distorted selection of information, [[placement bias]], [[photo bias]] and [[liberal style]].

'''''The essence of liberal bias is to dismiss or even to censor opposing views'''''. For liberals, to allow the airing or publishing of an opposing view creates the risk that people might discover errors in the liberal viewpoint. On the other hand, [[conservative]]s typically uphold freedom of ideological expression, with many expressing that although they may oppose a liberal view with every fiber of their being, they will defend to the death their right to say it, because they believe that in the [[marketplace of ideas]] the true will always win over the false. (At ''Conservapedia'' we are not afraid to mention and even to summarize anti-conservative arguments.)

It is clear that the mainstream media is extremely biased towards the left-wing, and this was the case since at least the 1960s, with a strong leftist monopoly on the news which promotes false conclusions.<ref name="NationalReview">Hanson, Victor Davis (December 22, 2016). [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443263/ The Trump Nail in the Media Coffin]. ''National Review''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref> The [[2016 U.S. presidential election|2016 election]] of Republican businessman [[Donald Trump]] prominently displayed the blatant leftist bias of the media.<ref name="NationalReview"/><ref>Brown, Michael (October 19, 2016). [http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2016/10/19/the-undeniable-glaring-bias-of-the-mainstream-media-n2234678 The Undeniable, Glaring Bias of the Mainstream Media]. ''Townhall''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Riddell, Kelly (November 8, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/8/mainstream-media-maligned-10-examples-blatant-bias/ Mainstream Media Maligned: 10 Examples of Blatant Bias]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Goodwin, Michael (November 14, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/11/14/trumps-victory-is-about-change-and-our-biased-mainstream-media-must-change-too.html Trump's victory is about change. And our biased mainstream media must change, too]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref> Trump found a way to get his message out to the public without needing to go through the lens of the leftist media, and some liberals suggested ways in how to force Trump to have to deal with the corrupt media.<ref>[https://www.rt.com/usa/372026-donald-trump-twitter-cnn/ MSM shouldn’t cover Trump's tweets, forcing him to rely on media to communicate – CNN anchor]. ''RT''. December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref>

==Vision of the anointed==
[[Image:Thomassowell.jpg‎|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Thomas Sowell]]]]
Economist [[Thomas Sowell]], in his 1996 book ''The Vision of the Anointed'', discusses the anointed vision of liberals and liberalism to promote their agenda.
<blockquote>
Desperate evasions of discordant evidence, and the denigration and even demonizing of those presenting such evidence, are indicative of the high stakes in contemporary [[culture war]]s, which are not about alternative policies but [[Values clarification|alternative worlds]] and of alternative roles of liberals in these worlds. Opponents must be shown to be not merely mistaken but morally lacking. This approach replaces the intellectual discussion of arguments by the moral extermination of persons. This denigration or [[demonizing]] of those opposed to their views not only has the desired effect of discrediting the opposition but also has the unintended effect of cutting off the path of retreat from positions which become progressively less tenable with the passage of time and the accumulation of discordant evidence. The very thought that those dismissed as simplistic or maligned might have been right–even if only on a single issue–is at best galling and potentially devastating. Their last refuge in this situation are their good intentions.<ref>Thomas Sowell, [http://www.li.suu.edu/library/circulation/Lewis/ba2350tlVisionoftheAnointedShortVersion.pdf ''The Vision of the Anointed''], New York: Basic Books, 1996.</ref>
</blockquote>

Jon Meacham, editor of the overly liberal weekly magazine, ''Newsweek'', in justifying its activist journalism, stated, “Let me say this, I don’t think we’re the only catcher in the rye between democracy and ignorance, but I think we’re one of them, and I don’t think there are that many standing on the edge of that cliff.”<ref>http://www.commentarymagazine.com/printarticle.cfm/press-man--don-t-give-readers-what-they-want-15488</ref>

In March 2010, liberal [[evolution]]ary magazine ''National Geographic'' postulated that [[liberals]] and [[atheists]] may be more evolved than [[conservatives]], according to conclusions by Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist. Kanazawa states "people with higher levels of intelligence are more likely to adopt social values and behaviors that are relatively new to human life—liberalism, atheism, staying up late, and (for men) monogamy, for example." Kanazawa also defines ''liberalism'', in part, as caring about the well-being of vast numbers of people you'll never meet, and states that this "is a very new thing for humans."

However, in response it is argued that such an definition of liberalism would render [[Jesus Christ]] a liberal, who clearly taught "love thy neighbor as thyself", and who came to be the Savior of the world - to those who believe and so follow Him - and which obedience is contrary to what liberalism promotes. And that, in contrast to Biblical conservative morality, history shows that liberalism, as overall manifest today, has adopted such "new" but essentially old ways of rebellion against beneficial moral values, promoting [[Hollywood values]], [[San Francisco values]], adultery, anarchy, and atrocities such as are seen by such intelligent atheists as [[Mao]] and [[Pol Pot]], whose objectively baseless moral reasoning allowed them to justify their evils, as pragmatically reasonable to achieving their "enlightened" ideals.

In a response to the ''National Geographic'' pretensions, James Lewis in the ''American Thinker'' notes that the vast majority of "educated people before the 20th century in Western countries were conservatives", but that "IQ doesn't predict street smarts or (obviously) political success on Capitol Hill."

Lewis goes on to ask,
<blockquote>
Why has the Left ended up killing 100 million people in the 20th century, according to French Marxist historian Courtois and his team? That's the real question the Left must always be made to answer: Why does its blind "idealism" and its unquenchable power-craving lead to such disastrous results, over and over again?
</blockquote>

His conclusions are that
{{cquote|The National Geographic headline is therefore characteristically absurd, but it's also typical of the cultural Left today -- and of its hopeless cravings to validate itself as being smarter, better-educated, and of course, more compassionate than those conservative throwbacks to a brute past. Somehow the Left always needs to boast, and like any other compulsive boaster, it is compensating for its own feelings of inferiority...

High IQ is no guarantee of goodness. It's not even a guarantee of common sense, or of genuine intelligence outside a few limited parts of life. It's no protection against evil.
<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/are_liberals_atheists_more_evo.html James Lewis, ''Are Liberals, Atheists More Evolved than Conservatives?''], American Thinker, March 14, 2010</ref>}}

Princeton Theological Seminary theologian and noted Bible commentator Albert Barnes (1798-1870) comments on [[Romans 1]]:22, ''Professing themselves to be wise they became fools'', that
<blockquote>
this was the common boast of the philosophers of antiquity. The very word by which they chose to be called, “philosophers,” means literally “lovers of wisdom.” That it was their boast that they were wise, is well known..[but] they became really foolish in their opinions and conduct.
</blockquote>

The famous Bible commentator [[Matthew Henry]] adds, "As a profession of wisdom is an aggravation of folly, so a proud conceit of wisdom is the cause of a great deal of folly."

Ultimately, the function of the so-called liberal press is to dig the grave for the American People and [[American Values]]. No mention need be made of the closely associated lying Marxist Press. To them the spreading of falsehood is as much a vital necessity as the mouse is to a cat. Their sole task is to break the national backbone of the people, thus preparing the nation to become the slaves of international finance and its masters, the Liberals.

== Liberal bias in media ==

=== History ===

==== Where does Liberal media bias come from? ====

Prior to the era of "objective journalism", many journalist and muckraker outlets alike were rather open and known for which side of the aisle that they stood. For example, both ''Harper's Weekly'' as well as the [[Los Angeles Times]] were considered to be [[Republican]] publications.<ref>[http://spartacus-educational.com/USAharpers.htm Harper's Weekly]</ref><ref>[http://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2011/04/20/the-fall-and-rise-of-partisan-journalism/ The Fall and Rise of Partisan Journalism]</ref> Other papers had a [[Democrat]] bent.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=w2osAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA553&lpg=PA553&dq=albany+atlas+democrat Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, Volume 1]</ref> During the partisan era, both sides had ample representation. There was no one sided media monopoly and the beliefs of the papers were known.

===== Bias cloaked as objectivity =====

Liberal bias in objective news goes back much further than most people realize, and most journalists would want anybody to know. [[Walter Lippmann]], who is considered by many to be the Father of Modern Journalism,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Schudson |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Schudson |date=2008 |title=The "Lippmann-Dewey Debate" and the Invention of Walter Lippmann as an Anti-Democrat 1985-1996 |journal=International Journal of Communication |volume=2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Carey |first=James W. |authorlink=James W. Carey |date=March 1987 |title=The Press and the Public Discourse |journal=The Center Magazine |volume=20 }}</ref> was on the front lines of the development of so-called "objective journalism" around the 1920s.<ref name=meaning>[https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/bias-objectivity/lost-meaning-objectivity/ The lost meaning of 'objectivity'], American Press Institute</ref>

Lippmann wrote that you could use selective keywords<ref name=keywords>Walter Lippmann, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=eLobn4WwbLUC&pg=PA355]'', p. 355</ref> in order to demonize one group of people or to praise other groups, solely based on the journalist's prerogative. He concluded that after the journalist set the tone of who was to be praised and who was to be castigated, the role of editorials was to reinforce the message.<ref name=keywords />

Lippmann opens his highly influential book ''Public Opinion'' with an anecdote about a small group of people on a distant island, and until a new copy of newspaper was brought in by ship the people on the island would continue their same arguments in perpetuity.<ref>Public Opinion, page 1.</ref> ''Public Opinion'' offers a rare glimpse inside the journalistic mind about the means and ability to manipulate readers to achieve a desired outcome.

Lippmann also called for journalism to be more closely associated with universities,<ref name=meaning /> with the end result that all journalists would be trained by left wing college professors. This ensures that journalism graduates would be of only one mindset.

=== Modern ===
A 2005 report<ref>[http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/faculty/groseclose/Media.Bias.pdf A MEASURE OF MEDIA BIAS]</ref> by Tim Groseclose and Jeffrey Milyo, political scientists at UCLA, concluded that based on estimated ideological scores, all of the news outlets they examined except [[Fox News]]’ Special Report and the [[Washington Times]] showed a strong liberal bias (scores to the left of the average member of Congress). Of the 20 major media outlets studied, 18 scored left of center, with [[CBS]]' "Evening News," The [[New York Times]] and the [[Los Angeles Times]] ranking second, third and fourth most liberal behind the news pages of [[The Wall Street Journal]]. Only Fox News' "Special Report With Brit Hume" and The Washington Times scored right of the average U.S. voter.<blockquote>
"I suspected that many media outlets would tilt to the left because surveys have shown that reporters tend to vote more Democrat than Republican," said Tim Groseclose, a UCLA political scientist and the study's lead author. "But I was surprised at just how pronounced the distinctions are." <ref>http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6664</ref>
</blockquote>

[[ABC]], CBS, and [[NBC]] together have unloaded more than a thousand stories on Obama’s presidential campaign but not a single story devoted to examining Obama’s abysmal abortion record.<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-bozell/2008/10/14/bozell-column-whos-fierce-abortion Bozell Column: Who's 'Fierce' on Abortion?] NewsBusters.org, October 14, 2008</ref>

Billionaire ultra liberal [[atheist]] investor [[George Soros]], who spent $27 million trying to defeat President Bush in 2004, is a very substantial supporter of liberal media.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/11/dont-hear-george-soros-ties-30-major-news-organizations/print</ref>

Liberals believe that most mainstream media sources do not have a bias towards liberal views, and that the idea of a "liberal media" is a myth fabricated by conservatives who are upset when reported facts do not support conservatives' opinions, beliefs, interests, or preconceived notions.

====Notable examples====

*A New York Times piece claimed Energy Secretary-designate [[Rick Perry]] had no idea a key purpose of the Department of Energy is to maintain US nuclear security. But Perry’s statement '''on the day he was nominated''' says flatly he looks forward to "safeguarding our nuclear arsenal." [http://nypost.com/2017/01/19/newsrooms-latest-low-blows-against-team-trump/]

=====Liberal to Conservative Ratio=====
Talk to any Fox News hating liberal and you'll here the same old regurgitated talking point - ''Fox is not Fair & Balanced.'' One network, Fox News, has twice the number of opposing commentators than does all media sources combined. If you add up the major media properties of ABC, NBC, CBS, [[MSNBC]], [[CNN]], [[PBS]], New York Times, Washington Post, and Newsweek, you get a total of five so-called conservative personalities among hundreds of liberals. At the least, Fox News employs the following liberals:

*[[Bob Beckel]]
*[[Juan Williams]]
*[[Alan Colmes]]
*[[Kirsten Powers]]
*[[Shepard Smith]]
*[[Geraldo Rivera]]
*[[Mara Liasson]]
*[[Bill Schulz]]
*[[Susan Estrich]]
*[[Ed Henry]]

=====Cuban revolution=====

Prime media sources as the New York Times believed and embraced [[Fidel Castro]], who used them in his propaganda to foster acceptance in the Western world.

In a letter to a revolutionary colleague in 1954, Fidel Castro is reported as stating, "We cannot for a second abandon propaganda. [[Propaganda]] is vital -- propaganda is the heart of all struggles."

Likewise, [[Che Guevara]], once labelled "Castro's brain," and who swore by [[Stalin]] and once boasted "I am all the contrary of a Christ" (and who was an early role model for [[Christopher Hitchens]],<ref>Sean O'Hagan, ''Just a Pretty Face?,'' The Observer, July 11, 2004</ref>) stated, "A foreign reporter -- preferably American -- was much more valuable to us at that time (1957) than any military victory. Much more valuable than rural recruits for our guerrilla force, were American media recruits to export our propaganda."<ref>Ernesto "Che" Guevara in his diaries</ref>

"Castro is honest," reported Newsweek magazine on April 13, 1959. "And an honest government is something unique in Cuba....Castro is not himself even remotely a Communist."

Herbert Matthews of the New York Times reported in July 1959 that "This is not a Communist Revolution in any sense of the term. Fidel Castro is not only not a Communist, he is decidedly anti-Communist."<ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/when_fidel_castro_dictated_to.html</ref>

In an interview with [[Bill O'Reilly]] of Fox News, [[Ted Turner]], the atheist and liberal founder of CNN, denied that Fidel Castro's Stalinist regime ever killed anyone, as "that's never been proven." <ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/12/ted_turners_lies_about_cuba.html</ref>

CNN, which was the first foreign media network to obtain a Havana bureau, promoted Cuba's Healthcare as model for the U.S. While it did mention accusations of serious problems, nearly all of the report was positive.<ref>http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2009/20090808024640.aspx</ref>

=====Vietnam War=====
The [[Vietnam War]], in which America was the victor in military battles, is perhaps the most manifest modern example of how propaganda affected the outcome of a war, with much of the mainstream media being an all too willing instrument of such, especially CBS News with [[Walter Cronkite]].

In an exchange during one of his liaison trips to Hanoi, Colonel Harry G. Summers, Jr. told his North Vietnamese counterpart, Colonel Tu, "You know, you never beat us on the battlefield," Colonel Tu responded, "That may be so, but it is also irrelevant."<ref>On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War, Harry G. Summers</ref>

The Tet Offensive was portrayed by the New York liberal media as a defeat for the U.S., while in fact, it was an almost disastrous defeat for the North Vietnamese, as General Westmoreland and historians agree. The Viet Cong not only lost half of the 90,000 troops they had committed to battle, but it was virtually destroyed as an army.<ref>http://news-california.com/?p=700</ref>

British "Encounter" journalist Robert Elegant stated, <blockquote>
For the first time in modern history, the outcome of a war was determined not on the battlefield but on the printed page and television screens - never before Vietnam had the collective policy of the media sought, by graphic and unremitting distortion, the victory of the enemies of the correspondent's own side.<ref>[http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/Readings/elegant.htm How to Lose A War: The Press and Viet Nam]; Encounter (London), vol. LVII, No. 2, August 1981, pp. 73-90</ref>
</blockquote>

Some journalists have admitted that their reporting was decidedly biased, and had profound effects on history. West German correspondent Uwe Siemon-Netto confessed, "Having covered the Viet Nam war over a period of five years for West German publications, I am now haunted by the role we journalists have played over there." In relation to not reporting the true nature of the Hanoi regime and its actions resulting from the American withdrawal, he asked,

What prompted us to make our readers believe that the Communists, once in power in all of Viet Nam, would behave benignly? What made us, first and foremost Anthony Lewis, belittle warnings by U.S. officials that a Communist victory would result in a massacre?... Are we journalists not in part responsible for the death of the tens of thousands who drowned? And are we not in part responsible for the hostile reception accorded to those who survive?...However, the media have been rather coy; they have not declared that they played a key role in the conflict. They have not proudly trumpeted Hanoi's repeated expressions of gratitude to the mass media of the non-Communist world, although Hanoi has indeed affirmed that it could not have won "without the Western press."<ref name="ReferenceA">Uwe Siemon-Netto in the International Herald Tribune, reprinted in Encounter, October 1979</ref>

''CBS Evening News with [[Walter Cronkite]]'' regularly carried news reports from its [[Moscow]] Bureau Chief, [[Bernard Redmont]]. When peace negotiations commenced with North Vietnam in Paris, Redmont became ''CBS News'' [[Paris]] Bureau Chief. What Redmont never reported during the ten year conflict was that he had been a [[KGB]] operative since the 1930s, and member of the notorious [[Silvermaster group]].<ref name="KGB file 43173 vol. 2 v pp. 46-55">[http://hnn.us/articles/11581.html KGB file 43173 vol. 2 (v) pp. 46-55], Alexander Vassiliev, Notes on A. Gorsky’s Report to Savchenko S.R., 23 December 1949. Original document from KGB Archives [http://www.johnearlhaynes.org/page46.html].</ref> Redmont was the only journalist to whom his fellow [[Comintern]] party member, and North Vietnamese chief negotiator, Mai Van Bo, granted an interview to bring the Communist point of view into American living rooms in what has been called "the living room war."

The single most explicit example of such biased reporting is typically seen to be the portrayal of the Tet offensive, as mentioned above, in which Western media was charged with inspiring and aiding the propaganda war of the communists.

Truong Nhu Tang, a founder of the National Liberation Front, and a minister of justice for the Viet Cong Provisional Revolutionary Government - one of the most determined adversaries of the US during the war - stated years later,
<blockquote>
The Tet Offensive proved catastrophic to our plans. It is a major irony of the Vietnam War that our propaganda transformed this debacle into a brilliant victory. The truth was that Tet cost us half our forces. Our losses were so immense that we were unable to replace them with new recruits. (Truong Nhu Tang, The New York Review, October 21, 1982)
</blockquote>
In addition to Cronkite's biased reporting, FBI documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Yahoo! News offer evidence that legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite collaborated with anti-Vietnam War activists in the 1960s, going so far as to offer advice on how to raise the public profile of protests and even promising that CBS News would rent a helicopter to take liberal Senator Edmund Muskie to and from the site of an anti-war rally.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts2067/print</ref>

==Liberal media outlets==

[[Image:Liberal Bias.png|none|500px]]
'''The following media outlets described below frequently display liberal bias:'''

* The [[Associated Press]]
* [[CBS]] News<ref>Townhall.com, [http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MarvinOlasky/2001/12/04/enabling_media_bias Enabling media bias], Marvin Olasky, December 4, 2001.</ref>
* The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
* [[MSNBC]]
* ''[[Newsweek]]''
* The ''[[New York Times]]''<ref>Reporters and editors today are overwhelmingly liberal politically, as studies of the attitudes of key members of the press have repeatedly shown. Should you doubt these findings, recall the statement of Daniel Okrent, then the public editor at the New York Times. Under the headline, "Is the New York times a Liberal Newspaper?," Mr. Okrent's first sentence was, "Of course it is." [http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110009203]</ref>
* The [[Public Broadcasting Service]]
=== Associated Press, The ===
In 2009, instead of pursuing major unanswered questions such as where the "stimulus" money was spent, the true nature of Obamacare's health care takeover costs, or US Army Major Hasan's terror associations, the Associated Press assigned 11 people to fact check all 432 pages of Sarah Palin's book ''Going Rogue.'' While the objective of good political journalism is to hold all public figures accountable, the AP did no fact checking of books by liberal politicians appearing at the same time such those by [[Joseph Biden|Joe Biden,]] [[Barack Obama]], [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]] and [[Bill Clinton]], and the late Senator [[Ted Kennedy]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/17/ap-turns-heads-devoting-reporters-palin-book-fact-check/ AP Turns Heads for Devoting 11 Reporters to Palin Book 'Fact Check', FoxNews, November 17, 2009]</ref>

===CBS News===

[[Image:Bio-pic.jpg|right|thumb|180px|[[Bernard Goldberg]]]]
CBS insider [[Bernard Goldberg]] wrote the definitive book on liberal bias in the media, simply entitled ''[[Bias (book)|Bias]]''.
*He asserts that an ''"inability to see liberal views as liberal views ... is at the heart of the entire problem."''
*He wrote: "[[Pauline Kael]], for years the brilliant film critic at the ''New Yorker'', was completely baffled about how [[Richard Nixon]] could have beaten [[George McGovern]] in 1972: 'Nobody I know voted for Nixon.' Never mind that Nixon carried 49 states. She wasn't kidding." <ref>(''Bias (book)'', page 222-223)</ref>

Goldberg also suggested liberals don't even see their liberal values as "liberal":
*"Their views on all the big social issues ... aren't liberal views at all. They're simply reasonable views, shared by all the reasonable people the media elites mingle with ..." <ref>(''Bias (book)'', page 222)</ref>

The ''CBS Evening News with [[Walter Cronkite]]'''s intervention with the Vietnam War is a classic example of liberal bias. For more details, [[Liberal bias#Vietnam War|see above]].

===Los Angeles Times, The===

The mainstream media, including the ''LA Times'', had been guilty of being silent regarding the [[John Edwards]] affair that the ''National Enquirer'' had broke in October 2007. The ''Enquirer'' followed up with a publication in December 2007. Then, in July 2008, the ''Enquirer'' had confronted Edwards at the Beverly Hilton hotel after he spent the entire day with his mistress. After Edwards admitted the affair on Friday, August 8, the [[mainstream media]] finally reported the [[scandal]], including the ''[[LA Times]]''. In an article titled "Mainstream media finally pounce on Edwards' affair", the LA Times declared that they had been pursuing the story prior to Friday.,<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-na-edwardsmedia9-2008aug09,0,7463269.story Mainstream media finally pounce on Edwards' affair] LA Times, August 9, 2008</ref> but they gave no excuse for hiding this from the American public. They have showed their true liberal bias by not reporting the story earlier, then making an attempt to further fool the public by saying they were pursuing the story, when in fact 10 months had lapsed. Plus, nowhere in the article does it mention that Edwards is a Democrat. To the credit of the ''LA Times'', they do mention that Democratic Party strategists say Edwards needs to address the story, at the very bottom of the article. Protection of fellow [[liberal]] [[Democrats]] by the ''LA Times'' is more important than being an honest news organization.

===MSNBC===

While it is well known that MSNBC's [[Keith Olbermann]] is the most viciously liberal voice to host a news program within the mainstream media, he usually tones down his anti-conservative, anti-Republican vitriol when anchoring special events like election results. But during MSNBC’s coverage of the [[Massachusetts]] special Senate election, Olbermann's presentation was more rabidly partisan than if the Democratic National Committee itself were producing the show.<ref>[http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2010/20100120084741.aspx Olbermann Renews 'Teabagging' Attack on Scott Brown, Cuts His Victory Speech]</ref>

===New York Times, The===

Peter D. Feaver of the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' noted on the sixth anniversary of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]] that [[MoveOn.org]] ran a full-page advertisement in the ''[[New York Times]]'' accusing General [[David Petraeus]] of activities befitting a traitor. The advertisement alleges, without [[evidence]], that Petraeus would not give an honest, professional assessment of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. Feaver noted, "The MoveOn.org ad is vicious ... a deliberate attack on the senior Army commander, in a major daily newspaper, with the intention of destroying as much of his [[credibility]] as possible...part of an elaborate effort to undermine public support for the [[Iraq war]], and was foreshadowed by an unnamed [[Democratic]] senator who told a reporter, 'No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV . . . The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for us.' The effort is funded by powerful [[special interest]]s, and has all the trappings of a major political campaign."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/09/11/moveons_mccarthy_moment/ MoveOn's McCarthy moment], By Peter D. Feaver, ''Boston Globe'', September 11, 2007.</ref> Within a day it was discovered the ''New York Times'' gave MoveOn.org a “hefty discount” for its ad questioning Petraeus’ integrity. According to the director of public relations for the ''New York Times'', “the open rate for an ad of that size and type is $181,692.” A spokesman for MoveOn.org confirmed that the [[liberal activist group]] paid only $65,000 for the ad - a reduction of more than $116,000 from the stated rate.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/09132007/news/nationalnews/times_gives_lefties_a_hefty_di.htm Time Gives Lefties a Hefty Discount for "Betray us" Ad], Charles Hurt, ''New York Post'', September 13, 2007.</ref>
In July 2008, the New York Times rejected an opinion piece written by [[John McCain]], which was responding to earlier piece written by [[Barack Obama]].<ref>http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/21/mccain-campaign-says-new-york-times-blocked-op-ed-response-to-obama/</ref> This came after the New York Times had previously published at least seven op-ed pieces by [[McCain]] since 1996, and endorsed him in the 2008 Republican Presidential primaries. The reason the New York Times cited for the July 2008 rejection was that they were asking the McCain campaign to provide a more substantive piece which would contrast his positions with the details of the Obama piece on a point-by-point basis.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/the-times-and-the-mccain-op-ed/</ref>

===Newsweek Magazine===

Seen as perhaps the most liberal weekly news magazine, ''[[Newsweek]]'' merged in 2010 with the ultra-liberal ''Daily Beast'', and often impugns evangelical Christianity. As far back as April 8, 1996, a ''Newsweek'' article promoted skepticism concerning the resurrection of Christ, presenting various theories countering the Biblical record,<ref>Rethinking The Resurrection, by Kenneth L. Woodward, Apr 8, 1996</ref> and the transformational results of faith in such,<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing]</ref> while failing to provide scholarly evangelical responses which refute their theories.<ref>[http://www.tektonics.org/TK-J.html See under Jesus-Resurrection]</ref><ref>[http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/_PDFArchives/theological-dictionary/TD1W0401.pdf Alternate Theories of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ— Part Two]</ref><ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/bodily.html The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Dr. William Lane Craig]</ref>

Insidious attempts to marginalize evangelical Christianity continue to be replicated, most recently with the article by editor Jon Meacham (who recently compared President Obama to being like God) writing "The End of Christian America" (Apr 4, 2009), in which he opined that it was "a good thing" that America was "less influenced by movements and arguments of an explicitly Christian character than they were even five years ago."

In addition, on Nov. 13, 2006, ''Newsweek'' featured an article by [[atheist]] Sam Harris, who sees Christianity as "incompatible with genuine morality",<ref>A Case Against Faith, ''Newsweek'', Nov. 13, 2006</ref> based upon his own objectively baseless and mutable moral authority.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Atheism1.html Atheism versus Christ]</ref>

As noted by Don Feder<ref>[http://www.donfeder.com/articles/0611GodComplex.pdf In culture war, Newsweek tells evangelicals – bring the troops home, November 27, 2006]</ref> in response to a ''Newsweek'' article titled “America’s God Complex – Like George W. Bush, The Religious Right Is At The Crossroads”<ref>November 13, 2006</ref> Newsweek advocates a faith that does not take moral stands or become involved in changing moral policy.

Consistent with this ethos, Newsweek proactively attacked historical Biblical morality in regards to [[homosexuality and biblical interpretation]],<ref>“Our Mutual Joy", Dec 15, 2008 by religion editor Lisa Miller</ref> which attempts have resulted in extensive refutation by evangelical scholars and writers.<ref>[http://www.robgagnon.net/NewsweekMillerHomosexResp.htm More than “Mutual Joy”: Lisa Miller of Newsweek against Scripture and Jesus]</ref><ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Homosex_versus_the_Bible.html Homosexual relations and the Bible]</ref><ref>[http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2881 Turning the Bible on its Head -- Newsweek Goes for Gay Marriage]</ref>

===Public Broadcasting Service===

The taxpayer-funded Public Broadcasting Service has become a left-leaning channel for the liberal viewpoint. This despite the 1985 rule that all PBS shows must be "noncommercial, nonpartisan and nonsectarian." Their tax-subsidized programming includes celebrating [[lesbian]]-feminist choirs, “transgender” riots, and a liberal teenager fighting against [[abstinence]] education. As part of its wave of secular fundamentalism, PBS celebrates even late-term abortionists with a fanaticism. The PBS show ''NOW'' was devoted to smearing the pro-life movement as terrorists.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/524/index.html Abortion Providers Under Siege] PBS, June 12, 2009</ref> In a fake display of following the rules, 300-plus PBS stations have been instructed to avoid any kind of religious programming.

===Other liberally biased outlets and media figures===

* [[ABC]] News
* [[BBC]] News
* The ''Boston Globe''
* [[The Daily Show]]
* The ''Daily Wrap'' news radio show, with Michael Castner
* The [[Guardian (UK)]]
* [[NBC]] News
* [[Michael Moore|Moore, Michael]], documentary film maker
* [[PZ Myers]], professor and blogger
* [[Dan Rather]], former news anchor<ref>During a phone conversation, [[Bernard Goldberg]] asked him, "What do you consider the ''New York Times''? Rather answered, "Middle of the road." (''[[Bias (book)|Bias]]'', page 221)</ref>
* [[Real Time]] with [[Bill Maher]]
* [[Univision]], openly anti-Trump
* The [[Washington Post]]

==Presidential coverage==

Many conservative and a few liberal commentators have remarked on the seeming extraordinary favor shown toward Barack Obama during his candidacy, and presidency.<ref>Dan Gainor, ''ONE YEAR LATER: Journalists' Love for Obama Still Going Strong'', FOXNews.com November 06, 2009</ref> A 2008 comprehensive analysis conducted by the Media Research Center<ref>[http://www.mrc.org/SpecialReports/2008/obama/obama.asp]</ref> of every evening news report by the NBC, ABC and CBS television networks showed that positive stories about Obama since he came to national prominence outnumbered negative stories 7 to 1.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72914 Study: ABC, NBC, CBS strongly support Obama August 20, 2008]</ref> During the President's candidacy, MSNBC ''Hardball'' host Chris Matthews stated, "Yeah, well, you know what? I want to do everything I can to make this thing work, this new presidency work,..."

In November 2008, Mark Halperin of ''Time'' and ABC News criticized the media coverage of the 2008 presidential race, stating "It's the most disgusting failure of people in our business since the Iraq war." and "It was extreme bias, extreme pro-Obama coverage."<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/11/halperin-decrie.html Political Punch, November 24, 2008 8:06 AM]</ref>

''Newsweek'' editor Evan Thomas is seen by some to confirm the lack of objectivity and tendency to give undue exaltation they see the mainstream media often displaying toward the new leader of the United States. Referring to his perception of the President after his recent speeches overseas, Thomas stated

"I mean, in a way Obama's standing above the country, above the world. He's sort of God."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37B_nOdRTAA June 5, 2009, MSNBC interview with Chris Matthews]</ref>

== Liberal media - apostles of atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheism and politics]]

The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-[[atheism]] bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name="youtube.com"/>

==Liberal bias in education==
[[Education]] in [[America]], especially at its higher levels, is typically seen by conservatives as promoting liberalism and helping to promote [[moral decline]]. A most egregious example is the continued use of ''A People's History of the United States'', by [[Howard Zinn]], which is a radical [[left-wing]] revision of history. Zinn explicitly stated that "objectivity is impossible and it is also undesirable," as he advocated and practiced making the writing of history a polemic for change.

Liberals are evidenced to make up a disproportionate amount of college faculty. A study showed that 50% of American college faculty identified themselves as [[Democrats]] and only 11% as [[Republicans]] (with 33% being [[Independent]], and 5% identifying themselves with another party). 72% described themselves as "to the left of center," including 18% who were strongly left. Only 15% described themselves as right of center, including only 3% who were "strongly right."<ref name="American Academic Study Survey 1999">North American Academic Study Survey (NAASS) of students, faculty and administrators at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada 1999. The Berkeley Electronic Press</ref><ref>http://www.bepress.com/forum/vol3/iss1/art2</ref><ref>http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17963/liberal_bias_in_our_schools.html</ref> When they are in the faculty they then discriminate against the hiring of conservative professors.<ref>http://www.baylorpress.com/Book/235/Compromising_Scholarship.html</ref>

This liberal bias has even made its way to subjects that make up the very heart of America: [[The Constitution]], and [[Christianity]]. Their venerable age no longer protects them from being criticized in the light of modern exigencies. Moreover, in this view the first duty laid upon the State is to guarantee the economic well-being of the individual citizens. Hence it is judged from the practical standpoint and according to general principles based on the idea of economic returns. The chief representatives of this theory of the State are to be found among the average American socialist, especially our liberal Democrats.

Research on the political leanings of their university professors by members of The George Washington University Chapter of Young America’s Foundation (GWYAF) found substantial liberal bias in the academy. The school’s faculty gave 92 percent of their political donations ($221,490) to Democratic candidates versus only 8 percent ($20,500) to Republicans in the 2008 primary election. Consistent with this, in the presidential election the ratio was 91 percent to 9 percent.

Similarly, the ratio of Yale faculty donations in the 2004 presidential election between Kerry and Bush was 150:3. The ratio at Princeton was 114:1, and at Harvard, 406:13.<ref>http://www.academia.org/george-washington-slanted-here/</ref>

Law professor Richard D. Parker, after 35 years at [[Harvard University]], noted, "On this faculty, there are around 100 professors or assistant professors, and of that 100, I think you’d have to estimate there would be maybe eight registered Republicans... I’m a registered Independent…and there’s no one else in the 100 who would identify as a populist."<ref>http://www.academia.org/harvard-still-hates-america</ref>

Textbooks used in schools of all ages have also been exposed as promoting a decidedly liberal bias against the nation of Israel.<ref>[http://www.academia.org/textbook-bias-against-israel]</ref> A landmark book called ''The Trouble with Textbooks'', by Dr. Gary A. Tobin and Dennis R. Ybarra, described results of a comprehensive study they conducted of the 28 most widely used Social Studies textbooks in the United States. The researchers found that U.S. textbooks often contain "repeated misrepresentations that cross the line into bigotry.” Examples included Jesus being called a [[Palestinian]], Islam being "treated with a devotional tone in some textbooks, less detached and analytical than it ought to be. Muslim beliefs are described in several instances as fact, without any clear qualifier such as 'Muslims believe...'" The Islamic empire of the Middle Ages was presented as “a time of unqualified glory without blemishes”, while various aspects of the wars of Arab states against Israel were misrepresented.

In the glossary of one book, ''World History: Continuity and Change'', the entry on the Ten Commandments skeptically describes them as "Moral laws Moses '''claimed''' to have received from the Hebrew G-d Y-hweh on Mount Sinai," while the very same glossary states the [[Qu'ran]] is a "Holy Book of Islam containing revelations received by Muhammad from G-d.”<ref>http://www.israelnationalnews.com/SendMail.aspx?print=print&type=0&item=127797</ref>

One textbook publisher, ''Teachers Curriculum Institute'', has agreed to rewrite its unit on the Middle East after being challenged, and consulting many scholars. The San Francisco-based Jewish Community Relations Council found that the textbooks were so filled with inaccuracies and biased that they should not be used.<ref>San Francisco Jewish Community Publications, Friday, February 13, 2004</ref>

Professor Larry Schweikart notes that most textbooks tend to come from New York, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia, all liberal bastions. As concerns American history, Schweikart sees the "Reagan test" as a consistent indicator of whether a book is politically slanted. The majority of books he has examined credit former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev with ending the Cold War, while marginalizing Reagan.<ref>[http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/11/president-reagan-gets-the-shaft-in-textbooks/print/ Fox News, March 11, 2010]</ref>

==Conservative opposition to liberal bias==
[[Ann Coulter]] wrote:
"To obscure the overwhelming liberal dominance of the media, the few designated media '[[conservatives]]' are cited tirelessly in testimonies to the [[ideological]] diversity in the nation's [[newsroom]]s. Democrats in the media are [[editors]], national [[correspondent]]s, [[news anchor]]s, and [[reporter]]s. Republicans in the media are 'from the right' [[polemic]]ists grudgingly tolerated within the liberal behemoth. Republican views must be accompanied by a conspicuous warning: '[[Partisan]] Conservative Opinion Coming!' [[Neutral]] news slots are reserved for Democrats exclusively. 'Balance' is created by having a liberal host a debate between a liberal and a moderate Republican."<ref>''[[Slander (book)|]]'', P. 60</ref>

In June 2009, [[Republican]]s in the House of Representatives created the Media Caucus to fight the Democrat-aligned media propaganda.

==Left-wing defense of liberal bias==

The managing editor of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' Magazine dismissed the need for [[objectivity]] altogether, saying:

:"I have felt that we have to actually say, ‘We have a point of view about something and we feel strongly about it, we just have to be assertive about it and say it positively.'"<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2008/04/22/time-editor-objective-journalism-fantasy-justifies-greening-iwo-jima-phot Time Editor: Objective Journalism a 'Fantasy']</ref>

A ''Boston Globe'' editor, Peter Accardi, adamantly proclaimed that he would not publish reader's replies in the Globe's Letters to the Editor critical of homosexuality, erroneously equating such with racism:

:"I won't run any letter that promotes bigotry against any group. You'd be surprised how many anti-Semitic letters we get, but not one will see the light of day on a letters page I handle. Same with anti-black, anti-Italian, etc."<ref>http://www.cultureandfamily.org/articledisplay.asp?id=4324&department=CFI&categoryid=cfreport</ref>

Note the convoluted logic which assumes that any criticism of the behavior of members of a group must be due to "bigotry," which is itself a bigoted attack on the critics designed to prevent any consideration of the principles or facts supporting their arguments.

==Left-wing denial of liberal bias==

''New York Times'' publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. has denied that the ''New York Times'' has a liberal viewpoint and has stated the ''New York Times'' has an "urban" viewpoint.<ref name="nytimes.com">http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/weekinreview/25bott.html?ei=5088&en=452926dcb11511a3&ex=1248667200&pagewanted=all&position=</ref> However, in the summer of 2004, the newspaper's then public editor (ombudsman), Daniel Okrent, published a piece on the ''Times''' liberal bias and cited the example of their coverage of [[Homosexuality and Marriage|homosexual marriage]].<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/facts/2007/facts2007914.asp</ref> Although the ''New York Times'' has a particularly heavy bias when it comes to the [[homosexuality]] issue, the ''New York Times'' is not unusual in regards to the media having a liberal bias when it comes to the subject of homosexuality; see [[Homosexuality in the Media]]. [[John Stossel]] is an author, consumer reporter, and a co-anchor for the [[ABC|ABC News]] show [[20/20]]. [[Cybercast News Service]] states the following regarding regarding the influence of the ''New York Times'' and ''[[Washington Post]]'':
{{cquote|While the newspapers reach only a fraction of people compared to the television networks, he said radio and television producers rely heavily on their contents.

"The reason the Times, and to a lesser extent the Post, are so important, and they are, is because the TV and radio - all of the media - copy it sycophantically," he [John Stossel] said. "That's how bias at the ''Times'' becomes bias in other media."<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200401/CUL20040128a.html</ref>}}

==Statistical data==

In 2008, John Perazzo, writing in FrontPageMagazine.com, presented major research findings <ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=32928 In the Tank: A Statistical Analysis of Media Bias By John Perazzo FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, October 31, 2008]</ref><ref>[http://www.mrc.org/biasbasics/pdf/BiasBasics.pdf Mostly from Media Research Center, The Liberal Media Exposed]</ref> regarding the underlying beliefs of news media professionals.

* Between 90 and 97 percent of news media professionals have consistently affirmed themselves to be pro-choice on the matter of abortion, with more than half of the respondents agreeing that abortion should be legal under any and all circumstances.<ref>Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman’s 1981 survey of 240 journalists at top media outlets; Los Angeles Times 1985 survey of 2,700 journalists at 621 American newspapers; Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman’s 1986 study of the media’s attitudes and their influence on society, as published in the National Federation for Decency’s Journal; Indiana University journalism professors David Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit’s 1992 survey of 1,410 newspaper, magazine, television, and radio journalists; Stanley Rothman and Amy Black’s 1995 study of the media elite.</ref>
* Between 6 and 8 percent attended religious services regularly, a tiny fraction of the corresponding rate for the public at large.<ref>Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman’s 1986 study of the media’s attitudes and their influence on society, Op. cit.; David Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit’s 1992 survey of 1,410 journalists, Op. cit.; Annenberg Public Policy Center and Annenberg Foundation Trust’s 2005 survey of 673 journalists from newspapers, television, magazines, radio, and Internet; Pew Research Center’s 2008 survey of 222 journalists and news executives.</ref>
* Fully 81 percent of news media professionals favor affirmative action in business and academia.<ref name="ReferenceB">Los Angeles Times 1985 survey of 2,700 journalists at 621 American newspapers, Op. cit.</ref>
* More than half of respondents said that adultery could be acceptable under certain circumstances; only 15 percent said it was always wrong.<ref name="ReferenceC">Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman’s 1981 survey of 240 journalists at top media outlets, Op. cit.</ref>
* Between 67 and 76 percent were opposed to prayer being permitted in public schools.<ref>Los Angeles Times 1985 survey of 2,700 journalists at 621 American newspapers; Journalist and Financial Reporting’s 1988 poll of 151 business reporters from 30 major publications.</ref>
* In 1964, 94 percent of media professionals voted for Democrat Lyndon Johnson over Republican Barry Goldwater.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
* In 1968, 86 percent voted for Democrat Hubert Humphrey over Republican Richard Nixon.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
* In 1972, 81 percent voted for Democrat George McGovern over the incumbent Nixon.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
* In 1976, 81 percent voted for Democrat Jimmy Carter over Republican Gerald Ford.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
* In 1980, twice as many cast their ballots for Carter rather than Republican Ronald Reagan.<ref>California State University survey of reporters from the 50 largest U.S. newspapers.</ref>
* In 1984, 58 percent supported Democrat Walter Mondale, whom Reagan defeated in the biggest landslide in presidential election history.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
* In 1988, White House correspondents from various major newspapers, television networks, magazines, and news services supported Democrat Michael Dukakis over Republican George H.W. Bush by a ratio of 12-to-1.<ref>U.S. News & World Report writer Kenneth Walsh’s 1995 study of 28 White House correspondents.</ref>
* In the 1992 Presidential election, among Washington bureau chiefs and congressional correspondents, the disparity was 89 percent vs. 7 percent, in Clinton’s favor over the incumbent Bush.<ref>1996 Freedom Forum survey of 139 Washington bureau chiefs and congressional correspondents, Op. cit.</ref>
* All told, White House correspondents during the late ’80s and early ’90s voted for Democrats at 7 times the rate at which they voted for Republicans.<ref>U.S. News & World Report writer Kenneth Walsh’s 1995 study of 28 White House correspondents, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 2004, poll of campaign journalists, those based outside of Washington, D.C., supported Democrat John Kerry over Republican George W. Bush by a ratio of 3-to-1. Those based inside the Beltway favored Kerry by a 12-to-1 ratio<ref>.New York Times columnist John Tierney’s 2004 survey of 153 campaign journalists covering the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.</ref>
* In a 2004 nationwide poll of 300 newspaper and television journalists, 52 percent supported Kerry, while 19 percent supported Bush.<ref>University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy’s 2005 survey of 300 television and newspaper journalists nationwide.</ref>
* In a 2008 survey of 144 journalists nationwide, journalists were 8 times likelier to make campaign contributions to Democrats than to Republicans.<ref>MSNBC investigative reporter Bill Dedman’s study of the campaign contributions of 144 journalists.</ref>
* A 2008 Investors Business Daily study put the campaign donation ratio at 11.5-to-1, in favor of Democrats. In terms of total dollars given, the ratio was 15-to-1.<ref>William Tate’s July 2008 report in Investor’s Business Daily.</ref>

*In a 1988 survey of business reporters, 54 percent of respondents identified themselves as Democrats, 9 percent as Republicans.<ref>Journalist and Financial Reporting’s 1988 poll of 151 business reporters, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 1992 poll of journalists working for newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, 44 percent called themselves Democrats, 16 percent Republicans.<ref>David Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit’s 1992 survey of 1,410 journalists, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 1996 poll of 1,037 reporters at 61 newspapers, 61 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 15 percent as Republicans.<ref>American Society of Newspaper editors 1996 survey of 1,037 reporters at 61 newspapers of all sizes nationwide.</ref>
* In a 2001 Kaiser Family Foundation poll, media professionals were nearly 7 times likelier to call themselves Democrats rather than Republicans<ref>.Kaiser Family Foundation 1996 poll of 301 “media professionals,” 300 “policymakers,” and 1,206 members of the general public.</ref>
* In a 1981 study of 240 journalists nationwide, 65 percent identified themselves as liberals, 17 percent as conservatives.<ref>Robert Lichter and Stanley Rothman’s 1986 study of the media’s attitudes and their influence on society, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 1983 study of news reporters, executives, and staffers, 32 percent identified themselves as liberals, 11 percent as conservatives.<ref>David Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit’s 1982-83 study of more than 1,000 reporters, executives, and staffers nationwide.</ref>
* In a 1992 study of more than 1,400 journalists, 44 percent identified themselves as liberals, 22 percent as conservatives.<ref>David Weaver and G. Cleveland Wilhoit’s 1992 survey of 1,410 journalists, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 1996 study of Washington bureau chiefs and congressional correspondents, 61 percent identified themselves as liberals, 9 percent as conservatives.<ref>1996 Freedom Forum survey of 139 Washington bureau chiefs and congressional correspondents, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 1996 study of 1,037 journalists, the respondents identified themselves as liberals 4 times more frequently than as conservatives. Among journalists working for newspapers with circulations exceeding 50,000, the ratio of liberals to conservatives was 5.4 to 1.<ref>American Society of Newspaper editors 1996 survey, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 2001 Kaiser Family Foundation study of media professionals, the ratio of self-identified liberals to conservatives was 4.2 to 1.<ref>Kaiser Family Foundation 1996 poll of 301 “media professionals,” 300 “policymakers,” and 1,206 members of the general public, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 2004 Pew Research Center study of journalists and media executives, the ratio of self-identified liberals to conservatives was 4.9 to 1.<ref>Pew Research Center 2004 poll of 547 journalists and media executives, including 247 at national-level media outlets.</ref>
* In a 2005 University of Connecticut study of 300 journalists, the liberal-to-conservative ratio was 2.8 to 1.<ref>University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy’s 2005 survey of 300 television and newspaper journalists nationwide, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 2005 Annenberg Public Policy Center poll of nearly 700 journalists, the liberal-to-conservative ratio was 3.4 to 1.<ref>Annenberg Public Policy Center and Annenberg Foundation Trust’s 2005 survey of 673 journalists, Op. cit.</ref>
* In a 2007 Pew Research Center study of journalists and news executives, the ratio was 4 liberals for each conservative.<ref>Pew Research Center’s 2007 survey of 222 journalists and news executives at national outlets.</ref>

A similar landmark study was conducted in 1990, examining the political leanings of the individuals, rather than the organizations, who were most often cited or quoted as experts on various topics in the news. The examination showed that on the subject of welfare and related issues, liberal experts were quoted 75 percent of the time, conservatives 22 percent. On consumer issues, the liberal-conservative ratio was 63 percent to 22 percent. On environmental issues, the ratio was 79 percent to 18 percent. And regarding nuclear energy, the ratio was 77 percent to 20 percent.<ref>Robert Lichter, Stanley Rothman, and Linda Lichter, The Media Elite: America’s New Power Brokers (New York: Hastings House, 1990).</ref>

The decidedly liberal majority in news media is similar to that seen in American colleges and faculty, which most journalists were influenced by. A major study showed that 50% of American college faculty identified themselves as Democrats and 11% as Republicans (with 33% being Independent, and 5% identifying themselves with another party). 72% described themselves as "to the left of center," including 18% who were strongly left. Only 15% described themselves as right of center, including only 3% who were "strongly right."<ref name="American Academic Study Survey 1999"/><ref>[http://montages.blogspot.com/2005/04/conservatives-underrepresented-in.html Conservatives: Underrepresented in Academia?]</ref>

== Liberal American entertainment industry, bestiality and other sexual immorality ==
[[File:NBC Tower.jpg|thumbnail|200px|[[LifeSiteNews]] reported: "In 46 hours of programming, NBC contained only one reference to marital sex, but 11 references to non-marital sex and one reference to [[adultery]] were made. References to incest, pedophilia, partner swapping, prostitution, threesomes, transsexuals/transvestites, [[bestiality]], and necrophilia combined outnumbered references to sex in marriage on NBC by a ratio of 27 to 1."<ref name="lifesitenews.com">[http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2008/aug/08080602 Study Finds TV Treats Marital Sex as Burdensome, Adultery as Positive]</ref> See also: [[Liberalism and bestiality]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Liberalism and bestiality]] and [[Liberal American entertainment industry and bestiality]]

=== American Television and bestiality ===

On August 6, 2008 [[LifeSiteNews]] reported:
{{cquote|The Parents Television Council released a new study, ''Happily Never After: How Hollywood Favors [[Adultery]] and [[Promiscuity]] Over Marital Intimacy on Prime Time Broadcast Television'', which revealed that broadcast networks depict sex in the context of marriage as either non-existent or burdensome, while showing positive depictions of extra-marital or adulterous sexual relationships with alarming frequency....

