REJECTING the INFLUENCE of SECULAR HUMANISM

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We are living in a world war of worldviews.  The Bible warns us: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
 
Everyone is influenced by a worldview.  Whether consciously or unconsciously, whether consistently or inconsistently, everyone is influenced by a worldview, their set of presuppositions and assumptions (which may be true, partially true or false).
 
Our worldview consists of those sets of beliefs and presuppositions, which we hold about basic realities of our world. Our worldview determines our values, influences how we think and therefore guides how we live.

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THE BASIC QUESTIONS OF LIFE
Our worldview needs to answer the basic questions of life: 

1. What is reality? (Materialism maintains that there is no reality beyond the physical.)
2. What is our basis of knowledge? (Rationalism seeks to discover the structure of reality guided by human reason alone.  Empiricism declares that reason alone is not sufficient, all our knowledge must be based upon information provided by our senses.)
3. How can we know what is right or wrong? (Existentialism evaluates everything from subjective personal experience.  Agnosticism maintains that it is impossible to settle the primary questions in life because of the limitations of human knowledge.)
4. What is man?  (The Evolutionist maintains that we are matter in motion, evolved slime, monkeys who mutated, from goo to the zoo to you.  From mud to monkeys to man.  A cosmic accident.  The result of random chance.)
5. What happens to a person after death?  (According to Hinduism we are reincarnated in a kind of cosmic recycling of souls, either moving up the ladder to become holy cows, or sliding down, because of bad karma, to possibly become insects.)
6. What is the meaning of history?  (Marxism maintains that history is driven by economic determinism.  The post-modernist maintains that there is absolutely no meaning to history.)
7. Why is there suffering and evil?  (The Polytheist, who believes in many gods, maintains that it is because of conflict between the various gods.)
8. What is the purpose for our existence?  (The Hedonist maintains that we should live for our own personal pleasure.  The materialist proclaims that “he who dies with the most toys wins!”  Humanism ultimately destroys all purpose for one’s existence.  You came from nothing, you are going nowhere, life is meaningless.)
9. How should we live?  (The Muslim claims that we should live in obedience to Sharia law – based upon the Quran and the Hadith – the teachings and practices of Muhammad.)

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THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

1. The Bible makes clear that God is ultimate reality.  “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  John 1:1
2. Our basis for knowledge is God’s Revelation.  “In the past God spoke…through the prophets…but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son…” Hebrews 1:1-2
3. We can know what is right and what is wrong from the Word of God. “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
4. Man was created by God but human nature is sinful.  Because we have been created by God there is some good even in the worst of us.  However, because we are fallen, there is bad even in the best of us.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” Ephesians 2:10
5. After death, each one of us shall face eternal judgment and either enjoy God’s gracious rewards in Heaven or endure just punishment in hell.  “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27
6. History is His story.  God is sovereign over history.  “The most high is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and He gives them to anyone He wishes.” Daniel 4:25
7. Suffering and evil are a result of man’s rebellion against God since the Fall.  “Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7
8. The purpose of our existence is to glorify God and to worship Him forever.  “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
9. We should therefore live in obedience to the Bible.  “The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and Laws, carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 26:16

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UNDERSTANDING HUMANISM
By way of contrast, Humanism is a religion that deifies man – and dethrones God.  Francis Schaefer defined Humanism as: “The placing of man at the centre of all things and making him the measure of all things.”
 
Alexander Solzhenitsyn describes Humanism as: “The proclaimed and practiced autonomy of man from any higher force above him.” 

• The theology of Humanism is atheism – the belief that there is no God. 
• The biology of Humanism is evolution.  Man is a product of evolutionary chance. 
• The ethics of Humanism is amorality, or relativism.  There are no moral absolutes. 
• The psychology of Humanism is self-actualisation or existentialism.  Everything revolves around “self.”
• The sociology of Humanism is a classless world society – the abolition of the traditional family. 
• The economics of Humanism is socialism – the redistribution of wealth through government interference.
• The politics of Humanism is globalism – a one-world government. 

