In this issue 018:
"God is my copilot. But as a navigator he sucks."
Christopher Columbus still has his many spin-doctors and, as
the truth about Columbus becomes accepted and the myths and
legends are slowly dispensed with, I prophecy we shall start
seeing vocal denials of Columbus' Christianity. Like the
hundreds of thousands of Crusaders and "Pro-lifers" before
him, Columbus is destined to join the ranks of the "Not TRUE
Christian."
In the next issue 019:
"History revisionism Christian style: Denying Adolf Hitler."
What are the words of Adolf Hitler in regards his religious
beliefs? What are the explanations of fellow religionists in
response to Hitler's religion?
Green Pastures takes a look at the phenomena of the history
revisionism which deny Adolf Hitler's religion and explores
the explanations offered by fellow religionists for his agenda
of genocide. Commentary solicited from a broad spectrum of
religionists include the denial that Christian hate groups
across the world are in any way Christian organizations.
God is my copilot. But as a navigator he sucks.
"Slight of hand and twist of fate" - U2
Normally we guys and gals don't bother expending the time to
correct the "mistakes" we find in Creationist publications mainly
because Creationist literature doesn't contain anything new which
hasn't been debunked both soundly and routinely over the past ten
decades or so. Few of us feel the need to debunk comic books --
or those who mistakenly believe in them.
Aside from the humor content Creationist literature provides, few
of us have either the time or desire to review even summations of
such nonsense. For those of us in the computer networks, we see the
sad results of such strange religious beliefs in the illiterate and
unscientific postings of our poor fellow Creationist netizens;
Creationists who can't even acknowledge Tectonic Plate displacement,
Continental Uplift, simple biology, or the age of the Solar System
for fear of violating their religious beliefs and blaspheming their
gods.
We know what religion can and does do to otherwise rational,
thinking human beings. We don't waste our time.
Sit back in your chair and imagine my delight when I was asked to
review a specific Creationist devotional, published in the Institute
for Creation Research's "Impact" publication, and to offer comment
upon it -- from none other than the author himself! It's quite an
honor, I assure you. I'm giddy with anticipation, in fact.
This issue of Green Pastures contains a copy of the original "Impact"
article, replicated fully intact and unmodified. While you read it
you'll be tempted to shake your head and skip forward -- yet give it
a chance, okay? Mr. Humber's efforts are serious and he deserves to
have us "infidel sinners" listen with an open mind.
After it's done I'll pick up again and provide a lengthy and detailed
coverage of the many errors and omissions. I'll then provide some of
the references I used to collect the information used. When I'm
done, I'll give the floor back to Mr. Humber for the final word.
"Try to hold on, trying to hold on; Keep the faith" - Bon Jovi
Columbus and His Creator
by Paul G. Humber *
Copyright (c) 1991 by I.C.R.
All Rights Reserved
* Mr. Humbar, A.B., M.S., B.D., is a schoolmaster at
The Haverford School, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
__________________________________
Some years ago, the _Philadelphia Daily News_ published a
cartoon characterizing Christians who hold to the fundamentals
of the Bible as out of touch with reality. As an educator, I
found it particularly offensive. Sammy, standing on the Bible
in a classroom with his back to the others, was looking at a
flat "globe" of the earth. The other students and teacher, with
quizzical looks on their faces, encompassed a normal (i.e. round)
globe. The teacher, presumably responding to a student's
question, is depicted as saying, "Because Sammy's mom is a
fundamentalist, that's why." [1] The intent seems to be to
ridicule Bible-believing Christians and their view of science.
Apparently neither the cartoonist nor the editors realized that
Christopher Columbus, a round-earth activist of the highest
degree, was driven far more by the Bible than by the science of
his day. A dedicated student of the Scriptures, he put his faith
into action.
COLUMBUS' OWN WORDS:
At last, after almost 500 years, _Libro de las profecias_
(Book of Prophecies), written and compiled by Columbus, may be
seriously considered in English! In her _Christopher Columbus --
His life and discovery in the light of his prophecies_,[2] Kay
Brigham has provided translations of major portions and analysis
of his book. She describes it as "a compilation of passages from
the Bible which the Admiral believed were pertinent to his mission
of discovery, selected by Columbus himself with the help of his
friend, Fray Gaspar de Gorricio."[2] Excerpting from folios
4-6 (using her book as source), I quote Columbus, who in turn
was addressing his Spanish sovereigns:
"At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the
Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and philosophy and
other arts, which our Lord opened to my understanding (I could
sense His hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it
was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and He unlocked
within me the determination to execute the idea. And I came to
your Highnesses with this ardor. All those who heard about my
enterprise rejected it with laughter, scoffing at me. Neither
the sciences which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative
citations from them, were of any avail. In only your Highnesses
remained faith and constancy. Who doubts that this illumination
was from the Holy Spirit? I attest that He (the Spirit), with
marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred
Scriptures ... encouraging me to proceed, and, continually,
without ceasing for a moment, they inflame me with a sense of
great urgency....
