By Lewis Loflin
During my time at King College (now King University) in Bristol, Tennessee, the curriculum mandated Bible study for all students. As a rationalist and evolutionist—neither a Christian nor versed in the New Testament—I enrolled in an Old Testament survey course. My perspective was shaped by a deep-seated skepticism, reinforced by tangible evidence from fossils I had collected, which cast doubt on narratives lacking empirical support. Engaging with the Old Testament, I found no textual basis for a God incarnate in human form (Exodus 33:20), no depiction of the Holy Spirit as a distinct entity (Genesis 1:2 suggesting merely “breath”), and no prophetic foreshadowing of a Trinitarian doctrine - observations that stood in stark contrast to the Presbyterian framework espoused by King’s faculty. They remarked, with some chagrin, that I interpreted the text “like the Jews,” yet I came to see the Jewish conception of a unitary, transcendent deity as both rational and compelling, minus the Old Testament extremism. This formative experience profoundly informs my deist perspective, as articulated in my writings on sullivan-county.com, and underpins my reservations about contemporary climate alarmism, a theme echoed in the selection of books that follows.
My professors at King University were tops in their professions, and I acknowledge the privilege of being their student and thank them for the experience.
The Dinosaur Heresies by Robert T. Bakker
Challenges traditional views of dinosaurs, arguing they were warm-blooded and active, reshaping paleontology with evidence from fossils and earth history.
ISBN: 978-0-8217-2608-2 (1986 paperback)
Published: 1986
The Great Extinctions by Norman MacLeod
Examines major extinction events in Earth’s history, analyzing their causes—volcanism, impacts, climate shifts—and their role in shaping life, grounded in geological data.
ISBN: 978-0-8018-8938-7 (2009 edition)
Published: 2009
Earth System History, 3rd Edition by Steven M. Stanley
A comprehensive textbook tracing Earth’s geological and biological evolution over billions of years, integrating climate, tectonics, and fossil records. Note: Documents numerous severe climate shifts over time, tying to Fagan’s work on natural variability before 1979.
ISBN: 978-1-4292-0520-7 (2009 edition)
Published: 2009 (3rd edition)
The History of the Earth by William K. Hartmann
Chronicles Earth’s development from planetary formation to modern times, blending astronomy and geology to explain natural cycles and changes.
ISBN: 978-0-89480-756-5 (1991 edition)
Published: 1991
These earth science texts anchor my skepticism by revealing Earth’s resilience through vast timescales—mass extinctions, climate swings, and tectonic shifts—far beyond today’s alarmist narratives.
Ages of Gaia by James Lovelock
Explores the Gaia hypothesis, proposing Earth as a self-regulating system, with insights into climate and environmental dynamics. Not tied to mysticism, politics, or propaganda, but a scientific perspective on ecology. Note: Lovelock has expressed deep concern over his scientific work being taken in a religious context.
ISBN: 978-0-393-31239-3 (2nd Edition, 1995 paperback)
Published: 1988 (original), updated 1995
Little Ice Age by Brian Fagan
Chronicles the climate shift from 1300–1850, showing how cooling affected European history and society. Ties into historical events, not mysticism or propaganda, relevant to my religious topics’ context.
ISBN: 978-1-5416-1859-6 (2019 paperback)
Published: 2000 (original)
1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline
Investigates the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations around 1177 BC due to invasions, climate, and trade disruptions. Historical focus with implications for religious developments in the ancient world.
ISBN: 978-0-691-16838-8 (2015 paperback)
Published: 2014
Catastrophe by David Keys
Argues a massive volcanic eruption in 535–536 AD triggered climate chaos, influencing historical and religious shifts like the spread of Christianity and Islam.
ISBN: 978-0-345-40876-1 (2000 paperback)
Published: 1999
Justinian’s Flea by William Rosen
Chronicles the 6th-century plague under Justinian, linking it to historical and religious changes in the Byzantine Empire and beyond.
ISBN: 978-0-14-311381-2 (2008 paperback)
Published: 2007
The works above collectively illuminate how climate upheavals and natural disasters—cooling periods, volcanic eruptions, plagues, warming periods—have repeatedly rewritten human history, driving societal collapse, migration, and religious transformation, often with more enduring force than human intent alone. While CO2 plays a part in present climate variation, civilization has survived far worse.