According to the PTC study, some of the once-taboo-for-TV sexual behaviors that are now found on prime time television include threesomes, partner swapping, pedophilia, necrophilia, bestiality, and sex with prostitutes...

In 46 hours of programming, [[NBC]] contained only one reference to marital sex, but 11 references to non-marital sex and one reference to adultery were made.

References to incest, pedophilia, partner swapping, prostitution, threesomes, transsexuals/transvestites, [[bestiality]], and necrophilia combined outnumbered references to sex in marriage on NBC by a ratio of 27 to 1.<ref name="lifesitenews.com">[http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2008/aug/08080602 Study Finds TV Treats Marital Sex as Burdensome, Adultery as Positive]</ref>}}

== See also ==

*[[Credibility]]
*[[Anti-Defamation League]]
*[[Previous Breaking News/Liberal bias|Examples of liberal bias from previous "Breaking News" articles]]
*[[More News/Liberal Bias|Articles about '''Liberal Bias''' from "More News"]]
*[[Homosexuality and the Media]]
*[[Conservative Links]]
*[[Professor values]]
*[[Journalistic malpractice]]
*[[Anti-Conservative bias]]
*[[Media hypocrisy]]

{{Examples of liberal bias}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.mediaresearch.org/biasbasics/biasbasics2admissions.asp Media Bias Basics] - Admissions of Liberal Bias
*[http://www.ihatethemedia.com IHateTheMedia.com] - Pointing out Liberal Bias daily
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=fH5H492nmtMC&pg=PA271&lpg=PA271&dq=newsweek+war+against+christianity&source=bl&ots=x8qHuakjQh&sig=sDfIvPwS9893hYoJVO8Tfz8DDrE&hl=en&ei=jUY6SrCIG9G_twfgg6HjDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPP1,M1 Persecution, By David Limbaugh]

{{liberalism}}
[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:Liberalism]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

Atheism statistics

2017-02-24T02:18:17Z

Ambassador:

[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an [[atheism|atheist]] household in the [[United States]] remain atheists as adults.<ref name="christianpost.com">http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref>]]
[[Atheism]] has a number of effects on individuals and [[Atheism and culture|on societies]].

Below is a collection of '''atheism statistics''' which cover a number of areas relative to atheism:

It is estimated that in the past 100 years, governments under the banner of atheistic [[communism]] have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 and 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anticommunist (April 14, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130607125427/http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/04/289239.html "The Human Cost of Communism - 100 million"]. UK Indymedia. Retrieved from June 7, 2013 archive at Internet Archive.
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.
*White, Matthew (February 2011). [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"]. Necrometrics.
*Higgins, David (June 22, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20071008035420/http://www.sarasotamagazine.com/blog/template_permalink.asp?id=365 "Memory and ideology: Washington's newest statue is the Victims Of Communism Memorial"]. Sarasota Magazine website. Retrieved from October 8, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.</ref> See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]

The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
{{cquote|Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] and [[Mao Zedong|Mao]] …

The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.

The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole Hell-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.

Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-communism Atheism article - communism section - Vox Day quote]</ref>}}

See also:

*[[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]

*[[Militant atheism]]

*[[Atheism and violence]]

*[[Soviet atheism]]

*[[Atheism and Karl Marx]]

*[[Religion and Atheism in North Korea]]

*[[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]

== Global atheism statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] and [[Global Christianity]]

The [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]] and [[European desecularization in the 21st century]] and [[Western atheism and race]]

=== Decline of global atheism statistics ===

''See also:'' [[Global atheism statistics]] and [[Desecularization]]

[[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] ]]
According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for [[atheism]] from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref>

A survey published in the 2005 ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' stated that 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion, including the militantly antireligious."<ref name="search.eb.com">http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9432620</ref> In respect to the 2.3% figure just mentioned, the 2005 survey cited by ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' survey did not include [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] in regards to the 2.3% figure and Buddhism can be [[Theism|theistic]] or atheistic.<ref name="search.eb.com"/><ref>http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm</ref> See also: [[Atheist population|Atheist Population]].

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
{{cquote|Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

As a percentage of the world's population, atheism peaked in 1970.<ref>[http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/atheism_peaks_while_spiritual_groups_move_toward_convergence-156528 Atheism Peaks, While Spiritual Groups Move Toward Convergence] by Nury Vittachi, July 14, 2015, website Sciene 2.0</ref> Global atheism is expected to decline in the 21st century and beyond in terms of its global market share.<ref>
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ Study: World is becoming more religious]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents]
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf Gordon-Conwell Seminary - Status of Global Mission, 2014, in the Context of AD 1800–2025]
*[http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/atheism_peaks_while_spiritual_groups_move_toward_convergence-156528 Atheism Peaks, While Spiritual Groups Move Toward Convergence] by Nury Vittachi, July 14, 2015, website Sciene 2.0</ref>

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:
{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population... In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British.
<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>}}

=== Global atheism and aging populations ===

''See also:'' [[Global atheism and aging populations]]

Global atheism is facing significant challenges in terms of aging populations in [[East Asia]] and Europe and this will be a significant cause of [[desecularization]] in the 21st century (see: [[Global atheism and aging populations]]).

=== Google trends - Atheism related searches - various regions ===

See: [[Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms|Google trends - Atheism related searches: Various regions]]

== Demographics of atheism ==

[[Demography]] is the study of human populations, and is a major specialty in the disciplines of sociology, economics, history, geography, statistics and epidemiology.

See: [[Demographics of atheism]]

== Atheism/religion and death anxiety statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]

=== A United States study indicated that very religious people fear death the least ===
[[File:3403655435 ea7ce6933b.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|King [[Solomon]] declared in the Book Of Proverbs: "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1).]]
According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, it was found that very religious people feared death the least.<ref name="world-science.net">[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?], World of Science]</ref><ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov">J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study]. Wink P1, Scott J.</ref> In addition, the researcher Wen found that the more religious you are, the less you will fear death.<ref>Wen, Y. (2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf Religiosity and death anxiety]. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning, 6(2), 31-37.</ref>

King [[Solomon]] declared in the Book Of Proverbs: "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1).

The Apostle Paul wrote: ""O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-56).

=== Lukewarm/moderately religious and death anxiety ===

In the aforementioned study, Wink and Scott found that moderately religious people fear death the most.<ref name="world-science.net"/><ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov"/>

In the Book of [[Revelation]], [[Jesus Christ]] told the [[Laodicean Church|Church of Laodicea]] that He would spit lukewarm members of the church out of this mouth and that they needed to repent and become fervent/hot Christians (Revelation 3:15–16). Lukewarm believers in God are thought to have the fear of [[hell]], but not the inward assurance of going to heaven.<ref name="world-science.net"/>

=== Irreligion's effect on death anxiety ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes]]

The Bible teaches that "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12). Furthermore, the Bible teaches "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5). Also, Scripture teaches that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10).
The psalmist [[David]] declared: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]]) See: [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and moral intelligence]]

==== Wink and Scott study: Irreligious and death anxiety ====

According to the researchers Wink and Scott, the irreligious fear death more than the very religious, but fear it less than the lukewarm/moderately religious. Atheists lack the God given courage of Christians with a strong faith, but many are too foolish and arrogant to have enough sense to fear hell.

==== Atheists and belief in life after death ====

''See also:'' [[Atheists and supernatural beliefs]]
[[File:Gravestone.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?], World of Science]
*J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study]. Wink P1, Scott J.</ref>]]
The website the Skeptics Guide indicates that a significant number of atheists and agnostics believe in life after death and the website reported:
{{cquote|A survey compiled in 2014 by The Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture (AISFC) reveals that 32 percent of Americans who identified themselves as agnostics and atheists believe in an afterlife of some kind. In addition, 6 percent of the same non-theistic group expressed a belief in a “bodily resurrection”. These numbers were taken from a sample of 15,738 Americans, all of which were between the ages of 18 and 60. According to the data, 13.2 percent of Americans identify themselves as atheist, agnostic, or some other variation of non-believing.

I found these results to be quite surprising. Having been immersed in circles of atheists and agnostics for the past 20 years, the numbers revealed by this study are higher than I would have guessed, by quite a lot. What stands out the most is that 6% expressed a belief in resurrection. It could be a statistical anomaly of some sort (perhaps the respondents did not understand the question about bodily resurrection?) Why an atheist or agnostic would believe that a dead person could come back to life seems entirely contrary to their worldview.<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife]</ref>}}

(Study, Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture: [http://relationshipsinamerica.com/religion/do-people-still-believe-in-life-after-death Do people still believe in life after death?])

In addition, there are atheists who have a fear of [[Hell]] (see: [[Atheism and Hell#Atheism and the fear of Hell|Atheism and the fear of Hell]]).

== Atheism and lower charitableness/empathy statistics ==
[[File:Beggar in Cambodia.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A beggar in [[Cambodia]]. In Cambodia, the vast majority of the population adheres to a nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism.
 
 
[[Per capita]] [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] in America give significantly less to charity than [[theism|theists]] even when church giving is not counted for theists. See: [[Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Atheism and love]]

Concerning the issue of [[atheism and charity]], charitable giving by atheists and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the [[Barna Group]]:
{{cquote|The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.<ref>[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians] ''The Barna Update'', 2007.</ref>}}

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="pewforum.org">[http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx Religious people make better citizens, study says] by Pew Research Forum, May 13, 2009
*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm Religious people are 'better neighbors'] by ''USA Today'', 11/14/2010</ref> The study revealed that forty percent of worship service attending Americans volunteer regularly to help the poor and elderly as opposed to 15% of Americans who never attend services.<ref name="pewforum.org"/> Moreover, religious individuals are more likely than non-religious individuals to volunteer for school and youth programs (36% vs. 15%), a neighborhood or civic group (26% vs. 13%), and for health care (21% vs. 13%).<ref>[http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx Religious people make better citizens, study says] by Pew Research Forum, May 13, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm Religious people are 'better neighbors'] by ''USA Today'', 11/14/2010</ref>

Arthur C. Brooks wrote in ''Policy Review'' regarding data collected in the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey (SCCBS) (data collected by in 2000 by researchers at universities throughout the United States and the [[Roper Center for Public Opinion Research]]):
{{cquote|The differences in charity between secular and religious people are dramatic. Religious people are 25 percentage points more likely than secularists to donate money (91 percent to 66 percent) and 23 points more likely to volunteer time (67 percent to 44 percent). And, consistent with the findings of other writers, these data show that practicing a religion is more important than the actual religion itself in predicting charitable behavior. For example, among those who attend worship services regularly, 92 percent of Protestants give charitably, compared with 91 percent of Catholics, 91 percent of Jews, and 89 percent from other religions.<ref>Brooks, Arthur C., [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3647/is_200310/ai_n9340592/Religious faith and charitable giving] ''Policy Review'', Oct-Dec 2003, p.2.</ref>}}
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|205px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent.

In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref> See: [[Atheism and love]] ]]
ABC News reported:
{{cquote|...the single biggest predictor of whether someone will be charitable is their religious participation.

Religious people are more likely to give to charity, and when they give, they give more money: four times as much. And Arthur Brooks told me that giving goes beyond their own religious organization:

"Actually, the truth is that they're giving to more than their churches," he says. "The religious Americans are more likely to give to every kind of cause and charity, including explicitly non-religious charities."<ref>Stossel, John and Kendall, Kristina [http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=2682730&page=2 Who Gives and Who Doesn't?] ABC News, November 28, 2006</ref>}}

=== Atheism and lower empathy for others ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and love]] and [[Atheism and sadism]] and [[Atheism and mass murder]]

In 2007 the Baptist Press reported:
{{cquote|...a pollster at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, found that adults who profess a belief in God are significantly more likely than atheists to say that forgiveness, patience, generosity and a concern for others are "very important." In fact, the poll found that on 11 of 12 values, there was a double-digit gap between theists and atheists, with theists more likely to label each value "very important."

The survey by sociologist and pollster Reginald Bibby examined the beliefs of 1,600 Canadians, 82 percent who said they believed in "God or a higher power" and 18 percent who said they did not.<ref>Foust, Michael (October 23, 2007). [http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26675 "Poll: Atheists less likely to 'do good'"] Baptist Press. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}

=== Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising statistics ===

See: [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising]]

== Atheism and marriage/domestic violence statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]

The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Michael Caputo wrote:
{{cquote|Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics.<ref name="marry">Mariano (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|200px|right|Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="adherents.com">[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref> In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.<ref name="thelocal.se">[http://www.thelocal.se/20140305/sweden-out-top-in-eu-domestic-violence-league Sweden stands out in domestic violence study] Published: 05 Mar 2014 08:3</ref>]]
[[Vox Day]] declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] don’t get married."<ref name="marry"/> For more information please see: [[Atheism and marriage]]

=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===

''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and violence]]

The irreligious have a higher rate of domestic violence (See: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]). In addition, some of Europe's most secular countries have significant problems with domestic violence (see: [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]).

For example, [[Sweden]] is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="adherents.com"/> In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.<ref name="thelocal.se"/> See also: [[Atheistic Sweden and rape]]

Research indicates that atheists are more likely to see illegal drug use and couple cohabitation before marriage as being morally acceptable.<ref name="barna.org">http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard</ref> A higher rate of domestic violence exists among cohabiting couples as compared with married couples<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579211 Demography. 2006 Feb;43(1):127-40. Why are cohabiting relationships more violent than marriages?. Kenney CT1, McLanahan SS.]</ref> As noted above, atheists have lower marriage rates than [[theism|theists]] (see: [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]). According to the [[World Health Organization]], "Interpersonal violence and illicit drug use are major public health challenges that are strongly linked."<ref>[http://www.who.int/violenceprevention/interpersonal_violence_and_illicit_drug_use.pdf Interpersonal violence and illicit drug use - World Health Organization]</ref>

=== Atheism and divorce statistics ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and divorce]]

As as [[atheism and divorce]], the social researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn found that those who attend church regularly have a significantly lower divorce rate than those who don’t.<ref>[http://www.shaunti.com/2014/06/marriage-month-daily-tip-12-go-church/ Go to church]</ref><ref>[http://www.shaunti.com/book/good-news-marriage/#sthash.8A1kd6mE.dpuf The Good News About Marriage]</ref> Feldhahn conducted eight years of research on divorce statistics and examined U.S. Census data, data from various university centers and relevant books/journals.<ref>[http://www.shaunti.com/good_news_about_this_book/ About this Book - The Good News about Marriage]</ref> In addition, Feldhahn interviewed social science researchers about their methodology and to confirm various quotes.<ref>[http://www.shaunti.com/good_news_about_this_book/ About this Book - The Good News about Marriage]</ref>

Furthermore, the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Ken Ammi wrote in his atheism article at [[Creation Ministries International]]:
{{cquote|“According to Barna, ‘Forty-two percent of adults who associate with a faith other than Christianity had co-habited, while atheists were the most likely to do so (51%).

“It is critical to stress that it is a well known fact that cohabiters experience a very high number of ‘breakups’ before getting married. ‘Millions of people … believe that cohabitation is a prelude to marriage. And for many, it is. However, Smock reports that 45% of cohabitations break up with no marriage. Another 10% continue cohabiting.’

“Barna did not include this enlightening fact in his research. Thus, if 21% of atheists divorce after marriage, and 45 % break up once or more before marriage, what we have is the astounding rate of about 66% of atheist couples experiencing ‘at least’ one break up. If, however, the number is 37%, then we have a shocking figure of 82% …

“What needs mentioning is the fact that many atheists do not cohabit as a prelude to marriage. They in fact see cohabitation as ‘equivalent’ to any marriage relationship … These break ups were not included in the Barna research …

“The appellation ‘Christian’ a Christian does not make. There are great numbers of people in this world who call themselves ‘Christians’ but have never internalized the teachings of Jesus Christ." …
<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism = Mario Grinbank - Creation Ministries International]</ref>}}

== Atheism and gender ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Atheism and sexism]]
[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Studies and web traffic data appear to indicate that women in the Western World tend to be more religious than men.<ref>http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf</ref><ref name="livescience.com">http://www.livescience.com/culture/090227-religion-men-women.html</ref> See: [[Atheism and women]] ]]
In November 2010, ''Discover Magazine'' published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women in terms of adopting an [[atheist worldview]].<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ Sex differences in global atheism, part N]</ref>

A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades.<ref>[http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html ''Women More Religious Than Men'']</ref>

In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name="livescience.com"/> See: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]

In June of 2010, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] commented that atheist meetings tend to be significantly more attended by males.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/29/the-woman-problem/ The Woman problem by PZ Myers]</ref> In October of 2012, the atheist Susan Jacoby wrote in ''The Humanist'' concerning atheist meetings: "When I speak before non-college audiences — that is, audiences in which no one is required to be there to get credit for a college course — 75 percent of the people in the seats are men."<ref>[http://thehumanist.org/september-october-2012/a-woman%E2%80%99s-place-the-dearth-of-women-in-the-secular-movement/#sthash.OCLeJO3U.dpuf A Woman’s Place? The Dearth of Women in the Secular Movement]</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and women]]

== Atheism and sexuality ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]]
[[File:Birkbeck College London.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]] whose work focuses on how demographic changes affects religion/politics, points out that that the atheist population has a sub-replacement fertility rate while religious [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]] have high rates of birth (See: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]). .<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> ]]
Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/[[low church]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115</ref><ref name="thedailybeast.com">[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114</ref>
Hispanics are known for their religiosity. For example, in 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the United States: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)"<ref name="The Atheism Gap">[http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap The Atheism Gap] By Stephen L. Carter, ''BloombergView'', Mar 27, 2015 4:26 PM EDT</ref> See also: [[Western atheism and race]]

In 2011, ''The Daily Beast'' conceded in an article entitled ''Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?'', "The devout are actually having better sex than the rest of us."<ref name="thedailybeast.com"/>

In the United States, the [[Republican Party]] has a large segment of religious conservatives and they are influential within the party.<ref>[http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/182210/highly-religious-conservative-republicans.aspx How Many Highly Religious Conservative Republicans Are There?], Gallup Organization statistics</ref> ABC News reported that "More Republicans Satisfied With Sex Lives Than [[Democrat]]s".<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/News/story?id=180291 More Republicans Satisfied With Sex Lives Than Democrats], ABC News</ref>

As a group, atheists have sub-replacement levels of fertility.<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
*[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>

=== Atheism and fertility rate statistics ===

*[[Atheism and fertility rates|Atheism and fertility rate statistics]]

== Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army ==
[[File:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|When told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, the atheist [[Joseph Stalin]] reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Andrew | last=Roberts | title=Stalin's army of rapists: The brutal war crime that Russia and Germany tried to ignore | date=24 October 2008}}</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]

The [[Soviet Union]] practiced [[state atheism]] and [[militant atheism]]. According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref> See also: [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Soviet atheism]]

The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union during its latter years before it collapsed. According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>

As Allied troops entered and occupied Germany during the latter part of [[World War II]], mass rapes occurred in connection with combat operations and during the occupation which followed. Historians in the [[Western World]] generally conclude that the majority of the rapes were committed by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] servicemen. The majority of the rapes happened in the Soviet occupation zone.

Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>

For more information, please see:

[[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]

== British study finds atheists and scientists to be the least enthusiastic about Valentine's Day ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and romance]]

An study done by the British website Freedating.co.uk reported about attitudes regarding Valentine's Day:
{{Cquote|Both [[Conservative Party|Tory]] and [[Labour Party|Labour]] voters are about as unromantic as you can get, beaten only by atheists and scientists...

So says our latest survey, which looked our users' attitudes to Valentine's Day - 6,878 of them in all.

We asked them to rate how important they thought the most romantic day of the year was, and combined their answer with anonymised data from their dating profiles.

Our statistician crunched the numbers, and pulled out any links between the kind of information you find in a typical dating profile, and whether or not those people were enthusiastic fans of Valentine's Day.

- Women overall are significantly more enthusiastic than men, nearly 10% so.

- A strong interest in any political party, other than the Liberal Democrats, is linked to a decreasing interest in this international day of romance.

- Whether or not men are religious is highly polarizing, with Christians and Catholics being amongst the most positive, and Atheists and Agnostics being amongst the most negative.<ref>[https://www.freedating.co.uk/politics-of-valentines.html The Politics of Valentine's Day: Survey reveals differing attitudes to Valentine's Day, based on political persuasion]</ref>}}

== Atheism, Christianity and romance books: Amazon statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and romance]]

As of May 20, 2016, as far as books, Amazon.com has 38,859 search results for the term "Christian romance".<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/191-2357257-5380358?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Christian+romance Amazon - Christian romance]</ref> As of May 20, 2016, as far as books, Amazon.com has 32 search results for the term "atheist romance".<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=atheist++romance&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Aatheist++romance Atheist romance - Amazon]</ref>

== Western atheism and race statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]]
[[File:PZ Myers3.jpg|thumbnail|left|205px|The atheist and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]] giving a presentation to a group that is likely largely made up of white males.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html?_r=1</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Racial_demographics_of_the_Richard_Dawkins%27_audience</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_appears_to_be_significantly_less_appealing_to_women</ref> In June 2010, [[PZ Myers]] commented that atheist meetings tend to be significantly more attended by males.<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/the_woman_problem.php</ref>]]
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]:
{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)

...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name="The Atheism Gap">[http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap The Atheism Gap] By Stephen L. Carter, ''BloombergView'', Mar 27, 2015 4:26 PM EDT</ref>}}

At the same time, due to immigration, [[Europe]] is expected to become [[desecularization|more desecularized]] in the 21st century (See also: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist population]]).

In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
{{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] — are all white men.

But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.

Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}}

=== Expected racial demographic changes in the Western World ===

''See also:'' [[Secular Europe|Growth of evangelical Protestantism in Europe]] and [[British atheism]]

In the [[United Kingdom]], by the year 2050, 30 percent of the population is expected to be non-white.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10809481/Non-white-people-almost-30-per-cent-of-population-by-2050.html Non-white people almost 30 per cent of population by 2050], By James Kirkup, Political Editor, ''The Telegraph,'' May 5, 2014</ref> In the United States, the Hispanic population is expected to triple by the year 2050 and become 30% of the United States population.<ref>[U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050 U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050], USA Today, By Haya El Nasser, 2/12/2008</ref> ''[[Yale University|Yale]] Daily News'' reported in an article entitled ''White Europeans: An endangered species?'' that "Without a major shift in the current fertility trends, industrialized Europe will see its native population decline by about three-fourths over the 21st century."<ref>[http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2008/02/27/white-europeans-an-endangered-species/ ''White Europeans: An endangered species?''] By Trevor Wagener, ''Yale Daily News'', February 27, 2008</ref>

== Atheism and diversity ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and diversity]]

As far as the issue of [[diversity]] within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]], compared to [[Christianity]], atheism has a significantly less degree of cultural/geographic, racial, gender and personal wealth diversity (see: [[Atheism and diversity]]).

== Studies related to atheism and immorality ==
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|201px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: [[Atheism and morality]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and morality]]

=== Atheism and morality studies ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and morality studies]]

==== Barna Group study on behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians ====

Richard Deem wrote:
{{Cquote|A random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The [[Barna Group]] for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]] - an average of nearly five times the frequency!<ref>[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/atheists_more_immoral.html Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?] by Richard Deem</ref>}}

==== Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors ====

The Barna Group found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: [[Atheism and drug addiction|illegal drug use]]; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/bisexuality.<ref name="barna.org"/> Given the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases associated]] with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many examples where [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time].

==== University study: Public perception of atheist morality ====

In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled ''Everything Is Permitted? People Intuitively Judge Immorality as Representative of Atheists'', and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."<ref>[''Everything Is Permitted? People Intuitively Judge Immorality as Representative of Atheists''], Will M. Gervais, Journal: PlOS ONE, Published: April 09, 2014, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.009230</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]

*[[Abortion and atheism]]

*[[Atheism and deception]]

== Atheism and child pornography/prostitution statistics ==

See: [[Atheism and child pornography]] and [[Atheistic Thailand and child prostitution]] and [[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]]

=== Atheistic Denmark and child pornography ===

''See also:'' [[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]]
[[File:Flag of Denmark.png|left|200px|thumbnail|[[Denmark]] is the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name="adherents.com"/>

In 2009, Suzanne Ost reported in her book published by Cambridge University Press, that the [[Atheism and child pornography|child pornography]] material produced in [[Denmark]] (and Holland) still constituted the largest part of child pornography that was currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.<ref name="Sexual Grooming page 29">''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009</ref>]]
In 2005 [[Denmark]] was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name="adherents.com"/> Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the [[Western World]].<ref name="news.nationalgeographic.com">[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds]</ref>

The 2003 book entitled ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem '' written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, declared:
{{cquote|The largest source of commercial child pornography is Denmark. Denmark became the world's leading producer of child pornography when, in 1969, it removed all restrictions on the production and sale of any type of pornographic material. "The result," notes Tim Tate, "was a short-lived explosion in adult pornography, and the birth of commercial child pornography. In his work, Tate links the global spread of child pornography to two men: Willy Strauss, founder of Bambina Sex, the world's first child-pornography magazine, founded in 1971; and Peter Theander, founder of Colour Climax Corporation and the producer of a short, professionally made pornographic film series entitled Lolita. Lolita depicts the sexual abuse of prepubescent boys and girls. Although Danish law at the time rendered the work of Strauss and Theander legal, by 1979 when Denmark finally banned the production and sale of child pornography it had already become such a financial success on the international market that it has proven to be nearly impossible to bring its spread under control.<ref>''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem '' written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, page 59, 2003</ref>}}

Suzanne Ost, in her 2009 book ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about the child pornography created by Denmark/Holland during this period:
{{cquote|Taylor and Quayle note that the material produced during this period still constitutes the largest part of child pornography that is currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.<ref name="Sexual Grooming page 29">''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009</ref>}}

[[File:Thailand child exploitation.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Poster against child prostitution in [[Thailand]].

In [[Thailand]], the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]], called the Theravada school of Buddhism, is prevalent.

CNN reported "Col. Apichart says online forums are abuzz with talk about Thailand being a child molesters' paradise."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/thailand.pedophiles/ Thailand fights to stem tide of child sex tourists] By Dan Rivers</ref>

(photo from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnormanicjs/5890637546 Flickr], see: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ license agreement])]]

=== Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution ===

''See also:'' [[Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]

In [[Thailand]], the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent.

According to a report compiled by Police Colonel Naras Savestanan, Ph.D., Deputy Director-General, Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice, Thailand:
{{cquote|Thailand has been identified as one of the most popular destinations for child sex abusers since 1980s...

In 2007, there were 500,000 sexually alluring web pages and 250 websites showing nude video clips
of teenagers in Thailand.<ref>[http://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_20/Thematic_Discussions/Asian-Group_Thailands-response_Savestanan.pdf Thailand’s Response to Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Its Progress and Challenges, Pol.Col.Naras Savestanan, Ph.D. Deputy Director-General, Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice, Thailand, The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: 20th CCPCJ, April 12, 2011, Vienna, Austria]</ref>}}

Thailand is often called "a child molesters' paradise".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/thailand.pedophiles/ Thailand fights to stem tide of child sex tourists] By Dan Rivers, CNN</ref>

Thailand’s Health System Research Institute declared that child prostitutes make up 40% of all prostitutes in Thailand.<ref>''Kathoey Ladyboy: Thailand's Got Talent'' By Heinz Duthel, page 192</ref>

=== Netherlands and child pornography ===

''See also:'' [[Netherlands and child pornography]]

In 2005, the [[Netherlands]] was ranked the 13th most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that in 2005 39 - 44%% of the Dutch were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name="adherents.com"/> The Netherlands also has the 11th highest rate of belief in [[evolution]] as far as [[Western World]] nations.<ref name="news.nationalgeographic.com"/>
[[File:Netherlands location.PNG|thumbnail|200px|left|In 2011, Almost 200 suspects have already been arrested in a large-scale international child pornography ring centred in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name="rnw.org">[http://www.rnw.org/archive/massive-dutch-run-child-pornography-ring-revealed Massive Dutch-run child pornography ring revealed, Published on: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - 17:39]</ref> ]]
In 2011, RNW archive (RNW is the former Radio Netherlands Worldwide or Wereldomroep) reported in an article entitled ''Massive Dutch-run child pornography ring revealed'':
{{cquote|Almost 200 suspects have already been arrested in a large-scale international child [[pornography]] ring centred in the [[Netherlands]].

Speaking from the Hague, Europol Director Rob Wainwright, together with law enforcement representatives from five countries, announced the round-up of the internet ring on Wednesday.

In the largest ever operation of its kind, police in 30 countries have arrested 184 suspects and identified 486 others. Mr Wainwright says more will follow in short order.

Peter Davies, Director of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, says arrests were being made yesterday and today in the UK and more are planned for tomorrow. Meanwhile, five arrests have been made in the United States and 17 in Spain. The investigation, called Operation Rescue, started three years ago.<ref name="rnw.org">[http://www.rnw.org/archive/massive-dutch-run-child-pornography-ring-revealed Massive Dutch-run child pornography ring revealed, Published on: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - 17:39]</ref>}}

=== Godless Britain and child pornography ===

''See also:'' [[Godless Britain and child pornography]]

[[File:Union jack.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|A spokesman for Britain's National Crime Agency declared: “We cannot confirm any specific numbers. But we have previously said that we believe there are between 50,000 and 60,000 people in Britain who are accessing child abuse images.”<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11114937/More-than-25000-people-caught-viewing-child-porn-online.html More than 25,000 people caught viewing child porn online]</ref>]]
On September 23, 2014,'' The Telegraph'' reported:
{{cquote|A nationwide investigation into internet paedophiles has caught more than 25,000 people suspected of viewing images of child abuse in this country.

Operation Notarise, which started this year, has led to 660 arrests. However, the National Crime Agency says that it will never be able to pursue all of those caught up in the inquiry, according to the Times.

The agency said that it was also looking at new techniques, including strategies borrowed from counter- terrorism policing, to identify and curb the activities of online offenders.

A spokesman said: “We cannot confirm any specific numbers. But we have previously said that we believe there are between 50,000 and 60,000 people in Britain who are accessing child abuse images.”<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11114937/More-than-25000-people-caught-viewing-child-porn-online.html More than 25,000 people caught viewing child porn online]</ref>}}

=== Atheistic Czech Republic and child pornography/molestation ===

''See also:'' [[Atheistic Czech Republic and child pornography]]
[[File:Czech location.png|thumbnail|left|206px|thumbnail|Věra Říhová in her article entitled ''The [[Czech Republic]] as a Paedophile Paradise'' wrote: "7% of women and 3% of men were sexually abused as children. That's 528,820 Czech citizens.."<ref name="blisty.cz">[http://blisty.cz/art/48728.html ''The [[Czech Republic]] as a Paedophile Paradise'']</ref>]]
From a historical perspective, the [[Czech Republic|Czechs]] have been characterised as "tolerant and even indifferent towards religion".<ref>Richard Felix Staar, ''Communist regimes in Eastern Europe'', Issue 269, p. 90</ref> According to the 2011 census, 34.2% of the Czech population declared they had no religion, 10.3% was [[Roman Catholic]] and 10.2% followed other forms of religion both denominational and nondenominational. Furthermore, 45.2% of the population did not answer the question about religion.<ref>Richard Felix Staar, Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, Issue 269, p. 90</ref> From 1991 to 2001 and further to 2011 the adherence to Roman Catholicism decreased from 39.0% to 26.8% and then subsequently to 10.3%.<ref name="1921-2001censuses">{{cite web|url=http://www.czso.cz/csu/2008edicniplan.nsf/engt/24003E05ED/$File/4032080119.pdf|title=Population by denomination and sex: as measured by 1921, 1930, 1950, 1991 and 2001 censuses|language=Czech and English|accessdate=2010-03-09|publisher=Czech Statistical Office}}</ref>

Věra Říhová in her article entitled ''The [[Czech Republic]] as a Paedophile Paradise'' wrote:
{{cquote|I would like to dwell on the statistics on rape and sexual abuse of children. The study shows that 6% of women have been raped once, and 5% more than once - most often by their own husband or partner. 7% of women and 3% of men were sexually abused as children. That's 528,820 Czech citizens (I have calculated this using the population statistics). Approximately one in twenty people were sexually abused as children, which is a very high number.

Why is the Czech Republic labelled a "Paedophile's Paradise"? That definitely doesn't mean that all Czechs are paedophiles. I think that the reasons behind it are the poor criminal investigation methods and the very low punishments, or more often offenders going unpunished. In the Czech Republic it is still believed that women are here to serve men, especially the older generation still accept the ownership of women as property. The rights of young children are totally neglected or even disregarded. Children are their parents` property and their rights stay silently on paper. Home Secretary Ivan Langer resolutely denied there are problems with child abuse in the Czech Republic and, with a few exceptions, no one is interested in child cruelty or abuse.<ref name="blisty.cz">[http://blisty.cz/art/48728.html ''The [[Czech Republic]] as a Paedophile Paradise'']</ref>}}

In 2007, the ''Washington Post'' published the article ''Czech Bill On Child Porn Faces Resistance''
{{cquote|When Austrian authorities announced in February that they had uncovered an online child pornography ring, pedophiles around the world suddenly became potential targets of criminal investigations -- but not the ring's 63 customers in the Czech Republic, where downloading and possessing such images is not a crime.

The videos, which show at least one girl who appears to be 5 years old and include on-camera scenes of girls being raped, are characterized by Austrian police as "the most brutal form of sexual abuse."

In all, Austrian police seized 1,132 DVDs, 1,428 computer disks, 213 videocassettes, 31 computers, seven laptops and 23 external hard drives. They passed along the computer details of more than 2,300 suspected clients of the site to law enforcement officials in nearly 80 countries.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/02/AR2007090201155.html Czech Bill On Child Porn Faces Resistance], By Bruce I. Konviser, Special to The Washington Post, Monday, September 3, 2007</ref>}}

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and child pornography]]

*[[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]]

*[[Atheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]

*[[Netherlands and child pornography]]

*[[Godless Britain and child pornography]]

*[[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]]

*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and child pornography]]

*[[Atheistic Sweden and child pornography]]

== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] and [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]] and [[Atheism and immaturity]]

In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="christianpost.com"/> See also: [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] and [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]

A 2012 study by the [[General Social Survey]] of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.<ref>[http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]]

== Atheism and evangelism statistic ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Atheism and inspiration]] and [[Atheism and sloth]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]

According Pew Research:
{{cquote|In the 2014 Religious Landscape Study, self-identified atheists were asked [http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/chapter-2-religious-practices-and-experiences/ how often they share their views on God and religion] with religious people. Only about one-in-ten atheists (9%) say they do at least weekly, while roughly two-thirds (65%) say they seldom or never discuss their views on religion with religious people. By comparison, 26% of those who have a religious affiliation share their views at least once a week with those who have other beliefs; 43% say they seldom or never do.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/ 7 facts about atheists], Pew Forum</ref>}}

{{See also|Atheism vs. Christian revival and Christian apologetics|l1=Atheism vs. Christian revivals}}

== Atheism and alcoholism ==
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name="euro.who.int">[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe - Alcohol usage of Europe]</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]

Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).

=== Secular countries/regions and alcoholism ===

'''Secular Europe:'''

According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name="euro.who.int"/>

*[[Secular Europe and alcoholism]]

*[[Britain and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic France and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Germany and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Estonia and alcoholism]]

*[[Godless Finland and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Denmark and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Netherlands and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Sweden and alcoholism]]

'''Australia:'''

An Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) report indicated that 20% of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/alcohol-to-blame-for-one-in-eight-deaths---report/5102594 One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report] By Jane Mower, Updated 19 Nov 2013, 7:28pm</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Godless Australia and alcoholism]]

[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Alcoholism in the Soviet Union">[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>]]
'''Asian countries:'''

*[[Atheistic China and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Japan and alcoholism]]

*[[Atheistic Thailand and alcoholism]]

*[[North Korea and alcoholism]]

'''History of communism:'''

Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Alcoholism in the Soviet Union"/>

*[[Soviet Union and alcoholism]]

*[[Communist East Germany and alcoholism]]

=== Atheism, alcoholism and anger ===

[[Atheism, alcoholism and anger]]

=== Irreligion, alcoholism and various generations in the United States ===

*[[Irreligion, generations in the United States and alcoholism]]
 
Recent generations in the United States:

*[[Irreligion, baby boom generation and alcoholism]]
*[[Irreligion, Generation X and alcoholism]]
*[[Irreligion, millenials and alcoholism]]

== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addiction ==
[[File:Powder meth foil small.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref>
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am
*[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref><ref name="psy.miami.edu">Multiple references:
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93. Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref> ]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref name="psy.miami.edu"/><ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref><ref name="sciencedaily.com">[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref>

According to ''Science Daily'':
{{cquote|Young [[Switzerland|Swiss]] men who say that they believe in [[God]] are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.<ref name="sciencedaily.com">[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref>}}

=== Additional statistics on religion/irreligion and drug use ===
[[File:Drugs.jpg|thumbnail|170px|left|Religion has "enormous potential for lowering the risk of substance abuse among teens and adults," according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref>]]

The ''Christian Post'' reported:
{{cquote|Religion has "enormous potential for lowering the risk of substance abuse among teens and adults," according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. They report that adults and teens who consider religion to be very important and who attend religious services weekly or more often are "far less likely to smoke, drink or use illicit drugs." In addition, those battling addiction who attend spiritually-based support programs as part of their treatment "are more likely to maintain sobriety."

By contrast, adults who never attend religious services are "almost seven times likelier to drink, three times likelier to smoke, more than five times likelier to have used an illicit drug other than marijuana, almost seven times likelier to binge drink and almost eight times likelier to use marijuana" than adults who attend religious services at least once a week.

Research also indicates that teenagers who are involved in religious activities are half as likely to have substance abuse problems as those who are not. In addition, spirituality has been found to help teens overcome genetic tendencies for alcoholism, social pressure, and a family history of abuse.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref>}}

== Atheism and loss of economic productivity statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and lost economic productivity]] and [[Atheism and economics]]

=== Sloth in atheistic communist countries vs. Protestant work ethic ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and sloth]] [[Christianity statistics#Protestant work ethic statistics|Protestant work ethic statistics]] and [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]]
[[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|right|200px|In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref name="blog.tifwe.org">[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>]]
Atheism is a part of Marxist-Leninist and [[Mao Zedong|Maoist]]/Chinese communist ideology (See: [[Atheism and communism]]).

Widespread sloth in the former [[Soviet Union]] helped cause much poverty.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255693/Last-pictures-life-iron-curtain-collapse-USSR.html Poverty, prostitutes and the long, slow death of the Soviet Union: Haunting pictures show desperate struggle to survive in last days of USSR, ''The Daily Mail''
*[http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/29/world/soviet-openness-brings-poverty-out-of-the-shadows.html?_r=0 Soviet Openness Brings Poverty Out of the Shadows], ''New York Times''</ref> A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref> In the former [[Soviet Union]], a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.<ref>[http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2015/08/you-pretend-to-work-putin-pretends-to.html You Pretend to work and Putin pretends to pay you]</ref>

On the other hand, [[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref name="blog.tifwe.org"/>

In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref name="blog.tifwe.org"/> Christianity is seeing rapid growth in China and the historian Niall Ferguson attributes this recent economic growth to the Protestant work ethic being more incorporated into Chinese society.<ref name="blog.tifwe.org"/> See also: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]]

=== Secular Europe's economic crisis ===
[[Image:Euro banknotes.png|left|thumb|[[Euro]] banknotes|200px]]

The [[Eurozone Crisis|Eurozone crisis]] is an ongoing [[economics|economic]] crisis which has been negatively affecting [[Eurozone]] countries since late 2009. It consists of a sovereign debt crisis, a banking crisis and an economic growth and competitiveness crisis.

Western Europeans work less hours than Americans and workers in many other countries.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/20/steven-landsburg-labor_cx_sl_06work_0523landsburg.html Why Europeans work less hours than Americans], ''Forbes''</ref><ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/average-annual-hours-worked-for-americans-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-2013-8 Check Out How Much The Average American Works Each Year Compared To The French, The Germans, And The Koreans], Business Insider</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18144319 Who works the longest hours?], BBC, 2012</ref> Commenting on this matter, Niall Ferguson wrote a 2004 article published in ''The Telegraph'' entitled, "''The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work''".<ref name="ReferenceC">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref>

Niall Ferguson also noted in his article:
{{cquote|There are, for example, many more Europeans out of work than Americans; over the past decade, US unemployment has averaged 4.6 per cent, compared with 9.2 per cent for the EU. Another difference is in labour participation. Between 1973 and 1998, the percentage of the American population in employment rose from 41 to 49 per cent. But in Germany and France, the equivalent percentage fell to, respectively, 44 and 39 per cent.<ref name="ReferenceC">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref>}}
[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>]]
In addition, one the significant causes of Europe's economic stagnation is an aging population and the low fertility rates in many European countries.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/30/whats-really-behind-europes-decline-its-the-birth-rates-stupid/ What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid], ''Forbes'' magazine, 5/30/2012</ref>

The regions of [[secular Europe]] which are performing better than the rest of Europe often have a cultural legacy of the Protestant work ethic. For example, a 2011 ''Telegraph'' article noted: "Either way, not a single Protestant or Germanic EU country has so far needed a bailout."<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100116846/yet-another-catholic-country-needs-a-bailout-from-the-protestant-north/ Another Catholic country needs a bailout]</ref> The Protestant [[Reformation]] started in Germany and Germany has one of the strongest economies of Europe.

See also:

*[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/1202/The-eurozone-crisis-explained-in-5-simple-graphs/Debt-as-a-percentage-of-GDP The Eurozone Crisis explained in 5 simple graphs]
*[http://mises.org/daily/5800/Why-Is-There-a-Euro-Crisis Why is there a Euro Crisis?]
*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelliekarabell/2014/09/16/is-europe-in-decline-one-professor-thinks-so/ Is Europe In Decline? One Professor Thinks So] - ''Forbes'' magazine, 9/16/2014

In addition, many irreligious states (includes various countries in [[secular Europe]]) engage in an economic policy of tax, spend and [[sovereign debt]] accumulation (see also: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]]).<ref>[http://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.26.3.49 European Sovereign debt crisis] by Philip Lane</ref>

=== Economic and societal deterioration in secular Sweden ===

See: [[Secular Europe#Economic and societal deterioration in secular Europe|Economic and societal deterioration in secular Sweden]]

== An examination of atheism and anger/arrogance ==
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.

The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippage such as resentment or unforgiveness.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref> See: [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]] ]]
=== Atheism and anger ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]

On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
{{cquote|People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.

In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.<ref>[http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ Anger at God common, even among atheists]</ref>}}

Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>[http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god When atheists are angry at God] by Joe Carter at FirstThings.com website</ref>

Although anti-theists, militant atheists and [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] give the general public the perception that atheists are exceedingly angry individuals, research indicates that the atheist population as a whole is not angrier than the general population (see: [[Various types of atheists/non-believers and anger]]).

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and anger]]

=== Atheism and arrogance ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]]

Using special text analysis software, the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt found that [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] very often wrote in dogmatic terms in their major works using words such as “always,” “never,” “certainly,” “every,” and “undeniable.”<ref name="thisviewoflife.com">[http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 Why Sam Harris is Unlikely to Change his Mind] by JONATHAN HAIDT, February 3, 2014 8:36 pm</ref> Of the 75,000 words in [[Sam Harris]]'s ''The End of Faith'', 2.24% of them connote or are associated with certainty.<ref name="thisviewoflife.com"/> See: [[Atheism and arrogance]]

The works of New Atheists often betray an amateurish knowledge of philosophy/religion. For example, atheist philosopher Dr. [[Michael Ruse]] declared concerning [[Richard Dawkins]]' book ''The God Delusion'': "''The God Delusion'' makes me embarrassed to be an atheist."<ref>http://www.alternet.org/media/47052?page=entire</ref> [[Vox Day]]'s book ''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]'' found multiple errors in reasoning and factual errors when it came to the works of New Atheist authors.<ref>[http://creation.com/review-irrational-atheist-by-vox-day Excellent refutation of ‘new atheists’ flawed by heterodox open theism], A review of The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens by Vox Day, Benbella Books, Dallas, TX, 2008, reviewed by Lita Cosner</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]]

== Atheism and mental health statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and self-esteem]]

In 1894, the ''[[NY Times]]'' declared regarding [[atheism and suicide]]:
{{cquote|Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In [[Paris]], a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF NY Times, September 17, 1894, Atheism a Cause of Suicide.; Dr. MacArthur Preaches on the Sin and Cowardice of Self-Destruction]</ref>}}

[[File:Rev. Dr. Robert Stuart MacArthur.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Rev. Dr. [[Robert Stuart MacArthur]] was an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for suicide.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref><ref>http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/12/2303</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF NY Times, September 17, 1894, ATHEISM A CAUSE OF SUICIDE.; Dr. MacArthur Preaches on the Sin and Cowardice of Self-Destruction]</ref> See: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]
The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference. These data were published in the chapter titled "Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns" in The Cambridge Companion to Atheism, ed. by Michael Martin, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK (2005). In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:

"Concerning suicide rates, this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations. According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism. It is interesting to note, however, that of the top remaining nine nations leading the world in male suicide rates, all are former Soviet/Communist nations, such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Latvia. Of the bottom ten nations with the lowest male suicide rates, all are highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism."<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref>}}

=== Atheism and loneliness ===
[[File:Loc of Denmark.jpg|right|200px|thumbnail|[[Denmark]] has the highest proportion of single-dwellers, at 24%.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22012957 ''Is Modern life making us more lonely''], BBC, 8 April 2013</ref>]]
Loneliness has been linked to numerous physical and mental health problems.<ref>[http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html Why Loneliness Can Be Deadly] by Katherine Harmon, Live Science Contributor, March 02, 2012 02:24pm ET</ref><ref>[Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years], The Guardian, Robert Booth,Sunday 12 October 2014 19.01 EDT</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]]

Compared to religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community prevails, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|are often lonelier societies]]. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists have lower [[emotional intelligence]] (see: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheiam and emotional intelligence]]).