I am the worst of sinners. The pity and mercy of our Lord have
completely covered me whenever I have called (on Him) for them.
I have found the sweetest consolation in casting away all my
anxiety, so as to contemplate His marvelous presence.
I have already said that for the execution of the enterprise of
the Indies, neither reason, nor mathematics, nor world maps were
profitable to me; rather the prophecy of Isaiah was completely
fulfilled ....
Your Highnesses, remember the Gospel texts and the many promises
which our Savior made to us, and how all this has been put to a
test: (for example) St. Peter, when he leapt into the sea, walked
upon (the water) as long as his faith remained firm. The
mountains will obey anyone who has faith the size of a kernel of
Indian corn. All that is requested by anyone who has faith will
be granted. Knock and it will be opened to you. No one should
be afraid to take on any enterprise in the name of our Savior, if
it is right and if the purpose is purely for His holy service
.... The working out of all things was entrusted by our Lord to
each person, (but it happens) in conformity with His sovereign
will, even though he gives advice to many. He lacks nothing that
it may be in the power of men to give him. O, how good is the
Lord who wishes people to perform that for which he holds himself
responsible! Day and night, and at every moment, everyone should
give Him their most devoted thanks."[2]
Noted author, Simon Wiesenthal, in his _Sails of Hope_,
confirmed earlier what is now clear from Columbus' own writings:
"That religious elements played a great part in Columbus's
thoughts and actions is evident from all his writings. It may
come as something of a surprise to us that his concept of sailing
west to reach the Indies was less the result of geographical
theories than of his faith in certain Biblical texts --
specifically the Book of Isaiah."[3]
COLUMBUS - A SCOUNDREL?
William Loren Katz, though affirming Columbus' "enormous
skills, courage and ambition," added that "Columbus carried in
his heart the burning embers of hate" and repaid the "generosity"
of the natives with "treachery."[4] Others have similar concerns.
Sadly, exploitation of peoples and lands followed in Columbus'
wake, and Columbus himself contributed in part. His own testimony
of being "the worst of sinners" has already been mentioned, but he
also viewed himself as "Servant ... of the Most High Saviour, Christ
the Son of Mary."[5] He trusted apparently in Creator Jesus who
forgives the sins of repentant sinners. Indeed, he named the very
first island he landed on San Salvador out of regard for his "Holy
Savior" (translation).
The esteemed Harvard historian, Samuel Eliot Morison, who
dedicated a copy of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, _Admiral of
the Ocean Sea_ to his "shipmate," Lieutenant Commander Millard J.
Klein, Kay Brigham's father,[2] was more generous in his appraisal
of Admiral Columbus. He wrote, "I cannot forget the eternal faith
that sent this man forth, to the benefit of all future ages."[6]
Columbus sought the conversion of the natives. On the premise that
people are lost without Christ, such a concern could be interpreted
as an expression of genuine love rather than of hate. He prayed on
San Salvador:
"O Lord Almighty and Everlasting God, by Thy holy Word Thou hast
created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and
glorified be Thy Name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath
deigned to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Name may be
proclaimed in this second part of the earth."[7]
According to Morison, Columbus and his family were different
from many of the others who wanted "to get gold quick and go home."
Only Columbus, "his family and a few faithful, humble souls" cared
for establishing a 'permanent settlement" and the transfer of
Christianity to the Indies.[6]
Morison was not unaware of some of Columbus' shortcomings, but
he also wrote of his "humanity:"
It was to Columbus' credit that humanity prevailed over glory.
It must have been a temptation to parade this brilliant savage
royalty with their gold and feather ornaments at court. But he
thought of the cold weather in which they would suffer and die,
of what the pretty daughters might expect from his seamen, of the
disillusion that would await these innocent souls in Castile. So
he took compassion on them, declined the cacique's request, and
sent the Indians ashore in the ship's boat after receiving their
homage and fealty.[6]
Kay Brigham's assessment of Columbus is very positive: "On
account of faith -- ``being sure of what we hope for and certain of
what we do not see'' (Hebrews 11:1) -- Columbus discovered America,
the most significant event for the human race after the birth,
death, and resurrection of the Savior of the world. Faith liberated
Columbus from the chains of human myopia, launching him on a divine
mission and propelling him to a providential destination ...
initiating the histories of the United States, Canada, and the
numerous American Republics and the phenomenal expansion of the
Christian faith."[2]
WHAT BIBLE PASSAGES AFFECTED COLUMBUS?