Western Civilization, 2nd Edition by Marvin Perry
A college textbook covering Western history, including religious and cultural developments from antiquity to modern times. Used by me in college, foundational for my historical-religious writings.
ISBN: 978-0-395-36437-6 (1985 edition)
Published: 1985
Religions of Antiquity edited by Robert M. Seltzer
A collection of essays on ancient religions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and more—providing historical context for Judeo-Christian origins. Note: Could be used for religious and/or historical purposes.
ISBN: 978-0-02-897032-5 (1989 edition)
Published: 1989
Why the Jews? by Dennis Prager
Explores the roots of antisemitism, positing that hatred of Jews stems fundamentally from opposition to the moral and spiritual legacy of the Hebrew God, blending historical analysis with philosophical insight to explain its persistence.
ISBN: 978-0-7432-4620-0 (2003 edition)
Published: 2003
The Cave and the Light by Arthur Herman
Charts the epic philosophical divide between Plato’s idealism and Aristotle’s empiricism, beginning with early thinkers like Heraclitus and tracing their competing visions through Western history—from ancient Greece to the modern era—revealing their profound influence on philosophy, science, politics, and culture, backed by rigorous intellectual history.
ISBN: 978-0-553-80730-1 (2013 edition)
Published: 2013
Inventing the Middle Ages by Norman F. Cantor
Delves into how 20th-century historians crafted the narrative of the medieval period, blending biographical sketches of key scholars with sharp critique to expose the personal and cultural biases that shaped modern perceptions of the Middle Ages, rooted in historical analysis.
ISBN: 978-0-688-12302-4 (1991 edition)
Published: 1991
The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by Bernard Lewis
Analyzes the historical roots of modern Islamic resentment and terrorism, tracing theological and political shifts over thirteen centuries. Used by me for historical context in my religious writings.
ISBN: 978-0-8129-6785-2 (2004 paperback)
Published: 2003
The Jewish Encyclopedia edited by Isidore Singer
Compiles over 15,000 articles across 12 volumes, offering a comprehensive survey of Jewish history, religion, literature, and culture up to the early 20th century, rooted in rigorous scholarship and still unmatched for its era’s insights.
ISBN: None (Public domain, online at JewishEncyclopedia.com)
Published: 1901–1906
The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity by Hyam Maccoby
Contends that Paul, not Jesus, founded Christianity by fusing Jewish traditions with Gnosticism and pagan mystery cults, portraying Jesus as a Pharisee revolutionary, based on critical analysis of New Testament texts and historical conjecture.
ISBN: 978-0-06-250585-9 (1986 edition)
Published: 1986
Real Education by Charles Murray
Argues for a radical rethinking of education, asserting that innate ability limits academic potential for most, critiquing the overemphasis on college degrees while proposing practical reforms to address modern educational failures, grounded in social science data.
ISBN: 978-0-307-40538-8 (2008 edition)
Published: 2008
The Story of Computing by Dermot Turing
Surveys the dramatic evolution of computing over the last 100 years, spotlighting the brilliance of early innovators like Charles Babbage with his visionary Analytical Engine, and tracing the journey from mechanical calculators to modern AI, enriched with colorful illustrations and historical insights.
ISBN: 978-1-78828-537-7 (2018 edition)
Published: 2018
Earth in the Balance by Al Gore
Merges environmental science with a mystical reverence for nature, fused with left-wing politics advocating systemic change. I see it as distinct from my deism and Christian writings.
ISBN: 978-0-618-05664-4 (2000 paperback reprint)
Published: 1992 (original)
End of Nature by Bill McKibben
Laments humanity’s dominance over nature with a mystical tone, blended with left-wing politics pushing environmental activism. Distinct from my deism and Christian writings.
ISBN: 978-0-8129-7608-3 (2006 paperback reprint)
Published: 1989 (original)
Nature’s End by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka
A novel set in 2025 imagining ecological collapse from overpopulation and pollution. I classify it as eco-propaganda, pushing an environmental warning through dystopian fiction.
ISBN: 978-0-446-34355-8 (1987 paperback)
Published: 1986
Warday by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka
A novel depicting life after a limited nuclear war between the U.S. and Soviet Union, which I classify as disarmament propaganda for its anti-nuclear message. Owned by me, separate from my religious focus.
ISBN: 978-0-446-32606-3 (1985 paperback)
Published: 1984
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