 
One can recognise the Humanist agenda in many films, articles and books:

• Man is a product of evolutionary chance and this theory must be taught as a fact of science in schools. 
• Education must be controlled by the state. 
• Education must be secular, free of moral absolutes and non-Christian. 
• Sex education must be compulsory in the schools. 
• Pornography should be allowed as ‘free speech’.
• Abortion is a woman’s right. 
• Homosexuality is an acceptable ‘alternative lifestyle’. 
• Criminals are ‘victims of society’ requiring treatment and rehabilitation.  Rather than punish criminals, it is society as a whole that should be punished. 
• The right of citizens to obtain, own and use firearms for self-defence must be limited and eventually eliminated. 
• All power and authority must be gradually and progressively centralized in big government.

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The results of Humanism are written all over the pages of recent history:  the revolutions, the massacres and totalitarianism of the Communist East; the permissiveness and decadence of the democratic West; the pornography plague, the drug epidemic, the crime explosion, the escalating inflation, the abortion holocaust and the AIDS and STDs pandemics, these are just some of the inevitable results of the moral anarchy of Humanism.
 
“Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His anointed One:  Let us break their chains, they say and throw off their fetters.  The One enthroned in Heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath saying:  I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill…Therefore you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear…” Psalm 2:1-11

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UNDERSTANDING ANIMISM
Animism is spirit worship.  It has been heavily promoted by some Hollywood films such as Pocahontas and Brother Bear.  Animism is the primary religion of millions of tribal people scattered throughout Africa, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan.  Elements of basic Animism are also adhered to by many nominal Muslims, Buddhists and “Christians”.
 
Animism involves Necrolatry, the worship of the souls of the dead.  Tribal people tend to regard the departed ancestors as part of the clan and fear the harm that the departed can do to the living.  They especially fear that those who died unnaturally will come back to haunt them.  Animism involves spirit worship, believing in the existence of personal spirits or demons, as well as impersonal spiritual forces in nature, which inhabit the earth, the air, fire, water, trees, mountains and animal life.  Life for the Animist is dominated by a host of taboos and rituals to placate the spirits. ​

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Animism involves naturism, the personification and worship of the forces of nature.  For example the worship of the sun in Ancient Egypt, the sacred cow of the Hindus in India and the sacred mountain of Shintoism in Japan.  Naturism normally involves polytheism (the worship of many gods) and idolatry.  In nature worship, rituals and sacrifices are intended to guarantee fertility.  Human sacrifices are an extreme example of this. 
 
Animism involves totemism, (“Brother – Sister – Kin”) emphasizing the unity of the clan with some sacred plant or animal. ​

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Animism involves fetishism (the superstitious belief that there is some spiritual energy or force in charms, amulets or fetishes).  Normally witchdoctors are involved as Shamans, “expert mediators” who know the proper incantations and sacrifices at times of sickness and disasters to placate “the spirits.”  The witch doctors use imitative magic to bring harm to an enemy by attacking a representation of him (such as a voodoo doll!) or contagious magic which utilizes some hair clipping, nail paring, sweat, spit, or faeces to bring a curse on an individual.  The blood of an animal (or a person) may be drunk in order to gain the strength of that animal or (in the case of cannibalism) person. 
 
Animism is characterized by the absence of real love and hope.  There are no moral absolutes (sin is seen as the violation of culture, custom and spirit forces rather than any personal ethical transgression).  The whole of life is pervaded with and governed by, fear.  Animism is pervaded by fatalism and a sense of helplessness in the face of external forces. 
 
Heathenism does not deny God as much as ignore Him by worshipping natural forces and mysterious demon powers through magical ceremonies and sacrifices.

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“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.  There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorceror, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.  You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.  For these nations which you will dispossess listen to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.” Deuteronomy 18:10-14

EVALUATING ANYONE’S WORLDVIEW
To evaluate anyone’s worldview, we need to ask the following general questions about any film producer, scriptwriter, director, author, journalist or anyone else:

1. What are his fundamental beliefs about life?
2. What is he using to interpret the facts?
3. What are the practical implications of his worldview?
4. How consistent is his worldview?
5. What implications would it have for me personally?
6. What would it mean for the world in general?

 
We can also ask certain specific questions:

1. Intellectually – What does he believe is true about himself and his place in history?
2. Physically – How does he treat, or mistreat, his body?
3. Socially – How does he interact with friends and enemies, the rich and poor, the strong and the weak?
4. Economically – What is his motivation in work and how does he spend his money?
5. Ethically – What moral guidelines and obligations direct his thinking about justice and righteousness?