Scriptural passages cited by Columbus in his book, _Libro de
las profecias_ (Book of Prophecies)[2] include the following:
The LORD reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of
isles be glad thereof (Psalm 97:1).
Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of
the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein;
the isles, and the inhabitants thereof (Isaiah 42:10).
Listen, O isles, unto Me; and hearken, ye people from far
(Isaiah 49:1).
My righteousness is near; My salvation is gone forth .... The
isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust
(Isaiah 51:5).
I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them
that sought Me not; I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation
that was not called by My name (Isaiah 65:1).
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew
28:19,20).
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you; and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth (Acts 1:8).
CONCLUSION:
"Columbus always loved to apply the Sacred Scriptures to his
own life and adventures,"[6] according to Morison. Wilbur E.
Garret, _National Geographic_ Editor, shares that this was also
true at his death: "Son Ferdinand reports that Columbus repeated
the words attributed to Christ on the Cross -- 'Into your hands,
Father, I commend my soul' - and died."[8]
REFERENCES
1. _Philadelphia Daily News_, October 28, 1986, p. 33.
2. Brigham, Kay. _Christopher Columbus - His life and discovery
in the light of his prophecies_. Terrassa, Barcelona: CLIE
Publishers, 1990, pp. 53, 61, 82, 85, 86, 115, 124, 125, 127,
129, 131, 167.
3. Wiesenthal, Simon. _Sails of Hope_. New York: Macmillan
Publishing Co., Inc., 1973, p. 122.
4. Katz, William Loren. "'Ill Winds' Drove Columbus," _The New
York Times_, October 8, 1979.
5. Morison, Samuel Eliot. "Christopher Columbus, Mariner,"
_American Heritage_, December 1955, p. 93.
6. Morison, Samuel Eliot. _Admiral of the Ocean Sea_. Boston:
Little, Brown and Co., 1942, pp. 6, 206, 476, 494.
7. Marshall, Jr., Peter J. and David B. Manuel, Jr. _The Light
and the Glory_. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1977,
p. 41.
8. Garrett, Wilbur E. "Columbus and the New World," _National
Geographic_, November 1986, p. 564.
Quite an inspirational piece! I laughed, I cried... It _moved_ me.
Quite obviously Christopher Columbus had God as his copilot _and_
navigator. All of us atheist sinners should be damn thankful that
Columbus was a Bible-believing Christian who discovered America by
the grace of God otherwise we might all still believe the Earth is
flat!
Equally obvious is the totally unwarranted comic depiction by that
horrible "Philadelphia Daily News" which tried to equate
contemporary Creationists with flat-Earth believers! Shame on them!
If any of us are _still_ atheists after reading this, you just
weren't paying attention. Go back and _read_ it this time!
"It's Deja vu all over again" - Yogi Berra
Oh. After reading it the second time I think I see some very minor
mistakes; honest mistakes that anyone stuck on a flat Earth might
make.
- Humber
During the Summer Solstice the Sun reflected off the water at the
bottom of wells in Syene, telling him that the center of the Sun was
directly in line with the center of the Earth from the Syene radian.
By observing the Sun from Alexandria at the same time, he could tell
that the Sun was some 7.2 degrees away from the vertical. That's
1/50'th of a full circle and, with the assumption that rays of light
travel parallel to each other, he multiplied the North/South distance
between Syene and Alexandria by 50 to come to within 15% of the
actual size of the Earth.
The Greek's world wasn't flat. Eratosthenes would have used
different geometry calculations if he had thought the Earth was flat.
Pythagoras and Aristotle before him knew the Earth was a sphere.
Educated people of Europe, Spain, and Portugal all knew that the
Earth wasn't flat.
In actual fact Christopher Columbus _rejected_ the knowledge that the
Earth was a sphere in favor of the belief that the shape was egg like
with curves "Like a woman's breast." He was soundly ridiculed for
that belief. ("Where," Rev. David Rice wondered aloud, "did Columbus
suppose the nipples were?") He was ridiculed because the educated
_knew_ the Earth was round and Columbus religiously believed
otherwise. (My seven-year-old son Stephen reports that he and his
classmates are told that Christopher Columbus believed the world was
"eggplant shaped" -- something a little more "politically correct"
than mentioning women's breasts to giggly school children.)
Columbus also thought that the circumference of the Earth was _much_
smaller than it actually is, even though there had been scientific
evidence as to the Earth's actual circumference for centuries. [2]
What was the reason for Columbus to deny well over 190 _decades_ of
proven scientific knowledge? The scientific knowledge was "pagan,"
not "revealed" knowledge and as such must by necessity be false.
