Are any of you familiar with Samuel J. Andrews? My father is a retired Lutheran pastor. (still preaches part-time) I was scouring his library one day, and came across this text. He let me borrow it, as it certainly interested me. It is entitled, “Christianity and Anti-Christianity: In Their Final Conflict” by Andrews, published in 1898. Interesting enough, it had been out of print until re-published in 2003. It is available in paperback via Amazon.com.

Here is just a “snippet” from a chapter, “Modern Pantheistic Philosophy: Pantheism, It’s Progress,” from “Part III: Tendencies in Our Day Preparing The Way of The Antichrist:”

“It is said by J.S. Mill (1840): “The philosophical writings of Schelling and Hegel have given pantheistic principles a complacent admission and a currency which they never before this age possessed in any part of Christendom.” Buchanan (1857) says: “The grand ultimate struggle between Christianity and Atheism will resolve itself into a controversy between Christianity and Pantheism.” Saisset (1863) speaks of Pantheism “as having made, and daily making, the most alarming progress.” “This is the beginning and end of German philosophy, it begins with scepticism, it ends with Pantheism.”

It is said by E. Caird (1883): “In the scientific life of Germany there is no greater power at present than Hegelianism, especially in all that relates to metaphysics, and thus to the philosophy and history of religion.”

Now is this prophetic, “predictive programming,” or just plain old reasoned historical logic?

To Kempf, I say, it would be best that you first finish your studies in 8th grade (hopefully not goobermint) education, before attempting to comprehend such this subject, much less attempt to comment here. It is most embarrassing to catch one’s foot in their mouth, when they speak of things they apparently have no utter clue about. For now, simply watch and learn. Hold your tongue, until you are certain you have something intelligent to offer.

Seek help. Quickly. And, don’t stop taking your meds.

Go post your nonsense somewhere else.

STONEHENGE, England – Pagans and partygoers drummed, danced or gyrated in hula hoops to stay awake through the night, as more than 35,000 people greeted the summer solstice Sunday at the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge.

Despite fears of trouble because of the record-sized crowd, police said the annual party at the mysterious monument was mostly peaceful.

“It’s the most magical place on the planet,” said antique salesman Frank Somers, 43, dressed in the robes of his Druid faith.

“Inside when you touch the stones you feel a warmth like you’re touching a tree, not a stone. There’s a genuine love, you feel called to it,” he said.

The prehistoric monument in southern England is the site of an annual night-long party — or religious ceremony, depending on perspective — marking the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

Warm weather and the fact that this year’s solstice fell on a weekend helped draw a record crowd.

“There has been a great atmosphere and where else would you want to be on midsummer’s day?” said Peter Carson of English Heritage, the body in charge of Stonehenge.

Camera flashes bounced off the stones through the night until patchy rays of sunlight peeked through the clouds at 4:58 a.m. BST (0358GMT). A weak cheer went up as dawn broke over the Heel Stone, a pockmarked pillar at the edge of the stone circle that is aligned with the rising sun.

“You can feel the energy from your feet climb up your body,” said Diane Manuel, 50, a supply company director from Middlesbrough in northern England. “It’s like having heart palpitations.”

Stonehenge, which sits on Salisbury Plain about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of London, is one of Britain’s most popular tourist attractions, visited by more than 750,000 people a year. It was built in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C.

Mystery surrounds the monument’s original purpose. Some theories hold that the stone circle was a grave site because 350 burial mounds surround the structure.

In May, archaeologists found evidence indicating that pilgrims perceived the stones to have healing powers. Some other experts assert that the structure was part of an ancient astronomical calendar.

But because it was built so long ago, there is no record of why the monument was erected, said archaeologist Dave Batchelor of English Heritage.

“All of that sort of stuff we don’t have, so when it comes to ascribing a modern-day reason depends on the viewpoint … that’s the fascination,” Batchelor said.

Solstice celebrations were a highlight of the pre-Christian calendar, and in many countries bonfires, maypole dances and courtship rituals linger on as holdovers from Europe’s pagan past.

Libby Davy, 40, an Australian living in Brighton, southern England, was attending the solstice for the first time with friends and her 8-year-old daughter. She wore sparkling dust on her face and wrapped a monkey doll around her neck as she embraced the festive mood.

“It’s kind of a pilgrimage,” she said. “As a sculptor, I can’t help being interested in the stones — they’re historic, spiritual — people went to a huge effort to put them here not anywhere else. Why here? And why this configuration? It’s fascinating.”

The solstice is one of the few times during the year that visitors can get close enough to touch the rocks.

English Heritage closed the site at the solstice after clashes between police and revelers in 1985. It began allowing full access again in 2000 and the celebrations have been largely peaceful.

Police said Sunday they had made about 30 arrests for drug and public-order offenses.

With problems at a minimum, the crowd reverted to a carnival atmosphere. Some revelers used hula hoops to stay awake until the sunrise; other simply clapped and danced among the stones.

Gaisva Milinkeviciute, 30, a yoga instructor originally from Lithuania, came with two friends, who like many in the crowd, wore wreaths in their hair.

“This place actually gives people so much energy and thoughts, things that we kind of neglect in the daily lives and wish for,” Milinkeviciute said. “We can come here and make them come true.”

Original URL:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090621/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_stonehenge