WHY WE THINK AS WE DO

1. Heredity – The genetic makeup received from our parents.
2. Culture – The system of moral and aesthetic values in the society in which we live.
3. Family – Upbringing, events and relationships.
4. National – The political developments and crisis situations that effect each one of us.
5. Education – At home and at school.
6. Entertainment – The music we listen to, the films we watch, the books we read and the things we do.
7. Relationships – Our Friendships, the people with whom we work, neighbours and marriage partner.
8. Personal choices – Or the lack of them.
9. Revelation – God’s act of grace in communicating to us through His Word and in His works.

RECOGNISING HUMANISM IN THE MEDIA AND IN TEXTBOOKS

• Agnosticism – maintains that it is impossible to settle the primary questions of life because of the limitations of human knowledge.
• Atheism – the denial of the existence of God.
• Egalitarianism – the belief that total equality must exist for everyone in every area of life: political, social, cultural and economic.  All opinions, talents and wealth must become equal, not merely in opportunity, but in result.
• Existentialism – an introspective Humanism, an attempt to create a personal identity from a meaningless universe based on the subjective feelings the individual.  “Live for the moment!”; “My personal experience – NOW!” 
• Hedonism – the doctrine that elevates pleasure as the sole end and good in life.  Our only duty is fulfilled in the gratification of one’s own personal pleasure.  “Decrease the pain; increase the pleasure.”
• Materialism – the belief that nothing exists other than matter.  Everything else that exists is material and is only the result of the product of time, chance and matter.  “A whole lot of time and a whole lot of nothing, made everything.”
• Nihilism – the theory that this universe is meaningless and without purpose.  Nothing is worth living for. 
• Pantheism – the belief that God is identical with the universe.  God and nature are synonymous.  Everything is God and God is everything.
• Relativism – the theory that truth is only whatever a particular individual or society decides that it is.  There are no objective standards of right and wrong, no universal truths and no absolute code of conduct.  All truth is relative.  Values clarification and situational ethics are expressions of this.
• Utilitarianism – “The end justifies the means.”  The belief in Radical individualism and autonomy unguided by virtue. Personal happiness and success are achieved and justified by whatever means are necessary to obtain them.  Using circumstances and people is justified.  The goal is everything and whatever means are needed to reach it are utilized and justified. 

Secular Humanism says: “There is no God to save us; we must save ourselves!” 
Post-modernism says: “There is no absolute truth; we must create our own!”
New Age thought says: “There is no God; I am my own god!”

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HUMANISM IS SELF DESTRUCTIVE
“At first the temptation is to see mankind as God.  Then it becomes us as god.  And finally it is me as god.  So the progression moves from the worship of man, to the worship of us, to the worship of me.  In the end all anthropolators become I – dolaters. ‘I am god!’  Like little anti-Christs that exalt to magnify themselves in the temple of their minds.” – Dr. David Noebel

• Evolution is an attempt to retroactively abort God.  Evolution destroys all meaning, purpose, direction, justice and hope and life.  “You came from nothing, you are going nowhere, life is meaningless.”
• Education – Secular Humanism is attempting to kill God by eradicating him from the classroom and from the minds of the next generation.  By eliminating the Bible as the basis for all knowledge, Humanists remove the very foundation of truth; they prohibit the only objective standard by which reality can be evaluated.
• Ethics – Humanism has rejected the Law of God and is instead vigorously promoting situation ethics, amorality, existentialism, hedonism, pornography, homosexuality, sex education and abortion.
• Entertainment – Superficial, sensational and immoral material predominates in the modern entertainment industry.  It is producing an increasingly superficial, selfish, mindless and immoral society.
• Economics – The unworkable wastage of welfare and socialism destroys incentive, initiative, income and industry. 
• Exhaustion – Bombarded by brainwashing and over stimulated by images, most people in our society are mentally, spiritually and emotionally exhausted.

 
“But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31
 
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.FrontlineMissionSA.org

This article is based on a Chapter of Biblical Principles for Africa, available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, Email: [email protected] and Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 
See also:
The Battle for Truth by David Noebel
Understanding the Times by David Noebel
Answering Skeptics by Peter Hammond
The Ten Commandments – God’s Perfect Law of Liberty by Peter Hammond

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