7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave

This is a lot compressed into a book of this size. Breese explains coherently, the effects and meaning behind these most influential men's words and actions of the past. Each chapter deals separately with each man. There are many who may have never of heard of all of these men, but we are surely feeling their (negative) influence even today. As the author puts it, "Much of modern education, commercial interaction, social planning, intellectual conviction, and even religion is still guided by the constructs formulated by those thinkers of an earlier generation." A hundred other men could have been added to the list. But he believes these seven men "were the progenitors of the most influential movements of this [20th] century"; "they ruled the world more permanently"; "contended for our minds", and these are those men: Charles Darwin: what has come to be known as, "social Darwinism"; this man is credited with evolution, materialism, naturalism, and natural selection. And now these are being treated as if it were fact; as "a law, as gravity is a law". The ultimate devastation is occurring in our public education. Breese contends, "Our society has come to assume that the source of all knowledge is science; once a thing is established as being scientific, it moves beyond debate and becomes an article of faith." Karl Marx: think of him as a "social philosopher" or a "professional revolutionary". He is of course famous for his "Communist Manifesto": "scientific socialism", worlds destiny, anti-capitalist, atheism, utopia----read it----a tightness will wallow up in your throat----because you will understand Marxism is very much with us. It is even seen as liberalism in the church. His contemporaries: Feuerbac, Rousseau, and Engles; and his protégé: Lenin. Julius Wellhausen: he brought liberalism to the church. He taught human reason is totally dependable, the bible as myth, and rationalism. The stage was then set for Machen. Sigmund Freud: that life or death is just instinct through human conditions, "after all, psychoanalysis was the new revelation, and psychotherapy the new salvation." John Dewey: a humanist; this man radically redefined education through social change. Hegel, among others would influence his world view. John Keynes: believed government to be the answer through investment: Keynesian economics. The "New Deal" was constructed through his influence. Soren Kierkegaard: known as the father of Existentialism. It is only through his writings we know him. He is confusing and contradictory. In his mind there is no right, no wrong, and no truth. Albert Einstein is not one of the seven, but he becomes important to the discussion. In this chapter Breese discusses the unintended influence of relativity turning into relativism. Ponder these words: "Surely the world ought daily to thank God that the word 'American' was attached to the name of Albert Einstein. Had that word remained 'German', how different

In this book the author discusses the dreadful consequences of the ideas of Darwin, Marx, Julius Wellhausen [and special mention Einstein], Sigmund Freud, John Dewey, John Maynard Keynes, and Soren Kierkegaard. He says, very tellingly, of Keynes (but could be applied to all): "Is Keynes really to be blamed ... ? We think not. [He] can only exercise power because he panders to the irascible nature of mankind. Keynsian economics gave to the Roosevelt administration and to successive govts of this and other lands an excuse to live the lives of economic dissipation, which was their intention in the first place." Breese begins the book by observing: "The means by which one person is able to rule many others is a fascinating subject of study. Invariably, the explanation of such control is that it is a matter of the mind. Any ruler, no matter how numerous his weapons or great his wealth, must finally rule by ... persuasion ... [by] produc[ing] in the minds of others ... a kind of little god [an ideology]." Darwin's (1809-82) chapter is "Biology is Destiny" and we're all familiar with the damage resulting from his legacy, including the idea (i.e. scientISM) that it represents some godlike oracle whose pronouncements can't reasonably be questioned, instead of the more accurate view as a humble and LIMITED servant of curious mankind. A great example is Carl Sagan's famous statement that "the Cosmos is all there is, ever was, or ever will be," posing as a statement of omniscient science but actually a statement of Sagan's personal faith committment to atheistic, materialistic naturalism. Breese also discusses how Darwin's ideas inspired "social darwinism" and "survival of the fittest" (i.e. that social evolution should be consciously patterned after nature in this way). Marx's (1818-83) chapter is titled "The Ruling Principle for All Humanity" and his ideas are also well-known. He rejected God and believed that economic class is destiny and that all the workers of the world should unite to throw off their oppressors. Then we come to Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918, "Closing the Book" i.e. the Bible), father of German 'higher criticism' and of religious liberalism, which rejected the literal interpretation of the Bible and substituted nice-sounding platitudes for harsh biblical truths (e.g. original sin) that humans have always found offensive to their egos. Breese includes a chapter on Einstein (1879-1955, "The Coming of the Strange Fire") and his nuclear science, relativity, which culturally became relativISM, although that was not Einstein's intention or fault (he retained his belief in God). Next is Sigmund Freud (1856-1939, "Looking Within") whose "libido determinism" reduced humanity to Pavlovian hormone-driven animals and saw religion is 'mental infantilism, mass delusion.' Fortunately, Freud's ideas, like Darwin's and Marx's, are beginning to fade under renewed (Christian) challenge. John Dewey (1859-1952, "The Vast Emergence") rejected the idea

I have read this book over and over again for several years now, I don't even remember how I became acquainted with it, I just know I wouldn't be without it. If you are open minded, if you want to learn the reasons why things are the way they are these days in politics, in education, in finance, in your life et al, this is the book for you. What this book doesn't explain about these several momentous subjects cannot be found in the Harvard Library.

I found Dr. Dave Breese's book to be well written and very informative. It helps explain the mess that our current society now finds itself. Several others have reviewed this book negatively only because they have a very different Worldview than the biblical one. Dr. Breese does not have a problem with the Seven Men because they do not agree with him, but because of the fruit of their teaching. Jesus Christ taught us that "you will know them by their fruit". The fruit of the teachings from the 7 men is clear. The rejection of absolute right and wrong, or absolute truth is rejected by society. Existentialism lives; evolution is the lie of the day, but it is not because God is not Omnipotent, and we christians do not fear these philosophies as one reviewer stated. Several reviewers appear to have a problem with the Christian Worldview, not really with the book. Dr. Breese gives such great insight into the strongholds of the secular mind that have been controled by the philosophy of the day. Every true christian should read this book and be enlightened to the mindset of our day.

A most powerful and far reaching work concerning the powers of Darkness that still exhort their negative influences on this world through "vain philosophies and edicts of men". The works of Darwin, Marx, Wellbourne, Dewey, Freud, Keynes and Kierkegaard are reviewed in light of God's numerous warnings against humanistic philosophy.