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and loneliness]]

*[[Secular Europe and loneliness]]

*[[Atheistic Japan and loneliness]]

*[[England and loneliness]]

*[[Atheistic France and loneliness]]

*[[Atheistic Germany and loneliness]]

*[[Godless Australia and loneliness]]

*[[Atheistic Sweden and loneliness]]

*[[Godless Finland and loneliness]]

*[[Atheistic China and loneliness]]

=== Indian anthropologist's commentary on lonelineness in atheistic Denmark ===
[[File:India location.png|thumbnail|left|200px|The [[India]]n anthropologist Prakash Reddy found Denmark to be a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but lonely people, isolated from each other and lacking much sense of religion.

Compared to the teeming villages of India, a Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-20/news/mn-5117_1_human-values India Anthropologist Finds Denmark Wanting : Research: He laments the loneliness and lack of human values in remote village and asks if prosperity can be achieved without such sacrifices], ''LA Times'' archives, June 20, 1993, CHRISTOPHER FOLLETT, REUTERS</ref>]]
In 1993, ''Reuters'' reported:
{{cquote|[[India]]n anthropologist Prakash Reddy has turned the tables on Western colleagues who put Third World cultures under the microscope.

Reddy, of Sri Venkateswara University at Tirupati in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, spent four months in the village of Hvilsager--population 104--on Denmark's Jutland peninsula.

His study, published in book form in English under the title "Danes are like that!" expresses dismay at the loneliness he found and the hope that India would not have to pay the same price for prosperity.

"The most fundamental question that should bother every social scientist in the East is: Is there no way of achieving development without sacrificing the human values and the way of life cherished by homo sapiens?" he asked....

Reddy said he found a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but lonely people, isolated from each other and lacking much sense of religion.

Compared to the teeming villages of India, the Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent, Reddy said.

"Coming from an Indian village, I was used to seeing people in the streets . . . but here in Denmark not a single soul was sighted and, except for the sound of a passing automobile, absolute silence prevailed," Reddy wrote.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-20/news/mn-5117_1_human-values India Anthropologist Finds Denmark Wanting : Research: He laments the loneliness and lack of human values in remote village and asks if prosperity can be achieved without such sacrifices], LA Times archives, June 20, 1993|CHRISTOPHER FOLLETT | REUTERS</ref>}}

== Secular/religious countries and statistical trends related to intelligence ==
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|In godless [[Great Britain|Britain]], phenotypic intelligence is now declining.<ref>[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta]], May 14, 2012</ref> See: [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries|Intelligence trends in secular countries]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]]

The Flynn effect is the significant and long-sustained increase intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world from roughly 1930 to the present.<ref name=R2000>Raven, John (2000). [http://eyeonsociety.co.uk/resources/RPMChangeAndStability.pdf "The Raven's Progressive Matrices: Change and stability over culture and time"]. ''Cognitive Psychology'', vol. 41, pp. 1-48. {{doi|10.1006/cogp.1999.0735}}. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> In some secular, economically developed countries, the Flynn effect has ceased and their scores on standardized intelligence tests are falling.<ref>Multiple references:
*Singh, Gunjan (July 31, 2010). [http://www.examiner.com/article/how-the-world-s-iq-is-decline "How the world's IQ is in decline"]. Examiner.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2014.
*Lynn, Richard and Vanhanen, Tatu (2006). ''IQ and Global Inequality'' (Augusta, GA: Washington Summit Publishers). ISBN 1-59368-025-2
*Hally, Thomas (aft. 2010). [http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ "The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ"]. Academia.edu. Retrieved on October 26, 2014.
*Hunter, Philip (March 21, 2012). [http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn "Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter"]. ''Prospect'', April 2012. Retrieved from Prospect Magazine website on October 26, 2014.</ref> However, the Flynn effect is continuing in developing countries which tend to be more religious (see: [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]]).

== Atheism/theism and educational statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and education]] and [[Atheism and academia]]

In 2001, the atheist and [[Philosophy|philosopher]] Quentin Smith declared:
{{cquote|[[Naturalism|Naturalists]] [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of [[theism]] … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."<ref>Craig, William Lane (2012).[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/theistic-critiques-of-atheism "Theistic critiques of atheism"]. Reasonable Faith. Retrieved on July 26, 2014. Unabridged version of article published 2007. See [[William Lane Craig]].</ref>}}

Although atheistic indoctrination in school systems can have an effect on individuals (See: [[Atheist indoctrination]]), research indicates that social/economic insecurity often has a more significant impact.<ref>Ruiter, Stijn and van Tubergen, Frank (November 2009). "Religious attendance in cross-national perspective: a multilevel analysis of 60 countries". ''American Journal of Sociology'', vol. 115, no. 3, pp. 863-95.</ref> See: [[Religion and education|Atheism and education]] and [[Atheism and academia]]

In the [[United States]], religion is positively correlated to education; a scholarly study published in an academic journal titled the ''Review of Religious Research'' demonstrated that increased education is correlated with belief in God and that "education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life."<ref>{{cite book|url=http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13644-011-0007-4|quote=education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life; (3) education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation; (4) education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society but not with support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders; and (5) the effects of education on religious beliefs and participation vary across religious traditions. Education does influence Americans’ religious beliefs and activities, but the effects of education on religion are complex.|title=The Effects of Education on Americans’ Religious Practices, Beliefs, and Affiliations|last=Schwadel|first=Philip|year=2011|journal=Review of Religious Research|volume=53|issue=2|doi=10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Study: More educated tend to be more religious, by some measures|author=Jim Kavanagh|date=11 August 2011|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/study-more-educated-tend-to-be-more-religious-by-some-measures/|quote=“With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, ‘I don’t believe in God,’” he said. “But you are relatively more likely to say, ‘I believe in a higher power.’”}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The more education people receive, the more religious they become?|date=12 August 2011|publisher=[[Daily Mail]]|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025166/The-education-people-receive-religious-become.html|quote=By analyzing data from a large national survey, sociologist Philip Schwadel of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that people tend to become more religious - by certain definitions - as they further their education. The survey also qualified what concept of God or a 'higher power' individuals held, as well as whether they had any doubts. Mr Schwadel said that: 'With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, "I don’t believe in God," but you are relatively more likely to say, "I believe in a higher power."'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=More is More When it Comes to Education and Religion, Study Says|date=13 August 2011|publisher=Christian Post|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/who-is-more-religious-53865/|quote=Sociologist Philip Schwadel from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) studied this phenomenon. He discovered that people today tend to become more religious as they further their education.}}</ref>

One of the reasons education is positively correlated with belief in God in the United States is that the [[demography|demographics]] of people attending higher education has shifted due to more women and southerners attending higher education (these two groups are more likely to be [[theism|theists]]. See: [[Atheism and women]]).<ref>[http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2011/02/17/why-do-we-believe-that-higher-education-leads-to-atheism-if-it-doesnt/ Why Do We Believe That Higher Education Leads to Atheism If It Doesn’t?] by Barry Bosmin</ref>
[[File:Penn Jillette.jpg|thumbnail|175px|right|A [[National Public Radio]] reviewer of one of atheist [[Penn Jillette]]'s books found the book "showy and assaultive" in terms of its use of [[profanity]].<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/16/139669958/penn-jillettes-god-no-an-atheist-libertarian-on-tricks-bacon-and-the-tsa National Public Radio [NPR) review of the book ''God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'' by Penn Jillette]</ref> See: [[Atheism and profanity]] ]

== Atheism and profanity ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]

Studies indicate that atheists engage in more [[profanity]] than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.
*Ritter, Ryan S., Preston, J. L. et al. (June 18, 2013). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract]]. ''Social Psychological and Personality Science'', 1948550613492345. Abstract retrieved from Sage Journals on October 25, 2014. Subscription required for full article.</ref> Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.</ref> For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]

== Atheism and the media ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]]

The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name="youtube.com"/>

== Views on atheists statistics ==

Concerning various [[views on atheists]], research in the American Sociological Review finds that among several groups listed, atheists are the group that Americans relate least to in terms of their vision of American society and are the group most likely to be mentioned as one that Americans would not want to have marry into their family.<ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref>

On December 10, 2011, USA Today reported in a story entitled ''Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists'':
{{cquote|The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?

The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.

The study is part of an attempt to understand what needs religion fulfills in people. Among the conclusions is a sense of trust in others.

People find atheists very suspect," Shariff said. "They don't fear God so we should distrust them; they do not have the same moral obligations of others. This is a common refrain against atheists. People fear them as a group."<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists]</ref>}}
=== Hate crimes in the United States against atheists/agnostics are very low in number ===

''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]]

According to a 2007 Pew Forum survey, about 4% of Americans are atheists/agnostics.<ref>[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum Religious Landscape Survey - Key findings]</ref> A 2008 [[Gallup poll]] showed that 6% of the U.S. population believed that no god or universal spirit exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/109108/belief-god-far-lower-western-us.aspx |title=Belief in God Far Lower in Western U.S |publisher=Gallup.com |accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref>

According to 2013 [[FBI]] statistics, 6/10 of a percent of [[hate crime]]s were against atheists/agnostics.<ref>[http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2013/topic-pages/victims/victims_final 2013 FBI hate crime statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/atheism-the-next-civil-rights-movement.html Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement], Vlad Chituc, ''The Daily Beast'', 4-6-2015</ref>

=== Atheism vs. Islam and atheist persecution ===

''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]]

As [[atheism vs. Islam]] conflict has increased in the world, there are growing reports of [[Islam]]ic governments imprisoning/executing atheists and radical Islamacists killing atheists, but they are still relatively few in number.<ref>
*[http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/17/atheists-new-persecuted-minority-international-report-concludes-commentary/ Atheists: the new persecuted minority, international report concludes (COMMENTARY)] by Bob Churchill | Religion News|December 17, 2014
*[http://observers.france24.com/content/20150401-bangladesh-atheist-blogger-murders-rahman Bangladesh struck by wave of atheist blogger murders], France 24 News, 1/04/2015 / BANGLADESH
*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/10/us-religion-atheists-idUSBRE8B900520121210 Atheists around world suffer persecution, discrimination: report] By Robert Evans, Reuters, Sun Dec 9, 2012 9:20pm EST</ref>
==== Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but Muslim tolerance is still rare ====
[[File:Flag of Turkey.png|thumbnail|left|200px|According to ''The Economist'', in a handful of majority-Muslim countries atheists can live safely, if quietly. [[Turkey]] is one example.<ref name="economist.com">[http://www.economist.com/news/international/21567059-ex-muslim-atheists-are-becoming-more-outspoken-tolerance-still-rare-no-god-not Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but tolerance is still rare],'' The Economist'', 2012</ref>]]
In 2012, ''The Economist'' indicated in an article entitled ''Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but Muslim tolerance is still rare'':
{{cquote|In a handful of majority-Muslim countries atheists can live safely, if quietly; [[Turkey]] is one example, [[Lebanon]] another. None makes atheism a specific crime. But none gives atheists legal protection or recognition. [[Indonesia]], for example, demands that people declare themselves as one of six religions; atheism and agnosticism do not count. Egypt’s draft constitution makes room for only three faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.<ref name="economist.com">[http://www.economist.com/news/international/21567059-ex-muslim-atheists-are-becoming-more-outspoken-tolerance-still-rare-no-god-not Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but tolerance is still rare],'' The Economist'', 2012</ref>}}

Turkey and Lebanon have had significant Christian influence in their cultural past. For example, the churches listed in the [[Book of Revelation]] were located in Turkey and [[Constantinople]] was renamed [[Istanbul]] after the Muslim conquest of the city.<ref>[http://www.spiritualtravels.info/articles-2/asia/turkey/seven-churches-of-revelation-in-turkey-2/ Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey]</ref>

== Atheism and politics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]

Historically and in recent times the majority of atheist have leaned towards the left/[[liberal]] side of the political spectrum in both their economic and social views (see: [[Secular left]]). For example, a Harris interactive poll found that most [[United States|American]] atheists are liberal.<ref>[http://atheism.about.com/od/Atheist-Agnostic-Belief-Survey/a/Atheists-Agnostics-America-Politically-Liberal.htm Atheists & Agnostics in America Tend to be Politically Liberal]</ref>

== Irreligious prison population ==

[[File:Atheist Prison Population Percentages.jpg|300px|thumb|A [[pie chart]] delineating the percentage of irreligious in [[prison]] (shown in blue) in the [[United Kingdom]]; Click above graphic to enlarge pie chart and text. Data courtesy of The National Archives (UK)]]

''See also:'' [[Irreligious prison population]] and [[Religion and crime reduction]]

The [[irreligious prison population]], according to government [[data]] of many sovereign states, as well as that of independent [[Opinion poll|survey]]s, makes up a large percentage of the overall [[prison]]er demographic. In the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], according to the 2011 Census, the [[irreligion|irreligious]] make up only "around a quarter of the population."<ref name="Census">{{cite web|url = http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rpt-religion.html|title =Religion in England and Wales 2011: Part of 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales Release|publisher = Office for National Statistics (UK)|quote=Meanwhile the proportion of the population who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.|date=December 11, 2012|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> However, they are over-represented in the [[prison]] population, forming over 34% of all [[criminal]]s.<ref name="Arcives">{{cite web|url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110220105210/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb1501.pdf|title =Religion in Prisons 1999 and 2000|publisher = The National Archives (UK)|page=8|quote=Prisoners with No religion formed 34% of all untried prisoners and 31% of all convicted prisoners in September 2000.|authors=Farid Guessous, Nick Hooper and Uma Moorthy|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Commons">{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn04334.pdf‎|title =Prison Population Statistics|page=10|quote=30% were recorded as having no religion.|publisher=House of Commons Library (UK)|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> These statistics confirm recent scientific research, which has concluded that "the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior."<ref name="Templeton">{{cite web|last=Dreher|first=Rod|url = http://www.templeton.org/templeton_report/20110629/index.html|title =Is God an Effective Crime Fighter?|publisher = Templeton Report|quote=Research indicates that the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior.|date=June 29, 2011|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref>

In addition, multiple studies and historical data demonstrate that religion has a positive effect in terms of crime reduction (see: [[Religion and crime reduction]]).

=== Atheist prison statistics ===

*[[Atheists in U.S. prisons argument and atheist morality]]

*[[Atheist prison statistics]]

*[http://skepchick.org/2014/06/atheists-prison/ Fellow Atheists: Quit Bragging About Our Prison Underrepresentation] (Related to [[United States]] statistics)

== Atheism and repressive prisons statistics ==

*[[Atheism and repressive prisons]]

== Atheism vs. Christianity statistics ==

*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]

*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]

*[[Christianity statistics]]

== Internet atheism statistics ==
[[File:Losing.jpeg|thumbnail|251px|right|The article ''[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]'' points out that internet atheism has been in a significant slump since 2008. ]]

''See also'': [[Internet atheism]]

During the period of 2008 to 2012, the [[Atheist Population|atheist community]] made a concerted effort to spread atheism through means of the internet. However, leading atheist websites saw plunges in web traffic during this same period and during the first half of 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]</ref>

=== Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms ===

''See also:'' [[Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms]]

According to Google trends data, online interest in [[Jesus Christ]] is growing, while online interest in atheism, agnosticism and evolutionism topical areas is declining or is stagnating.<ref>
*[http://conservativetriumphs.blogspot.com/2015/03/attention-atheists-google-trends.html Attention atheists, Google trends indicates: You are in a slump!]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers.html Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus wins!]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers_28.html Round 2: Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus triumphs again! Onward Christian soldiers!]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/2012-is-shaping-up-to-be-bad-year-for.html 2012 is shaping up to be a BAD year for atheism and evolutionism! Great new charts and developments!]
</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms]]

=== Richard Dawkins' website statistics ===

''See also:'' [[Internet atheism]]

As can be seen by the graph below, by means of embedded code on his website from Quantcast, Quantcast directly measures the web traffic of Richard Dawkins' website. Traffic to Dawkins website is significantly down post-[[Elevatorgate]]. See also: [[Internet atheism]]

Although his following of Dawkian atheist has significantly waned post-Elevatorgate and due to his generally [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|abrasive manner]], he does retain a small cult following (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]] and [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality]] and [[Atheist cults]]).

== Atheist PZ Myers says atheists are largely a population of internet nerds and geeks ==

[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[PZ Myers]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheist nerds]] and [[Internet atheism]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Global atheism|Decline of atheism]]

In 2013, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] declared:
{{cquote|If we're going to expand our base and we're going to draw in more people to recognize the virtues of living in a secular world, we need to appeal to more than just that geek and [[nerd]] subset of the population. We need to have a wider base. ...I seriously believe that we're on the cusp of a crisis. We're not there yet but it's looming in front of us. Will we adapt and thrive and change the world? Or will we remain an avocation for a prosperous and largely irrelevant subset of the population? Will we become something more than a scattered society of [[Atheism and the internet|internet nerds]]? That's what we have to do.<ref name="Seattle">Klinghoffer, David (April 5, 2013). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/04/in_seattle_pz_m070861.html "In Seattle, PZ Myers reflects candidly on his constituency"]. Evolution News and Views. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>}}

In response, David Klinghoffer at ''Evolution News and Views'' wrote:
{{cquote|A crisis looms, in Myers's view, because he looks around himself and sees a not very promising basis for a mass movement. He's right. There is indeed a quality of geeky isolation from reality, common sense, and the fullness of life that I see as a motif in atheist and Darwin activism alike.<ref name="Seattle"/>}}

For more information please see: [[Internet atheism]] and [[Atheist nerds]]

== Irreligion and superstition/pseudoscience ==

''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]]
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg‎‎|thumb|left|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
In September 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
{{cquote|The reality is that the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith -- it's what the empirical data tell us.

"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians....

This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}

A study published in ''Skeptical Inquirer'' concluded that Bible-believers are the ones “who appear most virtuous according to scientific standards when we examine the cults and pseudo-sciences proliferating in our society today.”<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#superstition Atheism - Creation Ministries International]</ref>

== Atheism and science statistics ==

=== Atheism and the Scientific Revolution statistic ===

''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]

[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the [[Scientific Revolution]].
In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex,[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ The biblical origins of science], ''Journal of Creation'' 18(2):49–52, August 2004.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />
Stark believes that the [[Enlightenment]] was a ploy by "militant atheists" to claim credit for the rise of science.<ref>http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3274629/False-conflict-Christianity-is-not.html</ref>

=== Atheism and the scientific community statistics ===

See: [[Atheism and science]]

=== Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences ===

See: [[Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences]]

== Atheism and purpose ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[Denials that atheists exist]]
[[File:ZenchojiGarden.jpg|thumb|180px|Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed]</ref>]]
On October 17, 2014, The ''New York Times'' published an article entitled ''Does everything happen for a reason?'' which declared:
{{cquote|But research from the Yale Mind and Development Lab, where we work, suggests that this can’t be the whole story. In one series of studies, [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027714001358 recently published in the journal Cognition], we asked people to reflect on significant events from their own lives, such as graduations, the births of children, falling in love, the deaths of loved ones and serious illnesses. Unsurprisingly, a majority of religious believers said they thought that these events happened for a reason and that they had been purposefully designed (presumably by God). But many atheists did so as well, and a majority of atheists in a related study also said that they believed in fate — defined as the view that life events happen for a reason and that there is an underlying order to life that determines how events turn out.

These atheists’ responses weren’t just the product of living in America’s highly religious society. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2153599X.2013.782888#.VGptUsn6dl6 Research done at Queen’s University in Belfast] by the psychologists Bethany Heywood and Jesse Bering found that [[British atheism|British atheists]] were just as likely as American atheists to believe that their life events had underlying purposes, even though Britain is far less religious than America.

In other studies, scheduled to be published online next week in the journal Child Development, we found that even young children show a bias to believe that life events happen for a reason — to “send a sign” or “to teach a lesson.” This belief exists regardless of how much exposure the children have had to religion at home, and even if they’ve had none at all.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

=== Children in atheistic Japan see the world as designed ===

In atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the natural world [[Intelligent design|as designed]] and purposeful and believe some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose.<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children as designed].</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and purpose]]

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

*[[Denials that atheists exist]]

== Additional irreligion and health statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and health]]
[[File:African open air Christian meeting.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Africa]]n Christians clapping at an open-air meeting.
 
 
In 2005, there were four times as many non-[[Western World]] Christians as there were Western World Christians.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>
 
 
The traditional [[Africa]]n diet is healthier than many Western World invividuals' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.<ref name="World's fattest countries">[http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat.html World's fattest countries]</ref><ref name="todaysdietitian.com">[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/030612p26.shtml Traditional African diets are healthier than Western diets], Today's Nutrition</ref> In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref name="gratefultothedead.wordpress.com">[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa]</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] ]]

According to the [[Gallup poll|Gallup Inc.]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]]

In the [[United States]], the greater the degree of irreligiosity in a generation, the higher their [[obesity]] rate is. See: [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Generation X, irreligion and obesity]] and [[Millennials, irreligion and obesity]] and [[Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity]]

3 out of 5 of the leaders of the [[New Atheism]] movement have had issues with being overweight as can be seen [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3UXl0oMYPLs/SXgxH_-MgFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EU-wzxEjOmc/s1600-h/atheist-reason.jpg HERE] and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/7230309@N05/3708479160/ HERE] and [http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Quantum-Mechanics-Could-Link-Humans-with-the-Universe-2.jpg/ HERE.] The [[Ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] Richard Dawkins has publicly indicated that he is an agnostic (see: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]). Since Dawkins is an agnostic and not an atheist, this would mean that 3 out of 4 of the atheist founders of the New Atheism movement had excess weight issues. At a 75% of individuals overweight population, this would make the atheist founders of the New Atheist movement one of the most overweight populations in world history in terms of the percentage of people overweight.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/obesity.html Fattest Countries in the World]</ref><ref>[http://histowiki.com/2244/history/obesity-history-timeline/ The History Of Obesity Timeline]</ref> See: [[New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]

The traditional [[Africa]]n diet is healthier than many Western World peoples' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.<ref name="World's fattest countries"/><ref name="todaysdietitian.com"/> In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref name="gratefultothedead.wordpress.com"/> [[Secular Europe]] has a higher obesity rate than Africa (See: [[Secular Europe and obesity]]). In addition, religious Africa has a lower obesity rate than atheistic [[China]] (see: [[China and obesity]]).

The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
{{cquote|A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>[http://www.religiouspractice.ie/Religious_practice-2.pdf The psycho-social benefits of religious practice by Iona Institute]</ref><ref>[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf McCullogh ME, Larson DB, Hoyt WT. et al. (2000). Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. Health Psychology. 19, 3. 211-222]</ref>}}

== Statistics about the collapse of atheism in the area of the former Soviet Union ==

[[File:Bezhnoznik u stanka 15-1929.jpg|thumb|200px|A Soviet propaganda poster disseminated in the ''Bezbozhnik'' (''Atheist'') magazine depicting [[Jesus]] being dumped from a wheelbarrow by an industrial worker as well as a smashed church [[bell]]; the text advocates Industrialisation Day as an alternative replacement to the [[Christian]] Transfiguration Day. see: [[Militant atheism]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]

In 2003, the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard published a paper by Assaf Moghadam entitled ''A Global Resurgence of Religion''? which declared:
{{cquote|As the indications leave little doubt, [[Russia]] is showing clear signs of a religious resurgence. In fact, all seven criteria by which change in religious behavior and values are measured here confirmed that Russia is experiencing what could be called a religious revival. Since 1970, the nonreligious/atheist population has been on steady decline, from 52% in 1970 to 33% in 2000. Further, the percentage of this population is projected to decrease even further, possibly reaching the 20% mark in 2025. Between 1990 and 1997, belief in God has risen from 35% to a whopping 60%, while belief in the importance of God has climbed to 43% in 1997, up from 25% in 1990. More people have been raised religious in Russia in 1997 (20%) than at the beginning of the decade (18%), and 8.39% more Russians believed religion to be important toward the end of the 1990s, when compared to 1990. “Comfort in Religion” has also sharply increased within this time period, from less than 27% to over 46%. Finally, more and more Russians attend church services more regularly in 1997 than they did in 1990.

In the three Eastern European countries that were included in the WVS survey on belief in God, a drastic rise could be witnessed of respondents who answered this question in the affirmative. In Hungary, the percentage of believers in God jumped from 44% to 58% from 1981 to 1990, even prior to the collapse of the former [[Soviet Union]]. In Belarus, the number of people who believe in God nearly doubled over the course of the 1990s, from 36% to 68%, while in Latvia this figure almost quadrupled, from 18% to 67% in the same time period. Similar trends held true when it came to the importance of God, where there was a sharp rise in all three countries.<ref>[http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228395238_A_Global_Resurgence_of_Religion ''A Global Resurgence of Religion''?] by Assaf Moghadam, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University</ref>}}

=== 20th century atheism and Soviet/Chinese Communism ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Soviet atheism]]
[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|right|thumbnail|225px|right|[[Vladimir Lenin]] ]]
According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninsim">{{cite web|url = http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title =Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref> Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, [[militant atheist]]s."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher =Springer Science+Business Media|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref>

[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on ''in practice'' and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich, ''Proletary'', No. 45, May 13 (26), 1909, translated by Andrew Rothstein and Bernard Issacs, quote from [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm].</ref>

In 1955, [[China|Chinese]] [[communism|communist]] leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref>

=== Failure of Soviet Union state atheism statistics ===

In his work entitled ''Forced Secularization in Soviet Russia: Why an Atheistic Monopoly Failed'' Paul Froese wrote:
{{cquote|The failure of scientific atheism in Russia is interesting because it had every advantage.
First, the Soviet government generously financed atheists while brutally suppressing religious
advocates. For this reason, scientific atheism should be considered the equivalent of a religious
monopoly. Second, scientific atheism was promoted throughout Soviet Russia in schools, work-
places, and the community. Finally, scientific atheism offered rituals, ceremonies, and the promise
of a utopian society as a direct alternative to religious offerings.

The most generous estimates of atheistic belief show that less than one-quarter of Russians
were atheists and this number dramatically drops to around 5 percent of the population after the
fall of communism. In other words, scientific atheism was surprisingly unsuccessful when one
considers all its competitive advantages.<ref>[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/Z3211C.pdf Forced Secularization in Soviet Russia: Why an Atheistic Monopoly Failed]</ref>}}

== Atheist music statistics ==

[[File:Sanderson Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[British atheism|British atheist]] Sanderson Jones is a founder of the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref> Atheist churches play some atheistic music. The music is not exclusively atheistic.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/atheist-churches-embrace-sunday-morning-music_n_3096566.html ‘Atheist Churches’ Embrace Sunday-Morning Music] by Kimberly Winston, Huffington Post</ref>]]

''See also:'' [[Atheist music]]

[[Atheist music]] is [[music]] that has been written to express atheist ideology.

There is a small proportion of music compared to religious music. For example, [[Wikipedia]], which was founded by an atheist and agnostic, has no article on "Atheist music", but Wikipedia does have an article on [[Christian music]]. The comedian Steve Martin wrote a satirical song entitled "“Atheists Don't Have No Songs”.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogta8alHiU Steve Martin - Atheists Don't Have No Songs (Live on Letterman 03-16-2011)]</ref> There are no atheist radio stations dedicated to playing atheist songs. In addition, although there are full-time Christian musicians who support themselves by playing for churches (or other Christian audiences) and through the sales of their music, there are no full-time atheist musicians who devote themselves to playing atheist music.

During the [[Christmas]] season many businesses play Christmas music and there is a large collection of Christmas songs. Businesses in the [[Western World]] rarely have atheist music playing in their establishments and when it does occur it is purely unplanned (for example, a radio station playing [[John Lennon]]'s song Imagine).

== Atheism and art statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheist art]] and [[Argument from beauty]]
[[File:Destroy the old world Cultural Revolution poster.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A People's Republic of China propaganda poster stating "Destroy the Old World & Forge the New World," with a worker smashing a [[crucifix]], a [[Buddha]] murti, and a classical Chinese sacred text; 1967.]]
[[Atheist art]] is art which uses themes and/or imagery from atheism or atheistic concepts.

There is a small proportion of art compared to religious art. For example, Wikipedia has no article on "Atheist art", but Wikipedia does have an article on [[Christian art]].

=== Atheists generally apathetic about atheist art ===

Most atheist individuals and groups do not use the limited amount of atheist art which is available.

The atheist and feminist [[Skepchick]] writer Any Roth wrote about the atheist population having apathy about atheist art: "Does art matter to atheism? This is actually an interesting question that I don’t think [[Atheist movement|movement atheist]] thinks much about."<ref>[http://skepchick.org/2014/04/three-reasons-art-should-matter-to-atheism/ Three reasons why art should matter to atheism] by Amy Roth</ref>

Historically, religious institutions sponsored great works of art and architecture. Atheist groups do not have a tradition of sponsoring great works of art and architecture.

=== Atheist art commonly employs mockery and/or ugliness ===

''See also:'' [[Atheism and mockery]]

An atheist posted to atheist [[Sam Harris]]' discussion board: "This idea started when I googled “atheist art”. You see I was expecting to find art. Instead, what you get is a whole bunch of knockoffs of famous religious art that has been disfigured and mutilated. This made me slightly ashamed."<ref>[https://www.samharris.org/forum/viewthread/58689/ Atheist post at Sam Harris' discussion board]</ref>

== Atheism and cultural statistics ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and culture]]

=== Atheism and poetry statistics ===

''See also:'' [[Atheist poetry]]
[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|left|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] atheist, poet and [[sophism|sophist]] of the 5th century BC.
 
 
His position as a poet seems to be one of little prominence.<ref name="Greek Lyric Poetry page 269">''Greek Lyric Poetry: A Complete Collection of the Surviving Passages from the Greek Song-writers'' by George Stanley Farnell, page 269</ref>]]
There is no large body of quality atheistic [[poetry]]. For example, Wikipedia has no article on atheist poetry, yet it does have articles on [[Christian poetry]] and biblical poetry.<ref>As of 11/29/2015 Wikipedia had no article on atheist poetry</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_poetry Christian poetry - Wikipedia]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_poetry Biblical poetry - Wikipedia]</ref>

In addition, the online book seller Amazon offers many books of Christian poetry as well as anthologies of Christian poetry (as of November 30, 2015 there were 61,064 search results for term "Christian poetry" at Amazon as far as soft cover and hard cover books being offered for sale to American consumers).<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=atheist+poetry&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aatheist+poetry Amazon - search results for the term "Christian poetry"]</ref> On the other hand, the selection being offered at Amazon for atheist poetry was very limited (as of November 30, 2015 there were 123 search results for term "atheist poetry" at Amazon as far as soft cover and hard cover books being offered for sale to American consumers and a great many of the books were not even books of atheist poetry).<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=atheist+poetry&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aatheist+poetry Amazon - search results for the term "atheist poetry"] as far as soft cover and hard cover books being offered for sale</ref>

The British columnist Giles Coren wrote in ''The Times'':
{{cquote|But it’s not the [[nihilism]], the soullessness, the lack of poetry, the moral and physical ugliness, the shallow iconoclasm or the vainglory of atheists that bother me most. It’s [[Atheism and inspiration|the boringness]].

Is there anything more boring in the world than an atheist?<ref>[http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article4626072.ece I don’t believe it – they’re doing atheism at GCSE] by Niles Coren</ref>}}

[[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century B.C. [[Greek]] [[philosopher]], poet, [[sophism|sophist]] and atheist. According to the book ''Greek Lyric Poetry: A Complete Collection of the Surviving Passages from the Greek Song-writers'' by George Stanley Farnell, "His position as a poet seems to be one of little prominence, and he probably abandoned his art for philosophical speculation."<ref name="Greek Lyric Poetry page 269"/> There is little information about Diagoras of Melos' life and his beliefs. And no atheist poems have been found written by him as far as the historical record.

An atheistic school of thought can be found in ancient Indian thought and has existed from the time of the historical Vedic religion (2nd millennium B.C.).<ref>Pandian (1996). [https://books.google.com/books?id=B90uj14NHjMC&pg=PA64&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false India, that is, sidd]. Allied Publishers. p. 64. ISBN 978-81-7023-561-3. Retrieved 2011-04-09.</ref>

Using the above chronology of secular historians as far as the first appearances of atheists, the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] has had approximately six thousand years to compile a large body of quality atheistic poetry. Yet, atheists have not achieved this.

According to Wikipedia, "The influence of Christianity on poetry has been great in any area that Christianity has taken hold."<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_poetry&oldid=688924472 Christian poetry - Wikipedia - As of 11/29/2015]</ref>

=== Atheism and art/music ===

Relative to Christianity, which has a large collection of art/music, there is a very small collection of [[atheist art]] and [[atheist music]].

== American atheists and church attendance ==

''See also:'' [[American atheists and church attendance]]

A [[Rice University]] study found that 17 percent - about one out of five scientists who describe themselves as either atheists or agnostics - actually go to church, although not too often.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/atheists-who-go-to-church-doing-it-for-the-children/ Atheists Who Go to Church: Doing It for the Children]. ABC News, 2011</ref>

== See also ==

*[[Agnosticism statistics]]

*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]

*[[Richard Dawkins statistics]]

*[[Atheist Population|Atheist population]]

*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]

*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]

*[[Christianity statistics]]

*[[Homosexuality Statistics|Homosexuality statistics]]

*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]

Essays:

*[[Essay: Is atheism growing?|Is atheism growing?]]

*[[Essay: 10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline|10 Reasons American atheism will see a significant decline]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/interesting-statistics-contrasting-atheism-and-christianity/ Interesting Statistics Contrasting Atheism and Christianity]

*[http://chartsbin.com/view/9qa Atheism by country]

*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/wct-1-2.pdf Table on the projected global shrinkage/growth of various worldviews including atheism] (Source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)

*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheists_divorce.htm Post Scriptum To Original article, “Atheism and Divorce.”]

*[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum survey on religion/irreligion in the United States]

*[http://theweeklynumber.com/1/post/2014/08/more-than-8-in-10-people-hold-religious-beliefs-and-its-rising-finds-new-book.html Research from the Yearbook of International Religious Demography]

Video:

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFasGmg_hWE A nightmare for atheists statistics show atheism is a dying breed ]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Atheism]]

Phyllis Schlafly

2017-02-24T02:17:35Z

Ambassador:

[[Image:Schlafly phyllis.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Phyllis Schlafly]]
'''Phyllis McAlpin Schlafly''' (August 15, 1924 - September 5, 2016) was a founding member of the modern [[conservative movement]]. She was described by the ''New York Times'' as the “one of the most relentless and accomplished platform debaters of any gender to be found on any side of any issue.”<ref>Joseph Lelyveld, future Executive Editor of the ''New York Times'', in ''The New York Times Magazine'' (1977).</ref> "I think she's probably the best political organizer we've seen in American history," stated author Rick Perlstein.<ref>http://www.bustle.com/articles/183468-phyllis-schlafly-helped-create-the-republican-party-as-we-know-it-video Retro Report</ref> Her political activism spanned 70 years and it is difficult to find any position that she was ever on the wrong side of.

Phyllis Schlafly was the first and most outspoken prominent [[conservative]] supporter of the presidential candidacy of [[Donald Trump]], beginning in mid-2015.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/11/11/phyllis-schlaflys-final-victory/</ref> In his eulogy at her funeral, Donald Trump observed that Phyllis Schlafly was a powerful, positive influence for one quarter of all of [[America]]n history. Many credit his victory to her leadership in supporting him.

Phyllis Schlafly is often called the "conservative icon," "conservative legend," or conservatives' "first lady." She should be in the ''Guiness Book of World Records'' for the most number of debates and controversial speeches on college campuses (many hundreds), typically to packed auditoriums; for writing the longest-running political newsletter, the ''Phyllis Schlafly Report'' (50 years); and for the longest career as a delegate or alternate delegate to a national political convention (more than 60 years to the Republican National Convention, dating back to 1952).

Many credit Phyllis Schlafly for making it respectable for a woman to stay at home and raise children, amid an all-out assault by [[liberals]] to discredit that traditional way of life. By 1990, after advocacy by Phyllis Schlafly in support of stay-at-home moms, the percentage of women aged 25–54 in the workforce in the [[United States]] stopped increasing, in contrast with many other countries.

She is especially recognized for defeating the [[Equal Rights Amendment]], and for opposing [[feminism]] in general. She is also recognized for nearly single-handedly making the [[Republican Party]] [[pro-life]].

She was married to John Fred Schlafly, Jr. for forty-four years until his death (1909–1993), and is the mother of six children: [[John Schlafly|John]], Bruce, [[Roger Schlafly|Roger]], Liza, Anne, and ''Conservapedia'' founder [[Andrew Schlafly]].

== Wit ==

Unlike most politicians and activists, Phyllis Schlafly has always had a good-natured wit in addressing difficult issues and adversity. For example, when Phyllis Schlafly received an honorary degree from Washington University, a fraction of the faculty and students protested the honor by wearing white armbands and/or turning their backs. When Mrs. Schlafly was asked for her comment about the protesters, she responded:<ref>http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/D00F2F30B4689B3A8625744B00821014?OpenDocument:</ref>
{{cquote|I'm not sure they're mature enough to graduate!}}
== Writings ==
[[Image:Dr. Schlafly.jpg|thumb|Dr. Phyllis Schlafly, May 16, 2008.]]
Phyllis Schlafly first came to American national attention with her book, ''[[A Choice, Not An Echo]]'' 1964. (One of the ten best-selling conservative books of all time; three million copies sold.)

She authored 27 books on subjects as varied as family and feminism (''The Power of the Positive Woman''), nuclear strategy (''Strike From Space and Kissinger on the Couch''), education (''Child Abuse in the Classroom''), child care (''Who Will Rock the Cradle?'' and ''Stronger Families or Bigger Government?,''), and a phonics book (''Turbo Reader''), on the Judiciary: ''The Supremacists''. Her most recent book, ''Feminist Fantasies'', is a collection of essays on feminism in the media, workplace, home, and the military. She is also contributor of ''Great American Conservative Women''.

Her final book, ''The Conservative Case for [[Donald Trump|Trump]]'', was released the day after she passed away and became a ''New York Times'' bestseller.

== Quotes by others ==

[[Ann Coulter]] wrote:
:There is no more pristine example of the left's in-crowd snobbery than their treatment of conservative author and activist Phyllis Schlafly. (''Slander'', page 35)

== Quotes by Phyllis Schlafly ==

“Don't call me Ms. To me, it means misery.”<ref>http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-phyllis-schlafly-snap-story.html</ref>

In reference to [[feminists]], “I always said, I’m not going to let those slobs ruin my day.”<ref>https://www.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/illinoisstatecraft/era/Documents/SchlaflyPhyllis/Schlafly_Phy_4FNL.pdf (p. 159)</ref>

In speeches to [[feminist]] audiences, “First, I would like to thank my husband, Fred, for allowing me to come here this evening.”<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/06/phyllis-schlafly-obituary</ref>

== Books ==

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 2006
| Title = The Supremacists: The Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It
| Publisher = Spence Publishing Company
| ID = ISBN 1890626651
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 2003
| Title = Feminist Fantasies
| Publisher = Spence Publishing Company
| ID = ISBN 1890626465
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 2001
| Title = Turbo reader
| Publisher = Pere Marquette Press
| ID = ISBN 0934640165
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 1990
| Title = Who Will Rock the Cradle?: The Battle for Control of Child Care in America
| Publisher = Thomas Nelson Publishers
| ID = ISBN 0849931983
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 1984
| Title = Child Abuse in the Classroom
| Publisher = Crossway Books
| ID = ISBN 0891073655
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 1977
| Title = The Power of the Positive Woman
| Publisher = Crown Pub
| ID = ISBN 0870003739
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 1974
| Title = Kissinger on the Couch
| Publisher = Arlington House Publishers
| ID = ISBN 0870002163
}}

*{{Harvard reference
| Surname1 = Schlafly
| Given1 = Phyllis
| Surname2 =
| Given2 =
| Year = 1964
| Title = [[A Choice Not An Echo]]: The inside story of how American Presidents are chosen
| Publisher = Pere Marquette Pr
| ID = ISBN 0686114868
}}
{{Clear}}

[[Image:Phyllis Schlafly1.jpg|left|100px]]
{{Clear}}

== References ==

<references/>

== See also ==
*[[Homeschooling]]
*[[Previous Breaking News/Phyllis Schlafly|Articles about '''Phyllis Schlafly''' from previous "In the news"]]

== External links ==
[[Image:Sweetheart-h.gif|right|175px]]
*[http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu/ Eagle Forum University]
*[http://www.eagleforum.org/ Eagle Forum]
*[http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/index.html Phyllis Schlafly Report Online]
*[http://www.eagleforum.org/column/ Index to Phyllis Schlafly Columns] Syndicated column on social and political topics.
*[http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/schlafly.html Phyllis Schlafly] From Microsoft Encarta.
*[http://www.humanevents.com/search.php?author_name=Phyllis+Schlafly Articles by Phyllis Schlafly] HUMAN EVENTS.
*[http://www.phyllisschlafly.com/ Phyllis Schlafly, Official site]
*[http://townhall.com/news/religion/2008/08/13/land,_others_warn_bush_get_department_of_justice_in_line_on_human_trafficking_bill Land, others warn Bush: Get Department of Justice in line on human trafficking bill] By Tom Strode / Baptist Press.
*[http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4780636/Conservatives-first-lady-sparked-pro.html Conservatives' first lady sparked pro-family effort; Schlafly shaped nation's direction]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schlafly, Phyllis}}

[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Women Authors]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]

Romantic paintings

2017-02-24T02:16:50Z

Ambassador: SOMEONE DO SOMETHING

<center>
 

''' Romantic paintings''' 

 
[[Romanticism]] was an artistic style popular in the early 19th century. It emphasized the need for art to express emotion, irrational feelings, and imagination.

 
''"Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor in exact truth, but in a way of feeling."'' [[Charles Baudelaire]]

 
[[Jean-Antoine Watteau]],

<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Watteau Love in the French Theather.jpg|Love in the French Theatre
Image:Watteau La Leçon d'Amour.jpg|La Leçon d'Amour
Image:Watteau Peaceful Love.jpg|Peaceful Love
Image:Watteau La Gamme d'Amour.jpg|La Gamme d'Amour
Image:Watteau The Pleasures of Love.jpg|The Pleasures of Love
</gallery>

[[Image:Watteau The Bird Nester.jpg]]

Watteau, The Bird Nester.

 

[[Jean-Honoré Fragonard]]

The four Fragonard Paintings for Madame Du Barry representing The Progress of Love.

<gallery>
Image:Fragonard The Pursuit.jpg|The Pursuit
Image:Fragonard The Meeting.jpg|The Meeting
Image:Fragonard Love Letters.jpg|Love Letters
Image:Fragonard The Lover Crowned.jpg|The Lover Crowned
</gallery>

[[Image:Fragonard The Love Vow...jpg]]

Fragonard, The Love Vow.

----
 
Romantic ideals and explorations of emotional states, were shared by painters of the Romanticism like: [[Eugene Delacroix]], [[Francisco de Goya]], [[William Turner]] and [[John Constable]]. Romanticism flourished in France and Britain in the early decades of the nineteenth century.

 
[[Image:Delacroix The Death of Sardanapalus.jpg]]

Death of Sardanapalus by Delacroix.

<blockquote>
Romantic artists were fascinated by the nature, the genius, their passions and inner struggles, their moods, mental potentials, the heroes. [http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/romanticism.htm]
</blockquote>
</center>

== See also ==
[[Image:Cupid.jpg|right|thumb|Wet Cupid by [[Adolphe William Bouguereau]], 1891.]]
*[[Romanticism]]
*[[Love]]
*[[Painting Galleries]]
*[[Famous French paintings]]
*[[History of painting]]
*[[Famous Still Life Paintings]]

[[Image:Fragonard Happy Lovers.jpg|thumb|left|330px|Fragonard, Happy Lovers.]]
[[File:Dmitry Levitzky Portrait of E N Khovanskaia and E N Khrushcheva 1773.jpg|thumb|center|Dmitry Levitzky, Portrait of E.N. Khovanskaia and E.N. Khrushcheva, 1773.]]
{{Clear}}

== External links ==
[[Image:Heighton Romantic Stroll.jpg|thumb|The Lovers by Brent Heighton]]

*[http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/romanticism.htm Romanticism]
*[http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/HP/romantic.html Romanticism and the Arts]
*[http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng372/intro.htm American Romanticism] Ann Woodlief's Introduction.
*[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/roma/hd_roma.htm Romanticism]
*[http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/r/romanticism.html Romanticism]
*[http://www.askmen.com/top_10/travel/romantic-art-museums.html Top 10: Romantic Art Museums]
*[http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-romantic-tradition-in-british-painting-1800-1950/ The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950] Victoria and Albert [[Museum]].
*[http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?id=27 Romantic Gardens: Nature, Art, and Landscape Design] The Morgan Library & Museum.

[[File:Richter Bridal procession 1847.jpg|thumb|left|[[Adrian Ludwig Richter]], Bridal procession, 1847.]]
[[File:Asters in a Vase by Henri Fantin-Latour, 1875.jpg|thumb|Asters in a Vase by [[Henri Fantin Latour|Henri Fantin-Latour]].]]
[[File:Severin Roesen Blumenstillleben 1860-1867.jpg|thumb|left|[[Severin Roesen]], Blumenstillleben, 1860-1867.]]
[[File:Loutherbourg The Falls of the Rhine at Schaffhausen 1788.jpg|thumb|[[Philippe De Loutherbourg]], The Falls of the Rhine at Schaffhausen, 1788.]]

[[File:Ricciardo Meacci Isabella e il vaso di basilico 1890.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Ricciardo Meacci, Isabella e il vaso di basilico, 1890.]]