(More on this religion-biased belief later.)
Does Mr. Columbus' reasoning sound familiar to anyone? Does his
rejection of scientific facts in favor of religious ignorance
ring any bells? Columbus died never accepting the scientific fact
that the Earth is an oblate spheroid or the scientific fact of the
size of the Earth -- even though he himself evidenced his own beliefs
mistaken! Hundreds of thousands of Creationists go to their graves
in contemporary times not accepting the fact of evolution even
though they themselves directly observe the process. Indeed, the
reason they don't accept evolution is because they have no idea what
evolution is. [23]
Columbus wasn't the first to reject the scientific facts known by
"pagans" for centuries. In the sixth century Christians officially
demanded that the Earth was "flat rectangle" shaped. [28]
Why does Mr. Humber suppose Christopher Columbus was "a round-earth
activist of the highest degree?" Columbus wouldn't accept that the
earth is a sphere due to his religious beliefs. I can only guess
that Mr. Humber was either taught this in school else this is what
the "scientists" over at the Institute for Creation Research have
been selling to their believers.
But then there's another "minor" problem.
- Humber.
Mr. Humber probably shouldn't be faulted for this mistake since
it's one of the most widely-disseminated historic fallacies in
the United States. There is a fairly large effort under way around
the world to make the history text books reflect the actual history
of Columbus and his activities in the New World yet it's a difficult
process simply because the myths and legends are so ingrained
in world-wide belief and, more importantly, the true history of
Columbus is that of a bloodthirsty slave trading tyrant. [6c]
Displacing Columbus' position as top dog and installing Irish
sailors is going to take some time. Even so, the Irish Monks who
were here first _deserve_ official recognition. [6b]
Open your encyclopedia and you'll most likely be informed that
Christopher Columbus "discovered" Central America in 1502. If
your encyclopedia is anything like Grolier's, you'll also be
told that Christopher Columbus "discovered" America in 1492.
My very own encyclopedia [7] was published in 1948 -- a great many
years before current "politically correct" school texts started
appearing in the public schools. Though it covers some of Columbus'
bloodthirsty exploits, it, too, mistakenly states that Columbus
"discovered" America. [27b]
While a growing number of public school teachers are starting to
cover the earlier explorations of North, Central, and Southern
America, the vast majority of the American adult population still
labors until these mistaken beliefs. Correcting the record will
take decades. [8]
As I mentioned before, my youngest son is getting the correct
history of the "discovery" of the Americas. Every year, in fact,
during Columbus Day, students around the country are getting the
history of Columbus with the addendum that others were here
before him. [9] [10] Text books intended for High School students
are also beginning to cover the facts concerning who really
"discovered" the Americas as well as what indigenous cultures
were destroyed by Columbus and the fellow Christian monsters who
followed. [11] Christians who are willing to admit the evil of
Christopher Columbus and their own Church are starting to speak
out (rather belatedly) and ask the survivors of the cultures their
cult plundered for their forgiveness. [12]
"You want the truth?! You can't _handle_ the truth!" - Jack
And that brings up another "minor" mistake:
``At this time I have seen and put in study to look into
all the Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and
philosophy and other arts, which our Lord opened to my
understanding (I could sense His hand upon me), so that
it became clear to me that it was feasible to navigate
from here to the Indies; and He unlocked within me the
determination to execute the idea.''
- Humber
Why didn't this "lord" inform him that the Greek's estimate of the
circumference of the world was the correct one? Why didn't this
"lord" tell him to stop fixating on women's breasts and accept that
the world was a sphere -- as the Greeks had known for centuries?
Why did this "lord" of his lie about there being a western passage
to India?
Obviously us atheists would never worship a lying god -- why
do Creationists? Isn't it immoral to worship a god who lies?
- Humber
There is most certainly acceptance and denial, of course. There is
most certainly a round world for most of us and a flat one for those
among us who need one.
As for ridiculing Creationists, we're _supposed_ to laugh at
clowns, Mr. Humber. Even those who elect to live on a flat Earth.
"Do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end" - Coven
And where would the traditional Creationist devotional be without a
healthy dose of apologetics designed to bypass the embarrassing
inhuman tyrannies instigated against innocent people at the behest
of inhuman monsters who justify their acts using the Christian
deities?
- Humber
In actual fact this "expression of genuine Christian love" _was_
exactly in keeping with the bloody history of Christianity and in
keeping with Columbus' own time. Dr. D. Stannard covers the actual
history of this tyrant in "American Holocaust," Oxford University
Press, 1992.
