4. Regeneration and History

• Jul, 19 2025

"In Chapter Five, The Concept of an Ultimate Decree, R.J. Rushdoony argues that the idea of predestination is an unavoidable foundation for all systems of thought, regardless of their theological orientation. When modern philosophy and political ideologies deny God’s eternal decree, a"Chapter Four, Regeneration and History, explores the stark contrast between non-Christian and Biblical views of human transformation and history. R.J. Rushdoony argues that in Eastern thought, particularly Hinduism, history is a burden governed by Karma—a system of causality that traps humanity in a cycle of suffering and reincarnation, with Nirvana as the only escape. Similarly, Western non-Christian philosophies—through revolution or cyclical history—aim to escape or negate history, believing man is a product of his past and environment. Utopianism and environmental determinism ultimately lead to despair, as they offer no true renewal of the self or society.In contrast, the Christian doctrine of regeneration offers real hope: through the work of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins, man can be made new without erasing history. Instead of destroying the past, God redeems it and uses it for His glory. Christ becomes the source of a new humanity and the foundation for a redeemed society. Regeneration affirms history’s value while offering transformation and meaning through divine action. This Biblical view declares that history is not to be escaped but redeemed, and that true societal change comes not through revolution, but through spiritual rebirth."they inevitably replace it with man-made decrees—typically rooted in state power or science. From Enlightenment rationalism to Darwinian evolution and Marxist materialism, Rushdoony shows how modern systems have tried to locate meaning and authority in nature, human reason, or political structures. These attempts ultimately lead to relativism, nihilism, and totalitarianism, as man attempts to assert his own sovereignty in a universe he believes to be godless and meaningless.Rushdoony critiques major modern ideologies—Marxism, pragmatism, Fabian socialism, neo-orthodoxy, and existentialism—for supplanting divine sovereignty with human control. In each system, the state or human reason becomes the final authority, and moral absolutes are replaced by relativistic concepts like ""what works"" or ""self-fulfillment."" He emphasizes that only the Biblical doctrine of God's eternal, sovereign decree offers a true foundation for liberty, truth, and order. Without it, civilization devolves into tyranny, where the state becomes god. True freedom, he insists, is only possible under the sovereign law of the triune God as expressed in Scripture and summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith."

Author

R.J. Rushdoony

Chalcedon Founder

Narrated by

Nathan F. Conkey

Narrator, teacher, missionary