{{Clear}}
----
<center>
<big><big>''MAKING ART WITH ART''</big></big>
</center>
----

[[Category:Painting]]

Essay:Greatest Conservative TV Shows

2017-02-24T02:16:04Z

Ambassador:

==The greatest conservative television shows==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Title
!Original run
!Network
!TV rating
!Description
|-
|''Hand of God''
|2014
|Amazon Originals
|TV MA
|Themes of overcoming corruption through faith in God. The main character believes he is the newly anointed [[Solomon]] following God-Given visions to take vengeance for his comatose son. Criticizes abortion, intimacy outside of marriage, drug usage, and supports family unity.
|-
|''[[John Adams]]'' (miniseries)
|2008
|[[HBO]]
| TV rating 14
| Biographical miniseries on the life of the Founding Father, based on the best selling biography by [[David McCullough]].
|-
|''[[The Brady Bunch]]''
|1969-1974
|[[ABC]]
| TV rating G
|Wholesome sitcom, although highly unlikely, suburban [[Los Angeles]] [[blended family]]-a widow ([[Florence Henderson]]) with three daughters and a widower ([[Robert Reed]]) with three sons.
|-
|''Full House''
|1987-1995
|ABC
|G
|Family sitcom where after losing his wife to a drunk driver, a younger father has his brother-in-law and best friend move in with him, to help raise his three young daughters. Despite this, the importance of having a male and female parent is still encouraged. Starting in Season Two, Becky Donaldson (Jesse's girlfriend and later wife) becomes a mother figure for the girls. Followed by a more liberal-leaning sequel, ''Fuller House'', which debuted on Netflix in 2016 and promotes more liberal values and politics (including the trashing of [[Donald Trump]] in the pilot episode) and shows them in a positive light, as well as looking very much like nearly every live-action [[Disney Channel]] show produced in recent years. Series star Candace Cameron Bure, who appears in both shows and was also a panelist on ABC talk show ''The View'' (acting as the conservative counterpoint to the show's heavily liberal panelists), is a born-again Christian and is socially conservative.
|-
|''[[Family Ties]]''
|1982-1989
|[[NBC]]
| TV rating PG
|Dramedy series about how hardworking [[conservative]] children, e.g. Michael J. Fox, outsmart their [[liberal]], ex-[[hippie]], underachieving parents.
|-
|''The Critic''
|1994-1995
|[[ABC]], [[Fox]]
|TV rating PG
|A comedy about a critic fed up with the terrible movies that are ruined by their [[Hollywood values]] (His catchphrase was "It stinks!"). It was released in an industry run by [[liberals]], and that may be why it was cancelled before its time.
|-
|''Last Man Standing''
|2011-
|ABC
|
|Conservative show starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, a marketing director for a sporting goods store chain called Outdoor Man, who strives to keep his manhood (fishing, hunting, sports and camping), and promotes conservative values (including supporting the military), in opposition to his antagonistic liberal daughter Kristin (the oldest of three daughters Mike has with his wife Vanessa) and her equally-liberal husband Ryan, who often clashes with both Mike and Vanessa over political, cultural and philosophical issues. Unlike the similar and more vehement clashes between Archie Bunker and Mike Stivic in ''[[All in the Family]]'' where the latter comes out on top due to ignorance and lack of ability to make cohesive arguments on Archie's part, however, it is the often-clueless and hypocritical Ryan who ends up on the losing end of arguments with the more well-versed and level-headed Mike. On the other hand, Mike gets along very well with his youngest daughter Eve due to them sharing similar political views and interests, as he does with Boyd, Kristin and Ryan's son and Mike's grandson (and as expected, Kristin and Ryan are not impressed that Boyd has more in common with his grandfather than with them).
|-
|Duck Dynasty
|2012-
|A&E
|PG
|Portrays the lives of the Robertson family, whom contain strong Christian beliefs, and are also active hunters.
|-
|''[[Broken Arrow (TV series)|Broken Arrow]]''
|1956-1958
|[[ABC]]
|TV NR/PG
|A compassionate Indian agent, Tom Jeffords, played by John Lupton, forges a friendship with the [[Apache]] [[Indian]] Cochise, portrayed by Michael Ansara; set in [[Arizona]].
|-
|''Blue Bloods''
|2010-
|[[CBS]]
|TV NR/PG
|Conservative police officer show, that also promotes family. Stars conservative actor Tom Selleck as officer Frank Reagan (a possible name reference to Ronald Reagan). It also features Christian principles, with religion playing a fairly major role in several episodes, and each episode also ending with the Reagan family saying prayers before a meal (with such a overt depiction of Christian principles being rare on present-day TV).
|-
|''Sabrina the Teenage Witch''
|1996-2003
|[[ABC]],The WB
|TV-G
|Live-action sitcom adaptation of the Archie Comic. Although Sabrina is a witch, the show promotes family, and Christian values. The show even starts conservative actress Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman.
|-
|''Sugarfoot''
|1957-1961
|ABC
|NR/PG
|Will Hutchins plays young "do-gooder" Tom "Sugarfoot" Brewster, a novice lawyer who roams the Old West "on the side of law and order," according to the theme song of the [[Warner Bros.]] series; Sugarfoot eschews guns until pushed to the brink and even refuses alcohol and instead orders "sarsparialla with a dash of cherry" when he enters a saloon.
|-
|''Death Valley Days''
|1952-1970
|Syndicated
|NR/PG
|Historically-based dramatic Western presentations hosted at different times by Stanley Andrews, [[Ronald Reagan]], Robert Taylor, and Dale Robertson. It ran at times under other titles, such as ''Trails West'', with Ray Milland. This was the second-longest running Western series in television history (behind only ''Gunsmoke''), with new episodes aired from 1952 to 1970, followed by reruns (with new narration added) until 1975.
|-
|''[[Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town]]''
|1951-1952
|[[CBS]]
|
|Once a daughter-in-law of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and a wife of Skitch Henderson, Faye Emerson presents the most memorable songs associated with various cities, mostly in the United States; in its day, this was one of the most expensive programs to present to the public.
|-
|''Lawman''
|1958-1962
| ABC
|
|John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop; Peter Brown as deputy Johnny McKay, and Peggie Castle as Lily; this [[Warner Bros.]] series sought to maintain highest script quality so as not to be "just another Western."
|-
|''Black Saddle''
|1959-1960
|ABC
|
|Peter Breck plays Clay Culhane, a gunfighter-turned-lawyer who seeks to help those in need of legal representation; co-starring Russell Johnson as Marshal Gib Scott.
|-
|''Laramie''
|1959-1963
|NBC
|NR
|John Smith and Robert Fuller portray ranch partners Slim Sherman and Jess Harper; many episodes focus on their close friendship, which also extended off the set; Hoagy Carmichael appeared the first season as their housekeeper; Spring Byington filled that role in the last two seasons.
|-
|''State Trooper''
|1956-1959
|Syndicated
|NR
|Rod Cameron adventure/drama anthology series, forgotten to most today, based on case files of the [[Nevada]] state troopers; law and justice always prevail. Many episodes have surprise endings and unusual titles.
|-
| ''Our Man Higgins''
|1962-1963
|ABC
|G
|Stanley Holloway plays an English butler for an American family in a situation comedy with a dose of "culture clash". Frank Maxwell and Audrey Totter played the parents, and [[Ricky Kelman]] was the son, Tommy MacRoberts.
|-
|''The Apprentice''
|2004-
|NBC
|NR
|Liberals stopped watching when they realized that [[Donald Trump]] might be conservative.
|-
|''The Six Million Dollar Man''
|1974-1978
|ABC
|PG
|Capitalism at its finest - technological advances improving life; starring Lee Majors.
|-
|''The Cosby Show''
|1984-1992
|NBC
|TV G
|Long-running Bill Cosby sitcom promoting good family values.
|-
|''Bonanza''
|1959-1973
|NBC
|NR/G
|Western promoting good neighborliness and the pursuit of just causes, with Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, and Michael Landon.
|-
|''The Rifleman''
|1958-1963
|ABC
|NR/G
|Western with emphasis on fair play and giving people a second chance; starring Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford and Paul Fix. [http://www.amctv.com/videos#type=all&filter=rb-video-browser-num_items%3D10%26module_id_base%3Drb-video-browser%26rb-video-browser-show%3D4182%26rb-video-browser-content_type%3D&page=1&post_id=71306 The Rifleman]
|-
|''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''
|1952-1966
|ABC
|
|Long running comedy show epitomizing 1950s stable families and family values.
|-
|''American Idol''
|2002-2016
|[[Fox Network|Fox]]
|TV PG
|Allows the best of the public to come to the fore musically
|-
|''Dog the Bounty Hunter''
|2004-2012
|[[A & E]]
|PG
|A public prayer to [[Jesus]] launches each new bounty mission; good guys enforcing law and order.
|-
|''[[24]]''
|2001-2010
|Fox
|TV 14
|Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland) protects America at all costs against all terrorists, whether Islamic, European, Communist Chinese, African, and even the US government. Followed by a 2017 sequel, ''24: Legacy'', with Corey Hawkins as main character and ex-Army Ranger Eric Carter, who battles Islamic terrorists planning attacks on American soil.
|-
|''[[Top Gear]]''
|2002-
|[[BBC]]
|TV PG
|A British TV show about all types of cars. It is a fun show which celebrates individual freedom, capitalism, and private-sector innovation. It is also often politically incorrect and pokes fun at the belief in "global warming".
|-
|''[[Justified]]''
|2010-
|FX Network
|TV MA
|Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens, a 19th century-style tough cowboy lawman, enforces his own brand of justice when dealing with criminals of all kinds in the hill country of eastern Kentucky. His boss, the Chief Deputy US Marshal Art Mullen, is played by Nick Searcy, a noted conservative actor. The most recent season has frequent reflections on Christianity and being loved and saved by God.
|-
| ''[[The Waltons]]''
|1972-1981
|CBS
|G
|A family with strong Christian values overcomes hardship in rural America during the Depression and U.S. involvement in World War II and extends charity to strangers while also honoring military service; starring Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Will Geer, and Ellen Corby.
|-
| ''[[The Lawrence Welk Show]]''
|1955-1982
|ABC; Syndicated
|G
|A family oriented variety show that appealed to Midwestern values.
|-
|''Chuck''
|2007-
|NBC
|PG
|Emphasizes family values, honor, and a respect for our nation's servicemen.
|-
|''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''
|1995-1996; 1997-2005
|NBC; CBS
|PG/PG13
|Also emphasizes pro-military honor and respect. Title means Judge Advocate General, which deals with people charged with crimes committed while in the U.S. military. Does include some ungodly behavior, including adultery as the series progresses.
|-
|''[[Little House on the Prairie]]''
|1974-1983
|NBC
|TV G
|A show that celebrates family values and the courage of the 1870s-1880s pioneers, starring Michael Landon and based on [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]]'s books.
|-
|''Highway To Heaven''
|1984-1989
|NBC
|TV PG
|[[Michael Landon]] comes back to Earth as an angel to help many people, aided by [[Victor French]], both from NBC's previous ''Little House on the Prairie"
|-
|''Touched by an Angel''
|1994-2003
|CBS
|TV PG
|A popular drama about an angel in human form who visited troubled people in crisis. It was highly ranked for four seasons and ran for nine seasons. Starred Roma Downey, Della Reese and John Dye, joined in the final two seasons by Valerie Bertinelli.
|-
|''Life is Worth Living''
|1952-1957
|Dumont TV; ABC
|TV G
|Emmy Award winning show dealing with moral issues hosted by Archbishop [[Fulton J. Sheen]]; from 10 to 30 million people watched the show weekly.
|-
|''7th Heaven''
|1996-2007
|[[Warner Bros.|The WB / The CW]]
|TV PG
|The family of a Christian minister deals with moral and controversial themes, approached from a socially and politically conservative Protestant viewpoint. It has the distinction of having been the longest-running family drama in U.S. television history; starring Stephen Collins.[http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1028153,00.html]
|-
|''Life Goes On''
|1989-1993
|ABC
|G/PG
|Follows the experiences of a young man with Down Syndrome and recognizes the dignity of people with developmental disabilities and the joy and love they give to their families and others.
|-
|''Dragnet''
|1951–1959; 1967-1970
|NBC
|TV rating PG
|Starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners (Ben Romero, Ed Jacobs and Frank Smith in the 1951 original, Joe Gannon in the 1967 revival) solving actual cases from the files of the Los Angeles Police Department. Great use of law enforcement jargon by the officers while educating the public on the Rule of Law. Showed fine examples of moral conduct, honor of self/others and sacrifice for the good of the public.
|-
|''Adam-12''
|1968-1975
|NBC
|TV rating PG
|Spinoff of Webb-produced ''Dragnet'', also based on actual cases and more than one per episode, this time focusing on LAPD street patrol officers Peter Malloy and James (Jim) Reed. Same good examples as ''Dragnet''. Was remade into a limited (Los Angeles and New York City) syndication show in 1989-1991 with unknown main players, new characters and situations. None of the original series' three main players (Martin Milner, Kent McCord, William Boyett) ever fell victim to Hollywood Values, (ex. they stayed married to their same wives, with nine children between them. Milner had 4, McCord had 3 and Boyett (who died in 2004 at 77) had 2 and became a grandfather twice over). One episode, "Baby" in 1969, was said to be based on Kent McCord's own real life wife's birth of one of their own children that year.
|-
|''Emergency!''
|1972-1977, with TV movie specials, "The Final Rescues", periodically from Winter 1978-Summer 1979.
|NBC
|TV rating PG
|Webb's second spin-off from ''Dragnet'' is a medical drama about Station 51 of the the Los Angeles County Fire Department, its paramedics and the activities of Rampart General Hospital and its staff. Starred Robert Fuller, Julie London and Bobby Troup as the Rampart medics, Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe as the Station 51 paramedics and Michael Norrell, Tim Donnelly, Marco Lopez and real-life fireman Mike Stoker as the Station 51 firefighters.
|-
|''Quincy, M.E.''
|1976-1983
|NBC
|TV rating PG
|Follows the now late Jack Klugman as Los Angeles County's Medical Examiner on suspicious cases (e.g. deaths) and medical mistakes that were previously thought to have been solved but later found to have had more about them than what was originally thought, but that these facts were often hidden by [[bureaucracy]]. Begun as a segment of the ''NBC Mystery Movie'', it proved popular enough to be spun off as a regular series.
|-
|''CHiPS''
|1977-1983
|NBC
|TV rating PG
|Rick Rosner (California Highway Patrol member)-produced light motorcycle dramedy mix on mostly Los Angeles' freeways, beaches and streets, operating through L.A.'s CHP Central station.
|-
|''Hardcastle & McCormick''
|1983-1986
|ABC
|TV rating NY (PG ?)
|Los Angeles County Superior Court's Milton C. Hardcastle (Brian Keith) goes after about 200 cases who walked away on technicalities with the help of a former race car driver-turned-reformed criminal, Mark McCormick (Daniel Hugh Kelly).
|-
|''The Commish''
|1991-1996
|ABC
|TV rating NR (PG ?)
|Former New York City PD detective Tony Scali (Michael Chicklis) moves upstate to a small town police department and uses creativity instead of much violence to fight crime in the fictitious city of Eastbridge, New York. He has the same amount of genuine concern (love) for his family as he does for his city and its police force.
|-
|''Parking Wars''
|2008-
|A & E
|PG
|Demonstrates the offensiveness of overbearing government bureaucracy while maintaining a respect for law officers.
|-
|''Pawn Stars''
|2009-
|History Channel/A & E
|TV PG
|Shows how two parties can **mutually and fairly benefit** from a negotiated free-market transaction, independent of any government "assistance".
|-
|''The Bob Newhart Show''
|1972-1978
|CBS
|TV G
|A mockery of how insane people may become in a secular world.
|-
|''Hawaii-Five-O''
|1968-1980
|CBS
|PG
|Even in what might be expected to be a lazy, hazy paradise, the law is still the law, with Jack Lord and James MacArthur. A reboot of the series was launched in 2010.
|-
|''Daniel Boone''
|1964-1970
|NBC
|G
|As the title music sang, "he fought for America, to make all Americans free", with Fess Parker in the starring role.
|-
|''Adam''
|1983
|NBC
|TV NR
|TV made film on the abduction and murder of [[John Walsh]]'s son Adam in 1981 and his crusade for missing and exploited children. Followed by a sequel, ''Adam: His Song Continues'' (1986).
|-
|''America's Most Wanted''
|1988-2011
|Fox TV
|TV NR/PG13
|[[John Walsh]] hosts news documentary of well known suspects and fugitives, their crimes and captures. Was the real life father of above mentioned Adam Walsh and subject of above mentioned TV films named for him.
|-
|''The Equalizer''
|1985-1989
|CBS
|TV PG-13
|Spy drama follows Robert McCall ([[Edward Woodward]]) through [[New York City]] as he helps people in extreme situations against all odds of their success in overcoming these problems.
|-
|''Walker, Texas Ranger''
|1993-2001
|CBS
|TV rating PG/PG13
|Starring [[Chuck Norris]] and Noble Willingham as modern day Texas Rangers.
|-
|''NCIS''
|2003-
|CBS
|TV 14
|Show about U.S. Navy investigators, voted ''America's favorite program in 2011''; starring Mark Harmon and David McCallum. Does include some unneeded and un-Christian activity and language.
|-
|''Mission: Impossible''
|1966-1973; 1988-1990
|CBS, ABC
|TV G/PG
|Emphasizes teamwork, friendship, professionalism, and American ingenuity and exceptionalism, which can overcome any obstacle, with Steven Hill (in the first season), Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, Leonard Nimoy, Lesley Ann Warren, Sam Elliott and Lynda Day George. Followed by a two-season revival on ABC in 1988 and a series of feature films starring Tom Cruise (which are only loosely based on the original series, having little in common beyond the name and a remixed version of the iconic series theme).
|-
|''Storage Wars''
|
|A & E
|
|Emphasizes [[capitalism|capitalist]] and [[free market]] values. Plus on another level, it illustrates the importance of [[conservative values|personal responsibility]]; the lockers that are being auctioned off belonged to people who decided not to pay their bills.
|-
|''The Prisoner''
|1967-1968
| [[ITV]]
|TV PG
|Classic British TV show about a secret agent who is sent to a strange "village" in order to determine the reasons for his resignation. The Prisoner is a metaphor for the Individual against the Collective. The series ran for only seventeen episodes.
|-
|''Yes, Minister!''/''Yes, Prime Minister!''
|
|BBC
|
|Classic British sit-com about the political machinations of being a cabinet member in the British government, and then eventually as Prime Minister. A recurring theme is that of the struggle of politicians to make the desired changes despite the resistance of the bureaucracy.
|-
|''Storm Chasers''
|
|The Weather Channel
|
|Demonstrates core conservative values such as courage and a thirst for practical, scientific knowledge.
|-
|''The Pretender''
|1996-2000
|[[NBC]]
|
|Pro-life and with a message of charity and self-sacrifice as personal responsibility.
|-
|''The Dick Van Dyke Show''
|1961-1966
|CBS
|
|Pro-marriage and pro-family, this series launched the career of Mary Tyler Moore.
|-
|''The Donna Reed Show''
|1958-1966
|ABC
|
|Situation comedy of an upper-middle-class family in Hillsdale (state not given), with Donna Reed in the role of Donna Stone, wife of a pediatrician, played by Carl Betz.
|-
|''Wagon Train''
|1957-1965
|NBC/ABC
|
|Western with conservatives Ward Bond and John McIntire playing trailmasters Seth Adams and Chris Hale, respectively; the struggle of pioneers seeking a fresh start in the American West. Robert Horton and Robert Fuller also starred in the series.
|-
|''Wanted: Dead or Alive''
|1958-1961
|CBS
|
|Steve McQueen as a kind-hearted bounty hunter, Josh Randall, dedicated to the enforcement of the law in the old West. Numerous episodes have spiritual themes; a spinoff of ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre''. Remade as a feature film in 1987, set in the present day and starring Rutger Hauer as Nick Randall, an-ex-CIA agent turned bounty hunter and the descendant of Josh Randall.
|-
|''Who Do You Think You Are?''
|
|NBC
|
|NBC in USA (in other countries also) with famous people showing how to research relationships and histories of our ancestors. We owe them so much, whether horse thieves or royalty, they gave us our lives, and in some cases fought in the [[American Revolution]].
|-
|''Coming Home''
|
|ABC
|
|Shows American war veterans coming home to their families
|-
|''Dog the Bounty Hunter''
|
|A&E
|
|[[Born Again Christian]], Duane "Dog" Chapman, promotes the American values as he hunts down criminals. After capturing wanted fugitives, Dog tells them that they need to give their life over to Christ.
|-
|''Legends of the Hidden Temple''
|1993-1995
|Nickelodeon
|TV Y
|[[Game show]] that uses a conservative elimination format (ensuring only the most meritorious players survive to play the final round) and is unyielding in difficulty. Also, it refuses to succumb to [[liberal]] beliefs in archeology that keep historical sites and artifacts off limits, instead promoting the conservative ''Indiana Jones'' persona.
|-
|''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''
|1999-2002; 2002-present
|ABC; Syndicated
|TV G
|[[Game show]] whose format for qualifying to be on the hot seat entirely depends on knowledge, not having the stereotypical game show contestant persona. The show unashamedly rewards people who know the most. Hosted by Regis Philbin. The hour-long original ABC version in the US ran from 1999 to 2002, followed by a half-hour version which debuted in first-run syndication in 2002 and is still airing.
|-
|''Karol: A Man Who Became Pope''
|2005
|Hallmark Channel
|TV NR (PG for some violence and adult discussions)
|[[Biopic]] of younger Karol Wojtyla, from World War II Resistance to his election as [[Pope John Paul II]]. Followed by a Canadian sequel, ''Karol: The Pope The Man'' (2006), which itself chronicled the events from his papal inauguration in 1978 to his death in 2005.
|-
|''Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II''
|December 1, 2005
|ABC
|TV PG
|Thomas Kretchmann played the late pontiff, from his non-violent resistance to Nazism and Communism to his elevations as priest, archbishop, cardinal and his life as the titular pontiff. Includes his confrontation of El Salvador's archbishop [[Oscar Romero]] about Romero's leftist [[liberation theology]], just before Romero's tragic assassination.
|-
|''Pope John Paul II''
|December 4 & 7, 2005
|CBS
|TV PG
|In this biopic miniseries, conservative actor [[Jon Voight]] portrayed Pope [[John Paul II]], who was influential in Part 1's non-violent resistance to [[World War II]]'s Nazism and the subsequent [[Cold War]]'s [[Communists]], eventually defeating Communism in Part 2's end of Scene 16 (circa 1989). Part 1 covers his years as priest, professor, bishop and cardinal. Part 2 covers his 26-1/2 year pontificate from his election up to his death. [[Cary Elwes]] played younger Wojtyla in Part 1 from ages 19 to just before his pontifical election at 58, while Voight took over at the start of Part 2 in the title role.
|-
|''The Glenn Beck Show''
|
|[[Fox News]]
|
|Public affairs program
|-
|''[[Hannity (TV show)|Hannity]]'' (formerly ''Hannity and Colmes'')
|2009-
|Fox News
|
|Sean Hannity's television public affairs program
|-
|''House of Cards''
|2013-present
|Netflix original series
|
|Shows Democrats as they really are - corrupt frauds and atheists.
|-
|''Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide''
|2004–2007
|Nickelodeon
|TV-G
|The show is about Ned Bigby a middle schooler, who has created a guide on how to survive school. Where every student has the opportunity to succeed or fail, and their results are based off the decisions they made. Many morals are shown, as the shows mainly promotes friendship, hard-work, integrity, and personal responsibility. The show ran on Nickelodeon before they produced more liberal shows such as ''iCarly'' and ''Victorious''.
|-
|''Absolutely Fabulous''
|1992-2012
|BBC1 (UK)
|
|Shows the struggles of a responsible, hardworking teenager to succeed in life despite having a feckless liberal mother and an absentee liberal father. Strong anti-drug, anti-alcohol, anti-casual sex messages throughout.
|-
|''Dad's Army''
|1968-1977
|BBC1 (UK)
|
|Portrays the determination of ordinary British people to resist the might of Hitler's [[liberal]] Nazi forces. Emphasizes the importance of never ever cooperating with an invader, not even giving them your name.
|-
|''On the Buses''
|1969-1973
|London Weekend Television/ITV (UK)
|
|Britcom which made fun of the inefficiency of public transport, which most [[liberals]] are obsessed with.
|-
|''McLeod's Daughters''
|2001-2009
|Nine Network (Australia)
|
|Australian drama about two estranged half-sisters who inherit their late father's farm and must work together to bring the property out of debt. Stresses the importance of family and hard work. The show also eschews modern [[feminism]], instead portraying the main characters as [[Gone with the Wind|Scarlett O'Hara]]-type heroines. Also clearly anti-[[gun control]].
|-
|''Bibleman''
|1995-
|
|
|Christian superhero defends Christianity
|-
|''Rawhide''
|1959-1965
|CBS
|
|Pro-Western Culture led by none other then [[Clint Eastwood]] as Rowdy Yates, the ramrod of a cattle drive led by trail boss Gil Favor (played by Eric Fleming) in the post-Civil War American Southwest. Other prominent members of the drive included cook/medic G.W. Wishbone (played by Paul Brinegar), scout Pete Nolan (Sheb Wooley), drovers Jim Quince (Steve Raines) and Joe Scarlet (Rocky Shahan), wrangler Jesús "Hey Soos" Patines (Robert Cabal) and assistant cook Mushy Mushgrove III (James Murdock). During the cattle drive, the drovers often encountered people along the trail and get involved in solving problems they encountered, including dealing with parched plains, trouble with outlaws, anthrax affecting some of the cattle, predatory wolves or cougars, cattle rustlers and other situations. ''Rawhide'' was the sixth-longest running Western series in television history after ''Wagon Train'' (8 seasons), ''The Virginian'' (9 seasons), ''Bonanza'' (14 seasons), ''Death Valley Days'' (18 seasons) and ''Gunsmoke'' (20 seasons).
|-
|''The Exorcist''
|2016-
|FOX
|TV-14
|Television show based on the conservative film of the same name.
|-
|''Luke Cage''
|2016-
|Netflix
|TV-MA
|Based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name, Luke Cage promotes good pro-American and conservative values, which has annoyed many liberals.<ref>http://heatst.com/entertainment/luke-cage-criticized-for-its-conservative-and-respectability-politics/</ref>
|-
|''Everybody Loves Raymond''
|1996-2005
|CBS
|TV-PG
|Sitcom with sportswriter Ray Barone and his comical everyday life with his wacky but faithful family. Portrays family values in a positive way while overcoming obstacles in a comic fashion.
|-
|'''Til Death''
|2006-2010
|FOX
|TV-PG
|Sitcom where are married couple still stay with each other even after all work that go along with being married.
|-
|''The Goldbergs''
|2013-
|ABC
|TV-PG
|A throwback to the pro-family sitcoms of the 1980s.
|-
|''Home Improvement''
|1991-1999
|ABC
|TV-PG
|Pro-family sitcom with conservative comedian Tim Allen who stars as TV host for ''Tool Time'' while raising his nuclear family.
|-
|''Beakman's World''
|1992-1998
|CBS
|TV-G
|An eccentric scientist named Beakman teaches children about science better than the [[Department of Education]] ever could, the [[free market]] at work.
|-
|''The 700 Club''
|1966-present
|Freeform
|
|
|-
|''Dirty Jobs''
|2005-2012
|Discovery Channel
|TV-14
|Trade activist Mike Rowe isn't exactly liberals cup of tea.
|-
|}

==Conservative Cartoons==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Title
!Original run
!Network
!TV rating
!Description
|-
|''Animated Stories from the New Testament''
|1987-1995
|N/A
|N/A
|The show's title is self-explanatory.
|-
|''The Batman''
|2004-2008
|Kids' WB
|TY-Y7
|The young Caped Crusader begins his fight for justice.
|-
|''Batman: The Animated Series''
|1992-1995
|Fox Kids
|TV-Y7
|Comic book hero [[Batman]] fights for justice and teaches kids good values. In one episode in particular, in "It's Never Too Late" Batman helps drug dealer Arnold Stromwell realize the error of his ways. His brother who's a priest also helps him see this as well.
|-
|''Danny Phantom''
|2004-2007
|Nickelodeon
|TY-Y7
|Teenage superhero Danny Phantom uses his ghost powers to fight evil ghosts. Show also shows the consequences of using his powers for prosonal gain.
|-
|''El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera''
|2007-2008
|Nickelodeon
|TV-Y7
|Unlike most superhero cartoons, Manny Rivera usually debates using his powers for good or evil. But in the end he ends up doing them for good. Throughout the cartoon he also learns how to a responsible adult. The show is also pro-family as Manny's father is seen as a positive role mole. One of the villains is also named Che (a nod to the terrorist murder [[Che Guevara]]). In one episode ("Clash of the Titan") also shows Manny's father ending his partnership with Titanium Titan because he states his family was more important than his partnership. And although Grandpapi (Manny Rivera's grandpa) is a "villain", he's more of a comic relief character rather than an actual bad guy, on top of that, he is still part of the family regardless of that.
|-
|''Extreme Ghostbusters''
|1997
|Toon Disney
|TV-Y7
|Continuation of the ''Ghostbusters''.
|-
|''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero''
|1983-1989
|Syndicated
|
|Do we really need to explain?
|-
|''Legion of Super-Heroes''
|2006-2008
|Kids WB
|TV-Y7
|Based on the overlooked DC comics team of the same name. A [[charity|private non-profit organization]] led by Superman helps those in need. One episode in particular "Lightning Storm" has a group of super "heroes" who taxes people for their service (big government) as opposed to helping people for the greater good.
|-
|''Liberty's Kids''
|2002-2003
|PBS
|TV-Y7
|Does the tittle not say it all? Kids learn about the [[American Revolution]] through the eyes of kids and learn what America stands for.
|-
|''The Little Mermaid (TV Series)''
|1992-1994
|CBS
|TV-Y
|Prequel TV series based on conservative animated Disney movie, very pro-family as well.
|-
|''Ozzy & Drix''
|2002-2004
|Kids WB
|TV-Y7
|Cartoon that portrays white blood cells as police officers who fight germs (anthropomorphized into hoodlums). Not only does it give a positive portrayal of law enforcement, but it's also educational as it teaches kids about human anatomy better than the [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] ever could.
|-
|''Private Snafu''
|1943–46
|Warner Bros. (produced for the [[United States War Department]])
|N/A
|Instructional cartoon shorts, ironic and humorous in tone, that were produced between 1943 and 1945 during World War II. The films were designed to instruct service personnel about security, proper sanitation habits, booby traps and other military subjects, and to improve troop morale.
|-
|''Rambo: The Force of Freedom''
|1986
|N/A
|TV-Y7
|Cartoon from the conservative film series.
|-
|''The Real Ghostbusters''
|1986-1992
|ABC
|TV-Y7
|Cartoon version of the conservative film ''Ghostbusters''.
|-
|''Spider-Man: The Animated Series''
|1994-1998
|Fox Kids
|TV-Y7
|[[Spiderman]] uses his superpowers to help those need (voluntary [[charity]]).
|-
|''Teen Titans''
|2003-2006
|Cartoon Network
|TV-Y7
|A [[charity|private non-profit organization]] led by Robin and super powered teens use their powers for good.
|-
|''[[Veggie Tales]]''
|1993–Present
|N/A
|TV-Y
|The adventures of anthropomorphic vegetables, where the stories are all based upon moral themes based on Christianity.
|-
|''X-Men: Evolution''
|2000-2003
|Kids WB
|TY-Y7
|Unlike the liberal movies, the cartoon follows what the comics were originally about (civil rights), as Charles Xavier leads his private school for mutants to help is students learn to use their superpowers for good. The show also states that government should say away from the social issue involving discrimination rather letting society accept them for what they are.
|-
|}

==Debatable whether conservative==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Title
!Original run
!Network
!TV rating
!Description
|-
|''The Twilight Zone''
|1959-1964 (original run)
|CBS
|
|A recurring theme is that the selfish and the self-centered eventually lose what they sought to gain; hosted by Rod Serling. Examples of [[conservative]] episodes include:
*"The Prime Mover" (episode 57, March 24, 1961)<ref>http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/exploring-the-twilight-zone-57-the-prime-mover.php</ref>
*"The Mirror" (episode 71, October 20, 1961), a scathing criticism of Communism and the [[Fidel Castro]] regime in Cuba; starred a pre-''Columbo'' Peter Falk as Ramos Clemente, a Latin American Communist revolutionary-turned-dictator based on Castro.
|-
|''The Beverly Hillbillies''
|1962-1971
|CBS
|
|Although silly, the show is powerful in illustrating how material possessions are not what define a person. Buddy Ebsen stars as Jed Clampbett.
|-
|''[[King of the Hill]]''
|1997-2010
|Fox
|TV PG
|Despite cartoonish nature, shows the struggle of a hardworking, traditional American family against "alternative" modern cultural movements.
|-
|''Law & Order''
|1990-2010
|NBC
| TV PG13
|Police and court drama similar to ''[[Perry Mason]]'' in which the first halves of each episodes were the crimes, investigations and arrests of suspects and the second halves were the trials and aftermaths thereofs.
|-
|''Antiques Roadshow''
|
|[[PBS]]
|
|Shows the real value (financial and historical) of handcrafts and traditional, old-fashioned things and memorabilia. One of the rare conservative shows to air on the ultra-liberal PBS.
|-
|''The Larry Sanders Show''
|
|
|
|A dark comedy based around the background of a [[Hollywood]] talk show, showing a great deal of liberal and celebrity hypocrisy and mocking them for their behavior.
|-
|''The Office''
|2005-2013
|NBC
|TV PG
|Mockery of liberal ideology and [[political correctness]] in an office setting, without a liberal [[laugh track]]. The main character repeatedly encounters contradictions and absurdities as he tries to conform to liberal expectations. The show was most popular when its humor was conservative, and has declined in quality and popularity as its conservative humor has been diluted. Its later seasons were notably more liberal and offensive towards religion. Steve Carell played the main character for six years and was denied an Emmy Award by liberals every time despite being by far the funniest actor on television.
|-
|''Breaking Bad''
|2008–2013
|American Movie Classics
|
|A previously law-abiding chemistry teacher gets involved in the drug trade and destroys himself and his family. Each immoral decision leads him further along the path of destruction. The evildoers all suffer for their actions.
|-
|''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]''
|
|Fox News
|
|[[Bill O'Reilly]] is like "Archie Bunker": cranky, critical, and wants government to push people around and lock 'em up. O'Reilly rarely espouses true [[conservative]] values, and was extremely vicious towards [[pro-life]] Cardinal Bernard Law. O'Reilly alienates millions of young people.
|-
|''Cops''
|1989-
|Fox; Spike
|TV rating PG
|The good guys protecting the public from criminals, yet arguably promotes police state and big government. Filmed on location in many exotic and mundane locales with actual law enforcement agencies, both here in the U.S. and abroad.
|-
|''[[Smallville]]''
|2001-2011
|CW
|TV rating PG & 14
|Some conservative themes are present in the show and some liberal themes are present. Biblical undertones are present such as main character appearing as a Christ-like figure.
|-
|''Married...with Children''
|1987-1997
|Fox
|TV PG
|The show mocks [[liberal values]], however it also portrays a dysfunctional family as funny. Also the [[Parents Television Council]] called it the crudest comedy on prime time television due to being peppered with lewd punch lines about sex, sexual stimulation, the homosexual lifestyle, and father Al Buddy's fondness for pornographic magazines and strip clubs.
|-
|''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!''
|1969-1970, 1978
|CBS; ABC
|TV-G
|Although it does teach kids conjugated thinking skills, most if the villains are businessmen which some could argue is an anti-capitalism statement.
|-
|''Ash vs Evil Dead''
|2015-
|Starz
|TV-MA
|Well despite it's unrealistic views on demons, it a least portrays them as evil. And while our hero does smoke weed (only once) it does show the disastrous results and consensuses of his actions. It also does portray gun ownership in a positive light.
|-
|''Justice League''
|2001-2006
|Cartoon Network
|TV-Y7
|A [[charity|private non-profit organization]] lead by American icons [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Wonder Woman]] and other DC characters fight to help the helpless and fight for justice. However the later episodes did start being left leaning (probably being bullied by left wing producers) as their is an episode that the villain Chronos plans to go back in time to undo the [[Big Bang theory]] and become a God. Also in "To Another Shore" states that [[Global Warming]] may be real.
|-
|''The Middle''
|2009-
|ABC
|TV-PG
|Despite having a homosexual character (he's only a minor character though, and didn't come out until later in the series), the show is clean cut pro-family sitcom, which has been lacking in recent years.
|-
|''Ben 10''
|2005-2008
|Cartoon Network
|TV-Y7
|Ben Tennyson finds a super powered watch called the Omnitrix which allows him to turn into different alien superheroes for a brief amount of time. Using this gift, he uses it to help those in need. But the later episodes later had his cousin Gwen using [[witchcraft]], however the show portrays them in a neutral manner as two villains named Hex and Charmcaster also use witchcraft for evil.
|-
|''MacGyver''
|1985-1992
|ABC
|TV PG
|The main character played by Richard Dean Anderson uses Yankee ingenuity to solve various problems and escape the clutches of his enemies; the series eschews violence until absolutely necessary. Although this element overall was conservative, the creator Vin Di Bona implied a few times that it was meant to promote the anti-gun agenda, which the anti-Communist site "Discover the Networks" uncovered with it being said "MacGyver producer Vin Di Bona noted that anti-gun messages were a recurring theme in that program. When asked what he thought of conservative critics who claimed that Hollywood was overwhelmingly liberal, Di Bona responded: “I think it’s probably accurate, and I’m happy about it.”"<ref>http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=1477</ref> A reboot of this series, with Lucas Till in the title role, debuted in 2016.
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also ==
*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies]]
*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs]]
*[[Essay:Worst Liberal TV Shows]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greatest Conservative TV Shows}}
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Conservatism]]
[[Category:Greatest Conservative TV Shows]]
[[Category:Entertainment]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Conservative Media]]

United States of America

2017-02-24T02:15:22Z

Ambassador: SOMEBODY BLOCK HIM!

{{Country
|name =''United States of America''
|map =US map.PNG
|map2 =Loc of United States.png
|established=1776
|flag =50 star flag.png
|arms =United States arms.png
|capital =Washington, D.C.
|government =Constitutional Republic
|language =English
|official =n
|president =Donald John Trump
|area =3,718,695 sq mi
|pop =313,232,000 (2011)
|gdp-year = $15 trillion (2011)
|gdp-pc =$48,029 (2011)
|currency =United States Dollar (USD)
}}
The '''United States of America'''<ref>(''conventional short form'': '''United States'''; ''abbreviation'': '''US''' or '''USA'''; sometimes also referred to as '''the States''' or simply as '''America''')</ref> is a federal republic of fifty states, a capitol district, and fifteen territories. It is a prosperous and a very [[conservative]] and Christian nation, based on the longest-running [[Constitution]] in history. Located on the [[North American]] continent, it is bound mainly by [[Canada]] to the north, [[Mexico]] to the south, the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the west, and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the east. Founded originally as 13 colonies in the [[British Empire]], Britain's American colonies formally broke with the mother country on July 4, 1776 with the [[Declaration of Independence]].<ref>IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776. [http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America], ushistory.org, (Accessed August 2010).</ref> Britain formally recognized the independence of the new nation, the United States of America, in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Shortly thereafter, in 1787, the [[United States Constitution]] was written; grounded on [[Republican form of government|republican]] political principles.

The Constitution remains in effect today, albeit with several amendments since then. The Americans created political parties and, since abolishing [[slavery]] in a bloody [[American Civil War|civil war]] (1861–65), instituted a form of government guided by the rule of law rather than the desires of a majority of voters. According to the U.S. Constitution written by America's [[Founding Fathers]], the United States is a [[Constitutional Republic]] that functions as a representative [[democracy]]. America derives many of its policies from Christian Principles and the logic behind the Bible.(See the section on ''Natural Law'') Many people view America as holding a special place among nations, due to its foundations in liberty and justice.

America's [[free market]] economy grew rapidly, becoming the largest in the world by the 1870s. Between 1791 and 1959, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. After defeating the Soviet Union in the [[Cold War]], the U.S. emerged as the world's only [[superpower]], boasting the largest economy and most powerful military. It exerts enormous cultural and intellectual influence worldwide, and in return is the target of the enemies of democracy and [[capitalism]].

The capital of the United States of America is [[Washington, DC]].

== People ==
[[File:Php3sfokfPM.jpg|225px|left|At Washington, DC.]]
Population: 321,634,000 (2015 est.)<ref>2016 ''Britannica Book of the Year''.</ref>
Population growth rate: 0.97% (2010 est.) Labor force: 153.9 million (2010 est.).

Ethnic groups: white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate) note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US population is Hispanic <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html CIA - The World Factbook.]</ref>

In 2010, around 400,000 [[illegal immigrants]] were deported. The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington, estimates 11.5 million to 12 million "unauthorized migrants" live in the US today.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0516/p01s02-ussc.html Illegal immigrants in the US: How many are there?]</ref>

Although the diverse group of immigrants that has come to the U.S. speak many languages, [[English]] is the traditional unifying language of the United States and is necessary for full civic and cultural participation.

The religious affiliation of the United States is summarized in the following table.<ref>2016 ''Britannica Book of the Year''.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Religion
!Percentage
|-
|Independent Christian
|23.2%
|-
|[[Roman Catholic]]
|19.6%
|-
|[[Protestant]] (including Anglican)
|18.9%
|-
|unaffiliated [[Christian]]
|16.5%
|-
|[[Mormon]]/[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
|3.3%
|-
|Jewish
|1.9%
|-
|Orthodox
|1.8%
|-
|Muslim
|1.6%
|-
|Buddhist
|0.9%
|-
|Other
|12.3%
|}

==Geography==

[[File:Colorado.jpg|thumb|[[Colorado]].]]
Forty-eight of the fifty United States form a regional grouping known as the contiguous United States, bordering both the North [[Atlantic Ocean]] and the North [[Pacific Ocean]] and lying between [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]]. Two of the fifty states, Alaska and Hawaii, are not contiguous with any of the other states. Alaska is located to the northwest of [[Canada]] and lies across the [[Bering Strait]] from the Russian Federation. [[Hawaii]] is an [[archipelago]] located in the North Pacific Ocean. Puerto Rico, which is largely self-governing, is a commonwealth and is considered part of the U.S., as are several smaller territories in the Pacific Ocean, such as Guam. Each of the 50 states has a large degree of sovereignty, but the boundaries are debated and shift slightly every year.

At over 3.7 million square miles (over 9.6 million km²), the U.S. (including its non-contiguous and overseas states and territories) is the third largest country by total area (after Russia and Canada). It is the world's third most populous nation, with over 350 million people (after China and India).

Mt. McKinley, Alaska, is the highest point in North America and Death Valley, California, is the lowest point on the continent.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html CIA World Factbook], ''North America :: United States'', Updated on February 23, 2011, (Accessed on February 23, 2011).</ref>

Most American cities, such as [[Los Angeles]] or [[New York City]], are ugly, partly due to the massive inner-city crime within their boundaries and their failed leftist leadership which as ruined quality of life.

==History==
===Natural Law===
Many people familiar with the American Revolution do not realize that America is based on [[Natural Law]]. As [[Cleon Skousen]] points out:
{{cquote|Most modern Americans have never studied Natural Law. They are therefore mystified by the constant reference to Natural Law by the Founding Fathers.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Skousen|first1=Cleon|title=[[The Five Thousand Year Leap]]|date=1981|pages=33}}</ref>}}
[[Natural Law]] recognizes that certain laws are natural; that is, these laws naturally existing ''pre-date'' the existence of governments. Natural Law[s] generally indicate the existence of natural rights as well, which [[John Locke]] writes about in his book [[Two Treatises of Government]]. The writings of John Locke are mentioned several times in both the [[Constitutional Convention]] as well as [[The Federalist Papers]]. Natural Law is not only something that was very well understood by the generation that would become the [[Founding Fathers]], but it was also well recognized by the generations preceding the founding generation. Those generations that landed on the shores of America, most of whom were seeking religious liberty. The relationship between Liberty, Natural Law, and God can be seen in many of the documents preceding the founding, such as the dedication given at the [[Liberty Tree]] by a [[Sons of Liberty|son of liberty]] named [[Silas Downer]], as well as the first written constitution of the 13 colonies, [[Connecticut]]'s [[Fundamental Orders of Connecticut|Fundamental Orders]]
===American Revolution===
{{main|American Revolution}}
[[File:Washington-deleware.jpg|thumb|left|Washington, Chief of the Continental Army, is shown crossing the Delaware River.]]
The American Revolution exploded from fears the British Empire was trying to restrict the historic rights and liberties of Americans. The British victory in the French and Indian War ended the threat that foreign powers might attack the colonies; Britain's protection was no longer needed. At the same time Britain decided to assert its powers by imposing [[taxes]]. The taxes (as on stamps, sugar, and tea) were not large but the principle was simple: Americans insisted their own [[legislature]]s could impose taxes but not [[Parliament]], because Americans were not represented there. "No taxation without representation!" and "[[Don't tread on me]]" became common phrases in America by the American people, but the British refused over and over again to accept it. London sent in troops when Boston protested vehemently, and Americans organized shadow governments in every colony.

The Americans were adopting a new political philosophy, called [[republicanism]], which stressed civic virtue, fear of corruption, and disdain for [[aristocracy]] (there were no aristocrats in America apart from occasional British visitors). Republicanism alerted Americans to their constitutional rights as Englishmen – one right was that the people, through their elected officials, set the taxes and upheld law. Constitutionally, to Americans their "elected officials" were not represented in the British Parliament, it meant having their own colonial legislatures. The British replied haughtily toward this desire from the Americans, going so far as to suggest America was "virtually represented" by the British Parliament in some way or form.

====Boston Tea Party====
{{main|Boston Tea Party}}

The British Parliaments idea of representation in America fueled their desire to increase taxes on the Americans. The tax on stamps in 1765 incited near rebellion, as the 13 separate colonies began meeting together and sharing their grievances. The stamp tax was repealed but others followed, especially the tax on tea. In response, Americans boycotted tea and merchants refused to order it, except in Boston. There, a well-organized group of patriots dumped the tea in the harbor, historically known as the [[Boston Tea Party]]. These events infuriated London, so they sent troops to North America and stripped [[Massachusetts]] of its self-government and suspended the historic rights the colonists were so proud of.

====Thirteen Colonies====
{{main|Thirteen Colonies}} [[Image:Pop1750.jpg|right|thumb|400px]]

The thirteen original colonies began organizing shadow governments, called "Committees of Correspondence," which prepared the Americans for the day "patriots" (or "Whigs," as they called themselves) could assume all functions of local government. That day came when the British sent troops from Boston to seize gunpowder in attempt to dismantle a potential revolt, and the American patriots gathered there to defend their liberty. These patriots were known as the American "Minute men," a well trained militia, and had planned for this day at Lexington and Concord. When the militia clashed with the elite British troops they soundly defeated them, prompting an historic backlash from Britain. The American Revolution had begun.