``I certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall
powerfully enter in your country and shall make war
against you ... and shall subject you to the yoke and
obedience of the Church ... and shall do you all mischief
that we can, as to vassals who do not obey and refuse to
receive their lord and resist and contradict him.'" [15]
- D. Stannard
"... Lost without Christ..." Yet murdered and enslaved _with_
Christ. Keeping in mind that Christopher Columbus was an artifact
of his own time, following the Christian ideals of his own age, I
can't bring myself to place the whole of the blame upon him. The
society which felt it was better to slaughter innocent people if
they wouldn't convert to Christianity was what made Columbus the
inhuman tyrant he was -- And what allows the most bloodthirsty cult
ever created to survive to today.
Dr. D. Stannard comments further upon the slaves that Columbus took:
"While Columbus described the Indians as ``idolaters'' and
``slaves, as many as [the Crown] shall order,'' his pal
Michele de Cuneo, Italian nobleman, referred to the natives
as ``beasts'' because ``they eat when they are hungry,'' and
made love ``openly whenever they feel like it.'' [17]
- D. Stannard
Mr. Humber's audience consists of Creationists who only believe
what they are told to believe. They're also not supposed to
learn anything they're _not_ told. In the event any of his
intended believers hear rumors as to the truth about Columbus,
Mr. Humber has the bases covered:
- Humber
The Christian slaughters were so total that Columbus successfully
obliterated at least three known civilizations. The Arawak, [24]
Carib, and the Taino didn't manage to survive Columbus' "contribution
in part" as Mr. Humber calls it.
- Humber
Why didn't Mr. Humber mention the _rest_ of Morison's 1955 review
of the history of Christopher Columbus? Did the Samuel Morison of
the flat Earth forget to include these pages? Mr. Humber seems
to have been reading a version of Morison's book quite different
than the version here on the round world.
As for how Columbus had no interest in raping these people of
their gold, perhaps that may have been true on the flat Earth yet
here on the round Earth, gold and slavery were his primary
concerns:
The information Columbus wanted most was: "Where is the gold?"
He had persuaded the king and queen of Spain to finance an
expedition to the lands, the wealth, he expected would be on
the other side of the Atlantic -- the Indies and Asia, gold and
spices. [25]
"There are many spices, and great mines of gold and other
metals..."
[The Indians] "are so naive and so free with their possessions
that no one who has not witnessed them would believe it. When
you ask for something they have, they never say no. To the
contrary, they offer to share with anyone...."
He concluded his report by asking for a little help from their
Majesties, and in return he would bring them from his next
voyage "as much gold as they need... and as many slaves as
they ask." [27c]
"Heros don't come easy. Nonsense isn't new to me..." - R.E.M.
And does Mr. Humber even recognize the hatred and inhuman bigotry
that drove his hero Columbus? I doubt it.
- Humber
To conclude the irony, let's take a good look at this hero.
References
Accounts of his voyages include visits to Northern America
yet it wasn't until 1976 that the viability of such voyages
with the tools available to Brendan was proven. In 1976
Tim Severin undertook to prove that the voyage was possible
by first manufacturing a sailing boat in the manor of Brendan's
contemporaries, and then setting sail.
ACCOUNTS OF THIS JOURNEY can be found in most public libraries
these days. You may also FileRequest file SEVERIN.TXT from The
Skeptic Tank for a good coverage of this journey. National
Geographic had covered this journey in their magazine
publication as well as on PBS television.
Archaeologist Dr. Robert Pyle and language expert Dr. Barry
Fell have investigated stone carvings which have been dated
from 500 to 1000 CE. They are written in Old Irish using the
Ogham alphabet.
According to Fell, "The West Virginia Ogham texts are the
oldest Ogham inscriptions from anywhere in the world. They
exhibit the grammar and vocabulary of Old Irish in a manner
previously unknown in such early rock-cut inscriptions in any
Celtic Language."
He further comments, "It seems possible that the scribes that
cut the West Virginia inscriptions may have been Irish
Missionaries in the wake of Brendan's voyage, for these
inscriptions are Christian. The early Christian symbols of
piety, such as the various Chi-Rho monograms and the Dextra
Dei appear at the sites together with the Ogham texts."
The Los Angeles Times, on November 3, 1994, published an
article titled, "In Honor of Charlatans and Racists: 'The
Bell Curve' pays tribute to some of history's most notorious
pseudo-scientific hate-mongers," written by Alexander
Cockburn. (The Bell Curve is a racist book financed by the
Christian hate organization call "The Heritage Foundation.")
This article starts off by taking a look at 'The Bell
Curve's' "intellectual ancestry," listed in the book's
introduction.
This attitude, though to a _much_ lesser extent, remains in
America. (As an aside, this level of "scholarship" also
indicates a total lack of understanding about natural
selection.)
