The Strand Study Bible

JOHN 1724 JOHN is considered the germ from which all European science has since developed. According to the New Age Encyclopedia , atheism came from: “…the materialism of classical antiquity found expression in the Atomists, Demodritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius (the early Greeks)…” 4 * Evolution - Anaximander of Miletus is considered the father of evolution. He was influenced by both Homer and Thales of Miletus and taught that life was first generated by material processed from sea slime (pre-biotic soup). Charles Darwin (AD 1859) continued the theory of evolution with his ‘ Origin of the Species .’ According to the New Age Encyclopedia : The concept of evolution dates from the ancient Greek philosophers. 4 * Humanism - Socrates (469-399 BC) is considered the father of humanism. His Delphic injunction ‘ Know thyself ’ turned eyes inward to the nature of the human soul. John Dewey (AD 1934) continued the philosophy of humanism with his book, called ‘ A Common Faith .’ According to the New Age Encyclopedia : “…classical humanism claimed decent from an ancient tradition… in Greece.” 4 Buddhism (c. 500 BC) - Men “ working ” ( nirvana ) to reincarnate themselves into something better ( R. Note after Dan 4:33) Buddhism began in India c. 500 BC Due to fundamental Hinduism the caste system in India had become so oppressive that some of the Hindu leaders began to break away from the religious tyranny of the Brahmin priests. Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, meaning “the Enlightened One”) was one of them that broke away. He denounced the Varna caste system and started a new religion in India that later flourished in China, known as Buddhism. According to the New Age Encyclopedia : Buddhism is the body of teaching formulated and promulgated by Gautama Buddha (born c. 563 B.C.) 4

Buddhism neither bows down to God as a Trinity nor serves God’s great interest by teaching salvation by grace. Buddhism believes in “works” (called nirvana ), which is used to obtain a better reincarnation, until annihilation is achieved. The goal of Buddhism is the “Way of the Middle” between extreme self-indulgence and rigorous self- denial. If it sounds a little like “Solomonism,” you’re correct. King Solomon recorded for us in Proverbs 30:8-9 (500 years before Buddhism even began):

“…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

Judy Jones and William Wilson in An Incomplete Education note:

Take Hinduism. Subtract the caste system, downplay the gods, the ritual, and the Play-Doh colors, and substitute Nirvana for Brahman… Not only did Hinduism spawn Buddhism, it then glommed on to a lot of what the Buddhists had gone on to say and think. 6 According to Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz, in World Religions & Cults 101 , Buddhism has a current membership of about 350 million followers. Over 500,000 Buddhists live in America. 5 Buddhism does not believe in a literal Hell, only in reincarnation, until eventual annihilation. Taoism began in China c. 500 BC Laozi, a contemporary of Confucius , taught a combination of psychology and philosophy. However, after his “disappearance,” Taoism evolved into a religious faith and Laozi was revered as a deity. Taoism (which is big on nature), like Hinduism , Buddhism , and Confucianism , is made up of compassionate people who are full of advice on how to behave in the world. Bickel and Jantz in World Religions & Cults 101 note: Taoism eventually became one of the great religions of China. It was an official state religion until the end of the Ch’ing Dynasty in 1911. 5 Taoism neither bows down to God as a Trinity nor serves God’s great interest by teaching salvation by grace. Taoism (like Buddhism , Confucianism and Shintoism ) believes in becoming masters of their own destinies via “works.” According to Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz, in their book called World Religions & Cults 101 , Taoism has a current membership of about 20 million followers (mostly in Taiwan). Over 30,000 Taoists live in America. 5 Taoism does not believe in a literal Hell, only in reincarnation. Confucianism (c. 497 BC) - Men “ working ” to better themselves in this life ( Religious Note after Dan 8:27) Confucianism Taoism (c. 500 BC) - Men “ working ” to better themselves in this life

began in China c. 497 BC. K’ung Fu Tzu, later known as Confucius, was born in China in the iddle of the sixth century BC. According to the New Age Encyclopedia , Confucianism was started by: a Chinese sage by the name of Chiu (born c. 550 - died c. 479 B.C.) whose philosophy influenced the civilizations of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. 4