The thirteen colonies, organized as the "[[First Continental Congress]]," became a national government as the shadow governments in each colony took control and ousted all royal officials. Congress set up a [[Continental Army]] and gave command to an American hero and Virginia's leader, [[George Washington]]. George Washington took charge in Boston, and he forced the British to leave in the spring of 1776. All 13 colonies were at this point in control of the American Patriots, and they listened as [[Tom Paine]] explained ''Common Sense'' principles, proudly boasting of America's strength and its power as a new nation. America, in its own right as an individual nation no longer needed nor wanted a foreign [[King]]. Congress called on the colonies to become States and to write new State constitutions. On July 4, 1776, Congress unanimously declared the independence of a new nation, the United States of America.

====France in the American Revolutionary War====
[[File:Marquis de Lafayette.jpg|thumb|[[Marquis de Lafayette]].]]
King [[George III]] could not abide the insolent Americans and he sent his small army and large navy to America in attempt to reconquer his lost colonies. They were able to recapture [[New York City]], but the King's failure to spread elsewhere greatly outweighed this small victory. The powerful Royal navy gave the British command of the seas and the ability to land troops anywhere and capture any specific place, but the shortage of British soldiers, and the very long 3000 mile supply line, meant that the British could only hold a few points at any one time. Hiring German soldiers (Hessians) was necessary, but they were not enough, for the Patriots always had more available soldiers. The British expectations that Loyalist would rise up and overthrow the Patriots was a [[chimera]]; the Loyalists did provide some help to British invasion forces, but were never strong enough to operate on their own or control any territory.

[[France]], humiliated by Britain in the 1760s, was stronger in the late 1770s than it was a decade earlier and wanted revenge against the British for their past woes. Thus, the French secretly armed and financed the Americans. Lafayette, a French general in the American Revolutionary War, served in the Continental Army under George Washington. He convinced France to send their first naval and land forces to the Americas and participated in defending Richmond, Virginia from Benedict Arnold and in the battle of Yorktown, Virginia; Lafayette contributed in no slight degree toward the grand result.

In 1777, the British sent a large army to invade [[New York]] and cut off the revolutionary states of [[New England]]. The plan was a disaster as the American militia captured the entire British invasion force at Saratoga. Encouraged by diplomat [[Benjamin Franklin]], the French recognized the United States as an independent nation, signed a treaty of alliance, and entered the war against Britain. Later, the treaty extended to [[Spain]] and the [[Netherlands]] as allies to America; Britain's diplomacy was disjointed that it had no allies at all, and was militarily matched or surpassed by America and its new allies. The British invasion of the South in 1780-81 was designed to bring out Loyalist support, but it failed and the second major British army was captured at the [[Battle of Yorktown]]. The British Parliament revolted at their reckless king and his incompetent government and sued for peace, which was achieved on terms favorable to the U.S. in 1783. About 20% of the Loyalists moved to [[Canada]], but many stayed in America, and the new peaceful nation resumed its rapid growth.

===New Nation===
[[File:Bierstadt Looking Down Yosemite-Valley 1865.jpg|thumb|[[Albert Bierstadt]], ''Looking Down Yosemite-Valley'', 1865.]]
In 1783, when the Treaty of Paris concluded the war of independence, the American population totalled some three million citizens and slaves living on about one million square miles of land. Tens of thousands of [[Native Americans]] also lived in the [[Northwest Territory]] and the Southwest.

The Thirteen original states are [[Connecticut]], [[Delaware]], [[Georgia]], [[Maryland]], [[Massachusetts]] (including [[maine]]), [[New Hampshire]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York]], [[North Carolina]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Rhode Island]], [[South Carolina]] and [[Virginia]]. In 1790, an agreement between supporters of Jefferson and those of [[Alexander Hamilton]] resulted in the creation of the [[District of Columbia]] from part of [[Maryland]]; it has served as the national capital since 1800. The remainder of the 1783 territory was eventually organized as the states of [[Ohio]], [[Indiana]], [[Michigan]], [[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Kentucky]], [[Tennessee]], [[Mississippi]] and [[Alabama]].

===Westward Expansion===
[[File:U.S. Territorial Acquisitions PD WC.jpg|thumb|left|Territorial acquisitions such as the Thirteen Colonies, the Louisiana Purchase, and British and Spanish Cession.]]
In 1803, [[French]] first consul [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] took advantage of a lull in his war with Great Britain to sell the [[Louisiana Territory]] to the United States, more than doubling the nation's land area. This territory would later be organized as the states of [[Minnesota]], [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Montana]], [[Wyoming]], [[Nebraska]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]], [[Arkansas]], [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Louisiana]] proper. President Jefferson commissioned [[Lewis and Clark]] to explore the new territory from 1802 to 1804.

The U.S. seized, then purchased [[Florida]] from Spain in 1819. [[Texas]] joined the United States in 1845 after winning its revolution against Mexico.
[[File:Map Leading Group by County US.jpg|thumb|Map Leading Group by County, 2000.]]
After victory the [[Mexican American War]] of 1846-48, the U.S. purchased via the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] territory that became the states of [[California]], [[Nevada]], [[Utah]], [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]] and [[Arizona]]. In 1846 the U.S. and Britain agreed that the 49th Parallel (degree of latitude) would serve as the boundary between the U. S. and [[British Columbia]] (now part of Canada). The American portion became the states of [[Washington]], [[Oregon]] and [[Idaho]].

===Civil War===
{{main|American Civil War}}
An issue that had been left unresolved at the [[Constitutional Convention]] was [[slavery]]. The South's largely agricultural economy depended on slave labor to work its cotton plantations. The North was more heavily industrialized, and slavery was outlawed in northern states. After a series of failed compromises, the South broke away to form the [[Confederate States of America]], following the election of President [[Abraham Lincoln]] of the new [[Republican Party]] in the election of 1860. Four long years of war ended in the spring of 1865 with the surrenders of Confederate generals [[Robert E. Lee]] at Appomattox, [[Virginia]] and [[Joseph E. Johnston]] at Durham, [[North Carolina]].

===America Acquires an Empire===

In 1867, the U.S. purchased [[Alaska]] from [[Russia]]. It became a state in 1959.

Hawaii became an independent republic in 1894 and voluntarily joined the U.S. in 1898, becoming a state in 1960.

As a result of the [[Spanish-American War]], the United States took control of the [[Philippines]] and annexed [[Puerto Rico]] and [[Guam]]. The Philippines became independent in 1946, after the U.S. reconquered the islands from Japan in World War II. [[Puerto Rico]] has occasionally held referendum that ratified its continuing unique "Commonwealth" status as part of the United States. The residents of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. Guam continues as a U.S. owned territory with full citizenship for its inhabitants. The people of Puerto Rico and Guam have a vote in presidential primaries and a voice, but not a vote, in Congress.

==The Constitution and Politics in the United States==

[[Image:76485685i79.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The drafting committee presenting the [[Declaration of Independence]] to the [[Continental Congress]], painted by John Trumbull 1817–1819.]]

Between 1776 and 1788, the United States was governed according to the [[Articles of Confederation]]. The Founding Fathers formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788. Since 1789, that constitution has been the basic governing document. America's Founding Fathers understood that a democracy is always in flux and given to “mob rule,”<ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/27/the-coming-g20-riots-the-spread-of-mob-rule/comment-page-1/ The coming G20 riots & the spread of mob rule], ''Michelle Malkin'', March 27, 2009.</ref> while a republic is fixed and stable, resting on “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” Because of the uncertainty of democracy, [[Benjamin Rush]] — a signer of the Declaration of Independence — wrote: “A simple democracy is one of the greatest of evils.”<ref>AWR Hawkins. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/america-a-republic-not-a-democracy/ America: A Republic, Not a Democracy], ''Pajamas Media'', September 03, 2009.</ref>

Sovereignty in America comes from the citizenry, and the basic political values are called "[[republicanism]]," (not to be confused with the [[Republican Party]],) especially the commitment to civic virtue and civic duty, and opposition to corruption and aristocracy. Popular political parties emerged in the United States in the 1790s; currently the two major political parties are the [[Democratic Party]], and the [[Republican Party]]. Minor parties are of little importance overall but can be useful in pushing certain topics to the public eye.

States within the United States must have their own individual Constitutions as well, which usually adhere to that individual State's understanding of Natural Law, however, the supreme rule of the United States Constitution take precedence.<ref>[http://newmexico.heavensentgaming.com/lexicon/american-modern-culture/ American modern culture] on the [[New Mexico Cultural Encyclopedia, Lexicon, and News]]</ref>

=== The Role of Religion in Government ===
{{main|Religion and U.S. Government}}

==Government==
{{main|United States Federal Government}}

[[Image:56eugyjnm.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The [[White House]], the official home and workplace of the [[President of the United States]] of America.]]

===Executive Branch===

*Chief of state: The [[President of the United States]] is both the chief of state and head of government
*Head of government: President of the United States; [[Vice President of the United States]]
*Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
*Elections: The president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term)

===Legislative Branch===

The United States legislative branch of government is a [[bicameral]] Congress, which consists of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] (100 seats, 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the [[House of Representatives]] (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms).

===Judicial Branch===
{{main|Supreme Court of the United States}}

The United States [[Supreme Court]] consists of nine justices, nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate. The judicial branch also includes the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States District Courts. Article III, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution provides that judges serve "during good Behavior," ''i.e.'', until they resign, die, or are impeached. The Supreme Court's decision in ''Marbury v. Madison'' established judicial review, whereby the federal courts have the power to declare federal and state laws and actions of the executive branch of the federal or a state government unconstitutional.

== Economy ==

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $47,400. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in [[Europe]] and [[Japan]] in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.

The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Unfortunately, China remains both the banker and salesman to the United State's role as buyer, and debtor. This will not end well for the United States, Republican president or not. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The war in March–April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. Soaring oil prices between 2005 and the first half of 2008 threatened [[inflation]] and [[unemployment]], as higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets. Imported oil accounts for about 60% of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable [[trade deficit]]s and [[budget deficit]]s, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups.
[[File:Gast1872.jpg|thumb|"American Progress," painting by John Gast, 1872.]]
The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $840 billion in 2008 before shrinking to $506 billion in 2009, and ramping back up to $630 billion in 2010. The global economic downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment bank failures, falling home prices, and tight credit pushed the United States into a [[recession]] by mid-2008. [[GDP]] contracted until the third quarter of 2009, making this the deepest and longest downturn since the [[Great Depression]]. To help stabilize financial markets, the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. The government used some of these funds to purchase equity in US banks and other industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early 2011.

In January 2009 the US Congress passed and President [[Barack Obama]] signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. Approximately two-thirds of these funds were injected into the economy by the end of 2010. In March 2010, President Obama signed a health insurance reform bill into law that will extend coverage to an additional 32 million American citizens by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. In July 2010, the president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a bill designed to promote financial stability by protecting consumers from financial abuses, ending taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, dealing with troubled banks that are "too big to fail," and improving accountability and transparency in the financial system - in particular, by requiring certain financial derivatives to be traded in markets that are subject to government regulation and oversight.

In November 2010, in an attempt to keep interest rates from rising and snuffing out the nascent recovery, the US Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) announced that it would purchase $600 billion worth of US Government bonds by June 2011.

The United States is the leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; [[petroleum]], [[steel]], motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, [[electronics]], food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining.
<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html CIA - The world Factbook]</ref>

==Flag Description==
[[Image:50 star flag.png|left|thumb|150px|The [[Flag of the United States of America]]]]
{{main|Flag of the United States of America}}

Thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors might have been the basis for a number of other flags, including [[Chile]], [[Liberia]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Puerto Rico]].

{{Clear}}

==References==
[[File:Weir, Afternoon by the Pond, ca. 1908-1909.jpg|thumb|Julian Alden Weir, Afternoon by the Pond, ca. 1908-1909.]]

{{reflist}}

{{Clear}}

== See also==
[[File:Lawrence The Migration of the Negro.jpg|thumb|The Migration of the Negro by [[Jacob Lawrence]], 1940-1941.]]
*[[Pledge of Allegiance]]
*[[Famous American artists]]
*[[List of 50 states]]
*[[Americas]]
*[[America (continent)]]
*[[Columbia]]
*[[Gallery of American Masterpieces]]
*[[Christian Nation]]
*[[American conservatism]]
*[[Adair v. United States]]
*[[Americana]]

{{Clear}}

==External links==
*[[CIA]] - [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html The World FactBook]
*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/616563/United-States United States.]
*[http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/america.htm America]
*[http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/flags_of_us_states.htm Flags of the U.S. States]
*[http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf Interactive map test of the 50 U.S. states]
*[http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h445.html U.S. History]
*[http://www.theroot.com/buzz/who-owns-united-states Who Owns the United States?]
*[http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html Wealth, Income, and Power.] by G. William Domhoff, University of California Santa Cruz.
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Real Life and Death: the Bible, Israel, and America interplay]

{{USstates}}

[[Category:North American Countries]]
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[[Category:United States History]]
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Barack Hussein Obama

2017-02-24T02:14:04Z

Ambassador:

{{Officeholder
|name=Barack Hussein Obama
|image=President Barack Obama.jpg
|party=[[Democrat Party]]
|spouse=[[Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama]]; may have had a prior marriage.<ref>Corsi, Jerome R. (July 19, 2012). [http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/was-barack-obama-married-in-college/ "Was Barack Obama married in college?"]. WorldNetDaily website. See [[WND]]</ref>
|religion=Islamic heritage, said to have converted to Protestantism
|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=44th
|terms=January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2017
|vp=[[Joe Biden]]
|preceded=[[George W. Bush]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Donald Trump]]
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Illinois
|terms=January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008
|preceded=Peter Fitzgerald
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Roland Burris]]
}}
}}

'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' (reportedly born in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] on August 4, 1961) was the 44th President of the [[United States]]. Elected to serve as America first "post-racial" president, race relations largely deteriorated under President Obama's leadership.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/05/politics/obama-race-relations-poll/</ref> With the complete disengagement of American troops from [[Iraq]] and the assassination of [[Osama bin Laden]], the [[Islamic State]] arose and recruitment of global [[jihad]]is multiplied exponentially. His economic [[stimulus]] package in response to the [[Crash of 2008]] took seven years to return [[unemployment]] to historically acceptable levels. Economic growth remained below 2.0% throughout his two terms as poverty and income inequality increased.

Obama made an ungraceful departure from office claiming on October 18, 2016 Donald Trump's complaints of lies spread about Trump were corrosive to American democracy and an invented conspiracy theory.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/18/politics/obama-trumps-rigged-election-claim-whining-before-the-games-even-over/</ref> Less than two months later after Trump had won, Obama claimed he himself had been derelict in his duty and had fallen asleep at the switch allowing Russian hackers to steal the election for Donald Trump.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/15/us/politics/russia-hack-election-trump-obama.html</ref>

The [[liberal claptrap]] that elected Obama seems silly today. It was claimed, for example, that Obama had millions of followers on Twitter, when allegedly some 70% of them were fake.<ref>Jackson, David (August 24, 2012). [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/08/obama-has-millions-of-fake-twitter-followers/1#.UDfQVqA2et_ "Obama has millions of fake Twitter followers"]. USA Today website/The Oval blog. See [[USA Today]].</ref> And although the [[lamestream media]] promoted Obama as a great orator, in fact he relied almost entirely on teleprompters for his speeches and press conferences, and at one point even had teleprompters set up for him in a middle school classroom in order to speak to the media.

Obama is [[pro-abortion]]. In fact, he was the most pro-abortion president to date.<ref>[http://www.sba-list.org/suzy-b-blog/obama-most-pro-abortion-president-ever "Obama: The most pro-abortion president ever"] (July 12, 2011). The Susan B. Anthony List website/The Suzy B Blog.</ref> Obama dedicated himself to promoting abortion—rather than reduce them as he promised. Just to name a few of the administrative actions by which he has done this would include expanding abortions through [[Obamacare]], appointing many pro-abortion judges and officials, moving to strip medical professionals of rights of conscience, and forcing taxpayers to support the pro-abortion movement around the globe. During his campaigns Obama said that he intended to "[[Redistribution of wealth|spread the wealth around]]" and was portrayed as saying that entrepreneurs and employers deserve no credit for building their businesses.<ref>Multiple references:
*Zuckerman, Mortimer B. (July 16, 2010). [http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/16/obamas-anti-business-policies-are-our-economic-katrina "Obama's anti-business policies are our economic Katrina"]. ''U.S. News and World Report'' website.
*Barnes, Fred (July 22, 2009). [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/619dvjlm.asp "An anti-business president"]. ''The Weekly Standard''. Vol. 14, No. 38. Retrieved at the The Weekly Standard website. See [[The Weekly Standard]].
*Shedlock, Mike (August 20, 2010). [http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/small-businesses-are-not-hiring-why.html "Small businesses are not hiring—Why should they?"] Blogspot website/Mish's global economic trend analysis.
*Wright, C. Edmund (February 12, 2012). [http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/dear_mr_president_why_we_are_n.html "Dear Mr. President: Why we are not hiring"]. American Thinker website. See [[American Thinker]].</ref> On March 1, 2013 Obama issued [[Executive Order|executive orders]] to implement his [[Budget sequester|sequester]] of budget cuts which<ref>Bedard, Paul (February 27, 2013). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dnc-boosts-obama-job-cut-threat-of-750000-to-2-million/article/2522664?custom_click=rss "Sequester hype: DNC adds 1.25 million job cuts to Obama's 750,000"]. ''Washington Examiner'' website. Article located by Weasel Zippers website.</ref> has been widely criticized for destroying jobs in what was an anemic and fragile recovery.<ref>Foys, Bob (February 26, 2013). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-26/news/chi-20130226-foys_briefs_1_sequester-president-obama-press-secretary-jay-carney "President Obama's sequester"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See [[Chicago Tribune]].</ref>

Warren L. Dean Jr., an adjunct professor of law at [[Georgetown University]] Law Center, wrote:
*{{obama income inequality}}

Obama's bizarre gaffes, or [[Obamaisms]], were frequent and embarrassing, but typically unreported by the [[liberal media]]. Some examples are: spelling respect as R-S-P-E-C-T when he was attempting to sing that line from [[Aretha Franklin]]'s famous song, spelling Ohio as O-I-H-O, and saying that we built the Intercontinental Railroad instead of the Transcontinental Railroad, saying "How's it going, Sunshine" when he was in the city of Sunrise, Florida.<ref>Kurtzman, Daniel (March 6, 2014 or aft.) [http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama-isms.htm "Obamaisms: Dumb quotes and gaffes by Barack Obama"]. About.com webiste/About entertainment/Political humor/Funny political jokes/Political gaffes.</ref> Many hardworking American businessmen took offense to a 2012 campaign speech about the economy where, referring to infrastructure improvements, he said "You didn't build that." Obama offended [[Poland]] by referring to the [[Nazi]] death camps there as "Polish death camps." Later Obama apologized.<ref>Sink, Justin (June 1, 2012). [http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/europe/230419-obama-letter-says-he-regrets-polish-death-camp-gaffe "Obama apologizes in writing for 'Polish death camp' verbal gaffe"]. The Hill website/Policy/International.</ref> Gaffes are inevitable for people with a high profile, but several of Obama's were very revealing ("you didn't build that"), and they show how the [[mainstream media]] tends to emphasize the gaffes of conservatives as opposed to liberals.

The number of jihadis worldwide has grown by a factor of 4 or 5 at least, since Obama took the reins of power as Commander-in-Chief.<ref>The number of Islamic extremists susceptible to jihadist recruitment during the George W. Bush administration worldwide was estimated at 12,000; the Islamic State alone by 2015 had estimates of a standing army of jihadis as high as 70,000 to 200,000.</ref> Remarkably, the ''[[New York Times]]'' was critical of Obama's incessant boasting about the killing of [[Osama bin Laden|bin Laden]].<ref>Baker, Peter and Shear, Michael D. (April 27, 2012). [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/us/politics/critics-pounce-on-obamas-trumpeting-of-bin-laden-death.html?_r=0 "Obama trumpets killing of Bin Laden, and critics pounce"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See [[The New York Times]].</ref>

According to a [[NBC News]] poll, from August 2014, Obama's approval rating was a dismal 40%,<ref>Murray, Mark (August 5, 2014). [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/poll-americans-dissatisfied-economy "Poll: Obama’s approval rating hits all-time low"]. MSNBC website. See [[MSNBC]]</ref> showing that six in ten Americans disapproved of his [[liberal]] policies. Given that liberals frequently engage in [[Liberal lies|deceit]], the actual approval ratings could be much lower. When Obama left office, the same pollsters who prognosticated a blowout win for Hillary Clinton maintained Obama's approval rating was above 50%.

==Biography==
===Birth===
{{TOC right}}
:''Main article : [[Early life and career of Barack Hussein Obama]]''
Obama claims to have been born in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] on August 4, 1961 to Stanley Ann Dunham and [[Barack Obama Sr.]]—who had married just six months prior.<ref name=msnbc>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23257295/ns/msnbc_tv-documentaries/t/obama-becomes-rising-star-among-democrats/ "Obama becomes rising star among Democrats: Transcript of 'The Candidates: Barack Obama'"] (February 20, 2008). MSNBC. Retrieved from NBC News website/MSNBC TV documentaries. See [[MSNBC]].</ref> Some contend that this story is a complete fabrication. After many leading conservatives—including the leadership of this site and [[Donald Trump]]—called for Obama to release his birth certificate he produced a document that he claimed was his birth certificate on April 27, 2011. Sheriff [[Joe Arpaio]] of Maricopa County in Arizona conducted an investigation of Obama's eligibility and questioned whether the alleged "birth certificate" was a fake; however, no charges have been filed. [[Obama]] was reportedly assigned a social security number whose area code was assigned to applications coming from zip codes in Connecticut.<ref>Beginning in 1972, all [[Social Security]] numbers were issued from a central office in Baltimore, Maryland. [http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/geocard.html "The SSN numbering scheme"] (March 2001 or bef.) Social Security: Official Social Security website/History/Social Security Numbers.</ref>

As an interesting side note, the Hawaii official (Loretta Fuddy, State Health Department Director) who verified Barack Obama’s birth certificate died in a plane crash.<ref>[http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20131211_Small_aircraft_crashes_off_Kalaupapa.html?id=235500801 "State Health Director killed in plane crash, 8 others survive"] (December 11, 2013). Honolulu Star-Advertiser website/News/Breaking.</ref> Besides Fuddy, Health Department Deputy Director Keith Yamamoto was also on board. The plane's engine had failed right after take off and crashed about a half-mile off Molokai's north shore on Dec 11, 2013 at about 4:00 p.m. Interestingly enough, Health Director Loretta Fuddy was the only death of the nine people on board; she died of "cardiac arrhythmia".

The original claims that Obama was born in [[Kenya]] come from the Obamas themselves. In 1991, Obama's literary agent, Acton & Dystel, published a promotional booklet that stated that Obama was born in Kenya.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (May 17, 2012). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/The-Vetting-Barack-Obama-Literary-Agent-1991-Born-in-Kenya-Raised-Indonesia-Hawaii "The vetting—exclusive—Obama's literary agent in 1991 booklet: 'Born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii'"]. Breitbart website/Big government. See [[Breitbart.com]].
*Newby, John (May 17, 2012). [http://www.examiner.com/article/publisher-s-1991-booklet-says-barack-obama-was-born-kenya "Publisher's 1991 booklet says Barack Obama 'was born in Kenya'"]. Examiner.com website/News/Politics/Republican.</ref> The claim that Obama was born in Kenya remained on the agent's web site until 2007.<ref>Shapiro, Ben (May 17, 2012). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/Obama-pamphlet-in-use-2007 "Obama's lit agency used 'born in Kenya' bio until 2007"]. Breitbart website/Big government. See [[Breitbart.com]].</ref> Internet archives confirm this information.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070403190001/http://www.dystel.com/clientlist.html "Client list"]. Dystel and Goderic Literary Management website. Retrieved from April 3, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.</ref> In addition to the information from literary agents, Michelle Obama stated in a speech that Kenya is Obama's "homeland".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLzJz2A2N1c "Michelle Obama: Kenya is Barack Obama's homeland!"] (Michelle Obama speaking at the 2008 LGBT Democratic Convention delegate luncheon hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign: "The world as it should be", August 26, 2008) (April 7, 2010). YouTube video, 0:30, posted by Rubystars0000. See [[Human Rights Campaign]].</ref>

Barack Obama Sr. was not a [[Natural born citizen|citizen of the United States]]. At the time of Obama's birth, Kenya was a British colony, meaning that not only was Obama Sr. a British subject, but he passed that status on to his son. When Kenya gained independence, Obama and his father both ceased to be British subjects and became Kenyan citizens. Barack Obama was a dual citizen of the United States and Kenya until his Kenyan citizenship automatically expired in 1984, as he had failed to renounce US nationality and swear loyalty to Kenya. Even if he had been born with US citizenship through his mother, it has been argued that as he was born with dual nationality, he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and thus constitutionally ineligible to become President. Despite this, no court that has considered such arguments has accepted the proposition that Obama is not a natural-born citizen.<ref>See [http://www.scribd.com/doc/88910250/Purpura-Moran-Initial-Decision-of-ALJ-Masin Initial Decision by Jeff S. Masin] in ''Purpura and Moran v. Obama'' at 7 ("Thus, accepting for the point of this issue that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii, he is a “natural born Citizen” regardless of the status of his father."), Tisdale v. Obama (E.D.Va 2012) Order at 2 ("It is well settled that those born in the United States are considered natural born citizens." (citing ''United States v. Wong Kim Ark'', 169 U.S. 649)), ''aff'd per curiam'' by 4th Cir., ''Ankeny v. Governor of the State of Indiana'', 916 N.E.2d 678, 685 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) ("With regard to President Barack Obama, the Plaintiffs posit that because his father was a citizen of the United Kingdom, President Obama is constitutionally ineligible to assume the Office of the President....we hold that the Plaintiffs' arguments fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted")</ref>

===Early life===
Obama's birth parents divorced in 1963 when his mother discovered Barack Obama Sr. was already married to a woman living in Kenya.<ref>Birrell, Ian (August 12, 2011). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2024819/Barack-Obamas-father-Bigamist-drunk-wife-beater.html "Barack Obama's father: Bigamist, drunk and wife-beater, [review of] ''The Other Barack'' by Sally H. Jacobs (Pubic Affairs £20)"]. MailOnline/U.K./Books [U.K.] This is one of the first misleading statements about Barack Obama when he was introduced to America as Keynote Speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Advance publicity billed him as the "son of Kenyan economist" when infact Obama Sr. was forced out of the graduate program at Harvard because of his bigamy. He returned to Kenya. Obama at the age 9 once briefly met his father who served in the corrupt Kenyan socialist regime's Department of [[Economic Planning]]. Obama Sr. killed himself in a drunken car accident.</ref> When Obama was 2 years old his mother married Lolo Soetoro, an [[Indonesian]] geologist. At age 6 his mother and adoptive father took him to Jakarta, Indonesia for 4 years while his mother pursued a Ph.D. in Anthropology requiring fieldwork there.<ref name="db mother">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-03/a-singular-woman-by-janny-scott-review-by-stacy-schiff/#|publisher=The Daily Beast website|date=May 3, 2011|title="Dreams of his mother": Review of ''A Singular Woman'' by Janny Scott|author=Stacy Schiff}} See [[The Daily Beast]].</ref> His mother then abandoned him in Hawaii with his grandparents (Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, who had moved to Hawaii in 1959) <ref name=revealed>Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See CNN</ref> so she could return to Indonesia after her divorce. Obama's grandfather arranged for his friend, the noted Communist writer [[Frank Marshall Davis]], to serve as a mentor and role model for an impressionable African-American youth.

Other siblings of Obama's include his half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and 7 other children born to his father by 4 different women.<ref name=raisingobama>Purdum, Todd (March 2008). [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803 "Raising Obama"]. ''Vanity Fair''.</ref> For much of his early life, prior to his transfer to [[Columbia University]], he went by his nickname, "Barry." In the summer of 1988, before attending [[Harvard Law School]] (he'd just been accepted), he visited Kogelo, Kenya, to learn more about his father's family. When his mother died in 1995, he and his sister Maya scattered her ashes over Hawaii's south shore.<ref name=revealed />

Obama attended [[Jeremiah Wright|Reverend Jeremiah Wright]]'s Trinity United Church from 1984-1988 during his time as a [[community organizer]] (''See [[Barack Obama#1984-1988.2C Community Organizer|1985-1988, Community Organizer]] section''). Obama credits Wright with his alleged conversion to Christianity, and had both his daughters, Sasha and Malia, baptized there.<ref name=revealed />

===Education===
At age 6, Obama attended schools in Indonesia, the first a Catholic School while he was in Kindergarten, and later a public school. The school had mostly Muslim students (since most Indonesians are Muslim). In ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams from My Father]]'', Obama writes, "In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to my mother that I had made faces during [[Koran]]ic studies."<ref>Obama, Barack (1995). ''Dreams from My Father'' (New York: Times Books), p. 14. Quoted at [http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/Dreams_From_My_Father_Principles_+_Values.htm "Dreams from my father: On principles & values"]. OnTheIssues website. See [[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|''Dreams from my Father'']]</ref> ''Insight'' magazine first reported [[Hillary Clinton]]'s organization had "questions about Obama’s Muslim background: ''Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a [[Madrassa]] as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?"''<ref>Schlussel, Debbie (January 19, 2007). [http://www.debbieschlussel.com/2899/hillary-clinton-agrees-with-schlussel-obama-suspicious-deceptive-on-muslim-background/ "Hillary Clinton agrees with Schlussel: Obama suspicious, deceptive on Muslim background"]. Debbie Schlussel website. See [[Debbie Schlussel]].</ref>

In 1971, at age 10, Barack Obama moved to Hawaii, and his grandparents helped him gain entrance to the prestigious Punahou Academy in Honolulu where he began substance abuse and illegal drugs.<ref>Johnson, Luke (May 25, 2012). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/obama-pot-smoking-details_n_1545904.html "Obama pot-smoking details revealed in David Maraniss book"]. The Huffington Post website. See [[Huffington Post]].</ref> He was accepted through a scholarship for disadvantaged minorities while he was in 5th grade.<ref name=revealed /> At this elite high school with 1,200 students he was just 1 of 3 black students, and couldn't make the starting lineup of the state champion basketball team his senior year. He wrote a poem for the school's literary magazine, ''Ka Wai Ola''.<ref name=raisingobama />

In 1979, he began a 2-year stint at Occidental College college in Los Angeles,<ref name=msnbc /> and then transferred to Columbia University in New York, which he graduated from in 1983.<ref name=pragmatic>Scott, Janny (July 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> During this time he published an anti-military tirade embracing Soviet General Secretary [[Leonid Brezhnev]]'s <ref>Obama supported [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] General Secretary Brezhnev's foreign policy over both Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]] and Ronald Reagan's decision to deploy the MX Missile in Europe.
* See Pond, Elizabeth (November 24, 1981). [http://www.csmonitor.com/1981/1124/112439.html "Brezhnev offers Schmidt moratorium on nuclear missiles"]. ''Christian Science Monitor''. See also ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]''.
* See also Obama, Barack (March 10, 1983). [http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/nytint/docs/obama-s-1983-college-magazine-article/original.pdf "Breaking the war mentality"]. Columbia [University] ''Sundial''. Retrieved from archive at ''The New York Times'' website. See also ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> proposal for a nuclear freeze in the campus newspaper and allegedly spoke at an Anti-Apartheid rally,<ref name=revealed /> although several prominent student leaders said they did not remember him there. Professor Michael L. Baron was impressed by Obama and wrote him a recommendation for Harvard Law School.<ref name=differs>Scott, Janny. (October 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "Obama's account of New York years often differs from what others say"]. ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> In the winter of 1988 Barack Obama decided to attend Harvard Law School, and left Chicago for Cambridge, Massachusetts. In his 2nd year a power struggle broke out among the dominant white liberals over control of the ''[[Harvard]] Law Review''. Obama was elected its first black president as a compromise candidate largely with help of conservatives following a "marathon voting session" in which he finally won on the 19th ballot.<ref name=raisingobama /> This led to national attention and numerous job offers, which Obama passed up, at age 30, to pursue his political career in Chicago.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23257295/ns/msnbc_tv-documentaries/t/obama-becomes-rising-star-among-democrats/ "Obama becomes rising star among Democrats: Transcript of 'The Candidates: Barack Obama'"] (February 20, 2008). MSNBC. Retrieved from NBC News website/MSNBC TV documentaries. See MSNBC.
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]]</ref>

===Personal life===
[[Image:Michelle Obama.jpg|frame|right|Michelle (Robinson) Obama, Barack Obama's life partner.]]
Barack Obama met his spouse Michelle Robinson, who identifies as a woman, while he was an intern and she was on staff at Sidley Austin LLP, a very large corporate law firm.<ref name=msnbc /> Despite company policy prohibiting relations between staff and interns, the two became involved. The two continued a long-distance relationship while he finished law school, and on October 18, 1992,<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/obama-anniversary-20-years-married_n_1935840.html "Obama anniversary: Barack & Michelle celebrate 20 years of marriage (photos)"] (October 3, 2012). Huffington Post website. Huffington Post says it was October 3, 1992. See [[Huffington Post]].</ref> were married by Reverend [[Jeremiah Wright]] at Trinity United Church,<ref>http://hillbuzz.org/time-to-tell-everyone-you-know-about-jeremiah-wrights-down-low-club-barackobama-presobama-26407</ref> a church which has supported gay marriage since the 1970s.<ref name=revealed /> Michelle has not practiced law since 1994 when she failed to renew her law license, allegedly to start a family. Malia, the couple's oldest dsughter, was not born until 1999, and Natasha (often called Sasha) in 2001.<ref name=msnbc />

===Early employment===
====1983-1984, financial analyst and writer====
In 1984 Obama worked as a writer and financial analyst for Business International Corporation to help pay off some of his student loans. Business International Corporation was a small newsletter-publishing and research firm which aided multinational companies in understanding overseas markets. Obama served as a writer/researcher for a company reference service, Financing Foreign Operations, and wrote for their newsletter, ''Business International Money Report''. His supervisor was Cathy Lazere.<ref>Multiple references:
*Scott, Janny (October 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "Obama's account of New York years often differs from what others say"]. ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.
*Henig, Jess (June 21, 2008). [http://www.factcheck.org/2008/06/obama-polishes-his-resume-2/ "Obama polishes his resume"]. FactCheck.org website.
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20091003011550/http://www.analyzethis.net/2005/07/09/barack-obama-embellishes-his-resume/ "Barack Obama embellishes his resume"] (July 9, 2005). Analyze This website. Retrieved from October 3, 2009 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>

====1984-1988, community organizer====
In 1984, Obama was hired by the New York Public Interest Research Group, a non-profit organization promoting environmental, consumer, and government reforms. He also was paid just under $10,000 annually as a full-time organizer for Harlem's City College to mobilize student volunteers.<ref name=differs />

From 1985-88, Obama worked as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago <ref>The Developing Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious Conference (CCRC)</ref> funded with a $25,000 grant by [[Bill Ayers]]' Woods Fund. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported he was paid $1,000 a year, with $2,000 extra for a car<ref>Multiple references:
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]].
*Scott, Janny (September 9, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html?pagewanted=all "In 2000, a streetwise veteran schooled a bold young Obama]." ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> however stories vary wildly. Jerry Kellman, who hired him, says it was "$10,000 a year and a $2,000 car allowance". Obama himself gave different numbers; his memoir says $10,000 (as well as the car), in his Wesleyan speech he gave it as "$12,000 a year plus $2,000 for an old, beat-up car", and when he announced his candidacy for president, it was "a group of churches had offered me a job as a community organizer for $13,000 a year".

Ryan Lizza at ''[[The New Republic]]'' reported that "Jean Rudd of the Woods Fund...had provided Kellman with his original $25,000 to hire Obama". Ari Berman reported in ''[[The Nation]]'' that the "[Woods Fund] gave a $25,000 grant to the Developing Communities Project, which hired Obama". CBS Channel 2 in Chicago ran a story with a document showing that Obama's proposed salary in 1987 was $25,000, a number that the Obama campaign confirmed while insisting at the same time his original salary was $13,000.<ref>Beckwith (April 23, 2008 or bef.). [http://theobamafile.com/obamaworks.htm "Community organizing"]. The Obama File website/Politics.</ref>

During this time Obama joined Reverend Wright's Trinity United Church because in the words of Suzanne Malveaux of ''[[CNN]]'', "It was the church to join if you wanted to be one of Chicago's black movers and shakers." At the time, community organizing involved close affiliation with churches, which was how Obama met Wright. Obama abandoned the fight against asbestos contamination in the Altgeld Gardens housing project to pursue personal interests and a career by enrollment at Harvard Law School in the winter of 1988.<ref name=revealed />

====1988-1996, law practice====
In 1988 Obama gained work as a Summer Associate at one of the most prestigious corporate law firms in the world, Sidley Austin LLP,<ref>Multiple references:
*Lattman, Peter (May 11, 2007). [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/05/11/sidley-austin-when-barack-met-michelle/ "When Barack met Michelle"]. Wall Street Journal website/Business/Law Blog/Lawyers and Law Firms. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts.</ref> owned by Newton Minow, thanks to the recommendation of Minow's daughter Martha, a professor at Harvard Law School. It was at Minow's law firm that Obama would meet Michelle Robinson, his future wife.<ref name=raisingobama /> From 1993-96 he practiced civil rights law including suing Citibank to force them into making [[Subprime loan|subprime mortgage]]s to unqualified minority borrowers.<ref>Schweizer, Peter (October 5, 2009). [http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/03/community-reinvestment-act-mortgages-housing-opinions-contributors-peter-schweizer.html "A poisonous cocktail: Expanding the Community Reinvestment Act"]. ''Forbes'' website. See [[Forbes]]. In ''Selma S. Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank'', lead attorney Obama alleged that although his clients had been denied mortgages "because of delinquent credit obligations and adverse credit," they were really victims of institutional racism. The suit was brought about by the Community Reinvestment Act, so called affirmative action mortgage lending. The plaintiffs won $60,000, Obama and two other attorneys were paid $950,000.</ref> After graduating from Harvard he was hired by Miner, Barnhill, & Galland, a small politically-connected law firm.<ref>Lattman, Peter (May 11, 2007). [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/05/11/sidley-austin-when-barack-met-michelle/ "When Barack met Michelle"]. Wall Street Journal website/Business/Law Blog/Lawyers and Law Firms. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> It was at Miner, Barnhill, & Galland that he would meet influential real estate developer Tony Rezko.<ref name=revealed />

====1991-1992, Project Vote====
In 1991 Obama was recruited by Sandy Newman to head the Chicago chapter of Project Vote!,<ref name=revealed /> and in 1992 was the Executive Director, overseeing a voter registration drive which registered 125,000 black voters and was credited with defeating popular incumbent Democrat Senator Alan Dixon in the primary and electing Carol Mosely Braun as a reprisal for Dixon's support for Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]].<ref name=PurdumandScott>Multiple references:
*Purdum, Todd (March 2008). [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803 "Raising Obama"]. ''Vanity Fair''.
*Scott, Janny (July 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>

====1995, Nation of Islam====
According to the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', prior to the information being scrubbed from its website in mid-April 2008 during the Democratic Presidential Primaries, Obama was one of three prominent organizers of black supremacist group the [[Nation of Islam]]'s [[Million Man March]] on Washington, D.C.<ref>Hoft, Jim (April 2, 2008). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2008/04/wright-obama-helped-organize-march-with-louis-farrakhan/ "Wright & Obama helped organize march with Louis Farrakhan"]. Gateway Pundit website. See [[Gateway Pundit]]</ref>

====1992-2004, lecturer at University of Chicago====
Obama taught part-time at the [[University of Chicago]] Law School<ref name=raisingobama /> from 1992-2004. Though Obama erroneously describes himself as a "constitutional law professor",<ref>Whiteman, Timothy (April 5, 2013). [http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-complains-of-being-constrained-by-a-system-founding-father-put-place "Obama complains of being 'constrained by a system' Founding Fathers put in place"]. Examiner.com/News/Politics/Republican.</ref> he was actually only a senior lecturer and the class he taught the most times was called "Current Issues in Racism and the Law".<ref>Holt, Mytheos (September 20, 2012). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/09/20/obamas-favorite-course-to-teach-at-the-university-of-chicago-revealed/ "Obama’s favorite course to teach at the University of Chicago revealed"]. The Blaze/Stories/Media. See [[The Blaze]].</ref> He was a Lecturer from 1992–96, teaching 3 courses per year<cite>, and a senior lecturer from 1996-2004. After Obama was criticized for lying about his job title, the University of Chicago released a statement stating that senior lecturers are considered Law School faculty and regarded as professors but not full-time or tenured. Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time, tenured track position several times during this period but declined each time.<ref>[http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media "Media inquiries: Statement regarding Barack Obama"] (March 2008 or bef.). University of Chicago Law School website. See [[University of Chicago]]</ref>

====1995, author====
In 1995 Obama published ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams From My Father]]'' about his life and family background.<ref name=msnbc />

===Personal awards===
====2009 Nobel Peace Prize====
On October 9, 2009 Barack H. Obama became the third sitting U.S. President<ref name=wilsons>Wilson, Scott (October 10, 2009). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100900914.html "President Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize"]. ''Washington Post'' website. See [[Washington Post]].</ref> to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "''for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples''".<ref>[http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/press.html "The Nobel Prize for 2009: Press release"] (October 9, 2009). Nobel Prize website [Oslo, Norway]/Nobel Prizes/Peace/Laureates/2009. Accessed May 13, 2012.</ref> Obama stated that he was "surprised and deeply humbled" to receive the unexpected award,<ref>CNN (October 9, 2009). [http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html?eref=ib_us "Obama: Nobel Peace Prize is 'Call to Action'"]. CNN website/World/Europe.</ref> and also said, "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize—men and women who have inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace".<ref name=wilsons /> The award was widely criticized given Obama's then lack of accomplishments.<ref>Multiple references:
*Chazan, Guy and MacDonald, Alistair (October 11, 2009) [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125509603349176083.html "Nobel Committee's decision courts controversy"]. ''The Wall Street Journal'' website/World.
*Associated Press (October 9, 2009). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/obamas-peace-prize-draws-criticism-liberals/ "Obama's Peace Prize draws criticism, even from some liberals"]. Fox News website/Politics. See [[Associated Press]].</ref>

==1996-2003, Illinois State Senate==
===1996 election===
{{main article|Radical roots of Barack Hussein Obama}}
In 1995 a cadre of like minded individuals gathered for a fundraising event in the early career of Barack Obama hosted by [[Weather Underground]] (WUO) [[terrorist]] [[William Ayers|William "Bill" Ayers]]. Besides Obama, those in attendance were Ayers wife [[Bernardine Dohrn]],<ref>Geyer, Georgie Anne and Beech, Keyes (October 1970). "Cuba: School for U.S. Radicals [five part series]". ''Chicago Daily News''/''Chicago Sun-Times''. Excerpted in
[http://vault.fbi.gov/Weather%20Underground%20(Weathermen) ''Foreign Influence: Weather Underground Organization (WUO)''] (August 20, 1976), pp. 113-115. FBI. Retrieved from "Weather Underground (Weathermen)" webpage PDF rendering, part 3 of 6, pp. 5-7 at FBI website/FBI Records: The Vault. Located by The Real Barack Obama blog. See ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.</ref> and Carl Davidson, veterans of [[guerrilla warfare]] training in [[Cuba]] just prior to the 1968 Democrat National Convention riots. Ayers and Dohrn have taken credit for, and never denied, bombing the [[U.S. Capitol]], the [[Pentagon]] and the [[State Department]].

Ayers and Dohrn used their celebrity status among [[leftist]]s to launch Obama's career. Ayers, Dohrn and [[Jeff Jones]]<ref>Klein, Aaron (August 13, 2009). [http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=106653 "Obama's 'green jobs czar' worked with terror founder"]. WorldNetDaily website. "[[Van Jones]]...served on board of..." "activist group where ex-Weatherman serves as top director"'. See [[WorldNetDaily]].</ref> are authors of ''[[Bill Ayers#Prairie Fire Organizing Committee and Maoist thought|Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism]]'', the title taken from [[Quotations from Chairman Mao|''The Sayings of Mao Zedong'']].<ref>[http://archive.org/details/QuotationsFromChairmanMaoTse-tung/ ''Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung''] (1966), 2nd ed. Retrieved from Internet Archive.</ref> The book declares "we are [[communist]] men and women."<ref>Klehr, Harvey (1988). ''Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today'' (New Brunswick: Transaction Books), p. 109.</ref> Ayers later jokingly, publicly admitted to ghostwriting Obama's book, ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams From My Father]]''<ref>Cashill, Jack (March 28, 2011). [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/ayers_affirms_he_wrote_dreams.html "Ayers affirms he wrote ''Dreams from my Father''"]. American Thinker website/Blog. See [[American Thinker]].</ref> and Obama was to appoint several openly avowed Maoists to prominent White House and Executive Branch positions.<ref>Fund, John (October 21, 2009). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574487431322664964.html "From Mao to Obama"]. ''Wall Street Journal'' website.</ref>

====Backstabbing fellow Democrats====
Barack Obama ran for the Illinois state senate in 1996. He was initially supported by incumbent [[Alice Palmer]], who declared she would run for the U.S. Congress. However, when her bid for Congress failed on November 28, 1995, she tried to run for her old seat in the March 1996 election. Her supporters asked Obama to step aside, although whether this was with her permission remains uncertain.<ref name=pragmatic /> Not only did Obama not step down, he gathered a team of high-priced lawyers, including fellow Harvard Law School graduate Thomas Johnson, to challenge his opponent's petition signatures on technicalities after the filing deadline had passed. Such tactics are legal and frequently used in Chicago; in 2006 they eliminated 67 of the 245 aldermanic candidates;<ref name=bareknuckle>Jackson, David and Long, Ray (April 4, 2007). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-04-04/news/0704030881_1_petitions-voter-rights-candidates "Barack Obama: Showing his bare knuckles"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> yet nevertheless led to the term "hardball" by ''The New York Times''<ref name=pragmatic /> and "cutthroat" by David Mendel as reported by both CNN<ref name=revealed /> and MSNBC.<ref name=msnbc /> The ''Chicago Tribune'' declared Obama had mastered "the bare-knuckle arts of Chicago electoral politics", noting "The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it."<ref name=bareknuckle /> As one of Obama's four opponents, eliminated through his ballot challenges, would put it: {{cquote|"Why say you're for a new tomorrow, then do old-style Chicago politics to remove legitimate candidates? He talks about honor and democracy, but what honor is there in getting rid of every other candidate so you can run scot-free? Why not let the people decide?"
—Gha-is Askia, 1996 Illinois Senate candidate<ref>Jackson, David & Long, Ray (April 3, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130123154440/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5297304,full.story "Obama knows his way around a ballot"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. Retrieved from January 23, 2013 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>}} Mark Ewell, another candidate, filed 1,286 signatures, and Obama's challenges left him 86 short of the minimum requirement (757).<ref name=spivak>Spivak, Todd (February 28, 2008). [http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/ "Barack Obama and me"]. ''Houston Press'' website.</ref> Ewell filed a federal lawsuit contesting the election board's decision but Tom Johnson intervened, and Ewell's case was dismissed just a few days later. Ewell and other Obama opponents were using early 1995 polling sheets to verify signatures of registered voters, but city authorities had just purged 15,871 unqualified people from the 13th district list, and Obama's challenges used the more recent, updated list. Askia was left 69 signatures short of the requirement. If names were printed instead of signed in cursive, they were declared invalid. If they were good but the person registering the signatures wasn't a registered voter (e.g. underage) they were invalid.<ref name=hardball>Griffin, Drew & Johnston, Kathleen (May 29, 2008). [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/29/obamas.first.campaign/ "Obama played hardball in first Chicago campaign"]. CNN website. Article text begins: "When the Democratic National Committee meets Saturday on the thorny issue of seating the Florida and Michigan delegations..."</ref> Palmer had according to Obama campaign consult Ronald Davis, used two children to help gather her petition signatures. To this day Palmer denies the challenges were valid, and maintains she could have overcome the objections with more time and resources.<ref name=bareknuckle /> Thanks to his lawyers, Obama would win the election without a single other candidate on the ballot.