"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is
as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of
a virgin." - Cardinal Bellarmine 1615, during the trial
of Galileo.
One such contemporary organization is the "Tycho Society"
(which The Skeptic Tank has information on. They are stored
within the Flat Earth archives. There is another unrelated
organization of that same name, by the way, so take care if
you do further research to avoid mixing the two.)
Another is the Flat Earth Society: the more widely-known
Christian mythology-based anti-science organization.
(Ironically their "academic scholarship" is equal to that
of the anti-science Institute for Creation Research's
"scholarship.")
A copy of the Flat-Earth Society's charter may be downloaded
from The Skeptic Tank. Additionally you may contact them
directly:
Charles K. Johnson, President
Marjory Waugh Johnson, Sec.
Telephone: (805) 727-1635
Roy Gallant, "Ancient Indians: The First Americans," Enslow
Publishers, Hillside NY, 1989. 0-89490-187-7.
Warwick Brey et al., "The Ancient Americas," Peter Bedrick,
New York, 1989. 0-87226-303-7.
He asked that history not judge the man too harshly as he was
the construct of his time, a man who lived under the Catholic
dictate that all non-Catholics have no rights.
Lundstrom was a Catholic who felt that the Church must admit
to the "sins" of Columbus and his legacy else every Christian
will share in the responsibility for those sins.
FOR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT of this speech, FileRequest file
COLMBS.TXT from The Skeptic Tank.
Ironically, Mr. Humber references this book as well yet, for
some mysterious reason, elected to ignore most of it.
Also see Morison, loco citato, page 119.
This system is also called "repartimiento."
Also see, "The Indian in American History," Harcort Brace,
New York, page 32.
After requesting information on what he was told evolution
is (and why he keeps capitalizing the word every time he uses
it even though it's not usually considered a noun) I received
the following:
Explains a great deal, doesn't it? One of the requirements
for membership in the Creationist cult is the total lack of
knowledge about what evolution actually is, it seems.
By the year 1550 there were less than 500 Arawak's left due to
the genocide instigated by Columbus. By the year 1650, there
were none left.
Bartolome' de las Casas was the only Christian priest to vocally
speak out against the inhuman tyrannies of his Christian masters.
His own journals report:
The same can be said for Hitler and Stalin. The results
are always the same.
This dates from around the sixth century and has its origins
in Byzantium. After reading it you'll probably come to the
same conclusion I have: While the scientific world progresses
in leaps and bounds, Creationists haven't learned a thing in
over 1,300 years.
As promised, I solicited response from Mr. Humber which I agreed
would be appended to this article unedited and complete. Since he's
a Creationist, however, the "response" received was as expected:
There was not even an attempt to address the lies, deceptions,
dishonesty, or any of the scientific and historical misconceptions
found among his religious rants. There were further statements of
occult religious beliefs yet there was no attempt to address the
issues.
Indeed, it's almost as if his request for me to provide a write-up
of his Impact article was a deceptive ploy to try to waste my time.
He certainly seems to have had no interest in actually reading it.
The result of the exercise, however, remains of benefit for all of
us who fight against such lunacy: Here is a teacher tasked with
educating children. Horribly, he's also a Creationist.
Thank you for sending a response to my article. I would
be happy to receive a hard copy if such exists. I know
very little of the Green Pastures publication. My address
is Paul G. Humber, Upper School Faculty, The Haverford
School, 450 W. Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA 19041.
Regarding the over 500 pages of materials you sent giving
examples of organisms going from one species to another, I
found the consideration of such things as bacteria and fruit
flies unconvincing. A fruit fly with or without wings is a
fruit fly, etc. I do not deny variations with survival
benefit (microevolution). I am looking for one example on
the macro scale.
I now better understand your objection to my calling atheism
a religion. I came accross the statement in what you sent,
"Every religion is a cult." Since you probably consider
yourself an atheist, you would not want to see yourself as a
cultist. You strongly object.
Let me commend you for your zeal. I believe it is very
misguided (as you think me misguided), but you surely put
in a lot of energy and time.
