Back to the Future?

Fifteen hundred years ago, Constantine, who murdered his own wife and children, started the Christian religion.

From that day to this that religion has been the greatest curse that ever afflicted the earth.

This religion teaches that 6,000 years ago God made the first man out of dust—not even mud—and the first woman out of a bone; that God cursed the whole human race because a snake made the woman eat an apple; that God had a son by another man’s wife, and that he had this son murdered in order to keep himself from sending all the human race to hell.

This son taught that any man who did not believe that piece of ignorance and priestly lying would go to hell and burn eternally in fire and brimstone.

The Bible, in which these things are taught, favors drunkenness, murder, slavery, lying, stealing and lechery.

—Charles Chilton Moore (February 11, 1900 in The Bluegrass Blade)

Atheists today are giving praise to atheist Charles Moore as someone who was like an anti-God “blogger” from over a hundred years ago. But are his arguments any better than those atheists employ today? Or are his comments just same stuff we see over and over again in modern blogs? Well, in truth, it is nothing new, just another person attacking God and His Word with false claims. Such things began in the days of our grandparents, Adam and Eve, and are still at the forefront.

Fifteen hundred years ago, Constantine, who murdered his own wife and children,

Yes, he sinned, and so did Moore. But we are all sinners and all in need of Christ.

started the Christian religion.

False. God/Christ started the Christian religion from the beginning, and the names Christian and Christianity originated from the word Christ, meaning “Messiah” or “Anointed One” (John 1:41, 4:25), which was often mentioned in the Old Testament as the one to come. Christ’s earthly ministry was about 250 years before Constantine. In fact, the first use of the term Christians was at Antioch (Acts 11:26), and even extra-biblical writers used the term before the emperor was born.

From that day to this that religion has been the greatest curse

If Christianity is a lie, why is anything good or bad? A curse in that view is no different from a blessing because nothing would ultimately matter, since without Christianity, there is no ultimate authority to give us moral standards.

that ever afflicted the earth.

False. Sin was the worst thing that ever happened to the earth.

This religion teaches that 6,000 years ago God made the first man out of dust—not even mud—and the first woman out of a bone;

This shows that God cared and specially created man. In other words, we are not worthless pieces of pond scum, as is commonly taught in schools today.

that God cursed the whole human race

In essence, it is as if God no longer upholds the world in a perfect state. Never does the Bible say mankind was cursed, though.

because a snake made the woman eat an apple;

This serpent didn’t make her eat anything. She was deceived by the serpent, and then she desired the fruit, and she took the fruit and she ate. And she got punished for it.

Besides, the Bible never specifically mentioned that it was an apple. It was the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

that God had a son by another man's wife,

False. Mary was not married to Joseph at the time (Matthew 1:18). And secondly, she was an Israelite, which meant she was the bride of God first (Genesis 17:17 and many other passages about this covenant between God and Israel, especially Ezekiel 16:32, which calls the Israelites—via the national capital—an adulterous wife).

Such an argument, perhaps inadvertently, accepts what the Bible teaches about marriage (being one man and one woman) and that marriage should be honored by all:

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

So, Moore is being hypocritical when he argues against what the Bible teaches, all while relying on biblical principles.

and that he had this son murdered

Remedial theology from the Bible reveals that God’s Son is God. (John 1:1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1). God sacrificed Himself to pay the infinite punishment (that naturally stems from an infinite God).Those in Christ (God) will be spared; the rest still have that infinite punishment awaiting them in hell for all eternity.

in order to keep himself from sending all the human race to hell.

Rather kind and loving gesture, isn’t it? Would you have died to save someone who despised you? However, God doesn’t merely send people to hell. He grants those who despise Him what they want: eternity apart from Him.

This son taught that any man who did not believe that piece of ignorance and priestly lying would go to hell and burn eternally in fire and brimstone.

False. A holy and just God must judge unrighteousness with the only fitting consequence: infinite punishment from an infinite God. In fact, all of us are condemned already because we are all sinners. However, Christ has already paid the debt. As far as we know, Mr. Moore never received Christ, but you (the readers) can still receive Christ.

John 3:16–18
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Bible, in which these things are taught, favors drunkenness, murder, slavery, lying, stealing and lechery.

False. While the Bible honestly depicts the sinfulness of humanity in the context of specific cultures, God’s Word strongly condemns these failings and offers a much better way.

Galatians 5:19–24
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Exodus 20:12–17
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

And there are many more similar verses. This is just a start. Besides, if the Bible were not true, why would these actions be wrong?

Even false claims from over a hundred years ago can easily be responded too. I was saddened that there were so many false claims in Mr. Moore’s comments. Had he taken a few minutes to look up the passages he erred on, perhaps he could have done a better job.

Sadly, Mr. Moore has long since gone to face the Creator of the Universe and receive his judgment from God. What will God say to you when it is your turn to stand before Him?