===2000 election===
: ''Main Article: [[Illinois 1st congressional district election, 2000]]''
In 2000, Obama lost his only political election when he chose to run against experienced incumbent and former [[Black Panther]] Bobby L. Rush for the U.S. Congress in a 65% black district. Rush's name recognition began at 90%, Obama's at 11%. Michelle Obama opposed taking on an such an iconic figure dear to the community and threatened divorce.<ref>Bates, Daniel (May 16, 2012). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145035/Michelle-Obama-prepared-divorce-papers-separate-Barack-leaving-suicidal.html "New book claims Michelle Obama prepared divorce papers to separate from Barack—leaving him so depressed friends feared he'd kill himself"]. ''Daily Mail'' website. See ''[[Daily Mail]]''.</ref> Establishment Democrats considered Obama "a white man in blackface".<ref>Gilmore, Jim (reporter, producer). (October 9, 2012). [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/choice-2012/transcript-29/ "Transcript of 'Barack Obama' in Kirk, Michael and Wiser, Mike (producers) '''Frontline'': The Choice 2012'"]. PBS website/WGBH/Frontline/film/The Choice 2012.</ref> Rush said of Obama, "He went to Harvard and became an educated fool," adding, "We’re not impressed with these folks with these eastern elite degrees."<ref>Ballasy, Nicholas (March 28, 2012). [http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/28/bobby-rush-in-2000-obamas-a-harvard-educated-fool-who-thinks-he-knows-all-about-the-civil-rights-protests/ "Bobby Rush in 2000: Obama a Harvard ‘educated fool’ who ‘thinks he knows all about’ the ‘civil rights protests’"]. Daily Caller website. See [[Daily Caller]].</ref> Todd Spivak would give voice to this impression of Obama, noting that
{{cquote|"My view of Obama then wasn't all that different from the image he projects now....One thing I can say is, I never heard him launch into the preacher-man voice he now employs during speeches. He sounded vanilla, and activists in his mostly black district often chided him for it."<ref name=spivak />}}
Rush would go on to win the Primary with 61.02% of the vote; Obama received 30.36%.<ref>Scott, Janny (September 9, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html?pagewanted=all "In 2000, a streetwise veteran schooled a bold young Obama]." ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> The loss led to Obama considering dropping out of politics altogether, particularly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, since his name sounds similar to "Osama bin Laden".<ref name=msnbc />

===State Senate voting record===
Obama entered the Illinois Senate promising change to a corrupt system. He mixed often radical votes with more pragmatic agreements. Possibly one of his most radical votes was against requiring medical care for aborted children who survive [[abortion|the procedure]] - in fact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council ascribed him a 100% rating for his consistently pro-choice votes.<ref name="cbs illinois">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml|title=Obama record may be gold mine for critics|publisher=CBS News website|last=Clark|first=Amy|date=January 17, 2007}} See [[CBS News]].</ref> He was criticized for using the statehouse as a stepping stone for a more illustrious career: Steven J. Rauschenberger, a [[Republican]], said prior to Obama's election as president: “He is a very bright but very ambitious person who has always had his eyes on the prize, and it wasn’t Springfield. If he deserves to be president, it is not because he was a great legislator.”<ref name="nyt illinois">{{cite web|publisher=''The New York Times'' website|title=In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd|last=Scott|first=Janny|date=July 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html}}.</ref>

The statehouse was majority Republican, so the Senator was sometimes forced to compromise. He formed allegiances across party lines to pass [[campaign finance]] reform that banned most gifts by lobbyists, prohibited spending campaign money for legislators’ personal use and required electronic filing of campaign disclosure reports.<ref name="nyt illinois"/> Obama also helped pass a so-called “driving-while-black bill”, which required the police to collect data on the race of drivers they stopped as a way to monitor [[racial profiling]].<ref name="nyt illinois"/>

Obama established himself as a chief spokesperson in opposition to the [[War on Terror]] during an October 2002 rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago<ref>The rally was organized by Chicagoans Against War in Iraq (CAWI) later renamed Chicagoans Against War and Injustice. See Davidson, Carl (November 2, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20100811115415/http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?page_id=2 "About CAWI"]. Chicagoans Against War and Injustice website. Retrieved from August 11, 2010 archive at Internet Archive.</ref> [[community organizing|organized]] by veteran [[Mao]]ist and webmaster of [[Progressives for Obama]],<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/carldavidson Carl Davidson] (2010 or bef.) LinkedIn [Profile page/Experience/Webmaster]. Retrieved March 13, 2010 and February 13, 2016.</ref> [[Carl Davidson]].

===2003 Emil Jones deal===
: ''Main Article: [[2003 Barack Obama deal with Emil Jones]]''
When Illinois' U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced he would be retiring in April 2003, Obama jumped at the opportunity, declaring that he would be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004.<ref name=msnbc /> To boost his chances Obama approached the newly crowned president of the Illinois Senate, Emil Jones Jr., with a proposal. According to Jones, whom Obama has since called his "godfather"<ref name=godfather>Associated Press (March 31, 2008). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obamas-political-godfather-in-illinois/ "Obama's political 'godfather' in Illinois"]. CBS News website. See [[Associated Press]], CBS News.</ref> the conversation went as follows:
{{cquote|"After I was elected president, in 2003, he came to see me, a couple months later. And he said to me, he said, ‘You’re the senate president now, and with that, you have a lot of pow-er.’ And I told Barack, ‘You think I got a lot of pow-er now?,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, you got a lot of pow-er.’ And I said, ‘What kind of pow-er do I have?’ He said, ‘You have the pow-er to make a United States sen-a-tor!’ I said to Barack, I said, ‘That sounds good!’ I said, ‘I haven’t even thought of that.’ I said, ‘Do you have someone in mind you think I could make?,’ and he said, ‘Yeah. Me.’"<ref name=PurdumandScott/>}}
Because of the deal, Obama's entire Illinois Senate legislative record was, as longtime Obama reporter Todd Spivak put it, built in a single year. During his 7th and final year in the Illinois Senate, Obama sponsored an incredible 26 bills into law, including many he now points to when criticized as inexperienced<ref name=spivak />—as CNN's Suzanne Malveaux observed, "With help from on high, Obama got his name on hundreds of bills that he pushed through."<ref name=revealed /> Jones not only had Obama craft legislation addressing daily tragedies to raise his political profile,<ref name=godfather /> he also appointed Obama head of almost all high-profile legislation in the Illinois Senate, angering other state legislators with more seniority who'd spent years supporting the bills.<ref name=spivak /> Illinois State Senator Rickey Hendon, the original sponsor of the famous racial profiling bill requiring videotaped confessions in police interrogations, complained bitterly about Jones' decision.<ref>Multiple references:
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html "Transcript of 'Barack Obama Revealed'"]. CNN website/Transcripts.
*Spivak, Todd (March 25, 2004). [http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-922-in-the-black.html "In the black"]. ''Illinois Times''.</ref> Jones' influence had a major impact on Obama's chances in the 2004 elections, preventing major political players from backing Obama's opponents. To quote Emil Jones,{{cquote|"He knew if he had me in the run for the Senate, it would put a block on the current mayor. The current mayor and the father of the controller, which was Dan Hynes, they were roommates in Springfield when the mayor was a state senator, so they had a relationship. Another big financial backer for the governor was Blair Hull. Barack knew if he had me it would checkmate the governor, ’cause the governor couldn’t come out and go with Blair Hull, ’cause the governor needs me. Same with the mayor. So he had analyzed and figured all of that out. He knew I could help him with labor support. And I could put a checkmate on some of the local politicians that didn’t know him, but they couldn’t really go against me."
—Emil Jones<ref name=raisingobama />}}

==2004-2008, U.S. Senate==
:''See also: [[Early life and career of Barack Hussein Obama#U.S. Senate .282004-2008.29|Barack Obama:U.S. Senate (2004-2008)]], [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004]]''
[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|left|Senator Barack Obama]]

===2004 Primary election===
Despite initially trailing in the polls to frontrunner [[Blair Hull]],<ref>Spivak, Todd (March 25, 2004). [http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-922-in-the-black.html "In the black"]. ''Illinois Times''.</ref> Obama greatly benefited from what the ''Chicago Tribune'' called "the most inglorious campaign implosion in Illinois political history"<ref name=mendell>Mendell, David (March 17, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-03-17/news/0403170332_1_blair-hull-gery-chico-blacks-and-liberal-whites "Obama routs Democratic foes"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> when pressure from journalists and opposing candidates, just weeks before the election, forced the unsealing of Hull's messy divorce files.<ref name=blairhull>Voegeli, William (March 19, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070826095930/http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.339/pub_detail.asp "The rise and fall of Blair Hull"]. The Claremont Institute website. Retrieved from August 26, 2007 archive at Internet Archive. See [[Claremont Institute]].</ref> The files revealed Hull's ex-wife's accusations of verbal and physical abuse.<ref name=spivak /> Hull would afterwards criticize the media, stating, "As for the press, I will never read the newspaper the same way again."<ref name=mendell /> Obama would go on to win the Primary with 53% of the vote.<ref name=blairhull /> Obama's unexpected victory led to him being termed a "rising star" by the media.<ref>Howlett, Debbie (March 18, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-18-obama-usat_x.htm Dems "See a rising star in Illinois Senate Candidate"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/Nation/Campaign 2004. See ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref>

===2004 General election, Jack Ryan===
Once again Obama found himself trailing to popular front runner [[Jack Ryan]], and once again a candidate's campaign imploded thanks to media intervention. In an unprecedented move, the ''Chicago Tribune'' and local TV station WLS sued to force the unsealing of Ryan's divorce files, despite opposition from both Ryan and his wife, Jeri Ryan, who in the files accused Jack Ryan of trying to coerce her to perform sex acts in public. Though Ryan advisors told him he could still win if using a negative attack on Obama, Ryan refused to engage in what he considered dirty politics.<ref name=abandon>Associated Press (June 26, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/2004-06-25-ryan_x.htm "Jack Ryan abandons Senate bid"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/State/Campaign 2004. See [[Associated Press]].</ref> Ryan then dropped out of the race (per request by the Illinois GOP<ref name=idealist>Sangwan, Rahul (October 1, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20060924232703/http://www.dartmouthindependent.com/archives/2004/10/jack_ryan_81_th.html "Jack Ryan '81: The conservative idealist"]. ''Dartmouth Independent'' website. Retrieved from September 24, 2006 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>), following which the Illinois GOP scrambled to find a replacement, leaving Obama uncontested for weeks to campaign and build up public support. On top of all this, Obama was selected to give the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (July 27<ref>Obama, Barack (June 26, 2004). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19751-2004Jul27.html "Transcript: Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama [Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention]"]. Transcribed by FDCH E-Media. ''Washington Post'' website. See ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref>), catapulting him into the national spotlight, and leading to further media publicity terming him a "rising star".<ref>Page, Susan and Despeignes, Peronet (July 28, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-28-obama-speech_x.htm "Rising star brings Democrats to their feet"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/Nation/President/Campaign 2004. See ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref>

===2004 General election, Alan Keyes===
: ''Main Article: [[Obama born alive controversy]]''
After a number of candidates including former [[Chicago Bears]] coach Mike Ditka declined to run,<ref>CNN (August 9, 2004). [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/08/senate.illinois.keyes/ "Keyes challenges Obama for Illinois Senate seat"]. CNN website/Politics/America Votes 2004. See [[CNN]].</ref> the Illinois GOP finally settled on fiery [[Alan Keyes]], a former Ambassador to the Economic and Social Counsel of the United Nations,<ref name=spivak /> with less than 3 months left before the November 2004 election.<ref name=msnbc /> His sudden entrance into the state for the election was initially attacked in the press as "carpetbagging".<ref>Multiple references:
*"[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-08-06/news/0408060313_1_mr-keyes-judy-baar-topinka-alan-keyes "The GOP's rent-a-senator"] (August 6, 2004). ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50885-2004Aug8.html "Mr. Keyes the carpetbagger"] (August 9, 2004). ''Washington Post'', p. A14. Retrieved from ''Washington Post'' website. See ''[[Washington Post]]''.
*Pearson, Rick (September 5, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-05/news/0409050304_1_selfish-hedonist-alan-keyes-illinois-republican-party "Keyes, state GOP gearing up blame campaign"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News.</ref> Keyes repeatedly claimed his primary motivation for entering a race he had seemingly no chance of winning was his disgust at Obama's votes on the popular [[Born Alive]] bills.<ref>Keyes, Alan (August 18, 2004). [http://www.mail-archive.com/newsandviews@chuckmuth.com/msg00699.html "How YOU can help Alan Keyes for Senate!"] Message from Keyes2004 Inc. to multiple internet mailing lists. Retrieved from archive of newsandviews internet mailing list at The Mail Archive website.</ref> Keyes, from his first day of arriving in Illinois (August 9, 2004),<ref name=assails>Associated Press (August 9, 2004). [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5654128/ "Keyes assails Obama's abortion views"]. NBC News website/Politics.</ref> accused Obama of having voted against bills mandating medical care for newborn children, and supporting "infanticide" (the term twice used in the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act<ref>United States Congress (October 21, 2003). [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/s3/text/enr "S. 3 (108th): "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003"], sec. 2, subsec. 14, paras. G and O. Govtrack.us website/Congress/Bills/108th Congress/Senate bill 3/Text.</ref>) where hospitals left newborn infants to die like garbage.<ref>Multiple references:
*Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.) [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=341 "Alan Keyes on the Tavis Smiley Show"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview by Tavis Smiley. ''Tavis Smiley Show'' (New York City: National Public Radio, August 31, 2004). See [[NPR]].
*Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.) [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=337 "Alan Keyes on CBS2 Chicago This Morning"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview with ''CBS This Morning'' show. ''CBS This Morning'' (Chicago: CBS 2, August 30, 2004).</ref> Obama in a debate on October 13, 2004, defended himself against Keyes' accusations of infanticide by claiming that Illinois law was already sufficient.<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-10-13/news/0410140004_1_alan-keyes-senate-race-first-of-three-debates "Debate or discussion?"] (October 13, 2004). ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News.</ref>

However, Keyes' rhetoric, calling Obama's votes "the slaveholder's position"<ref name=assails /> and saying "Jesus Christ would not vote for Obama"<ref>Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.). [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=348 "Alan Keyes on the Scott Thomas Show (AM1160 - WYLL)"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview by Scott Thomas. ''Scott Thomas Show'' (Chicago: WYLL, AM 1160, September 7, 2004).</ref> was widely ridiculed by the press. Keyes' unabashed criticism of homosexuality as "selfish hedonism" was also targeted.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pearson, Rick (September 5, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-05/news/0409050304_1_selfish-hedonist-alan-keyes-illinois-republican-party "Keyes, state GOP gearing up blame campaign"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News.
*Associated Press (September 2, 2004). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5897569/ns/politics/t/keyes-cheneys-gay-daughter-practicing-selfish-hedonism/#.VsR94_krKWg "Keyes: Cheney's gay daughter practicing selfish hedonism"]. NBC News website/Politics.
*Pallasch, Abdon M. (September 2, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20040903052923/http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-keyes02.html "Keyes' gay slam roils GOP"]. ''Chicago Sun-Times'' website/News/Elections. Retrieved from September 3, 2004 archive at Internet Archive. See ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. This article misquotes [[Liz Cheney]]; previous bulleted reference in this multiple reference gives full quote verified by CNN transcript.</ref> Obama would ultimately win the election, 70% to 27%.<ref>[http://cnn.hu/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/S/01/index.html "America votes 2004: Election Results, U.S. Senate/Illinois"] (November 2, 2004). CNN Hungary website/Elections.</ref>

===U.S. Senate voting record===
Obama's incomplete term in the U.S. Senate was largely not noteworthy. In voting against raising the [[debt limit]] in 2006 Obama famously said, "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can’t pay its own bills. ... I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit."<ref>Multiple references:
*''Washington Post'' FACT CHECKER, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/annotating-obamas-2006-speech-against-boosting-the-debt-limit/2013/01/14/aa8cf8c4-5e9b-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_blog.html Annotating Obama’s 2006 speech against boosting the debt limit], Washington Post, Glenn Kessler, 01/15/2013.
*Kaplan, Rebecca (April 11, 2011). [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/obama-once-opposed-debt-ceiling-hike/237129/ "Obama once opposed debt ceiling hike"]. ''The Atlantic'' website/Politics.</ref> In 2008 as candidate for president Obama called George W. Bush's request to raise the debt limit "irresponsible" and "unpatriotic".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kuTG19Cu_Q "Obama says adding $4 trillion to debt is unpatriotic [July 3, 2008]"] (August 23, 2011). YouTube video, 0:38, posted by maywhitley31.</ref>

The ''National Journal'' ranked him the most liberal senator in 2007.<ref name="ranked">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-3775451-502163.html|title="''National Journal'': Obama most liberal senator in 2007"|author=Montopoli, Brian|date=January 31, 2008|publisher=CBS News website}}. See [[CBS News]].</ref>

Obama frequently used the [[filibuster]] to obstruct the operations of government,<ref>O'Keefe, E. (2010, February 4). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303801_pf.html Obama criticizes Senate Republicans for delaying confirmation votes]. ''Washington Post''.</ref> and voted against the [[minimum wage]] bill<ref>Multiple references:
*Gill, Kathy (May 26, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070905140628/http://uspolitics.about.com/od/legislatio1/a/HR2206.htm "HR 2206 - Emergency appropriations [110th Congress, House of Representives, signed into law May 25, 2007]"], About.com website/News & Issues/U. S. Politics: Current Events/Legislation. Retrieved from September 5, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.
*[http://more.gov.mtopgroup.com/2007/05/votes-hr-2206-iraq-supplemental.html Votes - H.R. 2206: Iraq Supplemental], May 28, 2007. Retrieved from Deeper Inside the Mountain, June 4, 2007.</ref> he introduced because it included a provision to pay active duty U.S. troops. He voted for the $700 billion TARP program to bailout the big banks after receiving more than $120,000 in contributions from [[Fannie Mae]], a government sponsored entity<ref>more than any other political candidate for office since 1989. [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/09/update-fannie-mae-and-freddie.html Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Lawmakers], By Lindsay Renick Mayer, September 11, 2008. opensecrets.org</ref> taken into conservatorship for mismanaging its affairs and responsible for all the big banks' problems.

According to Opensecrets.org, of the 671,269 contributions to Obama during his time in the Senate, [[Goldman Sachs]], JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley were among the top 20 biggest money donors to his campaigns.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00009638&cycle=2008 Top 20 Contributors, 2007-2008]
*[http://www.votesmart.org/finance.php?can_id=9490 Barack Obama II's Campaign Finances]</ref> All four subsequently received approximately $70 billion in taxpayer assisted [[bailout]] money from the [[TARP]] program he voted for.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/10/14/business/14bailout.graphic2.html ''Beneficiary Banks'', ''The New York Times''. 2008-10-14.]</ref> UBS AG, a foreign bank and the 12th largest donor to Obama,<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638 Top 20 Contributors, 2007-2008]</ref> was fined $780 billion in February 2009 in a U.S. Federal Court on charges it helped thousands of Americans evade taxes.<ref>[http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20090219/FREE/902199983 ''UBS fined $780 million in tax evasion scandal,''] Investment News, February 19, 2009.</ref>

==2008 Presidential election==
{{main article|Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign}}
Unlike Democrat contenders Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, Obama's hands were not "stained" with the Iraqi war resolution; a number of Democrats wanted to punish candidates for acting [[bi-partisan]] and called for his candidacy. His only career accomplishment til then had been the delivery of a speech at the 2004 [[Democratic National Convention]].

Through heavy use of [[early voting]] by the Democrat political machine, Obama was elected president in 2008 in the midst of a severe economic meltdown and a foreign policy crisis. Obama outspent [[John McCain]] by hundreds of millions of dollars in 2008,<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contriball.php?cycle=2008 "Candidate comparison: Top contributors 2008 cycle"] (betw. September–November 2013). OpenSecrets.org website.</ref> and spending more than a billion dollars from special interests to snag reelection in 2012.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?cycle=2012&id=N00009638 "Barack Obama (D): Candidate summary, 2012 cycle/Source of funds"] (betw. March–June 2013). Opensecrets.org website. 34% Individual contributions, 67% large and corporate.
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php "2012 presidential race/Overall spending"] (betw. August–September 2015). OpenSecrets.org website. This special interests count of over $1 billion may have decreased at least for a time since August–September 2015, where a grand total of individual contributions of less than $1 billion is reflected, but the grand total is presumably incomplete (shown, for example, by the uncounted University of California contributions revealed when comparing the subtotal from the time before August–September 2015 to the time afterwards, the subtotal thus ''increasing''), has every chance of remaining close to its precise revised estimated amount at the beginning of that time (of $964 million) and does not include Super PAC contributions, which is ''indirect'' spending.
**([http://web.archive.org/web/20150304050735/http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=N00009638 Link to version of this reference] on March 4, 2015 [whose pertinent subtotal which follows was the same back to the time indicated in the first bulleted reference] which shows $1,212,245 in contributions from the University of California. This is ''vs.'' $1,350,139 in contributions shown in the version indicated by the Internet Archive to have been published between August–September 2015 and shown in versions at least for a time thereafter [version retrieved on February 7, 2016 shows the same amount].)</ref>

Former [[Democrat]] Presidential candidate [[Joe Lieberman]] endorsed Obama's opponent [[John McCain]] in 2008 and declined to endorse Obama for the [[Presidential Election 2012|2012 presidential election]].<ref>Lillis, M. (2012, April 22). [http://thehill.com/video/campaign/222929-lieberman-declines-to-endorse-in-presidential-race Sen. Lieberman declines to endorse in presidential race]. ''The Hill''.</ref>

===Primary election===
In 2007-08, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton competed for the Democrat nomination. Hillary Clinton cleverly resurrected the "Born Alive" controversy surrounding Obama that had lain largely dormant since 2004 (notwithstanding the continuing mentions by [[Jill Stanek]]), by accusing Obama of not being pro-choice for voting "Present" on a number of abortion-related bills<ref>Bettelheim, Adriel (2008, February 13). "[http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/feb/13/obamas-present-tension/ Obama's 'Present' Tension]." ''PolitiFact''.</ref>—including the Born Alive ones,<ref>Multiple references:
*Berman, Russell (2008, January 17). "[http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-obama-should-vote-no-on-abortion-issue/69700/ Clinton: Obama Should Vote 'No' On Abortion Issue She Backed]." ''[[New York Sun]]''.
*Hernandez, Raymond & Drew, Christopher (2007, December 20). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?pagewanted=all It's Not Just 'Ayes' and 'Nays': Obama's Votes in Illinois Echo]." ''The New York Times''.</ref> and cowardly ducking the votes.<ref>Multiple references:
*''Politi-Fact''. "[http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/13/hillary-clinton/yes-but-its-complicated/ Response to Hillary Clinton Comment for January 21st, 2008]." Truth-o-Meter.
*Dorning, Mike (2007, December 20). "[http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/criticism_of_obama_present_vot.html Clinton Camp Criticizes Obama 'Present' Votes]." The Swamp. ''Chicago Tribune''.</ref> This led to criticism of Obama by two pro-choice organizations, Emily's List, and the [[National Organization for Women]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dorning, Mike (2008, January 14). "[http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/obama_campaign_mounts_defense.html The Swamp: Obama Campaign Defends His Abortion-Rights Record]." ''Chicago Tribune''.
*Dorn, Michael (2008, February 6). "[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_voting_record_on_aborti_1.html Obama's Voting Record on Abortion]." ''Washington Post''.
*Newton-Small, Jay (2008, January 14). "[http://swampland.time.com/2008/01/14/obama_campaign_defends_present/ Obama Campaign Defends 'Present' Abortion Votes]." ''[[Time Magazine]]''.</ref> However, Pam Sutherland, the long-time head of Illinois Planned Parenthood, came to Obama's aid, criticizing Clinton for making the attack, and stating repeatedly that Obama's present votes were part of a broader strategy used by Planned Parenthood to keep Illinois voters from knowing their state senators were voting against the controversial and popular bills.<ref>Hernandez, Raymond & Drew, Christopher (2007, December 20). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20cnd-obama.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin Obama's Vote in Illinois Was Often Just 'Present']." ''The New York Times''.</ref><ref>Follmer, Max (2008, March 28). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/14/obama-emphasizes-prochoic_n_81460.html Obama Emphasizes Pro-Choice Voting Record as Clinton Questions 'Present' Votes]." ''[[Huffington Post]]''.</ref>
{{cquote|"He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."
-Pam Sutherland, President/CEO of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, 1980-2012<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130414215754/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''[[ABC News]]''.</ref>}}As the contest in Iowa drew near and the former First Lady's inevitability was being usurped by a challenger, Hillary Clinton organizers began circulating rumors that Obama was secretly a Muslim.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/barackemail/ Obama Under the Clinton Microscope], By JEFF ZELENY, ''The New York Times'', December 10, 2007</ref><ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/06/clinton-volunteers-anti-obama-e-mail-causes-stir/ Clinton volunteer's sending of anti-Obama e-mail causes stir]. December 6, 2007. CNN</ref><ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=92143 Hillary Clinton Press Release - Sen. Obama Rewrites History], December 2, 2007, references Obama in the Muslim school in Indonesia in 3rd grade, quoting the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 3/15/07</ref><ref>[http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article1995587.ece Obama ‘was educated in madrassa’], Tim Reid and Tom Baldwin, ''[[The Times of London]]'', January 20, 2007.</ref> Clinton also made the claim repeatedly that while Obama was leading in Delegates she was winning the Popular Vote,<ref>Koffler, Daniel (2008, May 28). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-koffler/hillary-clinton-and-the-p_b_103913.html Hillary Clinton and the Popular Vote: Not Wrong, but Meaningless]." ''Huffington Post''. Barone, Michael (2008, March 28). "[http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/barone/2008/03/28/projection-clinton-wins-popular-vote-obama-wins-delegate-count Projection: Clinton Wins Popular Vote, Obama Wins Delegate Vote]." ''U.S. News''.</ref> though this was in part because Obama hadn't been registered in Michigan.<ref>Romano, Andrew (2008, August 2). "[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/stumper/2008/06/02/clinton-s-popular-vote-claim-close-but-not-quite.html Clinton's Popular Vote Claim? Close--But Not Quite*]." ''[[Newsweek]]''.</ref><ref>''[[RealClearPolitics]]''. "[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html 2008 Democratic Popular Vote]."</ref> Obama's advantage with super-delegates over Clinton was about 2-to-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Superdelegate endorsements for Friday 6/6|work=Democratic Convention Watch|url=http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/superdelegate-endorsements-for-friday.html}}</ref> Obama was able to attract the support of [[liberals]] by pointing out that he had come out against the [[Iraq War]] "from the beginning" whereas Clinton had voted in favor of the war in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-31-democrats-debate_N.htm|title=Obama, Clinton stress differences on Iraq, issues|author=David Jackson|work=USA Today|language=English}}</ref> On June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton withdrew from the Primaries, conceding the race and endorsing her opponent,<ref>''Associated Press''. "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24993082/ns/politics-decision_08/t/clinton-ends-historic-bid-endorses-obama/ Clinton Ends Historic Bid, Endorses Obama]." [[MSNBC]]</ref> when Obama passed the 2,118 Delegates required; winning 2,201 delegates to Clinton's 1,896.<ref>''CNN''. "[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D Election Center 2008].</ref>

===Born Alive record resurfaces===
On June 30, 2008, Obama's voting record on the "Born Alive" bills came once more to the forefront when CNN gave voice to the growing controversy and revealed the defense Obama had been using since 2004-2008, that the Illinois bills he'd voted against were different from the federal bill, was false, since he'd brought up for a vote a bill word for word identical to the federal bill in the Health and Human Services Committee he chaired, and voted against it, defeating it.<ref>''CNN''. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY How He Really Voted on Abortion: Obama's Record Under Attack]." ''The Situation Room''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by [[Jill Stanek]].</ref><ref>''CNN''. "[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/30/sitroom.02.html Transcripts: June 30, 2008]." The Situation Room.</ref> This led in August to a confrontation between Obama and the [[NRLC]].<ref>''[[National Right to Life Committee]]''. "[http://www.nrlc.org/news/2008/NRL08/ObamaCoverup.html Obama Cover-up Revealed on Born-Alive Abortion Survivor's Bill]." NRL News, Vol. 35, Issue 7-8, pg. 5.</ref> After Obama accused critics of 'lying'<ref>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''CNN''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by [[Jill Stanek]]. David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''[[CBN]] News''. The Brody File.</ref> the NRLC challenged the assertion, and the Obama campaign conceded he "misspoke" and had voted against an identical bill to the "federal bill that everybody supported" but focused on Obama's new claim, that Illinois law was already sufficient to protect newborn children.<ref>Berman, Russell (2008, August 18). "[http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-facing-attacks-from-all-sides-over-abortion/84059/ Obama Facing Attacks From All Sides Over Abortion Record]." ''[[New York Sun]]''.</ref> The NRLC promptly declared "Senator Barack Obama's four-year effort to cover up his full role in killing legislation to protect born-alive survivors of abortions continues to unravel."<ref>Johnson, Douglas (2008, August 18). "[http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/Obamacoveruponbornalive.htm Obama Cover-up on Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Continues to Unravel After Sen. Obama Says NRLC is 'Lying']." ''[[National Right to Life Committee]]''.</ref>

===Jeremiah Wright===
{{See also|Barack Obama and Liberation Theology}}
One major dilemma that arose for Obama during his campaign was his connection to his preacher [[Jeremiah Wright]]. Obama and his wife (raised a Baptist) were members of the Trinity [[United Church of Christ]]<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776246/posts Trinity United Church of Christ Website (Barack Hussein Obama's Church)]</ref> in Chicago, a church that embraced [[black liberation theology]] and its emphasis on empowering so-called "oppressed groups" against "establishment forces". This denomination was the first in America to ordain gays as ministers.<ref>[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines], March 20, 2008</ref> Church pastor Jeremiah Wright had been making inflammatory comments and posting his sermons online for sale. These include the statement "G-d damn America," and in describing the September 11th attacks, "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black [[South Africa]]ns, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 Obama's Pastor: G-d Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11], [[ABC News]]</ref> In addition, Rev. Wright blamed America saying "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being [[anti-Semitic]]."

In April 2008, after 20 years in the church, candidate Obama made public statements poised to set him at odds with the man who conducted his wedding and baptized his children. With the negative publicity persisting, a month later Obama ended the friendship, left Wright's church, and blamed the media.<ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/31/obama-resigns-church-membership-in-chicago/ Obama Drops Church Membership in Chicago], [[Fox News]] May 31, 2008</ref> Obama claimed “It’s not fair to the other members of the church who seek to worship in peace...", and distanced himself from Wright's sermons as "a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in the truth."<ref>USA Today, [http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080430/1a_offlede30_dom.art.htm ''Obama breaks with former pastor, Candidate cites rants on U.S. role in terror, AIDS''], by Kathy Kiely and David Jackson</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081211092533/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080430.htm ''Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants"'']</ref>

===Result===
Obama made an effort to portray John McCain as similar to George W. Bush, drawing attention to McCain's refusal to criticize the unpopular president. McCain was particularly criticized for saying of how many years we should be willing to stay in Iraq, "Make it a hundred."<ref>Dobbs, Michael (2008, April 2). "[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/mccains_100year_war.html FactChecker: McCain's '100-Year War']." ''Washington Post''.</ref>{{cquote|"John McCain went on television and said that there has been great progress economically over the last seven-and-a-half years. John McCain thinks our economy has made great progress under George W. Bush? How could somebody who has been traveling across this country, somebody who came to Erie, Pennsylvania, say we’ve made great progress?"
-Barack Obama<ref>Zeleny, Jeff (2008, April 18). "[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/obama-criticizes-mccain-on-economic-stance/ Obama Criticizes McCain on Economic Stance]." ''The New York Times''.</ref>}} On August 22, Obama selected [[Joe Biden]] as his running mate for the vice presidency,<ref>''CNN'' (2008, August 23). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-23/politics/biden.democrat.vp.candidate_1_biden-john-mccain-barack-obama?_s=PM:POLITICS Obama Introduces Biden as Running Mate]."</ref> which would be contrasted one week later with John McCain's selection of [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>Cooper, Michael & Bumiller, Elisabeth (2008, August 29). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/29palin.html?pagewanted=all Alaskan is McCain's Choice; First Woman on G.O.P. Ticket]. ''The New York Times''.</ref>

On November 2, 2008, Barack Obama won the presidential election with 365 electoral votes to John McCain's 173.<ref>(2008, November 14). "[http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/explorer.html Electoral Explorer]." Election Results 2008. ''The New York Times''.</ref> Obama received 53% of the popular vote to John McCain's 46%.<ref>(2008, November 17). "[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/ President]." Election Center 2008. ''CNN''.</ref>

==2009-2017: U.S. Presidency==
{{main article|Obama administration}}
[[File:Obama and George H. W. Bush.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Barack Obama meets with former President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office, Feb. 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).]]
Five years into Obama's presidency the number of people holding jobs still was 3 million below the all-time high of 138 million<ref>The effectiveness of [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|Stimulus]] and deficits: [http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=112811 Job growth under President Obama's first term;] Source: [[United States Department of Labor]].</ref> workers - despite an increase of 10 million people in population over the same period of time.<ref>[https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=112809 U.S. Population growth during Obama's first four years in office.] Source: [[U.S. Census Bureau]].</ref> Under Obama and Senate Democrats<ref>The Democrat-controlled Senate did not propose, vote on, or pass a budget for nearly five years. [http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/23/politics/senate-budget-bill/index.html Senate passes its first budget proposal in four years,] Ted Barrett and Alison Harding, CNN, March 23, 2013.</ref> budget management, the United States suffered its largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>Edwards, B. et. al. (2009, November 6). [http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10708/11-06-mbr.htm Monthly Budget Review: Fiscal Year 2009]. ''[[Congressional Budget Office]]''. Delisle, E.C. et. al. (2010, November 5). [http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf Monthly Budget Review: Fiscal Year 2010]. ''[[Congressional Budget Office]]''.</ref> in history and its credit-worthiness downgraded from [[Standard and Poor's]]. Obama assured Americans that unemployment would not rise above 8% if his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted, however it rose and stagnated in the 8-10% range<ref>Di Leo, L & Lynch, S.N. (2010, August 20). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html Jobless Claims Jump in New Sign Recovery is Sputtering]. ''Wall Street Journal''.</ref><ref>[[United States Bureau of Labor Statistics]]. [http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey]. ''[[United States Department of Labor]]''. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref> for the entirety of his first term.

Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen, writing in the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', noted, "Rather than being a unifier, Mr. Obama has divided America on the basis of race, class and partisanship." The commentators also note Obama's approach to governance has encouraged radical leftists to pursue a similar strategy on his behalf. Mary Frances Berry, former head of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, acknowledged that the [[Obama administration]] has taken to polarizing America around the issue of race as a means of diverting attention from other issues, saying, "Having one's opponent [[race card|rebut charges of racism]] is far better than discussing [[Unemployment|joblessness]]."<ref>Berry, M.F. (2010, July 20). [http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Mary_Frances_Berry_91E3D9D5-C40D-440C-9D48-1C50CBC60C87.html Energy Arena, Driving the Conversation: Contracting Out U.S. Security? And will Branding Tea Party Racist Work?] ''[[Politico]]''.</ref> Caddell and Schoen, who worked for President Carter and Clinton, respectively, further stated, "Mr. Obama has also cynically [[class warfare|divided the country on class lines]]. He has taken to playing the populist card time and time again. He bashes Wall Street and insurance companies whenever convenient to advance his programs, yet he has been eager to accept campaign contributions and negotiate with these very same banks and [[corporation]]s behind closed doors in order to advance his political agenda... President Obama's divisive approach to governance has weakened us as a people and paralyzed our political culture."<ref>Caddell, P.H. & Schoen, D.E. (2010, July 28). [http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703700904575391553798363586.html Our Divisive President]. ''Wall Street Journal''.</ref>
===Domestic policy===
====Economic policy====
[[File:Keynes.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Barack Obama]] advocates the use of discredited [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economic concepts]]<ref>[http://centurean2.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/fabian-john-maynard-keynes-the-stealthy-enemy-of-human-freedom/ John Maynard Keynes the stealthy enemy of human freedom]</ref><ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-02-22/deathbed-of-keynesian-economics-will-be-in-u-k-matthew-lynn.html Deathbed of Keynesian Economics will be in the UK]</ref><ref>[http://www.iwf.org/inkwell/show/23102.html Will the G8 Repudiate the Philosophy of Living Beyond Our Means?]</ref><ref>[http://www.keynesatharvard.org/book/KeynesatHarvard-ch09.html KEYNES AT HARVARD Economic Deception as a Political Credo BY ZYGMUND DOBBS]</ref>]]

{{see also|Obamunism|American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009}}
Critics of the Obama administration have coined the word "[[Obamunism]]" to describe Barack Obama's [[socialism|socialistic]] and "[[fascism]] light" [[economic planning]] policies.<ref>[[Benito Mussolini]] defined fascism as the wedding of state and corporate powers. Accordingly, trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] labels [[Obama administration corporate bailouts|Obama's corporate bailouts]] as being "fascism light" in nature.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/daily-intel/2009/07/20/obamunism-inc|work=The Big Money|publisher=Washington Post.[[Newsweek]] Interactive Co. LLC|language=English|title=Obamunism, Inc.|author=David Sessions|date=July 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-interviews/gerald-celente-6944|author=Jim Blasingame|title=Is the government creating a bailout bubble?}}</ref> Obamunism can also refer to Obama's [[Obama administration fiscal policy|ruinous fiscal policies]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|reckless monetary policies]].<ref name="gerard">{{cite web|url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/120883-monetary-policynot-obama-s-stimulusis-what-needs-watching|title=Monetary Policy-Not Obama's Stimulus-Is What Needs Watching|author=Gerard Jackson|date=February 16, 2009|work=Seeking Alpha}}</ref><ref name="bam">{{cite web|work=[[New York Post]]|date=May 17, 2009|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05172009/postopinion/editorials/bams_wise_words_169731.htm|title=BAM'S WISE WORDS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/|title=Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures|work=The Foundry|publisher=[[Heritage Foundation]]|author=Conn Carroll|date=March 24, 2009}}</ref> As seen in his own actions, Barack Obama instructed his advisors to find loopholes that would enable the president to act as a [[dictator]] by pushing through legislation and increases in spending without congressional authority.<ref>Naked Emperor News (2011, October 12). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/executive-dictatorship-obama-instructs-advisers-to-push-through-stimulus-projects-without-pesky-congressional-authorization/ Exclusive Dictatorship: Obama Instructs Advisors to Push Through Stimulus Projects Without Pesky 'Congressional Authorization']. ''[[The Blaze]]''.</ref>

Nevertheless, budgets passed under President Obama have included the smallest average annualized growth of federal spending (1.4%) since before President Reagan. Federal spending grew an average of 8.7% per year during Reagan's first term and an average of 8.1% per year during George W. Bush's second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/|title=Who Is The Smallest Government Spender Since Eisenhower? Would You Believe It's Barack Obama?|publisher=[[Forbes]]|author=Rick Ungar|date=May 24, 2012}}</ref>

[[Wall Street]] firms and banks that were bailed out were among Obama's biggest campaign supporters.<ref>''OpenSecrets.org''. [http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638 Barack Obama: Top Contributors]. The Center for Responsive Politics.</ref> Therefore, the Obama administration bailouts of corrupt, unproductive, and reckless Wall Street firms was hardly surprising, and many argue that it was not helpful in making the United States economy more productive and prosperous by encouraging more risk taking through letting banks off with a slap on the wrist. Others argue that bailing out the banks kept credit flowing and prevented a much deeper recession and a total collapse of the financial system. The government will recoup some though not all of its capital infusions over time. A 2005 study found that government corporate bailouts are often done for mere political considerations and the economic resources allocated exhibit significantly worse economic performance than resources allocated using purely business considerations.<ref>Faccio, M. et. al. (2005, March 1). [http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=676905 Political Connections and Corporate Bailouts]. ''Social Science Research Network''.</ref> Proponents of [[free market]] capitalism said Bernanke should not have bailed out failing firms and instead should have allowed free market capitalism to quickly recover as it did in the depression of 1920 without government intervention (free market capitalists assert that government intervention drags out economic recessions and depressions).<ref>Woods, T.E. (2009, April 10). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czcUmnsprQI Why You've Never Heard of the Great Depression of 1920]. ''[[Ludwig von Mises Institute]]''. Hosted on ''YouTube''.</ref>

The Obama administration has been sharply criticized for [[Obama administration deficit spending|its massive deficit spending]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|its reckless monetary policy]] via vast increases in the [[money supply]], although inflation under Bernanke has been below the historic mean.<ref name="gerard"/><ref name="bam"/><ref>Carroll, C. (2009, March 24). [http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/ Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures]. ''The Foundry''. [[Heritage Foundation|The Heritage Network]].</ref> Celente predicts that if a "second American Revolution" occurs in a peaceful and productive manner, it may include a [[Third Party System|third party movement]] of governance that will advocate a more [[free market]] [[capitalism]] approach to the American economy and a more strict interpretation of the [[United States Constitution|United States constitution]] as far as the authors' [[original intent]].