-------------------------------|*
Paul G. Humber, Philadelphia |*
phumber@mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us |*
-------------------------------|*
Green Pastures is copyright protected by Fredric L. Rice of The
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Green Pastures 018 - GP018.TXT
13/Mar/1997
Institute for Creation Research,
PO Box 2667, El Cajon, CA. 92021
Voice: (619) 448-0900
FAX: (619) 448-3469
Number 220, 1991 (File IMP-220A.ARJ at The Skeptic Tank)
"Now I'm a believer" - The Monkeys
"Apparently neither the cartoonist nor the editors realized
that Christopher Columbus, a round-earth activist of the
highest degree, was driven far more by the Bible than by the
science of his day. A dedicated student of the Scriptures,
he put his faith into action." [27a]
The Greeks had known the Earth was round for at least 1900 years
before Christopher Columbus set sail to find a "Westward Passage to
India." [1] The Greeks had known the Earth was a sphere and had
been calculating the approximate size of the Earth since at least
the third century. Eratosthenes of Cyrene, Chief librarian of the
famous "Library at Alexandria" in the third century, devised and
used straight sticks and fairly simple geometry to come to some
pretty good estimates on the size of the Earth. [27d]
"Kay Brigham's assessment of Columbus is very positive:
`On account of faith -- ``being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see'' (Hebrews 11:1) --
Columbus discovered America...'"
My best guess is that on the flat Earth, Columbus discovered
America. For those of us who live on the round Earth, however,
America was visited by both the Vikings [3] and Irish seamen
at least 500 years [4] [5] before Columbus "discovered" South
America. [6a] [6d]
"I quote Columbus, who in turn was addressing his Spanish
sovereigns:
No one doubted that sailing from Spain to India was possible. It
was a question of sailing into the _setting_ sun to reach India, not
a question of making it to India from Spain -- something the Spanish
had been doing for centuries by sailing into the _rising_ sun.
``Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy
Spirit? I attest that He (the Spirit), with marvelous rays
of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred
Scriptures... encouraging me to proceed, and, continually,
without ceasing for a moment, they inflame me with a sense
of great urgency....''"
Running into South America was a mistake. Columbus, using the
"hand" his "lord" gave him, mistakenly thought he had
reached India and he called the domestic populations he enslaved
"Indians" because of it.
"The intent seems to be to ridicule Bible-believing
Christians and their view of science."
Scientific method has no "view," Mr. Humber. Scientific method also
doesn't have anything to do with religious beliefs -- or _any_ venue
of belief. Electrons don't _care_ if you believe in them or not.
Gravity will work for you regardless of whether you accept its
existence or not. The world is either an oblate spheroid else it
is shaped like a woman's breast! There is no "view" when it comes to
science. There is the closest approximation to truth possible and
when set against the testable claims of Creationists, science proves
their beliefs wrong (every time, in fact) -- there is no "view"
about it!
"Columbus sought the conversion of the natives. On the
premise that people are lost without Christ, such a concern
could be interpreted as an expression of genuine love
rather than of hate."
Yes, Christopher Columbus would be quite welcome among the Humanist
groups around the country today. He was quite the humanitarian who
did all he could to bring the indigenous Indian populations nearer
to God -- by murdering a quarter of a million of them. [14] All for
their own good, of course; all out of love for his victims. When
done for God in Heaven, all is justified in the end.
"On every island he set foot on, Columbus planted a cross,
``making the declarations that are required'' - the
requerimiento - to claim the ownership for his Catholic
patrons in Spain. And ``nobody objected.'' If the Indians
refused or delayed their acceptance (or understanding),
the requerimiento continued:
"The key to my survival was never in much doubt" - Genesis
"Within hours of landfall on the first inhabited island
he encountered in the Caribbean, Columbus seized and carried
off six native people who, he said, ``ought to be good servants
... [and] would easily be made Christians, because it seemed
to me that they belonged to no religion.''" [16]
People who know the history of this bloodthirsty tyrant also note
that Columbus so decimated his own crew that he often _required_
slaves to operate the ships under his command. Slaves which survived
the return trip were pressed into the services of Spain's demonic
sugar industry -- the 1500's equivalent of the cocaine trade today.
(More on this slave trade later.)
"Sadly, exploitation of peoples and lands followed in
Columbus' wake, and Columbus himself contributed in part."
"...contributed in part." On every one of Columbus' voyages he
enslaved as many native Indians as could fit on his ship. [18] On
his second voyage Columbus, after accidentally running his ship
aground, set up shop in Haiti and Santo Domingo, using dogs trained
to kill, to slaughter nearly every man, woman, and child. [19]
There was no attempts at "conversion;" there was only genocide for
the express purposes of seizing innocent people's lands. Columbus
called these lands "Hispanola" and he so decimated the populace that
his son Diego and fellow Christian slave traders were _forced_ to fan
out into the Caribbean in search of more slaves who lands they could
plunder and who citizens they could murder.
"According to Morison, Columbus and his family were
different from many of the others who wanted ``to get
gold quick and go home.'' Only Columbus, ``his family
and a few faithful, humble souls'' cared for establishing
a 'permanent settlement''' and the transfer of
Christianity to the Indies.""
