1. American Freedom: Are We Losing It?
Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2007

2. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It. II. How Did We Lose It. III
American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It? II. How Did We Lose It? III. How Can It Be Restored?

3. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It?

4. 1. The Mission of our Forefathers 1620: The Mayflower Compact
“For the advancement of the Christian Faith”
In the name of King James the “Defender of the Faith”

5. 2. The Intercession of Our Forefathers Our Pilgrim Forefathers

6. Ben Franklin’s Call for Prayer
"In the beginning...we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection.--Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?... I therefore beg…that henceforth prayers…be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business…."

7. 3. The Founding Document 1776: Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

8. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It? II. How Did We Lose It?

9. American Freedom How We Got It How We Lost It Creator No Creator
Creation No Creation
God-Given Morals No God-Given Morals

10. Charles Darwin Naturalistic Evolution
1859 On the Origin of Species
1871 The Descent of Man
No Need for God
To believe in the “…continued intervention of creative power is to make ‘my deity Natural Selection’ superfluous.”
Charles Darwin Naturalistic Evolution

11. 1933: Secular Humanist Manifesto
1. No Creator
2. No Creation
3. No God Given Moral Absolutes

12. 1933: Secular Humanist Manifesto
1. No Creator
“Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.”

13. 1933: Secular Humanist Manifesto
2. No Creation
“Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as the result of a continuous process.”

14. 1933: Secular Humanist Manifesto
3. No God-given Moral Absolutes
“Modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantee of human values…. We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience.”

15. John Dewey Secular Humanist
1934 A Common Faith
“Here are all the arguments for a religious faith [of humanism]…. Such a faith has always been implicitly the common faith of mankind. It remains to make it explicit and militant.”
John Dewey Secular Humanist

16. When Did We Lose Our Freedom?
1961: Atheistic religions protected
1962: Class prayer banned from schools
1963: Class devotional Bible readings banned
1973: Laws protecting the unborn nullified
1980: Ten Commandments banned in schools
1987: Teaching creation banned from schools

17. What Would Jefferson Think If He Knew?
The Supreme Court ruled that:
The Declaration of Independence is unconstitutional!

18. How to Kill God!
“Finally, it is irresistible -- we must ask how we can kill the god of Christianity. We need only insure that our schools teach only secular knowledge…. If we could achieve this, God would indeed be shortly due for a funeral service.” (Atheist, Richard Bozarth)

19. Our Freedoms are Rooted In--
1. The Mission of our Forefathers
2. The Purpose of the First Schools
3. The Founding Document: The Declaration
4. The Preambles of all 50 States
5. First Amendment’s “Free Exercise”
6. Promoting Religion in Our Schools
7. Presidential Prayer Proclamations
8. Congressional Prayers
9. School Sponsored Prayers
10. Government Supported Missionaries
11. Religious Based Colleges
12. Government Based on Belief in God
13. School Sponsored Bible Reading
14. The Recognition of the Ten Commandments
15. Supreme Court Upheld Moral Laws

20. Our Freedoms are Largely Lost-
1. The Mission of our Forefathers
2. The Purpose of the First Schools
3. The Founding Document: The Declaration
4. The Preambles of all 50 States
5. First Amendment’s “Free Exercise” (limited)
6. Promoting Religion in Our Schools
7. Presidential Prayer Proclamations
8. Congressional Prayers
9. School Sponsored Prayers
10. Government Supported Missionaries
11. Religious Based Colleges
12. Government Based on Belief in God
13. School Sponsored Bible Reading
14. The Recognition of the Ten Commandments
15. Supreme Court Upheld Moral Laws

21. “In God we used to Trust”

22. American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It. II. How Did We Lose It. III
American Freedom: I. How Did We Get It? II. How Did We Lose It? III. How Can It Be Restored?

23. III. How Can It Be Restored?
A. Spiritually
B. Educationally
C. Morally
D. Politically

24. A. Spiritually
1. Get back on the boat
2. Get back on our knees

25. 1. Get Back on the Boat 1620: The Mayflower Compact
“For the advancement of the Christian Faith”
In the name of King James the “Defender of the Faith”

26. 2. Get Back on Our Knees
Thanksgiving to God

27. God’s Answer to Solomon’s Prayer
“If my people who are called by My name will [1] humble themselves, [2] and pray and [3] seek my face, and [4] turn from their wicked ways, then will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

28. B. Educationally 1. Get the Bible Back in Our Schools
2. Get Prayer Back in Our Schools
3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools

29. 1. Get the Bible Back in Our Schools
1647: “Old Deluder Satan Law”
The first schools were started to teach children to read the Bible!

30. 2. Get Prayer Back in Schools
a. We Prayed in schools for years with good results b. We have not prayed for years with bad results It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which is best!

31. Where Was God?
“Dear God!
Where were you when all those students were killed in Columbine High? Where were you when the massacre happened at Virginia Tech?
Signed,
Johnny”

32. Where Was God?
“Dear God!
Where were you when all those students were killed in Columbine High? Where were you when the massacre happened at Virginia Tech?
Signed,
Johnny”
“Dear Johnny:
Sorry, I am not allowed in School anymore!
God”

33. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.

34. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.

35. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.

36. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.

37. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.
6. Good science demands giving evidence for all views.

38. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.
6. Good science demands giving evidence for all views.
7. Freedom of speech for 90% of Americans demands it.

39. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.
6. Good science demands giving evidence for all views.
7. Freedom of speech for 90% of Americans demands it.
8. Freedom of religion for 90% of Americans demands it

40. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.
6. Good science demands giving evidence for all views.
7. Freedom of speech for 90% of Americans demands it.
8. Freedom of religion for 90% of Americans demands it.
9. Freedom from tyranny for all Americans demands it.

41. 3. Get Creation Back in Our Schools
1. The Founders of modern science were creationists.
2. The Founders of America were creationists.
3. Creation was taught in schools from 1640s to 1980s.
4. The Declaration of Independence demands it.
5. Good education demands knowing both views.
6. Good science demands giving evidence for all views.
7. Freedom of speech for 90% of Americans demands it.
8. Freedom of religion for 90% of Americans demands it.
9. Freedom from tyranny for all Americans demands it.
“Taxation without representation is tyranny”

43. What Would Jefferson Do?
“Taxation without representation is tyranny.”
The first time he helped start a revolution!

44. C. Morally 1. Get The Declaration of Independence Back in Schools.
It is not just a picture on the wall;
It is the foundation of the nation.

45. C. Morally 1. Get The Declaration of Independence Back in Schools.
It is not just a picture on the wall;
It is the foundation of the nation.
2. Get the Ten Commandments Back in School.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7).

46. 1. Get the Declaration of Independence Back
a. It is our Founding Document.
b. It is the basis of Statehood.
c. It is the basis of our freedom.
d. It teaches the basics of freedom:
1) Creation
2) Creator
3) God-Given Morals

47. 2. Get the 10 Commandments Back in Schools
I am the Lord your God...
1--You shall have no other god’s before Me
2--You shall not make any graven image
3--You shall not take the name of God in vain
4--Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
5--Honor your father and your mother
6--You shall not murder
7--You shall not commit adultery
8--You shall not steal
9--You shall not bear false witness
10--You shall not covet

48. D. Politically 1. Get God Back into Government
2. Get the Government Back into God

49. James Madison: “Father of US Constitution”
“Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” (Memorial & Remonstrance, 1785).

50. God’s Blessing is Based on Virtue
“There is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness…. [So] the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

51. What is the Foundation of Our Freedom?
The Foundational Document: The Declaration of Independence.

52. What is the Foundation of Our Freedom?
The Foundational Document: The Declaration of Independence.
The Foundational Precept: God’s Blessing Rest on a recognition of God’s Laws.

53. What is the Foundation of Our Freedom?
The Foundational Document: The Declaration of Independence.
The Foundational Precept: God’s Blessing Rest on a recognition of God’s Laws.
The Foundational Principles:
There is a Creator
All Men are Created Equal
There are God-Given Moral Laws

54. We Need a Congress that: I. Votes Principle over Party

55. We Need a Congress that: I. Votes Principle over Party II
We Need a Congress that: I. Votes Principle over Party II. Votes Morals over Money

56. Mark Twain Said:
The American Christian is a straight and clean and honest man.... But the moment he comes forwards to exercise a public trust he can be confidently counted upon to betray that trust in nine cases out of ten, if “party loyalty” shall require it.... There are Christian Private Morals, but there are no Christian Public Morals, at the polls,
or in the Congress or anywhere else–except here and there and scattered around like lost comets in the solar system”(Christian Science, ).

57. III. How Can It Be Restored?
A. Spiritually— Pray to God

58. III. How Can It Be Restored?
A. Spiritually— Pray to God
B. Educationally---Teach about God

59. III. How Can It Be Restored?
A. Spiritually— Pray to God
B. Educationally---Teach about God
C. Morally—Teach God’s Law

60. III. How Can It Be Restored?
A. Spiritually— Pray to God
B. Educationally---Teach about God
C. Morally—Teach God’s Law
D. Politically—Vote God’s Law
1. Constitution does not forbid legislating morality.
2. US courts have upheld legislating morality—even Christian morality.

61. Edmund Burke
“The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”
(d.1797)

62. What Can I Do?
Pray
Read
Write
Speak
Train
Serve
Vote

63. “It is better to light one candle
than to curse the darkness!”

64. Edward Everett Hale
“I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
(US author, clergyman, )

65. Good Organizations ACLJ.org (American Center for Law & Justice)
Alliance Defense Fund.org
EagleForum.org
FaithandAction.org
CWFA.org (Concerned Women for America)
FRC.org (Family Research Council)
Liberty.edu (Liberty School of Law)
Rutherford.org (Rutherford Institute)

66. What Did Jefferson Say?
“God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation remain secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”

67. 26% of Voters are evangelical 26% of these voted for Obama
Voting
26% of Voters are evangelical
26% of these voted for Obama

68. American Christianity
24.5 Roman Catholic
52% Protestant
(Barna, 2010)