Rushdoony and Scott define profanity in its original sense: living, speaking, or acting “outside the temple,” that is, outside of God. Modern society reduces profanity to dirty words, but its essence is secularism living as though God does not exist. They stress that when people, including Christians, treat politics, education, art, or business as outside the realm of God, they are committing profanity. Humanism, pietism, and situation ethics all contribute to this pervasive disregard for God, leaving civilization morally and spiritually weakened.

They trace the historical consequences of profanity, noting the Gold Rush and the Civil War in the U.S. as examples where loss of faith led to social chaos, moral collapse, and total war. Profanity manifests in state power, secularized law, and public policy, including attacks on churches, abortion, and the undermining of religious authority. They also highlight how the Death of God theology and modern “profane” education have eroded reverence for God across generations, producing a society focused on self and material gain, spiritually empty and morally unstable.

Rushdoony and Scott contrast this with the eternal perspective: God remains sovereign, and His judgment and providence assure the ultimate triumph of His truth. They emphasize Augustine’s teaching that history is a struggle between the City of God and the city of man, and that despite the present decadence and profanation, God’s order endures. Even as worldly institutions decline, the faithful can look forward to a future shaped by God’s justice and restoration.

Rushdoony and Scott examine pragmatism, the American form of existentialism, which defines truth by what “works” rather than by God or eternal standards. Pragmatism dominates education, politics, business, law, and even religion, leading to consumer-oriented, self-centered thinking, situation ethics, and the erosion of merit, permanence, and moral restraint. It fosters a society focused on immediate gain, social conformity, and personal advantage, while undermining truth, craftsmanship, and enduring values in art, architecture, and culture.

They note how pragmatism corrodes Christianity, shifting emphasis from God-centered faith to man-centered self-help, and produces spiritual emptiness even in materially prosperous societies. Modern art, music, and literature often reflect this impermanence and superficiality, while historic standards of excellence and beauty are abandoned.

Despite the dominance of pragmatism, Rushdoony and Scott affirm that Christians, grounded in God’s truth and eternity, possess the wisdom, moral clarity, and resilience to endure and reshape culture. They stress that the world’s temporary values will pass, but what is rooted in God will endure, offering hope, purpose, and a secure future.

R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott examine Darwin and the cultural impact of evolution, highlighting Michael Denton’s Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, which critiques Darwinian theory from a molecular biology standpoint, concluding that evolution lacks conclusive evidence and serves as a foundational myth for 20th-century secularism. They trace Darwin’s influence as removing purpose and God from natural processes, creating a worldview in which humanity could see itself as self-directing, a concept embraced by Marx and Engels to justify materialistic and social theories.

They discuss the consequences of Darwinian thought on society, science, and morality: it fostered racism, eugenics, and anti-feminism, while elevating science to a quasi-religion that devalues human life and liberty. Language, according to scholars like Robert Keefe, was reinterpreted as merely a biological tool, diminishing its role as a divine gift and as a medium of moral and intellectual expression. This has contributed to the decline of literacy, critical reasoning, and meaningful communication across generations.

Rushdoony and Scott note that while Darwin catalyzed a cultural and intellectual shift, the decline of faith and the rise of secularism were already underway. Christian education and literacy movements now serve as counter-trends, seeking to restore meaning, moral grounding, and the mastery of language. They stress the importance of understanding and responding to the intellectual and moral consequences of Darwinism, arguing that the preservation of culture and truth depends on active Christian engagement.