"...transfer of Christianity..." Is that what they're calling
genocide these days? In any event this is a lie. Columbus
instituted "the encomienda system" specifically to plunder the
wealth of the West Indies as quickly and as profitably as
possible. [20] He slaughtered so many domestic slaves that
fellow Christians had to repeatedly request officially that
he "take it easy" otherwise there would be shortages of slaves
to run the sugar plantations. [21] After filling his ships
(which could hold 500 slaves) he left the remaining slaves to
his crew who raped, tortured, then murdered them. [22]
"As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island
which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order
that they might learn and might give me information of
whatever there is in these parts."
In fact Columbus was promised 10% of the profits from the lands
and people he raped -- including 10% of the slaves he managed to
bring back to Spain alive. [26]
"Hispaniola is a miracle. Mountains and hills, plains and
pastures, are both fertile and beautiful... the harbors are
unbelievably good and there are many wide rivers of which the
majority contain gold..."
Why doesn't Mr. Humber relate to his Creationist readers _any_ of
this? Is this yet further history revisionism on the part of demonic
Christians wishing to deny the history of what they have done for
their deity constructs? Or was Mr. Humber simply totally ignorant
about what he was speaking of? It's undeniably certain that his
intended audience buys whatever they read in their occult tracts,
of course, no matter how outrageous. The only question is whether
these hugely important omissions were intended to deceive or whether
Mr. Humber is honestly ignorant.
"Indeed, he named the very first island he landed on
San Salvador out of regard for his ``Holy Savior''"
(translation).
And just _fuck_ the fact that the people he enslaved and slaughtered
and the cultures he decimated already had names for their own
countries.
"``Columbus always loved to apply the Sacred
Scriptures to his own life and adventures,''"
Boy, that's certainly undeniable, brothers and sisters. The bloody
history of Christopher Columbus certainly proves he was indeed a
Christian carrying forth in the true spirit of Christianity. How
long will it be before fellow Christian fundamentalists start
denying it?
Paul G. Humber "responds" to the embarrassing truth:
"There on the opening page is Galton, cited in
blandly respectful terms. Galton was a charlatan
whose scientific procedures are well exhibited in
his 1873 essay 'Hereditary Improvement.' He wrote
that, after the great famine of the 1840's, 'The
Irish type of face seemed to have become more
prognathous, that is, more like the Negro in the
protrusion of the lower jaw; the interpretation of
which was that the men who had survived the
starvation and other deadly accidents of that
horrible time were more generally of a low or
coarse organization."
"... [T]o affirm that the Sun is really fixed in
the center of the heavens and that the Earth revolves
very swiftly around the Sun is a dangerous thing, not
only irritating the theologians and philosophers, but
injuring our holy faith and making the sacred scripture
false." --- Vatican theologian Robert Bellarmine,
early 17th century.
International Flat Earth Society,
Post Office Box 2533
Lancaster, CA. 93539-2533
"Evolution definitely is a religion--an idol--for many."
"Evolution (capital because starting a sentence) is the
naive notion that everything has evolved from
symplicity (sic) to complexity. This pertains in the
cosmic realm as well as the biological realm. It clashes
with known truth -- namely that animals are not becoming
increasingly complex but are in fact dying off
(extinctions!). Much more could be said, but I do have
other obligations."
"They... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and
spears and many other things which they exchanged for
the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded
everything they owned.... They were well-built, with
good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear
arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword,
they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of
ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made
of cane.... They would make fine servants.... With
fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do
whatever we want."
"Endless testimonies ... prove the mild and pacific
temperament of the natives. . - . But our work was to
exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small
wonder, then, if they tried to kill one of us now and
then.... The admiral, it is true, was blind as those
who came after him, and he was so anxious to please the
King that he committed irreparable crimes against the
Indians...."
"That religious elements played a great part in
Columbus's thoughts and actions is evident from
all his writings..."
"The earth, according to Cosmas, is a flat rectangle,
and its length is double its breadth. The heavens form
a second story, welded to the extremities of the earth
by four walls. The dry land which we inhabit is
surrounded by the ocean, and beyond it is another land
where men lived before the deluge. The firmament is the
ceiling between the two stories, and the earth, the lower
story, lies at the bottom of the universe, to which it
sank when it was created. There is nothing below it.
Hence, the Pagan theory of the antipodes is a delusion.
On its western side the earth rises into a great conical
mountain, which hides the sun at night. The sun is not
larger than the earth, as the Pagans falsely imagine,
but much smaller. The revolutions of all the celestial
bodies are guided by angel pilots. [Footnote says: The
extension of the work of creation over six days - whereas
it could have been accomplished by a single fiat - is
ingeniously explained as due to the Creator's wish to
give a series of object lessons to the angels.]
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 09:39:02 -0500 (EST)
From: Paul Humber
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