During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]],has been found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>Schoenberg, T. & Fisk, M.T. (2010, December 13). [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html Obama's Health-Care Law Ruled Unconstitutional Over Insurance Requirement]. ''Bloomberg''.</ref> by several judges and constitutional by others, and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220 Obamacare: Unemployment You Can Believe In], [[Human Events]]</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>Foster, J.D. (2010, August 5). [http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/ It’s Official: Medicare’s Finances Shadowed by Uncertainty]. ''The Foundry''. [[Heritage Foundation|The Heritage Network]].</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>Samuelson, R.J. (2010, March 29). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html With health bill, Obama has sown the seeds of a budget crisis]. ''Washington Post''.</ref><ref>Cramer, J. (2010, March 19). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2010/03/19/mad-money-cramer-health-care-passage-will-topple-stock-market 'Mad Money' Cramer: Health Care Passage 'Will Topple the Stock Market']. ''[[Newsbusters]]''.</ref>

His 2012 Budget plan has been roundly criticized in the mainstream and liberal press as not a serious effort to deal with the nation's economic crisis.<ref>[http://www.republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ID=1551d6f5-2ac9-4b8d-97ab-74def354024e Newspapers Call Out White House: ‘What Would That Path Be, Mr. President?’]</ref>

[[Jeffrey Tucker]] wrote, "President Obama's economic policy has been catastrophic for liberty, enterprise, and the American dream—the very archetype of what not to do to end recession." <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118186176/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=anncoulter-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118186176 Debacle: Obama's War on Jobs and Growth and What We Can Do Now to Regain Our Future]</ref>
=====Stimulus=====
{{See also|Recovery Summer}}
In early 2009, Obama lobbied Congress and the public to pass a sweeping Stimulus package<ref>(2009, January 3). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28479998/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-urges-congress-pass-stimulus-plan/ Obama Urges Congress to Pass Stimulus Plan]." ''Associated Press''. Parsons, C. & Nicholas, P. (2009, February 10). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28479998/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-urges-congress-pass-stimulus-plan/ Barack Obama Sternly Urges Congress to Pass Economic Stimulus]." ''Chicago Tribune''.</ref> known as ''The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009'' (H.R. 1).<ref>"[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1: Bill Text Versions: H.R. 1]." 111th Congress (2009-2010). ''[[Library of Congress]]''. "[http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center]." ''[[IRS]]''.</ref> The report of the Congressional Budget Office mandated by law stated that the legislation would ultimately harm the economy.<ref>Dinan, S. (2009, February 4). "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/04/cbo-obama-stimulus-harmful-over-long-haul/ CBO: Obama Stimulus Harmful Over Long Haul]." ''U.S. News''.</ref> Contrary to his promise of bipartisanship,<ref>Dinan, S. (2009, March 28). "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/28/mccain-obama-breaks-campaign-promises-shuns-bipart/?page=all McCain: Obama Breaks Promise of Bipartisanship]." ''[[Washington Times]]''.</ref> the bill passed the House 244-188 on January 28, 2009 with 11 Democrats voting with the entire Republican caucus against,<ref>Calmes, J. (2009, January 28). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29obama.html House Passes Stimulus Plan With No G.O.P. Votes]." ''The New York Times''.</ref> and received just 3 Republican votes when passing the Senate 61-37.<ref>Herszenhorn, D.M. (2009, February 10). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11web-stim.html Senate Approves Stimulus Plan]." ''The New York Times''.</ref> One third of the massive $838 billion bill consisted of [[Backdoor spending authority#Backdoor tax expenditures|backdoor tax expenditures]]<ref>(2009, February 11). "Senate Passes $838 Billion Stimulus Bill." ''Associated Press''.</ref> and the rest direct [[new spending]] on "just about every pent-up Democratic proposal of the last 40 years."<ref>(2009, January 28). "[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123310466514522309.html A 40-Year Wish List]." ''Wall Street Journal''.</ref> In responding to criticism of the broken bipartisanship promise at the time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously quipped, "We won the election. We wrote the bill."<ref>Kane, P. (2009, January 23). "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012203961.html Stimulus Plan Meets More GOP Resistance]." ''Washington Post''.</ref> On February 18, 2009, the Stimulus was signed into law by Obama.<ref>(2009, February 17). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29231790/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-stimulus-lets-americans-claim-destiny/ Obama: Stimulus Lets Americans Claim Destiny]." ''Associated Press''.</ref> In August 2009, Republicans and Democratic Senator David Obey drew attention to mistakes on the Recovery.gov site claiming millions of Stimulus jobs created that didn't exist. Obama responded by saying the errors just indicate his accounting is an "inexact science".<ref>(2009, November 18). "[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/18/obama-calls-stimulus-data-errors-issue-says-focus-job-growth/ Obama Calls Stimulus Data Errors 'Side Issue,' Says Focus Is on Job Growth]." ''[[Fox News]]''.</ref>
=====[[Sequestration]]=====
According to [[Pulitzer Prize]] winning journalist [[Bob Woodward]] of the ''[[Washington Post]]'', Obama misled the American people in a Presidential debate only two weeks before the 2012 election when he said, "The sequester is not something that I’ve proposed,”<ref>[http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-22/opinions/37238840_1_jack-lew-treasury-secretary-rob-nabors Obama’s sequester deal-changer,] By Bob Woodward, ''Washington Post'', February 22, 2013.</ref> when in fact his chief budget negotiator and current Chief of Staff, [[Jack Lew]], made a call to Democrat [[Harry Reid]] at 2:30 pm on July 27, 2011 with the proposal after clearing it with Obama,<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/22/fact-check-woodward-wrote-that-obama-administration-proposed-sequester/ Fact-check: Woodward wrote that Obama administration proposed sequester]. [[The Daily Caller]]</ref> as fully documented in Woodward's book, ''The Price of Politics''. Federal Reserve Chairman [[Ben Bernanke]] warned of immediate jobloss of about 750,000 jobs - about the same level as under George W. Bush<ref>[http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=109262 Monthly Jobloss under George W. Bush, Jan 2007 - Jan 2009]. See also [http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=109266 Initial Unemployment Claims] over the same period, annualized. Source: [[U.S. Department of Labor]], Bureau of Labor Statistics.</ref> - if Obama's budget and economic plans were allowed to take effect.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/26/news/economy/bernanke-burden-recovery/ Bernanke: Spending cuts add 'significant' burden to recovery,] By Annalyn Kurtz, CNN February 26, 2013.</ref>

Woodward, who's reporting on [[Watergate]] is credited with toppling the administration of [[Richard Nixon]], told Wolf Blitzer of CNN he was told by a senior White House official he'd regret talking about the President Obama's positions on the sequester.<ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/bob-woodward-obama-sequester-white-house-reporting-price-politics-2013-2 Bob Woodward: White House Threatened Me On Sequester,] businessinsider.com</ref>
=====Spreading the poverty=====
Following the 2011 debt ceiling standoff between Obama and House Republicans,<ref name=Swann-Aug>{{cite web|url=http://www.standardandpoors.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobheadername3=MDT-Type&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3DUS_Downgraded_AA%2B.pdf&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobheadername1=content-type&blobwhere=1243942957443&blobheadervalue3=UTF-8 |title=United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered to 'AA+' on Political Risks and Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative |publisher=[[Standard and Poor's]] |date=August 5, 2011 |accessdate=April 3, 2013}}</ref> the United States Government's credit rating was, for the first time in its history, downgraded from AAA to AA+, and [[poverty]]<ref>[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf Figure 4: Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959-2009]. ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplements.</ref> increased markedly. By and large his programs, said to combat the recession, unemployment, slow growth, and deficits, have failed<ref>"The vast majority (73%) of respondents reported the fiscal stimulus enacted in February 2009 has had no impact on employment to date. While 68% also believe a jobs bill, such as the one recently enacted into law, will have no impact on payrolls, 30% do believe it will boost payrolls moderately". [http://www.nabe.com/press/ind1004.pdf Industry Survey], ''National Association for Business Economics'', April 2010, p. 2.</ref> leaving the country saddled with an $18 trillion [[national debt]] and climbing.<ref>During Obama's first two years in office, the rate of new U.S. federal debt added per year to its total tripled the rate of new debt accumulated by Bush to place the U.S. on a war footing, and during Obama's first six years in office, the total National Debt has nearly doubled ($7.5 trillion added). See [[National Debt]].</ref> One of his most well known tactics is blaming someone else, such as George W. Bush, for all his failures instead of taking responsibility. Also on the domestic front, Obama passed an expensive [[health care]] bill in 2010 with no national consensus or [[bipartisan]] support and 34 Democrats dissenting. Recently, the [[Congressional Budget Office]] wrote an open letter to [[John Boehner]], the Speaker of the House, outlining the effects of repealing [[Obamacare]] and explaining why net loss of over 100 billion dollars would occur from the repeal.<ref>[http://cbo.gov/publication/43471 Letter to the Honorable John Boehner providing an estimate for H.R. 6079, the Repeal of Obamacare Act], Congressional Budget Office</ref>

====Job killer healthcare mandates====
{{main article|Obamacare}}
On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the unpopular Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The act originated in the Democrat-controlled House and was amended and passed the Senate just prior to Sen. [[Ted Kennedy]]'s death largely along party lines with a significant number of Democrats voting to oppose. In what was construed as a de facto rejection of the bill, [[Massachusetts]] voters elected a [[Republican]] candidate, [[Scott Brown]], who promised to vote against the bill if given the chance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/scott-brown-wins-massachusetts-senate-race.html|work=Washington Post|author=Chris Cillizza|date=January 19, 2010|title=Scott Brown wins Massachusetts Senate special election race|language=English}}</ref> After Obama made a promise to issue an [[executive order]] that would ultimately prohibit the use of taxpayer subsidies to pay for [[abortion]] services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/22/nation/la-na-healthcare-passage22-2010mar22/3|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=English|title=House passes historic healthcare overhaul|date=March 22, 2010|author=Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook}}</ref> the Democratic [[House of Representatives]] would pass the bill as it left the Senate 219-212, with 34 Democrats and all other parties dissenting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-21/politics/health.care.main_1_health-care-entire-house-democratic-caucus-pre-existing-conditions?_s=PM:POLITICS|date=March 21, 2010|author=Alan Silverleib|work=CNN|language=English|title=House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote}}</ref>

Amongst other things, the act mandated that everyone purchase health care coverage or face punitive tax measures, and was upheld by the [[Supreme Court]].

====The revolving door====
Obama criticized the "revolving door" of government and business.<ref>"We need to close the revolving door that lets lobbyists come into government freely, and lets them use their time in public service as a way to promote their own interests over the interests of the American people when they leave." [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-welcoming-senior-staff-and-cabinet-secretaries-white-house REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN WELCOMING SENIOR STAFF AND CABINET SECRETARIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE,] January 21, 2009. [[White House]]</ref> After appointing [[Peter Orszag]] his first Budget Director to dole out the stimulus cash, Orszag resigned to become Citigroup's Vice Chairman of Global Banking. Citigroup was the recipient of $476 billion in [[bailout]] money - more than any other bank - after the disastrous [[Financial crisis of 2008]].<ref>[http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2011/03/citibank_received_more_bailout.html Citigroup Received More Bailout Money Than Any Other Bank,] By Nitasha Tiku, 3/16/11.</ref> Before the bailout, Orszag's expert opinion of the chances of a mortgage meltdown were 1 in 500,000.<ref>[http://www.pierrelemieux.org/stiglitzrisk.pdf Implications of the New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Risk-based Capital Standard,] by Joseph E. Stiglitz, Jonathan M. Orszag and Peter R. Orszag. Fannie Mae Papers, Volume 1, Issue 2, March 2002, Conclusion p.6.</ref>

====Environment and energy====
{{main article|Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster}}
President Obama authorized offshore oil drilling in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0430/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-imperils-Obama-s-offshore-drilling-plan Gulf of Mexico oil spill imperils Obama's offshore drilling plan,] By Mark Clayton, ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', April 30, 2010.</ref> stating, "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills"<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref> and was widely criticized for his mishandling of the "[[Gulf oil spill disaster|worst environmental disaster]] in US history."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-33986-Political-Spin-Examiner~y2010m4d29-Worst-environmental-disaster-in-US-history-Oil-slick-in-Gulf-of-Mexico-is-set-on-fire Worst environmental disaster in US history,] Maryann Tobin, ''Examiner'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/?src=twt&twt=NytimesKrugman Conscience of a Liberal: The Oil Spill Is Obama’s Fault,] Paul Krugman, ''The New York Times'', April 30, 2010.</ref>
====Reverses the Progressive 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy====
{{main article|Don't Ask Don't Tell}}
Candidate Obama promised to repeal a policy that originated with President Clinton and passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress that prohibited inquiries into military personnel's [[sexual orientation]] while barring openly gay [[homosexuals]] from serving in the military. [[Liberals]] expressed anger when time passed and no effort to repeal the law was seen;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/|work=[[Washington Times]]|title=Obama to delay ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal|language=English|author=Rowan Scarborough|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> in fact, Obama's [[justice department]], as part of their duty to defend all laws passed by any administration, filed a brief arguing against the [[Supreme Court]] granting a [[writ of certiorari]] to a gay soldier challenging the law (the writ was not granted). In response, the soldier, James Pietrangelo II, a former Army infantryman and lawyer, said, “(Obama's) a coward, a bigot and a pathological liar. This is a guy who spent more time picking out his dog, Bo, and playing with him on the White House lawn than he has working for equality for gay people."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Time Magazine]]|publisher=Time Inc.|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903545,00.html?imw=Y|title=Dismay Over Obama's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Turnabout|author=Mark Thompson|date=Jun. 09, 2009}}</ref>

On December 15, 2010, a bill was introduced in the [[House of Representatives]] to repeal the law - it passed a day later by a vote of 250-175;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll638.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 638|work=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref> it passed the Senate three days later 65-31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|work=The U.S. Senate|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session|language=English}}</ref> Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 on December 22.<ref name="g dadt">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/obama-repeals-dont-ask-dont-tell|work=[[The Guardian]]|language=English|title='Don't ask, don't tell' repealed as Obama signs landmark law|date=22 December 2010}}</ref> The [[Pentagon]] itself could not immediately implement the repeal and questioned whether it would hurt combat readiness.<ref name="g dadt"/>

====Labor law and compensation to 9/11 first responders====
Obama's first act of office was to sign the [[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (2009)|Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act]] - effectively nullifying the [[Supreme Court]] case ''Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'', which ruled that Ledbetter had to have filed a pay [[discrimination]] suit within 180 days of the first time Ledbetter was paid less than her male peers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html|work=The New York Times|language=English|title=Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref> the law made corporations subject to suit within 180 days of each time the employee was unfairly paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20090213.html?=features|work=FindLaw|author=Joanna L. Grossman|date=Feb. 13, 2009|language=English|title=The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009}}</ref>

On January 2, 2011, Obama signed the James Zadroga [[9/11]] Healthcare and Compensation Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/jan/02/obama-signs-zadroga-act-law/|publisher=New York Public Radio|title=Obama Signs Zadroga Act into Law|author=Fred Mogul|date=January 2, 2011|work=wNYC|language=English}}</ref> The act, which afforded 9/11 first responders who were sickened by the dust from the collapse of the [[World Trade Center]] health care and compensation, passed [[Congress]] after its sponsors agreed to scale down the pricing from 7.4 to 4.2 billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2010/dec/22/zadroga-911-bill-passes-senate/|publisher=New York Public Radio|work=wNYC|language=English|title=Congress Approves 9/11 Health Bill|date=December 22, 2010}}</ref>
=== Obama administration and the restriction of religious freedom for Christians ===
[[File:Schlafly phyllis.jpg|thumbnail|right|140px|[[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s book ''No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom'' documents Obama's attack on religious freedom.<ref>[http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/obamas-attack-on-religious-freedom-its-worse-than-you-think Obama’s Attack on Religious Freedom: It’s Worse Than You Think], ''Crises Magazine''</ref>]]
When first running for office Obama angered religious conservatives with his comment about working-class voters in old industrial towns. Obama said, "They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/14/barackobama.uselections2008 Obama angers midwest voters with guns and religion remark], The Guardian</ref>

The Obama administration has been widely criticized for his policies which encroach on religious freedom in areas such as: health care, freedom to dissent on matters relating to the [[homosexual agenda]], religious freedom in the military and religious freedom in other spheres of American life.<ref>
*[http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/obamas-attack-on-religious-freedom-its-worse-than-you-think Obama’s Attack on Religious Freedom: It’s Worse Than You Think], ''Crises Magazine''
*[http://dailysignal.com/2016/01/21/obamas-hypocrisy-on-religious-freedom/ Obama’s Hypocrisy on Religious Freedom]
*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/15/us-military-losing-christians-because-of-hostile-c/?page=all U.S. military ‘hostile’ to Christians under Obama; morale, retention devastated], ''Washington Times''
*[http://www1.cbn.com/beltwaybuzz/archive/2015/10/08/senator-seeks-answers-from-obama-on-religious-freedom Obama and Religious Freedom], ''CBN News''
</ref>

In addition, the Obama administration has been criticized for promoting religious freedom for [[Islam|Muslims]] and restricting religious freedom for Christians.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2015/10/29/the-obama-administration-religious-freedoms-fro-american-muslims-not-american-christians-n2072727 The Obama Administration: Religious Freedoms for American Muslims, Not American Christians], Townhall</ref>

==== Obama administration met with an atheist group ====

''See also:'' [[Atheism and American politics]]

The Obama administration is the first administration to met with an [[Atheism|atheist]] group. It meet with the Secular Coalition for America which is a coalition which represents the [[American Atheists]], the American [[Secular Humanism|Humanist]] Association, and the Military Association of Atheists and [[Freethought|Freethinkers]].

According to the ''USA Today'', the group met with the White House officials to "discuss problems that they believe are fueled by religion."<ref name="content.usatoday.com">[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/02/atheists-meet-with-white-house-officials/1#.VypYTzEn_7Y Atheists meet with White House officials], USA Today</ref> Among the issues the group discussed were the issues of "military proselytizing" by [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] Christian members of the military and faith-based initiatives<ref name="content.usatoday.com"/>

===Foreign policy===
Unlike Presidents [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Franklin Roosevelt]], Barack Obama has shown scant concern about the revival of [[slavery]] which took place on his watch shortly after his "apology tour", intended to diminish U.S. influence in the world.<ref>[http://womensenews.org/story/international-policyunited-nations/150527/un-sex-violence-envoy-focusing-syria-iraq UN Sex Violence Envoy: Focusing on Syria, Iraq]</ref><ref>[http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/06/barack-obamas-top-10-apologies-how-the-president-has-humiliated-a-superpower Barack Obama's Top 10 Apologies: How the President Has Humiliated a Superpower], Heritage Foundation</ref> Obama, who was raised a Muslim<ref>[http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/01/was_obama_blood.html Was Obama bloodied by madrassa story?]</ref><ref>[http://www.danielpipes.org/11952/obama-muslim-childhood Obama's Muslim Childhood]</ref> and is not a descendent of slaves, criticized Christians and the Crusades as reports of thousands of women and girls being captured, sold, and raped flooded in.<ref>[http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/579393/ISIS-Michelle-Obama-prostitute-justifies-raping-slave-girls-Koran ISIS calls Michelle Obama a PROSTITUTE and justifies raping slave girls with the KORAN]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-speech-at-prayer-breakfast-called-offensive-to-christians/2015/02/05/6a15a240-ad50-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html Critics pounce after Obama talks Crusades, slavery at prayer breakfast], Washington Post</ref>

Obama entered his second term mocking and ridiculing the idea that Russia was America's prime geo-strategic competitor; by the closing days of his presidency, Obama was in a panic fanning the flames of a Third Red Scare. Vladimar Putin and Russia had thoroughly embarrassed Barack Obama on the world stage as Obama withdrew America from its traditional role of global leadership and reputiated the idea of [[American exceptionalism]]. Respect for America degenerated in the world as issues such as transexual bathrooms occupied more of Obama's time and attention then the 12 million homeless refugees Obama had driven from their homes in his failed "[[Arab Spring]]" policy. Having been thoroughly rebuked politically with the election of Donald Trump, as a [[lameduck]] Obama attempted to coverup [[DNC]] scandals uncovered by [[Wikileaks]] by scapegoating Vladimar Putin and fostering an atmosphere of paranoia about Russia, the future, and a Trump presidency.
====Commander-in-chief====
As Senator, Obama was highly critical of President Bush and promised change. As President, Obama has tripled down in Afghanistan, widened the war into Pakistan, multiplied drone attacks, bombed Yemen and Somalia, and started an undeclared NATO war in Libya. On presidential war powers, surveillance questions, Guantanamo, detention policy and habeas corpus, Obama has similarly stayed the course, or expanded Bush's precedents. In a speech on May 19, 2011 Obama fully embraced the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war.<ref>Krauthammer, C. (April 19). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-news-in-obamas-speech/2011/05/19/AF4dFN7G_story.html The News in Obama's Speech]. ''Washington Post''.</ref>
From the Boston Globe:
<blockquote>
'The New America Foundation, which tracks the strikes, has listed 23 raids since the beginning of April, 2011, all but one in Pakistan’s tribal regions of North and South Waziristan. A June 20 attack was reported in Kurram, an area north of North Waziristan along the Afghanistan border.'
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
'The drone program has become increasingly controversial as the Obama administration has expanded its use beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Lethal missiles have been launched from unmanned aircraft in at least five countries in addition to Pakistan: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and, most recently, Somalia. The military’s Joint Special Operations Command used a drone last June to attack what officials said were two senior members of the Al Shabab militant group on the Somali coast.' <ref>DeYoung, K. (2011, July 4). [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/07/04/cia_halts_drone_launches_from_pakistan_base/ CIA Halts Drone Launches From Pakistan Base]. ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.</ref>
</blockquote>
A commentator says:
<blockquote>
'Obama is commendable when he says he wants to avoid war. His policies, however, favor war by destabilizing the Middle East making it extremely hostile and favoring radical Islam over America’s ally, Israel, and American interests in the region... The president has chosen a very dangerous path for every American and one that promises great difficulty for Israel.' <ref>[http://www.thejerusalemconnection.us/blog/2012/03/14/obamas-words-disguise-his-israel-foreign-policy-actions.html Obama's words disguise his Israel foreign policy actions.]</ref>
</blockquote>
By Obama's third year as Commander-in-Chief, over 1200 American troops died in Iraq and Afghanistan - significantly more than the number who died during President [[George W. Bush]]'s term of office. And growing numbers of civilian contractors also have fallen. In the first half of 2010, 250 contractors reportedly died in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than the 235 military personnel who fell during the same period.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/24/114662/what-price-war.html#ixzz1Nz07pg5O</ref>
====National Defense====
President Obama signed into U.S. law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), only after his administration successfully lobbied to remove language from the bill that would have protected American citizens from being detained indefinitely without trial.<ref>Aaron Dykes. [http://www.infowars.com/president-obamas-ndaa-signing-statement-i-have-the-power-to-detain-americans-but-i-wont/ Obama’s Signing Statement on NDAA: I have the power to detain Americans… but I won’t], Infowars.com, January 1, 2012.</ref> After the legislation cleared Congress, the ACLU commented that if President Obama signed the bill it "will damage both his legacy and American’s reputation for upholding the rule of law," while executive director of the ''Human Rights Watch'' blasted the President for being ‘on the wrong side of history,’ noting that "Obama will go down in history as the president who enshrined indefinite detention without trial in US law."<ref>President Decides to Sign Ill-Conceived National Defense Authorization Act. [http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/12/14/us-refusal-veto-detainee-bill-historic-tragedy-rights US: Refusal to Veto Detainee Bill A Historic Tragedy for Rights], ''[[Human Rights Watch]]'', December 14, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.aclu.org/national-security/white-house-backs-away-defense-bill-veto-threat White House Backs Away from Defense Bill Veto Threat], ''[[ACLU]]'', December 14, 2011.</ref>

Section 1031 of the NDAA bill, which itself defines the entirety of the United States as a “battlefield,” allows American citizens to be snatched from the streets, carted off to a foreign detention camp and held indefinitely without trial. As reported by Infowars.com, the bill states that “any person who has committed a belligerent act” faces indefinite detention, but no trial or evidence has to be presented, the White House merely needs to make the accusation.<ref>Paul Joseph Watson. [http://www.infowars.com/obama-administration-demanded-power-to-indefinitely-detain-u-s-citizens/ Obama Administration Demanded Power To Indefinitely Detain U.S. Citizens], Infowars.com, December 12, 2011.</ref><ref>S.1867 [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c112:2:./temp/~c1122VN0Iv:e548990: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Engrossed in Senate [Passed Senate] - ES)], ''[[Library of Congress]]'' THOMAS, 112th Congress (2011-2011), Accessed January 25, 2012.</ref><ref>Text of S.1867 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. [http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s1867/text?version=es&nid=t0:es:281 Sec. 1031. Affirmation of authority of the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.], [[U.S. Congress]], ''OpenCongress.org'', (Accessed January 25, 2012).</ref>
====Escalates Afghan occupation into a conflict====
{{main article|Afghanistan War}}
American deaths in [[Afghanistan]] more than doubled in Obama's first few years compared with the preceding eight years of George Bush <ref>Chesser, S.G. (2012, July 12). [http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians - CRS Report for Congress]. Pg. 3. ''Congressional Research Service'''.</ref> as he increased troop strength for no discernible purpose and to "win" unstated objectives. Against his own Defense Secretary's advice, Obama [[Libyan uprising 2011|attacked Libya]] and forced regime change without Congressional authorization in violation of the post-Nixon era reform measure, the [[War Powers Act]].

After he took personal credit for killing [[Osama bin Laden]], the [[U.S. State Department]] warned of increased risk to the lives and safety of Americans.<ref>''KABC-TV/DT'' (2011, July 27). [http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8273909 Risk of anti-US violence up after Osama bin Laden's death]. On ''ABC7 News''.</ref> Bin Laden's successor, [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] confirmed the [[Benghazi Attack]] which took place on the anniversary of 9/11 and killed more Americans, was motivated by al-Qaeda's desire for revenge.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/12/world/africa/libya-attack-jihadists/index.html Pro-al Qaeda group seen behind deadly Benghazi attack], By Nic Robertson, Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, CNN, September 13, 2012.</ref> Bin Laden's death, as Obama's advisers warned, freed up jihadis who swore an oath of allegiance to the 9/11 mastermind to swear allegiance to rival and competing factions. The competing factions advocated the immediate establishment of the Islamic State, rather than after the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy and retaking of Mecca. As was well known, bin Laden always held a controversial and minority position among jihadis on the strategy for global jihad by attacking the United States first. Bin Laden's killing, intended as an election year gimmick, brought Obama no improvement in approval ratings and spawned unprecedented growth in global terror and jihadi recruiting.

Obama needlessly escalated troop strength<ref name="pbs">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/themes/strategy.html#ixzz1LhWNImZp|title=Obama's New Strategy (March '09)|author=George Packer, Seth Jones, David Kilcullen, Rory Stewart, Andrew Exum, Col. Andrew Bacevich (Ret.)|work=[[PBS]]|language=English}}</ref> and defense costs in Afghanistan from $43.5 billion in George Bush's last year to $113.7 billion for 2011.<ref>Congressional Research Service, quoted in Gregory Anthony, ''What price war?''</ref> Adviser to General [[Stanley McChrystal]] David Kilcullen wrote, "One of the big strategic shifts is the use of language now which talks about Pakistan and Afghanistan as the same theater. Now we talked about Af-Pak long before the Obama administration came about, but the public use of that term, and the description of it as the Afghanistan-Pakistan campaign, sends a new message to people about how the administration is going to think about Afghanistan and Pakistan."<ref name="pbs"/>

====Another dumb Obama war====
{{main article|Libyan uprising 2011}}
In February 2011, the political unrest that spread through the Arab world showed up as protests in Libya. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, leader of Libya for 41 years, responded to the violence<ref>[http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28376.htm There Was No Libyan Peaceful Protest, Just Murderous Gangs and Nic Robertson]</ref> with legitimate steps.<ref name="nyt libya">{{cite web|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Inc.|language=English|title=Libya — Protests and Revolt (2011)}}</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] voted to impose [[sanctions]], and later passed a resolution to protect civilians. Obama, without approval from Congress and over the objections of his own National Security staff,<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gates-libyan-no-fly-zone-means-attacking-libya/ Gates: Libyan no-fly zone means attacking Libya], CBS News</ref> directed American forces to take out Libya's air defense system.<ref name="nyt libya"/> Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]], National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough, and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]] all opposed the action. Obama later said, "if we waited one more day Benghazi, a city nearly the size of Charlotte, could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world."<ref>{{cite web|author=Barack Obama|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134935452/obamas-speech-on-libya-a-responsibility-to-act|title=Obama's Speech On Libya: 'A Responsibility To Act'|date=March 28, 2011|publisher=National Public Radio ([[NPR]])|language=English}}</ref> [[Alan J. Kuperman]], in an editorial for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'', suggested this statement was false, writing, "intervention did not prevent genocide, because no such bloodbath was in the offing. To the contrary, by emboldening rebellion, US interference has prolonged Libya’s civil war and the resultant suffering of innocents."<ref name="kuperman">{{cite web|author=Alan J. Kuperman|work=The Boston Globe|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions|title=False pretense for war in Libya?|date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> Kuperman, a professor of public affairs at the [[University of Texas]] who authored a book called ''The Limits of Humanitarian Intervention'', further stated that the rebels had tricked the world into thinking a bloodbath was at hand and that Obama had lied to the American people in order to act on this theory.<ref name="kuperman"/>
<blockquote>
Gaddafi [never] threaten[ed] civilian massacre in Benghazi, as Obama alleged. The “no mercy’’ warning, of March 17, targeted rebels only, as reported by ''The New York Times'', which noted that Libya’s leader promised amnesty for those “who throw their weapons away.’’ Gaddafi even offered the rebels an escape route and open border to Egypt, to avoid a fight “to the bitter end.’’ <ref>[http://politicalcartel.org/2011/04/17/libya-and-the-obama-doctrine/ Libya and the “Obama Doctrine”.]</ref>
</blockquote>
Gaddafi wrote to Obama and told him he bore no ill will. "We have been hurt more morally than physically because of what had happened against us in both deeds and words by you," he wrote. "Despite all this you will always remain our son whatever happened. We still pray that you continue to be president of the USA. We endeavour and hope that you will gain victory in the new election campaign."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/gaddafi-obama-nato-libya?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 Gaddafi begs Obama to halt 'unjust war' ], [[The Guardian ]]</ref>
=====Aid to terrorists=====
A March 29, 2011 article in the ''[[Washington Post]]'' included these paragraphs:
{{Cquote|"It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html Libyan opposition includes a small number of al-Qaeda fighters, U.S. officials say], Washington Post</ref>}}

This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss Washington in Fierce Debate on Arming Libyan Rebels], The New York Times</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp C.I.A. Agents in Libya Aid Airstrikes and Meet Rebels], The New York Times</ref> at the urging of Hillary Clinton<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=3&hp& Obama Takes Hard Line With Libya After Shift by Clinton], The New York Times</ref> and over the objections of his National Security Council, Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for the rebel jihadis.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330 Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret help for Libya rebels], [[Reuters]]</ref>

By October 2011, [[Libyan rebel fighting group]]s with support from [[NATO]] overtook the capital and toppled the government. Gaddafi was captured and brutally and sadistically murdered.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPzeLLL9V-c Leading from behind - a critique of Obama foreign policy]</ref> The jihadis were immediately recognized by the U.S. and the U.N. as the new legitimate government. Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, announced [[Sharia]] will be the source for all legislation and all laws conflicting with Sharia are null and void.<ref name="Sharia">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8861608/Libya-Al-Qaeda-flag-flown-above-Benghazi-courthouse.html Libya: Al Qaeda flag flown above Benghazi courthouse] - [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref> Abdel Rahim al-Kib, the country's interim prime minister, echoed Jalil's words days later.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail/207953.html New Libyan PM backs Islamic sharia law]</ref> The al Qaeda flag was flown above the Benghazi courthouse, and reports surfaced that the Libyan jihadis had imposed Sharia law in some parts of the country even earlier.<ref name="Sharia" /> By February 17, 2013, four foreign nationals were arrested for distributing Christian literature, a charge that could carry the death penalty.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries Libya arrests foreign 'missionaries' Four foreign nationals accused of distributing Christian literature] a charge that could carry the death penalty, Chris Stephen [[The Guardian]], Sunday 17 February 2013.</ref>

=====Terrorist attack on American soil=====
:{{main|Benghazi Attack}}
With several U.S. embassies besieged on the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] declared there was no reason to believe the attack on the sovereign territory of the United States consulate in Benghazi, less than two months before the [[2012 Presidential election]] which killed Americans, was a terrorist attack.
{{Cquote|The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive.}}
This became the official White House line. Between laughs with [[Jon Stewart]] on [[Comedy Central]], Obama said the death of Americans was "not optimal".<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/18/Obama-Benghazi-murders-not-optimal Interview with Jon Stewart of the ''Daily Show''], Breitbart.com</ref> When pressed by reporters, who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was a terrorist attack, Press Secretary Carney argued “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”

Leading suspected jihadis in the murders and terrorist attack were the local Benghazi branch of Ansar al-Shariah, known to have ties to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114113/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/10/19/when-an-obama-adviser-called-benghazi-an-al-qaeda-hotbed/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway When an Obama adviser called Benghazi an al-Qaeda hotbed]</ref> A commander of the terrorist group boasted jovially about the attack over drinks with reporters for the ''New York Times'' in Benghazi.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/election-year-stakes-overshadow-nuances-of-benghazi-investigation.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world Election-Year Stakes Overshadow Nuances of Libya Investigation], The New York Times</ref><ref>[http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/frappe-libya-attack/ Frappe-Sipping Libyan Militant Laughs at U.S. Manhunt for Benghazi Killers], [[Wired (magazine)]]</ref>

=====[[Al Qaeda in the Maghreb]]=====
Two more Americans were killed, along with 35 others, after being taken hostage by rebel jihadists in Mali shortly after the Libyan upheaval.<ref>[http://world.time.com/2013/01/21/algeria-37-foreigner-hostages-killed-in-attack/ Algeria: 37 Foreigner Hostages Killed in Attack], Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2013. ''[[Time Magazine]]''.</ref>

Hillary Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the wake of the Benghazi murders under her stewardship, that weapons and fighters equipped by the Obama administration made their way to [[Mali]] and [[Algeria]]:
{{cquote|There is no doubt that the Algerian terrorists had weapons from Libya. There is no doubt that the Malian remnants of AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] have weapons from Libya.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-says-militants-used-weapons-libya-algeria-attack-154222664.html Clinton says militants used weapons from Libya in Algeria attack] [[Reuters]], Jan 23, 2013.</ref>}}

====Mexico====
[[File:Eric Holder.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Eric Holder]] resigned as Attorney General in light of Fast & Furious<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/fast_and_furious_in_a_rotten_nutshell.html#ixzz27iRBCN28 Fast and Furious in a Rotten Nutshell], Ronald Kolb, ''[[American Thinker]]'', October 7, 2011,</ref> and other scandals.]]
:''Main article:'' '''[[Operation Fast and Furious]]'''
In May 2010, President Obama promised Mexican President [[Felipe Calderon]] that his administration would assist Mexico in curbing drug cartel violence, which has led to 30,000 deaths in Mexico. "President Calderon and I . . . stand together against the drug cartels that have unleashed horrific violence in so many communities," Obama said on May 19. "Mexico can count on the United States as a full partner in this effort."

The ''Washington Post'' has reported however that White House officials stopped a requirement for gun dealers to report bulk sales of high-powered semiautomatic rifles commonly used by illegal drug cartels. [[Justice Department]] officials had asked for White House approval to require thousands of gun dealers along the border to report the purchases to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives. ATF investigators expected to get leads on suspected arms traffickers. Senior law enforcement sources said the proposal from the ATF was held up by then White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]].<ref>Horwitz, S. & Grimaldi, J.V. (2010, December 17). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html White House Delayed Rule Meant to Stop Gun Flow to Mexico]. ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Gun dealers have been required for decades to report the sales of multiple handguns to the ATF.

====Cuba====
During his presidency, Obama instituted a major détente with the oppressive Communist dictatorship of [[Cuba]], despite its failed leftist governance and human rights violations.<ref>[http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-cuban-detente-1418862551 Obama’s Cuban Detente]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. December 17, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>Spetalnick, Matt; Gardner, Timothy (December 13, 2016). [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cuba-whitehouse-idUSKBN1422U6 Obama to press Trump to preserve Cuba detente: White House]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref> In August 2015, the U.S. and Cuba reopened each other's embassies.<ref>Frumin, Aliyah (July 1, 2015). [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-announces-historic-deal-cuba Obama announces historic deal with Cuba]. ''MSNBC''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/14/kerry-in-havana-for-reopening-us-embassy-tough-negotiations-ahead.html Kerry marks opening of US Embassy in Havana, critics rip 'diplomacy for show']. ''Fox News''. August 14, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref> In September 2016, Obama nominated the first U.S. Ambassador to Cuba in 55 years.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/09/27/obama-nominates-first-us-ambassador-to-cuba-in-more-than-45-years.html Obama nominates first US ambassador to Cuba in more than 55 years]. ''Fox News''. September 27, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.</ref> Obama did everything in his power to normalize relations with the failed dictatorship, but the U.S. embargo against Cuba remained in place due to opposition from the Republican-controlled Congress.<ref>Spetalnick, Matt; Marsh, Sarah (October 14, 2016). [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-idUSKBN12E1H3 Obama eases restrictions on Cuba, lifts limits on rum and cigars]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>

Despite Obama's support for mass immigration and amnesty for those who immigrated illegally, he ended the "wet foot, dry foot" policy that allowed Cuban refugees to legally stay in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/12/obama-reportedly-to-scrap-wet-foot-dry-foot-policy-for-cuban-refugees.html Obama announces end to 'wet foot, dry foot' policy for Cuban refugees]. ''Fox News''. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>

====Guantanamo Bay====
{{main article|Guantanamo Bay}}
One of Obama's campaign promises was that he would close the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba - detainees would be flown to other countries while the ones awaiting trial would enter the American court system. Two days after taking office he signed an order directing the military to do so.<ref name="salon">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/25/obama_guantanamo_rhetoric|work=Salon|title=The Obama/Gitmo timeline|author=Natasha Lennard|language=English}}</ref> But, in November 2009 Obama admitted that his self-imposed deadline of January 2010 would be missed, and in March 2011 the president went back on his campaign promise, signing an executive order to create a formal system of indefinite detention for the prisoners.<ref name="salon"/>

Obama ultimately failed to close Guantanamo Bay, although he continually attempted to reduce the number of detained terrorists held at the base, even in the last days of his presidency.<ref>Saxena, V. (January 6, 2017). [http://www.westernjournalism.com/obama-to-release-18-hardened-gitmo-terrorists-before-leaving-office/ Obama To Release 18 Hardened Gitmo Terrorists Before Leaving Office]. ''Western Journalism''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>Ryan, Missy; Tate, Julie (December 28, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/with-final-detainee-transfer-obamas-guantanamo-policy-takes-its-last-breath/2016/12/28/dfdf8cb2-cd0f-11e6-a747-d03044780a02_story.html?utm_term=.62bebcb1f672 With final detainee transfer, Obama’s Guantanamo policy takes its last breath]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref>

====Russia====
Obama criticized president of [[Russia]], [[Vladimir Putin]] for carrying out a referendum for the seizure of [[Crimea]] to Russia.<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-calls-rethinking-crimea-vote Obama calls for a 'rethinking' on Crimea vote]. [[Cybercast News Service]]</ref>

====Anti-Israel policies====
Obama has had very poor relations with the conservative [[Israel]]I Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. During the very tight and closely-watched 2015 elections, the Obama Administration attempted to influence the election—in order to elect a leftist government in the nation and defeat Netanyahu—by financing a liberal Israeli political organization.<ref>Klein, Aaron (July 13, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/07/13/israeli-lawmakers-fume-obama-administration-intervention-defeat-netanyahu/ Israeli Lawmakers Fume Over Obama Administration ‘Intervention’ to Defeat Netanyahu]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref> Netanyahu decisively won the election, despite opposition from left-wing world leaders such as Obama.<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-claims-victory-as-vote-count-shows-likud-further-ahead/ Netanyahu scores crushing victory in Israeli elections]. ''The Times of Israel''. March 18, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref>

On December 23, 2016, Obama broke over 35 years of American policy by abstaining from a UN vote and allowing a blatantly anti-Israel resolution to pass, showing his true anti-Israel stance.<ref name="StrikeAgain"/><ref name="FedUpDrastic"/> On December 28, 2016, just a few weeks before the [[Trump Administration]] was to take office and a few days after the anti-[[Israel]] resolution was adopted, Kerry gave a major 72-minute<ref>Hanchett, Ian (December 28, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2016/12/28/nbcs-neely-kerry-speech-firing-a-flare-across-israel-he-wanted-to-give-it-for-some-time-but-wh-blocked-it/ NBC’s Neely: Kerry Speech ‘Firing a Flare’ ‘Across Israel’ He Wanted To Give It ‘For Some Time’ But WH Blocked It]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref> speech viciously attacking Israel and paying worthless lip-service to American "support" for the nation.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 28, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/12/28/kerry-on-israel-peace-un-resolution/ Kerry Attacks Israeli Government, Defends UN Resolution]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] responded harshly but appropriately to the Administration's blatant betrayal.<ref>Key, Pam (December 28, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2016/12/28/netanyahu-i-must-express-my-deep-disappointment-with-john-kerry-israelis-do-not-need-to-be-lectured/ Netanyahu: ‘I Must Express My Deep Disappointment’ With Kerry — ‘Israelis Do Not Need To Be Lectured’]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref>

Despite these actions, the U.S. House passed a motion on January 5, 2017 condemning Obama's allowing of the UN resolution.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/05/house-overwhelmingly-votes-to-condemn-un-resolution-on-israel-settlements.html House overwhelmingly votes to condemn UN resolution on Israel settlements]. ''Fox News''. January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.</ref><ref>Cortellessa, Eric (January 6, 2017). [http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-house-passes-repudiation-of-un-security-council-resolution-on-israel/ US House passes motion repudiating UN resolution on Israel]. ''The Times of Israel''. Retrieved January 6, 2017.</ref> Additionally, Republican President-elect [[Donald Trump]] voiced strong support for Israel during this time.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 23, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/12/23/trump-hints-defunding-un-anti-israel-vote/ Trump on UN Anti-Israel Vote: ‘Things Will Be Different After Jan. 20’]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 6, 2017.</ref><ref>Swoyer, Alex (December 29, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/12/29/trump-im-very-very-strong-on-israel/ Trump: ‘I’m Very, Very Strong on Israel’]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 6, 2017.</ref>

Soon before leaving office, Obama bypassed Congress and gave the [[State of Palestine]] $221 million.<ref name="221MLastHours">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/24/us-quietly-sent-221m-to-palestinians-in-obamas-last-hours.html US quietly sent $221M to Palestinians in Obama's last hours]. ''Fox News''. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.</ref>

====Opposition to U.S. sovereignty====
Preferring international cooperation and equality (despite the U.S.'s obviously superior geopolitical position) to American sovereignty and independence, Obama intentionally reduced American power and strength during his presidency. One of his actions as president was to give up the nation's control of [[Domain name|internet domain name system]] and transfer control over to an international organization in 2016.<ref>Solomon, Howard (October 3, 2016). [http://www.itworldcanada.com/article/new-era-in-internet-governance-starts-as-us-cedes-control-of-domain-name-system/386903 New era in Internet governance starts as US cedes control of domain name system]. ''IT World Canada''. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref><ref>Lieberman, Eric (September 24, 2016). [http://dailycaller.com/2016/09/24/obama-admin-wants-to-surrender-us-control-over-internet-to-global-bureaucracy/ Obama Admin Wants To Surrender US Control Over Internet To Global Bureaucracy]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref>

===Congressional relations===
Obama has maintained tense relations with Congress throughout his term as President. Each of his budgets have been voted down, and many of his judicial appointments have not come to a vote. When Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] died on February 13, 2016, Obama made a point of addressing the nation to say that he would nominate a replacement, which drew criticism and rebuke from Republican Senators and Presidential candidates. Obama executive action in areas such as immigration policy have drawn extensive criticism as infringing upon Congressional legislative powers.

===Last days and transition===
In a stunning repudiation of Obama's leftist policies, Republican businessman [[Donald Trump]] was elected over the corrupt, leftist Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]]. In a frantic attempt to leave some sort of legacy, Obama issued a very large amount of far-Left executive orders which revealed his true political views if any doubt remained.<ref name="ActionsSpree">Lucas, Fred (December 26, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/26/spree-obama-actions-revives-gop-concerns-over-midnight-regs-agenda.html?refresh=true Spree of Obama actions revives GOP concerns over ‘midnight’ regs, agenda]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 26, 2016.</ref> These orders included blocking large areas of the [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]] and [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] oceans from oil and gas drilling, effectively barring the U.S. from real [[Energy Independence|energy independence]]; breaking the record of pardons and commutations in a single day for criminals (many of them were sentenced for drug-related crimes), showing his soft stance on crime and drugs; ending a defunct but necessary, beneficial, and useful registry for male immigrants from [[Islam]]ic countries; attempting to transfer even more terrorists out of [[Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp|Guantanamo Bay]]; allowing an anti-[[Israel]] resolution pass in the [[United Nations]]; enacting a record amount of unnecessary, useless, and job-killing regulations; and even more.<ref name="ActionsSpree"/> Obama made these actions knowing that Trump, who had almost completely opposite political views on these issues, was going to enter the [[White House]] in such short a time.

Although all of Obama's actions were worrisome, his actions in regards to Israel were particularly noteworthy. He broke over 35 years of American policy by abstaining from a UN vote and allowing a blatantly anti-Israel resolution to pass, showing his true stance concerning Israel.<ref name="StrikeAgain">[https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-fears-obama-will-strike/ Israel fears Obama will strike again]. ''World Israel News''. December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.</ref><ref name="FedUpDrastic">Berkowitz, Adam Eliyahu (December 26, 2016). [https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/80855/fed-up-with-obamas-trickery-netanyahu-takes-drastic-actions/#VbVlRMtkx4zLRc3f.97 Fed Up With United States Trickery, Netanyahu Takes Drastic Actions]. ''Breaking Israel News''. Retrieved December 26, 2016.</ref> Soon before leaving office, Obama bypassed Congress and gave the [[State of Palestine]] $221 million.<ref name="221MLastHours"/>

Obama continued to believe that he could have successfully "won" a third term as president had he been able to run.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/26/obama-could-have-won-third-term.html?refresh=true Obama: I could have won third term]. ''Fox News''. December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.</ref> Regardless of the factuality of that claim, Democrats lost 1,042 seats—including U.S. House, Senate, state governorship, and state legislative seats—during his eight years in office.<ref name="1,000Seats">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/27/democrats-lost-over-1000-seats-under-obama.html?refresh=true Democrats lost over 1,000 seats under Obama]. ''Fox News''. December 27, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.</ref> Obama also believed that "the Democratic Party has stayed pretty grounded in fact and reality" despite its negative policies that suggest otherwise.<ref>Lawler, David (December 26, 2016). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/26/barack-obama-says-democrats-will-not-disintegrate-like-labour/ Barack Obama says Democrats will not 'disintegrate' like Labour under Jeremy Corbyn]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 26, 2016.</ref>

Obama made Trump's transition much harder and rockier than it could have been by his leftist executive orders, decisions, and comments during the transition period.<ref>Swoyer, Alex (December 28, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/12/28/donald-trump-responds-to-president-obamas-many-inflammatory-statements/ Donald Trump Responds to President Obama’s ‘Many Inflammatory’ Statements]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Scott, Eugine (December 28, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/28/politics/trump-obama-statements-not-smooth-transition/ Trump: 'NOT' a smooth transition after Obama 'roadblocks']. ''CNN''. Retrieved December 28, 2016.</ref>

Despite his foreign policy blunders, Obama received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service from [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Ash Carter]], an Obama appointee in the same administration, effectively awarding himself the medal.<ref>Huston, Warner Todd (January 4, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/04/president-obama-awards-himself-distinguished-public-service-medal/ President Obama Awards Himself Distinguished Public Service Medal]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref> Although the award was created in 1947, the only other presidents to have received the medal (all during their tenure) are [[Bill Clinton]], a left-wing Democrat, and [[George W. Bush]], who holds [[RINO]] positions on certain issues.

In an interview, Obama claimed that "we are probably the first administration in modern history that hasn't had a major scandal in the White House,"<ref>[http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/01/13/president-obama-60-minutes-no-white-house-scandals-during-my-administration Obama: I'm the 1st Modern President Without a Major Scandal]. ''Fox News Insider''. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 16 2017.</ref> and Obama's Chief of Staff [[Denis McDonough]] claimed likewise,<ref>Shelbourne, Mallory (January 15, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/314396-obama-chief-of-staff-most-proud-we-are-scandal-free Chief of staff: Obama administration 'historically free of scandal']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 16, 2017.</ref> despite the strong and massive evidence to the contrary.<ref>Dickens, Geoffrey (January 16, 2017). [https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/geoffrey-dickens/2017/01/16/ The Seven Most Undercovered Obama Scandals]. ''[[NewsBusters]]''. Retrieved January 16, 2017.</ref><ref>Hemingway, Mark (January 9, 2017). [http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-obama-era-had-scandals-aplenty/article/2006197 The Obama Era Had Scandals Aplenty]. ''[[Weekly Standard]]''. Retrieved January 16, 2017.</ref>

==2012 Presidential campaign==
: ''Main article: [[Presidential Election 2012]]''
===2011: Birth certificate controversies===
: ''Main article: [[Barack Obama Controversies#Birth Certificate]]''
On April 27, 2011,<ref>CNN Political Unit (2011, April 27). "[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/27/white-house-releases-obama-birth-certificate/ White House Releases Obama Birth Certificate]." ''CNN''.</ref> a long-running controversy surrounding Obama's birth was largely put to rest<ref>Winter, J. (2011, April 29). "[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/29/expert-says-obamas-birth-certificate-legit/ Expert: No Doubt Obama's Birth Certificate is Legit]." ''[[Fox News]]''. Tuchman, G. (2011, April 25). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-25/politics/birthers.obama.hawaii_1_birther-controversy-obama-opinion-research-corporation?_s=PM:POLITICS Obama Birther Claims Have No Merit]." ''CNN''. (2011, April 27). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42779923/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-releases-detailed-us-birth-certificate/ Obama Releases Detailed U.S. Birth Certificate]." ''MSNBC''.</ref> when Obama had his long-form birth certificate posted at WhiteHouse.gov.<ref>"[http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf Certificate of Live Birth]." State of Hawaii. Retrieved from ''WhiteHouse.gov''.</ref> [[Donald Trump]], who had been critical of Obama for allowing the divisiveness to linger was then leading Republicans in polls for the upcoming GOP primary<ref>James, F. (2011, April 15). "[http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/04/15/135446314/poll-donald-trump-birther-darling-leads-gop-field-at-26 Donald Trump, Birther In Chief? Poll Has Him Leading GOP Field with 26 Percent]." ''NPR''.</ref> and has been credited with bringing final resolution to the issue. The birth certificates of Michelle Robinson, which would disclosure her birth-sex, and the two children which would clarify their birth parentage however, remain undisclosed.

