Western culture, and in particular American culture, can trace its origins back to Europe and the time period known as the "Age of Enlightenment" in the 17th and 18th centuries, which placed a high value on concepts such as "rationalism" and "empiricism", which shaped academics and the development of the field of modern-day "science." In short, this period of western culture placed more value on the academic studies of the physical sciences over the study of philosophy, along with the humanities and arts. Parallel to this time period was the development of Reformed Theology in Europe and America that broke away from many of the religious teachings of the Catholic Church. In my opinion much good came out of this period, particularly the translation of the original languages that the Scriptures and the ancient texts that comprise the Bible were written in, into the vernacular languages of the "common people" so that religious "experts" were no longer needed to interpret or explain what the Bible, which was then, and still is today, used to enslave the masses. But much evil also came out of this period of history. This is the period of history where Freemasonry was spreading throughout the UK and Europe with Masonic Lodges and "secret societies" which, in spite of the emphasis on rationalism and empiricism in the higher academic institutions that emphasized the physical world over the non-physical world, taught and practiced many spiritual teachings that were considered too advanced for the "uninitiated." The most dangerous teachings that came out of this period of history, by far, were the teachings that accepted the theories of Charles Darwin, and his theory about the origins of man known as biological evolution. The teachings of Darwin were also adopted by the Christian Reformers in religious academics, and one of the most evil doctrines developed by Reformation Theology was the doctrine known as "Cessationism," the teaching that the miraculous power of God, on display in the Scriptures from the first book to the last book in the Bible, no longer applied in "modern times." "Cessationism" is a trap, as it leads one to only have an intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures, and even Satan has that kind of knowledge of the scriptures, as he even quoted the Old Testament to Jesus in their lone, physical encounter, as recorded in the Gospels. Dark and evil days are just ahead, and without the power of God in your life, you will be left helpless before the power of Satan.