The following is a synopsis of previous events leading up to the release:

Hillary Clinton top advisor [[Sidney Blumenthal]], and his son, Max Blumenthal, were the origin of the rumors in 2008 that Barack Hussein Obama was a Muslim in order to stir up fear among white Democrats and women, intended for Hillary's benefit.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-great-islamophobic-crusade/ The Great Islamophobic Crusade], CBSNEWS, December 19, 2010. cbsnews.com</ref> McClatchy Washington Bureau Chief James Asher relayed, "Mr. Blumenthal and I met together in my office and he strongly urged me to investigate the exact place of President Obama’s birth, which he suggested was in Kenya."<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article102354777.html</ref> Snope's has identified a claim that a 1991 promotional booklet by Barack Obama's then-literary agency, Acton & Dystel, touted Obama as "born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii" as being true.<ref>http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthers/booklet.asp</ref>

[[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign]] team then began spreading [[Islamophobic]] rumors that Obama was a [[Muslim]] schooled in a ''madrassa'' as a child in Indonesia.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/05/bill-clinton-barack-obama-bromance-long-slow-making Bill Clinton and Barack Obama: an alliance long and slow in the making], Gary Younge, ''Guardian'' UK.</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080506093354/http://www.stop-obama.org/?page_id=23 Who is BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA?] Mission Statement, stop-obama.org</ref> A group registered as People United Means Action (PUMA), which members say really stands for Party Unity My Ass, was made up of Hillary Clinton supporters who not only opposed Barack Obama's nomination but also sought to delegitimitize his presidency.<ref>https://youtu.be/bifsEkjTAc8</ref> PUMA members charged that the media directed [[sexism]] and [[misogyny]] at Clinton during the primary campaign and expressed anger at [[Democratic Party]] leaders' failure to speak out or otherwise respond appropriately.

Hillary Clinton had received a majority of votes in the 2008 Democratic primaries and PUMA felt the [[Superdelegate]]s robbed Hillary of the nomination.

===2011: Retribution killings===
Obama transformed the Bush administration War on Terror from a preventative measure against terrorism to a cry for vengeance, mob bloodlust, and retribution killings which spawned a fresh, new, and larger cycle of violence.

On May 1, 2011, Obama misled the public when he announced <ref>Obama, B. (2011, May 2). "[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-dead Osama Bin Laden Dead]." ''White House''.</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1SLhNoUNY Nobel Prize Winner with a kill list].</ref> that Osama bin Laden was "killed in a firefight" after a U.S. special operations group infiltrated a compound in [[Abbottabad raid|Abottobad]], Pakistan.<ref>Baker, P., Cooper, H., & Mazzetti, M. (2011, May 1). "[Bin Laden is Dead, Obama Says]." ''The New York Times''. "[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Osama_Bin_Laden/ Target Bin Laden: The Death of Public Enemy #1]." ''ABC News''. ''[[NPR]]''. "[http://www.npr.org/series/135908383/osama-bin-laden-dead Special Series: Osama Bin Laden Killed]."</ref> Attacks, murders, and kidnappings of Americans have since escalated as reprisals for bin Laden's death. [[Al Qaeda]], once broken and on the run, operates openly as the jihad has now become global. Relations with Pakistan, a longtime ally throughout the Cold War and War on Terror, became strained. The government of Pakistan denied White House claims it allowed Americans to kill Muslims on its territory.<ref>''Associated Press'' (2011, May 10). "[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/10/pakistani-president-claims-bin-laden-deal/ Former Pakistani President Claims There Was Never Bin Laden Deal With U.S.]." Retrieved from ''Fox News''.</ref> For all his duplicity and criticism of the War on Terror, Obama experienced only a temporary blip in approval ratings.<ref>Dao, J. & Sussman, D. (2011, May 4). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html For Obama, Big Rise in Poll Numbers After Bin Laden Raid]." ''New York Times''. ''Pew Research Center'' (2011, May 2). "[http://www.people-press.org/2011/05/03/public-relieved-by-bin-ladens-death-obamas-job-approval-rises/ Public 'Relieved' by Bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises]." Jones, J.M. (2011, May 5). "[http://www.gallup.com/poll/147437/obama-approval-rallies-six-points-bin-laden-death.aspx Obama Job Approval Rallies Six Points to 52% After Bin Laden Death]." ''Gallup''.</ref><ref>''[[CBS News]]/Associated Press'' (2012, May 1). "[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57424622/1-year-after-osama-bin-laden-killed-still-no-answers-from-pakistan/ 1 Year After Osama bin Laden Killed, Still No Answers from Pakistan]."</ref>

An NBC investigation revealed Obama was informed of bin Laden's whereabouts one full year before he attempted to use it as an election year issue. NBC further reported that there was no "firefight" at all, contradicting what the president told the nation.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3077864/NBC-investigatin-says-bama-DID-edit-role-Pakistan-killing-Bin-Laden-change-facts-credit.html NBC investigation claims Obama knew where bin Laden was ONE YEAR before 2011 raid and backs Seymour Hersh's claim Pakistan intelligence hid al-Qaeda chief], [[Daily Mail ]]</ref> As early as the day after bin Laden was executed, it was learned bin Laden was not armed in the alleged "firefight" that Obama claimed took place.

===2012: defends Mohammad===
After the [[Benghazi terrorist attack]] which his administration knowingly and fraudulently blamed on the creator of an irreverent YouTube video critical of the founder of Islam, Obama made a speech at the UN in which he said, {{Cquote|The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.<ref>https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/25/remarks-president-un-general-assembly</ref>}}
Four Americans died in the terrorist action intended to commemorate the [[9/11 attack]]s. The attack occurred on the US Consulate at Benghazi, part of the territory of the United States. Administration officials did nothing to repel the attack in progress while huddling to discuss the domestic political ramifications for the upcoming presidential election, less than two months away. The creator of the video was jailed on bogus charges unrelated to the video. In 2015, a series of terrorist attacks in France, Denmark and the United States claimed the lives of at least 15 people with dozens injured, including security and police officers, motivated by Muslim extremists defending what, in their view were, unflattering depictions of the founder of Islam, [[Mohammad]].

=== 2012: voting irregularities===
According to Stanley Kurtz - author of ''Radical-in-Chief: Barack Obama and the Untold Story of American Socialism'' (2010) Obama in 1995 sought and obtained the endorsement of a left-wing third party, the [[New Party]] in his quest to be elected to the Illinois State Senate.<ref>Kurtz, S. (2012, June 7). [http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/302031/obamas-third-party-history-stanley-kurtz Obama's Third-Party History]. ''[[National Review Online]]''.</ref> Obama's "Fight the Smears" campaign has denied this, as has [[Politico]]'s Ben Smith.<ref name=pollack>Pollack, J.B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/07/Obama-Caught-Lying-Again-He-WAS-Member-of-New-Party-Says-Kurtz Obama Caught Lying Again: He WAS Member of 'New Party', Says Kurtz]. ''Breitbart.com'' Smith, B. (2008, October 25). [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_dread_New_Party.html The Dread New Party]. ''[[Politico]]''.</ref> Others who claim he was affiliated with the New Party/ACORN include [[The Blaze]]'s Billy Hallowell,<ref>Hallowell, B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-new-documents-show-obama-was-a-member-of-the-far-left-new-party/ News Docs Reportedly Show Obama Was a Member of the Far-Left 'New Party']. ''The Blaze''.</ref> [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]]'s Joel Pollack, [[Human Events]]' Erick Erickson,<ref>Erickson, E. (2008, June 10). [http://www.humanevents.com/2008/06/10/obama-and-the-new-party/ Obama and the New Party]. ''[[Human Events]]''.</ref> Newsbusters' P.J. Gladnick,<ref>Gladnick, P.J. (2008, October 12). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/08/will-msm-report-obama-membership-socialist-new-party#ixzz21JfE3z1z Will MSM Report on Obama Membership in Socialist New Party?] ''[[Newsbusters]]''.</ref> Rick Moran at AmericanThinker.com,<ref>Rick Moran. [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obamas_alliance_with_marxists.html Obama's Alliance with Marxists], ''American Thinker'', June 03, 2008.</ref> and various writers at [[Discover the Networks]] (which include Kurtz and Erickson).<ref>[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7434 NEW PARTY (NP)], ''[[Discover the Networks]]''.</ref>

Kurtz in 2012 has claimed to find minutes of the New Party Chicago chapter that say, "''Barack Obama, candidate for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District, gave a statement to the membership and answered questions. He signed the New Party 'Candidate Contract' and requested an endorsement from the New Party. He also joined the New Party.''"<ref name=pollack /> Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod responded to Kurtz with silence and when asked if that meant "yes or no", Axelrod stated, "You can take that as I have no idea what you are talking about."<ref>Pollack, J.B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/07/Exclusive-Axelrod-Plays-Dumb-on-Obama-and-Socialist-New-Party Exclusive: Axelrod Plays Dumb on Obama and Socialist New Party]. ''[[Breitbart.com]]''.</ref>

===2012: Attacks on employers and service providers===
{{main|You didn't build that}}
On July 13, 2012, at a campaign event in [[Virginia]], Obama gave a speech that immediately stirred up controversy. Speaking about the government's role in the success of private business, he said:<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event in Roanoke, Virginia], White House</ref>
{{cquote|If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business - you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.}} The [[Romney]] campaign has used "If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that" in ads to show America that Obama believes it is government that creates business rather than hard-working individuals. The Obama campaign has alternatively stated that the sentenced was poorly worded since he was not giving a scripted speech and that when Obama said "that" he was referring to roads and bridges. Obama points to a later portion of his speech in which he said, "The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together," to support his claim.

===Results===
On November 6, 2012 Barack Obama won reelection with 332 electoral votes to Mitt Romney's 206.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/map/ 2012 Presidential Election], Politico</ref> Obama received 51% of the popular vote (65,899,660 votes) to Romney's 47% (60,932,152 votes).<ref>[http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results], [[Federal Election Commission]]</ref>

==Legacy==
In September 2016, a [[Parasite|parasitic]] worm, the [[Baracktrema obamai]], was named after Obama.<ref>Kaplan, Sarah (September 9, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/09/09/scientists-like-barack-obama-so-much-that-they-named-a-parasite-after-him/ Scientists like Barack Obama so much that they named a parasite after him]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved September 9, 2016.</ref> As of December 2016, at least 15 schools in the United States have been named after Obama.

During Obama's 8 years in office, Democrats lost over 1,000 seats in the federal and state governments.<ref name="1,000Seats"/>

[[Dinesh D'Souza]] wrote, "Obama's legacy is to double the national debt & dramatically reduce US influence in the world."<ref>https://twitter.com/dineshdsouza/status/760447860638789632</ref>

Despite Obama's opposition to Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-[[Mexico]] border in order to secure it, it was reported in early 2017 that he was building a wall around his new mansion, obviously in order to keep unwanted people out.<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-building-a-wall-around-his-new-dc-house/article/2611130 Obama building a wall around his new DC house]. ''Washington Examiner''. January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

== Quotes ==
*"I continue to believe that [[Donald Trump]] will not be president." (stated when asked by a reporter a month prior to Election Day)<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4iZSW_76TE Democrats and Media Agreed: There Was No Way Donald Trump Could Be Elected], Video</ref>

==See also==
*[[Political positions of Barack Obama]]
*[[Barack Obama and uncharitableness]]
*[[Barack Obama and abortion]]
*[[Essay:Born Outside the U.S.A.!]]
*[[Essay: The Special Interests Candidate]]
*[[Lobbyists ties to the Obama administration]]
*[[Obama doublespeak]]
*[[Obama inauguration]]
*[[Religion of Barack Hussein Obama]]
*[[Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage]]''
*[[The Honorable James David Manning]]
*[[Essay:The Obama Manifesto]]
*[[Obama syndrome]]
*[[Barack Obama's past dog meat eating and 2012 election campaign]]
*[[Barack Obama's "Last chance at dinner" fundraising letter]]
*[[Essay: Does Barack Hussein Obama care if America defaults on credit?]]
*[[Essay:The lie that we are safer under Obama]]
*[[Essay: Foes Want Obama to Fail, A Republican Perspective]]
*[[Essay:Impeach Obama]]
*[[Obama's second term agenda]]
*[[ObamaRail]]
*[[Obama sequester]]
*[[Obama (disambiguation)]]
*[[Essay: President's speech after the defeat of two tyrants]]
* [[Unconstitutional]] [[Executive amnesty]] via Obama [[Executive Order]]s
* [[Universal health care]] for [[Illegal immigration|illegal aliens]] via [[ObamaCare]]

==External links==

*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000167 Profile] on the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''
*[http://barackobamadoubletalk.com/ Barack Obama Doubletalk]
*[http://hotair.com/archives/2013/07/03/national-journal-obama-facing-crisis-over-incompetence/ National Journal: Obama facing crisis over incompetence]
*[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6130/ The New Cult of Personality]
*[http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/23/che-obama-and-the-revolutionary-agenda/ Che, Obama, and the Revolutionary Agenda]
*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/09/americas-first-muslim-president/ GAFFNEY: America's first Muslim president?] Washington Times
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-l-esposito/barack-obama-and-islam_b_212519.html Barack Obama and Islam.] by [[John L. Esposito]].
*[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78931 Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth.]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/barack_obama.htm Barack Obama on the issues.]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{USPresidents}}
{{2008 presidential candidates}}
{{2012 presidential candidates}}
[[Category:Barack Hussein Obama]]
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Current Heads of government]]
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]
[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]
[[Category:Muslims]]
[[Category:Socialists]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]
[[Category:Chicago]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]
[[Category:Liberal Authors]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack Hussein}}

Trump Supreme Court

2017-02-24T02:12:53Z

Ambassador:

During his 2016 campaign for President, [[Donald Trump]] released two lists of candidates for a vacancy on the Supreme Court and pledged to appoint Justices from those lists.<ref name="NYT-5-18">
{{cite news
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/politics/donald-trump-supreme-court-nominees.html
| title = Donald Trump Releases List of Possible Supreme Court Picks
| publisher = The New York Times
| author = Alan Rappeport, [[Charlie Savage]]
| date = May 18, 2016
| page =
| location =
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160722041723/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/politics/donald-trump-supreme-court-nominees.html
| archivedate=July 22, 2016| accessdate =
| deadurl = No
| quote =
}}
</ref> Both lists were assembled by the [[Federalist Society]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]].<ref name="goldmacher1">{{cite news|last1=Goldmacher|first1=Shane|last2=Johnson|first2=Eliana|last3=Gerstein|first3=Josh|title=How Trump got to yes on Gorsuch|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-supreme-court-gorsuch-234474|accessdate=February 12, 2017|publisher=Politico|date=31 January 2017}}</ref> The '''Trump Supreme Court''' depends on a good analysis of candidates in order to avoid making a mistake. [[Donald Trump]] wants to appoint judges like [[Antonin Scalia]], and has said so publicly. But some of the judges on the lists fall far short of that standard, and could even become future [[liberal]]s if appointed to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. '''''The [[liberal media]] are heavily promoting the more liberal candidates on Trump's list, to try to steer Trump away from picking a [[conservative]]'''''. Trump made good on his promise to nominate from the list and selected [[Neil Gorsuch]] to fill Antonin Scalia's seat. It is likely that at least one more vacancy will arise during Trump's term.

Perhaps only three candidates on the entire list of 21 are reliably pro-life: Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady, federal appellate Judge Raymond Gruender, and U.S. Senator Mike Lee.

Only four out of 21 candidates on the list are women, none of whom are reliably pro-life. Trump should go beyond the list to pick a pro-life woman, such as Judges Jennifer Elrod or Edith Jones from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

== Abortion ==
Six of the 21 candidates on Trump's list are being pushed by the media because they are not [[pro-life]]. Here's the list of the six candidates that [[conservatives]] need to speak out against and veto:

===NOT pro-life===
*Diane Sykes:
::ruled against a pro-life Indiana law, and required taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood; as a state court judge Sykes sentenced two veteran abortion protesters to 60 days in jail (see table below).
*Steven Colloton:
::wrote or joined multiple pro-abortion opinions: one to eviscerate a pro-life South Dakota law, another to side with a fellow pro-abort judge against a pro-life Nebraska law, and a third to side with a pro-abort judge to come down hard on a pro-life internet activist (see detailed explanation below).
*Joan L. Larsen:
::a feminist law professor who declared recently that there is sexism in law; she has repeatedly mentioned Roe v. Wade without criticizing it; she clerked for Justice Scalia but many of his clerks were not pro-life; she has no federal judgeship experience and is similar to David Souter in her weakness in writing ability, which makes her susceptible to influence by the liberal media.

===Probably would NOT be pro-life on the Supreme Court===
*Neil Gorsuch:
::wrote about abortion using the terminology of the pro-abortion side, without ever referring to the "unborn child"; he has avoided mentioning abortion as a judge but has favorably cited the Blackmun decision that gave abortionists legal standing to challenge pro-life laws; and while religious beliefs are not a test for public office, Gorsuch's Episcopalian church has declared its "unequivocal opposition" to pro-life laws and he has said nothing publicly pro-life. In addition, Gorsuch was one of the first to hold that there is a federal right for a man to claim special protections for thinking that his "gender identity" is that of a woman.
*Raymond Kethledge:
::joined a decision that favorably cited a precedent censoring a pro-life advertisement, and held against allowing a [[Christian]] advertisement too. In addition, Kethledge refused to join a concurrence by conservative Judge Boggs that would have established the greatest protection of "[[strict scrutiny]]" for infringements on the [[Second Amendment]] right to keep and bear arms.
*Allison Eid:
::unusually silent on abortion; she tersely dissented from a denial of cert. before the Colorado Sup. Ct. in a challenge to an injunction against abortion protesters, initially on only the limited grounds of the length of the injunction and then later only on free speech grounds.

===== Judge Steven Colloton is not pro-life =====

Judge Colloton is not [[pro-life]], and has ruled '''''three''''' times against the pro-life position. He has written that abortionists are professionals who should be able to tell their victims (mothers) whether they like in their "professional judgment" in order to perform an abortion on them,<ref>''Planned Parenthood Minn. v. Rounds'', 686 F.3d 889, 907 (8th Cir. 2012) (Colloton, J., concurring).</ref> which is the same pro-abort mindset of Justice Harry Blackmun in ''Roe v. Wade''.<ref>''Roe v. Wade'', 410 U.S. 113, 165 (1973).</ref>

Judge Colloton has apparently never even said anything publicly that is [[pro-life]]. He attended a law school that is overwhelmingly pro-[[abortion]], the same law school that candidate Justice Charles Canady attended, but unlike Justice Canady, Judge Colloton has not spoken out against abortion. In addition, Judge Colloton has affirmatively written or voted in favor of abortionists or against pro-lifers on at least three separate occasions, as follows.

In a long-running case from South Dakota, Judge Colloton refused to join Judge Gruender's decision in favor of a [[pro-life]] South Dakota law. ''Planned Parenthood Minn. v. Rounds'', 686 F.3d 889 (8th Cir. 2012) (''en banc'').<ref>https://casetext.com/case/planned-parenthood-minn-nd-sd-v-rounds (search on "concurring in part")</ref> Instead, Colloton wrote a concurrence that essentially gutted the value of the pro-life South Dakota law in two ways, while purportedly concurring with the outcome.

The South Dakota law required abortionists to disclose to patients that there is a higher rate of suicide by women who had abortions than those who do not. This is an indisputable fact that should be disclosed.

Judge Colloton, however, insisted that abortionists should only need to disclose the connection between abortion and suicide that is reported in peer-reviewed medical journals, which of course are controlled by [[pro-abort]]s. So that ends up being nothing to disclose. Such a limitation completely destroys the benefit of the law.

But that evisceration of the law was not even enough for Judge Colloton. He further said that an abortionist can supplement his disclosure with any opinion that the abortionist wants to provide about the issue in his "professional judgment." Of course, that's the same trick that the abortion industry has been using for decades, to have unlimited authority to tell and do to pregnant women whatever abortionists want. Colloton's view would have completely eliminated the benefit of the law, if he had prevailed. In addition, Colloton's insistence on requiring that the State defer to the abortionist, rather than protect the unborn child and mother against the abortionist, reflects his pro-''Roe v. Wade'' mindset. Colloton's reference to an abortionist as a "professional" speaks volumes about his pro-[[abortion]] viewpoint.

In another abortion case before Judge Colloton, he joined a decision in favor of [[Planned Parenthood]] and against a pro-life Nebraska law. ''Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Heineman'', 664 F.3d 716 (8th Cir. 2011).<ref>http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20FCO%2020111216088/PLANNED%20PARENTHOOD%20OF%20THE%20HEARTLAND%20v.%20HEINEMAN</ref>

In a third abortion-related cased, Judge Colloton came down hard upon a [[pro-life]] internet activist by joining a decision by a [[liberal]] colleague to rule against him and allow a contempt order against the pro-lifer to remain in effect. ''Coca-Cola Co. v. Purdy'', 382 F.3d 774 (8th Cir. 2004).<ref>https://casetext.com/case/coca-cola-co-v-purdy-2</ref>

In sum, Colloton has not indicated any public support for the pro-life side, but has repeatedly written in favor of the abortion side. He is virtually certain to vote to uphold ''Roe v. Wade'', in violation of Trump's pledge.

=== Judge Bill Pryor ===

Judge Pryor cited favorably a pro-[[abortion]] decision that is used in many pro-abortion rulings:

*Cf. ''Singleton v. Wulff'', 428 U.S. 106, 114, 96 S. Ct. 2868, 2874, 49 L. Ed. 2d 826 (1976) (holding that doctors in abortion clinics had standing to challenge a city ordinance that impinged on a woman's right to an abortion) - quoted favorably by Judge Bill Pryor in ''Camp Legal Def. Fund, Inc. v. City of Atlanta'', 451 F.3d 1257, 1272 (11th Cir. 2006).

Judge Bill Pryor has also repeatedly ruled or acted against [[Christian]]s:

*in ''Carver Middle School Gay-Straight Alliance and H.F. v. School Board of Lake County'', No. 15-14183, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 21702 (11th Cir. Dec. 6, 2016),<ref>http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/201514183.pdf</ref> Judge Pryor wrote a decision to require a public middle school (grades 6 though 8) to allow a pro-[[homosexual]] club over the objections of the local superintendent. Judge Pryor's ruling thereby extended to middle schools a federal law used by the [[homosexual agenda]] against high schools.
*in ''Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley'', 664 F.3d 865 (11th Cir. 2011) (Pryor, J., concurring), joined a decision against a student counselor who was being compelled by a state school to enroll in remediation after her Christian [[faith]] led her to question several assertions in the [[homosexual agenda]].
*was the prosecutor in asserting [[judicial supremacy]] against Justice [[Roy Moore]] in pursuing the liberal agenda to remove him from the Alabama Supreme Court for displaying the [[Ten Commandments]]. Specifically, in 2003 Pryor demanded the removal of Justice Moore from the Alabama Supreme Court for defying a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state Judicial Building. Pryor himself prosecuted Moore for allegedly violating the Canons of Judicial Ethics by keeping the Ten Commandments on display.

== Religion ==
Issues under the [[Establishment Clause]] or [[Free Exercise Clause]] are sometimes correlated with a judge's views on [[abortion]]. It is rare, for example, for a judge rule against a [[Christian]] display or expression, but then rule in favor of a [[pro-life]] position.

===Marine court-martialed for [[Bible]] verse===

*Margaret Ryan wrote the decision that court-martialed a Marine for displaying a Bible verse.<ref> http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/08/11/military-high-court-religious-liberty-law-not-protect-displaying-bible-verses/</ref>

===Judge Pryor has repeatedly ruled against the Christian position===

Judge Pryor extended the federal [[Equal Access Act]], which is used by the [[homosexual agenda]], to apply to middle schools containing grades six through eight. (See above) He also persecuted Justice [[Roy Moore]] and ruled against a Christian counselor at a state college.

=== Pro-Religion decisions ===

*''Busch v. Marple Newtown Sch. Dist.'', 567 F.3d 89 (3d Cir. 2009) (Hardiman, J., dissenting to object to the censorship by an elementary public school of reading from the [[Bible]] as part of a "show and tell" activity)
*''Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius'', 723 F.3d 1114 (10th Cir. 2013) (Tymkovich, J.) (an en banc decision in favor of Hobby Lobby)

== Second Amendment ==
Support for the [[Second Amendment]] is greater than support for [[pro-life]], but the issues are highly correlated as both concern the inherent right of [[self-defense]].

=== Anti-Second Amendment ===

Judge Kethledge refused to join a concurrence that supported the Second Amendment by establishing a "[[strict scrutiny]]" level of review for laws that infringe on it.

=== Pro-Second Amendment ===

Judge Hardiman has written two pro-Second Amendment dissents on the [[Third Circuit]]
*''Drake v. Filko'', 724 F.3d 426 (3d Cir. 2013) (Hardiman, J., dissenting)
*''Binderup v. AG of United States'', 836 F.3d 336 (3d Cir. 2016) (has interpreted ''[[D.C. v. Heller]]'' to hold that any law barring persons with Second Amendment rights from possessing lawful firearms in the home even for self-defense is ''per se'' unconstitutional, such that no scrutiny is applicable)

== The full list of candidates ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!candidate!!current position!!age!!confirmation vote!!comments
|-
|Keith Blackwell || Georgia supreme court || 41 || || Probably too young at this time to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
|-
|Charles T. Canady || Florida supreme court || 62 || || Former congressman who coined the expression "partial-birth abortion," in sponsoring the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act; twice properly rejected an unjustified attempt by a minor to have an abortion without first notifying her parents as required by Florida law
|-
|Steven Colloton || US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit || 53 || || Ruled '''''twice''''' in favor of the pro-[[abortion]] side (see above)
|-
|Allison Eid || Colorado Supreme Court || 51 || || former clerk for [[Clarence Thomas]]
|-
|Neil Gorsuch || US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit || 49 || || Judge Gorsuch is a big supporter granting special rights to men who say they have a female general identity. He mandated civil rights for "gender identity" in 2009 by adopting a [[Ninth Circuit]] opinion by the [[liberal]] Judge Reinhardt, which held the federal law called "Title VII" protects discrimination against gender identity. ''Kaslt v. Maricopa County Cmty. College Dist.'', 325 Fed. Appx. 492 (9th Cir. 2009). At the time virtually every other circuit rejected this liberal view. More recently Judge Gorsuch expressed his support for referring to biological men as women.
|-
|Raymond Gruender || US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit || 53 || ||
|-
|Thomas Hardiman || US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit || 51 || || Two of Judge Hardiman's decisions have been reconsidered by the U.S. Supreme Court and both were affirmed. In a third case, ''Barkes v. First Correctional Medical'', 766 F.3d 307 (3d Cir. 2014), Hardiman dissented and subsequently the Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Judge Hardiman's dissent, and reversed the decision in ''Taylor v. Barkes'', 135 S. Ct. 2042 (2015).
|-
|Raymond Kethledge || US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit || 50 (in Dec.) || || Refused to join a concurring opinion by [[conservative]] Judge Boggs that sought to strengthen the [[Second Amendment]] by establishing a "[[strict scrutiny]]" standard of review for laws that infringe on it. ''Tyler v. Hillsdale Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't'', 837 F.3d 678, 702 (6th Cir. 2016) (Boggs, J., concurring).
|-
|Joan Larsen || Michigan Supreme Court || 47 || || Faculty member at a [[liberal]] law school, the [[University of Michigan]],<ref>https://www.law.umich.edu/FacultyBio/Pages/FacultyBio.aspx?FacID=jllarsen</ref> has declared that she thinks there is sexism in law.<ref>https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mwc/Minutes_April_18_2016_532283_7.pdf</ref>
|-
|Sen. Mike Lee|| Senator R-Utah || || ||
|-
|Thomas Lee || Utah Supreme Court || || ||
|-
|Edward Mansfield || Iowa Supreme Court || 60 || || Wrote a controversial decision in favor of a right to fire a woman for being sexually attracted to her
|-
|Federico Moreno || Southern District of Florida || || || Unlikely pick from the position of a trial rather than appellate court judge
|-
|William Pryor || US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit || 54 || 53-45, with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski abstaining || prosecuted Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore for an alleged ethics violation due to having the [[Ten Commandments]] on display; required a middle school (grades 6 through 8) to have a homosexual club based on extending the federal [[Equal Access Act]] against it.
|-
|Margaret Ryan || US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces || 52 || || She wrote the recent decision that court-martialed a Marine for having a Bible verse displayed on her desk, which suggests a hostility or insensitivity by Ryan to religious beliefs
|-
|David Stras || Minnesota Supreme Court || 42 || || Probably too young at this time to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, he is a former clerk for Justice [[Clarence Thomas]]
|-
|Diane Sykes || US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit || 59 (in Dec.) || 70-27<ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00152</ref> || ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood in blocking an Indiana law that attempted to cut off funding to it under the Medicaid law. ''Planned Parenthood of Ind., Inc. v. Comm'r of the Ind. State Dep't of Health'', 699 F.3d 962 (7th Cir. 2012).<ref>https://casetext.com/case/planned-parenthood-of-ind-inc-v-commr-of-the-ind-state-dept-of-health</ref>
|-
|Amul Thapar || Eastern District of Kentucky || || || Unlikely pick from the position of a trial rather than appellate court judge
|-
|Timothy Tymkovich || US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit || 60 || || Held in favor of religious liberty in ''Hobby Lobby'' decision
|-
|Don Willett || Texas Supreme Court || 50 || || Outspokenly anti-Trump at one point
|-
|Robert Young || Michigan Supreme Court || 66 (in Jan.) || ||
|}

==See also==
*[[Donald Trump achievements]]
*[[Cabinet of Donald Trump]]
*[[Trump Administration]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Supreme Court]]
[[Category:Conservatism]]
[[Category:Second Amendment]]
[[Category:Abortion]]
[[Category:Homosexuality and Religious Liberty]]
[[Category:Donald Trump]]

United States of America

2017-02-24T02:12:13Z

Ambassador:

Creation

2017-02-24T02:11:41Z

Ambassador:

[[Image:Michelangelo creation-of-sun-and-moon.jpg|right|alt=Young earth creationism|thumb|250px|[[Michelangelo|Michelangelo's]] painting of the creation of the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]].]]
'''Creation''' refers to either that which has been created, e.g. Mark 16:15, “Preach the Gospel to the whole creation,” or to the moment or process by which [[God]] created, e.g. [[Genesis]] is the creation account. This article deals with the second meaning, according to [[Christian]] faith.

[[Creation science]] investigates how God brought the [[earth]] and [[universe]] into being. [[Young Earth Creationism]] demonstrates though multiple lines of evidence that the earth is [[Counterexamples to an Old Earth|approximately 6,000 years old]]. [[Old Earth Creationism]], like [[atheism|atheistic]] [[pseudoscience|evolutionary pseudoscience]], claims that the earth and universe are billions of years old.

[[Creation science|Creation scientists]] also demonstrate that the [[evolution|theory of evolution]] is in [[Counterexamples to Evolution|conflict with the evidence]] provided by the physical sciences and often cite secular scientific sources which agree with them on various points (for further details please see: [[evolution|theory of evolution]]).<ref>http://www.creation.com/content/view/21</ref> [[Theistic evolution]]ists accept an old Earth and believe that evolution occurred, but that it was God’s means of creation.

==Famous Creationists==

The late Dr. [[Henry Morris]] was the founder of the [[Institute for Creation Research]] (ICR), who coined the term “[[creation science]]” and began the modern creation science movement. He was a scientist and held a master's degree and a [[PhD]][[Category:Creationism]][[Category:Christianity]] in hydraulic engineering from the [[University of Minnesota]].

[[Image:Duanegishpic.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Dr. Duane Gish]]
Dr. [[Duane Gish]], now retired, was a scientist ([[chemistry]]), a member of ICR, and a prolific debater for the Young Earth creationist cause.
Dr. [[Henry Morris]] said of Gish, “at least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins.”

Dr. [[Carl Wieland]] with [[Creation Ministries International]]

Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]] is a scientist (chemistry), [[chess]] champion, and Young Earth creationist, who works for [[Creation Ministries International]] in [[Australia]].
He has written a number of books refuting evolutionary arguments and various theological arguments that try and accommodate evolution or an old Earth.

[[Ken Ham]] is a Young Earth creationist, a founder of the American branch of [[Answers in Genesis]], and prime mover of the Petersburg, Kentucky [[Creation Museum]].

Dr. [[Hugh Ross]] is a scientist (astronomy), a progressive creationist, and founder of [[Reasons to Believe]].
He considers nature to be the 67th book of the Bible.

==Creation in Non-Christian Religions==
Most [[religion]]s of the world have their own versions of creation, some of which are similar to Christian beliefs and some of which are very different. The following discussions are presented in [[chronological]] order from older religions to more recent religions such as [[Islam]].

===Creation in Judaism===
The teachings of [[Judaism]] are based on Genesis, as in Christianity; however, significant [[liberal]] Jewish authorities also believe in the [[theory of evolution]], and that this theory is not incompatible with biblical accounts of creation.<ref>"Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design." Rabbinical Council of America. December 27, 2005. http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100635</ref>

===Creation in Hinduism===
[[Hindus]] believe that [[Brahma]], one of their three principal [[deity|deities]], created the universe, while [[Vishnu]] is the preserver of the universe.<ref>"Beliefs (Hinduism)." BBC. July 31, 2003. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml</ref> Hinduism has its own form of evolution, and is generally considered to be compatible with the current "scientific" theory of evolution.<ref>Moorty, J.S.R.L.Narayana. "Science and Spirituality: Any Points of Contact?" 1995. http://www.well.com/user/jct/science.html</ref>

===Source of the Universe in Buddhism===
The Buddhist [[concept]]ion of the "[[source]]", [[substratum]], "[[womb]]" or "[[matrix]]" of the universe is referred to by the [[Sanskrit]] term "Garbha" as seen in one of the three Sanskrit words for the "[[ultimate]]": 1. "Dharmakaya", 2. "Tathagata Garbha" and 3. "Dharma Dhatu". These three words are all represented by the word "[[Dharma#2. Dharmakaya - Tathagata Garbha - Dharma Dhatu as Source of the Universe|Dharma]]". These are the [[ultimate]] [[reality]] that one realizes at [[enlightenment]]. These three Sanskrit words (especially "Dharmakaya") is the closest concept that [[Mahayana]] Buddhism has that fairly closely resembles the [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christian]] "[[creator]] [[God]]" although it is not accepted by [[Theravada]] Buddhists and is not well known among most common Buddhists who are neither serious scholars nor practitioners of the religion. This is why both many non-Buddhists and [[liberal]] beginner "Buddhists in name only" (see [[RINO]]) especially in America, misunderstand Buddhism thinking it denies the existence of God or a primary [[causation|causative]] being of the [[universe]]. Those who suggest this misconception have not studied Buddhist esoteric [[Sutra]] teachings on these three terms "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu". These terms imply [[timeless]], [[eternal]]ity, [[omniscience]], [[omnipotence]], [[omnipresence]], [[inscrutable|inscrutability]] and [[immutability]].

===Creation in Islam===
[[Muslims]] attribute creation of the universe to [[Allah]]. The [[Qur'an]] does not have one cohesive story of creation, but it does say that the Earth and the rest of the universe were created over six "days," which may not be the same length of time as a modern day.<ref>"The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective. Islam for Today. Accessed March 6, 2011." http://www.islamfortoday.com/emerick16.htm</ref> "Young-Earth creationism is wholly absent in the Muslim world."<ref>Hameed, Salman. "Bracing for Islamic Creationism." December 12, 2008. Science Magazine, Vol. 322 pp. 1637-1638. http://helios.hampshire.edu/~sahCS/Hameed-Science-Creationism.pdf</ref>

===Creation in Less Common Religions===
Versions of creation in ancient, indigenous, Eastern [[shamanic]], and relatively obscure religions are often referred to as "creation stories" or "creation myths." (Note: in this usage, the word "myth" does not necessarily imply that the story is untrue, but that it is a traditional or legendary story.<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myth</ref>) Here are some examples:<ref>"Creation Myths" http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html</ref><ref>"Creation Stories from around the World" http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html</ref>

* [[Babylonians]] believed that the heavens, Earth, and non-human life were created by Marduk, the four-eared, four-eyed giant who became ruler of the gods after defeating an army of [[dragon]]s and [[monster]]s. These things were created from the body of Tiamat, who was a descendent of the water gods like Marduk, and who ruled the defeated army of dragons and monsters. Human life was created by Ea, god of the rivers, and Nintu, the birth-goddess, out of [[clay]] from the Earth and [[blood]] and spittle from other gods.

* According to [[Hopi]] [[Native Americans]], the Creator, Taiowa, and his "nephew," Sotuknang, created the finite with four separate acts of creaton. 1) Gathering [[matter]] to create nine solid worlds. 2) Gathering [[water]]s to create seas. 3) Gathering [[air]] to make winds and breezes. 4) Creating life, starting with Spider Woman, who created all other life forms.

* Native [[Hawaii]]ans believe that life forms of the sea, air, and land were created from the unions of various entites of darkness and half-darkness. Humanity came about through the union of La'ila'i (the first woman), Ki'i (the first man), and Kane (a god).

* The [[Mayans]] believed that everything was created by Tepu and Gucamatz. Whatever they thought about came into being. Advanced beings were created so that the creators could be [[praise]]d. Advanced beings were first made of clay, then wood, but these did not work so they were wiped out in a [[flood]]. New beings were formed with the help of Mountain Lion, [[Coyote]], [[Parrot]], and Crow.

There are many other creation stories that are much longer and more complex.

==Creationists in the world==

As described in a 2011 IPSOS <ref>http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670</ref> study.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! Creationist
! Evolutionist
! Not sure
|-
| [[Saudi Arabia]]
| 75%
| 7%
| 18%
|-
| [[Turkey]]
| 60%
| 19%
| 20%
|-
| [[Indonesia]]
| 57%
| 11%
| 32%
|-
| [[South Africa]]
| 56%
| 18%
| 26%
|-
| [[Brazil]]
| 47%
| 22%
| 31%
|-
| '''[[USA]]'''
| '''40%'''
| '''28%'''
| '''32%'''
|-
| [[Russia]]
| 34%
| 26%
| 40%
|-
| [[India]]
| 33%
| 39%
| 28%
|-
| [[Mexico]]
| 32%
| 34%
| 34%
|-
| [[Argentina]]
| 26%
| 37%
| 38%
|-
| [[Poland]]
| 25%
| 38%
| 37%
|-
| [[South Korea]]
| 24%
| 41%
| 35%
|-
| [[Canada]]
| 22%
| 45%
| 33%
|-
| [[Italy]]
| 21%
| 40%
| 39%
|-
| [[Australia]]
| 15%
| 51%
| 34%
|-
| [[Hungary]]
| 13%
| 55%
| 33%
|-
| [[Germany]]
| 12%
| 65%
| 23%
|-
| [[United Kingdom]]
| 12%
| 55%
| 34%
|-
| [[China]]
| 11%
| 64%
| 25%
|-
| [[Spain]]
| 11%
| 53%
| 37%
|-
| [[Japan]]
| 10%
| 60%
| 30%
|-
| [[Sweden]]
| 10%
| 68%
| 21%
|-
| [[France]]
| 09%
| 55%
| 36%
|-
| [[Belgium]]
| 08%
| 61%
| 31%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''28%'''
| '''41%'''
| '''31%'''
|}

That may explain why Europe is such a mess at this time; however, this does not explain why Middle Eastern countries are in such poor conditions. Perhaps Christian creationism has a positive effect while Islamic creationism has a negative one.

== Biblical creation magazines and journals ==

''See also:'' [[Biblical creation journals]]

Some prominent biblical creation magazines and journals are given below:

*[[Creation magazine]]

*[[Journal of Creation]] - Peer reviewed

*[[Creation Research Society Quarterly Journal]] - peer reviewed

== See also ==
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]
*[[Essay: Sharing your Christian/creationist videos on the internet]]
*[[Atheist Creationism]]
*[[Creation vs evolution essays]]
*[[Dharma#2. Dharmakaya - Tathagata Garbha - Dharma Dhatu as Source of the Universe|Buddhist Creator Source of the Universe]] in [[Esoteric]] [[Mahayana]] [[Buddhism]]

==External links==
*[http://associationforcreation.org/ The International Association For Creation]
*[http://creationnetwork.org/ The Creation Network]
*[http://visitcreation.org/ The Big Map of Creation]
*[http://creation.com/ Creation Ministries International]
*[http://creationrevolution.com/ Creation Revolution]
{{Creation vs. evolution}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Creation]]

Falsifiable

2017-02-24T02:11:09Z

Ambassador:

A proposition or theory is '''falsifiable''' if it is possible to show that it is false if it were false.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O87-falsifiability.html Definition] A Dictionary of Psychology, Andrew M. Colman, via encyclopedia.com</ref> A proposal or theory that could not possibly be shown to be false, even if it were false, is not falsifiable. Many true theories are falsifiable, such as the prediction that sun will rise in the East tomorrow morning, because if that theory were false then it would be possible to show that it is false.<ref>If the outcome of an actual experiment has an outcome that disproves a theory, then that theory is both falsifiable and demonstrably false.</ref>

The interesting cases of this are propositions that are believed to be true, and can be "verified" by experiments, but the experiments in fact have no way of having a negative outcome. This renders the experiments useless and the proposition unfalsifiable.

As an incredibly simple example, it is a generally accepted scientific principle that dropped objects fall downward. (Ignore various issues about imparting initial upward velocity, that is, throwing the object, or unusual frames of reference, like centrifuges.) But it is possible to visualize what it would look like if one dropped an object and it fell upward. Therefore, the theory that dropped objects fall downward is falsifiable.

To be considered [[scientific]], a [[hypothesis]] must be "falsifiable", i.e., capable of being proven false. If no one, not even the supporters of the hypothesis, can think of a way the hypothesis might be proven false, then most scientists would agree that it is not part of science (see [[pseudoscience]]). However, the [[history of science]] is full of examples whereby supporters of various theories refused to consider the prospect that someone might prove them wrong.

For example, the suggestion that I would be very happy if I were ten years younger is not falsifiable, because it is impossible to test the hypothesis by making myself ten years younger and seeing how I feel. Similarly, emotions that things would be better if only [fill-in-the-blank] are not falsifiable, and thus not worth thinking about.

Falsifiability is commonly used as a criterion for whether a particular proposition is "scientific." Philosopher [[Karl Popper]] popularized this criterion, arguing that science progresses through the process of "Observation, speculation, falsification;" That is, we observe the universe, we develop a speculative hypothesis about the universe, and we test our hypothesis. If our hypothesis is proven false, we discard it. If our hypothesis is not proven false, we can consider it provisionally true. According to Popper, there is no such thing as ''scientific certainty;'' on the contrary, all our beliefs are properly held ''provisionally,'' and always subject to the possibility that they will someday be disproven by experiment.

Popper, and those who agree with him, categorize many types of ideas as unfalsifiable, particularly in psychology and religion. For example, the proposition "Joe beats his children because his father beat him" is unfalsifiable, because we cannot perform a test in which Joe was ''not'' beaten by his father, and see if Joe still beats his children. Because the proposition is not testable, according to falsificationism, it is no better than any other hypothesis, and therefore not useful, and not scientific. However, the broader hypothesis "Parents who were beaten as children are more likely to beat their own children" can be falsified - e.g. through surveys - and if that broader hypothesis was supported, it would also lend weight to the position that it was true in Joe's particular case also. Thus, while propositions about specific historical persons or events are not directly falsifiable, they can be indirectly falsifiable insofar as they depend on broader claims that are falsifiable.

A good example of an unfalsifiable concept is the nature of matter inside [[black hole]]s. By definition, the interior of a black hole cannot be seen and thus assertions about the interior are unfalsifiable.

==Carl Sagan==

In his book ''The Demon-Haunted World'', [[Carl Sagan]], a noted [[astronomer]], gives an example of an unfalsifiable proposition: "There is a dragon in my garage." In order for one to prove or disprove a statement they are allowed to ask questions, as shown below:

*''Q. Can I see the dragon?''
*A. No, the dragon is invisible.

*''Q. Can I touch the dragon?''
*A. No, my dragon is incorporeal.

*''Q. Can I hear the dragon?''
*A. No, my dragon is silent.

and so on...

In this way, every question can be answered and therefore the existence of the dragon is unfalsifiable. However, in the absence of physical or other evidence of its existence, whether the dragon actually exists or not is a matter of faith.

== G.K. Chesterton ==
[[G.K. Chesterton]], a Christian [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] of the early 20th century, articulated the problem of falsifiability several years before Popper. He wrote:<ref>G.K. Chesterton, ''Everlasting Man'', II.</ref>

{{QuoteBox|Science is weak about these prehistoric things in a way that has hardly been noticed. The science whose modern marvels we all admire succeeds by incessantly adding to its data. In all practical inventions, in most natural discoveries, it can always increase evidence by experiment. But it cannot experiment in making men; or even in watching to see what the first men make. An inventor can advance step by step in the construction of an aeroplane, even if he is only experimenting with sticks and scraps of metal in his own back-yard. But he cannot watch the Missing Link evolving in his own back-yard. If he has made a mistake in his calculations, the aeroplane will correct it by crashing to the ground. But if he has made a mistake about the arboreal habitat of his ancestor, he cannot see his arboreal ancestor falling off the tree. He cannot keep a cave-man like a cat in the back-yard and watch him to see whether he does really practice cannibalism or carry off his mate on the principles of marriage by capture. He cannot keep a tribe of primitive men like a pack of hounds and notice how far they are influenced by the herd instinct. If he sees a particular bird behave in a particular way, he can get other birds and see if they behave in that way; but if he finds a skull, or the scrap of a skull, in the hollow of a hill, he cannot multiply it into a vision of the valley of dry bones. In dealing with a past that has almost entirely perished, he can only go by evidence and not by experiment. And there is hardly enough evidence to be even evidential. Thus while most science moves in a sort of curve, being constantly corrected by new evidence, this science flies off into space in a straight line uncorrected by anything. But the habit of forming conclusions, as they can really be formed in more fruitful fields, is so fixed in the scientific mind that it cannot resist talking like this. It talks about the idea suggested by one scrap of bone as if it were something like the aeroplane which is constructed at last out of whole scrapheaps of scraps of metal. The trouble with the professor of the prehistoric is that he cannot scrap his scrap. The marvellous and triumphant aeroplane is made out of a hundred mistakes. The student of origins can only make one mistake and stick to it.}}

== Falsifiability of religious beliefs ==
Many atheists claim that religious beliefs are inherently unfalsifiable. However, on the contrary, very many religious beliefs are capable of being falsified. Many religions predict a particular sort of afterlife; if, after death, one encountered a rather different sort of afterlife, that would falsify that religion. For example, Islam would claim that in the afterlife, one will be told that Muhammad was a true prophet and the Quran a true scripture. If, upon dying, one was not told these things - and, on the contrary, was told that Muhammad was a false prophet - that experience would falsify Islam. Thus, once we are dead, such claims will be easily falsifiable. However, the living cannot ask the dead because God prohibits the dead from coming back to testify.<ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=16&t=KJV#comm/27 Luke 16:27-31]</ref>

Also, many religions make assertions about matters within our ability to observe. If those assertions are falsifiable through observation, then so are the religions making the assertions. Examples of falsifiable religious assertions are assertions that the world would end within the lifetime of a certain religious figure who is now dead and assertions about the characteristics of various animals.

Furthermore, if a religion makes mutually exclusive claims, falsifying that religion is a simple matter of applying a [[reductio ad absurdum]].

== See also ==

*[[Critical rationalism]]
*[[Falsifiability of evolution]]
*[[Deduction]]
*[[Induction]]
*[[Falsifiability of God]]
*[[Karl Popper]]

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

== References ==
<references/>